Mer

I miss my Thorpe days :(And I love this video :') Good times!

I also have the same problem as Rattlesnake1 - I can no longer find the option to change my signature!All I want to do is edit my Facebook link as I changed my username on Facebook.

Grr it's still not working! I just want to make my post in the Thorpe Park staff thread!

My job at the cattery is now back to Saturdays now it's the quiet period, so I'm on the hunt for a second job. If I don't find anything soon I'll have to resort to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqJpvWBQaMU

I have discovered a new problem!When using the quick reply option in the Thorpe Park Staff topic, I typeda link to a YouTube video and used the media tags, then I clicked "More Reply Options" as I wanted to preview the post to t to check the media tags still worked since the upgrade.it took a while to load then took me to a blank page. So I closed the tab and opened a new one, but when I click on the topic, I get the same blank page!I cleared my history, cahce, all that shizz, which also obviously logged me out of TPM. When I click on the topic logged out it works. I logged back in...and it still didn't work!Myy browser is Firefox, I tried Internet Explorer but it still doesn't work.Restarted my laptop, still nothing.I went on my iPhone, using the mobile theme, and it took me to the topic! But when I clicked reply it then went slow and did the blank page thing.So, it's as if it;s got stuck and thinks I'm still trying to post or something? Hence why I cleared the cache etc but like I said it didn't work, it's TPM's fault :PHalp!

