Patrick

Hello, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. As a community, we have now reached 500,000 posts. This is a really impressive milestone and I'm grateful that we've had the opportunity to maintain this type of longevity. What makes 500,000 posts special for us isn't just the number because numbers can be played with and manipulated. What makes it special is the quality of the discussions that we have here. The way people speak to one another. The fact that we can have a respectful discussion about a controversial topic. I am really proud of our culture, more than any numbers. In fact, in how the site is moderated, we almost certainly cut down on the number of posts that we could have, in order to preserve the culture that we enjoy. Every online community has a different culture. Variety is good because no community is for everyone and, if our atmosphere doesn't work for someone, they can probably find a community that gives them what they want. But for those who enjoy, and add to, what we have here - we're honored to have you. 92 members have 1,000 posts or more. As I look down this list, I see many great contributors from the past and present. This includes Brian (bushido_man96), Pat (SaiFightsMS), Bob (sensei8), Heidi (ninjanurse), Alex (tallgeese), Laurie (PunchPressQueen75), Danielle (DWx), Doug (SBN Doug), Tammy (monkeygirl), kicker, G95champ, ps1, joesteph, Treebranch, Red J, Kerry (Shotokan-kez), Goju_boi, Greg (gheinisch), Justice (JusticeZero), battousai16, Shawn (cathal), iamrushman, cross, Shorin Ryuu, ShotokanKid, TJS, Bill (MasterPain), Menjo, delta1, Sam, lordtariel, Pacificshore, patusai, Brenda (white owl), Aodhan, Ramona (ramymensa), italian_guy, Kirsty (KarateK), GoldDragon, Dave (the beast), GrrrArg, Karateka_latino, The BB of C, y2_sub, Jay, Kirves, BKJ1216, yamesu, Tiger1962, NightOwl, Kuma, June1, Adonis, krzychicano, kchenault, Gareth (Harkon72), Rusty (pittbullJudoka), pineapple, granmasterchen, Icetuete, marie curie, Ed (KarateEd) and LeaF. Devin (Lupin1) and Noah (Wastelander) will soon be joining this group, as well. Thank you to all of these members and thank you to everyone who has contributed to KarateForums.com in a positive, meaningful way. I appreciate you. This is a milestone worth celebrating and we have three big things planned, in addition to a few surprises. Live Stream On November 9 at 2 PM ET (GMT/UTC -5), I will be hosting a special 3 hour live stream where I will be joined by an assortment of members. I will be on video, participants will be on audio and anyone can watch and participate in a text-based chat room. Two hours of the program will consist of quick chats with members, reflecting on the time they have spent at KarateForums.com. This will be 5-10 minutes per person, just so that we can fit a lot of people in. If you would be interested in participating, please let me know. The third hour will mostly be dedicated to two staff member panels - one featuring previous Senseis (moderators) and one featuring current Senseis. We'll talk about moderating the community and what they have gained from their time on staff. Member Interviews I have conducted a series of 26 interviews with members from all eras of the history of KarateForums.com. I will be publishing these over the coming weeks, in the dedicated KarateForums.com 500,000 Posts Celebration forum. These interviews will give you a greater insight into who these members are, what their martial arts background is and what KarateForums.com means to them. KarateForums.com Awards The twelfth annual KarateForums.com Awards will begin soon, bigger than ever. Through these awards, we aim to recognize just a handful of the individuals who have made outstanding contributions to KarateForums.com in the past year. We'll have six new award categories this year, each matching a popular forum on KarateForums.com. They are Equipment Poster of the Year, Health, Training and Fitness Poster of the Year, Instructor Central Poster of the Year, Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling Martial Arts Poster of the Year, Karate Poster of the Year and Korean Martial Arts Poster of the Year. Thank You It should be a fun few weeks! Thank you to Heidi, Brian, Danielle, Alex, Bob, Gareth, Noah and Devin for helping me to plan out these festivities. Thank you for reading and for supporting KarateForums.com. Sincerely, Patrick

