Saturday, September 02, 2006

Happy Labor Day Weekend, everybody.

Me...I'm off to work. More later.

OPEN THREAD

115 Comments:

At 10:21 AM, Blogger Trainwreck watcher said...

First?!

Really, Yeah for the lurker.

*raises flag for the republic of Lurk*

 
At 10:34 AM, Blogger Dianna said...

(Yawn) Good morning!

I've actually been up for hours.

Anything happen while I worked yesterday?

 
At 10:41 AM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

Morning Dianna.

Nah, nothing much.

*snerk*

 
At 11:04 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

Hawk: they were at Camp Liberty when they first moved north - now I am not sure; he only said he would not have internet or cell phone capability for a while. I only know they are working with the Strykers (he is 1AD 2BDE, HHC). He's a real stickler for OPSEC... good story, bad story, ha ha ha ha ha! I spend a LOT of time at USCENTCOM, keeping up.

 
At 11:05 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

(Hose enters the thread, scratching his butt and surveying the "peeps" littering the thread lounging on beanbags swilling a dark, aromatic liquid that escapes him, as there is none in his Frisch-out shelter)

Morning all. Can anyone spare me a cup-o-joe? Come on now...hep a brudda out.

 
At 11:07 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

It's right there next to the cinnamon rolls Hose, help yourself!

 
At 11:07 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Mcghee...no one gets banned here. Blogger has been hiccupping pretty bad for a few days to where I haven't even been able to load the page on occasion, so no worries mate.

And she wouldn't DARE bring up any bad sentiments around me. It would make yesterday's beating look like a kindergarten playground disagreement over the swings.

 
At 11:09 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Pixie...did you peep my comment over at your blog?

 
At 11:09 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

I sure did!!!! I replied privately... check email??

 
At 11:13 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Didn't get anything. Did you hit me up using gmail?

 
At 11:15 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

I'm not so much a gerbil as I am a wombat

 
At 11:15 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

Hmmmm, I dunno Hose, I just hit reply to the comment delivered to my email. I'll post my reply in comments at the Lair.

 
At 11:16 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

Gerbil... wombat... today I am a sloth.

 
At 11:19 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Wombat...cute and cuddly...but don't ever cross the line and piss it off and never attack it's home

 
At 11:20 AM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

Good afternoon (or morning) all.

"Real life" compells me back to my computer where I need to do some work.

However, I'm a pretty good "multi-tasker".

I want to speak just a little more on my suggestion last night that "The best way to deal with Deb is to enjoy your own life."

I hope this didn't come across as snarky because it wasn't meant to be.

And it really wasn't meant as an "F-U" to Deb.

The point I was trying to make is that our words (vulgar, insulting, helpful or encouraging) are not going to get through to her. She views us as "the enemy" and, as such, disregards just about everything we say.

Her "weakness" (besides her mental and emotional state) is that her entire existence now is centered upon the internet and the issues brought up therein. She stakes SO MUCH upon her anger and hatred and arguments that she puts forth on the net.

Or, to put it more simply - she has no life.

Those of us that wish for Deb to rise up out of the hell she has dug for herself need to show Deb that the internet is not real life (and only a small portion of our own lives.)

We're not going to guide/bully/help her out of the ashes of her life through words.

However, I believe our actions can have a small affect (and we must all understand that Deb isn't going to get well if she doesn't want to).

Deb believes that how she "leaves" a board somehow reflects upon her personal character. It is not very healthy to have the internet have THAT MUCH say over how we view ourselves and feel about ourselves.

We need to show her that the internet is not "real life" and that we should walk away from the net when it starts to impact our "real life."

And maybe, showing her that we have lives away from this board and that her comments and insults have no impact them, maybe she'll start looking around at what is left of her OWN "real life" and start taking the needed steps to fix it.

Just some food for thought (and it isn't Rocky Road!)

 
At 11:21 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

Sloth: just keep your hands off my Dunkin' Donut holes or I'll scratch yer eyes out with my two toes!

*chew, chew, chew*

 
At 11:33 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

RZ: What makes you think we aren't all doing that already? If it weren't for the fact that I am recovering from lower back surgery, I wouldn't be on here 1/10 of the time I am soending. And that is due to an on the job injury of a job I enjoy almost as I enjoy my kids. Yesterday I went out on my venture out and recover time, to walk to WalMart with my littlest angel and bought her a new bike and helmet, and then watched her ride it with a huge smile on her face. I had also earlier went and got a new huge box of Lucky Charms, which I have been subsisting on for weeks now for some reason, and the entire 8th season of South Park and watched the whole thing. I was to go fishing with the middle daughter this morning, but my buddy postponed till Monday.

