Saxhleel26

Wasn't there a time when somewhere in Great Britain, it was legal to sell ice cream made from breast milk? London I think?

I ban myself for thinking this was a good idea.

I ban everyone, because it's the childish thing to do.

I ban the both of you for misspelling my username.

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." - Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

I ban Oblivionaddicted for banning a member that's already been banned and for insulting the good people of the root.

I ban myself because I can.

I feel like this is especially true. If we feel discouraged, it's often because things are handed to us or we do work for them, but establish a rhythm that does not allow us to grow. We're not challenged enough. Where's the adversity? Where's the struggle? Then, when we do go out into the world to seek these adversaries (consciously or otherwise), we sometimes shrink back into our shells where our video games, Netflix shows, and YouTube videos can shield us from the harsh realities we would rather ignore. Perhaps we feel unfulfilled. Perhaps we are too cynical. Maybe we need different perspectives to free us from our ruts. Maybe we need new challenges to free us from our minds.

That sounds phenomenal. Especially if you use the fatty, crispy scraps. GOOD GOD. There might finally be a way to end chicken's tyranny over pizza for good (except buffalo chicken. May they reign side-by-side in peace). I absolutely adore pork chops so I have to try this out myself sometime.

The only possible way is to grow them in underwater greenhouses housed within sea domes (I forget the name of them) and positioned on or near a plateau that is relatively close to the surface to allow the admission of light. You would need someway to desalinate seawater (unless you plan to ship fresh water via submarine, which is costly and unnecessary); -- there already exists complex machinery that can achieve this, on ships apparently. This of course requires energy, and unless it is solar powered, you would probably need to position it either near a thermal vent or an underwater volcano. Now this is assuming that it's a tree that thrives off of freshwater. Some trees, such as mangroves, thrive in estuaries where fresh water mixes with seawater, and in theory, could be adapted to underwater habitats (for what purpose, I don't know why but this is theoretical anyway). All you would need to do then is to provide the soil and to find someway to cycle the oxygen out of the habitat and replace it with carbon dioxide, unless you plan to have living beings there (likely), wherein a balance can be struck with oxygen and CO2 levels in the air through the very organisms that live within that environment. I won't discuss the engineering difficulties of constructing underwater sea domes since I understand very little of that, but I know that the weight of the ocean above the structure is the most "pressing" (heh) problem. Figure that out, and the rest is sure to happen. It is actually very doable. Not impossible in the least. The only restraints are financial and the very urgency to want to undergo such a task to begin with. Underwater cities are being discussed right now as possible alternatives for human habitation since we're also trying to figure out space habitation, so we could expect to see designs or projects for such settlements as soon as our own century.

