The Syndicate

Hedgeowl wrote:omg i have been so busy with the baby becoming a toddler soon, but no meet-ups have taken place?? Astral or otherwise?

who? what? where?

the end

I know, right? We need to make these things happen!!

Unfortunately, with my move to San Antonio in a couple of months, not sure how available I'm going to be for meetups like I was hoping, but perhaps after I've settled and have a better idea of my PhD schedule it will be easier.

That said, I have been "meeting up" with birdwithteeth, Russtifinko, Devin the Omniscient, G.O.B., etc., but none of those count because I knew them before the site.

We surprised Logan for his birthday celebration!!!


Logan and Rob gettin' their music on


Happy Birthday Logan!


Nevinera in the back. In the front from left to right - Epignosis, Elohcin, Mongoose, thellama73


Abigail serenading Mongoose with "Let it Go"

Awesome!

There is so much epicness in this post Elo!! I wanted to be there sooo badly. I love the shirts too!, <3

What an amazing cake and group of people! Hope you all had a great thanksgiving too!

I am so jealous!! That is so awesome!! Hope you had a great birthday celeberation, Logan, and that all of you had a lot of fun! I'm sure you have though.

That looks like it was an amazing time! I bet the music was as fantastic as the cake and the company!

Great pictures everyone! I love seeing the meet up pictures! <3

I had so much fun, and the shock on Logan's face was priceless. Great to spend time with everyone again!

We also met up with Vompatti, seen here:



Smiling is expensive in Finland.

Thanks to Mongoose, Rob, and Tasha for an amazing Thanksgiving fun time! And special thanks to Tasha for an equally amazing cake!

thellama73 wrote:Thanks to Mongoose, Rob, and Tasha for an amazing Thanksgiving fun time! And special thanks to Tasha for an equally amazing cake!

and to Hedgeowl for being a sneaky-sneak.

Mongoose wrote:I had so much fun, and the shock on Logan's face was priceless. Great to spend time with everyone again!

We also met up with Vompatti, seen here:



Smiling is expensive in Finland.

I've heard that some Finns prefer urine-flavored beer to happiness, anyway.

Here is a link to my facebook album for our Ohio trip to Alex and Annie's (Moving Pictures and spacedaisy's) wedding. I've made the album public so you can all see, but feel free to add me as a friend on fb too. And if you have any pictures of your own to add, feel free to do so! We all had so much fun meeting/seeing everyone. You are all such wonderful people! Some of us talked about having another meetup around New Years. We talked about perhaps going on a cruise! I am going to look into it and post links here

https://www.facebook.com/Tasha.Brown198 ... ploaded=60

dat prog cake

I take it the bride wasn't stolen? It's a very annoying "tradition" over here.

Ricochet wrote:dat prog cake

I take it the bride wasn't stolen? It's a very annoying "tradition" over here.

Thanks As soon as I found out that Alex and Annie were getting married, I got the idea for the cake and messaged Annie to see if I could make it for Alex as a surprise.

And no, she wasn't stolen. I've not heard of this tradition. Please share!

Everything I'm about to say is basically a paraphrase of such an event, because I've only been to two weddings in my entire life (I don't like them much, if you can't tell by that astounding low number already) and it didn't happen - both times the brides insisted not to be subjected to it and the robbers played nice. I think it may have some roots in our folk history - where the wedding was a complex ceremony in everything it involves, from courtship and the wedding procession to music and customs, but I won't get into any of that - but in our modern times it's more of a punkish surviving "tradition", which the lads (outside the groom, of course, who is the victim) are most of the times itching to do it.

So basically late during the wedding party, the bride is "stolen" and the groom has to make a "deal" or some gesture to get her back. Everything is symbolic, of course, it doesn't go as far as actual kidnapping (well, in our country it may still depend on the wedding ) and I can only assume it's meant for the groom to exhibit his new authority skills, act like a real man or something like that. The exchange can also be symbolic, like a gift or a trade in return for the bride.

