
yes, now you too can own a real, working, replica Roman wooden seige weapon!!

LIFE SIZE!!
*wants soooooo fuckin bad*
EDIT: including one of the best ever reasons for purchase in the form of "If you have aspirations to overthrow a neighbour’s castle, the ballista isn’t ideal, as even though it is potentially capable of throwing a stone ball over 100 yards, it is now not in firing condition. (Please note that even if it were, you would need a team of several skilled operators in order to do this, and these are very hard to find today. You may also find that advances in weaponry since this was designed place you at a considerable disadvantage on the modern battlefield.)"
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:10, Reply)

It puts the firing version that the Ermine Street Gaurd have to shame by comparison.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:18, Reply)

I don't care if advances in weaponry would put me at a disadvantage - there is such a thing as style!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:18, Reply)

i reckon we should have a whip-round and bring it along to the next bash.
"roll right up ladies and gents and ride......THE BALLISTAAAAAAAA!!!"
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:20, Reply)

here www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rab1PD8a60&
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 13:41, Reply)

( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:58, Reply)

I luvs mah kitteh. Here are a couple of vids from the past week.
Epic battle kitteh vs bogroll:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJdzJfYpeVw
and the latest:
Ninja cat fail:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sNewX_Al4U
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:09, Reply)

This is why I love cats they're all complete nutters at heart.
And hahahahaha!!! on the Ninja cat fail :D
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:37, Reply)

...and ninja cat fail made me spray tea all over my keyboard :D
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:44, Reply)

He's usually a good ninja cat.. but he's a clever one too :)
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:57, Reply)


You talked about planned chaos for September. Now it’s October, we perhaps ought to analyse your prediction.
First up: for your prediction to be correct, you would have to establish (a) that there has been chaos, (b) that it was planned, and (c) that the link between the plan and the reality was of the right sort. Have you succeeded? Well, no.
Take (a), for instance. You never defined what you meant by “chaos”. (My desk is certainly messier than it was at the start of the month; does that count? On the other hand, my kitchen isn’t.) Maybe you meant something like the current financial problems. But, in that case, why not say so in advance? You can’t claim to have been correct in a prediction if that prediction is vague and then has to be retrofitted to events. You can't predict something for September and then wait until the end of September to discover what it was you predicted. Moreover, even if this is what you meant, you’d still have to establish why “chaos” is the correct word – it’s much too vague to take on faith. Other people might describe current events as problematic but non-chaotic, or as a correction in a market, or as the bursting of a 15-year bubble. None of these descriptions is self-evidently mistaken. So you need to provide an argument to show why they are wrong, and why you’re right. You’ve done no such thing.
We can deal with (b) and (c) together. Again, even allowing arguendo that the current situation is chaotic, you’ve given no evidence that it was planned. (Could there even be such a thing as planned chaos? That sounds oxymoronic to me.) Indeed, the behaviour of bankers and politicians seems to suggest that they were all caught somewhat on the hop – exactly the opposite of your claim. Or are you suggesting that there’s some shadowy level of organisation above all that? If so, then – please, let’s have some independently verifiable, non-ad hoc evidence. The same applies to the causal relationship between the plan and the chaos. One might plan or plan for all kinds of things, and those things may come about – but from that it does not follow that they came about because of the plan, or even that they could possibly have come about because of the plan.
The point is this: there’re three criteria by which we ought to judge your claim. By all three, your claim either fails, or (at best) can claim no success.
Or maybe you’re going to deny that September’s over, and that the good stuff is yet to come? That the Gregorian calendar is a product of the freemason-Catholic conspiracy that’s been running the world for god-knows-how-long, and that, by the Julian calendar, there’s still a significant tranche of September still to run? Or are you into Mayan great cycles? Or what? You see, I’m trying to be as concessive as possible and to give you as much chance as I can to be right. After all, you’re not dumb by any stretch of the imagination. (Hell, I even clicked your Sesame Street LHC joke.) But I have a sneaky feeling that I’m sounding absurd in giving you so much ground. And that’s the problem. Your claims are utterly absurd.
Show me mistaken, Goat. Please.
EDIT: NOW WITH PICTURES!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:00, Reply)

I've got to go to a meeting for a few hours, but I'll be interested to see how this thread develops by the time I come back...
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:04, Reply)

