Magic Mage Threads

[Kaitscralt]

That said, she is a necessary piece of the Salvation puzzle, along with other such greats as Ravarshi, Soron, Xenphire, Annorax, Teialore, Yomako, and all the rest.

[Corruption Watch]

Tell me the duck Ravarshi story.

[Pendulum]

Well, let me see what I can remember:
First off, for the longest time the guy had, as his avatar, a selfie of himself, standing in a graveyard, wearing a Columbine black duster with a long knife (I think it might have been a ninjata, but can't be sure), the blade tightly pressed against his own neck... as his avatar... for more than 2 years. And that's just his avvy.
His posts, especially from circa 2008-2011, were just over the top creeper, as well. For instance, let's take a look at my personal favorite:
Now, this post is in a lighthearted thread about who would win in a battle between Betty White and Galspanic (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=7987271).. nobody is taking it seriously, when suddenly he jumps in with this gem:

i'm with galspanic on this
one, but only because i've seen betty's death. 4 years 300 days and counting.

...and if you're looking at the thread, what you should be paying attention to is the fact that nobody is even paying attention to this batshit insane comment he made, because by that point we're all so used to shit like this it doesn't even register on our creeperometers. He would consistently come into threads seemingly with the sole purpose of emo'ing them up, and succeeded at that goal more often than not, just by dint of the psychopathy he could produce... at one point I truly thought about creating a thread "What do I do with that half of a dead hooker I have in my truck" just to see how fast the dude could give me a detailed wall of text on the subject, probably including bullet points and full annotation, a la wikipedia. I remember using the Mod CP back when I had access to it to filter his debate posts down and ending the session by thinking about calling
Homeland Security on him; he obviously hated the government and in fact any authority figure, and was not at all shy about telling everyone exactly what he would do about it given half a chance (hint: it involved, in no particular order: a) lots of gunfire b) home made napalm c) a shack in the woods where he could hide out for a while afterwards).
I think the basic principle can be summed up thusly: back when we were going through that whole "Kijin is raging it up about death-threat kid and the the resulting neckbeard clusterfuck aftermath" thing, a person came forward to me in a private conversation with the statement "To be honest, the only thing that really surprises me about the whole thing is that it wasn't Ravarshi."

Let me hasten to add, though, that the above is just the groundwork so that people with Old Gutter access can dig out the thread(s?) about him and his individual posts without having to work on backstory while they're doing it... there is so, so, so much
more, and no one person could tell the whole story; putting too much concentration on that guy would be like living in an H.P. Lovecraft story where the knowledge would drive you so insane you'd start eating your own skin.

[Kaitscralt]

for me it was just the photo

[Pendulum]

Aha, found it! It's his goddamn Amazon avatar, wtf?


Edit- actually the whole GIS is pretty damn descriptive.:
https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm ... 3djw4ZL1PI

[Corruption Watch]

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/member.php?u=20620

[Stardust]

Ravarshi.

You forgot that he believed he was a reincarnation of a dragon. His soul was literally that of a dragon. He even went so far as to give others advice on finding their inner spirit etc etc. Somehow that was always creepier to me than all his other psycopathic comments.

[Captain Murphy]

I found it creepy to have a full conversation about what he would do in real life if given the option to actually fuck a shark chick or some form of furry animal. Stay strong magecraft, I'm sure the dragon reincarnated, knife wielding grave robber is a great addition to your admin staff.

[Corruption Watch]

Isn't everyone at Magecraft an Admin?

[Kaitscralt]

This thread isn't a Debate or Entertainment thread, and it is particularly for anyone of any significant amount of Asian descent.

What is 'racism'? When is 'racism' racism?

To put this into some context, for instance, recently, there has been some furore over an episode of the comedy How I Met Your Mother (episode title: "Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra"). Media all over the world have reported on the episode (e.g., the BBC), and there has even been a Twitter hash-tag thing going on (#howimetyourracism).
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBC
www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/25755552

Three of the cast had make-up, costumes and accents which some viewers said were inappropriate, leading to the Twitter hashtag "#HowIMetYourRacism".

The writers said they now realised that "along the way we offended people&
quot;.

In the episode Jason Segal's character Marshall travelled to China, where he met with characters from kung fu films, played by three of the regular cast.

Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders and Alyson Hannigan were accused of using "yellowface" - the practice of using make-up to make white actors appear more East Asian.