We are all enjoying our lives and work...two things she doesn't have, and I even made note of it during her foul-fest yesterday.

To everyone's knowledge here, noone is suffering tduring this, and in fact have found some very wonderful new internet friends because of it. I myself know that I enjoy three of the females here for their intelligence, humor and life outlooks and a couple of really great and interesting guys for their work and knowledge. All of us here have incredible personalities and fascinating hisories and futures as well as their presents.

Maybe this was sucking too much of your time with your family and/or work, but to my knowledge, I didn't get that from you, nor does anyone else appear to be suffering from it.

We are all enjoying our jobs, our families, our hobbies and our lives immensly.

This just being another one of those hobbies that also happen to be fun and informative.

 
At 11:33 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

OUCH! I am so, so, so, so, sorry Ottavarima.

*blushing madly with shame*

 
At 11:34 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Pixie..you got doughnuts? You SUCK

By the way...half sucked tic tac...just F'n classic. I hope I remember that one

 
At 11:37 AM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

hose,
I wasn't "casting aspersions" upon anyone (ok, maybe on Deb).

I was simply "fleshing out" what I meant.

And, yes, IMHO (which, with $3, will buy you a gallon of gas), I think there are some here who spend too much time.

Of course, I'm not their mother, so. . .

 
At 11:37 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Staci...what...no invitation? What's a couple of more mouths to feed. I'm crushed

 
At 11:39 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

We are all enjoying our jobs, our families, our hobbies and our lives immensly.

So true. My job/family/hobby/life is at her father's for two days visitation.

This particular site has created a much needed "diversion" from my otherwise very stressful / single mom / nervous about fiance life. I mentioned before that it has provided a sort of "healing" for me and it has.

If anyone goes to my site - back a couple of weeks and reads forward, they will notice I went into sort of a downward spiral of self-pity and anger. Not being in contact with the other half of my heart - the great unknown - causes a subconcious stress that touches every part of my life... it was TIME to have some fun and be around smart, funny, quick witted people and they were here... that is why I am here.

for now, I choose to make this my "life" for a few hours a day.

It's my happy place!

;)

 
At 11:40 AM, Blogger OregonMuse said...

Pixie, if you did just the traditional 12 days of Frischmas, that would be fine. I don't think there's any need to do 23.

 
At 11:41 AM, Blogger OregonMuse said...

Or Ottavarima, I meant.

 
At 11:41 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

I know I spend a huge chunk of time here...but again...laid up, not much else to do but continue my life's calling of protecting people from evil and harm

 
At 11:41 AM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

Mornin' [checks watch, yup] All!

Looks like there was still some fun to be had last night and even early this morning.

Welcome to all the Lurky McGurkin's from Lurkmenistan!

Hey McGehee:

You make a good point about Ms. Frisch trolling on a patriotic holiday. I think, part of it too, it was an extra long holiday weekend and she wanted some validation that she still could affect other people, even if it had to be negatively done. Plus, all the evilness, you know.

 
At 11:43 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Really is funny when you think about it. Someone who represents pure evil and al that is wrong with Liberalism, academia and humanity has actually created a good without her knowing. Even Hitler had his good qualities I guess

 
At 11:44 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

...Hitler also had a very bad haircut...


well, that was random.

 
At 11:45 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

So have you guys seen tha "Worship Jams" commmercial of kids singing contemporar Christian music?

 
At 11:46 AM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

I want to "second" what mcgehee was talking about (vis a vis Deb and patriotic posts).

Because of my faith, I do not believe in coincidences (they are just God working in unusual and unsuspected ways).

Thus I see a direct connection between Deb's first post last night coming moments after the Richard L. Smith post was made.

 
At 11:48 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Damn...my keyboard has been screwed up since I reloaded the new hard drive. All the keys don't always work. I watch myself type, so I know I hit them, yet they are left off, words get chopped etc. What the hell?

 
At 11:49 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Anyway, the kids in that commercial have a sort of creepy "Children of the Corn" quality and I was wondering if I was the only one creeped out by them.

