Azurablue

There have been many incidents in real life where a father and other family members have had to turn in a relative for their criminal behaviour. In many cases, it's a mother turning in her son for drug dealing, but there's been a few times when it's a father turning in a rapist son or a murderer. It's so extremely sad, but it happens. My heart breaks for the family, since they did everything that they could to raise this person right yet somehow, everything went pear-shaped with this child and they just turned out wrong.
 
 
You've been very lucky that you've not been in this situation. I have to admit that aside from the intensive bullying I experienced when I was young, I've never been in that situation either. (Online gaming is a completely different issue and I've been run off sites by aggressive males for years - as a result, I don't ever do online gaming except for NeoPets, and even there, I have no NeoFriends because I'm scared that it will happen again.) It doesn't mean, though, that we need to ignore it because it is all around us. I just saw a husband bullying his wife and daughter just yesterday. I was in a Wendy's restaurant and the little girl, maybe all of 2 years old, was acting out. He came within an inch of smacking her as well as his wife for not controlling the child better. His language was very abusive and it sounded like there was a distinct possibility of violence when they got home. There were three other people around who were on their cellphones to the police. I'd have made it four if I had one. (Phone plans are way too expensive in Canada.)
 
The world is far from a perfect place. It would be awesome if we could fix everyone in the world and get them all on the same peaceful and well-behaved page, but there's a problem with even a lovely thought like that: who determines what that standard is? Sure, I'd love to be the one, but I would take every abusive person on the planet that can't be "corrected" and drop them on Jupiter without an oxygen tank. They'd think I was the abuser, wouldn't they? They'd be right, too. My views are probably way too harsh for some and not nearly hard enough for others. So who would get to decide? The simple answer is no one person should ever weild that kind of power. Which is why civilized nations work together to try and oust dictators when possible. Not that we do a good job of putting in something better, but at least we make the effort to try and help the people who are being crushed under the ego of a single dictator.
 
Getting back to the main topic, though.... I truly believe that starting this newest generation of kids on the right path is the only lasting answer. If we can somehow get past the "me" generations to one that thinks of those around them, has been taught common courtesy and manners, a generation that understands that we all need to get along with one another and work co-operatively for a better place for all living things.... then there really will be hope for the future. What we have now is largely selfish and self-absorbed, can't grasp the simple concepts of politeness and kindness, and enjoys a consumer-based lifestyle where everything is immediate gratification. A world of built-in obsolescence with no quality of manufacture. This leads to people growing increasingly frustrated with their life because there's nothing to have any pride in anymore. Which then leads to people lashing out at those around them and a need to dominate something since they can't control the spiral of consumerism. This brings us full circle to the problem of people (usually women) being oppressed and those responsible for it.
 
Last words, I promise. I still come back to the principal that it's all a form a bullying. Women bashing, men bashing, gay bashing, race bashing..... all of it. Why do we do it? I hate to say it, but it's half instinctual as part of the survival mechanism. The other half is learned behaviour. We can't do much at all about instinct, but we can break the other half of the cycle if we really want to. This takes education and a force of will. We need to start with children and teach them not to hate. This is done almost entirely by example. They watch us. We have to act right or they learn the same old bad habits that we learned from our parents. WE have to break the cycle.

I got the avvie from the previous Neo meltdown, but it doesn't bother me that others can now get it. Yes, yes, the events were different - but the effects are, essentially, the same - we can't go on Neopets... We had to survive longer than 24 hours without it... fend for ourselves in the 'real world'... I don't really see a difference, other than we were warned this time so we could prepare; but honestly, who can truly prepare for horrors such as this?!
 
I look at really old, retired avatars - some that I had on old, long lost accounts - and long to be able to use them - so giving others the chance to get that makes me happy, not miffed. It's not like we can sell avatars, they're just nice to collect and reminisce with.
 
I can understand why it feels a bit annoying though. I mean, I would have loved any new avatar (please let there be a habi one!) but I don't think it's unfair. :)

Click for moving parts and upper foreground!
 