A conspiracy theorist will look at this latest economic correction and blame a small group of shadowy people, when in fact the root of this economic crisis is in the greed of people who saw credit as easy money, buy to let landlords, hedge funds, short sellers, bank staff, civil servants and a whole bunch of other lazy, opportunist and avaricious shits.
I like The Goat, for recognising that there are problems in the world and seeking answers to find the roots of these, roots that are hugely complicated that I don't ever think one human brain could effectively comprehend in full.
Enzyme, well done for starting another debate, b3ta needs it. To you apathetic pricks out there who winge about this sort of stuff being discussed, be warned, when I am king you will all be shot (in the legs guys, I still love you all really).
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 12:49, Reply)

I only got wind of this post because one of my top tinfoil link board spies mailed me
so for what it's worth, even though this has dropped off the first page, have something I posted previously on how this financial crisis is managed as prescisely as the Great Depression of the 30s ... and what the end goal is
www.b3ta.com/questions/getrichquick/post215221
( also see G. Edward Griffin book 'The Creature from Jekyll Island' for the inside take on the 30s fed reserve created scam) -
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 16:55, Reply)

you've waited all this time until exactly the 1st October to post this.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:11, Reply)

I wrote a series of predictions on a blog.
It was an attempt to have a go at Sylvia Browne but sadly has become one of the to most searched and read articles.
I made the predictions vague and applicable to any year and as we get to the last quarter most have arguably come true.
It is sad that I get so many comments inferring that I have a gift, when my gift is for language and general ass-hattery. I leave those comments unpublished as they give weight to ludicrous arguments.
Sorry if you think it is spamming but it is relevant I feel:
scottthedot.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/predictions-for-2008/
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:15, Reply)

I loved your explanation of how predicting chaos is just not good enough. I always wondered why if psychics and other assorted loons could predict the future why they wouldn't be absolutely specific about it.
If I had a gift (or advance info) like that I would be publishing every tiny detail to prove it
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:23, Reply)

I like how every single one has the obvious behind it.
Like the first one - Because it's America, and there's a black man up for it.
"someone famous will die" is my favourite.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:25, Reply)

we lost Paul newman
(fingers still crossed for thatcher though)
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:27, Reply)

Best order the balloons now before the rush.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:30, Reply)

Hopefully I'll get a chance to piss on her grave before I die.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:56, Reply)

I have resolved the following:
[1] On the day that hag dies, I am downing tools immediately from work, and heading down to the pub to celebrate. Possibly chanting "Ding-dong, the witch is dead".
[2] Once she has been interred in unhallowed ground, I am making a pilgrimage to it. At the least I will endeavour to urinate on the ground below which her decaying corpse is buried; if possible I'll try for a runny stool.
I have a few other north-easterners who feel pretty similarly.
Anyone for a b3ta bash to collectively micturate on the decaying shrew?
NB. I've noticed a worrying trend for people to get all revisionist on the Thatch, saying what she did was harsh but necessary, and even comments that she was a worthy leader. Fuck that. She was a grasping cunt who had no appreciation for the section of the country north of Watford. She willingly sold the country into Friedman economics. She caused a massive deal of harm to society with her greedy and evil worldview. For this she will never be regarded by me than anything other than the poisonous, warped, fucktoad she was.
/soapbox.
( , Thu 27 Aug 2009, 17:59, Reply)

He's been posting apocalyptic nonsense on here for ages. Some of this seemed to amount to the claim that the world'd end at some point in September.
False claims are fine by me. People who're impervious to reason, mendacious and wilfully ignorant aren't. So this is a counterblast.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:26, Reply)

And by believing in something, anything, that is supernatural or 'spiritual', he's creating himself a comfort blanket. Much like the religion comfort blanket billions of people suckle on across the globe.
Let him eat cake, i say.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:30, Reply)

I look forward to a response, if he hasn't got you on ignore, that is :) I'm genuinely interested to see reasons and evidence, and also if I'm going to live long enough to see my birthday next week, without everything crashing around me :)
This being said, he's not been about for the last few days/week I don't think, so he may not see this.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:29, Reply)

that he 'sold up' well before the current financial turmoil after foreseeing the outcome through his sources, and was planning to get 'off the radar' completely.
He may well have now sorted this out before the end of September and is now living next to Margo and Jerry somewhere without bank accounts, internet or any other means of tracking him.
Be a shame to see him go completely, the last couple of weeks or so when he was about, he produced some crackin' stuff on /board and was quite the punmaster in replies :)
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:56, Reply)

Just have to wait and see.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:06, Reply)

*stands well back and hands around baked potatoes and sausages*
Hope he is still about. Aside from the (generic) 'conspiracy' stuff on /links, he comes across as an intelligent and funny bloke on /board when he posts.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:13, Reply)

