Best cure for heat related illness,

Skinny dipping in the Artic Circle!

I feel you Milanius, out here in corn country (Indiana), the heat is cooking people alive. I go to get in my car and i felt my steering wheel grip start to slid around. It's not supposed to slide around. I think it melted. Anyways, stay cool man, maybe the clouds will like you.

Mil: you ever heard of cloud seeding? Maybe you guys should consider petitioning to your local governments to test it out.

Hehe, this week looks very promising. My parents have gone camping for a week and hopefully my brothers decide to hang out with their friends rather then spend time at home. I want the house to myself

Party at Metal Mallet's place!

Anyway, today has been a very unusual day for me. Around here, normal August weather is in the high 70s to the high 90s (usually staying around the mid to high 80s). When I woke up this morning, it was 58 degrees. Instead of going up as the day progressed, the temperature started to slowly get lower. By the afternoon it had gone down to 53. It's a miracle. I was wearing a flannel shirt in August ... that never happens! This is fall weather! I am happy.

I went to fix my schedule today.

How in the nine hells do they only have ONE Ap English Literature class when there were 40 to 50 something kids in AP English Language and Composition? Something's wrong here... unless a bunch of people dropped that class or something.

I'll have to live with my schedule. It's not exactly what I wanted, but I'll just have to live.

Hehe, I am having a party of some sorts. My friend's band asked if they could have their CD release party over at my place and I was more than happy to allow them. They got a myspace, so I may as well give ya a link if you people are interested in modern rock that is oftentimes acoustic.

Union of Lanterns Myspace

I'm working on a story, not a screenplay right now, because I just finished harry Potter 7 and that's what I want to do. It's post-apocalyptic kind of setting 1,000 years in the future where basically civilization survives around the poles and the middle of the earth has become a Badlands. The former united states army are split into classes based on how they were genetically mutated and for purposes which coincidentally make them look like Orcs, Trolls and Goblins. They roam around in packs driving modified version of their old devices.

It's kind of a mystery as human beings struggle to find lost techonology which they refer to as "secrets" hidden within our old civilization's ruins. There are civilizations which chose to go underground and live in cities like Zion from the matrix, the female protagonist is from such a city. Something breaks and their city pretty much gets a death sentence unless it can be repaired so she sets off with someone but he gets sick and has to turn back.

She runs into a character name Kendel, who's a member of the Watchmen, a revolutionary organization attempting to overthrow the fascist, imperial Antartic aristocrats. The main plotline along with her need to save her city is the corruption of governments survivng in the Arctic region as they greedily seek secrets in order to become more powerful than each other.

So that's the entire thing as I can put it. Oh, there are also elves in a way, the genetically enhanced aristocratic governing class of Antartica. Dark elves are represented too, as the genetically enhanced that chose to oppose to aristocrats and were either cleansed or disappeared.

Hey but I'm always looking for ideas. If anyone can think of cool types of lost technology that civilization could acquire, or types of obstacles that could exist in the badlands, that'd be great.

Sounds good. I've always wanted to read something along the lines of "Future Fantasy" with elves and orcs and whatnot. Is this just a short-ish story or are you writing a novel?

Sounds very cool, Doomie. Don't forget to put dwarves in there somewhere. Gotta have the kings of underground commerce around.

Or some kind of mythical flying beast..... dragons would be preferable, but some kind of giant eagle will suffice!

You could also work in today's problems like global warming and overpopulation....

Sounds very interesting...you could have them find a nuke...

Yeah, on overpopulation, I think that 21% of people don't even know about the problem. Then 58% don't care (they'd say it in a more colorful way). And 15% know about overpolulation and can't do anything political about it. Finally six persent are politicians who know about the problem but are too mixed up in their personal agendas/unwilling to make it a priority.

That's just my guestimate (sp.) and may or may not have any evidence supporting it.

I spent my time reading 'Return of the King' for the apromaxely (sp?) 11th time. Now I don't need to read it - I can recall everything that happened! (Oh no, forgot one word - must go back and re-read...)

Yeah. Summer isn't one of the most entertaining times of the year for me. The biggest thing I've done so far is go to some island that has lots and lots of sand-dunes. Man, was it pretty...

OMG... 11th time? xD i've read it only once..U should play oblivion or something, if u are bored..

Oh, and by the way guys, I'm not online very often anyway, but I'm leaving to spend my time in the beach, 4 a few days.. I don't think u will notics that:P anyway, see ya later

Oblivion is the kind of 'If you play it non-stop it'll get extremely boring three months later' game, so I play it not that much. Plus, the awesomness of Battle of Pelenor Fields is guaranteed to keep me entertained.

Have a good time on the beach! Don't let the mudcrabs eat you!

