There are too many beginnings in my life to tell just one. So, I think I'll start by telling you about myself:

- I'm a student of life, in that I mean I love all things about philosophy, world religions, poetry, art, human behavior, ancient mythology, travel, photography and history

- My favorite color is blue

- My least favorite color is red

- My favorite numbers are two, five and six (kudos if you know why)

- My favorite soda is Pepsi... Coke is evil

- My favorite television shows are "Lost," "Without A Trace," and "CSI: Las Vegas"

- I dislike Democrat's views on government, social issues, economic issues, moral standpoints and environmental concerns

- I love writing and acting

- I love night-time

- Yankee's annoy the ever-loving fool out of me

- I've only lived in one state North of the Mason-Dixon Line

- My favorite month is November

- I like days that are cold, damp and overcast

- I don't like animals

- Children annoy me

- I tend to side with Humanists and Buddhists

- Studying the world's dozens of religions fascinates me

- My favorite singers are Amy Lee, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Norah Jones, Elton John, Josh Groban, Jimmy Buffet, Sara Evans and Marilyn Manson

- My favorite bands are Flogging Molly, The Eagles, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Nirvana

- My favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien, Dan Brown, Pat Conroy, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Jerry Jenkins, David Baldacci, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Voltaire, Niccolo Machiavelli, Tom Clancy and Orson Scott Card

- My favorite books include The Lord of The Rings Trilogy, Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Stand, Silenced, Human, All too Human, The Prince, Harry Potter (books three, four, and five), Beach Music, Ender's Game, The Ghost-seer

- I love traveling to foreign places like New Zealand, Australia, China, Lesotho, Italy, Switzerland, Amsterdam and Brazil

- Good company leaves after three days

- Favorite restaurants are Outback, Stonewood, Caddyshack, Bonefish, Roy's and a local hole in the wall called Crusiers

- My favorite composers are Mozart, Mahler and John Williams

- I love horror movies

- My favorite overall movies are "Moulin Rouge," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Chicago," "The Sum of All Fears," any of the "Star Wars" movies

- My favorite day of the week is Wednesday or Thursday

- I hate mathematics... ma(t)h+me(2)=evil/misery(1)+pain(suffering)2

- I am a huge patriot, but I also believe the South will rise again

- Sports don't interest me much but my favorite is Baseball (I'm a Baseball freak)

- I don't believe in true love

- I'm a vegetarian

- I've googled my real name and there are eighty-three pages with over one million results (the search took 0.35 seconds to complete)

- I love the show "Real Time with Bill Maher" because he along with Ron White are my favorite comedians

- I think, therefore I am a Conservative-Libertarian-Humanist-Catholic-Buddhist

- I have over 600,000 of the little tab things you use to open sodas with

- My favorite type of candy is Starburst

- I dislike chocolate

- I found out yesterday Rice Krispy Treats contain some form of meat (ahh!)

- I suffer from chronic vu jade


That would be me...

I saw on your profile you speak Arabic, Russian and Italian? Are you originally from abroad? Where in Italy have you been?

I'm a Nirvana fan, too!

BTW....Are you kidding about the rice crispy treats? What type of meat would they contain?

You are going to have to explain something to me. In my part of the country Outback is a steakhouse chain.

How could it be the favorite restaurant of a vegetarian?

Mrs. Pigpen:




Father was in the Air Force




Turin, Florence, Naples, Rome (side-trip to Vatican City), Venice




Rock on!




No. The attendant who told me said it had to do with the jelly or marshmallow in them.


BoF:




I love their salads, bread and Bloomin' Onions

I'm a veggie, and I actually like the Bloomin' Onion too.

What is your avatar? I can't quite make it out.

I see that you like horror movies, but didn't list any as favorites. Which ones do you like best? I tend to go for the old black-and-white ones. Pycho and The Haunting may be my two favorites, but I also love all the old Universal monster movies, old movies with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and 1950's-style monster movies, even if they are very bad.

Victoria Silverwolf:





People like us are too few and far between.





La Pyramide.





Anything spine-tingling. I prefer films that include realistic human reaction. Pretty much any film but The Blair Witch Project.






Psycho is an excellent film with a horrible remake. Monster movies are quite simple stories that scare simply because they are simple, there is no creepy music, terrible editing, and worse dialouge... but the idea lasts in a person and that is the one thing writers and directors aim for: fear.


And something I left out of my original introduction: Double-speak is an essential part of my life. :)

That, sir, is a truly unique and worthy combination! Bravo!

Thank you for your compliment. I hope to be posting in your Introduction sometime in the near future.