The reason why I call it annoying is because a) I would absolutely hate for it to happen to me and I would also expect my future wife (here I go again ) to also not put up with it either and b) it adds up to the "rituals" during a wedding that I find to tell more about how the whole party is more about the guests having their own way (because it's, like, "tradition", man) rather than the wedded ones being the highlight of the event (and respected as such).

My maternal Grandmothers people are Sami (Lapps is more commonly known, but that term is considered pejorative, like calling Native Americans "Indians") and they had a kidnap tradition, too. Except the GROOM was expected to "kidnap" her from her home the morning of the wedding. In modern times, the vast, vast majority of these events were staged for traditional purposes.

My grandmother was "kidnapped" but to the best of my knowledge, none of the children of her siblings that remained in Norway did any of that.

Folk traditions are so weird, lol.

In our folk times, if the groom would kidnap the bride on the wedding day, he'd very likely have to make room for an axe in his head.

There's a splendid movie from my country called The Stone Wedding (seriously, one of my favourite movies of all time, it's breathtaking in every aspect) in which an actual kidnapping takes place (with the bride's full intent, as well), but it has more to do with the wedding being a miserable one for the lady rather than capturing a faithful tradition.

Ricochet wrote:Everything I'm about to say is basically a paraphrase of such an event, because I've only been to two weddings in my entire life (I don't like them much, if you can't tell by that astounding low number already) and it didn't happen - both times the brides insisted not to be subjected to it and the robbers played nice. I think it may have some roots in our folk history - where the wedding was a complex ceremony in everything it involves, from courtship and the wedding procession to music and customs, but I won't get into any of that - but in our modern times it's more of a punkish surviving "tradition", which the lads (outside the groom, of course, who is the victim) are most of the times itching to do it.

So basically late during the wedding party, the bride is "stolen" and the groom has to make a "deal" or some gesture to get her back. Everything is symbolic, of course, it doesn't go as far as actual kidnapping (well, in our country it may still depend on the wedding ) and I can only assume it's meant for the groom to exhibit his new authority skills, act like a real man or something like that. The exchange can also be symbolic, like a gift or a trade in return for the bride.

The reason why I call it annoying is because a) I would absolutely hate for it to happen to me and I would also expect my future wife (here I go again ) to also not put up with it either and b) it adds up to the "rituals" during a wedding that I find to tell more about how the whole party is more about the guests having their own way (because it's, like, "tradition", man) rather than the wedded ones being the highlight of the event (and respected as such).

I've heard of such traditions before actually, I didn't know there was one in Nauru. Also, if going to two weddings is astoundingly low, I wonder what my 0 weddings is.

A Person wrote:

Ricochet wrote:Everything I'm about to say is basically a paraphrase of such an event, because I've only been to two weddings in my entire life (I don't like them much, if you can't tell by that astounding low number already) and it didn't happen - both times the brides insisted not to be subjected to it and the robbers played nice. I think it may have some roots in our folk history - where the wedding was a complex ceremony in everything it involves, from courtship and the wedding procession to music and customs, but I won't get into any of that - but in our modern times it's more of a punkish surviving "tradition", which the lads (outside the groom, of course, who is the victim) are most of the times itching to do it.

So basically late during the wedding party, the bride is "stolen" and the groom has to make a "deal" or some gesture to get her back. Everything is symbolic, of course, it doesn't go as far as actual kidnapping (well, in our country it may still depend on the wedding ) and I can only assume it's meant for the groom to exhibit his new authority skills, act like a real man or something like that. The exchange can also be symbolic, like a gift or a trade in return for the bride.

The reason why I call it annoying is because a) I would absolutely hate for it to happen to me and I would also expect my future wife (here I go again ) to also not put up with it either and b) it adds up to the "rituals" during a wedding that I find to tell more about how the whole party is more about the guests having their own way (because it's, like, "tradition", man) rather than the wedded ones being the highlight of the event (and respected as such).