*Walks in, looking like a Redguard.*

Howdy folks, I'm back! So that was my vacation. Rather wet (rain) but I managed to exploit the few sunny days alright.

I read the whole LOTR series twice, including the Hobbit. (Go Bilbo!)

The battle of Pelenor Fields, was that the one between the Rohirrim and the Orcs in front of Minas Tirith? If so, it was dang cool. Except for the 'I'm not a man, I'm a woman' thing. I hate it when uber badass villains are stopped by something simple as the meaning of one single stupid word.

Great to have you back, Cloudy. As for LOTR, I've only seen Return of The King and haven't read any of the books. I like Peter Jackson mostly, because of King Kong.

Yeah, that's Pelenor Fields. Near Minas Tirith, it was dang cool, but the fact that Witch-King of Angmar was killed by a woman was pretty... well, I agree. After reading about the prophecy I expected something different, like an uberly cool battle between Witch-King and Gandalf. That would've topped the whole battle...

That would've also worked better, since Gandalf isn't even of man-ish (or whatever) nature.

Speaking of movies, I've only seen Fellowship of the Ring. It included Balrog, one of the awesomest creatures in my opinion!

The way I interpreted that part (I'm not a man) was that the prophecy itself was a myth and that the evil forces weren't quite as powerful as they would like to believe, not that he could be killed only by women.

I read The Hobbit (Bilbo will always be my favortie hobbit) and The Lord of the Rings back in the 1970's. Back when we had no idea that such an expansive and fanciful book could ever be made into a movie. So yuo can imagine the joy of my generation, when technology caught up to imagination and the movies were made!

Well, that was the most obvious loop-hole, what's the opposite of a man? Anyway, I'll need to watch the other movies sometime....

By the way, I haven't read Fellowship of the Ring for some time, but I think that in the book they didn't see the skeletons of Dwarves right away after entering Moria, right?

As for hobbits, I never really liked them, but my favorite has to be Pippin...But that's because he has something to do with Gondor, and the Gondorians are my favorite race (I'd guess they're technically a branch of a race...)

As for favorite character if choosing from all, then Gandalf would be my favorite, followed by Witch-King and Faramir.

Oh, and if I mentioned the Witch-King, then I can start talking about Nazguls in general... I wish the Ringwraiths were actually named. I know there was one, who's describbed as the second in command of Nazgul, his name begins with a K I believe, he was mentioned in 'The Unfinished Tales' I think... but none other were named. If 'Witch-King of Angmar' doesn't count as a name, which I rather doubt.

Well Gaius, here is something we both can relate to:

The Tolkien fan base has named them by general acception:

1) El-Murazor (Witch King)*
2) Dwar of Maw
3) Ren the Unclean
4) Khamul the Black Easterling (Controled Dol Guldor in Mirkwood until Sauron's spirit fled.)*
5) Ji Indur
6) Akhorahil
7) Hoarmurath
8) Adunaphel
9) Uvatha the Blind Sorceror

That's the current names of the nine, the ones with the * mean those are Tolkien's names.

Anyways, there's a whole history about the Nine's lives as men before they faded into Wraiths.

Hurray, finally can't campaign for the student association council election anymore! I think I will get in and a lot of other people think so too. Elections tomorrow and Thursday so I can't campaign on election days and I am finally FREE!!

Witch-King should've been named Akatosh, seeing as both are leaders of the Nine.

Yeah, that was a bad joke...

But anyway, I think I'll be at least a bit correct by saying that they were lords in Numenor before Sauron presented them Nine Great Rings?

The Witch King was not of Numenorian blood, he came from a land called Angmar, where the Barrows are in the Fellowship of the Ring. Frodo encountered a prince of the land of Angmar before it was destroyed by Isildur in the second age.

Khamul was a Easterling that obviously came from the East, therefore, could not be Numenorian. He gladly accepted the ring, as did El-Murazor.

The other seven were gradually given rings, not all at once. The nine fought Gandalf and the White Council late in the Second Age, before the death of Isildur. They disappeared with the loss of the ring, and went into hiding in Minas Morgul.

Sauron gave the dwarves rings too, as the movie and books dictate. Here is the lowdown on the power of each of the rings.

(3) Elven Rings: Grants control over element in nature, Narya, Nenya, Vilya
(7) Dwarven Rings: Corrupted good character, turned dwarved greedy and deceitful, which is why Durin dug so deep and awoke the Balrog, Durin's Bane. All but two were destroyed or lost.
(9) Rings of Men: Mastery of sorcery and strength in battle, corrupted the spirit and turned them into a fade. Also, granted passage into the world that Sauron created, a mirror world that is shadows and darkness. All were destroyed in the fall of Sauron.