A general comment to everybody:

A recent show-down with another member of this site who I would have classified as a good friend has recently pointed out my mistake in not revealing my age. I asked my friend to not disclose this information, but I realize it was wrong of me to ask that. I have always skirted this question because I do not wish to be discriminated against based on my age. Although my friend cautioned me there is no such discrimination here I still have my reservations about disclosing this information. I do not enjoy being pat on the head and being shunted to the side after being told to leave politics to the adults. I cannot vote yet, that is true. I am fourteen years old, I do not apologize for that. I only wanted to avoid people thinking me too incapable of rational thought and valuable debate.

I appreciate everyone who has treated me like an adult without actually knowing it for sure. I have been told I come off as more than a fourteen year old, but I am not. Thank you again to everyone.


Ah, and another note to Victoria Silverwolf: I recently watched Boogeyman or however it is spelled. Since you enjoy horror movies... a word in your ear: do not watch it! It was a terrible movie.

Wow! You're braver than I V. Wise beyond your years from what I've read.

Help me out here. La Pyramid? That avatar doesn't look like the one in France or Vienna from what I can see. From the looks of it, it explains your affinity for 2, 5, and 6 though, correct?

VDemosthenes-- I know I have told you this a million times now . . . . I am totally shocked by your age! I cannot believe how well you handle these political debates. Outstanding. You will go far.

Hi D.

Heres the deal with Marshmallows- the base of this candy confection is gelatin. Gelatin comes from the collagen in cow or pig bones, hooves, and connective tissues. To make gelatin, manufacturers grind up these various parts and pre-treat them with either a strong acid or a strong base to break down cellular structures and release proteins like collagen. After pre-treatment, the resulting mixture is boiled. During this process, the large collagen protein ends up being partially broken down, and the resulting product is called gelatin.

Marshmallows used to be made from the root of the Marshmallow plant, hence their name and of course they were vegetarian then but no more.

Here's a list of hidden animal ingredients:

http://www.cyberparent.com/eat/hiddenanimalsinfood.htm

Welcome to AD!

Oh the weather outside is frightful...


(I felt like randomly posting in my Intro to let everyone know what I have been up to lately)

- The hurricane is onshore and is a wee bit south of my home, Katrina is slowly going to work her way north and slug right through my town... ahh what a wonderful time for a weekend.

- I have been reading a lot lately, mostly "Star Wars" books (T. Zahn is my hero)

- This year our school play is going to be "The Pink Panther" and I have been cast to play Inspector Clouseau (my French accent is increasingly horrible (which is probably why I got the part))

- Homework has been a killer lately: Honors English, Spanish II and Health class combined can really give one a headache.

- I now know over two hundred Spanish words

- The clubs I am currently taking part in: BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ), Young Republicans Club, Key Club, Happenstance (literary journal), ITS (International Thespian Society) and Debate club

- My school's football team is going to be on ESPN this Saturday, they're playing some team from Alabama

- I am dreading the approach of my birthday (even though it is in November I still feel like I am getting old)

- My novel has been in a stand-still for two weeks due to the vacation of my muse, even though I have written two drafts prior to this one I still find it hard to write the first six chapters of any book.

On a more serious note: my father has Stage 3 melanoma and my time on AD may perhaps be a bit sporadic at best. The upcoming weeks will be a tad difficult and I shall try to juggle everything in my life to spend a reasonable amount of time on my favorite website.

I wish your father the best Vdem, and I hope that coming back to AD whenever you're able provides you with needed relief from worries. Don't miss the opportunities that you have right now to tell your Dad what he means to you, that's a mistake I made.
But considering the posts you make here, I think I already know you've thought of that.

Thank you for sharing, and good luck on your play!

Sorry to hear about your dad . Best wishes for him.

Don't let family or school slide...they are the most important in that order. I've certainly enjoyed reading your posts and participation, but we all understand other things come first. Though I sure hope you'll still find some time for us.

Sorry to hear about you're Dad V. You have had a really bad run of it late as I know that your grandfather passed recently. You seem to be taking it as well as one can. Keep your head up and heart strong. PM me if you need to unleash.

I hope things go well for you all 'V'. I'm sorry to hear about your Dad.

If you ever want to meet Tim Zahn, give a visit to LibertyCon, which is hosted in Chattanooga. According to a friend of mine he is there almost every year.


Man after my own heart If you ever want an old codger's view of academic debate, shoot me a PM

And to 2nd Hayleyanne's comment, I was quite shocked to learn your age as well. You handle yourself quite well here. You (and a few others here) give me hope for the youth of tomorrow. Keep up the great work!

Doc

Thank you so much, that is excellent advice and (I try to live by it) he certainly appreciates hearing it from me. When I told him my inspiration didn't come from my own set of values but from a poster on AD he nearly ran to the computer to get an account because the people sounded "nicer than the office."




