The Introduce Yourself thread!

[Dilettante]

Salutations!

[partofme]

Originally Posted by Snow Princess

Hiya everyone ^__^ my name is Jennie. I just joined a little while ago and I wanted to introduce myself.

My interests include fashion design, fashion and style, reading, writing poetry, writing novels, scrap-booking, crafting, cooking, swimming, getting involved in good causes, among other things.

I look forward to meeting and conversing with all of you.

Hey. Do you know Hank?

[Tethys]

I have been looking around the forum over the past few days. This thread seems like a good place to take the plunge and timidly post my first post. It seems natural, before joining the discussions around this forum, to first greet everyone. So, G’day everyone.

My moniker, Tethys, is taken from Greek mythology. She was a daughter of Ouranos (Uranus), the Sky, and Gaea, the Earth. She was sister and wife to Oceanus, the Ocean. She was, like Thalassa, a sea spirit, mother to the waters of the world. Tethys is also a moon of the Planet Saturn. I chose the name because the mythology associated with Tethys most closely corresponds with my spiritual identity, the idea of being a child of the Earth and the Sky. Also, because I love the oceans and waterways of our world, and because I was born under the water sign. And also because, being the name of a moon, it connects to my love and interest of everything to do with outer space.

I was born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1953, to French parents. I spent my early childhood partly in Casablanca and partly in Paris, France. Then in 1964 my family came over to Australia, and I’ve been living here ever since. These experiences have shaped my views of the world quite a lot.

So where do I stand politically? That, you shall come to see as issues come up. But I tend to prefer to take part in discussions around culture, science and other general topics. Discussing politics is important, but the more general topics offer an opportunity to transcend political differences.

I would like to share something private about myself with all of you, because it may impact my posting here. I am “legally blind”, that is, I still have a tiny bit of vision but not enough to read the screen. I use a screen reader program, JAWS, to read the content of web pages, posts, emails and documents. In forums such as this, people widely use emoticons and other images in their posts. JAWS cannot detect these graphics if they have no text label (Most of the smileys here are labelled but somehow this label does not appear to transfer when inserted in a post). So please be aware that I will not be able to detect emoticons and other images in most cases. Also, I cannot participate easily in live mode chats or real time posting. So hold your horses if I don’t react to your posts quick enough, please! If people are not aware of these things, it can cause misunderstandings - so that’s why I’d rather be opened about it.

Thank you, Marc, for your help with my registration.

Okay, see you in the forum, everyone.

Tethys

[ViolaLee]

Welcome Tethys.

[Zeus]

I'll keep it short and sweet. My name's Zeus, and I'm new here. Nice to meet you all

[ViolaLee]

Welcome to the board Zeus.

[Zeus]

Thanks Samantha

Like the avatar, btw

[ViolaLee]

Thanks. Those lights didn't stay up long in NYC after 9/11, because they cost so much to stay lit. But they were a beautiful memorial to the lives lost on 9/11 and to the WTC towers that fell down. I vowed to keep the avatar till Osama Bin Laden is caught. I guess I might have it until after 1/20/09 Doesn't seem like Bush is interested in much else besides big money no bid contracts for Iraq.

[enigma2]

Hello there, I should have introduced myself before jumping in feet first to a thread! However, impulsiveness is one of my many faults/virtues depending on your point of view.

Born in Australia, lived in New Zealand through most of the seventies, am a happily divorced female of the baby-boomer generation who nowadays rarely lets newcomers into her inner-circle of friends. I believe in quality over quantity!

My avatar is the beautiful Gaby - my first adopted greyhound. Sadly Gaby had to be euthanased last year due to a tumour on her spine. She left behind Ben, my second adopted greyhound, who was so heartbroken that I had to adopt Smudge. Ben and Smudge fell in love at first sight, although Ben is a very dignified old fella never stooping to any overly affectionate displays.

I hesitate to brand myself politically. Both extremes of the political spectrum alarm me. On the other hand I could be called left of centre. I firmly believe that every nation state has a duty to its citizens in that they should legislate for a universal health system, free education, a roof over one’s head, access to a paying job, and to curb the more excessive activities of capitalism. I view these as rights not privileges. Luckily, at the moment this legislation is in place in most western countries.

The United States seems to be the bogey-man of the moment with many on the left. Having travelled around the US in 1999, and being treated like the Queen of England everywhere I went, I can’t subscribed to this theory. There is much about the United States which I admire, although I don’t have any respect for the current leadership. Anti-Americanism is not on my agenda but I do feel that because of the pre-eminence of the US in today’s world, and the impact this has on my country, I have every right to criticise or praise as I see fit. I am also concerned that Australia’s culture is becoming flooded, by what could be called – US cultural imperialism. Cheap US imports already dominate our TV and film. With the recently ratified free trade agreement signed between our two countries, this could lead to an even worse situation.

Well, everyone, I look forward to getting to knowing you all, some more than others, and finding common ground on which we can agree, or at least agree to disagree with mutual respect.

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Samantha

I vowed to keep the avatar till Osama Bin Laden is caught.

Methinks you'll be keeping that up for a while then

I don't think that UBL will ever be caught, but will simply be reported dead at some point in the future. Like you pointed out, UBL is more of an asset to the Bush Administration while he's on the loose.

[ViolaLee]

Originally Posted by Zeus

Methinks you'll be keeping that up for a while then

I don't think that UBL will ever be caught, but will simply be reported dead at some point in the future. Like you pointed out, UBL is more of an asset to the Bush Administration while he's on the loose.

It's some sick shite isn't it?

Welcome enigma2.

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Samantha

It's some sick shite isn't it?

It certainly is.

I hope I haven't given away my penchant for Bush-bashing too early on

[enigma2]

Thank you, Samantha.

Zeus, you don't like Bush? Come sit next to me!

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by enigma2

Zeus, you don't like Bush? Come sit next to me!

Gladly. Us Bush-bashing newbies need to stick together

Welcome, btw

[Tethys]

Originally Posted by Samantha

Welcome Tethys.

Thank you , Samantha. I have seen your posts around the forum. I could not see your avatar but I have a pretty good idea from the description you gave. I loved the light memorial they had at the site of the WTC.

I too think that it is appalling that the hunt for Usama bin Laden is not being pursued more forcefully. When I watched the fifth anniversary ceremonies this September 11, I could not understand that those who orchestrated that wanton, horrendous attack are still at large today. President Bush spaeks of staying the course, but he has steered the response to the September 11 atacks way off course.

Tethys