[Anomander]

There's a big forest fire at the outskirts of Halifax where a lot of my friends and their families live. So far hundreds have been evacuated and possibly 20 or more homes destroyed. It's still burning out of control and has already engulfed a historic site (York Redoubt) and could possibly destroy an elementary and junior high school. It was moving fast enough yesterday that two brothers had to run from a trail they were on while some people had to drive over small flames crossing the road to get to safety. The main hope right now is that the fire hasn't gotten too big overnight and that the rain forecasted for today will help put it out. *fingers crossed*

[Giles]

My internet is playing up massively now and its taking ages to load anything

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Trying to find a way to summarize the relation of Nietzsche's thoughts on truth and knowledge as homoiosis to it being metaphysical, nihilistic and the culmination of metaphysics. My head is going to pop.

[teholbeddict]

 Anomander, on May 1 2009, 06:25 AM, said:

There's a big forest fire at the outskirts of Halifax where a lot of my friends and their families live. So far hundreds have been evacuated and possibly 20 or more homes destroyed. It's still burning out of control and has already engulfed a historic site (York Redoubt) and could possibly destroy an elementary and junior high school. It was moving fast enough yesterday that two brothers had to run from a trail they were on while some people had to drive over small flames crossing the road to get to safety. The main hope right now is that the fire hasn't gotten too big overnight and that the rain forecasted for today will help put it out. *fingers crossed*

Holy shit that's awful! Not to mention terrifying! I hope all of your friends and family are okay. I imagine alot of people are going to be absolutely devestated due to this. I will keep my fingers crossed for all of them, I just hope they can get the fire under control! Please post an update once you find out.

[Anomander]

Update time. It's been raining for a couple hours, but the wind picked up to 70ish km/h so I don't know how much good it will do. It's burning hot enough the water bombers can't even get close so I can only imagine said heat will be able to evaporate the rain with ease. The fire is still burning as I type this, and I haven't heard any mention of it being under control. If you want to get an idea of what this fire has done check the following links:

The Chronicle Herald (local newspaper)

Article showing photos of fire & destruction

I shudder to think what will happen if they can't get it under control today. So far it's consumed 1000 acres since yesterday, and if it crosses over the secondary highway that borders the area the fire's in... well, then it has access to thousands of acres of woods filled with deadwood and brush from a hurricane which happened a few years back. It's a little early to worry about that happening mind you, but my parents' house is on the edge of said woods so I'll probably be worrying 'til the fire is completely out.

Some quotes from the articles:

Quote

One firefighter communicating with another said: "It’s just a ball of fire. We can’t get in there."

Quote

Halifax’s Sean McOuat also had a close call while hiking with his brother in the York Redoubt area. The rapidly spreading flames jumped over their path.

They ran from the trail onto Spryfield’s Princetown Avenue and watched firefighters run past them toward the flames, which were heading toward the oceanside community of Ferguson’s Cove. However, the firefighters soon turned around.

The flames were massive, "at least 80-90 feet," Mr. McOuat said.

The brothers saw a pair of helicopters fly to the scene. The choppers landed in a gravel pit where they were being set up with buckets to carry lake water to drop on the fires.

The pilots told the brothers "they were a thousand feet up and a couple of miles out and they couldn’t get close to the fire because it was that hot."

[Ain't_It_Just_]

 Thelomen Toblerone, on May 2 2009, 12:03 AM, said:

Trying to find a way to summarize the relation of Nietzsche's thoughts on truth and knowledge as homoiosis to it being metaphysical, nihilistic and the culmination of metaphysics. My head is going to pop.

I know how it is man....I had to do a project on Moral Relativism for...get this....Religion.

Fucked.

Anyway, I'm grumpy because I can't support my team tommorow...gotta go do this stupid school function.

EDIT: Damn, that fire sounds bloody awful. Good luck to everyone there.

This post has been edited by Ain't_It_Just_: 02 May 2009 - 04:24 AM

[bubba]

Not being able to just "not read" new threads in the religion discussion forum. It's so disheartening watching people I respect on this forum turn into ignorant fucktards the second religion comes up for discussion.
uuuugh and I know better than to go in there, but I still do....It's like touching a sore tooth...just can't leave it alone.

[teholbeddict]

 Bubba, on May 2 2009, 03:34 AM, said:

Not being able to just "not read" new threads in the religion discussion forum. It's so disheartening watching people I respect on this forum turn into ignorant fucktards the second religion comes up for discussion.
uuuugh and I know better than to go in there, but I still do....It's like touching a sore tooth...just can't leave it alone.

Eek! Well I think I know which thread you are referring to and I did take part in the discussion. I will say I did my utmost to remain respectful, and put forth and intelligent opinion, however if I was one of the people who offended you let me apologize now because it was never my intent.

