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Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: shmokes on September 13, 2006, 03:19:58 am
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I'm desperately hoping to do a study abroad program in France this summer. The program I'm trying to get accepted into for my law degree requires that I be fluent in French. I'm getting pretty good at French, but I've got a way to go for fluency. This study abroad program would help tremendously.
It would be two weeks at a language institute in Paris and two weeks at a language institute in Nice (in the south of France). I would be living with a French family, and eating meals with them and speaking french exclusively. Anyone who's ever learned or studied a foreign language knows how important it is to spend time in a country that speaks the language you're studying. You can only get so much from classroom study. Unfortunately, it isn't cheap. Room, board and classes alone will run approximately $3,000 and I'll have to tack on about another $1,000 for a plane ticket.
Anyway, if you feel like helping (or even if you rather dislike me, but you want to impress someone who's watching with how charitable you are), there's a PayPal donate button on my MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/jakemoses)(where you can also see pictures of my wife and my new baby girl, Stacy and Madeline -- my top-two friends on my friends list). Any amount is more than I'm owed - I'd be grateful for a dollar.
Anyway, thanks to anyone who donates. It means a lot to me. And thanks to anyone who wants to help but is too poor. I'll make list of donors here if this thread isn't tossed out as inappropriate (just names, not how much was donated, so make sure you let me know what your BYOAC handle is). Also, let me know if you make a donation but would rather remain anonymous.
I'll also try to put a donate link in this post, but I'm not sure if I can use straight HTML tags in these things. At any rate, you can't miss the link on my MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/jakemoses) and Maddy's blogs are first-rate (http://www.myspace.com/maddymoses). Head over and see what a 2-week/1-month old baby has to say about herself. Worth a look even if you don't want to donate.
Thanks everyone.
edit: Okay, yeah. That didn't work at all. I don't know how to put a donate button in my post. Sorry. (http://www.myspace.com/jakemoses)
Big love to the following, incridibly generous people:
CheffoJeffo
Bones
Saint
Patrickl
JolleyRogers
Silver
nostrebor
tonmazz
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I don't think Paypal, or whatever system you use allows Donate buttons to be placed in forums. You'll just end up with getting your funds frozen and will not receive them.
Next thing, you need to be fluent in France french of French Canadian french? Yes, there is a difference.
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Just like a liberal. Expecting someone else to pay for something you want.
No seriously, good luck with that, shmokes. It'd be an awesome experience for you, plus it'd get you out of the country for a while. :cheers:
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plus it'd get you out of the country for a while.
If only it were you. :hissy:
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I can set up a paypal link so you can donate some money to that cause if it's so important to you, horseboy.
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My wife and I really want to go on a 7-day cruise next spring, but funds are tight. You all know how important vacations are. So please donate to my paypal account and help us achieve our dream vacation.
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Head over and see what a 2-week/1-month old baby has to say about herself. Worth a look even if you don't want to donate.
Hmm...spend my money taking care of my newborn child, or spend all my money, plus the money of some people who are trying to help me out, so I can go hang out in Paris for a few weeks just to boost my resume'.
Nice to know you have your priorities all straightened out. ;)
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I want to visit Japan and learn Japanese. You can donate some money to me too.
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Going to France to study American law.
No wonder your parents aren't paying for your education.
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It would be two weeks at a language institute in Paris and two weeks at a language institute in Nice (in the south of France).
Maybe we should start a fund to send Dartful to Reading Comprehension school?
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Before I decide on donating... just a quick question.
If you are in France will you have an internet connection while you are there?
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Before I decide on donating... just a quick question.
If you are in France will you have an internet connection while you are there?
More eloquent than my idea Goz. I say, "how much to keep you quiet?"
Jacktucky
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So what happens if you don't raise enough money and can't go? Do I get my money back?
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So does $1000 buy a round-trip ticket to Frenchville, or is that a one-wayer?
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Sacrifice builds character (I'll leave that comment at that). Sell your MAME cab. You'll be able to afford an entire game room when you get your law degree.
Good luck. :cheers:
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The law program I'm hoping to get into would be two years at Cornell or Columbia (the only two schools in the nation that offer the program) and two years at the University of Paris. It would give me a practicing law degree in both countries. My parents don't pay for my education because they have fifteen kids and don't make much money.
I think it's funny how many people have pointed out that I am basically begging, shamelessly even, for money. I don't deny it. But I've got little enough shame, and a big enough desire to try just about anything legal to help me earn the money.
And don't worry about the wife and daughter. I'll have enough vacation time accrued at work that they will keep getting my paycheck the entire time I'm there. All the bills will be paid and they'll be just fine. Better than fine if I get into the law program I'm shooting for. You have to understand that anything that makes me more likely to get into this law program makes my wife more likely to get to live in France for two years. Not to mention that it would ensure that our daughter would grow up bilingual as she'd spend her preschool years in the foreign country.
At any rate, I don't expect any donations. But that doesn't mean I don't hope for any. And seriously, it's not like this is a room full of strangers.
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I'll go. What I don't raise will go on a credit card.
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It would be two weeks at a language institute in Paris and two weeks at a language institute in Nice (in the south of France).
Maybe we should start a fund to send Dartful to Reading Comprehension school?
The law program I'm hoping to get into would be two years at Cornell or Columbia (the only two schools in the nation that offer the program) and two years at the University of Paris. It would give me a practicing law degree in both countries.
I am so smart, I am so smart, I am so smart, I am so smart, S-M-R-T.
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You know, I watched an episode of the show House M.D. last night. House borrowed $5000 from his friend to buy a motorcycle. Later, House straight up wrote him a check for the money. The guy asked him why he borrowed the money if he didn't need it. House said "I have been asking you for incrementing amounts of money over the last two years as a test of our friendship. Don't worry, you passed."
So you are now saying you don't really need the money, you just wanted to see if anyone would give it to you. Boy, that's classy. I remember when Peale was on here and said he was having trouble supporting his family. I, along with alot of other people helped him out. He actually had a cause (and is a nice to guy to boot). You have basically just insulted everyone on this board now. Congratulations! You are definitely well on your way to being a lawyer. If that don't work out, you can always be a crooked businessman. You are bound to succeed at either one.
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Seriously . . . chill out.
Putting thousands of dollars on a credit card is not the same as having the money. I'm just fund raising. I'm also writing letters to local businesses to ask for donations. I'm setting up a cr
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And, sue me, I'm asking friends and family to help out if they can and want to.
:laugh2: "sue me" Thats funny comming from a future lawyer. Anybody? This thing on?
Also, which of the following are you pleading your case to? Friends or family? Cause after this thread, I seriously doubt you have either here.
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After this thread? What are you talking about? This thread is completely benign. Saint even linked to it on the main news page. The only real problems with this thread are that a couple of people from the religion and politics forum are trolling in it.
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I'm outta here then. I don't want to be associated with those asshats!
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I will state categorically Shmokes can consider me a friend.
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The only real problems with this thread are that a couple of people from the religion and politics forum are trolling in it.
I thought you were from PNR?
Jacktucky :dizzy:
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I am. But I'm not trolling here. And I don't troll there, for that matter. I point out that they're from PNR because their problem with me isn't this thread, it's the fact that I'm politically liberal.
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I will not, however, let him have my beer.
I will state categorically Shmokes can consider me a friend.
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That's no kind of friend at all!
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I will not, however, let him have my beer.
I will state categorically Shmokes can consider me a friend.
Not after what was put in it the last time. :P
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I point out that they're from PNR because their problem with me isn't this thread, it's the fact that I'm politically liberal.
I'd like to point out that only one guy(two if you count me, but I don't have a problem with this thread, nor do I troll, for that matter) is a regular on the PNR thread.
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You know, I watched an episode of the show House M.D. last night. House borrowed $5000 from his friend to buy a motorcycle. Later, House straight up wrote him a check for the money. The guy asked him why he borrowed the money if he didn't need it. House said "I have been asking you for incrementing amounts of money over the last two years as a test of our friendship. Don't worry, you passed."
So you are now saying you don't really need the money, you just wanted to see if anyone would give it to you. Boy, that's classy. I remember when Peale was on here and said he was having trouble supporting his family. I, along with alot of other people helped him out. He actually had a cause (and is a nice to guy to boot). You have basically just insulted everyone on this board now. Congratulations! You are definitely well on your way to being a lawyer. If that don't work out, you can always be a crooked businessman. You are bound to succeed at either one.
The difference between this and Peale's thread (because you brought it up) is that Peale did not ask for money. I suggested that he post a paypal addy. He did it, and folks gave. Secondly the circumstances of need are different.
