In These Times

Well said, TexMacaca.

Posted to The Crazy Kazakh Correspondent

hmmm, the �site-friendly� trolls have a new theme. Instead of rational debate, they disparage any commentary they don�t like with admonishments to seek professional help. Now that is funny! It seems you have a new theme too, Jay. Instead of appreciating someone's humorous comment, you disparage the commentary you don't like with accusations of the commentator being a troll. How droll! The definition of a troll, as I understand it, is someone who deliberately and single mindedly seeks to disrupt and sidetrack a discussion with comments that inevitably lead to a flame war. And by that definition it could be argued …

Posted to Fear and Voting in the USA

I must have missed the amusement in your comment Posted by Jay Cline on Nov 8, 2006 at 12:12 PM . But I did note your amusement in your comment Posted by Jay Cline on Nov 8, 2006 at 1:40 PM. A delayed reaction I guess? Or is there a more operative explanation? Thank you for your kind words, Jay.

Posted to Fear and Voting in the USA

Mike, thank you for your kind words. I probably was allowing myself to be baited ... No problem, Mike, sometimes the bait looks good. I bite if I am hungry too. But if the bait tastes like shit ... just spit it out before you get hooked. Sometimes the other end of a baited line is not a fishing pole at all but instead is another hook.

Posted to Fear and Voting in the USA

Scorp asks tell me one little socialist country that has ever worked to the good of the people? Canada! You forgot Canuckistan in your list, Mike ; ) But Scorp asked for a little socialist country wheras Canada is quite large so he will probably scoff at my answer.

Posted to Dueling Democrats

Happy to help out! No apologies necessary but thank you anyways.

Posted to Dueling Democrats

Reasonable is my middle name. Either that or Unreasonable . I forget which sometimes.

Posted to Dueling Democrats

Easy Redhorse ... what did Winterchestnut (or Jesus) do to you? Please remember ITT's admonition to be respectful in your comments.

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Number three is the fact that to conjecture on the political musing of a mythical personality is in fact mute.... My point in doing so is to raise the question to the christians who profess belief in this “ Son of Man “… You admonish Winterchestnut for conjecturing and yet have done the same and even acknowledge it. Sounds like a double standard to me and is an example of hypocrisy you have accused others of.

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

No, I'm not a priest. But you were right about something: You don't know me. And how you can think you know that someone is a bigoted nazi neo-con sympathizer from a couple paragraphs is an example of the disrespect you show. It is a free world and you are free to say whatever you like but the hosts here at ITT have specifically requested that we be respectful in our comments. As for what you say: It's not that I have a problem with what you say but with the way you say it. And as you have shown in …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

I don't wear panties. You just can't stop yourself can you? What business it is of yours is beyond me Are you serious? You have made it the business of everyone who is reading this article and the comments attached. As for the article : You would do well to heed the advice noted in the article ... In Matthew 7, for instance, Jesus took pains to warn against deficiency of self-awareness, better known as hypocrisy. Cast out first the blocks that are stuck in your own eyes, he told his disciples, so that you can see clearly if you even …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Redhorse, before you come back and insult me some more with incredible humdingers like girlie-manish , I would like to share this little story with you. I hope that you are able to learn something from it. Gift Of Insults There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him. One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

