Random Thought Thread

[Skinz4Life12]

Yeah, after thinking about it, I'd take my chances with Nemesis/Hunter, with better weapons, and less risky clue hunting/life or death puzzle solving. In Silent Hill, they'd give you a freaking can opener and a flashlight and tell you to beat Straitjacket/Needler, Pyramid Head, etc. Don't even get me started on the bosses, and running around in 2 depressing/terrifying alternate realities.

i'd probably go raccoon city as well but primarily because I don't understand the concept behind Silent Hill. (the alternate realities) I only saw parts of the movie

[Mr. Sinister]

i'd probably go raccoon city as well but primarily because I don't understand the concept behind Silent Hill. (the alternate realities) I only saw parts of the movie

Well I haven't played all of them (Just Homecoming, The Room, and the 1st one), but it's basically the same elements in every one. It's kind of hard to grasp, considering that it's a combination of many things ( classic japanese horror, occultism, psychology,religion/religous herecy, revenge, etc)

Basically, the underlying concept is sin, and the outward manifestation of it.

Check out the wiki to get a better understanding of it. The movie is pretty much based off of the 1st Silent Hill, only this time, the protagonist is a female instead of a male. It'll take you at least three viewings to sort of get an idea of what's going on in the film adaptation. There is another one coming out in October that's supposed to be a continuation of the first film. If you've ever seen the movie Jacobs Ladder, it's kind of like that. In fact, Homecoming bears quite a few striking similarities to Jacobs Ladder.

Oh yeah, in the main Silent Hill games (what the movie was based on) the alternate realities (Fog World/Otherworld) are Alessa's way of punishing those who wronged her, after she made a deal with "Dark Alessa" or to keep it simple, pure evil, The Devil, etc. It's all an outward manifestation of her anger/fear/guilt, and she uses it to continuously torment everyone. Every monster in Silent Hill is a grotesque depiction of a particular character in her story, and how she views them. Basically, they're all traped in a neverending nightmare.

[Skinz4Life12]

I started playing the room and I couldn't figure out how to get past the opening sequences of the game. It also creeped me out because I couldn't kill the monsters and they kept getting back up so I got frustrated and stopped playing it

[Mr. Sinister]

I started playing the room and I couldn't figure out how to get past the opening sequences of the game. It also creeped me out because I couldn't kill the monsters and they kept getting back up so I got frustrated and stopped playing it

are you talking aout the feral dogs once you meet the chick after crawling through the hole in the wall?

[Koolblue13]

Any time I log in and it doesn't load and says service unavailable, my first thought is somewhere between "for that?" and "wtf did I say now?", even though I know what the GTFO ban looks like.

[Teller]

I just learned that my best friend on this earth has a "severely herniated disc" between his C6 and C7, which is putting pressure on his spinal cord, and another nerve. Obviously, he'll need surgery, but will be putting it off until next month when his GF has a week off and can be home with him. He's one of the toughest people I know; but he's in quite a good bit of pain, which makes me sick.

Any prayers, good thoughts/vibes, or healing energy y'all could send his way would be GREATLY appreciated.

[FanboyOf91]

~~~Good vibes incoming, HH. ~~~

[Teller]

Thanks kindly, 91.

[skinsmarydu]

I just learned that my best friend on this earth has a "severely herniated disc" between his C6 and C7, which is putting pressure on his spinal cord, and another nerve. Obviously, he'll need surgery, but will be putting it off until next month when his GF has a week off and can be home with him. He's one of the toughest people I know; but he's in quite a good bit of pain, which makes me sick.

Any prayers, good thoughts/vibes, or healing energy y'all could send his way would be GREATLY appreciated.

All good comin his way...I avoided surgery by the skin of my teeth. He has my "good happiness stuff"=Steve Vai, greatest living guitarist

[Teller]

All good comin his way...I avoided surgery by the skin of my teeth. He has my "good happiness stuff"=Steve Vai, greatest living guitarist

Thanks very much.

And damn. I just received a facebook message from an old friend I hadn't talk to in a while. He's having surgery to remove a malignant tumor from one of his kidneys Monday. Caught early, and the doc says just surgery, no chemo or radiation.

Moral of the story: If you value your health, discontinue your friendship with me. *sigh*

In all seriousness though, I know they'll both be ok.

---------- Post added September-20th-2012 at 11:02 PM ----------

On a lighter note, how long until someone registers the board name, "FAU_91Mazda?"

[skinsmarydu]

Please give my best to your friends, HH. Pain is what it is...effing painful. And there's no easier way to say it. I'm so sorry for them, I know it's not easy for care-takers, either, please send my best to them as well. If anyone needs an ear, you know (when I'm not at work) I'm always here...

[Dr. Do Itch Big]

I feel powerless. **** I hate this feeling.

[Koolblue13]

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I
attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.

See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.
Maybe we were too much alike.

I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."
____________ _________ _________ _________

To Whomever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't
matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.

Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."

He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive.

I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he
loved me.

If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,

Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver
Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my
face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.

"So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.

"Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"


Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

---------- Post added September-21st-2012 at 06:51 AM ----------

I just learned that my best friend on this earth has a "severely herniated disc" between his C6 and C7, which is putting pressure on his spinal cord, and another nerve. Obviously, he'll need surgery, but will be putting it off until next month when his GF has a week off and can be home with him. He's one of the toughest people I know; but he's in quite a good bit of pain, which makes me sick.

Any prayers, good thoughts/vibes, or healing energy y'all could send his way would be GREATLY appreciated.

A great friend of mine has Occipital Nueralgia caused by C1 and C2 pinching the nerves. I knew he was sck for a while, but last night he told me what it is. He hasn't been to work in months and can't get out of bed some days. I feel awful for him.

[gbear]

I have one more thing to add to my ever growing list of things I don't understand. Last time I was at Hopkins, I offered to pay my deductible as I have had enough trips lately to know it by heart right along with the insurance number, but I was told "No, we send everything through our billing department. After it goes through your insurance, you will get a bill for the remainder." When I asked, she said Hopkins pays on average somewhere between $40 and $50 to collect on each bill taking into account all of the administrative costs of mailing out and dealing with delinquents / uncollectibles.

However, this isn't the part I don't understand. What I don't understand is why this week I get 3 separate bills. $20 for the visit, $7.05 hospital charge, and $2 for the blood tests. If I understand the admin correctly, Hopkins spent between $120 and $150 to collect $29 from me which I offered to pay at the time of service. Now there is some private sector efficiency.

[Kosher Ham]

Same concept of us still using pennies gbear. Just doesn't make much sense.

From what I understand...they always go through your insurance first and then send you the balance to be paid. Seems as if that would be pretty easy to figure out for them in minutes. They know what they cover and if there is a dispute on that number...you wait to pay until all is cleared up.