With the above said, schmokes did not insult anyone here with his thread. He respectfully asked for help, he did not bring up previous (read: peale's ) threads. He has remained very civilized in his comments. He did not deserve your comments.
Worst Theonly thing any of us could do up to this point in the thread, is say "meh. I don't think the cause is worthy". We can't point fingers at how it was requested.
(Edit: strike "worst" didn't convey well.)
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I will state categorically Shmokes can consider me a friend.
Ditto!
I will not, however, let him have my beer.
I'll buy you a beer, but like Saint, I'm not letting you have mine. Next you'll want me to change my name to Hector Jr and drop hints about a thong or something :laugh2:
I'ma shoot you something snail mail, but I'd like to state for the record right now, that I expect this to be viewed as my retainer for your legal services should I ever need them, and if you ever get into trouble yourself and need me to testify, this will buy me out of that obligation!
Oh, and I'd like to remain anonymous. Just call me "DrewKaree" or something like that. No real names, please ;D
And shmokes isn't his "views", he's one of us who happens to believe something different in another aspect of his life. Nobody would be under the impression that I agree with his political views, but it doesn't stop me from thinking of him as a friend. He's a good ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- in ways some of you aren't privy to. I'll vouch for him, even if it doesn't change your opinion of him.
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I don't understand why you would want to ask for money to go to France to learn French when you just had a baby girl. Friends with the big dogs or not, it knocks you down a level of respect in my eyes. I don't care if you don't care about my opinion, it's obvious it's about you. :soapbox:
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Well, if it helps, this study abroad program is next summer, between when I finish my undergrad and start law school. So, depending on your definition of "just" I may or may not have "just had a baby girl". She'll be about a year old. I didn't realize it until now, but I didn't make that very clear in my original post. I'm a full-time student between now and then so going earlier than that wouldn't even be possible for me, even if I was willing to leave my daughter for that long this early on.
And, while I don't deny that studying in France is about me, it's also about developing a career that will provide for my wife and daughter, as well as open up opportunities for her that most children don't have. If we're keeping track, she also misses potential time with her daddy every time I'm at work or school. But I don't think you you would say I should quit my job or drop out of school because it's obviously "about me". Hell, if you want to click on the donation link and give me a million dollars I'd be ecstatic to hang with my little girl all-day every day.
I'm working toward a career in international law -- specifically French/American relations. I'm not just going to France for pictures of the Eiffel Tower.
For what it's worth, I went relatively quiet over the last few months, but in the last couple weeks my activity on these boards has picked up again. It's because I took a month off from work for paternity leave to be with my newborn. To be frank, that's not something many guys do. My wife couldn't ask for a more devoted father and I guarantee she'd agree with that in a heartbeat.
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Just call me "DrewKaree" or something like that. No real names, please ;D
You mean you're NOT really DrewKaree? Man, I'm SO disillusioned... *sob*
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If we're keeping track, she also misses potential time with her daddy every time I'm at work or school. But I don't think you you would say I should quit my job or drop out of school because it's obviously "about me". Hell, if you want to click on the donation link and give me a million dollars I'd be ecstatic to hang with my little girl all-day every day.
Good comparison. :dunno I just don't get coming on here asking for money for a trip when you have a family to feed at home. I'm sure it will pay off for you someday.
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I just don't get coming on here asking for money for a trip when you have a family to feed at home.
Because the alternative is to simply feed my family less and apply the savings to the study abroad trip. Please help my family! Think of how hungry they might become if you don't.
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:dunno
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Aren't you the same guy who has been counting down the moments to the Wii release for the last few weeks? And the one who just became a father? Your priorities are astounding. Grow up and be a ---smurfing--- man. You want to go to France? Get a second job.
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Sorry, I work 5 days a week and at least one night every other weekend, so I don't have time to sympathize for you.
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http://www.willworkforfood.net/
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Aren't you the same guy who has been counting down the moments to the Wii release for the last few weeks? And the one who just became a father? Your priorities are astounding. Grow up and be a ---smurfing--- man. You want to go to France? Get a second job.
Don't be nasty.
I've been counting down the moments for the Wii release for at least the last year, not just the last few weeks. This study abroad program was announced about a week ago. Of course I'm not getting a Wii on launch day! Three weeks ago I was; but three weeks ago I wasn't going to France, was I? I already have a bit of a second job. I work 40 hours a week at my regular job, but I do freelance IT work as well. Only about 10-15 hours a month, but that's already more than I can realistically do considering I'm a full-time student.
Seriously. I can understand not donating because you don't like me. I can understand not donating because you don't consider this a worthy cause. I can understand not donating because you haven't got any spare money. I can understand not donating because you don't feel like it.
But I don't understand what in the name of god has so many people so pissed off about this thread.
Take. A. Moment. And. Breath.
Relax.
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On a much much brighter note, thanks CheffoJeffo. I can't say how appreciated it is.
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French is for ---daisies---. Learn spanish. then you can use it here back in the usa when you come back to topple the government.
Jacktuckt
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Of course I'm not getting a Wii on launch day! Three weeks ago I was; but three weeks ago I wasn't going to France, was I?
Seriously. I can understand not donating because you don't like me. I can understand not donating because you don't consider this a worthy cause. I can understand not donating because you haven't got any spare money. I can understand not donating because you don't feel like it.
But I don't understand what in the name of god has so many people so pissed off about this thread.
Take. A. Moment. And. Breath.
Relax.
I'm totally relaxed. I'm just amazed. Awaiting witty remark, but still amazed. Classic quote above. So what if next week it's a shiny button? I wouldn't want my hard earned money going towards the shiny button because all the kewl lawyers are going to be wearing them. This is the type of thread that I would want to reference next time you take the high and mighty road to demonstrate where you lack in intelligence or responsibility. Don't get me wrong, you write some great comebacks and you must read a ton of papers with all of your references, but just by reading this thread, it shows an incredible lack of responsibility. I'm sure there will be plenty who disagree with me, but I don't think my opinion matters nearly as much as your daughters does.
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It's because I took a month off from work for paternity leave to be with my newborn. To be frank, that's not something many guys do. My wife couldn't ask for a more devoted father and I guarantee she'd agree with that in a heartbeat.
I took off six months, AND I'm handsome. Seems like I'm two up on ya. :notworthy:
My wife had better be wearing that french maid outfit when I get upstairs, that's all I know.
BTW, anyone want to kick in for my trip to Tulum? I plan to study assal horozontology for a week. ;D
Anyone? :dunno
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Umm.. Hello? Another freaking lawyer? Hell no!
:lame:
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Umm.. Hello? Another freaking lawyer? Hell no!
:lame:
See, now this one's a toughy. I don't know how to respond to this because I'm starting law school next fall regardless of whether I study French in France for a month. And if I'm not accepted to the program of my choice, which is extremely competitive so quite likely with or without the added month of language immersion, I'll simply do a standard LLM which is a regular international law degree (as opposed to two separate law degrees from two different countries).
I'm sorry? Can I buy you a beer?
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this thread reminds me of those people who hang out near shopping centers with their cardboard signs..........
I work 40 hours a week, am a full time student, work part time in the college computer lab, have a wife and 2 kids and would never stoop low enough to beg for money for a trip for myself to go somewhere.....
If it means so much to you seel some stuff, cut down on your expenses.
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this thread reminds me of those people who hang out near shopping centers with their cardboard signs..........
which is why the thread was titled "shameless begging".
see I don't like tekken. So if a thread was called "tekken" I probably wouldn't click it.
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Oh, Shmokes definitely deserves any response that comes his way, good or bad. He has never had a problem sharing his opinion.
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this thread reminds me of those people who hang out near shopping centers with their cardboard signs..........
which is why the thread was titled "shameless begging".
see I don't like tekken. So if a thread was called "tekken" I probably wouldn't click it.
yeah but this is EE so the title "Shamless begging" could have gone in any direction.....
I will say one good thing in shmokes favor....
At least his cardboard sign doesn't make the claim that he's a homeless veteran like some of the other bums holding their signs do.....
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This is the type of thread that I would want to reference next time you take the high and mighty road to demonstrate where you lack in intelligence or responsibility. Don't get me wrong, you write some great comebacks and you must read a ton of papers with all of your references, but just by reading this thread, it shows an incredible lack of responsibility. I'm sure there will be plenty who disagree with me, but I don't think my opinion matters nearly as much as your daughters does.
I don't know. I think all things considered I'm probably above average responsible. I'm sure I could list some uninteresting qualifications. I imagine you'd just as soon I didn't.
The only thing I can think of that would suggest to you an incredible lack of responsibility on my part would be my post count. And for that I admittedly have no good excuse.
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this thread reminds me of those people who hang out near shopping centers with their cardboard signs..........
