It sounds like a lovely evening Kayla and a memorable one that you and your boyfriend can remember for years to come. Make the very, very most of your summer together before he goes to college. Fill it with tenderly memorable moments as well.
Ah to be young again!
Ibis

Ah yes the joys of youth, not having to worry about the fact that I won't get out of university for 10 years and $35'000 if I can't make up my mind on which subject to take and stick to it.

My favourite beer is Hoegaarden or Brew moon (a organic NZ beer)

If Rainer had a machine that put out 1 million a month, Rainer would gladly share it with those less fortunate.

He just thinks that way.

Oh, and Rainer lives in Alberta, Red Deer to be precise.

This post has been edited by Khajiit Overlord Rainer: May 7 2006, 01:19 PM

I don't give money to beggars, because I don't believe that, just because circumstance has given them that position, they should have an automatic right to expect money from everyone else. I've had them yell abuse at me and then ask for 20p, or claim to be diabetic and need to go to the hospital...all kinds of pathetic lies. Personally I have more respect for someone who actually works and gets themselves out of that situation, rather than succumbing to just sitting on their scabby backsides, bugging the hell out of passers by and saying things like "look into your heart..." in a mournful tone, as though the fact that I've worked my british boat off to afford a burger is justification for me to give it to them for free.

There is always SOMETHING that can be done. Even if it's street entertainment. I'd rather give my money to a talentless busker than a beggar that just seems to think he has some god-given right to be supported by everyone else. And it annoys the hell out of me that charity workers automatically assume that you're loaded just because you try and look presentable and can scrape enough to get by. I once was walking through LAX and one said "Fine, go and enjoy your burger." I ripped into that one like no tomorrow. I showed her exactly how much I had in my wallet, and exactly what I'd been through in the last 24 hours, and I rammed her rhetoric down her throat until she burst out crying and left. That made me feel very good. The ironic thing is that, with student loans, I am in infinitely more finanical trouble (the kind of debt that you can stick 4 zeros after) than any of these lazy beggars, but you don't see me parading myself and expecting anything for free.

I don't give money to the homeless, I give them food. When I have some time and I see a mentally fit homeless person in need of food, I buy them a sub or make them a sandwich, give them a blanket, maybe a cheap carrying case and the location of the new homeless shelter. I find it more reasonable because it helps you stay away from giving money to drug abusers and alchoholics, and you don't have to fear giving money to a pan handling thief (one who pretends to be homeless).

I agree. British boat,eh?
It's a censored word here.

But what if it's a war veteran,without arms or legs?They can't do anything.Or if they have some kind of a disease that prevents them from working?
But i agree that i won't give my money to a perfectly healthy adult male or a female.No sir!

Oh,c'mon that's evil!
Just say: I don't have any money to give you.Period.No need to get rude,even if the person who's asking for money is rude.

And it's good to rely only to yourself.
But when you start working ,you will get your debts of somehow.
You have a source of income,but those people don't,so it's not really a fair compare
However as i said if the homeless person has a chance of geting an income,that's another story.

Well,what if the person is perfectly fit to work?I wouldn't even consider giving anything if he\she is 2 times biger than me.If nothing else,physical work is (almost)always available.

Pretend to be homeless?
To be perfectly honest,i didn't even know people do that.



Anyway,here in Nederland i don't give money to begars.
Nederland has one of the best social systems in the world.Social help is 800 Euros which is enough to get a small room,to eat and to always be dressed.A minimal thing for a human being,but it's here until you get the job.The only people that are beging are those who spend their money in casinos,are druged or drunk the whole day,don't want to spend thier time on education (Nederland gives a lot of options on this field).Such people simply don't deserve to be given any charity

This post has been edited by HyPN0: May 7 2006, 03:31 PM

Hey I know this is way out of topic but I'm getting my 360 and Oblivion on June 23
Ohhh yeah.... by the way has anyone seen "Interview with a Vampire" yet... just wondering...

You see there is this wonderful thing called compensation, and also a fantastic thing known as a military pension, which all ex-servicemen in this country get. If they have a disease they get free treatment on the National Health Service, and if they can't work they get disability benefit. In fact, they get such a decent benefit that many people who could work don't and claim benefit to sponge off the government. I've known quite a few people that do it. They might seem poor, but it's funny how the people who don't work for a living are the only ones that can afford a widescreen plasma TV.

Currently I don't have a source of income, and I don't even have a job lined up. In fact, I don't even know if I want one. But you're not going to see me expecting money off people just because I'm too lazy to get to the job centre and do anything. There is no homeless person in the UK that has no way of either earning money, or getting some kind of help. Even if they are at the bottom of the rung, they can always sell "Big Issue".

Yeah well,in my country there isn't such a wonderful thing
Instead,war weterans are rotting on the street.Actualy i'm not sure is there a specific center,but knowing my country's social policy there isn't,and if there is, it's pathetic.Very Sad

This may be very dumb to ask,but how are you going to survive if you don't get a job? And how do you think to pay the loan debt if you don't work?
Lottery isn't a safe solution,trust me

That's great. Oblivion on Xbox isn't the same as oblivion on PC but.....you'll hopefuly like it.
Oh,I have seen that film.With Tom Cruise is it?
Strangely i have completly forgot it


This post has been edited by HyPN0: May 7 2006, 05:58 PM

Yeah Tom Cruise was in it playing the roll of a vampire called Lestat I think... but he was not the only big star in the movie... Brad Pitt played the roll of the main character. A vampire named Loui or something and Antonio Banderas played the roll of the eldest vampire on earth. There was also this little gril who played the roll of a vampire who was sphyco... if you read the books you would know that she would sit down on a bench at night and cry untill a unsuspecting elderly woman or anyone comes close to comfort her and then she will get them and they would be screwed... big time... and then she will keep they're corpses upon her bed... but at the end she gets killed horribly (well if you were a vampire) anyways you should see that movie again...I'm recenlty trying to hunt it down and buy it...but all my efferts have gone to vain... I cant find a single copy of it yet... it's so depressing.