I did comment on the article and provided real life context when I noted that you should heed the advice therein. Namely, removing the blocks from your eyes before daring to go after the bits in the eyes of others and avoiding wild-eyed accusation . Like the article alludes, by your words and actions you are becoming what you profess to hate; a hypocrite. Can't you see that? As for the advice of the old master, I have taken his advice. I wish you could. Once again, by your own words, you have shown you cannot. Kuya, excellent points. And it …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Redhorse, I am still responding to your posts because I want to. I do think that you may have something worthwhile to share. And, as I understand it, the old masters action or response (or lack of it) can be interpreted two ways. The first being no response at all to the insult. Or in other words silence . The second being not to respond to an insult with another insult. Or in other words turning the other cheek. I choose the second interpretation. We are here at these discussions to discuss. Not sit in silence. So I have continued to …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Kuya! I am well. High five electron style right back at you. How are you? I've been away from here for quite some time but have seen a couple familiar faces around. I'm just here to visit for a bit and then I'll be off on my wandering way again. violent remarks - No worries. My pacifist nature doesn't allow me to consider violence as a means of problem solving, as tempting as it may be sometimes, but I think you were mostly joking anyways, mostly. Kimberly - Jay did make a good point even if it is a rather obvious …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Hi Wolf, long time no see. How are you? When has a topic ever stopped us from going off on tangents. I know, I know ... try to remain on topic ... but sometimes it's hard. Thanks for mentioning my Amish brothers. You see, and maybe I mentioned it before back in the old days, I am a Mennonite. Mennonites are the slightly more worldly cousins of the Amish. Back a few hundred years ago a guy named Menno Simons founded the Mennonites as an offshoot of the anabaptist movement. Eventually a schism occurred and a hundred or so years later …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Redhorse, Yes, I do critical analysis. I saw Wolf's duplicity and as you mentioned it is a favorite tactic of his. I have called him on it before but it's painfully obvious he has not learned his lessons. Sometimes I wonder if it's wasted effort? I had hoped you would know your lesson better by now too. Was blushing like a school girl really necessary? Why do you find it necessary to insult people when you speak to them? Is it so hard to simply say what you have to say and leave the name calling out? I think that the …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

I'm back. Dinner is done like dinner, the dishes too, and I have a few minutes before I do some chores. So ... Wolf, I had hoped that you would have returned to clarify your statement by now. What you said takes an example of good Christians responding to an insult and compares it to an example of bad Muslims responding to an insult . Do you see? In response to the insult you alluded to there were plenty of Muslims who stayed home and prayed for peace while a few other Muslims were inciting violence in the streets. Just as …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Hi Journeywork, I do get the drift. Some people think it's ok to bash gays and whip up fears and prejudices unless it's a gay Republican politician. Excellent point. More hypocrisy. Further up the page here Kimberly said I would point out that the mainstream media did not bring up his [Studds] sexual relationship with an under age page. but you said The young man who worked for Studds was actually old enough to *give* legal consent. Which is it? Any references anybody?

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Chores all done for today There are always more tomorrow Gather ye rosebuds while ye may Nobody has been back here tonight except me. Time zones. It's a big small world after all, it seems. So I have only have this to add after reading some of the recent discussion over again. Redhorse, you said ; What....pacifist don't do critical analysis......?. Good one. Seriously. I should not have let it slide and hope it won't happen again. My friendly, good natured and only very slightly sarcastic reply (despite saying that, for now, it was all I would say on the subject …

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Redhorse, I think you are a decent fellow too. Carry on then and express away. Peace!

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

Hi Wolf, I have been away for some time too but wandered back for a visit. I explained the duplicity of your comment further back up the page here : Posted by David in Canada on Oct 17, 2006 at 8:00 PM Read and cogitate away.

Posted to The Role of the Religious Right in the Foley Affair

I thought that a lexicon might need an atlas to go with it.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

You need to work harder on keeping your personas separate. Jay, do you really believe that Rabbit and Redhorse are the same person? Do you see rabbits under your bed too? Starboy, er LB, er Joh.., er Jane Doe, And that Jane Doe is Luminous Beauty or someone else? If so I think that you need to take a break from all of this as it has possibly begun to have a detrimental effect on your mind. You may be experiencing paranoid delusions. Please seek help. I offer my humble assistance :)

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Jay, Thank you for your kind words. I have missed being here too, but only a little. Dichotomies aside I think you hit the nail on the head when you said of yourself the conspiratorial bug has afflicted me as well. Yes, I am aware of the circumstantial evidence but it is weak. Your time would be better spent with nobler aspirations than idle specualtion. ... was there a summer camp that I wasn’t invited to? Yes, but for conspiracy theorists only. However, now it appears we could have invited you as you have succumbed to the same affliction. One of …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