The Shawshank one recently was proper woo :)
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 12:02, Reply)

www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/061406_abyss_awaits.shtml a good read from 2006.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:35, Reply)

OK - I've not had time to read this in depth, but a claim that there was a looming financial problem is tame: many people had been predicting that for years, and noone with a vague familiarity with economic and financial history would want to deny the possibility outright. That there's a role for governments to ease the pressure is also not exactly controversial, given that one of the main problems at the moment would seem to be that there's been a dearth of regulation and oversight.
Beyond that, though, we appear to be in the realms of the vague (in terms of crash or slow burn) or the spurious. The stuff about it all being a criminal conspiracy is just... well... shall we say that, prima facie, it's bonkers?
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:41, Reply)

It's an interesting read and worth spending some time on. Michael Ruppert is a man of great integrity and intelligence though, so he's not to be dismissed without further analysis.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:52, Reply)

I'll follow the link again when I get a chance. It'll be fairly soon: I retire in fewer than 40 years...
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:58, Reply)

and he seems like just another conspiracy nutter - he even (supposedly) put himself into pschiatric care at one point.
One other loon even expresses the view that he is an Israeli government backed denier to false flag 9/11 to make us all believe it wasn't Mossad.
Fantastic stuff!!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:09, Reply)

that The Goat will find some obscure thing that happened on September the 8th that was the beginning of the apocalypse. Looking on Wikipedia, it appears that UFC champ Evan Tanner died, that MUST be a sign of the beginning of the end.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:57, Reply)

I like it when conspiracy nuts have it handed to them.
I look forward to The Goats reply, if he actually does, as I also like listening to the ramblings of nutters.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 12:43, Reply)

The board was looking rather fun without him :)
Edit: Luther Blissett Woo!!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 13:18, Reply)

He's a good painter and photoshop dude, and I've come to like watching people argue about history and politics with him, it's good to know people actually care about stuff like that. I'd rather see his posts than that damn SFW porn video popping up over and over again, at least he had some variation.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 14:30, Reply)

www.b3ta.com/links/SFW_Porn
www.b3ta.com/links/SFW_Porn:2
www.b3ta.com/links/SFW_Porn:3
www.b3ta.com/links/Safe_for_work_Pron
www.b3ta.com/links/Safe_for_work_Pron:2
www.b3ta.com/links/230967
www.b3ta.com/links/231155
www.b3ta.com/links/231193
There are possibly more.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 16:57, Reply)

And I agree that it's good to have an interest in current affairs. He's certainly not your garden variety "troll", I do believe that there is a decent guy there. But he's a fanatic. And that's why there is no debate with Goat. Any attempt to do so is met with derision, condescension, and endless cut/paste of someone else's unquestioned rhetoric, as though that's the "truth".
I looked beyond that for quite some time. But lost patience when he started blatantly harass people for being educated in subjects that he holds with ignorant suspicion (math/science seem to be the big offenders). He also bullied people for being members of groups he didn't like, or simply suggesting that his "research" (cut and paste) was flawed.
He was also caught out in posting on /talk as an underage teenage girl, flirting with people, presumably in order to entrap them into writing something they shouldn't.
And it is a shame, because as I said, there's things that make him genuinely seem decent. But it's just lost in his approach :/
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 15:19, Reply)

He did seem to take stuff very seriously until someone wrote an equally serious criticism of what he was saying, then he'd change the subject or act like they were pathetic for caring. He never did say whether he seriously believed that aircraft were leaving mind control gas in their vapour trails...
But I don't know, it feels a bit harsh if we've managed to scare him off.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 16:48, Reply)

www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/08/freddiemacandfanniemae.creditcrunch
(I'm trying to avoid working)
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 17:05, Reply)

The sad news about Tony Hart has led me to a Youtube trove of old kids tv shows, and I came across this gem.
Most people have memories of seeing Picture Box when off school, and it's 'creepy' theme tune. Well some bright spark has found the full version.
The actual title sequence can be found here
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:43, Reply)

That really takes me back, and sad news about the great TH :(
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:58, Reply)

who remembers this and does not shudder.
It is very eerie and somewhat sinister.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:18, Reply)

Mainly of being off school ill :)
*is off work ill at the moment*
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:24, Reply)

Can anyone remember the name of the horror/thriller tv show from the late 70s, where the opening titles showed the silouette of a darkened armchair in the glow of TV light where a shadowy man sits down, then suddenly on the arms of the chair he reveals long claws? It terrified me as a kid. Was it possibly armchair theatre?
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:44, Reply)