This post has been edited by Mazelure: May 7 2006, 06:16 PM

I would answer, but it really isn't any of your business.

You can buy Interview with a Vampire from most high street shops here (practically filling the bargain buckets), though obviously I've got no idea what country you're in. Either way you're not going to have a problem getting a copy on Amazon, or if you like second hand stuff, eBay.

Fair Enough

oh, thats really godd for you. i also have to wait till around june or july to get my 360 and oblivion, but it's worth the wait. and where can i see this interview with a vampire thing you are talking about.

Well this will probably get the thread closed like the other one (why do they always get closed when it starts getting interesting?), but I'd like to comment on the beggar/homeless issue.

They get closed because the posts go off-topic, personal insults appear or because of a transformation into utter spam.

I must admit I've never seen a beggar, so I haven't given any money to them. Some of you may be aware that Norway has been 'awarded' the world's best country to live in (whatever that means) for the last 5-6 years or so (Canada in 2nd place), and so there are no beggars or homeless.

Anyway after watching the news lately I've learned that begging was actually illegal in Norway until recently. Since it was allowed a few months ago there have apparently become lots of foreign beggars in the capital, Oslo. It's starting to become a problem, since the beggars mostly turn out to be quite wealthy and take advantage of the goodwill of trusting Norwegians not used to beggars.

Anyway, there is a shortage of workers in Norway, so anyone allowed to be here should be able to get work. Those who can't work for any reason at all (whether they're war veterans, chronically diseased, alcoholics, drug addicts and what have you) get a place to live and money from the government for food, clothes, medical services/treatment etc. Those who will not accept work offered by the employment office get a few chances to say no until they're finally cut off from economic support. Then it's their own fault for not making money, and should receive no sympathy. I don't believe there are many of these, but if there are they probably make money from criminal activities.

Finally regarding street musicians; they are not poor at all! I give them money if they're good, as should be the only reason for giving them any. But having been a musician for many years I know quite a few street musicians. They say that it's not uncommon to bring in about 3000 NOK (about 450 euros/dollars) on a good day. This depends on where they play of course. Stavanger (my home city) is a great place to play they say, while London is a good number 2. These are musicians that could have made a good living playing in clubs etc., but instead choose to travel the world, which is ok in my book. But believe me they are not suffering (if they are they are not good musicians and should find other work).

Anyway I understand that the world is big, and not many countries have such social benefits as Norway. If I'd lived in a country with slum and lots of poor and homeless people I would probably have given them money whenever I could, if I believed they were really poor and in need.

Olav,the last thread wasn't closed for political disscusion.A moderator could easyly just delete the political\racial posts.It was closed due to post limit (200).When a thread reaches 200 posts it automaticly need to get locked.

Never?
Well,Norway must be quite a cuntry then.

HAHAHAHA
Get into begging business!Easy money!
Seriusly,that's odd
Anyway,how much is the social help when you're unemployed i Norway?

Anybody? Even if he\she is not a citizen of EU?

It's almost the same here in Nederland

450 Euros per day? Wow,now that's business......
Anyway,Norway didn't accept Euro?What does NOK mean exactly?

Lucky you in Norway

This post has been edited by HyPN0: May 7 2006, 08:04 PM

Ok I haven't got the patience to do all the quoting, so I answer quote by quote...

- Thanks for clearing up the closing issue. I was under the impression that only 'silly coffee talk' was allowed in this thread, and not more serious matters.

- Never seen a beggar in real life, only on TV. I may have seen some when I was traveling around the world with my father who was a sailor when I was a kid, but I can't remember.

- Social welfare in Norway is not very much compared to the high prices here. I think it's a minimum of about 7-800 euros/dollars a month. This is for food etc. A place to live and medical care etc. is extra.

- Well you have to be a member of the EEC (not EU) to come here to work. Norway is not part of the EU. Or you have to be an 'approved immigrant', meaning you come from other countries and have been granted asylum for political reasons etc.

- Yes I think the Netherlands is quite similar to Norway regarding social services.

- NOK means Norwegian kroners, and no we don't use euro here...

Thank you for answering,honestly i didn't know that Norway isn't a part of EU.

It's better that way i think.I haven't been in Nederland for a long time,but my uncle tells me that it was WAAAAY better before Euro came.But,oh well....

Well there have been two elections so far where the population could vote for or against EU membership, once in the 70's and once in the 90's. Both times the no-side got a slight majority. It's still pretty equal I think, when they have those surveys.

Personally I'm for EU membership, as I believe it is a great idea that will benefit every member countries in the long run. When every country is developed properly and produce items for trade, this will benefit everyone. People will be happier and there will be less conflicts and wars. It might take decades or even centuries before everyone is equally well set, but when they are it will be a very strong union, economically, cultural, military etc.

Most Norwegians who vote no are afraid that they'll loose their comfortable way of living, selfish, those short-sighted idiots...

This post has been edited by Olav: May 7 2006, 08:38 PM

Dunno really.
I'm not really an expert on world economy

By the way 1234king I rented Interview with a Vampire via NetFlixs or whatever it go's by but I guess you can rented somewhere or buy it on ebay but I dont like to shop through the Internet... maybe thats just me... and yeah it is worth the wait for Oblivion... I recently played it at my friends house and it was awsome!!!!

By the way Foster I live in the U.S. and I realy havent found a copy of it jet but I'm taking into consideration stealing my friends copy... its just so damn cool... Interview with a Vampire rocks man!