 
Here we have the God of Mischief himself, Loki! (The true Loki, not the Marvel version, that would have been for a previous theme). This is based off of how he appears to me, and he was even asking me for an entry based off of him. I was happy to oblige.
Loki has caused both help and harm to the Norse pantheon, helping Thor bring back his hammer by disguising him as a bride and himself as his maiden to fool a giant, gave Odin his trusted steed Sleipnir, the 8 legged horse and one of Loki's many children, the father of the great wolf Fenris, the Midgard serpent Jormangand, and the queen of the Underworld, Hela. However, all of them have had a hand in Ragnarok, as had Loki himself, bringing about the end of the worlds and destruction of Asgard and the AEsir (war gods, AE is actually one letter attatched) themselves, the cause being revenge for the self-fulfilling prophecy. His rune is the Dagaz rune (the last rune in the runic cycle, which looks like a sideways hourglass), which symbolizes change. He is often associated with fire, as it is chaotic, and brings new life as well as destruction. Wildfires are commonly associated with him, as they bring about change in the world, and from the ashes spring new life. Chaos is change. Change is freedom. Freedom is hope.
-The story-
Odin had sought the future from a volva, a seeress, who told him what was to come of the gods, that come Ragnarok, they'd all be killed in a great war. Because of this, he chained up Fenris indefinitely, and cast out Jormangand and Hela, blind to the fact that he was causing this prophecy himself with his own actions, Fenris grew enraged at Odin for this treatment, and Loki wasn't pleased to see his children treated like this, either. Eventually Loki had had enough of Baldur, the treasured son of Odin whom everyone loved so dear, and having learnt that everything except mistletoe swore not to harm him, a plan formed in his mind. In disguise, he fooled Hod, Baldur's blind brother and the god of darkness, into aiming a mistletoe dart at him, ending his life. Enraged, the gods extracted revenge by murdering one of his sons, Narvi, by turning his twin brother Vali into a wolf and ripping out his entrails. While some of his children were cast out or bound, which had caused him enough grief prior, now he had truly lost someone dear to him. The AEsir used Narvi's entrails to bind him under a mountain and fashioned a serpent to drip venom into his face, for eternity, a fate worse than death. While his wife, Sigyn, held a bowl to make his eternal torture easier, Loki grew more bitter as centuries passed, vowing revenge on the AEsir. When Sigyn's bowl was full, she'd have to turn and dump out the venom, causing Loki to write in pain as the serpent dripped more venom into his eyes, resulting in earthquakes. Finally, the time had come for vengeance. Loki freed himself from his cruel prison and joined his daughter Hela, who rallied up an army of the dead. Fenris broke free to devour Odin once and for all, and Jormungand rose above the sea to battle Thor. As Skoll and Hati, the wolves chasing the sun and moon, had finally caught the celestial bodies, Heimdall blew his horn, Gjallarhorn, to signal the battle to end all battles. The gods clashed in an army where neither was the victor; Fenris swallowed Odin in a single bite, only to be slain by Vidarr, another of Odin's sons, avenging his father. Jormungand is killed by Thor, who died shortly afterward due to Jor's venomous bite. Loki and Heimdall faced one on one, but neither won as they killed each other. The realms burned, but then, later, life anew began. It was all part of the Ragnarok cycle, and soon, everything was reset. As gods are not truly immortal, but are just as prone to mistakes as you and I, they vow to learn from the past cycle and continue forward.
 
-This is a VERY condensed, abridged versions of info of Loki, some of his many children, the death of Baldur, and Ragnarok, plus a little of my own personal gnosis so there may be bias. -

Okay. Never been first before. Umm.... here goes.
 

 
QUETZALCOATL. The feathered serpent god of the ancient Mesoamericans, usually attributed to the Mayans. He is the god of wisdom, knowledge, arts & crafts, and merchants. He is also associated with the four winds as well as the planet Venus. (A lot of sacrifices were performed in his honour, thus the heart in his "hand".) Legend says that he will come back to our world at the end of days to usher in a new age when the world will be reborn. Quetzalcoatl literally translates to 'feather-serpent'. He is often depicted in brilliant colours, causing some scholars to speculate that he may also be a symbol of the rainbow.

(Sorry for posting this early, Sabs, but I won't be able to go on at all this week but I will be back in time for the voting. Thanks for understanding!)
 
I had heard tales about the mighty Hydra, but never did I expect to be seeing nine hissing heads and a sword in my hand. I took a big SWISH and sticky green goo squirted out of the gash. I could only now see two of its montrous heads due to the goo, but I just kept swinging my sword. OOPS! I accidentally sliced off one of its heads. Two more heads sprouted out its place. I gasped. I was beggining to tire. The Hydra seized its chance, and landed a huge bite on my lower leg. I resisted the urge to scream in agony. My vision blurred, this time, though, it wasn't because of the goo. I heard a loud hisssss...
 
And I was prepared to take my final breath...
 
I was going to die...
 
... But if I was going to die , I was going to die a hero.
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TO BE CONTINUED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay. Never been first before. Umm.... here goes.
 

 
QUETZALCOATL. The feathered serpent god of the ancient Mesoamericans, usually attributed to the Mayans. He is the god of wisdom, knowledge, arts & crafts, and merchants. He is also associated with the four winds as well as the planet Venus. (A lot of sacrifices were performed in his honour, thus the heart in his "hand".) Legend says that he will come back to our world at the end of days to usher in a new age when the world will be reborn. Quetzalcoatl literally translates to 'feather-serpent'. He is often depicted in brilliant colours, causing some scholars to speculate that he may also be a symbol of the rainbow.