Sheepie has hit the nail on the head

This topic is dedicated to discussing your favourite films, actors, directors, and all that lovely stuff. I am aware we already have a "movie" thread (I prefer to remain British and call them films!) but that can be just for cinema releases, a seperate thread to discuss favourite films is a good idea. It keeps things tidy and it means people can natter away as much as they want about that favourte film without worrying about clogging up the cinema-y topic. Also a discussion in Skype last night about films which have made people cry made me think about some of my favourite films and I thought "Hmm we need a proper thread to discuss them in!"So...what films have earned a place as favourite in the wonderful world of Mer? Excluding the Harry Potter series as I that is just too obvious (Having said that, I will at some point talk about Back To The Future here, muwhaha!)Well, I don't have one particular favourite, I just couldn't pick one to come first! A lot of my favourite films feature David Thewlis, who people here will probably know as "the guy that plays Lupin in Harry Potter". I mean that in a nice way though. He doesn't seem that well heard of, probably because he keeps himself to himself and does a lot of indepedent films. Having said that, he is an incredibly talented and versatile actor. His best performance was without a doubt Jonny in the Mike Leigh film "Naked". I will leave discussing that until another time, as it is such an intense film and there isn't really a plot to explain, it's just about people and their lives. Anyone who is familair with Mike Leigh films will know exactly what I mean. The film I'm going to talk about today is The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. A very moving film with a very sad ending. Released in 2008, it is a historical-drama based film based on the novel, and directed by Mark Herman. It stars David Thewlis as Ralf, Vera Farmiga as Elsa, Asa Butterfield as Bruno and Jack Scanlon as Schmuel. The soundtrack is composed by James Horner. A Holocaust drama, the film explores the horror of a World War 2 extermination camp through the eyes of two 8 year old boys; one being the son of the camp's Nazi commadant, the other a Jewish inmate.SS Officer Ralf, wife Elsa and children Gretel, 12 and Bruno, 8, move from their home in Berlin to the countryside as Ralf has been promoted to a commandant of an extermination camp (although initially his wife and children do not know this).One day, while exploring through the forest (via the back garden which he is banned from, as the concentration camp is over the back) Bruno comes across the camp, although he initially believes it to be a farm. He befriends Schmuel, who is the same age and always sits alone by the electric fence as he fights a lot with the others. Bruno regularly sneaks off to visit him, bringing him food and playing games and they become friends through the fence. As the film goes on, Bruno learns about Jews and that they are the “enemy” but still remains friends with Schmuel. Elsa and the children eventually find out the truth about Ralf working at the camp, and Elsa eventually wishes to move away with the children as she strongly disagrees with his work.One day when Bruno visits Schmuel, Schmuel is upset and tells him his father has gone missing and Bruno is determined to help find him. They make a plan; Bruno will came back the next day (the day he is meant to be leaving with his mum and sister to live with their aunt) with a spade to dig under the fence, and Schmuel will bring a spare pair of pyjamas so Bruno will look the same as everyone else. The plan goes ahead, with his family soon discovering he is missing. Upon searching for him, Elsa and Gretel discover the open shed window, Elsa interrupts Ralf in a meeting and he and the soldiers follow the trail through the forest to the camp. Elsa and Gretel follow behind, despite being told by Ralf to wait in the garden.Meanwhile, Bruno observes the true horrors of the camp and wishes to go home but agrees to stay to help Scmhuel find his dad. They look in the hut they sleep in when they are abruptly sent on a march by the soldiers and led down into a chamber, into a changing room, Bruno innocently saying he thinks they are just waiting there until the rain stops.Ralf and the soldiers discover Bruno's clothes and the spade and Ralf quickly enters the camp, then Elsa and daughter also arrive next to the clothes. Bruno, Scmuel and the others are ordered to take their clothes off, believing it's just a shower, and then forced into a gas chamber. They huddle together, the door slams shut and Bruno and Schmuel take hands in fear. A small opening at the top opens and a solder pours Zyklon B pellets into the chamber. Once the opening is closed, it cuts to the door and you hear furious, desperate banging and shouting from inside, which then comes to an abrupt stop.At the same time as this, Ralf frantically searched for Bruno and discovered the empty hut, informing him there was a gassing taking place. After the banging on the chamber door stops, we see him running towards the chamber and he cries out Bruno's name. It then cuts to Elsa and Gretel who hear this and break down in crying screams, clutching onto Bruno's clothing.As I said, it is a very moving film. I had already read about it on Wikipedia before seeing it (well, downloading it the other month, but ssh, I'm poor okay!) and I wonder how I would have reacted and felt at the ending had I not done so. Having said that, I still cried and I still find it petrifying to watch those final scenes. I always have that hope that nothing bad will happen even though I know it will. It is done so effectively too; the use of the soundtrack is what really does it. While they are panicking and banging on the chamber door there are high pitched strings playing, and then they stop, along with the banging on the door, and it really gets you inside, it's like you've felt the people dieing. And the way in the final scene that the camera slowly zooms out from the chamber door and the end music plays! :(The soundtrack in general is great, very beautiful and moving. The opening piece in particular gets me, even when I saw it the first time as I knew the plot and what happened to Bruno in the end.The acting was perfect, by all the cast. David Thewlis was scary! Usually when I watch films or TV and a character goes mad and shouts, I laugh, I can't help it. But not this guy, no, I felt like I was there being yelled at! Like the scene where Elsa confronts him after finding out the truth about his job, working at the camp, my god! You really feel for her and feel scared of and hate Ralf! And yet there are scenes where you see him as a loving father and husband but both sides of the character are utterly believable. Versatile doesn't even describe this guy!Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon as the boys were very good, Asa in particular, and he is so cute! He has very bold, blue eyes which he acted with very well. The innocence of Bruno's character is what contributes to the film being so moving as you just want to tell him what is really going on and to obey his parents and to enter the camp!A three word summary of the film: Beautiful, moving, horrifying.10/10

Erm erm inverted because I've not been on a sit down :oNEW TPM OR OLD TPM????

There is! It's so awesome I just cottage cheese tastes very niced my knickers!Blowing my cat.

I think the new layout is cottage cheese tastes very niceing awesome

****'S GOING DOWN!EDIT: THE SWEAR FILTER HAS GONE. OMGZ WE IZ GONNA DIEEEE!

Colour/skins aside...yes the old layout was simple to use...but so is this! Maybe I'm just not paying attention but everything is still similar, yes there are changes like with the profile/settings etc being at the top right, but the actual forums etc are still in the same order, it's still easy to see which topics have been posted in, it's easy to reply...what more to people want?