 
At 11:50 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

By the way...Oregonmuse...

I apologize profusely for thinking you were a sit down to pee type of human. It really was just the title you chose. My bad for assuming something. Sorry

 
At 11:51 AM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

Also, my initial post this afternoon (morning) was NOT...

...I repeat NOT meant to infer that I think people here have no lives.

In fact, I've seen a slow (but steady) evolution here from a "get Deb" atmosphere to a more "let's talk about other things" attitude that bespeaks a real community.

And I do believe it was Hose that got me to seriously thinking about how reinforcing that WE have lives could have a beneficial impact upon Deb (or to put it more plainly - telling her about our wonderful lives sure seems to shut her up).

I think it is a good and healthy thing that Deb has changed from the center of our focus here into simply a "sideshow" for our amusement and entertainment (although I still do wish that she would log off and seek professional help).

 
At 11:51 AM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

Bonjour, Frischophiles

Apologies for bailing last night without a fare-thee-well. My bro (also a muso) needed a little roadside assistance on his way home from a gig.

Luckily, it was within my (very meager) auto mechanic abilities and I got him going (which saved transferring his stuff into my car on a dark, rainy two-lane road).

By the time I got home 2.5 hours later, all I wanted to do was grab a quick shower and pile-up some "Z"s.

We've got dreary weather forecast for the entire weekend here in NE Ohio; wishing you all not the same.

I guess the Blue Angeles won't be doing their show today. (I live about 6 miles from the airport they're using and heard low-flying F/A-18s all afternoon yesterday.)

Man, I love that noise.

Pixie - FYI, Frischmas contributions don't have to be Xmas song parodies. They can also be spoofs of poems (@#%$&@! Sulla & Joe!), or pop tunes (@#%$&@! HoseDragger!).


Dark!®

 
At 11:54 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Olive you man...GROUP HUG!!!!

 
At 11:55 AM, Blogger sparrow said...

Hosedragger - is it the same kind of creepy the Barney kids have all over them???? Little bots, I'm convinced!

 
At 11:55 AM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Hee hee hee hee. No offense taken RZ. I have loved your posts. What are you doing at work on a Saturday for anyway? You should be watching cartoons.

 
At 11:58 AM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

hose,
Let's just say I have a "report" due tomorrow morning and leave it at that.

 
At 12:01 PM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

Yoda:

No doubt. I still can't believe some of the ignorance that gets spewed by academics, especially on topics not in their bailiwick, and the arrogance with which they spew.

 
At 12:03 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Well, you are missing some of the better "Fairly Oddparents" episodes.

No, not "Barney" creepy. This has a creepyness all to itself. More of a drone than a bot

 
At 12:05 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

otta & joe,
Funny you should speak about "academic arrogance." This is one of the keys that lead me to conclude that Deano is a parody.

In his blog post about being suspended from school, he talks about a social studies teacher with quite a balanced view on the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This immediately had me suspicious since I know of view high school social science teachers that would give President Bush ANY "balanced" thought.

 
At 12:06 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

How about academics tha don't even know how to do a basic internet search? This only goes to prove they know nothing about the world they live in. They are sheltered amongst their peers and revel in their mutual admiration society. When confronted with the real world, they take on the guise of a Pennsyvania Amish person wandering around Times Square...terrified, bewildered and confused and wishing as hard as they can that they could escape back into the comfort of the University and their "intellectual" peers.

 
At 12:07 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Stay out of the real world and all its discussions, professors.

Here there be monsters and other beasties.

 
At 12:09 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

hose,
I find "FairlyOddParents" to be "fairly" (heh) creepy (not in a good way). Although "The Grimm Adventures..." really pegs the (not so good) creepy meter (IMHO).

Of course, these are both better than "Kids Next Door."

And, of course, all of this means that my child loves them!

Personally, I love "Foster's Home..." and "Ed, Edd & Eddy" and the classic Cartoon Network Cartoons such as "Dexters Laboratory", "PowerPuff Girls" and "Johnny Bravo".

None of these, though, can hold a candle to the vintage Loony Toon cartoons or older Scooby Doo.

 
At 12:11 PM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

Yoda and Joe -

Academia's been that way for many decades. When I finished-up my B.A. at UCLA in the mid-eighties (ten years after dropping-out), I used to have fun debating instructors when they brought up certain topics which were not, how you say, related to the course.