Gandalf ended up with Narnya, the ring of Fire, given to him by Cirdain the Shipwright, to help Gandalf with his quest after he was reincarnated.

Yes, about Dwarves and rings, I recall that the Dwarves were said to be too strong to sucumb to Sauron's will and serve him, but they still became corrupted by gold, the only thing that Sauron could do about them.

Also, for the Balrog, I heard somewhere that it may have been awakened already by Sauron's evil, the Dwarves only set it free.

Also, if you've mentioned Gandalf, then I can start talking about East-Helper (Rómestámo) and Darkness-Slayer (Morinehtar). I heard that they both suceeded in their missions. So I believe that means they'll be returning to Undying lands, like Gandalf, I guess?

Let me put on my English major hat- <ahem>

The business about the Witch-King being "unkillable" is a reflection of MacBeth with the whole Wyrd Sisters "None of woman born shall harm Macbeth" prophecy. Of course, MacDuff was born by Caesarian section ("from his mother's womb untimely ripped").

The whole point of prophecy (and wishes) is that the wording is VERY important (and open to interpretation).

For me, I most loved Theoden's call to battle- "A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!"

I was scanning another forum and found a link to this funny video on YouTube. Here it is. Both my parents think it is funny also.

Dang Youtube never works for me. Bloody internet.

But since we're having a major discussion about LOTR, is it the one where they fire Frodo by catapult?

The title is 'Red Dwarf - Ace Rimmer', and since the beginning includes a German Aircraft, I doubt it's LotR-themed, but it might just be something about traveling into Middle-Earth, and stuff. Dang my slow internet, unable to load faster...


I see. But still, Gandalf would've been cooler. Too bad we never got to see Gandalf's powers to greater extent than just scaring off the Fell Riders or break the bridge in Moria. But since he managed to kill Balrog in his Grey form, a feat that not many could complete, I'd guess his White form had to be even more powerful, assuming he was sent down with new powers.

As for my favorite moment, it would either be the Grond's appearing or part where Theoden stroke down the Haradrim's flag and its bearer.

Ah, too bad. That movie (slideshow) was just too damn funny. Crap, if only I knew where I saw it.

As for Gandalf, I love him except for one thing. Too much swordplay. I know that he doesn't fling fireballs all the time but seriously, not even Gandalf should outmelee Aragorn.

Oh, and I found the chasing of the fell riders rather lame in the movies. The damn pseudo-dragons got scared by a lighthouse.

Funny/cool Gandalf bits.

Gandalf whacking Theoden on the head. ,,Go sane, you idiot!" (Bonk!)
Gandalf on the bridge. ,,You shall not pass!!!!" (BOOOMM!!)
Gandalf in Moria against Peppin/Merry (I forgot.) ,,You fool of a Took! Next time, throw yourself in!" Ok, so it was Peppin.
Gandalf with the fireworks.
Gandalf with Bilbo in the hobbit. (note, this is not the literal text but it kinda shows what happened.) ,,Hi, I am an old wizard who is here with a whole gang of dwarves and we want you to come with us on an adventure. Near certain death, it will be fun! Oh, and don't ask why we picked you despite countless better people. Oh, and forget your handkerchief, you won't need it."

Oh, and more Moria. I just never managed to understand how a battle in freefall, fought under/inside a mountain, managed to end on top of a completely different mountain. Interdimensional warping?

Actually, the bane of Durin and Gandalf fell into water after some time falling down, where they fought more according to the book. Balrog's flame went out, se he was weakened loads, and fled after a fight. Gandalf pursued, the Balrog now his hope (The Bane of Durin should've known the surroundings well, having spent some time there). Finally, after climbing a huge stair, the pair ended up on the mountain, where balrog once again lighted up, resuming their fight. Following that, Gandalf killed him, then died himself due to the wounds.

As for Gandalf/Swordsplay thing, Aragorn is more than 100 years old. Gandalf is more than several thousand years old. I think he had time, since the wizard don't age (Or age ver slowly, so slowly they're immortal). Or at least that's how I explain it.

Ok, good explanation except for the Aragorn being over 100 years old thing. Is he really that old? I thought he was a normal human (well, almost normal), so with a normal lifespan. I always guessed him at being in his thirties during the great war.

So Gandalf can be one hell of a swordfighter. Ok, but I still want to see him trip over his beard someday. That would be hilarious.

Aragorn is a Dunedain, of the Royal Bloodline - Dunedain live longer than normal humans, as seen in a dialogue between Gandalf and Aragorn - I don't recall it completely, but it was something like 'When those that will soon be born will grow old, I will grow old as well.' This indicates that if he was reffering to Gondorians (Who live a bit longer than other men, 100 and a bit up), then he has another hundred of years to live. Also, Aragorn's age is shown in a line somewhat like this, though not completely: 'Even to the ones of the old Palace I am not young...' following that was something unrelated to our discussion.

