Chathouse Ezine
The Second Floor

January 15, 2000 Issue #41

Note From The Editor: This week the Ezine is focussed mainly on the second level, enjoy your reading! ~Michie ch_zine@hotmail.com

Featured Chatter
Kimber
MindStalker™

Handles that you chat under:

How did you decide on the handle (s)?

Location:

Information on chatting *L* How long have you been chatting and which rooms do you normally chat in, etc.:

Age and Zodiac Sign *L* Ladies.. you don't have to be real specific here.. *L*

Marital Status:

Kids:

Pets:

Profession.. If in school.. Profession that you plan to go into:

Hobbies and Interests:

Music Preferences:

Pet Peeves

A favorite Motto or Quote to live by:

Anything else that you'd like people to know about you? *S*

Changes or improvements that you'd like to see at the Chathouse™:

More FEATURED CHATTERS of the Second Floor
- More Thoughts on the Second floor
And Chat Dominatrix

Horoscopes
By Texas Storm

January 15 - 21

Taurus ... April 20 - May 20
You will be inordinately interested in marine biology this week.
The interest will have been sparked by the prospect that, as the inspector who called round your house to check your security told you, you have sea monkeys living in your walls.

Leo ... July 23 - August 22
You find yourself inordinately disturbed by the wanton acceptance that the inspector going on about sea monkeys in the previous horoscope has anything to do with the Tauri's interest in marine biology.

Virgo ... August 23 - September 22
You object to the repetition of the adverb 'inordinately' in the preceding two horoscopes, "showing," as you say, "a decided lack of imagination on the part of the horoscope writer."
You also express a unhealthy unwillingness to willing suspend your disbelief that sea monkeys would be physiologically suited to live in someone, anyone's walls.

Gemini ... May 21 - June 20
The adjectival and adverbial swirlage in the previous few horoscopes leave your mind all a'twitter, and yourself, your own true self, if you're of the camp that believe that person lies in the body, rather than the mind (which is busy twittering).
This is a good week to sit down.

Capricorn ... December 22 - January 19
The bulk of the words and concepts introduced in the preceding horoscope make you physically ill.
You would like to lodge a protest at the use of the non-word 'swirlage', but the queue's getting rather long. You also don't believe all that Cartesian dualism claptrap.

Cancer ... June 21 - July 22
The use of the word claptrap in the previous horoscope belies an outdated and wildly non-hip personality, which you take care to point out only because you were feeling argumentative.
You will be punched by a Capricorn this week. Hopefully not in the stomach.

Pisces ... February 19 - March 20
You will wish you had sea monkeys.
Granted, not in your walls, because that wouldn't be a tremendous amount of fun, unless your walls were translucent, or you lived inside an iMac, but just out and about.

Aries ... March 21 - April 19
You raise the objection that sea monkeys can't live in iMacs, either.
You realize what this implies about your previous apathy in the field of marine biology, as well, as you're oddly compelled to defend your argument (purely a negative one, with no proposed solution for the sea monkeys' housing problem) over the course of the week, sometimes vehemently. And once with a fork.

Libra ... September 23 - October 22
An Aries stabs you with a fork for no apparent reason this week.

Scorpio ... October 23 - November 21
The Great Siege of the Horoscopal Board of Integrity and Chicken Skin (as it surely will be known in coming decades/centuries) pauses for a brief moment to observe the debates raging in the surrounding horoscopes akin to the famous Scopes v. Monkeys trial, wherein John Scopes, one of the foremost trial lawyers of his day was pitted against a team of fifteen monkeys, to see if he couldn't win the interspecies title and, once and for all, prove beyond a doubt man's domination of trial-based debating scenarios. He won, and was given an all expenses trip to the Bahamas, where he lost his wallet.

Sagittarius ... November 22 - December 21
Your raging curiosity as to the relevance of sea monkeys in one's walls to the security of one's home and the burning desire to see the question answered at some point in the course of this week is almost enough to distract you from your newly acquired habit of using 'one' as a pronoun quite disturbingly often.