I work 40 hours a week, am a full time student, work part time in the college computer lab, have a wife and 2 kids and would never stoop low enough to beg for money for a trip for myself to go somewhere.....
Well . . . in my defense this was my entire sales pitch:
"Anyway, if you feel like helping (or even if you rather dislike me, but you want to impress someone who's watching with how charitable you are), there's a PayPal donate button on my MySpace page (where you can also see pictures of my wife and my new baby girl, Stacy and Madeline -- my top-two friends on my friends list). Any amount is more than I'm owed - I'd be grateful for a dollar."
That's the whole thing. No mention of my heavy workload. No mention of a new baby. No mention of any selfless, altruistic motives for doing the study abroad program. All of that has been defending myself in response to a seriously unwarranted negative element that sprung up almost immediately in the thread.
I'm apparently incredibly irresponsible, care only about myself and specifically not about my daughter, I ought to grow up and be a ---smurfing--- man, I'm spending money to boost my resume that should be spent on my daughter, I'm going to France to study American law (???), I lack class, I insulted everyone on the board, I'm crooked, I most likely no longer have friends here (thanks to this thread), my piorities are astounding (not in a good way if I'm reading it correctly), I periodically take the high and mighty road to demonstrate where I lack in intelligence or responsibility [sic], my daughter is apparently going to hold a low opinion of me because of this, I'm not as handsome as Zakk ;D , I'm going to be another lawyer which is, hello, lame, I am like a bum with a cardboard sign, I deserve any response that comes my way.
Good lord . . .
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At least his cardboard sign doesn't make the claim that he's a homeless veteran.....
Do you think that would have helped? Because I am actually a homeless veteran. Did I mention that already?
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If you enjoy writing, I have a website (researchbooth.com) where I buy original articles on various topics. It doesn't pay alot, but its a little extra spending money. Going rate is $100 for 20, 500 word articles.
The topic of the articles would be your choice, but need pre-approved.
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Asking a law student for a 500 word article is like asking them what they did between 5:00 and 5:12 that day.
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Money needed for Alcohol Research in my controlled environment. :P
Seriously, good luck. At least one of us is using his law degree for good and not evil.
-Tony
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For whatever it's worth, I've never had any problems with you Shmokes. That doesn't mean I'm willing to help finance your trip to France, but good luck to you raising the funds.
-S
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I can't believe the straight up hatred in this thread. Seriously, some of you guys are ---uvulas---. I can understand busting on him for begging for money, but good lord, leave his ---smurfing--- kid out of this.
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Hey Shmokes,
I will flick $20 your way if you send me some pics of your wife with no clothes on.
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LMAO . . . I would need her permission for that and something tells me $20 won't cut it. I'll run it by her and get back to you, though.
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Outstanding.
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I can't believe the straight up hatred in this thread. Seriously, some of you guys are ---uvulas---. I can understand busting on him for begging for money, but good lord, leave his ---smurfing--- kid out of this.
His kid is kind of a big deal in this. Pretty much the whole reason this bothers me. I mean, outside of the fact he's just asking for money.
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Sorry Bones,
She said no.
Sorry mccoy,
Maddy will just have to live with the trauma of only having her mom and one set of grandparents for a month. I hope she isn't scarred for life. When she grows up I'll try to remember to tell her that you were pulling for her, though.
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Maddy will just have to live with the trauma of only having her mom and one set of grandparents for a month.
If you're her dad, that's the least of worries.
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Sorry Bones,
She said no.
Sorry mccoy,
Tell her I'll match Bones' offer. ;)
-S
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Good lord . . .
Good who?
Jacktucky
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Good lord . . .
Good who?
Jacktucky
He calls his cat "The Lord".
-S
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He calls his cat "The Lord".
-S
Good ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?---. I get it.
Jacktucky
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Shmokes, I can't afford to make a donation but I'm prepared to give you my pearls of wisdom for free. If you want to learn french, and earn money at the same time, then I have two suggestions - either become an au pair (in France obviously) or join the french foreign legion. ;D
But on a serious note, I have to question how useful one month in France would actually be. It would no doubt be a great holiday but how much french are you really likely to learn in such a short space of time? To really learn a foreign language there's no substitute to actually living and working in a country that speaks the language. Have you considered trying to get a job in France for say a year before going to university?
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When I was stationed in Japan, I never learned how to speak Japanese fluently... of course it would have helped if they would have put teachers in the bars.......
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Asking a law student for a 500 word article is like asking them what they did between 5:00 and 5:12 that day.
I dont get the joke. I think I am slow that way.
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When I was stationed in Japan, I never learned how to speak Japanese fluently... of course it would have helped if they would have put teachers in the bars.......
How do you say mission cornholio in Japanese?
rectumission-san.
-J
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When I was stationed in Japan, I never learned how to speak Japanese fluently... of course it would have helped if they would have put teachers in the bars.......
Missioncontrol is stationed in Japan. He arrives on a Sunday and has leave until Tuesday.
Since he is in a foreign land and bored with nothing to do, he finds a whore house, picks out a Japanese prostitute, and the two proceed upstairs to have sex.
The woman is on top, and the entire time she keeps repeating "hoshimoto." Missioncontrol doesn't know what to think, since he doesn't understand what she's saying, but the woman appears to be having a good time, so he assumes she must be applauding his performance.
The next day, Missioncontrol decides to play golf with some of the Japanese members of BYOAC. The round is relatively standard except for the 18th hole. When it is Missioncontrol's turn to drive, he hits a hole in one.
All the Japanese people start yelling in celebration, and Missioncontrol doesn't know what to say, so he says the first Japanese word that pops into his head, "hoshimoto." One of the Japanese BYOAC'ers ooks at him, and in a thick accent says: "What do you mean, 'wrong hole'?"
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how much french are you really likely to learn in such a short space of time? To really learn a foreign language there's no substitute to actually living and working in a country that speaks the language. Have you considered trying to get a job in France for say a year before going to university?
I think I'll get quite a bit, certainly a lot more than I would get from just going to France for a month. For one thing, I'm almost finished with a French major, so I am already starting to be pretty decent at French. The other thing is that I will be in a language school learning French for 4 hours a day. I will spend about as much time in french classes over the month as I would normally spend in class over an entire semester at university. On top of that I will be living with a family that only speaks french (the school has a bunch of families that they work with), and will be eating dinner with them every night (they provide breakfast as well, but they aren't contractually obligated to actually sit at the table and eat the meal together as they are with the dinner). On top of that, of course, I'll actually be in france so I'll be putting to use everything I've already learned. Since I will be fully immersed, what with the school and family, not to mention the fact that it's France everywhere there, I will not only have the opportunity to practice and solidify everything I've already learned, but will be forced to. And, of course, I'll be learning knew things every day as well.
. . . and so on.
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Wouldn't it be easier to take over France and make them speak English?
You could probably do it from your van. Send the king of France a letter stating that you are now king and from this day forward Francish must never be spoken.
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Your two choices are feed your family less or beg for money and you wonder why people think poorly of you? Just blame Bush and people will feel sorry for.
I thought you said you work in IT. Can't you just fix a few PC's on the side?
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mrhowell,
I'm not talking about starving them to death. I'm just talking about giving them slightly less than what is adequate. They'll still live, albeit slightly malnourished, and while my family won't be healthy, at least we'll see a healthy profit.
This is all Bush's fault.
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Thanks Bones. It's incredibly generous.
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Thats called (I think) Instant Immersion. When you go to another country and speak only that language and nothing else, you can learn that language very quickly.
Younger people have an easier time learning a new language than older people. I have been trying to learn Japanese for quite some time, listening to the audio learning CDs and such. I can speak it, its just that real Japanese would probably make fun of my accent.
Though no doubt if you are there it will greatly help your learning of the language, probably even help with your accent.
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A lot of you guys are a bunch of idiots... Many people make personal sacrifices in order to improve their lives...
What about those asian women who leave their families/husbands/kids to go work abroad to help them live a better life?
What about those US army guys and girls who go abroad to serve your country and leave their family behind, at the risk of never coming back? Do you call them selfish, irresponsible towards their families?
This guys is simply asking if people are willing to help him out, so he can do something good for his family.
As someone else said, all you can and should do is decide for yourself if you think it's worth it for you help him or not.
Passing judgment on him for doing this is worse than anything you can accuse him of.
Marc
PS: For the record, I am not donating because some people are a lot worse off and more in need of my donation than he his, but I wish him the best and hope for him and his family that he succeeds in his career plan.
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A lot of you guys are a bunch of idiots...
.......aaaaaaaaaaaaaand most of us can stop reading right there.
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Hmmm, I don't think that a 2 week program will really improve your french skills.