I know exactly what you're going through because I've directly experienced it. When I was 15 (this was eleven years ago), I was here on the Nexus, and at that time I was a relatively new user. I was very different then -- much more brash and confident in myself and my abilities. I thought no one was smarter than I was. I knew everything. Of course I did, because how could I not? Everyone else just needed to catch up. Well, at that time, I had a VERY rude awakening that changed my life forever. I would never be the same again (thankfully). I met another member on this site named David, who in some respects was like my mentor, and he exposed me to the many gaps in my logic -- my vanity, my ignorance, how I had been brainwashed into believing what I was told instead of questioning it. He taught me to think for myself, an invaluable gift. It was then, and only then, that my eyes were opened. As I said, it had changed me, and it changed me COMPLETELY. When I saw how things really were, I lost faith in everything, everyone, and in myself. I lost my passion for history, when I saw the lies, and the half-truths, and the misinformation, and the sickening nationalistic propaganda they spoon-feed to us in America. Years later, I saw the same in the media (on both sides of the aisle) and I realized that our elections are not run by the principles upon which our country was founded and supposedly stands for. There is no liberty, no freedom, no rights (because they are really privileges; rights cannot be rights if they can be taken away from you). Money rules all and influences everything. That knowledge nearly ruined me; it destroyed everything that I was before, everything that I stood for and based my identity upon. I became cynical, pessimistic, misanthropic. I hated everyone, but there was no one I hated more than myself for living under that ignorance for so long. I am now in my mid-twenties. I am still working through the trauma of that time, but I firmly believe it has made me a better person and I would rather live it all again knowing what I know now than go back to who I was when I was younger. Eventually, I learned that I had to accept the nature of reality and the truth is that reality is very ugly and a very difficult thing to come to terms with. There are terrible people who live in this world, who exist for nothing more than themselves. Now that isn't necessarily a bad thing; it only becomes a problem when people take it to the extreme. I myself am aligned with the philosophy of Objectivism (loosely), championed by the controversial figure of her time, Ayn Rand. We are self-serving creatures -- it is just what we are. Not necessarily selfish (the extreme in my opinion), but a species that is inevitably self-interested. As the great chef and writer Anthony Bourdain once said, most people are not bad people: they simply want to live, and they want to live with decency, dignity, and security -- they want to provide for both themselves and for the people they care about the most. They are the self-interested, the majority among us. The rest want to take what does not belong to them: the sociopaths that run our world that care for one thing and one thing only: their wellbeing, to the point that they will sacrifice ANYTHING to get what they want or to protect what they already have. These are the selfish, the influential minority among us that make things difficult for the people around them. Not understanding this crucial difference opened the door for so much suffering in my life. It's as the saying goes: one bad apple spoils the bunch. But mankind is not rotten to its core; the majority is not spoiled simply because we look after ourselves first and that there are a few who look after themselves only. Know the difference and it will save you a lot of grief. It will help you to find more balance in our confusing world. It helped me. I shook off a lot of that cynicism and saw people as people first and not the mistakes they often make (myself included). At this point, I want to bring up a risky subject because it borders on the spiritual (which I know we're not suppose to discuss), but I speak of this in strictly scientific terms that, as far as I know, does not violate natural laws (which can be discussed). In 1844, the American writer Edgar Allan Poe published a short story called "Mesmeric Revelation" where the unnamed narrator hypnotizes one of his patients whom is on the brink of death so that he can communicate his experiences. They get into a very deep philosophical debate as to whether or not there's a higher being and the dying man expresses what is basically a complex form of pantheism. I was absolutely astonished to read this because it was written nearly two-hundred years ago, roughly around the time of when the Industrial Revolution was arriving in America and when the Age of Reason began to influence our society in a significant way. For Poe to have written about how everything (humanity, animals, the nature that we all reside in) is in some way connected, and in an earnest way that suggested that he really believed it; was very moving and it helped to establish a sense of peace within myself. I personally believe that Poe was correct: we are the part of the Universe that has the privilege of knowing of itself (as Carl Sagan more or less once said); that is the meaning of life: to get the chance to figure out what it all means and to choose for ourselves what our purpose is. Everything living is just a different perspective from which the same organism is experiencing itself; and we are the part that has the most to work with (assuming no other intelligent life exists). So whenever I hear about the awful things that happen in our world: murders, wars, political nonsense, media manipulation, etc. it makes me think that we are one organism that, for whatever reason, is fighting itself. The Universe likes balance; it hates uneven concentrations of matter and will seek to equalize it (equilibrium). Hence thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, air currents, osmosis in living cells, etc. And yet, we're here. For some reason, we are here. Life is a wrinkle in the fabric of space and time, an anomaly that shouldn't exist, and yet we do. The part of the Universe that fights itself, that's always trying to kill that one part of itself, and yet in doing so, gives itself the chance to experience its own self. That may sound crazy, or even depressing. To me, it is profound and confusing and strange, but profound nevertheless. There is contradiction and duality in many things, and somewhere between that confusing mess, is the life that we are allowed to live. I can't be sure how much of this you'll agree with or even read, but what I can be sure of is that the pain we feel is often due to what we do not understand or misunderstand. I think much of the suffering I went through (and that perhaps you are going through) is because of the lens through which we view things. Sometimes, all we need to do is shift our perspective and see things from another angle. Doing so helped to restore the humanity that I had lost years ago and I hope it will help you as well. Best of luck!