Aquarius ... January 20 - February 18
You don't have sea monkeys in your walls (though you note that the horoscopes this week are almost positively infested with them, if there is such a thing as an infestation of sea monkeys), but you do seem to notice a knocking sound whenever you settle in for the night and turn the music down low.
On Thursday, when the rhinoceros pokes it's horn through your bedroom wall (thankfully not near either your head of the stereo), any curiosity you may have had regarding what was making the noise is sated.

The Story Of Us
Lionheart & ~thimble~ -Marriage Announcement & Story-
I wanted to have this article done, not only to announce our wedding, but to also give some insight and maybe help those that are facing what LionHeart and I have, dreams do come true *S* - We will be marrying next month!!! It was back in the middle of September 1999 that there was no one in the FF room (on the Next Level), but quite a few in the Tank, I entered not knowing anyone in there. I watched the chat a bit, someone asked if certain chatter had been seen and I replied that she was in the room, but had left. He thanked me for answering him and we started to talk, that 'someone' was LionHeart *S*. We instantly became friends and over a few weeks, we became best friends; chatting everyday for hours. In November I started to have deeper feelings for him, I tried to ignore them with him in England and me in America, I told myself over and over, "He is in another country, you can't let yourself fall in love". I decided to tell him that I had to stay away from him for a bit, that lasted about 24 hours, I couldn't do it. I missed him terribly and that is when I realized that I loved him; that I had fallen in love with him. You can't choose who you fall in love with and when you do, it can't be stopped. I confessed my love to him and by the end of that week, he had done the same to me, we had become an 'Internet couple'. We began to talk about marriage, but we needed to meet first. Plans were made and he came to America on Feb. 14, 2000 -- it was no coincidence that it was Valentine's Day, he planned for our first embrace to happen on that day *S*. Being a visitor he could only stay in the states up to 3 months, he stayed that long and in May he had to return to England. That was the hardest day of both of our lives, we knew in those 3 months that we loved each other very much and wanted to be married. I started to call the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to find out the procedure and what forms were needed to get him here, they also have a web page that is very helpful (www.ins.usdoj.gov). I filed a fiancé visa in July of 2000, was told that it can take up to 6 months, it seemed like a time. Two months later I heard that the INS approved the fiancé petition and the information was being forwarded to the American Embassy in London, they would contact LionHeart for the next step. We saved a lot of time by going to the Embassy's web site (www.usembassy.org.uk), it let him know different documents that were needed, so he got them ahead of time. The Embassy sent him forms to fill out and one for me to fill out, we did so and he sent them in, it took about 2 weeks for them to contact him with an appointment date. He was to be in London at 8am on Jan 11, 2001 for a physical and interview, what we had waited for so long was finally here. I can't begin to tell you the emotions that you feel at this time when your lives are in the hands of people that don't even know either one of you. The strain is a lot, not only on yourself, but on the relationship also, if your love can make it through the immigration process then you know it is real. He went to his scheduled appointment and about 5 hours later he was told that he got his visa to come to America and marry me *S*. We still have a lot to do to have him become a resident of America and someday a citizen, but the hardest part of it all is over. He has his visa and in 3 weeks he will be here and we will marry right away, at that time more papers need to be filed... there is a lot that needs to be done, but for love, it is all worth it. I hope I was able to help someone who has a long-distance relationship and to give them reason to fight for their lives together.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Chat & the Second Floor
I decided to write this article because a dear friend asked me to. Besides which, I would like to contribute to something, (Chathouse), which has benefitted me.

I decided too, to ignore the obvious negatives of Chathouse, in favour of a more positive outlook on the whole thing.

My main reasons for connecting to the Internet were for business and study purposes. Encompassed in the study reasons was a desire to familiarise myself more with other cultures and traditions.....kinda meet new people and discuss their thoughts and feelings as compared to mine or those of my ilk. I guess I learned an awful lot more than I expected to.