I've heard of such traditions before actually, I didn't know there was one in Nauru. Also, if going to two weddings is astoundingly low, I wonder what my 0 weddings is.

God tier. One was my best friend's - no escape hatch there.

Ricochet wrote:

A Person wrote:

Ricochet wrote:Everything I'm about to say is basically a paraphrase of such an event, because I've only been to two weddings in my entire life (I don't like them much, if you can't tell by that astounding low number already) and it didn't happen - both times the brides insisted not to be subjected to it and the robbers played nice. I think it may have some roots in our folk history - where the wedding was a complex ceremony in everything it involves, from courtship and the wedding procession to music and customs, but I won't get into any of that - but in our modern times it's more of a punkish surviving "tradition", which the lads (outside the groom, of course, who is the victim) are most of the times itching to do it.

So basically late during the wedding party, the bride is "stolen" and the groom has to make a "deal" or some gesture to get her back. Everything is symbolic, of course, it doesn't go as far as actual kidnapping (well, in our country it may still depend on the wedding ) and I can only assume it's meant for the groom to exhibit his new authority skills, act like a real man or something like that. The exchange can also be symbolic, like a gift or a trade in return for the bride.

The reason why I call it annoying is because a) I would absolutely hate for it to happen to me and I would also expect my future wife (here I go again ) to also not put up with it either and b) it adds up to the "rituals" during a wedding that I find to tell more about how the whole party is more about the guests having their own way (because it's, like, "tradition", man) rather than the wedded ones being the highlight of the event (and respected as such).

I've heard of such traditions before actually, I didn't know there was one in Nauru. Also, if going to two weddings is astoundingly low, I wonder what my 0 weddings is.

God tier. One was my best friend's - no escape hatch there.

To be fair, I've never had any to escape from. I've been invited to a lot of funerals though, but I've never gotten out of one of those.

A Person wrote:

Ricochet wrote:

A Person wrote:

Ricochet wrote:Everything I'm about to say is basically a paraphrase of such an event, because I've only been to two weddings in my entire life (I don't like them much, if you can't tell by that astounding low number already) and it didn't happen - both times the brides insisted not to be subjected to it and the robbers played nice. I think it may have some roots in our folk history - where the wedding was a complex ceremony in everything it involves, from courtship and the wedding procession to music and customs, but I won't get into any of that - but in our modern times it's more of a punkish surviving "tradition", which the lads (outside the groom, of course, who is the victim) are most of the times itching to do it.

So basically late during the wedding party, the bride is "stolen" and the groom has to make a "deal" or some gesture to get her back. Everything is symbolic, of course, it doesn't go as far as actual kidnapping (well, in our country it may still depend on the wedding ) and I can only assume it's meant for the groom to exhibit his new authority skills, act like a real man or something like that. The exchange can also be symbolic, like a gift or a trade in return for the bride.

The reason why I call it annoying is because a) I would absolutely hate for it to happen to me and I would also expect my future wife (here I go again ) to also not put up with it either and b) it adds up to the "rituals" during a wedding that I find to tell more about how the whole party is more about the guests having their own way (because it's, like, "tradition", man) rather than the wedded ones being the highlight of the event (and respected as such).

I've heard of such traditions before actually, I didn't know there was one in Nauru. Also, if going to two weddings is astoundingly low, I wonder what my 0 weddings is.

God tier. One was my best friend's - no escape hatch there.

To be fair, I've never had any to escape from. I've been invited to a lot of funerals though, but I've never gotten out of one of those.

I used to skip some of those in high-school, too (like my choir teacher's mother's funeral or several other teachers I had no actual contact with), until my parents pointed to me how much of an asshole I am.

Ricochet wrote:I used to skip some of those in high-school, too (like my choir teacher's mother's funeral or several other teachers I had no actual contact with), until my parents pointed to me how much of an asshole I am.

Maybe you should've spiced them up by starting a kidnapping tradition for those, too.

