Aetherous

True.

viator, I'm surprised at your responses, and see that spending any more time speaking with you will be an absolute waste. You are one of the worst moderators I've ever seen here (and it's only what like day 2 for you?), and I hope you step down or are removed from your position soon.

I realize that... My expectations are very realistic as well as rational. It's a shame to see a new moderator already getting defensive about their position, and being incapable of considering a fair point of view. Being an unpaid volunteer is not an excuse to do a bad job. If you care about this forum, you will attempt to be good...not to defend your new position from "attacks" of people who you think are simply yelling the loudest. Here is a guideline for you: you can tell the moderation is good when no one is talking about the moderation. That is. I definitely don't think it applies to everyone who was recently suspended, though. Like I said, it's a very bad policy to waste time (24 hours should be the maximum amount of time to come to a moderator decision), and it's a very bad policy to keep the reasoning private. People should know what exactly is wrong behavior at this forum, and know the exact line not to cross. People should know why moderators decide to moderate in some cases, and decide to do absolutely nothing in other cases...or even laugh at the expense of someone who has been offended. Really, take this as constructive criticism: the moderation here has been sucking. I hope you can realize that, as a newbie, and fix it. But with your attitude displayed here, viator, I doubt you will.

This is also a stupid policy. We don't want a bunch of bouncers kicking out people who are actually behaving quite well, and giving them "vacations". Raising a scene isn't against the forum rules. Stick to moderating the rules ONLY, rather than making a mess on top of a mess.

I think this is flat out a bad policy. The discussions that are moderated on this forum are public...so anything that person might have done should already be known by everyone. The reasons for moderation should even more so be known to everyone else, for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is that you guys aren't making ridiculous decisions. In the past, moderators would post a warning in the thread. If the person continued, the mods would clearly post what action was taken and why. I suggest you stick to that policy. There is also the moderation log section...you should use it. Also, why did it take like THREE DAYS for a moderator to respond to the original questioning? That's a joke, guys.

It's all good...we're cool.

Well, that conversation got fucking nowhere.

In chat now...

You haven't noticed that the moderation has been sucking bad, and is basically beyond repair (with ideas like the sexism thing)? Guess it's just me and a few others, then... I do have suggestions, K...but I'm not sure anyone is capable of listening, considering, and implementing anything sensible. If you are, feel free to PM me and discuss this friend to friend. Otherwise...fuck it.

May the ridiculousness of the current moderation team be ripped apart, limb from metaphorical limb. There has been too much nonsense lately.

They think that discussion of how to "pick up girls" is sexist? Are you kidding me? I think that opinion in itself is sexist, and in favor of a nightmarish safe world where no one has penises, cats are everywhere, and all people are smiling yet hiding a deep pain of boredom. Isn't there one male moderator (not counting Sean) at the moment, and 4 female moderators? HMM. One of the essential skills of being a male, how to form a relationship with a significant other, is not on the table for discussion? Fuck. That.

Yup, I think it's a matter of time...as well as not putting them in cold water immediately after the boil, because they will keep cooking on the inside even if taken out of the boiling water.

Word. Why aren't the moderators giving an answer here?

My bread was edible tonight. Not very flavorful at all, crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, or with any of those cool air pockets...so basically there is a ton of room for improvement. I like this guy's work, and his teaching in these baguette videos. ... http://www.clockworklemon.com/2011/07/pain-a-lancienne-baguettes.html This baguette recipe is supposed to actually be decent.

i am, This gives some pictures and times (which are from that Basics book I mentioned in the original post)... http://www.culinate.com/articles/our_table/mark_bittmans_new_book

Thanks rainbowvein. ... Here is the ketchup I plan on making probably tomorrow... http://www.simplyscratch.com/2012/05/homemade-ketchup-recipe.html Also just remembered that I want to do homemade yogurt, with vanilla bean and less sugar than usual store bought stuff. My ideal yogurt is Wallaby brand, but there isn't any around where I live. It's very thin (basically the opposite of that Greek yogurt stuff), low to moderate sugar in comparison to other brands, and real vanilla bean is used. Oh yeah, it's organic. I will use whole organic milk, since it tastes a lot better. Will store the vanilla pods in with the sugar (some kind of brown raw sugar) to add even more flavor. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Yogurt

http://www.jeromeibuyan.com/2012/12/japanese-blog-design.html Applicable to more than just blog design.

If I were a mod, I'd ban hammer anyone who attempted to argue that they should be allowed to post about My Little Pony in the spiritual section of the forum. Get real guys. Off topic is fine for this stuff.

What a useless trolling thread. No personal offense, but this was unnecessary and posted in the wrong forum.

I use kuji kiri as well as kuji-in to help make things right. I never really planned to have this as a practice...it just feels very natural to do at times. If I were to be asked, "what do you practice?" I usually wouldn't answer "kuji"...but the truth is that I tend to do it a lot at random times. The first hand seal, for Rin, is especially useful for being more confident and natural in social situations...when otherwise you sort of feel your personal strength isn't there, and you're over-sensitive and susceptible. I do it with the middle fingers extended, and the other fingers folded over the outside of the hand. Or sometimes including the indexes extended, but I feel like the indexes folded over has a better effect usually. Increases personal energy. For centering myself and calming down, I like to do the extra hand seal. Two sword fingers, the right hand thumb over the pinky and ring....left hand thumb touching pinky and ring tips. The right sword is inside of the left pinky/ring/thumb circle. Very effective. Perhaps it helps to clear things away. The 9th seal, zen, when done in the Dragon Gate Sanctuary way, tends to be like a way of feeling the entire aura at once. It is somewhat calming. When cutting as in kuji kiri, I think it helps to develop a decisive demeanor. It benefits the practice if you get really into it...like a warrior. I imagine that I'm cutting away all problems in life, and bringing order to the chaos with force. I like to say the syllables, either whispered or loud, even though I'm not sure they actually mean anything now. The original language was apparently Taoist, and was pronounced quite differently, in Chinese. It meant something in Chinese. These days, I think it simply helps to connect the energy of each hand seal to each cut...so for that, it's useful. I feel like the energy of each hand seal is enough to discover the meaning on a personal level. Dragon Gate Sanctuary has a version that is quite unique, which I think was from a ninjitsu lineage. It is very interesting and has additional effects (related to the energy field and chakras) from simply doing the seals in the normal way. But I tend to prefer doing them just in front of me. I think going through them somewhat quickly, over and over, tends to develop kundalini. Edit: Also, this isn't exactly hermetic or occult. I'd keep it in the general section.

Off topic!

Do we really think there is "motherfucking scum" at this forum, though? Are we saying flat out, that white wolf is a bigot? These are strong things to be saying. Maybe I missed the conversation where all of this anger is coming from...

Back in the day you had to hunt or gather. I'm sure there were people back then complaining about the foundation of Maslow's heirarchy as well. Doesn't serve them, but I guess they get by as well in one way or another. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISljtI0mCco

Bringing attention to it will help get rid of it, and will let people like me realize that it exists here. Saying insulting things to no one in particular won't do anything, and may get you into some unnecessary trouble. For instance, "Nazi defender" is another very insulting thing to call...someone?

No, it doesn't...