Along with cousins the world through-out,I now have friends in South Africa, Australia, United States, Europe (including Britain) and my own land too. Many of these people are in regular contact with me....in some cases daily contact. Indeed, I even speak with three or four of these people regularly on the phone. We also send regular emails and I have been introduced to other media of contact i.e. ICQ and MSN. Whilst I only have a handful of people on these media (my MSN is down*s*) , I can say sincerely that I cherish their friendships.

Another thing that has struck me about chat is the fact that a lot of people suggest to others that "they must have nothing else to do". I must admit that I thought that too at first. It was only through talking to these people, that I realised two things and accepted them. They were: 1. Maybe they just wanted to be here which, when I thought about that, is the very essence of choice, or 2. Maybe, they NEED to be here. Some people have no choices as to their outlets of pleasure or recreation. I modestly suggest that we think about it before ever asking that famous old question, "Have you nothing to do with your life?" or the other old statement "Get a life". Whether we like it or not, for some people, this IS a large part of their life for reasons that dont require explanation, but which may be far more understandable if we knew them.

Anyway, I have probably philosophised far more than I have the ability to*s*. But hey, it wouldn’t be me if it were otherwise. I have ben offered the choice to use a different handle for this article...and have decided to refuse that option. I am, and shall remain, Kev.

Thanks for asking me to write same.
Kev.
p.s. Try out the War Room...its great fun*s*

What To Say About The Second Floor...
~Velvet~

Each room that I have gone into have had their own shares of "drama" and yet they also have their own sense of intrigue, and mystery. I have found through a slow process of entering the different rooms on the Second Floor, that you may be greeted warmly, or completely ignored, as is common with all the rooms I have ever frequented. There are certain rooms that will make you have that feeling of wanting to return, and that is why I personally do so. Where I used to be a regular patron of Joe's Diner..I now find myself being in The News Flash more often then not. Yet at times, as I want to "catch up" with a friend, I have gone in the Halloween Party as well as the Loft. Both rooms have captured my attention and made me want to come back. Halloween Party, is a room where most are "regs" and thus being so, makes it a tad hard to join in the conversation, but as with any room there is that elite few that greet you and make you feel most welcome.

The Loft is a room that I began going into for a variety of reasons, but find myself still entering that room, as what I have discovered in there is a "cast" of people that are the most funloving, full of humor and caring that is to be acknowledged! They have families (literally) that frequent that room and others that just make it a joy to enter....especially when you are in need of a simple smile or a hearty laugh. I suggest to anyone to try the Loft. They above ALL other rooms I have found people that merely want to smile, laugh and joke around, and NOT take things so very seriously. I have "seen/read" the same in Halloween, but know that in the Loft I am able to go there and have a hearty laugh by the time I leave. The other rooms on this Floor are just as amazing in their own right and those those frequent them. *S*

In conclusion, (knowing I was unable or incapable) of expressing just what each room means to the individuals that wander into the Second Floor. As with most anything, you will have your ups, downs, experience friendship as well as hurt. But it is those times where you leave being able to laugh or smile that makes going anywhere in the Chathouse all worthwhile. *S*

Poetry Corner
this was written for my Golden Knight *soft smile* - Ocelot

Peeking out from the shadows within
lies a heart..wanting to begin again.

Pain from the past
keeps it buried deep
where daylight cannot reach.
Walls built so high
almost impossible to breach.

Only the strongest with patience and time
can find the tiniest of cracks
and see into this heart of mine.

Many have tried
but only succeeded
in adding one more stone to the wall..
Until you.

My Golden Knight.

My Golden Knight
so strong..so fair
with kindness and love to spare.

You've brought light back into my life
when all I had was despair.
You're the candle in the window
that leads me back home
to the embrace of the one I love.

Once upon a time I thought
the candle had been blown out
by the strongest wind we've ever known.
I was lost in a sea of darkness
with no shelter from the storm.