...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Times
http://entertainment.time.com/2014/0...acism-charges/

Monday’s episode of How I Met Your Mother didn’t quite elicit the reaction the creators were hoping for. The episode—which featured Marshall (Jason Segel) meeting three characters from a Kung Fu movie, played by the show’s other (white) stars, Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders and Alyson Hannigan—prompted viewers to protest the casts’ stereotypical Asian costumes and accents. It wasn’t long before the hashtag #HowIMetYourRacism began appearing on Twitter and, according to the
Hollywood Reporter.
For anyone that has actually viewed the episode, do you believe the episode has any notable racism? How much? Why? (Are you Asian? If so, how much so?)

What can you comment on racism in daily life as well as in popular culture?


I have been a long-time viewer of HIMYM and, while I am of part Asian heritage, I do not believe that it is at all reasonable to be up in arms about the episode. It isn't the unproud and 'white-washed' that feel this way; instead, I feel that anyone who has taken offence has no appreciation of the clear homage to Hong Kong kung fu cinema or of humour. Such people have taken this far too seriously and are too sensitive.

As for daily life, I get no more and no less than your average person. Regarding popular culture, it is demonstrable that Asian people are not usually portrayed well, if they are even represented. In fact, another comedy television show that I watch, Community, made this precise comment in one of their more recent episodes.

[Kaitscralt]

[Kaitscralt]

part asian heritage

[Kaitscralt]

[imopen2]

this might be the 2nd best thread on this site

[Kaitscralt]

The forums have too many words but not enough pictures, so I am hoping we could start sharing some of our original pictures/photos here.

I should be uploading some photos of food, beverages, or something in a while. I need to work out something with my camera phone first.

[Kaitscralt]

[Pendulum]

[Corruption Watch]

Magic Mage vs Sheriff Gals

GOGOGO!

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthre ... p=11647245

[Corruption Watch]

Some hilarious opening jabs from both sides.

MM: What is the staff's position on altered cards?
Gals: "I need to make sure we are working with mutually understood definitions since this question comes up a lot and there are a lot of answers because of those varying definitions of the word 'alter'" but under no circumstances will I give you a straight answer.

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for someone to point out that even though he seems to have appointed himself as the voice of MTGS on this topic, Gals himself alters cards for cash which of course means there is a massive conflict of interest here.

[Kaitscralt]

Been doing some reading into censuses and educational attainment, as education is fairly important in everything we do (and, for me, it is necessary to do a policy assignment).

For this discussion, simply post your age / age range (can't expect teens to have completed college after all), highest level of educational attainment and sex. Thanks for your compliance.
Spoiler:
In 3rd decade of life. You can donate to my collection for my walker or other mobility device.
Doctorates
F, not for father
An organisation that is important to me uses this:
Quote:
Postgraduate degree level
Graduate diploma and graduate certificate level
Bachelor degree level
Advanced diploma and diploma level
Certificate level
Senior secondary education (e.g., Year 12, Senior Secondary Certificate of Education)
Junior secondary education (e.g., Year 10)
Primary education
Pre-primary education
Other education
No education
However, I
understand that perhaps using the US system would be better. Census.gov breaks education thus:

Quote:
None
1st - 4th grade
5th - 6th grade
7th - 8th grade
9th grade
10th grade
11th grade
High school graduate
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree, occupational
Associate's degree, academic
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Professional degree
Doctoral degree
Of course, it has been suggested that the experience at some schools is more rigorous than that those at others, so...

Anyway, yeah, education seems important to me, and I am sure there's much I could say about it and plenty of people who have said things better than I ever could and therefore must quote. However, I haven't thought it to be my life's calling to be involved in teaching itself. I do, however, think I may veer towards policy as well as community efforts, in addition to, you know, my actual vocation.

[Kaitscralt]

[Pendulum]

The best kind of MM threads are the ones where you have no idea what the fuck she's trying to say, until you realize that neither does she.
Also, *gender.

[Kaitscralt]

It doesn't matter what she is trying to say as long as she sounds smart trying to say it.

[Kaitscralt]

I'm tempted to check page two for more threads, I remember she wanted to know about people's sex lives.

[Kaitscralt]

I am somewhat pragmatic with watches and can be found wearing the watches below.