I myself do not like chicken on a pizza (I like it in my pasta), but I'm also one of those self-contradicting weirdos that doesn't like pineapples but who insists on putting it on his pizza. Some would call that blasphemy, but I rather like how the sour taste of a fruit that I detest mingles with the sweet taste of tomato sauce. Sour and sweet are contrasts, and thus a natural flavor combination, plus you got salt in there so it's pretty much the trifecta of a perfect pizza imao. So yeah... I use that as my humble excuse. :laugh: EDIT: Except for the barbeque pizza...it had chicken on it. And I'm dreaming of a buffalo chicken pizza, which just sounds absolutely divine right about now. WHO THE HELL AM I?!

Sorry, I've been MIA for awhile now. It's from a local bar near where I live (trust me, you've never heard of it) so no luck there. You could guess at it though; I don't think it would be too hard to replicate.

Sorry that I'm replying to this so late (I'm not very active on the Nexus). I thought it was interesting that you used footnotes; adds a bit of flavor to the story. Why'd you stop?

Howdy

If you're looking for truth, the truth is that we really don't know what's going on. I doubt that many people in the government even know what's going on. If you ask me (and you didn't), they're not the ones that are really in charge. Presidents are more like puppets and so are the Congressmen and the media outlets that claim to know what the other side doesn't. Money controls everything and we, the people without it, can pretend all we like that we have the answers, that we somehow know more than the people that disagree with us and we can sit confidently behind our computers, casually typing polite insults and passive-aggressive retorts and quietly convince ourselves that we've won the battle over truth and logic. Well, we haven't. The ugly truth is that other people own us. We are not as free and wise and successful as we fool ourselves into believing. The truth is terrifying, unkind, and there aren't many that can handle it. I say it's the truth, but then I would be a hypocrite wouldn't I? It's my modest opinion but I believe in it completely. The only ones who really know what's what are the ones that run the show and we may know their names or we may not. How can we, the unwashed billions without the privilege of knowledge, possibly know anything about the people that created and mastered this game so many years before our time? Either you willingly close your mind to the world and surrender to ignorance, or you devote yourself to learning what is real, finding that you cannot know what is, and you slip into madness and mental illness. It is not a game you can win because you and I have already lost. Conspiracy theories are either there to distract us and keep us guessing or they really do represent some kernel of truth, but then again why would that matter if we can't really be sure in the first place? Life is full of shades of grey. It's up to you to choose what you believe, but always remember that it's what you believe and that isn't the same as saying that it is something that you know. Can you handle that? It's not an easy pill to swallow.

Let me tell you something: I had a barbeque pizza for the first time the other day (all I can remember is the barbeque sauce I'm sad to say) and it was delectable. I was surprised, because I never thought replacing the tomato sauce like that would work but hot damn was it tasty.

The developers didn't rush the game on their own initiative and they're not making "excuses." They're getting a lot of flak over what they can't control and they were probably pressured by management to meet the expectations of their shareholders. The game had been in development for several years and was delayed multiple times. Whoever makes the executive decisions in that company (and that's not the people who made the game), they most likely wanted to meet a December deadline to reach those holiday sales and please their investors. It's a tale as old as time itself: greed and the incompetence that sometimes breeds. One only has to look at Fallout 76, itself a shining example of corporate greed, abuse of its own employees, and a blatant indifference towards its consumer base. CDPR looks to have made that same error. Hopefully, they aren't so foolish or reckless to keep it up. Hopefully, whoever is looking down at the chaos their choices have made will learn from their own mistakes, as well as Zenimax's example which just seemed intent on completely tarnishing Bethesda's reputation. But despite the harm to their once illustrious image and the legal fallout sure to ensue, there's still a chance at redemption here. But again, please don't blame the Devs. because they are just as pissed and outraged as the fans of this game are. They're the ones that have to deal with this bull. and the resulting PR storm. They worked hard on Cyberpunk; they don't deserve to have this happen to them. And it always seems like they get the blunt of the blame for decisions that they had no say in. I have no sympathies for their management, and they deserve what's coming to them, but unfortunately, what hurts them is going to hurt everyone. I feel for the Devs. They gave us the Witcher series. It's clear they're a passionate and hardworking bunch and to have this happen to them because of circumstances largely outside of their control is very unfortunate on their part. If I were them, I'd put in my two weeks and seek employment elsewhere.