As a matter of fact I am a lawyer and I got my master degree in France and currently I am applying for my PHD.
I learned a lot when in France, but honestly, what really made the difference was the huge amount of study I did in my own country. ( I am brazilian)
Two weeks speaking french isn't enough, I guarantee you that.
The language you use when talking to friends, at home, in stores, in the streets is way different from the "academic language" you must have for your law degree, and specially when dealing with french people who are extremely demanding with their language.
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Hmmm, I don't think that a 2 week program will really improve your french skills.
As a matter of fact I am a lawyer and I got my master degree in France and currently I am applying for my PHD.
I learned a lot when in France, but honestly, what really made the difference was the huge amount of study I did in my own country. ( I am brazilian)
Two weeks speaking french isn't enough, I guarantee you that.
The language you use when talking to friends, at home, in stores, in the streets is way different from the "academic language" you must have for your law degree, and specially when dealing with french people who are extremely demanding with their language.
FWIW this is a 1-month program, not two weeks. And I'm not sure I entirely buy that. A month, or even 2 weeks of speaking French exclusively day-in, day-out is going to have some effect. That's a lot of practice. In America there is almost no opportunity to speak french outside of a classroom environment.
As for the studying in my own country, that is certainly being worked on. I will have just finished a French major at university when I leave for the study abroad program next summer.
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Good luck on your quest.
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Thank you.
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French is for ---daisies---.
I find your comment offensive.
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French is for ---daisies---.
I find your comment offensive.
yeah. I reported it a couple of days ago.
The word actually reffers to burning homosexuals at the stake. As in DEATH to homosexuals. It has no place here and I know it would have been taken down more quickly if it were an N-bomb.
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French is for ---daisies---.
The word actually reffers to burning homosexuals at the stake. As in DEATH to homosexuals. It has no place here and I know it would have been taken down more quickly if it were an N-bomb.
I find that to be quite a stretch. I also find it interesting that you choose to highlight the item you think would most influence a decision or change in the favor you prefer without anything more than a passing comment to what you believe it to mean. The pertinent parts were highlighted by me. Since you've not chosen to back up your claim of what got your dander up, you've left it to me to choose anything relating to your specious claim.
Etymology
The origins of the word in this sense are rather obscure.
It is often claimed that the derivation is associated directly with ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?--- meaning "bundle of sticks for burning", since homosexuals were supposedly burnt at the stake in medieval England. Alternatively, the Bible is claimed to refer to homosexuals stoking the fires of hell. This, however, is an urban myth. There is no such passage in the Bible, and there has never been a tradition in England of burning homosexuals at the stake. Admittedly the practice was not unknown elsewhere in Christian Europe, and burning was used in Britain for heretics and witches, but this ended centuries before the word ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?--- became associated with gay people.
If you're going to claim specious reasoning for something offending you, at least try to back up your claim rather than implying someone is being duplicitous in their failure to moderate it based on what you "feel" would happen had another word been used.
Lastly, the word was auto-censored. Having to SEEK OUT that which offended you is not the fault of any mod or admin. You actively looking to be offended (after it was censored FOR you) is no one's fault except your own - either you used the word in the past yourself and noted what it was censored to, or typed in as many pejorative terms as possible to determine what was said. Nobody needed to save you from such things. Your delicate sensibilities evidently aren't as fragile and easily offended as you'd like to portray them to be.
You want a babysitter? You want to be saved from yourself? Stupidity SHOULD hurt so lessons wouldn't need to be legislated. The only way to save YOU from such stupidity you SOUGHT OUT is to boot you from here.
Stop being such a ridiculous :tool:
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i've got a question shmokes....how about trying another route that may be cheaper for you? Quebec Canada...now they may not speak french 100% of the time in some instances, but its alot closer, therefore plane ticket cheaper and you could still gain valuable experiences in a french speaking environment.
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Plus they hate the english almost as much as real frenchies.
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To be fair to all parties - the word was not auto-censored until after the post objecting to it, but was auto-censored before Drew's post. As far as it staying up there for a while before I auto-censored it .... I have a real life and sometimes it interferes with 24/7 monitoring :)
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I have a real life and sometimes it interferes with 24/7 monitoring :)
Slacker! ;)
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Just for the record, I have no problem with the word being used in an appropriate way in a proper discussion about homosexuality.
If you were to say, "Oscar Wilde was a ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?---", that's perfectly okay and used appropriately because he was in fact a ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?--- by all current definitions of the word.
However, making statements like "French is for ---daisies---" or "Only ---daisies--- own an X-Box" or something equally stupid is just ignorant and it's obvious that the poster is just using it in a hateful manner. It's like insecure teenage boys calling each other "homos" when they probably don't even know what the word really means.
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homo.
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homo.
LOL
That would be an inappropriate use because I am not, in fact, gay.
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Since you've not chosen to back up your claim of what got your dander up, you've left it to me to choose anything relating to your specious claim.
I heard the story in college twice from 2 different professors. Neither was on their subject of expertise, but since I heard it twice, I guess I just thought it was true. I know other people that know the story as well, so I didn't think it was that obscure and thus didn't need a reference.
As for my babysitter. There is a no hate speech rule. To me saying "French is for ---daisies---" is as bad as saying "French is for ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?---". They are both hate speech. It singles out a group as having a negative conotation, just for being that group. I think we can operate just fine without either of those statements and still not feel censored.
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homo.
LOL
That would be an inappropriate use because I am not, in fact, gay.
homo wannabe. ;D
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homo.
LOL
That would be an inappropriate use because I am not, in fact, gay.
homo wannabe. ;D
Actually, I'm a transgendered lesbian
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i've got a question shmokes....how about trying another route that may be cheaper for you? Quebec Canada...now they may not speak french 100% of the time in some instances, but its alot closer, therefore plane ticket cheaper and you could still gain valuable experiences in a french speaking environment.
Not Parisian French, not what he is trying to accomplish. The language isn't even called French among those who speak it. The differences are not subtle.
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I would like to say that I really want Tivo.
Can you please send me money so I can get tivo?
Just PM me and I'll take some donations.
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DirecTV Tivo or regular Tivo?
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I recommend the new Series 3 Tivos.
By the way, Fredster, I think that joke might have already been used one or two times in this thread.
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DirecTivos have two tuners in them. That is huge to me.
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The Series 3 Tivos, if I'm not mistaken, have six tuners in them! I kid you not (though you may only be able to use two at any given time). They even have two Cable Card slots, so instead of getting a cable box or Sattelite tuner from your provider you just get a Cable Card and the Tivo IS your set top box.
Anyway, they're just out and cost something ungodly like $700, but they look damned nice.
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6? What's that, two OTA, two standard, two HD?
$700 is too pricey, especially if I couldn't get NFL Sunday Ticket with it... not natively, anyway.
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DirecTivos have two tuners in them. That is huge to me.
they make regular dual tuner tivos now...
http://www.tivo.com/1.6.1.asp
Can I record two shows at the same time?
Yes
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they make regular dual tuner tivos now...
Nice. It's all about NFL Sundays, though. Need DirecTV for that.
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Yeah . . . 2 cable tuners, 2 ATSC tuners (for high def over the air) and 2 regular old NTSC tuners. It's also got an OLED display on the front that shows what's currently recording and it can play back MPEG-4 video. And it has an external SATA port so you can add your own external hard drives to increase storage without having to hack the box. And a backlit remote. It seems like there are some other cool little features, but nothing pops into mind.
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Spiffy. I have no plans to go to HD any time soon. That will require a lot of expense and upgrade in my house. Not worth it to me. I am probably the only person I know that feels this way.
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Yeah . . but spiffy in a, "Wow, that'll be nice three years down the road when it's only $150," kind of way. The $800 (just looked it up) price takes some of the sting out of the decision to stick with standard def for the time being, I'd think.
Oh yeah, and it's THX certified so the sound is great.
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THX certification shouldn't mean much on a Tivo so long as it records the broadcast format properly and has true digital output. They'll slap that THX logo on anything with an output port now.
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Not worth it to me. I am probably the only person I know that feels this way.
You are not alone ... I feel the same way.
I would greatly prefer a SW cockpit to an HD upgrade any day of the week.
Cheers.
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HD? I love when I download shows that were recorded in HD!!
The only thing I use my TV for is console gaming. Seriously.
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I'm basically the same. I watch almost no TV at all, even when I have free time. Even when it's really good, like HBO or Arrested Development, it's just so time consuming. You get home from work, eat some food and watch one or two shows and it's already time for bed. I'm always left feeling like I'll never get that time back -- which is of course true, but not all forms of entertainment leave me with this negative feeling. Videogames and movies, strangely, don't make me feel this way at all. I really doubt this is because they necessarily have any more value than high quality TV (there is some). I think more likely it's just that I enjoy them more.
