If you'll take a look here, you'll see the post that inspired this one.  I'll post my thoughts, along with a quick explaination why (in no particular order other than what I typed it in).  I'd love to hear your thoughts, as well as if you agree/disagree with mine.

Mr. Darcy: As I'm sure you know, I absolutely adore Mr. Darcy.  He is by far my favourite literary character of all time.  I think he makes my list because he is so blinded by his pride.  Very influential, huh?  But the best thing is -- he was man enough to change.  People in this any day and age can learn from Mr. Darcy.  I feel like now it is a direly needed example... how to overcome pride.

Elizabeth Bennet: The opposite of Mr. Darcy is true of Elizabeth.  I dearly love her as a character, mostly because I can relate so closely to her.  Her prejudices colour her views as badly as Darcy's pride colours his.  It is also something she learns to overcome.  I think many people can learn a lot from the book and A&E movie version of both characters (as the new movie romanticizes it to a point where this becomes lost).

A majority of Lord of the Rings Characters: By this, I mean I can't think of a single character that's mentioned for more than a few sentences that isn't influential in some way or another.  However, I chose three I personally find to be the most influential.

Faramir: He is a wonderful and complex character, sadly massacred by the movies (sorry... I'm a purist... what can I say?).  He is probably my favourite character in Lord of the Rings because a) he is in my estimate, the "perfect" guy -- loyal, humble, sweet, selfless... and on and on; b) I'm a helpless romantic; and c) because of his undying love for others, even when he wasn't loved in return.  To me, this makes him more than just influential, but a man for all ages.  He's almost equal to Mr. Darcy in my book, and he just might replace him someday.  But we'll see.

Frodo Baggins: Frodo is the a great example of resistance to tempation, what finally happens when you cave, and how the most unlikely thing can save you from sin.  Many have compared Frodo as an aspect of Christ, the selfless, sacrifical part (Gandalf as the prophet, and Aragorn as the King).  I think it's a fairly accurate comparision, and he has had such an influence in recent years, it's hard to not put him on a list.

Gollum: This is the best example of the Lutheran belief in "Simul justus et pecador" (I hope google isn't lying, so it may be wrong, but I can't remember what it exactly is), basically meaning "simultaneous sinner and saint", or "at the same time, both sinner and saint".  Basically, the doctrine holds that all people are constantly sinner and saint.  Gollum is the perfect embodiment of this doctrine.

Sherlock Holmes: Elementary, my dear readers!  Sherlock Holmes was my beginning into the great realm of mystery, now my second favourite genre (classical Greek is the best). He is insane, and drives me batty, but his logic is impecible, and I think it's helped me significantly in debate and life in general.

Hercule Peroit: I love this guy.  So much nicer than Sherlock.  Although he's not as good in my opinion as Sherlock, I tend to feel more for him because he seems so much more human to me.  And he's a genious, too.

The Professor in The Time Machine: This guy learns such a lesson, and that lesson is don't mess with time unless you mean to truly mess with it!  :wink:  Seriously, he's what sparked my interest in the fantasy/sci-fi-ish realm (I'm far more into fantasy, but I love Jules Verne and such... the classic sci-fi).

Scarlet O'Hara: I love Scarlet.  She's a total brat.  She is one of the more influential characters in my life because I've read the book!  In the book, she is so much better, and she learns and growns significantly more thans she does in the movie.  I've often been compared to her (no idea why, though... because it's the movie Scarlet), and I've thought at times that may not be a bad thing.  Everyone learns and grows, and she certainly does.

Rhett Butler: Well, frankly my dear, I love Rhett.  He reminds me of Mr. Darcy.  He's the rugged, rough and ready type that seems to appeal to me.  He also knows when enough is enough.  He had a great thing with Scarlet, she refused to see it, and so he had to show her the hard way.  Sometimes as Christians, that's something we have to do.  Do things the hard way.  It's not easy, but sometimes can be the best thing possible.

Odysseus: Odysseus is cunning and wise, brave and bold.  There's not much not to love.  And his wife is cool too.  He has a strength of character that many lack, and I find him to be influential mostly (for me) on my logical and analytical skills.

Paris: I know.  Putting a wimp played by Orlando Bloom on here.  But there is a purpose, I promise!  Besides being all of that, he does learn a few lessons.  But his influence isn't necessarily good.  He's one of the first "girly men" written about, and sadly, there are too many of them today.

Achilles: Sigh.  I love Achilles, too.  He is another Darcy-esque character.  He has a lot to learn to overcome his pride, and he is willing to end his life as a warrior for love (sigh...).  He is jolted back into war for honour.  How much better can you get?  :grin:

The Phantom of the Opera: Who can't love him?  He's this gosh-awful person that you want to hate, but you can't seem to.  You have to feel sorry for him.  I mean... on the rooftop... and his crying... :tear:

Psyche (from Til We Have Faces): I haven't actually read the book.  :gasps:  It's on my list.  But I am beyond familiar with the story through my Ancient Greek Mythologies studies!  Her patience is insane.  End of story.