Frankly, I am ambivalent over watches. One part of me knows that they still matter and are indicators of something or other (wealth, class, sophistication, style, fashion); another part wants no part of many things, including, though not necessarily, conspicuous consumption or makes me so pig-headed about being 'pragmatic'.

Needless to say, my parents, thinking that I do not appreciate it, are disappointed that I do not wear a watch they bought me as graduation gift. (It is not even a luxury item; in fact, it is a specialist watch. )


On another note, although now that everyone has a phone and can use it to check the time, I still rely on my watch a lot. It's like a tic.

[Kaitscralt]

[Pendulum]

[quote="Kaitscralt » Fri Jan 31, 2014 5:36 pm"]I am somewhat pragmatic with watches and can be found wearing the watches below.

Frankly, I am ambivalent over watches. One part of me knows that they still matter and are indicators of something or other (wealth, class, sophistication, style, fashion); another part wants no part of many things, including, though not necessarily, conspicuous consumption or makes me so pig-headed about being 'pragmatic'.

Needless to say, my parents, thinking that I do not appreciate it, are disappointed that I do not wear a watch they bought me as graduation gift. (It is not even a luxury item; in fact, it is a specialist watch. )


On another note, although now that everyone has a phone and can use it to check the time, I still rely on my watch a lot. It's like a tic.[/
quote]
"Somewhat pragmatic" is an oxymoron. -5% "Frankly ambivalent" is also an oxymoron. -5% Same with "pig-headed about being 'pragmatic.'" While we're at it, 'pig-headed' in most forms is incompatible with pragmatism... that's kind of the whole point of the words. -10% Something that you did not buy cannot, by definition, provide you feelings of conspicuous consumption. -5% "Needless to say" followed by a stream of modifiers that nullify both the phrase and the modifying statements -5% An entire essay about the use of watches in society and she still feels the need to state, in parentheticals no less, that it "is not even a luxury item". Also "specialist watch" needs some kind of explanation to separate it from all watches ever. -10% "On
another note" is simply incorrect; the whole production is about the value of watches in society... again. -5% "It's like a tic." has a lot of problems. First, it's offensive and unecessary, as well as being overly personal (like she wants us to tell her she's fucked up in the head); second, it's incorrect: she's clearly referring to an OCD-like disorder, and OCD sufferers do not have tics.. they have 'reps' if you don't mind sounding vaguely offensive, or 'rechecks' if you want to avoid sounding like a douche; third, the use of the comparative 'it's like a' is likewise incorrect.. a tic has no comparable and thus something cannot be 'like a tic'.. again, offensive and unnecessary. -15% 60%, grade: F.

[Kaitscralt]

She even missed the cheesy 'toc' joke she could has added to the last bit. f -

[imopen2]

I also don't understand her point.

She wears watches

Look at my watches

But she doesn't like watches

But her parents are mad that she doesn't wear watches

But she obsessively checks her watch

[Sir Sapphire the 3rd]

Who watches the Watches

[Kaitscralt]

[Kaitscralt]

I was watching a repeat episode of a TV programme with Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell. It was on religion, and the episode explored Bibleman. (If you have to Goopedia/Wikigle it, perhaps it's not worth replying or please preface your answer with that fact.)

So, as the title says, is it a joke or a satire? If not, do you believe that it delivers a very Christian message or is it appropriate? I have watched a few episodes ( time is ... something? something is something else?) on double-speed, and it seems awfully un-Christian, violent and hateful, for example.


What of other religious TV programming too? Seriously, who the heck watches them?

Honestly, is there any religious (any faith) TV programming that you could suggest?

[Kaitscralt]

On Philip Seymour Hoffman:

De mortuis nil nisi bene dicendum but wow, drugs.

Fine, something decent. This will be sad for Hoffman's three children, his romantic/de-facto partner, his family, his friends, his fans and the dudes behind that trilogy [ninja: Hunger Games, Pt. 3b], though most, if not all, of Hoffman's scenes have been filmed and are solid.

TBH, I am not too surprised that this would happen, given the prior history of alcohol and other drug issues. What is surprising is the déclassé way of dying, with a needle in one's arm.


As a general comment, it is sad that other matters do not receive as much attention or discussion compared to this, which is otherwise very topical and trivial.

I do not dislike Hoffman's work in general, in whatever roles he played in life - actor or director - but I do not like it either. However, that is generally speaking; specifically, I thought Magnolia was something
special, and I hated the hell out of Synecdoche, which has marred my appreciation of Kaufman and any of the people associated with the film.