Elohcin wrote:Here is a link to my facebook album for our Ohio trip to Alex and Annie's (Moving Pictures and spacedaisy's) wedding. I've made the album public so you can all see, but feel free to add me as a friend on fb too. And if you have any pictures of your own to add, feel free to do so! We all had so much fun meeting/seeing everyone. You are all such wonderful people! Some of us talked about having another meetup around New Years. We talked about perhaps going on a cruise! I am going to look into it and post links here

https://www.facebook.com/Tasha.Brown198 ... ploaded=60

I've been trying to upload my pictures to the album and for some reason I can't. Not sure what's causing it. Maybe because I'm not a contributor?

Also, your cake was amazing. Easily the best cake I've ever seen! And your kids are adorable. Abigail has a ton of personality.

Oh, what's that? You want a picture of the biggest Syndicate gathering ever? Well here you go:



How my brother snuck in that one I don't know. :P But I've been trying to get him to join for forever now!

birdwithteeth11 wrote: How my brother snuck in that one I don't know. :P But I've been trying to get him to join for forever now!

Well, now he has to in order to make the picture correct.

A Person wrote:

Ricochet wrote:I used to skip some of those in high-school, too (like my choir teacher's mother's funeral or several other teachers I had no actual contact with), until my parents pointed to me how much of an asshole I am.

Maybe you should've spiced them up by starting a kidnapping tradition for those, too.

Birdwithteeth, you are now a contributor.

Here is the one I got. I think it is more complete

Oh, cutting us out with your large picture files? I see how it is

In Eloh's picture, you can't really see BWT or his brother. Dunno if that solves the previous problem.

MetalMarsh- how tall are you? I can't get a sense of scale from that picture.

nijuukyugou wrote:Oh, cutting us out with your large picture files? I see how it is

If you'd like, you are welcome to get it off of facebook, save it to your computer, resize it, post it back to fb or photobucket or whatever, and then repost it here. I'm too lazy for all that

You could also just right click "view image". hehe

I'm visible. That's all that matters.

Okay, so I am not sure on what would work best for everyone, so I found these two cruises. They are both for spring 2016. I was thinking either the April 15th date for the 5 day cruise out of Charleston, SC or the April 10th date for the 4 day cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Of course, prices will change according to when we all decide to book and what not. But, I figure discussion has to start somewhere. I would love to be able to do this and for LOTS of us to go. I want to meet more of you

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/5-day ... ateCode=NC

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/4-day ... ateCode=NC

I am very jealous that I've missed all of this...

But my wife and I are secretly planning a trip to the East Coast in 2017, and I'm already thinking about how to finally meet some of you.

Elohcin wrote:Okay, so I am not sure on what would work best for everyone, so I found these two cruises. They are both for spring 2016. I was thinking either the April 15th date for the 5 day cruise out of Charleston, SC or the April 10th date for the 4 day cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Of course, prices will change according to when we all decide to book and what not. But, I figure discussion has to start somewhere. I would love to be able to do this and for LOTS of us to go. I want to meet more of you

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/5-day ... ateCode=NC

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/4-day ... ateCode=NC

Where you gettin dis money

If you can steer the boat all the way to the European coast, I could probably meet you there.

Ricochet wrote:If you can steer the boat all the way to the European coast, I could probably meet you there.

Is Nauru like Lost island, and it's moved over to Europe?

Golden wrote:

Ricochet wrote:If you can steer the boat all the way to the European coast, I could probably meet you there.

Is Nauru like Lost island, and it's moved over to Europe?

Nauru is where the heart is.

Golden wrote:I am very jealous that I've missed all of this...

But my wife and I are secretly planning a trip to the East Coast in 2017, and I'm already thinking about how to finally meet some of you.

Just let us know when the time gets close. I am sure we can all find a way to meet up

I think I may have been the one to mention a cruise, but I offered that suggestion in jest.

