No...Helen was merely twisted and evil before she made me listen to 'Happy Hardcore' ... Since I heard that crime against good taste, she has become the spawn of the devil.
I'm not sure I understand quite what effect this had on whatever feelings you already had to any of the various types of electronic music, although I can see that it would make your view of Helen even dimmer than it was previously.

It's funny, you seem to be at your cheeriest when I am insulting you. It's you, not I, who has the masochistic streak ;)
I am odd, let's put it that way. I once had ingrowing big toenails, which I put paid to by cutting the sides off the nails with a craft knife. Very effective, but I've never gone to that extent with any of my other toenails. I do have an inclination to interfere with unhappy parts of my body, even if I don't actually harm it when healthy.

I think that mentally I am at my worst, inflicting misery on myself mentally, though I don't think I get any pleasure out of it. Oh, and odd science fiction fantasies involving strange goings on, wet clothes, formation of romance and cool spaceships.

As for being insulted - I just find wit amusing and clever, even when it is aimed at myself as long as it comes from people whom the mysterious innards of my brain, where all reasoning lives inside its black box I cannot see inside, tell me are doing it out of fun and not unkindness. As I explained previously, when I was younger, maybe 10 or 11, this ability to see others' humourous insults towards me as being of good intent started to falter, possibly due to my experiences at secondary school. It soured my reactions towards Rachael's humour yet, inside me, the idea that she had turned hurtful was something I could never fully accept. What finally brought it home that it was I, not her, who'd changed, was a memory of an instance where my dad had made a positive remark about her wit, after a comment she'd made that offended me. When I remembered back to that, I realised that something was wrong with how I was perceiving others; yet, I still have that problem to date.

So you're sick of telling people things about yourself, and having them tell you things about themselves (just to state the obvious ;) )
The above comments are not strictly true - quite what the reality is, I don't know. I do like telling other about myself, for various reasons, but it bothers me when it gets depressing, because not only am I unhappy, but I don't want to bring it on others. Yet, I post it all the same, probably because I feel you are owed a reply.

As for taking in information from others - that depends - I soon tire of it, because, as I said, there is nothing I can do with the information and it all means nothing to me, and is thus inherently pointless :) I'm odd in that I dont't like being told anything, ultimately, I'd rather discover things for myself, or have someone to ask.

Now, I can, and do make use of what other people tell me - Steve told me that he likes a track called Sleep by Conjure One (that I gave him ages ago), and when I encountered an article today about remixes being made of it, I immediately remembered him and passed the article on, which was was most interested to read.

Thus, storing information about people (and computing platforms/products) in my brain for the future can be beneficial, but the amount of information that I'd actually have to store about everyone for the unlikely event that it might come in handy one decade is rather considerable, and beyond my mental powers - I can't often remember even what I did the day before.

Which leads into:
Erm, why did you join an internet community at all?
I never joined, as such. I encounted the forums via a link to Joy of Tech posted by someone in IRC, and I guess I found the forums from there. I just used to read them a bit, and one day decided I'd register and post. My post was bitter, and it earned me an immediate flaming. Yet, I kept reading, and eventually settled in. Quite why, I don't know. The content of the forum is a lot more varied than lists of everone's troubles and woes, and it is for the interesting stuff that I stayed.

I think I'm kept here by several things. Firstly - curiousity - what new topics, and replies to existing topics, are awaiting (especially your replies)? I'm also here for the Geek Culture Code supposedly, but at the moment that doesn't apply much.

I also think I'm a helpful guy. While I might argue against that and point to my pride and say I only rush to offer help so that I look good, the fact that I did have three tag-alongs at university last year does indicate that I do have the patience and effort to try, although that came to an end as my patience truly wore out. But here, if someone has a problem and I think I have the answer, or can test something, I'll generally try and help out, the same as I do wherever I am. I also like to feel useful.

Even so, I don't really fit in - my presence can be found absent from most topics here, as I don't really have the knowledge, experience or philosophical bent (maybe even the intelligence) to really join in (nor do I live in the US, something you, too, expressed when you first joined and, like me, weren't sure whether living in the UK was good or not).

I guess I'll just hang around, see if I can't offer helpful tidbits about Macs, browsers, HTML, and my theories about life and love, and enjoy your wit along the way. Oh, and unintentionally make ilovemydualg4's and GameMaster's lives hell by never being satisfied with the current state of the Geek Culture Code (nothing less than perfect...).