I called out but no one was there
I was so scared
like a lost child
in the middle of the night.

Then blowing gentle across the breeze
I heard my name whispered
beckoning me to look for the light.

Wearily I tread, one foot before the other
gaining confidence with each step
catching a glimpse of the light
I ran forward into the arms of
my Golden Knight.

I know now no matter how strong the wind
the light will never go out.
And I will remain safe and sheltered,
In the safe haven of my beloved's arms
My Golden Knight.

NFL
~*Chat Diva*~

The NFC Championship

The Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants, the Giants with the home field advantage in the 37 degree (F) weather. Giants won the coin toss and chose to return the kick. The first drive resulted in the first of five touchdowns made by the Giants. Collins completed three passes for 72 yards and #88 Hillard took it to the end zone. New York kicked and after a scramble and fight they emerged with the ball and Collins made one pass as the series began, #34 Cornella took it in for the second touch down of the game. New York kicked again and this time the Vikings kept the ball in their possession, but the series still ended in a fourth down punt. Minnesota intersepted a ball, but it did nothing for them they still did not score. #26 McDaniel intercepted the ball in the end zone for a touch back. I'd have to say my attention was drawn away from the game a few times at this point, I do know however that the Vikings did intercept again and again no score was made. By half-time the Giants led 34 to 0! It wasn't until the fouth quarter that the Giants had to make their first fourth down punt. At this point the Vikings appeared to have lost their zeal for the game with little to no hope of pulling their score out of the gutter. Another touch down made by New York brought the final score to 41-0. Looks like New York fans can now smile proudly and prepare for the Super Bowl. The Vikings tried, and I must say that Culpepper is one of the freshest, youngest and cuter starting Quarter Backs in the league. Kevin Collins, the hottest QB in the NFL today (ranking right up there with Steve Young and Joe Montana *grins*), is in his sixth year of his career with the NFL. During his second year he led the (then) newly established expansion team, the Carolina Panthers, to the playoffs as their starting QB.

I missed the AFC championship game as I went shopping *laughs*, but can tell you that the Baltimore Ravens are celebrating tonight! Ravens 16, Raider 3 the final score. Trent Dilfer's 96-yard TD hook-up with Shannon Sharpe in the second quarter was the longest reception in NFL postseason history. The previous long was a 94-yard TD pass from Troy Aikman to Alvin Harper in 1994. (thanks www.nfl.com for that fact). I also have a silly question, was Dilfer the guy who gave himself a concussion a few years ago by running into the wall? *laughs*

January Dates
If you have any important dates you'd like added to the Zine calandar, whether they be a birthday or holiday, for any month of the year please email them in to ch_zine@hotmail.com.

My Two Cents

by My2CentsDealW/it!
Dear2c@hotmail.com

My Two Cents
on the Second Floor

The Second Floor, a floor like no other. OK, so maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but they are a "different" crowd over there. My experience with the Second Floor goes waaaaaaayyyyyyy back to my earliest days in the Chathouse. Some of the rooms there were my first stops on my journey into the world of chat, aka cyberspace. Ironically, those rooms and the Second Floor as a whole very nearly ended my chat journey as soon as it had begun. If not for the timely posts of a couple of chatters, I would have walked away from the Chathouse and never looked back. To be brutally honest, I do not have much good to say about the Second Floor, but as with any floor or room you can always find a diamond or two in the rough. That being said, here is my review of the Second Floor.