And this is why I don't go first. Sorry, Sabs! :*
 
I'm glad that you did! You've represented ancient Egypt beautifully. Se tu-a! *thumbs up*

Sure, you can! Just give it a try and have fun. That's the main thing. I'm excited to see what you can do. The next challenge has already been posted, so why not? What have you got to lose but a little time. Go for it! :laughingsmiley:
 
This was the hardest one to vote on yet. So many are so awesome! It was almost impossible to limit myself to only four. (Yes, that's my personal limit - otherwise, I'd tick off every box. *lol* )
Great work, everyone! It's fantastic to see so many people participating. It's so encouraging to see.
 
Best of luck to all!

Okay. Never been first before. Umm.... here goes.
 

 
QUETZALCOATL. The feathered serpent god of the ancient Mesoamericans, usually attributed to the Mayans. He is the god of wisdom, knowledge, arts & crafts, and merchants. He is also associated with the four winds as well as the planet Venus. (A lot of sacrifices were performed in his honour, thus the heart in his "hand".) Legend says that he will come back to our world at the end of days to usher in a new age when the world will be reborn. Quetzalcoatl literally translates to 'feather-serpent'. He is often depicted in brilliant colours, causing some scholars to speculate that he may also be a symbol of the rainbow.

Dress to Impress
 
Bastet / Ailuros, Goddess of Fire, cats, pregnant women and the home.
 
(I took Azure's advice and finally tried for one of these)
 
~EDITED to resize picture, other one was HUGE~

Okay. Never been first before. Umm.... here goes.
 

 
QUETZALCOATL. The feathered serpent god of the ancient Mesoamericans, usually attributed to the Mayans. He is the god of wisdom, knowledge, arts & crafts, and merchants. He is also associated with the four winds as well as the planet Venus. (A lot of sacrifices were performed in his honour, thus the heart in his "hand".) Legend says that he will come back to our world at the end of days to usher in a new age when the world will be reborn. Quetzalcoatl literally translates to 'feather-serpent'. He is often depicted in brilliant colours, causing some scholars to speculate that he may also be a symbol of the rainbow.

Okay. Never been first before. Umm.... here goes.
 

 
QUETZALCOATL. The feathered serpent god of the ancient Mesoamericans, usually attributed to the Mayans. He is the god of wisdom, knowledge, arts & crafts, and merchants. He is also associated with the four winds as well as the planet Venus. (A lot of sacrifices were performed in his honour, thus the heart in his "hand".) Legend says that he will come back to our world at the end of days to usher in a new age when the world will be reborn. Quetzalcoatl literally translates to 'feather-serpent'. He is often depicted in brilliant colours, causing some scholars to speculate that he may also be a symbol of the rainbow.

This was my favorite theme by far and I love all of the entries! :)

Goodness, I debated between a bunch of alternatives. lol
 

 
You would never guess these Peophins are related. They are twin sisters. One was destined to cause great destruction, and the other to restore peace. They were separated at birth, but one day their paths will cross.
 
deboratibi - I like the mythology theme! :) There should be a good variety of wearable items for it. We could do that next!

woo! okay finally managed to crop! They're linked to their outfit pages and stuff still...I think I did this right o.o
 


A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.
-Steve Martin

Not again. *sigh* I'm starting to think that it's arbitrary what TNT gives out and to who they give it. I was there for every day of it, had talked to everyone as politely as possible and was within a few minutes of midnight when the new clues were given out. Solved it within a couple hours of the request for the answer... and just like in the Spooky Food Contest, I miss out on the bonuses. I don't get it.
 
Not that I'm unhappy with the basic six items (shown in Dorkitty's post). I'm a plushie collector and I love the wearables. :)
 
So, there's no bonuses for the regular part? Just for doing the NC part?

As a general rule as someone who did get ripped off before. If you ask for pure only accept pure, if they could sell the items for your price or above then they wouldn't be offering the item they would be giving you pure.

Hi and welcome (back) to TDN!
 
You're never too old for NeoPets! That's the beauty of it. (I thought I was, but some very nice Neopians here have assured me that I'm not... and I just passed my 51st birthday last month.) So, come on in and ramble all you like. You're always welcome here. :laughingsmiley:
 
Azura

Name the scoundrel who dared to lift the Illuminated Menuscript from under King Skarl's nose, as well as when and how it was done.
 
ooh I got this!
 