In the end, I won't truly feel a part here as there is a distinct lack of spontaneity of interaction missing from forums that one can feel with IRC and the like - I never get to chat with most people here, so there is kind of remoteness placed on it all. On the other hand, back in Undernet #macintosh, where I used to hang out, not only did we chat in real time, but at least one group of people know each other in real life.

Oh well, I'll end it here before I think of anything else.

Night.

quoting uilleann:

I'm not sure I understand quite what effect this had on whatever feelings you already had to any of the various types of electronic music
I was about 9 when Helen introduced me to Happy Hardcore; it was my first experience of any kind of electronica (which word, bizarrely, reminds me of erotica...). I hated it, and thus have been (unreasonably) hostile towards dance music ever since. I heard a track the other day, though, by Underworld, called 'Rez', if that means anything to you. I loved that I'm not sure which sub-genre of electronic music that fits into, though...

it bothers me when it gets depressing...I don't want to bring it on others
Fear not! Honestly, the remoteness of communication in forums, which you speak of, means that (for me, at least) I don't have to take on your problems as a burden. In fact, they provide a distraction from my own, and the many dramas of Jen and co I don't mean to trivialise them; I just feel that because of the space between us, I don't have to "be there for you" in the same way that you don't want me to solve your problems. Hence, I have no problems listening. Am I making sense? Not to myself, in any case...

my presence can be found absent from most topics here, as I don't really have the knowledge, experience or philosophical bent...
Ah, wit can be your saviour there. It's very easy to say something completely irrelevant and bizzarre, such as, "I am now Alaskan", say (who in their right mind would say that? ) and pass it off as wit... If you do that in enough topics you don't know anything about, then you can fool people into thinking you are sooo funny, and they will automatically embrace you as one of their own. Not that I have ever tried this myself... I understand, though, that you probably wouldn't feel comfortable yourself, even if others felt comfortable with you. Ah well. Take some Prozac

Anyway, must go. Well, I don't have to, but I will I've got to leave you alone at some point

sky

------------------
Holy sweet goddamn! You left your cello in the basement...

it was my first experience of any kind of electronica...I hated it...
Oh, I see now.

...by Underworld, called 'Rez', if that means anything to you....not sure which sub-genre of electronic music that fits into...
I have a track by them, called Dark Train - the softest end of trance, I think, at the most. Nice track, that. Mind you, no guarantee that Rez is anything like it.
 Electronica has a lot of sub-genres (dance, house (tek-house, progressive house, hard house, etc.), techno, trance (progressive trance, hard trance, uplifting trance, goa trance, etc.), euro-techno (softer stuff, more like trance), euro-trance (more like dance), electronica, and more, might even cover game soundtracks) so hating happy hardcore should not rule out all the others.

Personally, I don't understand the trance classifications, so I classify all my MP3s according to my own set of categories anyhow.

I don't have to take on your problems as a burden.
Heh, a wise move :)

In fact, they provide a distraction from my own...
I've heard that before...

Am I making sense? Not to myself, in any case...
Distance is no limitation on feelings - one can feel close to someone and want to help them or just spend time in their company, no matter how far away they are from you. It just can be more difficult at long distance - no hugs, for one thing, or cuddles (I crave cuddles). I think I can see where you're coming from, though, and in this situation is probably the best thing for you =) Can I deduce, though, from this, that you are a big fan of soap operas? ;)

Ah, wit can be your saviour there.
Heh, I'm not one for random nonsense posting, although I did have some fun last night (leg of uilleann ;)

I've got to leave you alone at some point ;)
And I've got to leave these frigging forums - bloody hell it's 3:22 am already, and I've got numerous topics still to read, a shower to take, and then enough sleep to make it in for work by 9, not 11:15 or so when I got in today [Tuesday]. Oh, and eat something, I'm hungry, and I won't be having any breakfast, as you already know... ;)

All in all, fun fun. Just got to make my mouse cursor move in one, not two, pixel increments... ;)

quoting what's his name...oh yeah,uilleann :

Snagaleena needs to put up a huge warning placard outside the door to warn those of the faint of heart to keep out
Or those who have even the lowest regard for their sanity Congratulations on reaching Highlie status, btw. Not bad for a 'drifter'...

hating happy hardcore should not rule out all the others
To be honest, I don't think it'd make that much of a difference. I'd miss guitars and weird lyrics about cellos too much, I think.

no hugs, for one thing, or cuddles (I crave cuddles)
Ah, you should meet my friend Claire. She hugs everyone, even total strangers. She does it so much that some of us started to feel violated and had to ask her to stop Well, Claire needs someone to hug. She is, after all, an alcoholic Mind you, I think so much cuddling means that the cuddles themselves lose all meaning.