My positions tended to startle them, as I've got long hair, and have been known to wear odd earrings. Philosphically, I tend to be libertarian in a Goldwater-ish sort of way. This created much "cognitive dissonanace" amongst the academic types.

Especially when one presents cogent arguments backed-up by facts. For some reason, I developed a reputation as a "dangerous citizen" around Westwood.

"A 'fact' to a toe-tag liberal is like 'Kryptonite' to Superman" - Larry Elder

 
At 12:12 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Unfortunately, Deb is more the majority rather than the minority in the way she thinks. She may be CCFCCP in her diction and presentation, but the way of thought is the prevalent thought in the college universe. She is just more vocal and got caught. Probably shunned as much for her exposing thenm as for her insanity. Conservative thought is frowned on and in some cases, punished. Conservative students are ridiculed in class by their instructors, and their grades are in jeapordy.

 
At 12:14 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

I'm a "Jimmy Neutron", "Fairly Oddparents" guy. But "Johnny Bravo" is my hero. it is too bad they stopped making "Dexter" and "PPG". Those were great.

 
At 12:15 PM, Blogger OregonMuse said...

I apologize profusely for thinking you were a sit down to pee type of human. It really was just the title you chose. My bad for assuming something. Sorry

no problemo, I wasn't offended, and, considering my chosen handle, your assumption was perfectly reasonable.

 
At 12:17 PM, Blogger OregonMuse said...

Hey, I saw a trailer for a movie called "Flyboys" that looked like it had a bunch of WW1 flying ace dogfight action. Anyone know anything about it?

 
At 12:17 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

I must also confess a sincere appreciation for that yellow undersea sponge.

As far as academics, I'm working on my Master's right now (no, that doesn't mean I'm smarter than anyone else) and have learned that profs don't really like "open" discussions. They would much rather just "inject" their opinions right into your minds.

However, I'm a former high school teacher and am as old (and even older!) than some of the profs at school. All of which means that I do not immediately give them that "benefit of the doubt."

Some (of the professors) want us to be in awe of their knowledge and sincerely believe that it shows a lack of respect to "call" them on any of their mistakes.

One just said that they are still upset about Hurricane Katrina and I'm foreseeing a "confrontation" as I lay out the REAL facts that show that the bulk of the blame on what happened belongs at the feet of the mayor and the governor.

 
At 12:18 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Sheen rocks

 
At 12:19 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Sandy the Squirrel. And when it comes to SB, Plankton is king

 
At 12:20 PM, Blogger NedraZ said...

YaY!
I'm glad ya'll are finally working on some form of teh
DEB-Court Countdown Calendar!

I've been leaving that rabbit-dropping around here for days! LOL

Now I can go back to the hutch for a nap. Carry on & Thanks.

 
At 12:21 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

Hmm, that last paragraph of mine comes of sounding VERY arrogant.

-sigh-

It's just that I spent a considerable amount of time researching what happend in NO during Katrina and the facts show that while FEMA did not perform very well (and they never really do), the bulk of the blame HAS to lay at the feet of the "first responders".

Unfortunately the "Bush Lied, People Died" people believe that EVERYTHING is the President's fault and they usually resist truths that paint a different picture.

 
At 12:24 PM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

RZ -

You're gonna have lots of fun discussing the facts of the Katrina debacle with your professors. Go git 'em!

A friend who was recently in the NOLA area saw t-shirts bearing the legend "Drink Until Nagin Makes Sense".

 
At 12:26 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

My guess is that Deb's last post is a not-so-clever clue that's she's off to Arizona today.

 
At 12:28 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

I think it's the blogger beta software, mcgehee. I've had posts rejected too; usually just hitting F5 enough times - NOT F4, FATWA!!! - will push it through.

I was having trouble looking at this thread just now.

stupid beta software...

 
At 12:28 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

I think it's the blogger beta software, mcgehee. I've had posts rejected too; usually just hitting F5 enough times - NOT F4, FATWA!!! - will push it through.

I was having trouble looking at this thread just now.

stupid beta software...

 
At 12:28 PM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

Fatwa:

Dude, I dressed like a Berkeley hippie freak while I was there for my undergrad, and people gave me the same "whu-u-u-uh?" look, whenever I gave them an opinion based on several sources intead of just the editorial from the SF Chronicle. Ponytail, birkenstocks (with socks), shorts, and flannel. No more ponytail, and flannel's out of style, but I'm still a shorts and sandals kind of guy.

