Speaking of belts...I'm actually in the "Rust Belt", but not that many people refer to it as such. I call it that occasionally.

Maryland/Virginia...is different (mom was from that area)

It is not bad because of the Bible Belt...but because of the way things are here. *shrugs*

Rust Belt? O.e

@ Espy ;
Uhh. Rust belt? That's... different...xD

@ Lawman ;
Virginia seems like a nice place though... hm.

Ah. :c

Yeah. Basically the cities that rose up during the early 1900s and had huge industrial economies, and then kind of crashed after that. So...sort of the areas in Western PA, some of Illinois, Ohio, etc that California people would like to call the East Coast and East Coast people call the "west".

Virginia is (relatively - I don't think I am a good judge for that)

@ Espy ;
Following historical/political talk is not my strong point. XD
But... sounds interesting from what I could read? XD

@ Lawman ;
Well I don't think I could be a good judge of it either but I've just heard and seen some good stuff about it. XD I dunno.

Oh. So like, you know how in the early 1900s, the steel industry grew really, really fast? That industry was mostly funded by Andrew Carnegie, in Pittsburgh. And the banking system (as well as a lot of Edison's work) was funded by JP Morgan at around the same time, and Rockefeller has his oil companies up by then, too.

Cities sprung up to accommodate the ever-growing expanses of factories and plants, and Pittsburgh was one of these cities. So were Chicago and Detroit.

After that boom, a lot of the cities went downhill, but some cities did make a recovery, and you can see that in Pittsburgh and Detroit (although Detroit's obviously going downhill again, and a lot of people still think Pittsburgh is an industrial wasteland). Chicago never really declined much, haha...

Oh...I thought you were talking about Cali

@ Espy ;
Was he the same person who made Carnegie hall or was that another Carnegie? XD
Hmm. Glad to see Chicago did good.
xD I like chicago. I lived there for a bit. x:
Kinda wanna go back but unsure.

Andrew Carnegie donated money to make Carnegie-Mellon...Carnegie Hall... (Shoot, I knew this...thinking)

Edit: Yes, he did pay for it.

Ah. Seems he did quite a few things. o-o'
I wanna see Carnegie hall.
IF ONLY for the fact that a big scene in 'Parasite Eve' is held there. XD

Haven't played Parasite Eve...

Uh. Carnegie was...quite rich. He and Rockefeller got into a race (after JP Morgan passed away) to see who could give away all of their money the fastest. Unfortunately, Carnegie lost, because he died before Rockefeller, but he loved libraries and education, so Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Hall, many, many libraries, and other facilities were all funded by him.

...Basically, anything that's branded as "Carnegie" is probably based off his money.

So he technically won in the very end? xD Idk.
Sounds like something alot of rich people should be doing now. XP

@ Lawman ;
parasite eve is freaken epic.8'D
It's a very unique game with a horror-ish side to it.
AND ITS EDUCATIONAL . sorta. Talks about mitochondria. It evolving and becoming self-aware.

^Agrees to the "What rich should be doing" there
Bill Gates, last I checked, said "give all my money away by the time I am 40 years in the grave*

The Valley of the Shadow of the Bible Belt. And that is a mighty big belt I must say. I lived for a time in Nashville, but that city is very cosmopolitan. I liked it a lot there. But not in a "forever" sense, like I would not want to live there a long time. I have been through VA many times, a really beautiful state.

Espy your outfit is really stunning.

That depends on how you define "rich".

Thanks. Wanted to try for some different colors.

I dunno. Isn't it that rich people don't have to pay for taxes or... why am I thinking that? XD

....The richer you are, the more taxes you have to pay.

Huh. Well people were complaining about unfair rich people somehow. XD I don't know.

Honestly, taxes don't resolve that sort of stuff.
Rich could be considered relative. In one sense, everyone online is rich for being able to afford such technology at all. (Reference to 25% again)
Just to me, I see it as "We have gotten to the point where if those who have things don't give back on things and try to find ways to preserve/perservere...life as we know it is going to get worse...for everyone."

What backgrounds are you using? It's a combo I know that with Heim...whatever clouds

And I don't think it is so that the richer you are the more taxes you pay, actually the opposite. Romney was only paying 14%. Whereas I pay something like 28%.

After a certain point in "riches" you can pay to abuse loopholes...and cutting down on loopholes usually just cuts down on the public's ability to receive deductions in general.

...On that note, 2 things:

1) Some taxes are now related to ethnicity (equality?)
2) Your drivers licence, in some states, from what I understand, now will have 1 GB of personal information... (Need to find the article)

Two of the black clouds from Heimdall; the main BG is from Tenebrous Reve.

...I don't trust stats on anyone who's ever been a politician. And it's not just taxes; it's also mortgage, income tax...also where you live.

@ Lawman ;
Yeah but trying to get the community to change is... yeah... XD
And yeah loopholes suck. x:

Can't really change the community (Tried...wound up doing everything)
Can't really join a group either (Tried...was a mistake)

A wise person said "change the world by changing yourself." I think that person was Galla.

... don't alot of people say that? Or variations of that? XD

I don't really know how well it all works though. XP I think it's more of a 'for peace of mind' thing XD

Seems to work better than the other options.

Hm I guess. XD Considering when people like you, you tend to rub off on them. right? XD

Yes, most likely. And, I am being too serious.

Psh.
-sets up a trampoline, then-
XD

YAY!
*Jumpy-jumps on a trampoline*

I know right :'D
-bounces next to lawman in time to go extra high- XD

*finally joins back in on the convo*

Yay! Trampoline!! XD *bounce bounce bounce*

Also, thanks Vivi (for the av comment 3-4 pages back lol).

@ Kilala ;
That's just happening alot lately isn't it. XD
/all happy about this

Hmm what could one do on a trampoline along with bouncing to make it more exciting? XD

Yay! Kirara! Welcome back!

Umm...this

Ki-rah-rah.
I kinda like that. XD lmao.

o-o' I guess. XD

@Law: Too adorable!

@Vivi: Kirara, the original. Well, at least my original... (*big sign over head flashing "Inutard"*)

I see. x3

Ohhh shiny lights.
-sitting there staring at the sign- @_@ no one told me we were in las vegas...