silveradept | So...

...today, I took a couple friends who were in from out of town around the town. We spent some time drinking Bubble Tea, on my suggestion (which was actually quite good) and then played some Connect four, too. (It was my first time drinking Bubble Tea, but it was enjoyable) Then we stopped by the arcade, where there was some DDR played by my friends. (I would have joined in, but I wasn't sure, with the knee and all) There was much squealing of delight from the more animation-inclined of the two out at the local animation shop, and apparently she recognized a former Lions Band member working at the comic shop above the arcade. He was only there on one of my tours, which is why I didn't pick him up as one at all, but it turns out she was right. A little more wandering around the town, and eventually, they both had to go.

It rained the whole time. Never hard, but persistent misting to small rain the whole time. Not so hot, which was good. But I'd have liked a clear day.

Pistons win tonight. Still holding out for a championship, but waiting until it happens to get excited. Although, I did say something about having wanted to see each Detroit team in the major sports win a championship in my lifetime. If the Pistons do it, there's only the Lions left to take one, officially, since the tigers did win a World Series when I wan still an infant. So I don't count that one, really.

Comic is uploaded and ready. Although the thing has no real direction or plot, I'm still sticking with it anyway. Sometimes those guys can be very good at exposing a few silly things in my own life, if nowhere else.

Another member of the Blues Brothers movie has passed on. Ray Charles died yesterday at seventy-three years of age. Although most of my experience with him and his music was through Pepsi advertisements and the Blues Brothers movie, it was still enough to say that he'll be missed by a lot of people.

And, pulled neatly from

popefelix, because I don't particularly like the form that the original one gives for inputting answers...

It's time to play What's My Stand: The meme where you learn things you may not have wanted to know about me. So... what's my stand on....

Abortion?: Allowable to justifiable in life-threatening situations. Would prefer that it not happen in other cases, but if it does, prefers that it be done by professionals.

Death Penalty?: Can't really say one way or another, since one part can come up with easy situations where the cry for blood would be great, but the other side provides a compelling argument that death would be an easy way out for those deserving it. Situationally dependent, I guess.

Prostitution?: Legalize it, regulate it as much as needed to ensure hygiene and disease prevention. Much better for the young crowd if they have somewhere where they can experiment for a bit and find out what it's like.

The legal drinking age? Twenty-one is too high of an age. If you want to avoid having high schoolers buying for their classmates, set it at nineteen. College students will probably be drinking anyway, whether they are of age or not, if they want to do so.

Marijuana?: Legalize it at least as far as a medicine treatment. Preferable to make it legal all the way, and then plant some QC on it and possibly some taxes, like there are on nicotine.

Other drugs?: Medicine, probably. Beyond that, not really. That which is legal needs to ensure that it's well looked-after and kept track of.

Gay marriage?: All for it. And not just because I have friends who are gay. That being said, if there are clergy who think that it's immoral, don't force them to have ceremonies. Just be sure that you have at least one justice that will perform civil ceremonies at the very least.

Illegal immigrants?: With all the jobs going elsewhere (okay, it's a bit of an exaggeration...), why would anybody want to come here? That being said, I'm not very fond of people who do not have alien status working at jobs for below minimum wage and, however unintentionally, allow themselves to be exploited and undercut the system of ensuring that people are getting good wages.

Smoking?: Your choice, man. But please be considerate and don't do it around people who would rather not inhale it... that includes vents and circulations systems, too.

Drunk driving?: Bad news. Don't do it! Not worth the risks.

Cloning?: Potential for great things, potential for nightmares. It all depends on the application of the knowledge. Would like to believe that people won't make clones of others to do things like identity theft and such. Know that some people will anyway...

Racism?: There are people who are racist. I hope that I'm not one of them. Especially now that I've gotten to know people of different races here at university.

Premarital sex?: See above on prostitution. If the kiddies are going to go have sex, and they're old enough for it, and have been properly educated about the risks involved, I can't say that I have a problem with it. It's their decision after they've been armed with the knowledge.

Religion?: I want a compulsory religion course in our educational system that explores the major and most of the minor world belief systems, and I want it finished to satisfaction before a student exits high school. I don't mind people in government having religious beliefs, but I do mind them using them as policymaking devices. I want someone to say that "America is a Christian nation" and have it be proven a lie.

The war in Iraq?: Appears to have been conducted under bad intelligence and a President who was looking for an excuse to finish off what 41 started. Now that we're in it, though, we need all the help we can get. This means building coalitions and involving other governments and setting up a true government system, instead of a puppet that will collapse once the troops are out.
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Bush?: A long list of offenses, both domestic and international. Likely to be re-elected, however, unless the opposition can rally behind a single candidate. Even if this happens, however, the damage will likely have been done.

Downloading music?: Definitely a good thing. Allows for bands to get more exposure if they embrace it, plus boosts the likelihood of album sales in the rare occasion that the group puts out all quality material on that album. Also has the added benefit of avoiding paying exorbitant prices to get one or two good tracks.

Porn?: Don't mind it at all. Although I would prefer that all those involved in a particular pornographic movie are informed and consenting to being videotaped and potentially distributed. Would like to see the mentality that anything related to sex is taboo erased, and porn and prostitution are probably the two best methods of doing so.

Suicide?: I sincerely hope that nobody ever contemplates suicide in their lives. Ever.