. . . and so on.
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shmokes, just some friendly advice here... maybe you shouldn't talk about having HBO or expensive gadgets in a thread where you're begging for money... I don't think it's helping your cause. Just a thought. :cheers:
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shmokes, just some friendly advice here... maybe you shouldn't talk about having HBO or expensive gadgets in a thread where you're begging for money... I don't think it's helping your cause. Just a thought. :cheers:
I was thinking the same thing....
here this guy is begging for vacation money and yet can afford HBO, videogames and other fun stuff.........
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I haven't considered HBO a luxury since the mid 80s, maybe it's just me. I'm one of the few people I know who doesn't have cable/sattelite with a full boat of stations, and that's because I canceled my DirectTV a few years ago when I got divorced and have never bothered to re-subscribe since I can just find everything I want to watch on-line, anyway.
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I haven't considered HBO a luxury since the mid 80s, maybe it's just me. I'm one of the few people I know who doesn't have cable/sattelite with a full boat of stations, and that's because I canceled my DirectTV a few years ago when I got divorced and have never bothered to re-subscribe since I can just find everything I want to watch on-line, anyway.
I don't get it. So you don't have cable or satellite but HBO is not a luxury?
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Hey, I only have bunny ears on a 19" tv (seriously). Would anyone like to donate some money so I can join the real world and get an HD TV and satellite? ;D
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HBO absolutely is a luxury
I had a year of HBO and Showtime for free from switching from satellite to cable. Once they upped my bill by 1/3 I cancelled them, much as I'd rather just have HBO, than every other channel combined. My wife and I decided just last night, though that we were going to cut cable altogether and she was going to limit herself to no more than 2 hours of TV per day, which should probably have some affect on our power bill. While I don't like TV much, my wife watches a ton of it. In her defense, though, I'm nearly always doing homework when I'm at home and TV is a simple cure for boredom.
As for the TIVO Series 3 -- that's obviously just talk. It's 800 bloody dollars! Who the ---fudgesicle--- can drop $800 on a TIVO with or without an upcoming trip to France -- especially when you live in rural Utah where there are exactly zero over the air HD broadcasts and like 4 HD channels you can subscribe to from cable/satellite for $10 a month -- three of which are completely uninteresting (though one is ESPN -- HD tennis is SOOOO nice . . . the ball never gets lost)? By the time the Series 3 TIVO is reasonably priced I'll probably already be a lawyer at it won't matter anymore :)
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They weren't talking about Tivo 3.
I say that cable/sat itself is a luxury. So is anything more than, say, a standard 19" TV (I draw the line there since those can be easily had free).
Two hours of TV a day is insane. For anyone.
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Two hours of TV a day is insane. For anyone.
And how much time do you spend on the Internet every day, Chad? 13k posts is insane. For anyone.
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That is time at work. Still insane but different line of insanity. If you had the time of day stats you'd find probably 12000 of them are between 8am-5pm.
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I haven't considered HBO a luxury since the mid 80s, maybe it's just me. I'm one of the few people I know who doesn't have cable/sattelite with a full boat of stations, and that's because I canceled my DirectTV a few years ago when I got divorced and have never bothered to re-subscribe since I can just find everything I want to watch on-line, anyway.
I don't get it. So you don't have cable or satellite but HBO is not a luxury?
I've replaced HBO with a DSL connection. It's more "I never used it because I got the stuff elsewhere" than "damn, I can't afford that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---". I don't have cable or sattelite because it literally never got used (after my divorce I literally watched TV less than an hour a month, and that was because it get left on after some console gaming and I wandered back and turned it off later). It would be like, say, canceling natural gas service because all of your appliances are electric.
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American law (), I lack class, I insulted everyone on the board, I'm crooked, I most likely no longer have friends here (thanks to this thread), my piorities are astounding (not in a good way if I'm reading it correctly), I periodically take the high and mighty road to demonstrate where I lack in intelligence or responsibility [sic], my daughter is apparently going to hold a low opinion of me because of this, I'm not as handsome as Zakk , I'm going to be another lawyer which is, hello, lame, I am like a bum with a cardboard sign, I deserve any response that comes my way.
"what shmokes is saying about himself"
I like that Shmokes. I really like that. I have never agreed with you more! :cheers:
I particularly like the "I periodically take the high and mighty road to demonstrate where I lack in intelligence or responsibility" ;)
Or better yet, you could use your credit card! I bet you could ask for and get a MasterCard or Visa and just charge it. You do have the power to do that don't you?
That way, you could pay it off when you get into the law thing.
BTW, no matter how busy I am, I still manage to squeeze in 8 hours of TV a day. I know it's a blistering thing, but I have worked up to it....
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Two hours of TV a day is insane.
Insane might be a little extreme. You need to have words left over for people who watch five hours a day, which is probably closer to the amount of TV an avererage American watches (I didn't look that up, by the way).
Still . . . god knows I wouldn't want to spend that much time watching TV. I also feel that cable is a luxury. Not only is it a luxury, but it's one that I won't even miss. My wife, however, uses it a lot and I can't just decree that we're not going to have it anymore. Luckily, that's neither here nor there, because she agreed last night that we should cut it off.
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I'll go. What I don't raise will go on a credit card.
Keep trying Fredster.
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Well there you go! Great minds do think alike!
Let's think "shameless" Here's some more:
I guess you can't get a bank loan. (bad credit?) I'd have done that, the rate may be cheaper with a credit union. Beats the 21% from a credit card.
So you have raised $20! Man that's begging. Did you ask you mom and dad if they would kick in? My mom would have (god rest her soul). So would dad (tragic he died so young). But you could ask your sister? Right?
Did you forward the link to like your aunts and uncles? Tell them to send that Birthday CARD early!
Hey! Did you do the garage sale thing? You know, you can raise a few bucks on a Garage Sale! You could sell all those EA games you boycotted. I'm sure you aren't playing them.
There's always a lemonade stand.
Set your mame machine to take quarters for a while. You did build a mame machine didn't you? HEY, maybe somebody could buy it?
Wait! I got it! How about getting one of those boxes of candy that parents have to sell for their kids? You could get a bunch of hershy bars and write up that you need to go and sell them at work? Just put it up at the front desk and put a coffee can next to it! Tell them it's for your girl's baseball team.
I mean, that's "shameless" isn't it?
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But you could ask your sister? Right?
He already said that she is giving up cable. Isn't that enough?
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But you could ask your sister? Right?
He already said that she is giving up cable. Isn't that enough?
Great job!
I'm still laughing.
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Two hours of TV a day is insane. For anyone.
I'm going to go ahead and assume you are stating that number as an AVERAGE per day, not just a once in a while thing or a once a week thing. Oh, and that you're not including gaming (which can be done on a TV, I've heard ;D )
There's prolly other things too that would be qualifiers, I'm sure, but they're not coming to me right this instant. Like movies. :laugh2:
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I'm going to go ahead and assume you are stating that number as an AVERAGE per day, not just a once in a while thing or a once a week thing. Oh, and that you're not including gaming (which can be done on a TV, I've heard ;D )
Yes, two hours each day on average. And I would lump gaming in there as TV usage. I don't come anywhere near that outside of football season. During football season I may go over it due to the fact that I watch probably 6-7 hours of TV on Sunday. Still, I would throw myself into the stupidly wasting time category there.
I don't even count the people who watch 5 hours a day on average. They're barely people. Clearly they don't contribute jack to society. They just "don't have time".
Can't remember the last time I watched a whole movie in one sitting. I tend to watch them in 20-30 minute chunks.
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ChadTower: the yardstick by which people are measured.
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I am the yardstick by which *I* measure people. I could give a crap how anyone else does it.
How else is a person to make comparisons other than by their own experience?
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Wait! I got it! How about getting one of those boxes of candy that parents have to sell for their kids? You could get a bunch of hershy bars and write up that you need to go and sell them at work? Just put it up at the front desk and put a coffee can next to it! Tell them it's for your girl's baseball team.
LMAO . . . I just noticed that. I think the people at my work might be a little suspicious about me raising money for my 6-week old girl's baseball team.
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6 week old girls don't run the bases very well.
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Wait! I got it! How about getting one of those boxes of candy that parents have to sell for their kids? You could get a bunch of hershy bars and write up that you need to go and sell them at work? Just put it up at the front desk and put a coffee can next to it! Tell them it's for your girl's baseball team.
LMAO . . . I just noticed that. I think the people at my work might be a little suspicious about me raising money for my 6-week old girl's baseball team.
Well then put out a can that says "France trip fund". You've got just as good of chance there as here.