Can I deduce, though, from this, that you are a big fan of soap operas?
What, no ducking? Don't worry, I won't hit you that hard, I know you're just bitter because you missed Coronation Street today. Awww, never mind, it'll be okay

(leg of uilleann
Nyuhh?

All in all, fun fun. Just got to make my mouse cursor move in one, not two, pixel increments...
Tsk, tsk, did you forget to take your medication again?

sky (duh, I'm guessing you know that already...)

sky

Congratulations on reaching Highlie status, btw. Not bad for a 'drifter'... ;)
Heh, yeah, I'll be a blabbermouth soon, at this rate.

To be honest, I don't think it'd make that much of a difference.
Maybe, maybe not. I'm not trying to pressurise you here, I've done that too much in my life, and I should stop it. And being pressured is not nice, so I should stop it myself.

Either way, the different sub-genres of electronica are certainly different from each other, so there is no guarantee you'd hate it all. I'm personally overly picky about tracks (as I am with everything), so it does take time to amass a collection of really nice ones. I'm certainly getting there.

I'd miss guitars and weird lyrics about cellos too much, I think.
Maybe, maybe not. I used to listen to very different stuff (hence my nick), but trance is addictive :) I think there is room in life for more than preferred genre, depending on mood. I never did get the whole matching of music to mood stuff, so I can find that what I'm playing just doesn't suit me at the time, but have no clue what does. Besides which, I always forget what I actually have on my hard disc - I played Mesh (the US Mesh) - Maybe Tomorrow last night (a post I was making reminded me of it) - a nice track. Also dug out a Rammstein track to play just before I went off to do stuff before going to bed.

[B]Ah, you should meet my friend Claire. She hugs everyone, even total strangers.
Ah, therein lies one of my strange distinctions. To me, hugs mean nothing whatsoever. I did used to hug my mother when I was little, but I can no longer recall why I did, what it was like, or why I stopped. If I text-hug someone online, it is purely for their benefit. I have tried to visualise such acts, but they only come across as standing cuddles.

To me, cuddles are much more sweet, sensual acts, a much prolonged physical closeness between lovers, something I can indeed visualse and begin to imagine what it feels like. What really suprised me, once, is that I was gazing at a girl in the sixth form study area, imagining such an act, and for a brief moment really experienced how it would feel. I guess that is not really suprising, because cuddles, kisses and hugs are, I think, all in the mind - the mind takes the physical sensations, themselves meaningless (try kissing something else) and creates the powerful feelings from them.

Ooooohhhh - I love this track....!
I must look it up. *digs out tracklist*
Adam Dived - Headfirst, it says. I have another Adam Dived track on a set, also excellent. This is actually just a nice set in general (Matt Hardwick live at Gatecrasher NEC). That track above just happens to be preceded by another top favourite of mine - Lyric and Natali - Over Emotion [Smart System's Souvenir Mix] - very chill stuff. And probably nothing whatsoever like happy hardcore ;) And "Natali" is just such a cute spelling... cute name, dead cool music - bet she's taken...

She is, after all, an alcoholic :(
But then isn't "English" synonymous with both "alcoholic" and "smoker"? Grr...

Mind you, I think so much cuddling means that the cuddles themselves lose all meaning.
Cuddling or hugging? I can't imagine cuddles ever losing meaning, but I grow tired of things very quickly. Personally, I'm more concerned that I'd never be able to stay under control and keep a cuddle as just that.

What, no ducking?
No, no ducking, I was making a serious observation actually. I never watch soaps, as you know. I think if I left home and lived elsewhere, I'd feel more free, for things to be different (I don't hate soaps - TV in general, a source of entertainment, is something I like because it frees up my mind from all the thoughts inhabiting it. Actually, if I'm alone at home, and put the TV on, I'm generally only looking for wetlook scenes (which I have found on several occasions, its prevalence is quite strange), but I do encounter interesting things to watch besides that.

because you missed Coronation Street today. Awww, never mind, it'll be okay ;)
My late maternal grandmother used to watch that. I always thought it was a Yorkshire show, guess I'm too far away to be able to tell Lancashire and Yorkshire accents apart ("Are thee fra Lancashire?"), but now, I suppose that you have some ulterior motive for watching it :)

Nyuhh?
Reference to another topic - Chump's Geeks view of sex or something roughly thereabouts.

Tsk, tsk, did you forget to take your medication again? ;)
Due to the fact that all geeks are not computer geeks, I cannot start assuming you know anything about mouse resolutions. In fact, it would be nice if you did - you might be able to teach me what on earth is up with this thing.