I remember the title sequence but cant find a pic of it at the moment.
Sounds right though en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armchair_Theatre
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:53, Reply)

I remember that. Another creepy one I've been searching for a clip of this. It was dark for a kids show, that Marchpane getting Birdie burnt to death.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 13:19, Reply)

Anyone remember 'The Clifton House Mystery', a six part BBC children's drama c1978.
A music box, a haunted room in a mansion, blood dripping from the ceiling etc.Terrifying. I think the music box tune would still send shivers up my spine 30 years later.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 14:53, Reply)

the skyscraper stuff just makes me shudder. ;(
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:40, Reply)

Although it makes my palms sweat, and gets my adrenaline going, I'm always impressed when a film can do that.
Why should my body convince itself that it's in danger of falling even though I'm sitting in an office chair, at ground level? I don't know, but it is! Weirdness abounds
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:25, Reply)

without the basic engineering knowledge needed to realise they wouldn't work.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 11:33, Reply)

Hopefully not GC, I cant be arsed looking. A bit sweary at the end so probably NSFW.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:14, Reply)

in fact...pretty GC...
But "What is happen?" is a catchphrase in our house.
I would also recommend the David Blaine video from the same guys.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:31, Reply)

New one on me, and you'd drown them in the bathtub after a while, wouldn't you?
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:09, Reply)

but then I've been hitting a punchbag most of the morning so I'm pretty chilled out
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 13:06, Reply)

I've marked it NSFW but there's no nudity; however I would advise not watching it if your work is extra strict.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 8:53, Reply)

The brand notched up its quarter century this year and to celebrate, toy company Hasbro enlisted the help of 25 actors, singers, artists and fans and put their design skills to the test.
Actors Courteney Cox and John Stamos, singers LeAnn Rimes and Amy Grant and designer Kimora Lee Simmons, were among those who contributed a one-off pony design for the birthday celebration.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 3:42, Reply)

"Never Let You Go" meh
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:50, Reply)

thats pretty nice indeed. i thought meh at the start but it gets really good.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:59, Reply)

...is really good. Much better than most of the dubs, you can listen on dubstepforum to. Comes straight into my dubs folder for future sets. Whats the name of the band?
The only thing i would improve slightly are the effects on the vocals. And i don't like the drummachine break, sounds a little bit to cheap (muffled) for me, compared with the rest. Maybe an 808 instead?
Respect!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 10:47, Reply)

Er. It's a monster that can wallop itself in the head with its own cock. Looks like a bit of a tard though really...
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:30, Reply)

I wish I'd downloaded it now, rather than paying 30 sheets, the creature creator is the best part, the rest it just *yawn*
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:23, Reply)

but with slightly nicer graphics and a really long 'set up your character' section.
i.e. everything before the space stage
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 12:58, Reply)

Think AT-AT. See about 1:30 mins in when it slips on some ice.
Sorry if GC and all that, seems likely considerin it's age, but as ever, I just saw it.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:18, Reply)

...search 'big dog' on YouTube and the original comes in at number 1 with 6.75million views. :P
But i agree with you totally - freaky as fuck. I did a total double-take at the part where the bloke tries to kick it over.
Without wanting to attract the tinfoil brigade, if this is what they will show us, imagine what they won't... o_O
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 3:28, Reply)

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJZVZFRFJc
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 9:28, Reply)

THIS IS NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE SAFE FOR WORK PERIOD UNLESS IF YOU WORK FOR B3TA
You can make the world a better place with oddly dramatic posing, a white nylon turtleneck jumpsuit, and several fag bags, as this photoset so clearly illustrates.
Bartender, give everyone a shot of mindbleach on me.
EDIT: I think the fact that he's an albino also subliminally adds to the uncomfortableness of this.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:11, Reply)

Where would you even GET that much man gravy!?
So wrong it's nearly art!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:21, Reply)

Found it by accident and I am so baffled I think I just shat meself.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:09, Reply)

Now, here's a a Camp Dawg :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqbVbPvlDoM
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 0:53, Reply)

Scientology may turn you into a dog! And fuck Olicia Newton John's aged!
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:09, Reply)

That's camper :) And I'm slightly concerned about the relationship those two have.
The way the swimming one minces through the water, flapping its paws like it's having hissy fit, makes me giggle.
( , Wed 1 Oct 2008, 1:37, Reply)
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