 
At 12:35 PM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

Joe -

birkenstocks (with socks)!!!

Tsk tsk.

As you can imagine, I confused folks around the Bay Area. (Long hair with Brooks Bros. suits, crisp white shirts and my quirky politics.)

 
At 12:35 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Not at all RZ. The blame for all of it lands flatly on the Mayor and the Governor. Look at Mississippi. Look at everywhere else? The Governor, Senator and Mayor screwed the pooch big time, but they are a welfare state with an entitlement mentality. They see a freight train coming fofrom miles away, have three days to get of the tracks and then blame other for not pushing them off. Hmmm..sound familiar?

FEMA is not a first responder. The head of FEMA was interviewed outside the Dome the night before it hit on FOX news. They were there. Thing is, there are police and fire everywhere, but you have to call them first. just like FEMA. They seem to have forgotten that we fought a big war where over half a million people were killed over that whole "State's Rights" thing that forbids the Feds from stepping in. They needed to make the call, but first, they needed to not steal the money for the levies, actually make the levee repairs earlier, and follow the disaster plan they had written. The cry of "People didn't have cars" falls flat when you see all the cars in drveways and on the street the next day and all those buses. Also the cry of "Where were they supposed to go" doesn't work either. I don't care. If I am looking death in the face, or a freaking train is coming, am I gonna sit and cry? Hell no...I get in my car and boogy away and figure out where to stop once I am out of the target area. To use the evolutionist theory, it is just chlorine in the gene-pool. If you are too stupid to save yourself from something clearly avoidable, then you get what you deserve.

 
At 12:39 PM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

Yoda -

The distress was compounded by my being a music major.

Good times, good times.

The neighborhood where I live now in Cleveland Heights is full of hippies (both young and old). I confess I have much fun when my appearance doesn't jibe with their expectations.

 
At 12:40 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Wait...flannel is out of style? Awww shit. Why doesn't anyone tell me hese things?

 
At 12:42 PM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

As Cartman would say: Damn hippies!

 
At 12:44 PM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

Joe -

One of my all-time favorite Cartman lines (from the episode with the drum circles) is, "They're not people...they're HIPPIES!".

 
At 12:45 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

To be fair, there are plenty of prof's that encourage discussion and there are some classes (with 90+ students) where open discussion would mean nothing would get taught.

As far as discussing Katrina, I'm HOPING that it's fair and balanced (heh), but I'm expecting a "Bush should have called in the National Guard" type of discussion.



Which brings up 2 points:
1) You ever notice how LLL"s never refer to him as "President". It's always "Bush" as if they know the guy personally. (Of course, this is because they can not come to grip with the fact that he IS president).

2) If you think the President should have called in the National Guard, than that proves you have no idea what you're talking about and should stop speaking immediately (The Nat'l Guard is controlled by the governors of each state).

 
At 12:46 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

It doesn't have to be appearance. People just naturally assume you are a Liberal. it never enters their minds that someone can think differently than them. After all, they are sooooo enlightened and smart. When you base your view of politics and global events around feelings and bumper-sticker slogans, you really have no business being pompous. Just look at the look on their faces when you tel them you are conservative. The usual response is "Well I never figured YOU were one of THEM". I especially love when they launch into a litanny of BDS without knowing. It is soo much fun to watch them squirm.

 
At 12:49 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

hose,
After Katrina, I heard a story about a family in NO who were evacuating (and let's not speak right now of WHEN the evacuation order was issued).

It seems that before they left they had called one of their parents and worried about where they would go. The parent answered that they should walk until they found a Methodist church and then knock on the door (meaning that someone there would take care of them).

Which is exactly what they did and they WERE cared for.

I say this not to lift up the Methodist church, but to simply say that there WERE other places to go.

(Of course, if the mayor had run the evacuation plan WHEN and HOW it should have been, the people would have been evacuated on BUSSES!)

 
At 12:51 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Good Mornoonafterevening all.
Greetings from the planet Prozac.

 
At 12:51 PM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

Oh yeah, hippie drum circles! I hated those guys on Lower Sproul Plaza on Sundays. And the smell! I'll know I'm back in the Bay Area when I get that whiff of flea powder from someone smacking a drum.