I guess that, for a Dell PS/2 mouse in my Mac clone, it's not doing too badly at all, really...

quoting uilleann (and fearing that this may be stating the obvious ):

Heh, senile dementia is already setting in
That's enough o' yer teasin', sonny-Jim. Arr, in my day ee wouldn't dare give sech cheek to us elders...(or youngers, as the case may be)

there is no guarantee you'd hate it all
Have you any recommendations to get me started? ...can I take the Adam Dived comment as a recommendation?

cuddles are much more sweet, sensual acts
It's been such a while since I was cuddled that it's hard to visualise... indeed, I can scarcely remember them. They sound nice

But then isn't "English" synonymous with both "alcoholic" and "smoker"? Grr...
Yeah... which is extremely irritating when you are teetotal and feel sick at even the smell of smoke. Claire, however, is truly, seriously an alcoholic... it's a bit of a problem for those of us who call ourselves her friends

TV in general, a source of entertainment, is something I like
Me too. But my best friend growing up wasn't allowed to watch TV, ever, because "It distracted from her intellectual growth". Nyuhh? As a result, I can feel her mother's disapproving glare every time I switch the tv on. The residual guilt somewhat reduces my viewing time.

all geeks are not computer geeks
too true. I wish I was more of a computer geek; then I'd be able to hold my own a little more in these here forums. You don't find many 'dead languages' geeks who even know how to switch a computer on...

sky, way up in the (cos it's sooo late now)

Have you any recommendations to get me started? ...can I take the Adam Dived comment as a recommendation?
I'd like to, in a sense, but I'd had enough of myself pushing my likes onto others, that I'd really rather not. I'm also not too keen on exposing what music I like - it can be a touchy area for me.

But yes, if you find anything by him, it is probably worth a try. I checked my tracklist site, and the other one I have of his (it's ina liveset, i.e. one very long (60-80 Mb) MP3, is "Deep Inside [Dino Lenny remix]". Odd thing is, I don't even recognise the name of the track, but I assume it is good as that is what my vague memory tells me.

*sigh* Ok, Ok, I'll recommend you some. From trancEaddict, snag:

• Solid Sessions - Janeiro (Armin Van Buuren Remix)
• 3 Monkeys - Crazy People (Original Mix)
• James Holden vs Ben Pound - Kaern Turned
• Lyric and Natali - Over Emotion (Smart System Souvenir Mix)
• Aurora - Dreaming (Goldtrix Mix) [house, not trance]
  

It's been such a while since I was cuddled that it's hard to visualise... indeed, I can scarcely remember them. They sound nice :)
Ah, but then, this is it. All that living for the moment and "better to do it, and not fear etc." crap. Well, there you go, you experienced it, I never have (well, not counting relatives, when I was a toddler, or any other stuff like that). And its all over and gone. Woohoo, there's future proofing for you. No, I'm not attacking you, but advocates of non-future-proofed relationships - how prematurely people say "I love you", or kiss, or have sex, and how they never really think where they are going. And then, it's all gone. And then comes all the sobbing and wailing ("Can I kill you now?")

As for "they sound nice" - do they? Forget not that I was only theorising, really. When not referring to two certain names, everything relating to love, from me, is pure theory.

Yeah... which is extremely irritating when you are teetotal and feel sick at even the smell of smoke.
Teetotal is from your religion? I forget what Islam is like, but I wasn't aware that Muslims couldn't drink. Not that I can see what difference it makes, considering that you're under age. Not that that makes any difference any more. No-one seems to realise that the law can be for their own good. If you can make it to 18 having not been a drunkard, you may have been taking pleasure in more respectable activities. But hey. Sure. Get pissed you bunch of mungers. Go on. Go on. See if it does you any good. [Not you, of course]

As for smoke - actually, I kind of like it in a little way, as it brings with it memories of places where, incidentally, there was smoking. But otherwise, it's annoying - I'll take a deep breath as smokers are about to exhale (e.g. if I'm walking along behind, or past, one), and exhale as they do, keeping the carcinogenics out of my lungs.

As a result, I can feel her mother's disapproving glare every time I switch the tv on. The residual guilt somewhat reduces my viewing time.
Ouch.

I wish I was more of a computer geek
Maybe you could be, if you wanted. Though, it would probably take far, far too much of your time. We didn't get this way by odd sessions here and there - we've devoted a lot of time to it, that you'd rather spend on your own likes.

I can see where you are coming from in terms of it being almost entirely redundant.
Do you think it bothers people that we've taken over two or three threads in this way?

you experienced it, I never have
How so?