Thank you for the advice. I enjoy reading your contributions as well, they are always packed with insight and a kind word. Time you ask? Well, I am hoping that most nights will be like this one... when my father has retired early and my mom is in her living room reading some book or doing a puzzle... and I of course am settled in on my balcony on AD.




Bad run? Marathon would be a nice word here. But seriously, I appreciate your kind sentiments. I'll be certain to drop a line if I want to talk to someone far removed from my community.




moif! Your avatar is enough to keep me smiling the entire time I am reading one of your posts, I never have quite liked the movie (or Stich's voice) but that is a really funny picture (can an animated creature be pictured or is it just 'a funny drawing?' ). Thank you very much.




Now, I think that the omnipotent being of no specific gender who represents all faiths and can depict all deities () is smiling upon this news. I have family in Chattanooga and I think I'll be spending that block of time with them when he comes. He is such an amazing author, I just recently finished his Thrawn trilogy and have one-day-ordered the Hand of Thrawn Dulogy, am waiting until I reread Young Jedi Knights (series) to read his Survivor's Quest and have pre-ordered Outbound Flight-- all of which should be required reading for a Zahn fan. Thank you so much for the heads-up!



I'll keep you in mind and PM you for an insight other than my own if the spirit should move me, thanks.

Well, what is age but the ticking clock of oblivion (sounds like a Hallmark card doesn't it?) Thank you, I try to keep faith in my friends but I find more and more I am comparing them to members of AD.


Thank you everyone, your comments made a rather bad day turn into a great one. I appreciate you all making me feel better about myself and my father, I know that during the coming weeks I will always be able to talk to someone from AD, be it PM, email or the chatroom and they will be as kind as you all have been. Again, you cannot know how much your words influenced my mood and how wonderful you all are.

I only just came across your update here, VDem - you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I'd meant to mention a while ago that I probably consider myself a Liberal-Libertarian-Humanist-Catholic-Buddhist - so we may not be as far apart as we may sometimes seem.

V,

hayleyanne mentioned you and praised your skill-beyond-your-years. I can see that was an understatement. I haven't been able to spend much time on AD but I imagine we'll cross paths eventually. I wish you and your dad the absolute best.

You referenced Katrina, followed by a "marathon" of rough times. I hope you're doing better than those further west, and that things are looking up for you today!

I am not dead... just extremely busy. I've gotten a few worried PMs that I was never going to be home again. But I promise, I shall return after all these Nine o'clock rehearsals stop eating away all of my time. Well, my life is good at the moment. My life is owned by my drama teacher Ms. Taylor-Hicks (henceforth and forevermore known as TH) and swimming... both are going well.

Our show, "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" is going to be put on November 16, 17 and 18th and again for the school on the 22nd I believe. Swim team: I took away a letter for swimming and am currently attending morning practices (Five o'clock) for two hours instead of the usual three in the afternoon because it conflicts with play rehearsals.

I am reading very little these days, and that bothers me. In two weeks I have barely read five books... not a personal best.


Well, I miss you all so much and I hope all is well! I'm going to try and post some tonight and a bit more on this glorious three day weekend I am going to love soooooooo much. And I promise: I haven't and will never forget ya'll!!!!!

Good to see that you are keeping busy.

I like how you have kept your interests varied with acting, swimming and politics. That's a very healthy attitude!!

Have fun with all of your varied activities.

Good to hear from you Vdem! The play sounds like alot of fun, and I'm sure you'll do great with it.

Thanks for the update and hope to see more of your posts when things settle down a bit for you.

I know a lot of people have blogs (I've tired and fail miserably at maintaining one) but I don't and so:

VDemosthenes according to VDemosthenes-

Well, since last update, our school play was largely a success that sold out with standing room only two out of the three nights. Swimming Districts were good and Boys came in Second overall (). Hmm, what happened next? Oh, on December 8th we had our annual Drama Districts. The play I wrote got a superior and will be advancing to States in April. I am very excited about that and on Tuesday of this week I'll be meeting with my English and Drama teachers to heavily edit it (again) to make it as near-perfect as possible for States. Our group musical ("Coffee Break" from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying") is going to States as well and I'm pleased with that. My mother is having surgery on the 24th to correct back problems she has had since August. Cross Country starts on Monday and on my to watch list are the movies "The Murders in Rue Morgue" and "Frailty." Books on my waiting list include works by Pat Conroy, Aaron Allston, Timothy Zahn and Joyce Oates.

Um, could you explain that?

Sure, I like America but I don't like the idea of total governmental control that was established during and after the Civil War. I think that sectionalism for the sake of sectionalism is absurd but the ideals of smaller government in a region instead of an all powerful governing body such as ours is a little redundant since we have local and state authorities established so well.