Mr. Pumpkinhead

Really? America wants to be the best in everything so it was only a matter of time before the public got behind soccer. What I'm interested in seeing for myself and for other new U.S. soccer fans is if once the U.S. is out of it, or if there is a disapointing defeat, will the fervor reamain the same or build during the period between this World Cup and the next one? Or will the new bandwagoners (myself included) fade out only to reappear four years later? Will it be European football we support or the U.S. soccer league? As for where I stand. I'm starting to understand the game bette

Colombia has been very impressive. I'll worry about tomorrow come tomorrow. For today I'm interested in seeing how strong Argentina and France look heading into the round of 16. France can cost if they want to in my mind, because they've been very good. Argentina needs to win and find some momentum, confidence and goal scoring from anyone not named Messi.

Been watching a ton of World Cup Soccer. Kristin, we might need ya with Jozy Altidore out against Germany. GO USA tomorrow! Now that England is eliminated perhaps Rupert is rooting for France? If Emma follows the World Cup perhaps she is (or always has been) rooting for France to win now too?

Widu, teams coming out of Manaus are winless with a combined -7 goal differential. That doesn't look too promising for the U.S.. Nevermind the fact that it's Germany we play. I hope for you and for my friend Sabine that Germany gets the tie. For myself I hope the U.S. wins.

Arghhhhh! I want to spin it positively but that was heartbreaking! I need to catch my breath. The challenge is not to look back and only look forward to Monday. IF the unmentionable happens though, there will inevitably be a lot of looking back. >.<

U.S.A. I've actually watched more matches already in this years World Cup than ever in my life previously. I think that there has been a good deal of "fair play" in most of the matches. I thought Chile kind of milked the clock a bit on Spain, which I wish they hadn't done, because to me it detracted a bit from an otherwise great victory. They didn't need to do it either. In spite of their two defeats I think that Australia gave a good account of itself and Iran has played better than I anticipated. Even Brazil and Argentina have not looked like World Beaters to me yet, of course, the

I miss you dad. Happy Father's Day. You're still the best! <3

The New Year --- as sung by Death Cab for Cutie http://soundcloud.com/sinstone/death-cab-for-cutie-the-new-year

Omg Sabine. Don't get me started on the German Beer. I LOVE Dickelacker it's very probably my favorite Pilsner EVER. Unfortunately I heard that they or their international sales were purchased by Spaten, and I can no longer get Dinkelacker in the states. :'( Spaten's good too, but it's no Dinkelacker. >.< I did hear that it's still available on tap in the U.S., but I've yet to find a bar (of course I'm not much of a bar fly anyways) that sells it on tap. Bringing things back to Ron and Hermione. I propose a toast to our favorite shipping couple and the Detroit Bears. Oh crumb

Haha Sabine. You are not stupid about anything. Gosh, you simply came to a logical conclusion from my comments. Your mistake was thinking logically. I'm sure we'd all find something else to talk about. YOU ARE ALL American sports fans, listen to alternative rock music and enjoy playing Scrabble.... right? I think that it's easy to think of the forums in terms of their theme and to want to stick to that theme. But maybe we can create something of a shipper forum "bar and grill" thread where the shipping community can discuss life, society, politics, religion, family and friends, hob

When I mentioned that I was hoping for a conversation with all the former and current shippers I wasn't even considering a joint conversation at the same time. Too much coordination involved in a conversation like that over several time zones. I simply meant if some of the former members posted some of their shipping memories or something akin to that here. My egg hunt" analogy was probably a bit misleading too in the sense that I don't really have the contact info for many of the former members, simply the ability to make an appeal on the chance they might still occasionally read the ship

Thanks Sabine! Happy Easter to you too! I'm on a different sort of "egg hunt". I was thinking yesterday about how nice it would be even if for just one shipper conversation vida, start.a.revolution., luciana, cbmac12, galadriel12, Dumbledore's woman, pat, 2pints, Joannedern, Lumos, Trixie, Tick Tock, Lolli, Flamemist, Feathersbend, whomever else I'm forgetting and yours truly could reunite. While I know the logistics of that given how long it's been since some of those members stopped frequenting the site means that "ship has (probably) sailed" it's still fun for me to think about. I k

OMG Dina! What happens when wolfy attacks horsey?! :'( hmmm... this is a tough one. It's changed over the years. Right now it's possum (Australian) not American opossum. The Oz ones are cuter.