Teetotal is from your religion?
Yeah. But to be honest, it wouldn't make a difference. I just think drinking sounds shitty... to reduce it to the basest terms.

you're under age. Not that that makes any difference any more.
No it doesn't. To wit: Claire is seventeen. Most of my friends and girls in the year below me drink regularly... nyurgh.

you bunch of mungers
Never heard that insult before. It's a good one though; sort of onomatopoeic. You should add it to pseudodictionary.com...

it would probably take far, far too much of your time
Mmm, yes. Much as I aspire to computer geekiness, I still prefer dead languages.

And no, uilleann, I'm not going to quote you, because three threads take long enough to reply to...
I know it does...

> you experienced it, I never have
How so?
I'm not sure I understand the question there. How have I never experienced something? That is, how come I've never had a cuddle? Because I've never had a girlfriend.

I just think drinking sounds shitty... to reduce it to the basest terms.
I'm really not sure. I do drink sometimes, at occasions with my family and their friends, but not enough to really have any effect on me. My feeling is that I dislike anything that changes one's behaviour - you are no longer yourself, and you must have seen how much I like realism, truth, accuracy etc. by now.

I'm not overly keen on what I've seen of social life in general, really.

Never heard that insult before. It's a good one though; sort of onomatopoeic. ;) You should add it to pseudodictionary.com...
*shrugs* I think someone used it to mean 'mess up' or 'break' or something like that, the other day. Just came to mind when I wanted a word, and it did. As for pseudo-dictionaries - reminds me of an issue that came up when I was chatting to Janeway. She has her own language (Avia), and I have a few (but only one is at all usable). Now, she'd probably prefer that I spoke hers, and I'd probably prefer her to speak mine, so we're stuck at an impasse. I did offer to learn Avia, but then she went and disappeared. I mailed her today, to ask after her - I have a suspicion I know what happened, alas.

As for pseudodictionary.com - same problem. Theirs, or mine?

If we bother a few more, maybe we really should switch to e-mail or something :P
If anyone has a problem with these threads, speak now or forever hold your peace.

I know it does...
Are you sick of it yet?

I'm not sure I understand the question there. How have I never experienced something?
You wrote "You experienced it, I never have". Firstly, I didn't know what I was meant to have experienced that you haven't. Was it cuddling? And if so, when did I experience it?

As for pseudodictionary.com - same problem. Theirs, or mine?
How different is your language from pseudodictionary's? Because it seems to me that all they are doing is extending the English language, as opposed to creating another language all together. Is that what you are doing; creating a language which is not so much a language in itself as a sort of branch of an already established language?

as long as the aspiration does not actually worry or annoy you.
Nah

Was it cuddling?
Yes; I thought that it was clear enough from the context of the paragraph, but it seems in retrospect that it was a bit cryptically worded.

And if so, when did I experience it?
I quote, "It's been such a while since I was cuddled that it's hard to visualise... indeed, I can scarcely remember them."

How different is your language from pseudodictionary's?
I never bothered looking before, but I just did. I looked at their recent section - some of it was amusing, but the rest was just annoying. Anyhow, Xirnann and Xrajnik were intended to be complete alien languages, with no connection to English. Xrajnik has really cute spelling, but suffers from overly lengthy words. Xirnann is more preferable, but has one severe problem - no grammar or syntax. I wanted to devise a grammar and syntax completely different from existing languages, but I never had any good ideas. There are a few oddments of grammar and syntax in existence, which allow me to string together odd phrases, but I think that even those phrases would have to be redone from scratch if any grammar was created.

I forget how many people I've e-mailed the Word documents of all my linguistic work, but I still remain alone in all of it, and long, long since out of ideas for anything. I used to spend a lot of my time designing spacecraft, but all that inspiration passed away years ago, and I can only hold suspicions as to the reason.

Xirnann is also supposed to have two written styles, but I never made anything out of them - I can write random text in them, but it is completely meaningless, and I mean completely - there is no mapping of symbols to letters or anything.

I have a few other non-languages (just a set of a few words), and written styles with no languages. Some just sit in dust-gathering piles under the computer table, others are in folders. My entire project is generally dead. I taught myself HTML and some JavaScript at the end of my first year at university (wow, I can no longer imagine that kind of effort, or interest, in anything), and started building a site to be the online encyclopaedia to my work. I went in over the summer to work on it, but it all collapsed around that time (for various reasons). I kept the site up (albeit dead) for ages, but eventually deleted it. It isn't gone (I have a copy here), but no longer accessible.