You have a delicately exquisite way of turning the fork! Considering the fragile state of your mind I thought it best to go easy on you, Jay. And ... No apologies necessary, but graciously accepted.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Cabbie and Jay, Just a quick note to comment on the back and forth between you guys. I don't want to distract too much from the discussion as it it is very interesting and I am enjoying it. Aside from the occasional slip you manage to communicate like civilized people. I see friendly banter, mostly, and constructive criticism, mostly, even if you disagree and that's good. Thanks. Seriously. It gives me hope that maybe different people really can get along because in the end we are all the same. Sorry for possibly bringing more sociobiology into the mix but if you …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Jane, you are your own woman. ....... And what a woman! You pounded that nail good, And spoke up like you should. Jay, old friend, you have slipped a gear, Gone around the bend, I sorely fear. She is she and you are he. ....... Really, seriously!

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Jay, I have never called you a troll and have, in the past, told people who have called you a troll that it is not so. Do I have to go back and search the archives to find the examples of where this topic of trolls was discussed? Back a day or so ago I was reading a post of Cabbie's and his opening was a tirade about what a troll you are. I came back a couple hours later prepared to call him on it and saw that he had edited the offensive remarks from his post. Good for him! …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Luminous Beauty, good to see you here again, I enjoyed your verse too!

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Yeah Jay, Where is Starboy? I too did an ITT archive search when you first brought Starboy up and the results, except for your mention of Starboy on this thread, were non-existent. I also entered starboy into a seach engine and got some results but except for your paranoid rantings about starboy on this thread found nothing else except the usual debris. So ... where is Starboy? Theres' a starman waiting in the sky He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds There's a starman waiting in the sky He's told us not to blow …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

feigned and disingenuous queries Oh Jay, Now you have hurt my feelings :( Now that was feigned and disingenuous whereas my previous was a sincere and genuine question. Although I was having some fun with you when I returned from my wanderings I am not trying to give you a hard time here and now. Seriously Jay ... where is this Starboy you speak of? Please show me a post of his here at In These Times.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Thanks Redhorse, I do appreciate the effort. Chocolate Starboy ... brilliant!

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

have you forgotten? Not at all ... hehehe - sorry but I couldn't resist. Then I fear it's true, Jay, and life has imitated art. You are having paranoid delusions. There is no Starboy at In These Times except in your imagination. I am glad that is settled. Admitting you are sick is the first step to recovery.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

if I be paranoid, it is only because it is true, eh? It is not true, Jay. You are simply delusional. There is no Starboy here. Redhorse is not Rabbit. Jane Doe is not Luminous Beauty. You appear to be suffering from a monothematic delusion called Fregoli delusion. Please, seek help!

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

I am refering to the Starboy who is a figment of your delusional imagination. (Not at all, Jay, it is your disingenuity that is showing, or perhaps your paranoia.)

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

No Jay, Your next line was supposed to be Touche !

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Metaxy99, They chose Islamofascism to vilify Muslims and thereby motivate Americans, and the rest of the coalition of the killing, to want to kill and/or control Muslims and thereby control the oil that these Muslims are (un)fortunate enough to have. This is just one of many reasons, as you have noted others, but I think it is a primary reason. Of course another is to protect that bastion of freedom and best ally in the region, Israel. President Bush says as much himself in his recent interview with Rush Limbaugh. Here it is in the President's own words : "Give me …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Here is another example of the same bullshit that GWB spreads but of course careful consideration should be given to the perspective and proverbial spin.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

I am the one with paranoid delusions here. Jay, good to see you manage to hang on to a sense of humour, take a little jab at Cabbie, practice self-deprecation and do it all at the same time.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

I would be interested in a rebuttal from Mr. Giles as well. Rabbit is quite capable of providing the same.