I don't think the WWE or TNA example really makes sense because why is it OK for them to employ international players for teams but not others? All of the national sporting leagues of the highest level also employ people of any nationality to compete as a team. Generally, all sports have a pre-eminent league where the most talented players of that sport wish to compete. Often, teams within that sport have extensive scouting departments with representatives covering countries with serious interest in that sport. If they are truly the best, they will usually end up in the pre-eminent league, unless they make a personal choice to stay in their own country, are contractually obligated to someone or there are some political reasons. But those types of exceptions, red tape, extenuating circumstances, etc. are always present. Which means that there can never be a "world champion" to this standard and the term has to be retired. I mean, the average pre-eminent sports league really has no less valid a claim to "world champion" than any martial arts "world champion" or even the Olympics, where many of the premiere athletes do not compete or, at least, historically, did not compete or were not allowed because they were not amateurs. To me, it's just a term. I don't find it arrogant and it doesn't bother me because it doesn't hurt me. It's kinda sorta the type of thing you have to choose to take badly, when you could just as easy choose to look at it as "world champions of ," which is what it really is.

Congrats armanox.

Yep, the last undefeated team. Congrats! Patrick

I'll go with St. Louis, as well. Patrick

This is great. Thank you for posting this, blacknebula. Patrick

Happy Birthday Bob. Thank you for all of your great contributions to this community. I appreciate all of your support. Patrick

Yeah, he's finished serving his time. Here is a picture from the set: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=108105 I'm kind of curious to see how Kelsey Grammer fits in. Patrick

Looking at Alex Smith's numbers (since I've never really watched him much, not being a fan of the 49ers of the Chiefs), it just doesn't seem like he's that type of QB. Pulled up his game logs and in his career, he has thrown for 300 or more yards in just 3 games - 303, 309 and 310. He's played 86 games (started 81). So, I don't know if you'll get those types of numbers out of him. But if the offense can maintain balance and not turn the ball over, maybe that's exactly what you need. The Chiefs are leading the NFL in turnover differential with +12 (the next closest team is only at +. That's pretty great. Patrick

Thank you for the submission. Patrick

Yeah, I saw that. Oh well. Stuff happens. But they do have some interesting additions to the cast: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/ Antonio Banderas Wesley Snipes Mel Gibson (bad guy) Harrison Ford Milla Jovovich Kellan Lutz Kelsey Grammer Victor Ortiz Patrick

Congrats. If you do want to change your username, just send me a PM. Patrick

Congrats Devin! Patrick

KarateForums.com is a media supplement, too, don't forget. So when you talk about media supplements in a positive or negative light, we're in that boat for a lot of people. Patrick

Yeah, the Chiefs are killing it. They have benefited from a pretty weak schedule, but the Jets, Broncos and Bears have all had weaker schedules, according to Pro Football Reference. Of course, winning contributes to weakening one's strength of schedule, too. The Dolphins are tied for the 3rd hardest schedule. So I guess I'm happy to just be 3-2. Our schedule is going to ease up, but we still have to win the games. November 17 and December 1, between the Chiefs and Broncos, should make for a couple of interesting games! Patrick

Sorry to hear about your appendix! Like Evil Dave and Shodan melbourne said, I think it's best to go with your doctor. Patrick

This may be a silly suggestion, but will wrinkle release spray, like Downy Wrinkle Releaser, do anything to it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUx-wOXjq_I Patrick

Thank you for the submission. Patrick

Welcome to KF, DaveAkaSuperman! Patrick

Welcome aboard, MasutaDeKaba. Glad to have you. Patrick

Welcome to KF, ozm8. Glad to have you. Patrick

I think I'll take the Dodgers.

Thank you for the submission. Patrick

Congrats AndrewH. Patrick

Welcome aboard, KarateGiUK. Patrick