But then, it is ultimately pointless. If I could write novels, I could make something out of it. Another good use would be a computer game, but if that was a flop, the idea would be squandered and lost forever. As it happens, neither is the case. I've always wanted someone else with whom I can work on it, preferably *sigh* someone special. That will never be ruled out as long as I retain all the work. I've thought about just deleting and binning the lot sometimes, just so that I can relieve the worry off my mind forever, but I've never brought myself to do that yet. A hard disc crash would be a start, but a bad one, as I'd lose 10 Gb of MP3s in the process. My other work would be lost too, but then, its all dead anyhow. I might still upgrade lili_Pad one day, and I suppose I should release Internet Startup 2.0 final some time (2.0 beta 1 was posted on my site when it went live on June 18th last year, and I've still never finished or released the final version).

Well, there you go, today's installment, aka today's crapping. Until next time

The time taken to reply to them all is a lot... getting a little concerning...surely you're the one to get sick of it, not me?
No, I'm not sick yet at all However, the time is a problem; especially as my forseeable future plans indicate that I will have less and less to spare. I was wondering if we could gather the threads together now? I know that the anticipation factor will be lessened, but there will be a far greater convenience factor...

I quote, "It's been such a while since I was cuddled that it's hard to visualise... indeed, I can scarcely remember them."
Ahh, yes. I forget what I write *shrugs*. Yes, cuddles as I know them are wonderful, but perhaps not the same as the cuddles which you theorise about.

Xirnann and Xrajnik were intended to be complete alien languages, with no connection to English
I don't know whether this was deliberate on your part, but the names of these two languages already seem to be rooted in English... the final morphemes 'ann' and 'ik' bear a striking resemblance to the morphemes we use to denote languages/ things belonging to a place, eg. Iranian and Ionic. Or am I wrong?

If I could write novels, I could make something out of it.
I can write novels. If you teach me the language, I'll ghostwrite the novel

sky

I was wondering if we could gather the threads together now?
Any one in particular to use?

Ahh, yes. I forget what I write
As do I :)

Yes, cuddles as I know them are wonderful, but perhaps not the same as the cuddles which you theorise about.
That depends on where on the scale of innocent comfort to romantic comfort they lie. Mine would be at the latter end. This is just me, I suspect, but something tells me that it is not right to feel physical comfort outside of a relationship. Moreover, if I did, my brain would probably add some romatic/sexual undertones to it. I know I've had sexual feelings before where they most certainly don't belong, a result of desperation, and only partly due to my ability of separating mental from physical attraction.

I don't know whether this was deliberate on your part, but the names of these two languages already seem to be rooted in English...
Tricky one to answer. Xirnann, originally spelt Khrnan (and pronouned accordingly) is the name of the Xirnann race - I have no idea what the name means. The change of spelling came about as I tried to make large-scale improvements to the language, and as a result, I devised an explantion for that, too. The name of the language is, in full, Xirnav'vataag' ((χear-nar-va-taig) Xirnann Language), but I shortened it to Xirnann for my own convenience. As for Xranjik, I have no idea where that came from either, but the chances of the 'ik' "morpheme" being stolen from reality is more than likely. The name of the planet, Nevryon 4, was stolen from the name of a BBC Micro sideways-scrolling shooter anyhow ;)
What bothers me more than anything is that their names both begin with an X, which looks unoriginal...

I can write novels. If you teach me the language, I'll ghostwrite the novel :)
Alas, that is of no help - I don't want the novel written in the language (as then only you'd be able to read it (I don't know any of my own languages)). The novel needs to be about the Garhyeenich Empire and everything thereto connected. And that is the basis of my sci-fi project, which is badly incomplete, and probably in need of a complete re-do, to rid it of all Babylon 5 and Star Trek references, brought about by the fact that the Garhyeenich Empire was part of our Star Trek games, more so when Lee Waters got involved, and I drag it in just to protect the Federation...

The Empire started life as being a sci-fi way of addressing Rachael's family, and friends - the term E-space (representing, to me, higher-level hyperspace planes) comes from the term in a Doctor Who story, jointed up with the fact that one of their cars was a Renault Espace. (However, whenever I was talking about her or them at home (I just couldn't stop), they were the Enemy (to pretend I hated them, I'd never admit I loved her), and I forbade the use of the word "would" (Wood being her surname).)

Anyhow, it soon grew beyond those limits, to something much more complex.

But thanks for the offer anyhow. That sounds like I'm turning it down, and I'm not - I'm just stating that, for the moment, there is not enough background material to go by.