Maybe after king skarl will reward me with laughing hysterically at a certain joke of mine that involves peophins ;)

Yeah, you're probably right... Especially because we did have an empty time slot all the time and it was weird. Anyways. Sneaky, sneaky TNT! I'm just glad they shut up all the people on the boards who were saying they had completed their grids perfectly, no problems, no issues, because they were oh-so-clever. HA! :geeky_evil:

I think my head just exploded. If there's a new guild, then it stands to reason that there will be a new time of night (probably "4 AM" to fill in the missing hole between 3 and 5), a new method of being a thief ("magic scroll of teleportation" anyone?), and a new item to be pilfered ("our sanity" would fit nicely). Well played, TNT. That was low down and sneaky to leave it to this late in the game. Arrgggh.

I just reset my grid again. I'm just going to wait now until TNT said they're going to stop releasing clues before doing this puzzle. Honestly, I'm doing the clues with probability trees like wayyyyyy back from things I learned back in secondary school. (Let it be known I despise maths). Hopefully that will help eliminate clues as I go through.
 
When does this event end/clues come out? Because I'd really like to solve this with all of the information known. It's not that I don't like logic puzzles, I find them rather fun, but I am frustrated with the speed of the clues. I have too many open-ended things and I do not like that. At. All.
*grumbles*

Something occured to me that I could mention, in case it helps everyone out a little. I've been doing these kinds of puzzles for years and I developed a little side trick that sometimes helps me to solve them when there is a time factor involved. (This is happened before this, that happened before that, this was at midnight, etc.) On a separate piece of paper (I use quad 4 to 1"), I'll write down a bar grid with the times at the top, like this:
 
12 ] 1 ] 2 ] 3 ] 5
] ] ] ]
] ] ] ]
 
In each column, I'll write down the pieces of the clue that I need to figure out, such as in #2: The guild that used invisibility commited the theft one hour before the Dagger Clan. (I give each an abbreviation as well to save space: inv = invisibility, DC = Dagger Clan.
 
Using this, I get something like:
 
12 ] 1 ] 2 ] 3 ] 5
inv ] inv ] inv ] inv ] -
- ] DC ] DC ] DC ] DC
 
You know from the clue that DC was one hour after inv, so it can't be at 5 AM, nor can inv be at 3 AM. Change the grid accordingly.
 
12 ] 1 ] 2 ] 3 ] 5
inv ] inv ] inv ] - ] -
- ] DC ] DC ] DC ] -
 
When you get a bunch of these in columns from all you know from your partially completed grid, it can give you things that you never saw before.
 
I hope that helps. :)
 

I've had a few run-ins with the filter, it's a minor annoyance when you're sending a perfectly innocent NM and you get that "No bad words blah blah" warning when you're trying to send it, and for the life of you, you can't find it because you never said it! It's frustrating sometimes, but I've managed to chat openly on the NeoBoards, guild boards and NeoMails without any warnings for years now.
 
I understand that majority of the players on Neopets are adults, but the filters are in place because there are, in fact, still young teenagers out there that could be targeted by people with bad intentions. They might seem silly to you, but it's the best they can do to make sure those bad people don't get to the kids, given the amount of messages passed around each day. We can pretend those bad people don't exist or don't troll websites like Neopets, but the reality is that they're out there and given any leniency, it might put younger players in danger. There is absolutely no way to verify the real age of a person, it's so easy to put in a fake birthday. A system like that would just open up a can of worms that online predators will likely abuse.
 
No system put into place is perfect, but if you try and understand why they're there, it puts things in a different light. It would be better if the monitors put things in better context when checking out flagged messages, but I don't feel it necessarily impedes your freedom of speech.

I can see why these strict filters have been put in place. I mean it is technically a children's site regardless of the large portion of adult players. We all signed up and continued to play on this site knowing that. When I started playing my mom was very concerned about being able to access the boards and talk to strangers. It was very comforting for her to see the rules the site had in place especially when it came to filters. There's not many sites that are as safe as neopets out there for pre-teens.
 
I don't know why you would need to talk about cigarettes on neopets but I understand how the "drink" warning must have been frustrating. I would be upset with that one.
 
I don't personally have much frustration with filters. It can be annoying not knowing what hidden word is stopping your neomail from being sent but I've managed. I just know to use other words in place of "skills" or "grape" for example. If I want to chat more freely, I come here :)
 
It would be nice to see them update the filters though. I think they need a bit of a re-vamp. Such as your "drink" incident, it's not fair to have to tiptoe around innocent words. I don't talk to anyone while playing KQ anyways so I'm indifferent toward unscripted chat.
 
I am always nervous about warnings with big brother *cough* I mean TNT (or their software) watching every move we make. But they do have good intentions.