Still, what a way to live in the world and to leave it (if, indeed, this is a thing. Some are suggesting that this is a hoax ).

[Kaitscralt]

Thanks for sharing that. If you could share more of such stories on your MTGS blog (have you got one?), I am sure we'd continue to follow your insights and reflections.

Indeed, how the Lord works. It's well beyond comprehension and merely 'mysterious'!

[Kaitscralt]

On gummy bears:

No, for reference, should you have linked us to the news stories regarding this? Though, I suppose that isn't necessary if we know of this via this appearing in news stories for months now.

I don't know if you're being serious, but no, it isn't that bad.

Why, don't you have someone who sells it locally?


Anyway, Lycasin (like other sugar alcohols; e.g., mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol) is known to cause bloating, intestinal borborygmi, or flatulence. It's sort of like Olestra, except the chemistry's different. I hazard that you would need to consume a few bags of these gummy bears for that to happen, just like you would need to eat 326,853,135 sticks of chewing gum, though.

Also, how about you donate that money for a bag of gummy bears to those starving in your country or the developing world?

[Kaitscralt]

On bit coin:

I thought there was a recent thread on Bitcoins, either here or in Debate.

I don't think it's a good idea, to be honest. It doesn't have much security or stability, and its severely stigmatised so it'll never become a legitimate currency or even financial instrument (which it is classified as according to a number of finance ministries and federal bank).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rust Golem
I read an interesting story on Vocativ.com about it, basically expounding on why Bitcoin probably will not grow anymore. I can't look it up on my work computer but I'll post it when I get home.
Good idea. Thanks.

Looking forward to reading it.

Au may have properties that make it superior to Ag, but it really boils down to its applications and, if you know anything about chemistry or, really, the application of chemical knowledge (such as in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, material science,
etc.), you would know and understand that silver is in fact more valuable to society than gold. However, even if gold were more valuable in itself as well as according to its usage (and, indeed, gold has various properties and characteristics that make it so useful in multifarious applications; there's no denying this), the value of gold should then be determined by the value placed in it by those who use it, either as a commodity or as currency (and, depending on whether it is used as a commodity or as a currency, its value again would fluctuate).

In any case, with due respect, that's paranoid prattle. There isn't going to be a global war, and no EMPs are going to be detonated on Western nations.


As with other cryptocurrencies, part of the problem with them is their lack of legitimacy or at least the absence of any certainty. In part, this is no doubt due to their ill-defined or undefined status, legally.

Some claim that Bitcoin is an appalling instrument, as it is too labile or volatile and
indeed liable to epic deflation. Certainly, there is some validity to this and there are specific assumptions in this assessment; but, from what is known about Bitcoins thus far and how things have been, these are reasonable ones to hold. However, regardless of the fact that Bitcoins may be a deflationary currency, instrument, or commodity, it really doesn't matter; rather, the issue is the aforementioned volatility and the fact that the numbers do not add up or there isn't a balance.

[Kaitscralt]

on bieber:

I don't really care about this, but I thought this crashing and burning was inevitable.

I know these guys in the arts and whatnot have hectic lives and everyone's life is different, but I wish Beiber (Bieber, actually) would call it in, go to college, knock off that nonsense and knuckle down. If he wants to make a return to music and other projects later, all the more power to him. I just don't want to see yet another teen idol/icon/celebrity spiral out of control, even if it comes with the territory and is impossible to resist.

[Kaitscralt]

[Kaitscralt]

You can see in her posts in other people's threads as opposed to the threads started herself, an ugly personality emerges. Between all the circular gibberish and false prose / verbosity, little comments slip in about how she doesn't care about what she is writing paragraphs about. She belittles a great actors death and tells people in a thread about gummy bears to donate their money to charity. Shame on you, Magic Mage!

[Kaitscralt]

For whatever reason, I'd like to become a human calculator or at least improve my math skills so that they kill.

Lately, I have simply been focusing on multiplication (inverse division, except I haven't done much division itself) memorizing tables and doing practise.

Back in primary school, I could do up to higher 2-digit by 2-digit or even 3-digit by 3-digit multiplication (while others were working with 0 - 10 * 0 - 10), but now I've just slowed down.

Any one a human calculator or have any pro tips (they'd be much appreciated)?