Posted to The 9/11 Faith Movement

But, despite the above, let's assume, for the sake of argument, that it's possible for a building to fall far from its footprint, thereby threatening the integrity of the buildings adjacent to it, and the additional lives of the people who occupy them. In such a situation, it would not be unreasonable to provide the means to pull it down. Posted by Major Major on Jul 11, 2006 at 8:34 PM He may have a point here, Rabbit. Maybe Major Major is dropping a hint? I have imagined that a "fallback" position, and admission, would be that the buildings were pulled …

Posted to The 9/11 Faith Movement

No, my job is not to defend “Bushworld”. But I do consider it a worthy cause, to counter this incidious form of destructive, hate-based propaganda, which serves nobody really ... So this is your job then, defending the faith, but it is a worthy one?

Posted to The 9/11 Faith Movement

Follow the Yellow Brick Road. Follow the Yellow Brick Road. Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the rainbow over the stream, follow the fella who follows a dream, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the yellow brick road. You're off to see the Wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You'll find he is a whiz of a Wiz! If ever a Wiz! there was. If ever oh ever a Wiz! there was The Wizard of Oz is one because, Because, because, because, because, because. Because of the wonderful things he does. You're off to see the Wizard. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Not …

Posted to The 9/11 Faith Movement

Mythological universe ??? I knew I didn't have a good grip on reality ... but ...

Posted to Pow! Shazaam! Its ғMinoriteam!

Study finds no marijuana-lung cancer link. Click on the hyperlink. It reaffirms what John said, marijuana does not cause lung cancer.

Posted to Science: The Drug Wars Latest Victim

Major Major, Re : covering a phallic symbol like the Washington monument with an over-sized condom... I would be happy to contribute my hard earned money to your art project. It is brilliant.

Posted to Disclaimer

Easy there, Redhorse. Sometimes computers and the electrons that shoot back and forth between them get confused. Lost comments are nothing new, especially around here, but they are working on it I am sure. Please try again = ) And maybe try copying and temporarily saving your comment just prior to submitting it. Just in case.

Posted to Saving Secular Society

Even if the US pulls out now, Iraq can still get pregnant. Not mine, something I read somewhere.

Posted to Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq?

Yes, but this is our baby now and we mustn't just walk away. Sorry Whattheheck, that reasoning doesn't do it for me. Maybe it is better to let the baby walk on it's own. Sooner or later it has to unless the USA plans to hold Iraq's hand forever which is a possibility. Or maybe the baby should be taken away from unfit parents. From what I have seen, the USA is doing a worse job than Saddam ever did.

Posted to Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq?

Wolf, I am glad you liked it. It is easy to like because it is so apt. Which analogy do you prefer for reality? I like the former rather than the latter. Let them walk. They are reasonable people, let them do what they will, it seems only fair, it is what we all want and expect.

Posted to Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq?

Same sort of question to you Whattheheck. If Sistani and his ilk want to kill homosexuals, maybe you should let them. Why not? Abortion kills unborn babies, Sistani lets you. Why not? What's the difference in, that coin of the realm, moral value?

Posted to Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq?

I am laughing right now. They are as reasonable as anyone, even Wolf and Whattheck.

Posted to Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq?

Lee, I will join in to say "well said"". I agree. More American troops would be like putting out fire with gasoline.

Posted to Do you think the U.S. should withdraw from Iraq?

There is no such thing as safe nuclear energy. What is safe about nuclear waste? I realize that currently the policy for the United States is to use the toxic nuclear waste to fashion penetrators for bombs, missiles and bullets and then lob them at countries like Afghanistan and Iraq thereby turning whole countries into nuclear waste dumps. How's that for a great idea? These nuclear weapons have been given the deceptive name of depleted uranium munitions to make them seem safe. They are not. Solar and wind energy are our best hopes, if the nuclear waste being used as weapons …

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

barbarians in the Middle East What about the barbarians in the West? Are western barbarians the only ones allowed to have weapons technology? Barbarians are everywhere, Wolf.