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He would if he put "One way ticket to France" on the jar.
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How about a car wash?
Tell you what Shmokes, if you do that, I'll personally drive my truck so you can wash it :)
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He could get Carlos all wet and soapy.
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I just had a great idea. You could do something like a walk-a-thon, but instead of people pledging a dollar per mile, you could have them pledge a dollar for every time Chad tries to post the last word. You'd be in France by noon tomorrow.
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I don't care about the last word. I care about the last joke.
shmokes is King of Last Word, though. I can't win that one.
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See?! There's $1 already!
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$2. Just trying to help a brotha out.
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thebrownshow is onto something.
-J
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You've got just as good of chance there as here.
Oh, I don't know about that. I've got a couple of very generous donations from BYOAC members so far.
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I'll go. What I don't raise will go on a credit card.
Keep trying Fredster.
How about a home equity loan for the trip?? Get a break on your taxes!
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I will make a deal with you.
AtomFe need some translations done from French to english
If you do this I will toss in $20.00 email me your address and I will send you cash.
I am having problems with paypal
I would think other who like AtomicFe will toss the hat also
i can not speak for them but I would think they could kick in a few bucks
why $20.00 ... I work 7 days a week ,every day, except holidays
just my income . wife and 3 kids $20.00 is what I give myself every Thursday for my mad monie. Mame, guns what ever I wish...
so you could look at it as do one week on Atomic and I will give you one week of my work
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do one week on Atomic and I will give you one week of my work
You're missing the point of this thread. If he was willing to earn this holiday in France, he wouldn't be asking for a hand out.
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I cought it.
but I still need some one to translate. I know no one who speaks french
he can
he wants $$$
I can help there also
woth asking. I did ask in software to pass the hat for this if he will help translate.
cant hurt to ask. :cheers:
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I won't, but I bet my wife would do it for fun.
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$3!
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I won't, but I bet my wife would do it for fun.
would you ask her please?
I know more than I would be gratefull. there realy is not a large amount of docks and it is a nice FE for people like me.
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Send me the docs. I'm not fluent in French yet, so some of the translations might be a little bit clumsy, but I think I'd probably do a pretty good job -- especially if it's French to English rather than the other way around. I suppose if Chad's wife is willing to do it for free, you might want to go that route, but if that doesn't work out absolutely send them my direction.
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would you ask her please?
I know more than I would be gratefull. there realy is not a large amount of docks and it is a nice FE for people like me.
I'll ask her. She's hugely occupied with something until about the middle of October but I'd be surprised if she doesn't want to at least look at it. Email me the material you want translated and I'll give it to her. If I were to do it it would probably come out a lot more Quebecois than you want.
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How else is a person to make comparisons other than by their own experience?
What?
I'm thinking that by reading, socializing, and interacting with other people you gain insight others' perspective on the world. You could make comparisons to that information.
Also, I would argue that the display device is irrelevant to the value of an activity. The content is what matters. Watching 2 hours of "Three's Company" is not equivalent to 2 hours of "Nova" or "Mavis Beacon Teaches typing."
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I'm thinking that by reading, socializing, and interacting with other people you gain insight others' perspective on the world. You could make comparisons to that information.
That is a type of experience.
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Have you canvased every parking lot for dropped change?
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Canvas is expensive.
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$6!
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It takes money to beg for money.
HEY, What about my TIVO? brownshow, can I have $5? Chad, I know you aren't going to finish that Asteroids Deluxe, can I have $5?
I need Tivo. I mean, I can't get all my shows in with this nasty work I have to do everyday. I need it to educate my children.
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I was in until you didn't mention the Tivo as a babysitter. Don't sell Tivo short. It is more than an educator.
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The 27 episodes of 'Catscratch' on my TiVo confirm its value as a babysitter.
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Yeah, let loose The Nuge on the kids.
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http://www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/display_show.jhtml?show_id=cas
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Nickelodeon stopped being fun when they stopped sliming people.
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I won't, but I bet my wife would do it for fun.
By the way, can I ban Chad from this thread? ;)
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Nickelodeon stopped being fun when they stopped sliming people.
Yeah, but it was absolutely the BEST when Alanis Morissette got slimed :laugh2:
http://www.ycdtot.com/wlpg/yalani01.htm
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Nickelodeon stopped being fun when they stopped sliming people.
Who said it was ever funny? Nick Bites it. Spongebob Squarepants is the essence of evil.
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Spongebob Squarepants is the essence of evil.
You, sir, have absolutely no idea what the hell you're talking about.
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My kids behave like Patrick now. 'Nuff said?
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Could it be that your KIDS are the essence of evil? Don't blame a great cartoon for it. My parents didn't call the Coyote the essence of evil when I tried to make rocket skates.
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when I tried to make rocket skates.
That explains a few things, right there. Is this the origin of your brown helmet? :)
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They didn't consider him evil because they wanted you to rocket off the cliff and make a tiny mushroom cloud too. :laugh2:
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when I tried to make rocket skates.
That explains a few things, right there. Is this the origin of your brown helmet? :)
Safety first. :cheers:
Oh, and Chad: $10!
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Chad, I'm still waiting on that paypal you sent to clear....
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thebrownshow is taking all of my money. I can't help it.
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thebrownshow is taking all of my money. I can't help it.
You should start a thread asking for donations.
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Is this the origin of your brown helmet? :)
Eww.
mrC
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That's just gross. Who would think of that?
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A guy who has been accused of having his head up his ass as often as Mr C. :laugh2:
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A little bird tells me he is a collector of sorts too.
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That's just gross. Who would think of that?
:angel:
mrC
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I met that bird. It told me he tawt Mr C taw a puddy tat.
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My kids behave like Patrick now. 'Nuff said?
What's wrong with Patrick?
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If ya need to ask,, well nevermind. ;)
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He doesn't like it when his kids act like a couple of puckered starfish.
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That's just gross. Who would think of that?
/me raises hand
-S
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That's just gross. Who would think of that?
/me raises hand
-S
Stingray has too many brown helmet pictures in his mind.
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Wasn't The Brown Helmet a superhero in the '70s? ;D
-S
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Hey, you know that this thread could be used for all of us to shamelessly beg.
Shmokes doesn't have the freaking patent on shameless or begging.
I think Chad should shamlessly beg for Mercy.
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I am shamelessly begging for the "brown helmet" talk to stop.
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Panties.
Oops, wrong place. 8)
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Anyway, if you feel like helping (or even if you rather dislike me, but you want to impress someone who's watching with how charitable you are), there's a PayPal donate button on my MySpace page (where you can also see pictures of my wife and my new baby girl, Stacy and Madeline -- my top-two friends on my friends list). Any amount is more than I'm owed - I'd be grateful for a dollar.
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Wasn't The Brown Helmet a superhero in the '70s? ;D
-S
I think you're thinking of "The Brown Hornet" from Fat Albert :D
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What's the myspace url?
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What's the myspace url?
Click on the globe beneath his avatar.
Allister Fiend
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Oh . . . that's a quote from my first post in this thread. The original has a link (http://www.myspace.com/jakemoses)
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The cr
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Someone needs to invade that guy in the beret.
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More girly pics required.
You gotta give the people what they want shmokes.
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He looks pretty girly there already.
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I'm the one taking the picture. :-*
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I'm not sure if it isn't all a joke ($4000 for learning french?), but I decided to make a small contribution of my own. Hope you can accept paypal from a credit card though.
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Thanks Saint and patrickl. It's more than generous.
And by the way, my wife has always wondered what in the hell was wrong with me when it came to my participation in this community, but she's done a complete 180 thanks to the generosity that's come from you guys. She says to tell you guys she loves you. Maybe you'll get your wish yet Bones. :)
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Really, it's not much that I ask.
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You guys look very young? How old are you?
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One other guy and me are 28. Most of us are about 24.
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Okay . . . I at least got permission for a couple of Halloween pics. She's not Hellboy . . . that's me :)
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Heelllooooooooooooooooooooo nurse!
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Sheesh! The man is trying to get an education. If you don't like what he's doing don't give him any money. Anyone here walked a mile in his shoes? Anyone been him for a week? I haven't, so I think I'll withhold judgement on his choices.
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Sheesh! The man is trying to get an education. If you don't like what he's doing don't give him any money. Anyone here walked a mile in his shoes? Anyone been him for a week? I haven't, so I think I'll withhold judgement on his choices.
I suspect a lot of us have been college students and new fathers/husbands.
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And by the way, my wife has always wondered what in the hell was wrong with me when it came to my participation in this community, but she's done a complete 180 thanks to the generosity that's come from you guys. She says to tell you guys she loves you. Maybe you'll get your wish yet Bones. :)
Yeah, it involved MONEY. Now that's something any woman can Understand. OH, there's money involved....