Top 5 Currently... even though this list changes minute by minute it seems. 5. River by Civil Twilight 4. Your Body is a Weapon by The Wombats 3. Bad Reputation by Freedy Johnston 2. These Days by Nico (cover of original by Jackson Browne) 1. Say Hello Wave Goodbye by David Gray (cover of original by Soft Cell)

Lullaby by the Cure My best friend George when I was growing up was a huge Cure fan. I never really listened to them. As I've grown older I've come to like their music. I was talking to a teenager at work about the Cure several months ago when hearing Love Song over the radio as sung by Adele. Love song has been sung by many artists and was re-popularized by 311 over a decade ago before being re-popularized again by Adele a couple of years back. Tori Amos also has a hauntingly beautiful piano version of Love Song. The Cure who were something of a Cult phenomenon when I was a high-sch

First off, I know I'm late with this... but welcome back Ashley. I agree that Emma tends to dress nicely and for comfort and is certainly not a trashy dresser. As far as dressing sexy, or even trashy though, it's always going to be a function of personal perception. Some of those perceptions are going to be cultural manifestations and when you're an international celebrity how Emma dresses is going to be viewed differently in Asia, America, The Middle East and Africa for example. Something I might see as classy or sexy might be viewed as trashy by another culture. Does that make it a

Happy belated b-day Emma! Now .... make a wish!

I love the Chuck Palahniuk quote that you posted Ling. It speaks an important truth, because much of how we conduct ourselves is part and parcel to the things we have seen and been given by the people around us. That's why it's soooo important to be mindful of the people we are, having enough self-awareness of the fact that our actions and behaviors (both directly and indirectly) can be of benefit or a detriment to someone else. Many times we don't appreciate fully the power and influence a. that others have had on us and b. that we have upon others. Mr. Palahniuk's quote nicely expresses t

Ling, Perhaps I define role model differently, but what I bolded in your quote is exactly how I define a role model to myself. I think that's a healthy definition of a role model. Perhaps the discussion here has skewed "role models" in a negative way? I agree with everything else you said, and I would just add a caveat to your comment that people have to live their lives for themselves, as I agree with that so long as it's with the understanding that when we do that we balance it with the needs and wants/desires of others who matter to us. When I say that I simply mean that there are deci

We chose our role models. If you think that Emma Watson does not stand by her word and is failing or falling short as a role model... well... maybe it's time to find a new role model? Or adjust your idea of what a role model is/should be? People are faulted. All of my role models in life have had faults. I have my own faults. Thankfully, there is a lot more I admire about my role models than I take issue with. Hopefully if anyone looks up to me they see me for who I am (not just look past my faults but recognize them) and decide that I'm still worth looking up to. Given the uniq

Dee, Emma's perceived flip flopping has never bothered me... I thought Emma changing her mind simply makes her a woman. Crumb! Just earned myself some more time in the brig I think. >.< Rupert is Emma's Rock though, so no flip flopping there.

Shark Attack by Group Love ( I like the background calypso type music they sprinkle in there)

Jon!!! LOL just what are you saying-do we need another brig timeout? Oh....Nothing. You ladies are just so innocent. And No I don't need a timeout.

I love the comment about the "smartest witch of her age" quoting Harry from the story, Kristin. It should say something that the smartest witch who could have chosen to be with anyone chose to be with Ron. The other point you made in regards to Hermione that I liked a lot was that she did not dumb herself down for Ron. There were going to be times when neither Ron, nor Harry or any wizard or witch were going to be able to understand what Hermione was getting at. Hermione knew that Ron was plenty smart enough to meet her on equal footing most of the time though. She didn't have to try and

leave it to the ladies to find that picture. It took me a full two days before I noticed what ya'll were talking about. They had just gotten out of the cold water too!