If we are doomed to be puppets, then I hope we play our parts well at least. :D

Or perhaps, if you feel I will regret not going back, I don't think that will be the case. That time in Nexus' history was a good one, but most have moved on. It was what it was. It isn't coming back. Staying as Saxhleel means accepting that. Do profiles even care? Did Robin expect us to put so much existential significance in a damn account? Probably not. XD

I'm not sure if anyone is really wise. I believe the ancient Greek philosophers got the closest one could to what we call "wisdom", and that is when they admitted that we really don't know anything at all. We are limited by our perception of the world, which itself arises because of the biological systems that keep us alive. Our brains are a marvel of biology, but there are constraints. I think it was Plato and his Theory of Forms that illustrated this best by using his cave analogy. Perhaps everything is but shadows fluttering across the walls and what we grasp at, in our impossible attempts and struggles to understand, are but half-truths; just phantoms of a higher existence. As I've said in another thread, all we really have is what we believe. Everyone thinks that they know the answer. Everyone believes they have some significant truth that no one else is privy to. But just how aware are we really? We live but a short while, and all the while we while it away. We have conservations and we think they're important. We say something we think is clever or pertinent, and we think we're important. Even that one debater from Germany that placed so much importance in the president-elect. "THIS IS WHAT MATTERS." And as I said: what really matters doesn't matter much anymore. We are here. We exist. And what are we doing with it? Just mice in a maze chasing after cheese. Do we get to decide anything? "Out! Out! Brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." Anyway, I think I lost the plot somewhere along the way. I'm just rambling at this point. :) There were good memories here (that's why I'm back!) and there are bad ones too (which have their place). If regret is what you're driving at, I have none. I don't seek to erase what has happened, only to let it rest. This old horse simply prefers to leave the past where it is. "After all, time's arrow neither stands still nor reverses..."

Well that's the thing though. When I created this account, I didn't know my old one was still accessible. I suspected It because I voluntarily left, but I didn't KNOW. It was only after I fumbled through the forums and found it that I realized that I still could. Of course by then, it was too late. If the Mods insist, I'd rather have my old account banned and keep this one instead. Maybe it sounds silly, but that old account was just that: an old account, and by that I mean, it preserved a lot of who I was at that moment in time. I left the Nexus just before I entered my 20s. I was a very volatile, egotistical, and outright childish human being. David taught me much, but there was so much further I had yet to go. I've learned more since I traveled the world in that time in-between, but I am still very young and very ignorant (not stupid though). By now, you've gotten the sense that I'm trying to move past, well...the past. It may seem like such a small and insignificant thing, but it's just better to leave the old me where he deserves to be. I'm in a much better place now and I want it to stay that way. Never thought this would turn into a philosophical discussion, huh? Me either. XD

I remember Thor and Alien Slof; I believe the latter wrote several stories in Druids Garden. I seem to remember being impressed at the time. He (she?) was (is?) a great writer. As for my old account, if you're referring to why it can still be accessed, I'm not sure. I remember my password (pretty sure I never changed it) and I know I asked TheVampireDante to shut it down, so I just assumed it's lost. I'll have to ask one of the Mods to delete it, if it really matters. If you're referring to why I chose that avatar, I couldn't really tell you. I don't remember much about the boy (the child really) that I was. I guess I just adored New Vegas. It still happens to be my favorite Fallout game, because unlike Bethesda, Obsidian is actually capable of producing quality work these days imo. The one person I really want to find is David (SilverDNA). He was like my mentor in a way; he helped me to see that I have the ability to think for myself, that I shouldn't swallow all the dogmas and ideologies floating around these days. He gave me a very balanced worldview and I was lucky to know him when I did. Hope he returns one day. The forums now just feel quiet. :/ EDIT: God that song is so jarring, lol.