What about a tee shirt sales?
How about "SEND ME TO FRANCE" on the front and on the back "DONATE"
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He would do better with putting that on a speedo.
And changing it to "$5 to put my pants on".
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$19!
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Anyone here walked a mile in his shoes?
Yes, but he wears size 6 and now my feet hurt. :angry:
Anyone been him for a week?
Actually, I was cleaning my office at work, and I found this little door behind a filing cabinet. I went in and boom... I was Shmokes. I stayed in there for like a week until someone else went in and then it dumped me on the side of the freeway. It was weird.
BTW Shmokes who were those 5 leatherclad dudes that came over and said "It's Wednesday, I hope you're ready to waddle?"
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I don't know their names, but I'll tell you I don't look forward to Wednesdays.
And hey, thanks JollyRogers! I appreciate it. I hope I can return the favors to you all at one point.
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Actually, I was cleaning my office at work, and I found this little door behind a filing cabinet. I went in and boom... I was Shmokes. I stayed in there for like a week until someone else went in and then it dumped me on the side of the freeway. It was weird.
BTW Shmokes who were those 5 leatherclad dudes that came over and said "It's Wednesday, I hope you're ready to waddle?"
Hysterical. Thanks, I can always use a good chuckle.
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Anyone been him for a week?
Actually, I was cleaning my office at work, and I found this little door behind a filing cabinet. I went in and boom... I was Shmokes. I stayed in there for like a week until someone else went in and then it dumped me on the side of the freeway. It was weird.
Is that anything like being John Malkovich
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It's clearly nothing at all like that.
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I like the international angle and the honesty. Probably makes me a sucker!
I'll throw something your way now, hope it all works out.
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Thanks Silver, both for the donation and the compliment. Y'all have been incredibly generous.
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I can't say that I agree with you on most any subject, but I respect the way you've handled yourself in this endeavor. Maybe you'll fall so in love with France that you won't want to come back :P ;D Either way, enjoy learning french-speak.
Tossed you a little something at Paypal.
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Thanks a lot nostrebor. I have to say, Best. Street Name. Ever.
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Heelllooooooooooooooooooooo nurse!
Missed that earlier. Stacy says thanks.
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Okay, Bones. FWIW, my wife says that if donations reach $1000 every donor who is interested can have cheesecake pictures that would be sent to post hell in the EE forum. Except Fredster.
Current total is $195
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So.....what're we gonna name the thread? BYOAC-house, or BYOAC-boy? I'd have felt less like I was sending you something for the purpose of pimping your wife out. With her consent, of course, but it doesn't make it any less unsavory.
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Well, the amount was deliberately set impossibly high -- and high enough that if by some miracle BYOAC were to actually come through with those kind of numbers my wife and I feel like we'd be getting one helluva bargain. We're not especially modest people when it comes to nudity. Hell, I've modeled for my univerity's art department "undraped" for just $14 an hour. And, FWIW, the offer was only extended to every donor "who is interested".
However, if the general consensus is that it is tasteless, or if it's deemed inappropriate for the board, I'll toss the post.
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Shmokes
Please answer the following Questions to allow me to determine if I should donate:
1. Do you feel French culture is superior to American Culture?Why?
2. Do you feel Lawyers mostly contribute positively to society?
3. Who paid for you to be on Paternity leave?(most men don't do this because they have to support their family, 2 kids and one on the way)
4. Will your daughter become bilingual if you don't go to France if it is so important?
Just trying to see what my money will be buying. Thanks
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Shmokes
Please answer the following Questions to allow me to determine if I should donate:
1. Do you feel French culture is superior to American Culture?Why?
2. Do you feel Lawyers mostly contribute positively to society?
3. Who paid for you to be on Paternity leave?(most men don't do this because they have to support their family, 2 kids and one on the way)
4. Will your daughter become bilingual if you don't go to France if it is so important?
Just trying to see what my money will be buying. Thanks
Shmokes, I'm not certain, but I get the feeling there's an agenda based on the questions asked ;)
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Drew,
My agenda is simply to see what makes Shmokes tick. I am obviously on the other end of the political spectrum but that being said, I truly believe in Shmokes right to his opinion. As another person has already said, he has handled himself extremely respectably thus far in his responses. My questions are simply to determine if my first impression of Shmokes is correct. It appears that he is attempting to become a liberal elitist, e.g. Study in France Please send me, My daughter needs to be bilingual and sending me to France will allow this, Becoming a Lawyer, Paternity leave, Its all about Him, etc. If his answers seem to lead to this end than it is a waste of my money. If he answers thoughtfully and honestly, you might be surprised at my willingness to donate.
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Okay, guys, this one's going to be long. Not that you need my permission, but feel free to skip it.
1. Do you feel French culture is superior to American Culture?Why?
Honestly, I don't know nearly enough about French culture to answer that question, but I would tend to answer that as a negative, by default. Don't get me wrong, I truly believe that some cultures are superior to others. Many people, often in the name of political correctness, insist that various cultures are merely different but one cannot be better than another because value systems are different from culture to culture so they cannot be measured on an objective scale. This is probably true to some extent, but I believe that there are some factors that can be measured. Rousseau said, "Man is born free, and everywhere is in chains." I think that freedom is better than servitude and a culture without slavery is better, at least in that respect, than a culture with it. Many things fall into similar categories, such as universal suffrage, equal protection, free speech, no female genetilia mutilation, freedom from warrantless searches, etc.
With all that said, the differences between French and American culture are not so pronounced as slavery. I think probably no other country beats America in ridiculous self-confidence and entreprenurial spirit. I don't think this is merely a product of our current position as the most powerful country in the world, militarily and economically. I think this is something that's built into the American psyche and dates back to America's earliest days. I guess a lot of what I'm talking about is the belief in the American Dream. We also have the greatest, and longest lasting constitution in the world, that sets the standard that almost all others (constitutional goverments, that is) strive to emulate.
France, on the other hand, has a much healthier attitude about sexuality than the United States, in my opinion. The French would have found the presumably accidental baring of Janet Jackson's breast as comical, where Americans called for blood. Just like I believe that the Catholic Church's draconian position on the celebacy of priests leads to high rates of sexual deviancy, I think America's insistance on turning sexuality into a taboo creates sexual deviancy. Our numbers on rape, child molestation and other sex crimes compared to most other countries would at least tend to back this up, if not actually confirm my theory as the cause of our high rates.
I think French cuisine is clearly superior to American cuisine, while American productivity outstrips France. I think America has problems with arrogance, which would probably put it in an unfavorable light when compared with any country besides France. I love that tuition at the most prestigious university in France is approximately $150 a year because their higher education system is socialized (unlike America where education is only socialized K through high school), because it ensures that the best, brightest, most qualified students are admitted, rather than those with the richest parents. But I don't know enough about France to say whether I believe their line separating socialism from capitalism is drawn in the correct place or if it leans too much toward socialism. (Keep in mind, everyone, that we are no stranger to socialism -- think of lower education, police departments, fire departments. Some programs would simply not work well under pure capitalism)
So, basically, I just can't say. And the cultures are really much more alike than different anyway -- both being judeo-christian, western, first-world countries. Most likely it would be impossible to make a convincing case that either was better overall, so I'll just let the fact that I am personally an American and so hope for America's success over everyone else's, tip the scales in America's favor.
I'll try to keep my other answers much shorter.
2. Do you feel Lawyers mostly contribute positively to society?
This is kind of a difficult question to answer. I believe that lawyers are at the very least an absolutely necessary evil. We are a nation of laws, and few people want that to change. Our laws are also necessarily complex which makes it necessary to have people who specialize in the law. Lawyers protect individuals from a society that collectively has the power to destroy them in a number of ways including confiscating property, incarcerating them and putting them to death. The same goes for business lawers who protect people and businesses from entering into ill-advised contracts out of an ignorance in contract law. And the same VERY often goes for the lawers who do the suing. Corporations and governments are extremely powerful. Individuals are no match for them. Rent the movie North Country, or take a look at Brown v. Board of Education. When the powerful abuse their position to exploit the weak, lawers are often the only tool the weak have. Like the police, lawers are easy to hate until you need one.
I do think our legal system is broken in many ways, though.
3. Who paid for you to be on Paternity leave?(most men don't do this because they have to support their family, 2 kids and one on the way)
I paid for it. I'm an employee of the state and earn 10 hours of paid vacation leave every month. I've had my current job for seven years this October and at the time of my daughter's birth had about 300 hours of paid leave available between vacation and comp time (which I get for working overtime and works just like vacation leave). So I continued getting my regular checks while I was gone. Incredibly fortunate.