My wife and I aren't planning any major vacations until 2017 at the earliest but if any of you fine folk make it up to our neck of the woods, you're more than welcome to pop in for a visit.

G-Man wrote:I think I may have been the one to mention a cruise, but I offered that suggestion in jest.

My wife and I aren't planning any major vacations until 2017 at the earliest but if any of you fine folk make it up to our neck of the woods, you're more than welcome to pop in for a visit.

You may have mentioned it as well, but Epi also mentioned it while we were at lunch with Niju, MM, Mongoose, and Llama this past Saturday. I told Mongoose I would look into it I've done my part, now I need others to comment and help plan.

According to the Almighty School Calendar, my spring break is the last week in March, so I wouldn't be able to do anything big in April. Darned kids and their need for book-learnin'

I just want to gamble. Fuck all y'all.

nijuukyugou wrote:According to the Almighty School Calendar, my spring break is the last week in March, so I wouldn't be able to do anything big in April. Darned kids and their need for book-learnin'

I think the links I gave had all of March and April's cruise dates. Feel free to discuss when is best for everyone And if you want to post a different cruise, go for it. I was just trying to get the ball rolling.

G-Man wrote:MetalMarsh- how tall are you? I can't get a sense of scale from that picture.

I am 6 feet tall, but I also did not have my shoes on in that picture, so everyone would appear taller aside from nijuu.

Speaking of meetups. You are all invited to Epi's mafia themed birthday party on the 29th

Elohcin wrote:Okay, so I am not sure on what would work best for everyone, so I found these two cruises. They are both for spring 2016. I was thinking either the April 15th date for the 5 day cruise out of Charleston, SC or the April 10th date for the 4 day cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Of course, prices will change according to when we all decide to book and what not. But, I figure discussion has to start somewhere. I would love to be able to do this and for LOTS of us to go. I want to meet more of you

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/5-day ... ateCode=NC

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/4-day ... ateCode=NC

It would be cool to go to if it's possible :o

Elohcin wrote:Speaking of meetups. You are all invited to Epi's mafia themed birthday party on the 29th

This too but I am not sure I'd make it there if I started walking now.

Elohcin wrote:Okay, so I am not sure on what would work best for everyone, so I found these two cruises. They are both for spring 2016. I was thinking either the April 15th date for the 5 day cruise out of Charleston, SC or the April 10th date for the 4 day cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Of course, prices will change according to when we all decide to book and what not. But, I figure discussion has to start somewhere. I would love to be able to do this and for LOTS of us to go. I want to meet more of you

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/5-day ... ateCode=NC

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/4-day ... ateCode=NC

OOH that's around my birthday. Let's do it!!

Mongoose wrote:

Elohcin wrote:Okay, so I am not sure on what would work best for everyone, so I found these two cruises. They are both for spring 2016. I was thinking either the April 15th date for the 5 day cruise out of Charleston, SC or the April 10th date for the 4 day cruise out of Port Canaveral, FL. Of course, prices will change according to when we all decide to book and what not. But, I figure discussion has to start somewhere. I would love to be able to do this and for LOTS of us to go. I want to meet more of you

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/5-day ... ateCode=NC

http://www.carnival.com/itinerary/4-day ... ateCode=NC

OOH that's around my birthday. Let's do it!!

Yes lets. It would be great to meet people and celebrate all the things.

I think it should be tagged, I count 10 I recognize but can't put a face to them all.

Golden wrote:I am very jealous that I've missed all of this...

But my wife and I are secretly planning a trip to the East Coast in 2017, and I'm already thinking about how to finally meet some of you.

MP and I expect to make this list of "some" people. We will even travel to the east coast as well to make it happen and of course met some other awesome people too. I have not discussed this with him yet... but he will agree.

Sadly, a cruise is not ideal for Alex, he gets super motion sickness. Like the minute he sets foot in a boat. I have taken a cruise before and most if the time you can't even tell. I have told him this but he has zero desire too risk it.

BR, tag what?