Gandalf tripping over his beard? Oh, that would be truly hilarious! 'Die, Balrog... Oh no! Stupid beaaaa... (Flies off the mountain)' or perhaps 'I will defeat you, Witch-King! (Swings, tripps on beard, lands on Witch-King and kills him) Wow... Well, that'll work as well.'

God I hate people. And I hate underclassmen pseudo goths who decide wearing a Tool tshirt would be cool even though they don't listen to the damn band because they saw me wearing a Tool tshirt last year even more.

Seriously, I don't see how some people manage to breathe. Urgh....

Yeah, this is my incomprehensible ranting of the day. I got annoyed. Whoohoo.

Zarr is your hair purple yet? Talk about that ... I've been waiting to hear.

Tool is a sweet band. I saw them live a little while ago and they simple blew my mind. Just hearing songs like Lateralus, Wings For Marie/10,000 Days, 46 and two, and Jambi live simply amazed me.

Just be happy that they're spreading the word that Tool is a sweet band.

Now if people only wore more Insomnium shirts....

But they don't even listen to the band, which is completely bonking stupid. Bad as the people who wear Led Zeppelin tshirts and don't even really listen to the band.

My hair? Didn't feel like frying it for one thing, since it's (mostly) dyed black. Would have had to bleach it first... or strip out the black chemically.

Thus seriously frying my hair.

Ahh, I understand. I didn't know that you had dyed it black already. I would do a maroon rinse for mine, but I really don't know how long a rinse would last or if it really all would wash out eventually. Oh well.

I just won the election for an executive position on the student's association of my university. So now I am getting paid $3'000 to govern a $6 million organisation and act as a union representative for 16'000 students...I should get paid more...

But now I can start making my army of super monkeys and sharks, with my global warming plan going smoothly, the citizens of florida will soon be underwater for my sharks to eat while the monkeys will hunt down those who tried to flee.

Don't forget to attach lasers to their heads!

Uh-oh... here we go again with an arms race between Pisces and Ibis. Leave my lazer-fitted Albertasauruses out of it!

I've just finished my slackware 12 install. Yay! It was a few days to get it all sorted out. The linux itself was a quick install. The real work for me was the compilation of all of the programs I use that are not part of that distro. However, it is all done at last! I'm a happy blockhead.

Real quick Istari (Wizards/Lesser Maiar of Middle Earth and Beleriand) facts that are cool:

Five wizards during the Second Age:

Radagast the Brown (Aspect Nature)
Sarumon of Many Colors (Aspect of Perception)
Mithradir (Gandalf) (Aspect of Wisdom)
Orond the Blue (Tricky to classify, basically both these last two wizards were sent into the East to try and find out about the Easterling's magic, yes, the Easterlings had their own magic)
Ollowe the Blue (But basically, these two Blue Wizards were presumed dead, I think Gaius has there Names according to Men, the only wizard to leave Middle Earth via the Grey Havens was Gandalf, Radagast elected to stay, Sarumon was destroyed by the hobbits (pretty funny), and the other two havent been heard from for two Ages)

Then there is that whole thing with Tom Bombadil.

You know what's strange? Getting a scab from a trampoline burn (basically a friction burn I guess) which essentially only broke the skin, but didn't cause any bleeding. But, when this scab is prematurely broken (it's on my elbow so I bump it into things because I forget it's there) it bleeds. It annoys me that my healing process causes me to bleed more than my actual injury in the first place!

Grr!

As far as I know of Radagast, he failed being a wizard and abandoned the ways because of nature, though 'his failure wasn't as great as Saruman's and he may someday return to the Undying Lands' or something.

As for the two Blue Wizards, at first it was said that two wizards (Don't recall the names right now, but I think they're the ones you've mentioned) failed pretty much like Saruman, being tempted by the power. But then later, there were two wizards under the names I have somewhere in my post, and they were said to have been sucesful pretty much like Gandalf and alive, it's just that the maps of Lord of the Rings didn't reach their locations, since the story was focused mostly around West if I'm correct.

Hi!
Just want to say I´m back again! Yes yes, I do travel a lot, but that´s the meaning of life I think!

Anyway, it´s so darn good to be back here again!

Welcome back minque! It's always nice to see your frequent posting around here.

Also, though I might be mistaken. I believe that Saruman was originally Saruman the white. I believe I remember something along the lines of Gandalf being surprised and shocked when Saruman suddenly revealed he was no longer the white, but now of all colours.