...You're Crazier in Person

I just got back from hanging out with Jess (Kit Cloudkicker), Tara (Myitt) and Dave (Pez) in Boston. It seems like RAFians meeting in person has been going on a lot more lately. Jess, Tara, Dave, Estrid and Liz met up in California, then Jess, Tara, Dave and I met up in Hampton Beach, and now Claire’s world trip is causing RAFians from around the world to finally meet. Personally, I think it’s fantastic.

Meeting in person really brings us together as a community. I consider many of you on the forum to be close friends and I’d love the chance to hang out with all of you. Hopefully some day I’ll get to do a world trip of my own. I guess the message of this post is not to be afraid to get out there.

That being said, be careful guys. I’ve been talking a lot about community and close friends and family…hmm I don’t think I mentioned family. But…I have in the past, so yea…RAF is like a family. BUT it is still a group of random internet people. Treat them as such. Don’t put personal information on the site. If you want to share information do so only with the members you really know and trust. And be sure that you really know and trust them. The three members I have met I knew for almost a year before I’d even admit my name wasn’t Duff McCain (hmm, Duff McCain, got a nice ring to it)

If you do feel you have built up the trust and comfort to actually meet a few RAFians then do so very carefully. Don’t meet anyone one on one, invite a few of your friends or a few different RAFians. Meet in a public place and keep the general plan for the day/night to mostly public things. Don’t just head up to a hotel room (haha oops). Tell a few people where you are going and who you’ll be with. If your parents know about RAF then tell them about the meeting. Don't do anything you aren't comfortable with or meet anyone you aren't comfortable with.

And to the younger RAFians…maybe just not do any meetings for a few years. Its just not responsible. You wait a little while and get to know your RAF friends a little better and when you are old enough to do a proper meeting you’ll have a lot more fun.

So…lets organize some RAFcons! Responsibly, safely, and obviously full of insanity. And don't forget to take pictures, especially when someone is doing something stupid.

The Fountain

Digressing from RAF stuff. I just finished watching The Fountain (2006) for the 5th or so time. This time I watched it on HiDef 720p.

For those who like a good visual movie a si-fi movie, a good thought provoking movie, and a love story all bundled into one. I recommend The Fountain.

Here are some more images of the movie below.

How I spend my day...

It's Sunday April 19:

7am: Wake up early to watch the Monte Carlo Masters (tennis). At the moment of returning to consciousness I reach for my phone which is alarming. Disable alarm, checks email, Adsense, Analytics and twitter.
During match:

12pm: turn off malfunctioning computer and listens to the audiobook 'The End of Faith'

2pm: finally finished the book. Back to the computer. I then surf the net reading and watching documentations for my own purposes. At the same time I Facebook, RAF and email.

7pm: a friend comes over. We chat we laugh.

9pm: I leave for some Wendy's (only thing I like that's open)

10pm: at that friends; I watch news and eat.

I lose track of time.

There you have it. That's my Sunday. Not really typical, since it is a weekend.

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This was supposed to be published on the day after, but forgot to do so.

I hate blind conformity...

Conformity is the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are influenced by other people. This influence occurs in both small groups and society as a whole, and it may be the result of subtle unconscious influences, or direct and overt social pressure.

Source: The Most Reliable Source on The Internets

Well, I don't know where this post is coming from... well, maybe I do. The thoughts came to my mind after reading this post (more on that thread later). I know some have speculated that ChimichangaChupacabra is indeed old-time member Venom(sic). Maybe he is, maybe he isn't; that's not the point, but like his old profile, it is, for a new member replete with smites.

This isn't a venom/ C4 post, rather one which I'm just using him as an example. He clearly doesn't care what we think about his opinion; he gives it to us... hard. I'm personally all for that. After all RAF is a forum... a place where persons communicate with each other and discuss whatever they want: not a place where opinions get shot down, and discarded.

But the same must also go for the dissenter. One who doesn't agree with the general consensus shouldn't be quick to shut up the person they don't agree with. Well, on RAF I try to promote openness and community; so I would ask that we not be quick to discard the ideas of those who we don't agree. I can't tell you how you live your life... not even on RAF.

IRL (in real life) I am one of the biggest dissenters out there; that part of my personality though cannot merge with my RAF life simply don't join real discussions for fear of loosing what little objectivity we possess. It's a pity, because I really love debates.

Anyway, this is probably the longest personal note I've written here, so I should start hitting the "PUBLISH POST" button pretty soon, and get back to the mountain of work I have to do.

Purpose of this post? I'm not sure, but I just want to commend the dissenters out there who don't just do it to be not one of the 'cool guys', but those who actually think outside the box.

Kanye West - Welcome to Heartbreak Video

So, to liven up the blog a bit, I'm going to open up, and begin detailing more about my life.

First up is Kanye West (the rapper's) music video. I think that because it's so innovative it's has risen to #3 on my favourite music videos of all time list.

See the links below:

Here is a the YouTube link. |

Richard Joins Twitter

That's right. This is for all those who use Twitter. Follow me here.
I will use twitter to update mostly on downtimes, and statuses.

Details of RAF Downtime - will wait

I need to sleep or just back away from the computers. I'll give you all the details of what happened, and what will be done. But right now, I'm going to rest. As I type, the entire website is being backed up independently of our host.

I'm Back + Chat Open

I'm back from my little trip... and the weekly RAF Chat is now open... enjoy!

Gone For Weekend

I'll be out of town from tonight (Friday) to Sunday evening. Not sure if I'll have Wi-Fi access, but if I do, I'll remove this post.

See yah'll...

...tired...

I am. I've been up all day in front of my computer...

Pages for the ebooks will be up by the end of the week.

School's Back

Well, I've been on break for over a month (thanks to exams finishing the first week of December), and it seems it's time for school to resume. Beginning Monday Jan 14, I'll be back to University life.

I can only hope it's not as semi-stressful as last semester...

Not Well

I am sick.

'Messenger + Richard

Chat with me on Windows Live Messenger (Formerly MSN Messenger) or on Yahoo! Messenger. You can add me at richard@animorphsforum.com

I am mostly online, so any thing you wish to talk about outside of RAF, is welcome.