You're not bored of all my nonsense yet?
Your life is more interesting than you give yourself credit for... or maybe mine is just more pathetic than I let on

Your resilience will come in handy sometime in life...
It already has! Who else could survive an ICBM attack with only her brain at all damaged (I'm just about patched up now, thanks for asking)? (bit of useless info: I was watching the Weakest Link USA today (hell, was I bored) and some guy was asked what ICBM stood for... he answered Inter-Collegiate Basketball for Men or something; it made me think of you

That depends on where on the scale of innocent comfort to romantic comfort they lie.
I've enjoyed cuddles from someone I've been in a (semi)relationship with, which were therefore romantic, I suppose, but comforted me about matters entirely unrelated (e.g. problems with my family). Where on the scale would that be?

the chances of the 'ik' "morpheme" being stolen from reality is more than likely
One of my ambitions has always been to create something truly original. i.e. unaffected in any way by what has gone before in a particular field. I am unfortunately discovering that this is near on impossible, which depresses me. Has the world run out of ideas? Or is every new idea just a continuation/ recycling of one that has gone before?

The Empire started life as being a sci-fi way of addressing Rachael's family, and friends
Hrm, how so?

But thanks for the offer anyhow. That sounds like I'm turning it down, and I'm not
It would be difficult in any case, considering the distance between us (though, I believe, for you it's not so great a distance), and the limitations of the net. Oh deary. Ah, well. Bye comma good; I'm off to read the e-mail which MSN Messenger has just told me you have sent me; which I'll probably reply to tomorrow, as I've had a hard days' shopping, and me is sleep, as Zebby can tells by Skye's syntax and grammar apart comma fallin'...

sky

*sigh* Now is a good a time as any for a cuddle.

*rewrites post - humour is added to represent my pre-crash mood*

quoting Zeb-iddy-do-dah (okay, maybe that was a step too far):
I think you'll find that it's harder for you to annoy me than you think :)

Your life is more interesting than you give yourself credit for...
That is, I make a good laboratory study... ;)

Inter-Collegiate Basketball for Men
LOL

...comforted ... about matters entirely unrelated (e.g. problems with my family). Where on the scale would that be?
In the middle. I guess it depends how receptive your brain is to stimuli. It doesn't look like you found anything romantic out of it, but I fear that I'd be turned on just by a normal cuddle, and can't guarantee that I'd not find improper pleasure in a comfort cuddle.
[Or something, I forget what now; my brain often only gives me one chance, blow that, and I can never for the life of me ever ever again remember what I really said before]

One of my ambitions has always been to create something truly original...
I spent ages on this one :(

Now, do I blame this on bad luck, or what?

Anyhow, it's been said that there is nothing new under the sun, but then, is that universally true, and when did it come into effect? Back when humanity first came about (by whatever means you believe), there was "nothing new under the sun", but I bet you I couldn't go into a stone age cyber café and chat to my stone age pals, conversing in any of the multitude of languages that exist today.

The human mind is extremely limited in absolute terms, but the question is: how near are we to that limit, in each of the different fields of study out there? There is a lot still to create and discover and learn yet, I think, so there is always potential for something new, even if we have to first wait until we reach further out into space or deeper into some other dimension to get there.

Hrm, how [[did] The Empire [start] life as being a sci-fi way of addressing Rachael's family, and friend[s]]?
Chris and I used to play Star Trek-related games at church where the Woods also attended, and it was just my way of involving them, even they knew nothing of it - hell, I just had to get to talk about Rachael. I even used to make little cardboard sensor devices, which featured "enemy detector" readouts. Sometimes, I'd just sit and take out all the chips, and replace them all (just a little feature of the corrugated cardboard design).

It would be difficult in any case, considering the distance between us...
Well, some of my notes are already in electronic form, and the others were all meant to be; hell, they were meant to be in HTML for by now. However, instant messaging is not the best way of communicating, I know. Distance? Well, it's long for us, in our puny UK mentality ;) but insignificant compared to the distance of the Force...um, compared to the distance between me and others in the US. Lili was about 4700 miles away at the beginning, and is now 5480 miles away. Jenny is a mere 4300 miles away. Other people like Air_Man are also at those kinds of distances.

I think you'll find that it's harder for you to annoy me than you think
Grrrrrrrrrrowwwwwwllllllll (you are now on my bad side, Mr. Beardsmore!)

That is, I make a good laboratory study...
*holds up a card with a picture of a lobster on it*... now Daniel, take your time... there's a good boy. Tell me, Dan (may I call you Dan?) what does this picture say to you?