The Second Floor is for the most part a younger crowd, having several rooms dedicated to "teens" exclusively (in theory). A stroll through the "Who's on" and checking out a few handles in these "teen" rooms is enough to cause grave concerns for the future of our planet that they will someday be running. The blatant sexual and innuendo-laden handles make one think it is a pedophiles wet dream, although I have my doubts as to how many chatters in these rooms are actually "teens" at all. I can't help being struck with the vision of dozens of pedophiles pretending to be "teens" with other pedophiles pretending to be "teens". ~LOL~ It is really quite comical when you stop to think about it. I have ventured into the teen rooms only briefly a time or two and the ebonics-laden, gangster rap lingo mixed with amateuristic attempts at sexuality sprinkled with teen life problems was just too much to bear. Unfortunately, that same mixture permeates much of the rest of the Second Floor as well. Granted, some of the non-teen rooms are not nearly as bad as that, but the juvenile behavior seems to be a trademark of the entire floor. Much of this behavior can be fun, entertaining and even an enjoyable escape from the stresses of day to day life, but for my tastes it is a bit to the extreme. However, if simplistic humor, witless banter and juvenile behavior is your thing, then the Second Floor is the place you want to be. I have not frequented the Second Floor regularly in quite some time, but twice when I tried to visit in preparation for this article the floor crashed on me. I took this as an omen and decided to leave well enough alone. Of course I was heart-broken to have had to leave the Second Floor, but I think I will survive.

In conclusion: The Second Floor is a younger crowd, light-hearted for the most part, but with a large dose of juvenile behavior. Before entering, I would suggest that you turn off your brain, brush up on your ebonics and gangster rap lingo and be prepared for mindless nonsense. I would caution you to remain on your guard, however, because of the supposed teen population, you are bound to run into perverts of all ages. A particular topic of conversation in one of the Second Floor forums illustrates that you should always be extremely careful about giving out any personal information. This is true for ANY chat room. The internet is a veritable treasure trove of information and the most seemingly insignificant piece of information about you can be cross referenced 100 different ways online to find out more. I offer this warning not only to visitors of the Second Floor, but to all chatters, everywhere.

That's My Two Cents on the Second Floor, stay tuned for my next installment of substantive opinion as I return next week with My Two Cents on Criminal Punishment. Again, I would like to extend my thanks to my fellow debaters in the War Room Forum for their valuable input and insight.

So, what have you got to say?

Let me know and I'll tell you if it's worth 2 cents!

Dear2c@hotmail.com

*note: all names and handles will be changed or removed to protect the pathetic*

Vampire Court Message Board Dispute
http://www.paradise-web.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=vampirecourt

Hi, I am Chrysanthia and I am not wanted on the Vampire Court Message Board which is Owned By akasha who hates me for (In character) reasons. She used to call me "white court trash" in the earlier days. Chathouse allows her to host her hotboard in the chathouse in the Vampire Court Chatroom for FREE, yet she says who can post there and who can not and even threathens them for haressment.

It is not haressment, when you have the right to post there. Chathouse states in its rules that Any Public Forum In Chathouse (That includes a hosted message forum) where you are threatened, or haressed, or stalked, or Hacked, You will be protected by chathouse admin, chathouse also states you have the right to post in any public place if you are a member of that floor, registered, or otherwise.

It's not fair and it shouldn't be allowed. I have numerous slander posts, threats, I have been email bombed, My IP has been traced and hacked and my info posted for the world too see. I have two personal sites of such proof, and I can sue all said people for slander.
Yet I have hope for chathouse admin that they will adhere too their rules and actually DO SOMETHING about this.

I have started the Clean Up Chathouse website here: http://geocities.com/cleanupchathouse/index.htm
On the site you can see a Post from where someone IP traced a friend of mine and posted for all the world too see which is not right and should not be allowed.
I have seen people posting pictures of their bare ass on the board, I have seen disgusting pictures taken with dead children, foul language, all the things chathouse says it will protect us by they don't. The board says 18+..It should not be allowed in the Vampire Court. Hotboards.com also allows adult and XXX forums.

Yet I am the one that is not wanted there, and she even threathened to sue me for legal haressment I wish she would I would gladly show the police my sites taken from the vampire court message board, in which i am threathened.

You are the chathouse ezine, so run the story please thats all i ask. This effect chatters all over chathouse they should know what is going on and how some people are being treated.

Chrys
oakendruidess@yahoo.com