Mr. Rochester: Another Phantom.  You want to hate him, you do for a while, then you can't help but fall in love with him.  He's the "we've all got skeletons (or crazied wives) in their closet" type.  And his ability to adapt to his disability.  He's a love/hate guy, to be sure.

And there are so many more... but I'll stop now, unless I come up with something dazzling, then I'll edit it in.  :grin:

Mari

What defines "cultured music"?  What makes a singer or song cultured?

For me, the most obvious things would be classical, jazz, swing, big band and so on.  Singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Josh Groban and Michael Buble are pure classic and pure culture.

A friend and I were recently talking.  He says culture is American, so rap is cultured music.  Obviously, I disagree.

Now, this is not to say I don't listen to other music.  Basically, if it's not CCM or rap, I'll listen to it (although I'm not very keen on hard rock and hip-hop).  But that doesn't mean it's cultured.

So what do you all think cultured means?

As a whole, I think cultured means above the average.  Aristocratic, I suppose.  Is that snobbish?  Or accurate?

Well, that's my little rant for now.  I'll have a political one very shortly (probably right after the election).

Mari

Two items this time.

First, some of you may remember that story from AGES ago.  This is a two part question.  1) Should I post more?  2) If so, plot suggestions?  I think I finally have a plot, but it's flexible.  It will probably be a few weeks because I want to have several chapters finished first.  Two are done now, and another one almost finished.

Second, here are some quizzes I took last night.  Tell me what you got if you take them, please.

Mari

Your Life Is Worth...

$1,031,500

http://www.blogthings.com/howmuchisyourlifeworthquiz

:grin: I like this answer!

You Are Red Orange You are a very genuine person, although it takes a while for you to show the true you. A bit introverted, you desire respect and affection from those close to you. You are quite empathetic, and you have a true concern for the well being of others. Many people have warm, heartfelt memories of you - even if you don't remember them well.

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits.   Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

http://www.blogthings.com/whattimeofdayareyouquiz/

I love this one.  It's very me.

You Have Your Sarcastic Moments

While you're not sarcastic at all times, you definitely have a cynical edge. In your opinion, not all people are annoying. Some are dead! And although you do have your genuine moments, you can't help getting your zingers in. Some people might be a little hurt by your sarcasm, but it's more likely they think you're hilarious.

http://www.blogthings.com/howsarcasticareyouquiz/

Yeah, this is right,  I thought I'd actually get more, though.  I'm very sarcastic.

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 60% Spelling: 60% Punctuation: 20% Vocabulary: 0%

http://www.blogthings.com/doesyourenglishcutthemustardquiz/

Okay, I don't understand this one at all!  I suck at grammar and spelling, and excell at vocabulary!  What is up?

You Are 68% Lady

Overall, you are a refined lady with excellent manners. But you also know when to relax and not get too serious about etiquette

http://www.blogthings.com/areyoualadyquiz/

:sniffle: Only 68% lady?  I'm sad.

You Are 80% Pure

You're so innocent, it's almost like you're not human. Taking this test is probably the naughtiest thing you've done in a while!

http://www.blogthings.com/howpureareyouquiz/

Ha!  This one is funny.

You Are 88% Control Freak

You are a total control freak, yet you often feel out of control. If your life isn't "perfect" - it really gets you down.... more than it should!

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouacontrolfreakquiz/

88% is probably on the low side, but that's okay.

You Should Learn Swedish

Fantastisk! You're laid back about learning a language - and about life in general. Peaceful, beautiful Sweden is ideal for you... And you won't even have to speak perfect Swedish to get around!

http://www.blogthings.com/whatlanguageshouldyoulearnquiz/

Yuck!  I don't like Swedish.  Or Sweden.  But I'm Swedish... hmm...

You Are 72% Shy

You are a very shy person, and it has started to impact your life in a negative way. If you can avoid human contact, you usually do. And as a result, you miss out on a lot.

http://www.blogthings.com/howshyareyouquiz/

And no one believes me when I tell them I'm shy... maybe they will now?

You May Be a Bit Antisocial...

Antisocial? That may be a bit of an understatement. You think rules are meant to be broken - and with gusto! Having no fear, you don't even think about consequences. But people love you anyway... you've got a boatload of charm.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpersonalitydisorderareyouquiz/

Yeppers!  This one would be pretty much accurate.  Which is a little scary.

Your Aura is Orange

You're a bit of a loner, but you're never lonely. You know how to entertain yourself. Whether you're trying an extreme sport or a new weird food, you always live on the edge. The purpose of your life: testing limits - both physical and mental... and then telling people about it. Famous oranges include: Timothy Leary, David Blaine, Tony Hawk, Carey Hart Careers for you to try: Snowboarder, Circus Performer, Undercover Agent

http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorisyourauraquiz/

Orange?  Like, my least favourite colour?  Okay... here I thought for sure I'd get blue or purple or green....

You Are 1: The Reformer

You're a responsible person - with a clear sense of right and wrong. High standards are important to you, and you do everything to meet them. You are your own worst critic, feeling ashamed if you're not perfect. You have the highest integrity, and people expect you to be fair.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatnumberareyouquiz/

I agree completely with everything with the exception of the last line.  I don't tend to be fair.  But I try.