 
At 12:54 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

Wait a minute. Define HIPPIE! Because I am a total hippie by all appearences. My mother calls my house the 'voodoo house' because of all the candles and incence and has been harping for years for me to make the sitar into a floor lamp or something. Horrors!!

It's the very duality / incongruity of how I look and how I think that I love.

39 and still going for "shock value" - he heeeeeee.

Tony says I have to throw away the tie dye throw pillows when he gets home because they make him think "target practice". He will learn to love them, I say.

Happy Saturday, indeed it is.

 
At 12:55 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

Someone mentioned guest posters at protein wisdom.

I think I'd be more a candidate for Eschaton. Not in terms of politics, mind you; no, I've just proved my ability to type "Open Thread" with consistent accuracy. :)

Every web community seems to have its regulars, who are regulars because they fit in so well.

I'm not a "regular" at PW. I read it here and there, but I don't really fit the PW community. Lurk mostly, comment rarely, get responded to almost never.

besides, I do agree with zealot (and my wife, and my doctor, and...) that I do spend more time online than I should. We're at the tail end of an overtime crunch that started in April.

When we're done, I plan to get out of dodge for a few days.

 
At 12:56 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Joe, ws in SF a number of years ago (just after Haight-Ashbury died) and they used to flock to Golden Gate Park on the weekends and line up conga drums and just pound on them for hours. Could never undestand why. One long drum solo....far out man!

 
At 12:58 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

What did the Dead Heads say when they ran out of pot?

What's this crap on the record player?!

Where do you hide your money when a Hippie comes to stay at your house?

Under the soap!!

Patchouli will NEVAH happen here... it makes me want to vomit... the Nag Champa, however, is staying.

 
At 12:59 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

Don't get me wrong; I've loved being a guest poster here. This site has brought out the "regular" in me, and I love the community.

When Zealot made the comment during Deb's initial scud attack, and we were all pounding on her, I rethought what to do the next time.

I thank you, Zealot; I think the focus we put on movies (good and bad) and books, weekend plans, etc., short-circuited her rage when she came back. she left quickly that time, and the feel of the second thread was great.

 
At 1:00 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Pixie, I still have my sandals with the car tire soles purchased in TJ. Can't wear em out. So I guess you could say I'm a middle aged hippie. Stopped with the long hair though because I thought the extra weight of the long hair might hasten it's falling out.

 
At 1:02 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

No...not the dreaded COLLEGE KNOW IT ALL HIPPIES!!!!

AAAIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

 
At 1:03 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

"Yeah...you should listen to us. We just finished our first semester at Podunk Community College, and those professors really opened our eyes to the evils of Corporations and the Military/Industrial Complex"

 
At 1:03 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

HOLY COW!

I have my DADs sandles with the car tire soles - you are right! They don't wear out - second generation hippie shoes; he was / is in no way a hippie though. He is a "Mother Earther" because of where they live - totally self-sustaining. I put a well in on my property 3 years ago so they wouldn't have to drive to town to haul water.

I like that life; in moderation.

 
At 1:03 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Let's all listen to some crunchy grooves. That'll show those fat cat Conservatives.

 
At 1:04 PM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

johnq:

I got rid of the long hair because I just got sick of it ending up everywhere. I don't know how the ladies stand it, especially when there are roommates involved.

 
At 1:04 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

*giggle, snort* @ Hosedragger.

Can I get anyone a cold beer?

 
At 1:04 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

To your point sulla, I think that that proves that she feeds off of the attacks. When we quit, she goes away. Now, is she feeding off of the negative vibes, thinking that the attacks and counter attacks are some how intellectual sparing, What?

 
At 1:06 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Pixie...you missed what we were saying. We were saying that they mistake looks for liberalism. Hey, I got candles and incense and such, and actually things I do would shock you guys. Plus, remember...movies and rock for 20 years as a career...Hippie and Liberal is a disease of the mind...not in the appearance. THEY are the ones stearo-typing not us. Funny that..more hypocrisy from the Left.

 
At 1:07 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Pixie, we called them Lebanese tennis shoes. And speaking of Mother Earthers, did your Dad ever have "Earth Shoes" where the toes were higher than the heals?

 
At 1:07 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

Ottavarima has spoken to my heart.

 
At 1:08 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

whoah.

so she's like that energy creature on that one star trek episode, where the starfleet guys and the klingons were all killing each other with swords until they realized it was just a rage-sucking vampire and so they shook hands and laughed and chased it off with good cheer.