I understand the sore tooth comment, as I try to stay out of there too, but I always fail and end up getting irritated in one way or another. It's a touchy subject no matter which side of the debate you're on. I hope you're day gets better Bubba, and try to resist the pull of the thread!

[Aptorian]

 Bubba, on May 2 2009, 10:34 AM, said:

Not being able to just "not read" new threads in the religion discussion forum. It's so disheartening watching people I respect on this forum turn into ignorant fucktards the second religion comes up for discussion.
uuuugh and I know better than to go in there, but I still do....It's like touching a sore tooth...just can't leave it alone.

I can't help myself

[Wry]

 Bubba, on May 2 2009, 09:34 AM, said:

Not being able to just "not read" new threads in the religion discussion forum. It's so disheartening watching people I respect on this forum turn into ignorant fucktards the second religion comes up for discussion.
uuuugh and I know better than to go in there, but I still do....It's like touching a sore tooth...just can't leave it alone.

I get the same with almost every thread in the discussion board. ESPECIALLY the religious ones, even though i'm not someone with any sort of religious belief. All i can do is chalk peoples opinions up to some form of reactionaryism - I imagine most of the "Atheists" come from family, societies or countries predominately Christian and this has coloured their views in very specific and predictable ways. Anti-establishment is easy.

Don't worry, everyone is stupid if you ask the right question.

[Aptorian]

 Wry, on May 2 2009, 11:13 AM, said:

 Bubba, on May 2 2009, 09:34 AM, said:

Not being able to just "not read" new threads in the religion discussion forum. It's so disheartening watching people I respect on this forum turn into ignorant fucktards the second religion comes up for discussion.
uuuugh and I know better than to go in there, but I still do....It's like touching a sore tooth...just can't leave it alone.

I get the same with almost every thread in the discussion board. ESPECIALLY the religious ones, even though i'm not someone with any sort of religious belief. All i can do is chalk peoples opinions up to some form of reactionaryism - I imagine most of the "Atheists" come from family, societies or countries predominately Christian and this has coloured their views in very specific and predictable ways. Anti-establishment is easy.

Don't worry, everyone is stupid if you ask the right question.

Lets not turn this into the discussion forum, but what western countries aren't christian? They all are. It's more the case of discovery channel and national geographic has replaced sunday church. A scientific approach to education, which is what you get most places in the western world, doesn't go hand in hand with religious beliefs. Or rather, not the most extreme of beliefs.

It's hard to sit through a physics or biology class and then have religion (I experienced that in in elementary school) and not be a bit dubious at claims like God created all of us in his image, the world in seven days, etc.

Turn churches into schools of philosophy and I'll show up and take part in lectures on christian idealism. But don't tell me that the old school rituals have any relevance in your personal relationship with god.

[Wry]

Ok, perhaps i should clarify - The aggressive, anti-Christian Atheism is in reaction to general society mainly Christian make up. I assumed the context of Bubba's post (also capital A and ""s in atheists) made that implicit. Simply not believing in God is not an issue for me, as i don't either.
My bad

[Mentalist]

Ow.

decided to shake the dust off my old bike (haven't used it for 3-4 years, ever since I went to Uni.)

I'm afraid I'll fel the pain tomorrow, when my calves will be too sore to move.

[Centzon Totochtin]

Sunburnt on the back of my left knee! Hurts to bend it Also really tired and it is only 8:30pm, I feel really pathetic for considering going to bed!

[HoosierDaddy]

Bad sunburns suck. Living on a lake, I've had quite a few. Water gets you something fierce.

Also: Ever hear someone talking and just want to walk up and punch them in the throat? Well, that godawfully violent reaction is the one I have every time I hear my mother's asshole of a husband talking.

[Centzon Totochtin]

I have a horrible headache and it isn't going away And I have two hours left of work!

[Assail]

Its rainy real heavy and I want to run in the morning. This is supposed to be spring! Bring on the sun!

[MTS]

I've got to go to work soon...sigh.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Ill. Bah. Dissertations. Bah. Gotta go into uni to see my tutor to talk about my politics dissertation, bah. Havent actually got a clue what Im doing in said dissertation, so will sit in awkard silnce for all of 5 minutes before being told to come back later with a better plan. Bah. And my gf is ill too, so she cant even look after me. Life is poo.

[Aptorian]

 Thelomen Toblerone, on May 5 2009, 11:08 AM, said:

Ill. Bah. Dissertations. Bah. Gotta go into uni to see my tutor to talk about my politics dissertation, bah. Havent actually got a clue what Im doing in said dissertation, so will sit in awkard silnce for all of 5 minutes before being told to come back later with a better plan. Bah. And my gf is ill too, so she cant even look after me. Life is poo.

You should start drinking Toblerone, that always helps.