4. Will your daughter become bilingual if you don't go to France if it is so important?
That is certainly my intention regardless, though it'll be much more difficult as French is not spoken in my home; my wife doesn't speak any French. I've already started reading Roald Dahl to Maddy in French (also for my own practice). My sister-in-law is from Mexico City and my two nieces have been bi-lingual as long as they've been able to talk. It kills me to look at the language abilities that those two little girls have, having expended virtually no extra effort, compared with my limited French that I have worked ---my bottom--- off for over the last four years. If it's at all within your power I think you should do everything you can to give your kid multiple languages early-on, cos god knows picking it up later in life is one of the most difficult tasks you will ever face.
In closing, I'd ask that if you want to debate anything I've said in questions 1 & 2 that you copy and past this into a new thread in the politics forum. I don't want this thread geetting moved over there by an admin due to it turning political.
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Drew,
My agenda is simply to see what makes Shmokes tick. I am obviously on the other end of the political spectrum but that being said, I truly believe in Shmokes right to his opinion. As another person has already said, he has handled himself extremely respectably thus far in his responses. My questions are simply to determine if my first impression of Shmokes is correct. It appears that he is attempting to become a liberal elitist, e.g. Study in France Please send me, My daughter needs to be bilingual and sending me to France will allow this, Becoming a Lawyer, Paternity leave, Its all about Him, etc. If his answers seem to lead to this end than it is a waste of my money. If he answers thoughtfully and honestly, you might be surprised at my willingness to donate.
pssst...check this out
;)
Them's just jokes, in case you weren't too sure. You know, lighten the mood and all?
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Okay, Bones. FWIW, my wife says that if donations reach $1000 every donor who is blah blah blah yakkatta yakkatta..............
Lets cut the crap dude.
How much to feel her sensational funbags?
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Hey . . . none of that.
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I.E. - "contact her directly for information"
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i.e., don't be an ---uvula---.
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Rather, pay for one!
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Show some damn respect Chad.
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It's a joke. A funny. Why should having no shame generate respect?
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Bones,
Maybe you should stop asking for sexual favors too :angel:
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Shmokes,
Well I really appreciate your responses to my questions. While I agree with a few of your points and not some others, you are correct this forum is not the place for a political discussion. You have proven to me anyway that you deserve some help and are a thoughtful individual looking to better himself. Please refresh me on where I can make a donation. Also dude, your wife is super hot in that nurse outfit. I think we can agree on that. Thanks again for the response.
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Bones,
Maybe you should stop asking for sexual favors too :angel:
Ummm... That's probably not going to happen.
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Shmokes,
Well I really appreciate your responses to my questions. While I agree with a few of your points and not some others, you are correct this forum is not the place for a political discussion. You have proven to me anyway that you deserve some help and are a thoughtful individual looking to better himself. Please refresh me on where I can make a donation. Also dude, your wife is super hot in that nurse outfit. I think we can agree on that. Thanks again for the response.
Hey . . . thank you. Click here for my MySpace page. Can't miss the donate link on the right side. (http://www.myspace.com/jakemoses)
edit: fixed link. By the way, the girl in the background of my page is my wife. She's a graphic designer. It's a self-portrait/play on an Andy Warhol painting of Marilyn Monroe. She's got beauty and talent! I'm a lucky man.
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Well, we've all seen bogus promises before. I think the only way to be sure this is a genuine offer is to have a neutral third party preview the pictures to be sure the offer is genuine.
I volunteer.
--- saint
Okay, Bones. FWIW, my wife says that if donations reach $1000 every donor who is interested can have cheesecake pictures that would be sent to post hell in the EE forum. Except Fredster.
Current total is $195
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Classic. ;D
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Hell, if the missus is willing to show herself after $1000 in donations, why don't she just go to a strip bar on amateur night. She'd have you on your way to France in no time. ;D
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She's a good looking woman.
She ain't a $1000 stripper.
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She's a good looking woman.
She ain't a $1000 stripper.
Schmokes, this is a defining moment...do you declare a blood feud with Chad for all time, or do you concede and then sleep on the couch for all time. :laugh2:
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That's not an insult. ???
Who is married to a woman that looks like a $1000 stripper? Certainly none of us.
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That's not an insult. ???
Who is married to a woman that looks like a $1000 stripper? Certainly none of us.
...of course it's not an insult. BUT, when his lady reads that post, she will turn to him and say "You think I'm a $1000 dollar stripper, don't you baby?".
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:timebomb: :timebomb: :timebomb: :timebomb:
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And when he answers wrong, because there is no right answer, we laugh.
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And when he answers wrong, because there is no right answer, we laugh.
see what you did to him, you bastard. :laugh2:
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Hell, if the missus is willing to show herself after $1000 in donations, why don't she just go to a strip bar on amateur night. She'd have you on your way to France in no time. ;D
I live in rural Utah. Enough said.
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For once, it is enough. Utah.
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I take that to mean that, aside from my last post, Chad always wishes I would say more. Thanks Chad. ;D
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That's not an insult. ???
Who is married to a woman that looks like a $1000 stripper? Certainly none of us.
Speak for yourself buddy.
(http://www.walrus.com/~ddprod/Images/obese.jpg)
I think you know which babe is mine. ;D
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Oh, god. We know what's coming from Drew now.
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Someone get Drew a paper towel.
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Wow, that's wrong on so many levels.
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Can we get a vote on banning horseboy for crimes against everything?
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Or, perhaps, have him killed.
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Or, perhaps, have him killed.
Seconded.
But, I thought liberals were against the death penalty. :cheers:
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Or, perhaps, have him killed.
Seconded.
But, I thought liberals were against the death penalty. :cheers:
I've missed you. :cheers:
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Or, perhaps, have him killed.
Seconded.
But, I thought liberals were against the death penalty. :cheers:
I'm against the death penalty being legitimately wielded by the state. I'm not against personally putting a hit out on him :) If we get caught we would be held responsible for our actions.
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$200
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I think I saw one of those nice gals waiting for a bus somewhere. ;D
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Don't do it.
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Drew, Drew, Drew.
oi oi oi!!
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$200
Surely $200 should give these complete strangers at least a tit shot. I think your missus should pony up and produce the goods for these lost souls.
And you've inspired me schmokes. Whenever I give money to beggars on the streets of Sydney, I'm gonna ask them to whip out their schlongs just so I can make them feel a little bit more worthless than they already do.
I imagine this is how your wife will be feeling soon enough if you decide to go along with this selfish endeavour.
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She'll use the $1000 to buy some self-worth.
Drama.
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Shmokes, your wife is a cutie and hopefully she will appreciate the light hearted humour shown here.
I am pretty sure nobody is seriously being nasty. (Except Chad, but we all know he is a nasty ass ball bag.)
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You're the one who asked to pay for sexual favors.
I tooled on shmokes and then said his wife isn't a $1000 stripper. Ooh, I'm such an ---uvula---.
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Yeah well..... well..... well you live next door to a donut shop.
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I live next door to a shell building without any siding or windows.
Not a donut shop yet. :soapbox:
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I just wanted to thank everyone who donated. I'll be on a plane to France this time tomorrow. I'd also like to send out an honorable mention to those who got incredibly nasty in this thread, as I'm sure it likely encouraged some people who might have been on the fence otherwise to go ahead and donate.
At any rate, my donations link drew in a bit over $300 which, while being only a very small portion of the entire cost of the trip, is still a great deal of money that I don't deserve, but have nonetheless simply because I have a lot of great friends. Many of those friends are on this message board, so, thanks again! I really doubted that my request for donations would pull in more than $30 or $50. It obviously far exceeded my expectations which is really exciting. It covered my Metro/bus passes for Paris and Nice, as well as the cost of my flights between those cities. That's pretty damned cool.
So, again, thanks. Y'all are bloody great!
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I just wanted to thank everyone who donated. I'll be on a plane to France this time tomorrow.
I'd like to thank them too. For once, justice is served! :laugh2:
Seriously, good luck with the study abroad. It's not easy going to a foreign country and I suspect you'll actually try to acclimate yourself rather than the usual visitor expecting everyone to accomodate them instead.
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I didn't give you a penny, but I still wish you luck on your trip. ;) ;D
Congrats!
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I just wanted to thank everyone who donated. I'll be on a plane to France this time tomorrow.
I'd like to thank them too. For once, justice is served! :laugh2:
So...now who wants to start up a collection and send *me* to France? 8)
Shmokes,
Au revoir et bonne chance!
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So...now who wants to start up a collection and send *me* to France? 8)
I almost had that typed and then didn't do it. They have the innernets in France, I hear, so it wouldn't help us.
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Non. C'est la vie.