:oI know, and she is also aware of the potential dangers, and the risk of getting caught. One thing I should have mentioned; she is avoiding driving as much as possible, and luckily we have three local shops, post office etc.She could replace them if she gets cheaper tyres but which wouldn't last as long, which in the long run costs more but it will obviously be better than what they are now. But she also needs the tracking or something done, which is what contributed to them wearing down so much. From what she was saying to me, she couldn't just get cheap tyres put on because the garage or whoever would be like "There's no point unless you get the tracking done because they will be worn down within a few months." Which makes sense but also seems pretty bad, surely it's best to have a car that is safe and legal to drive for a small while? Grr it's like they just want their money...oh wait, they probably do!Hopefully she will be back working in a few months anyway, the same applying to my brother and me getting a second job. So yeah, she just needs to find somewhere that will do the cheaper tyres and actually realise that she doesn't physically have the money to do the tracking.Grr it's like when the man from N Power came over to discuss paying the gas/electricity bill, and suggesting a payment plan for my mum, suggesting amounts which she doesn't physically have, and all he could say was "Well we're all in the same situation." NO NO NO!

:oHmm CTRL+ works for me...I guess we shall just have to wait until all the teething problems are sorted

Same!HUGE SAUSAGE SURPRISE! :DSorry but I find all this new stuff uber exciting :PAnd yes I know large signatures take up uneccessary room, I will change mine back should it be a nuisance :lol:Other forums I am on allow images but they have to be within limits, so as not to take up space. I don't mind if I have to keep an eye on siggies and PM people if they are too large, I think it gives a more personal feel and as Luke said, it's less plain

Yes but thats the skin which Ian has said will be sorted soon (Although I personally like the blue, I got bored of the orange, but that's just me)Like it or lump it people!

OMG COLOURFUL SIGNATURES! :wub:And the title thing works too :DBest. Update. Ever!

Ok cool :)Oooh some of the emoticons look slightly different, and the second angry one now works! Ta daaa!

I HAS A PROBLEM!You know how the profile pic and avatar swapped, well I tried to upload the photo of me by CCR as my avatar, to replace the one of me in the blue top...but it changes it to the one of me in the blue top!So I then tried a completely different photo, but it still showed up as the one of me in the blue top :oI then tried linking a URL but it still shows up as the blue top photo :PSo nothing major but just a bit odd!EDIT: The photo is still showing up even though I clicked remove Lol I'm guessing it'll work soon once everything is fixed!

MANIA HUB IS LOOKING SEXEH!

Love it, let that anger out!When I went to college (both times) they were just colleges, not part of a school, so I've never had this problem but I can totally understand where you're coming from. You'd think that schools which have a sixth form would have a separate library/area for sixth form students!I get VERY easily distracted so I totally feel your pain!My rant for the day:When people say to my mum, when talking about money problems, "Yeah, I know how you feel, everyone's struggling at the moment, we're all struggling to pay the bills" etc. I don't know if it's their attempt at making us feel better but I tell you something, all it does is make us feel worse! When we say we have no money we actually mean it, not like when people say it just to be tight arsed. "I know how you feel" - no you don't! You can afford to do weekly shops and pay bills and have some spare for things like fixing the car. Me and my family, we have to decide whether we have a week of sufficient meals or pay a bill on time! My mum is driving a car with illegal, bald tires, windows that don't open/close properly, other bits on it need sorting, but how on earth she will ever have the money I don't know. We live in a village so she can't take it off the road, it would just create more problems, and public transport is such a f***ing rip off! What do I want for Christmas this year? I just want my mum and brother to be employed, and for me to have a second job! Having a financially and mentally stable family would be the greatest gift of all.

With the nature vs nurture thing, I'd say nature. It just makes more sense to me for some reason. I don't see how an upbringing could influence sexuality. Plus, my brother is gay but he has always loved cricket, snooker, planes/flying, my dad watched football, played for a local team and often took me and brother to watch, my dad's friends who we often saw are all very "blokey" etc. If anyone's sexuality was to be influenced by nurture it should have been me, what with being so tomboyish and always having male friends, but I'm definitely straight! But then again, my erm...mental "differences" are the main reason I have got on easier with males; they are easier to understand in a social aspect and do not bitch like females do. They don't chat as much Personality is definitely influenced by nurture though. Something my brother was discussing the other day and something I'd not really considered until he did. No one is born with a personality, you are a product of your parents. People do not inherit characteristics, they observe them and learn them. And as I said, despite a lot of the things my brother grew up with, he is gay. And yes Ian, some of the coolest people here are indeed gay But the straight guys are awesome too

I never knew Marc had such a figure!And doesn't he look good in heels?