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

Either way, perhaps we can agree that giving modern technology to the Middle Eastern states is very probably a bad idea? No, we do not agree. Do we really want them to have the military capabilities that the US (or France or England or etc) have? Yes. I think it is only fair. Can they - and their methods of governing - really be trusted with such technology? Yes. As trusted as anyone else. In fact, is it even moral of us (the West) to introduce our technology into these places? It is not our technology. It belongs to anyone who …

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

... and with respect, as much as I can muster, Wolf ; Your metaphor sucks and blows.

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

I see it through the eyes of one human being looking at another human being. As equals. It would seem you see it as one superior human being looking at an inferior human being. As unequal. What other collectivist, culturally superior and racist views do you have, Wolf? I am seriously interested in knowing and hopefully understanding. I already know that you think people of Middle Eastern descent are barbarians. Worthy of slaughter then I guess? What other groups of people do you feel have their intellectual ideas and moral character formed by the race/country/culture they were born into?

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

Hi Wolf, Thanks for the clarifications. And I feel that you are quite right in your judgement of some aspects of other cultures as you mentioned. The key word being some . There are plenty of aspects of Western culture that I view as worthy of condemnation. But I dont' believe that the people that practice them are inferior, merely different. Statements like you made when you said rather than give $$$ and therefore modern weapons/technology to the barbarians in the Middle East are blanket and collectivist statements, even racist and supremacist, that do not help the situation. I think it …

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

Looks like the Iranian president likes my analogy. When did Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say that? You flatter yourself, Wolf. If Mr. Ahmadinejad read your analogy he would probably be as sickened as I was. I have some chocolate for the USA if they will give up their dangerous guns. Come on, it's yummy. Don't you want to be mature and eat your chocolate too.

Posted to Do you think the benefits of nuclear energy can outweigh it's risk?

Crispino, I feel the same and didn't vote as none of the responses satisfied my opinion. I would have liked to destroy the ballot in protest. I have seen a similar poll recently here in the Canadian media about the new Conservative government banning the media from covering the arrival of dead Canadian soldiers from the misadventure in Afghanistan. The responses they provided for the poll, both in the matter I mention and this poll on ITT, almost seemed to be calculated to sidestep the real issue. Insulting, to say the least. As Opeluboy says Who�s writing this shit ???? …

Posted to Do you think the U.S. will go to war with Iran?

Whattheheck (and anyone else who imagines that a preemptive or preventive attack on Iran could be a good thing), With respect, Whattheheck, you say, Whether it is �fair� for Iran and others to desire these weapons is irrelevant. If I thought someone was planning to attack my home � I would not offer him a gun equal to mine. Would you? Are you afraid of Iran? Are you sleepless with nightmares of Iranian bombs falling on your head? How do you think the average guy in Iran feels. Do you think he is afraid of the USA and has nightmares about …

Posted to Do you think the U.S. will go to war with Iran?

with more respect ... And that's entertaining the notion that they are trying to develop nuclear weapons. It has certainly not been proven that they are. They have the right to develop uranium enrichment under the NPT. That is a fact. Where's the trust? Where is the consistency when dealing with and assisting other nations considered allies when it comes to their nuclear programs? Good for some but not for others? How about Mutually Assured Destruction? That sort of trust maybe if the other is impossible? I am just trying to understand.

Posted to Do you think the U.S. will go to war with Iran?

... and a nod to Seamus. Thanks for admitting the responses were, if not a little lame, at least lacking. Do we get a new poll to better assess opinion amongst your faithful readers?

Posted to Do you think the U.S. will go to war with Iran?

Oink ... Moo ... Hotdogs and Hamburgers. Meat and meat byproducts like lips and assholes. Yummy? They use everything, but the squeal and the moo, for real, they even use the poo. I haven't been able to bring myself to eat a hotdog for many years. When I was a kid we lived on a small farm and I thought nothing of it , or almost nothing, when my dad chopped the head off a chicken every now and then. I collected eggs every day from our little flock of chickens. Ahh ... the idyllic innocence of youth, but it never …

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

... and doesn't the piggy in the picture at the top of the article look sad?