Whoah. Life IS like Star Trek...

 
At 1:08 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Me= former DeadHead

 
At 1:12 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

sulla, yeah, and if you think about it, that may have been the beginning of the leftie indoctrination of "lets all just hug and get along", anyone for a few verses of Micheal Row the Boat
Ashore?

 
At 1:12 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

I remember those shoes! Now he wears these things called "Gators?"... they weigh as much as an empty egg carton and have holes in them... and he PAYS FOR THEM! Ha!

I didn't miss what you were saying hose - I was agreeing and giving myself as an example. I LOOK like a total hippie-way-left liberal so people tend to engage me in conversations that go that way - or they assume I am that way.

The shock value occurs when I say something totally opposite of what they expect to hear.

I am liberal in many ways - but not EXTREME... I am also conservative in many ways that would shock the heck out of people.

Right next to my "Hate is NOT a family value" bumper sticker is my Blue Star Banner.

Keeps them wondering anyhow.

 
At 1:12 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

I got rid of the long hair for work reasons obviously...and chicks don't dig it on us middle aged guys. It will look better when I am around sixty and it is all grey. I'm just happy the grey is speckeled here and there and i still have all of it.

 
At 1:14 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

Ottavarima, where are you? Approximately, of course. REMEMBER PERSEC! *wink*

 
At 1:14 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Shoot, everyone know that the Starfleet guys should have just taken that opportunity to set their phasers on kill and wiped the galaxy clean of Klingons.
Rigth? Or is it just me?

 
At 1:15 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

No...she is a masochist. In her sick little mind, being attacked and feeling pain she equates with love. I wouldn't doubt that Mumsie and/or Daddums used to abuse her physically, mentally and/or sexually. When you put it into context, you will see that it explains alot about her. I said explains, not excuses. I was abused physically and mentally as a child until I was 16, but I don't equate it with anything other than pure evil. I wasn't sexually though.

 
At 1:15 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

Hose - my dad says I am a Libertarian... because of course, I MUST have a label. I have NO idea what he means by that. He always says it with a chagrined tone in his voice...

Maybe I should google it...

 
At 1:15 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Hell, I even still have a couple of scars

 
At 1:16 PM, Blogger Fatwa Arbuckle said...

Hose -

I'm sure that my appearance is part of what causes folks to make certain assumptions. Doesn't bother me; makes things more fun!

Mwahaha!

I pretty much arrived at my personal politics by striving to really understand the intent of the Founders. The Federalist Papers were a real eye-opener.

There are certain, probably social, issues where I'd find myself in disagreement with some folks here. But any discussion of them would tend (I believe) to be thoughtful, reasoned and respectful.

Joe -

Despite the fact that I seem to be growing a yeti in my bathtub drain, I don't mind the bit of extra housekeeping work required by having long hair. (And cleaning the roller on the vacuum...)

And I'm grateful that at my "advanced" age it's even an issue. I'm such a klutz some days that if I didn't have a lot of hair, I'd probably concuss myself at least once a month.)

Speaking of housework I should probably be doing some of in-between posts.

Pixie -

I've got a few years on you and still go for shock value sometimes. (It's my upbringing.)

Just heard F/A 18s scream by low overhead; guess it stopped raining enough for the Blue Angels to rock!

 
At 1:17 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

otta,
but, hose, isn't the best when they say in a bewildered way, "but you seem so intelligent." (i know you've had that response.)

as if intelligence and conservatism are mutually exclusive.


Make it conservative AND religious and watch their head spin when they find out that not only do you know what 2+2 equals, but that you can do the same problem in different bases (ex. 2 +2 (base 3) = 11)

 
At 1:17 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Actually it is more "how can someone so intelligent be so wrong about everything?"

 
At 1:17 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Hosse, I try to keep a positive attitude about the hair loss thing, I don't have a receeding hairline, I have an advancing forehead.

 
At 1:17 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

OMG HOSE!

That is horrible, horrible, horrible.

It would certainly appear that you have risen above.

That makes me so sad.

 
At 1:17 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

OK...you guys are going faster than I can type, scroll down and read. New thread please.

 
At 1:21 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Pixie...Haha...you're 6 months older than me. Can I get you some Geritol you old bat?

 
At 1:23 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

Hmph!

Well I NEVAH!