I fear that I'd be turned on just by a normal cuddle
Ah, see, I would've cuddled you if you hadn't said that...

but I bet you I couldn't go into a stone age cyber caf� and chat to my stone age pals
Well, no, Zebby, dear... *slowly* we.don't.live.in.the.stone.age.... *checks his temperature*

how near are we to that limit, in each of the different fields of study out there?
Well, my primary concern is the novel; hasn't every story that can be told already been told?

Chris and I used to play Star Trek-related games at church where the Woods also attended
I thought you weren't a Christian? Oh dear... I'm short circuiting in all the confusion!

Lili was about 4700 miles away at the beginning, and is now 5480 miles away. Jenny is a mere 4300 miles away.
Bleurgh... no good And I thought I had it bad cos' some of my friends live in Leeds...

sky

quote:

---

Originally posted by skylar:
Lili was about 4700 miles away at the beginning, and is now 5480 miles away. Jenny is a mere 4300 miles away.
Bleurgh... no good And I thought I had it bad cos' some of my friends live in Leeds...

sky

[/B]

---

heh, check out lovingyou.com it's amazing how some people can make relationships work regardless of distance...and to think I had it bad with Twinkie...

it's amazing how some people can make relationships work regardless of distance...
I discussed this in another of our topics ("I'm back"). Maybe they can, but I'm sceptical. I've never been in one yet, so I don't know. I'm not sure if I want to read that site or not, I'll either be encouraged, or just mightily jealous and depressed. Probably the latter - encouragement needs to be contextual for it to mean anything, as well as realistic.

Awww... poor wee man (sorry, I don't know where that came from)
Maybe tis because you're far too close to Scotland.... ;)

*hugs* Sorry, that's all I got for now...
Hrm, hug accepted, for whatever it's worth. It's easier to give than receive, because others know what they're about and I don't.

I could chase you with a broom if you want?
Maybe if I was more fit... ;) Not sure of the goal, anyhow. Seems a bit pointless. I think these things are such that they're only fun when you're doing them, and not trying to rationalise them.

(you are now on my bad side, Mr. Beardsmore!)
Odd, to be thought of by my surname... not sure I care for my surname as it is a place to which I attach the negative connotations of my being.

*holds up a card with a picture of a lobster on it*...what does this picture say to you?
Unless it's possessed, nothing. If I did hear something, I'm not sure whether I'd call for a vicar, or a shrink.

(may I call you Dan?)
I guess so. I associate the name Dan (that is, it being a shortened form) with someone more relaxed, who has lots of friends, always wears a T-shirt, a social, popular guy. Not me, for sure, so it feels odd to be thought of by that name. I'd never want to use it, for that reason, although I'd like to. I guess the advantage of Internet names is that they are fresh, and have little connotations attached to them, although connotations soon accumulate.

My dad would say, of course, "It doesn't matter what you call me, as long as you call me for dinner." :)

Ah, see, I would've cuddled you if you hadn't said that...
Hrm...

Well, no, Zebby, dear... *slowly* we.don't.live.in.the.stone.age.... *checks his temperature*
A term of endearment... hrm... I reserve those for someone special, but most of them carry connotations. "Dear" sounds like what some old biddy would say, and "Honey" makes me think of a typical American mother. "Sweetheart" is about the only one that I like the sound of, and the chances of khioraan being relevant to me is nil.

Anyhow, seems like you missed my original point altogether. Might have been clearer before the Mac crashed, but I think my rewrite was a lot more straightforward and succint.

Well, my primary concern is the novel; hasn't every story that can be told already been told?
Well, people are still writing stories, and still buying them, but yes, what is there left to write now? My concern is not the novel anyhow, but the universe in which it is set. The use could be a set of films (one single film would be a waste without spin-offs), a TV series, a set of books, a computer game, and so on. I don't really care, in the end. It's just my fantasy world, and what others do to it isn't the point. I just want the project complete. Or did, I don't think I care that much now, really.

I thought you weren't a Christian? Oh dear... I'm short circuiting in all the confusion!
I'm not, and nor is he; we attended church with our parents. And does the above indicate that you're not a human? Maybe a Soong-type android that fell through a time rift and into our time.

Hrm, anyhow, I know the fix. *hits Ctrl-Alt-Dell* Hrm, a few "not responding"s. Let's just kill some of them off...oh, whoops, what happened to skylie? Hrm, no longer conscious... did I click the wrong process in my haste? Ah, well, the undertakers around here are in short supply of trade at the moment anyhow.

Bleurgh... no good :( And I thought I had it bad cos' some of my friends live in Leeds...
It is a long way. It can work for some, but distance like that is not for those not of much emotional and mental fortitude.