Praetorian_Lord

Beowulf: You wish your name to reside in the scops tale? You really think that the lat verse of the song of Beowulf would have him killed by a Frisian raider with no name?
Frisian: I am Hildeburh, of the Northern Frisians.
Beowulf: Only if you kill me. Otherwise you're nothing.
...You think I'm blessed? You believe that to conquer and always be victorious is a blessing? Let me tell you something, Frisian, it's a curse. The gods won't allow me death by your feeble blade. The gods won't let me die... taken by the sea. The gods won't allow me to pass in my sleep... ripe with age. It's a curse. Plant your axe here, Hildeburh, of the Northern Frisians. Try to take my life from me.
Frisian: Take a sword and fight me like a man.
Beowulf: I don't need a sword. I don't need an axe. I need no weapon.
Frisian: Someone give him a sword... or I'll... I'll--
Beowulf: You'll what?! Kill me? Kill me! Kill me! Do it! Kill me!
You know why you can't kill me, friend? Because I died years ago... when I was a young man.



'Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.'


Eye on the TV
'cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be

Like:
"Killed by the husband" ...
"Drowned by the ocean" ...
"Shot by his own son" ...
"She used a poison in his tea,
Then (she) kissed him goodbye"
That's my kind of story
It's no fun til someone dies.

Don't look me at like I am a monster
Frown out your one face, but with the other (you)
Stare like a junkie into the TV
Stare like a zombie while the mother holds her child,
Watches him die,
Hands to the sky cryin "why, oh why?"

Cause I need to watch things die from a distance
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
You all need it too - don't lie.

Why can't we just admit it?
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause until the blood is flowin'
Neither the brave nor bold
Nor brightest of stories told
We won't give pause until the blood is flowin'

I need to watch things die from a good safe distance
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same so why can't we just admit it?

Blood like rain fallin' down
Drum on grave and ground

Part vampire, part warrior,
Carnivore and voyeur
Stare at the transmittal.
Sing to the death rattle.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la-lie (x4)

Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men.
But pull your head on out (of) your hippie haze
And give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again

The universe is hostile
So impersonal
Devour to survive
So it is, so it's always been ...

We all feed on tragedy.
It's like blood to a vampire.

Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I.






I do like to argue, a lot. We've all heard that conflict is the essence of drama, which effectively means that we all find it entertaining. But I'd take this one step further and suggest that conflict is the essence of progress. Think about it. Evolution by natural selection requires a struggle for survival. The more intense the struggle, the more quickly things are achieved. Technology increases exponentially during wars.

I do take a LOT of time to think through my points of view. I do tend to present them in a way that at least seems very opinionated (and at most, quite patronising). I am still open-minded, however, and will take all the effort to root out your own opinions. Don't take this to heart, it's nothing personal.

I often take up arguments that I don't actually agree with, just to see where they lead. Or to give you another point of view. You can't make a justified decision until you've considered all alternatives.


Music:

Favourite band: Pink Floyd.
Favourite artist: Ozzy Osbourne.


Books:

The Prince - Niccolo Machiavelli


Movies:

Star Wars
Citizen Kane
LOTR

There's nothing in my history, really, that would interest you terribly much.

If - for whatever reason - you decide that you do want to know more, you can always drop me a PM.




I'll leave you with a song. If these lyrics strike special accord with you - and I mean, really hit home - drop me a PM and let me know why.

The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains, he laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path

The lunatic is in the hall
The lunatics are in my hall
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paperboy brings more

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

The lunatic is in my head
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You rearrange me 'til I'm sane

You lock the door and throw away the key
There's someone in my head, but it's not me

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout but noone seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing a different tune
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.