Old BAT???? C'mere so I can whoop yer butt, yungin!

 
At 1:25 PM, Blogger joeschmo1of3 said...

Fatwa:

Despite the fact that I seem to be growing a yeti in my bathtub drain, I don't mind the bit of extra housekeeping work required by having long hair. (And cleaning the roller on the vacuum...)

THIS is exactly what I was talking about, but I didn't want to sound, so, so... whiny about it, but after several years, I just got fed up. I'm a guy, and as such, inherently lazy when it comes to nesting behavior. Pulling my own hair out of the vacuum cleaner... [shudder] But I do miss the weird looks from dressing preppy with my hair down.

 
At 1:25 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

John...just tell people it is from too many U-turns under the sheets ;)

 
At 1:25 PM, Blogger John Q Public said...

Hose, RZ, the reason that the libs have so much trouble understanding conservatism is that they don't understand the concepts of right and wrong, and personal accountability. And, rule number one if you are planning to be a liberal is to be "liberal" with the truth.
I remember when M. Moores ignrant movie about 9-11 came out, it was being debated a lot on the tube. I forget who was doing the debating but when the conservative challenged the truth of it, the lib said, "Micheal is entitled to his version of the truth." Excuse me! VERSION of the truth?
Personally, I nev er knoew that there was more than one version of truth. Or is it just me?

 
At 1:26 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

sulla,
I thank you, Zealot; I think the focus we put on movies (good and bad) and books, weekend plans, etc., short-circuited her rage when she came back. she left quickly that time, and the feel of the second thread was great.

Thank YOU Sulla for saying much better what I tried to say earlier.

It's not so much about how much time we spend - it's about the understanding that we shouldn't get so caught up with what goes on in cyberspace (and an understanding of the difference and separation between cyber- and "meat-" space).

It would seem that Deb thinks that losing a flame war is worse than losing her job (look which one she's given up and which one she's still persuing).

When one puts THAT much emphasis on "winning" attacks in cyberspace, one's life usually ends up in the gutter.

Having a better "balance" and understanding of these things leads to a healthier and more joyful life.

In other words, given the choice between continuing a "flame war" and spending time with my family, I wouldn't hesitate a bit to leave the "flame war" (even if that meant being declared the "loser").

 
At 1:26 PM, Blogger sparrow said...

Thining hair / baldness:

A solar panel for your sex machine.

M-kay?

 
At 1:30 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

Pixie...check your e-mail.

 
At 1:31 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

Thanks, RZ.

New thread, everybody.

 
At 1:34 PM, Blogger Retired Fireman said...

That was Sean Hannity doing the interview. Like I said...the 9-11 thing and the conspiricy BS really gets me pissed. 343 of my brothers were snuffed in an instant and I watched the whole thing at work after being awoken by the tones going off alerting us to the attack. i started watching about 5 minutes before the scond plane hit and we had to stay on duty for hours until they finally sent us home. I watched as the entire first-in was snuffed. All I can say is nobody...and I mean NOBODY better ever say anything like that to my face, or they will eat the rest of theri meals through a straw and/or NGI tube for the rest of their lives.

 
At 1:34 PM, Blogger Religious Zealot said...

johnQ,
During my studies I came across the "classical" definitions of liberal and conservative.

What it comes down to is the difference of opinion on the true nature of humans.

Liberals (in the classical definition) believe that humans are inheritly (sp?) good. That is, left to our own devices we will be loving, peaceful people. Thus governments should serve to reomve all obstacles from people (like poverty, joblessness, etc.) so that they can rise to their rightful place.

Conservatives (in the classical definition) have a more dim view of human nature and believe that left to ourselves, we would tend to mess things up. Thus governments serve to keep us in line and protect us from each other.

This, of course, is a very broad generalization.

It is beneficial, though, to know that classical liberalism was born during the Enlightenment, which was a period where people tried to rid themselves of religion and the "need" for a God to help us to get better.

Thus we also see how liberals and religion don't get along with each other.

(or, to sum all of this up another way - liberals believe in the "give a man a fish" way of thinking while conservatives believe more along the lines of "teach a man to fish")

 
At 1:40 PM, Blogger Cthulhu said...

Sheesh, Ottavarima, you're such a ...

such a...

hmmm. You're not so easy to pinhole.

That means I have to pay attention to what you say and agree or disagree on a point-by-point basis.

Darn ya. :)

 

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