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Hi NY Vegan, I have posted on this thread too. Right at the top. Organic free range eggs. The organic egg and poultry farmwhere I buy fresh eggs allows the chickens free run of a large field and they go in and out of the barn as they please. Their beaks were not trimmed and they can strectch their wings all they want. 1. I do not believe that eating an animal is morally wrong. Animals eat other animals. It is a simple fact of life. It may be that some people and industries exploit animals and treat them cruely, which …

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Oh ... and you mentioned unfertilized eggs. What are your thought on fertilized eggs? Back in high school I had a friend and I was visiting at her farm and we were looking in the fridge for something to eat. I saw the eggs and suggested we eat eggs but she assured me I probably wouldn't want to eat those eggs as they were fertilized, her parents ate them. Some of them you could actually see the chick inside. Freaky. We ate something else.

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Hi NY Vegan, Thanks for your reply. We are more than animals, such is my understanding at least, otherwise your argument is over before you began. If I am eaten by a wolf, or a cannibal, the next time I go camping I wouldn't be angry with the wolf or cannibal. They are just doing what wolves and cannibals do. I would like to share a beautiful little story with you. There was this man. He had a dog. He loved the dog more than his wife. His wife would say "You love that dog more than me." and the man …

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Hi NY Vegan - David here again. Back to your points. 1. See above. But I will add that even plants have some subjective awareness of their own life. And, if I may be so bold as to ask, are you pro-life or pro-choice when it comes to abortion. 2. My farmer is in a relatively small farming community in Canada, same as I am. I believe my farmer's claim that he treats his animals humanely is not false. And I take a little bit of umbrage at your assertion that such a claim is always false , I don't care …

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Are efforts to eat less animals and making wise choices when people do eat animals worthy of any merit to you. Does it have to be all or nothing?

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

An excellent defence it is. Thanks and well said Rabbit. I find you ....... Not Guilty. Go forth and be happy eating animals in a conscientious and thankful manner. You too NY Vegan. You are free to go forth and be happy not eating animals in a conscientious and thankful manner. I admire and respect your position on the matter.

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Hi NY Vegan, Just a quick note to thank you for your reply. The next time I need eggs or a chicken I will try to tell my farmer that you are happy about his efforts and I hope to ask the farmer those questions the next time I need eggs or a chicken and let you know. And when I do let you know about the answers, I may explain why I think that if we are not more than animals then it invalidates your arguement that it is immoral for a (human) animal to eat an animal. I haven't …

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

And I like your Snickers bar analogy. But an egg is better for you than a candy bar.

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

And I would like to share this perspective : It's Not Enough to Be a Vegetarian .

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

And, another perspective, Freegans.

Posted to Meat-Industrial Complex

Kitchens and bathrooms, sinks and toilets. Hospitals! I am in my kitchen and bathroom daily and haven't died yet. I was in a hospital a few times recently, for the first time in my life (since I was born) as a patient, for a few procedures to deal with a kidney stone (probably calcium oxalate) too large (1.0 x 1.3 cm) to pass in the normal fashion. It would appear my body gets medieval with calcium but still doing some more 24 hour urine collections for analysis and yet to recieve the analysis of the bits of sand I collected in …

Posted to Are Hospitals Hazardous to Your Health?

Jay, I am sorry, but I just can�t resist. I knew I would find you worshipping at the altar of American military might and capitalism. No, I lied. I really am not sorry ; )

Posted to China Dissidents Disappeared

Do you have to be strong to be free? Or free to be strong?

Posted to China Dissidents Disappeared

Jay, try harder. I see that Whattheheck found a point in my cadence worth thinking about.

Posted to China Dissidents Disappeared

That's okay Jay. Easily forgiven. I might ask your forgiveness for the worshipping at the altar of American military might crack. But I won't. Because maybe I already have it. I believe it's a given that to forgive is to be forgiven.

Posted to China Dissidents Disappeared

the age of the bachelor arrived bachelor , noun 1. An unmarried man. 2. A person who has completed the undergraduate curriculum of a college or university and holds a bachelor's degree. 3. A male animal that does not mate during the breeding season, especially a young male fur seal kept from the breeding territory by older males. 4. A young knight in the service of another knight in feudal times. .. and I am living it . Well, three of them at least. What do they call a female bachelor? But if I were to marry and have children I …

Posted to Friedan and King: Super Models

So, you�re saying that you�re not a young fur seal kept from the breeding territory by older males? Actually, I dropped out of college so I don't have a degree. I'm sure I have some characteristics in common with young fur seals.

Posted to Friedan and King: Super Models

Fortunately, I am not a bull seal, yet, so I don't have to establish a territory or deal with a harem. Male and female seals come together only during breeding season. Sounds like a good idea to me ; )

Posted to Friedan and King: Super Models

I hate plastic and avoid buying things wrapped in plastic or things made of plastic.

Posted to Talking Trash

I went to cut and paste the URL that Fridabee shared and found that I can't cut from these ITT pages. Has anyone else experienced this?

Posted to Walking to Guantnamo

Nope, but a little HTML magic will make it a hyperlink. like this : http://witnesstorture.org/node/254 Still can't cut text from others' comments. Have to type URLs into the browser address bar. How barbaric.

Posted to Walking to Guantnamo

Keep up the good work Frida. You and the prisoners at Guatanamo are in my prayers.

Posted to Walking to Guantnamo

Heads up. Everyone should have a firewall on their computer. I do and have been backtracing the port scan atttempts lately. Yesterday I back traced an attempted port scan to the DoD Network Information Center. I have no idea what the Department of Defence is doing port scanning my computer but it got me interested and after a few searches I found that I am not alone. I found forums full of people who have had the same experience. Opinions ranged from 'hackers have hacked a DoD computer and are using it for hacker purposes' to 'nothing to worry about, if …

Posted to FBI, DoD, NSA: All Spying on You

And here�s a question guys--- is it o.k. for the government to torture you, since you have nothing to confess? There are some serious boundary issues here, and though I trust you are sincere and well meaning, you are certainly not doing anyone else any favors by claiming that it�s o.k. for the government to spy on people because you�ve got nothing to hide. Wiley, No, torture is not o.k. whether I have something to confess or not. I never claimed it was o.k. for the government to spy on people and invade their privacy without probable cause.

Posted to FBI, DoD, NSA: All Spying on You

Wiley, I understand what you are saying, then and now. Tacit endorsement? Hmm ... I thought it was tacit opposition. I will try to be less ambiguous. Hug happily accepted and reciprocated.

Posted to FBI, DoD, NSA: All Spying on You

Interesting essay you excerpted, Wiley. This - hopeisfortheweak - from the URL puzzles me. Satire? or Sublime? or both? I will be thinking about this hope is for the weak idea. I like it as sublime satire. I liked the poem at the end the best and will post it on my fridge.

Posted to FBI, DoD, NSA: All Spying on You

Yeah, great posts Cabby, but I get lost too. You might consider point form and/or paragraphs to give us a chance to take a breath while reading your comments.

Posted to Hamas: Sharon's Legacy?

Major Major, your posts are great too. More concise though.

Posted to Hamas: Sharon's Legacy?

Shocking.

Posted to Hamas: Sharon's Legacy?

Ahh ... hope for the hopeless. What a nice sentiment. I approve. Faith, hope and charity ... or is it love ... and which is the greatest?

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

Hmm ... Chip and Dale ... yes. But, even more so by Mac and Tosh, the Goofy Gophers.

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

... and a little research indicates that Chip and Dale weren't really that polite. I seem to remember Chip smacking Dale around sometimes. A recurring schtick often mistakenly attributed to Chip 'n Dale is the characters' alleged use of politeness: "after you..." "no, I insist, after you!"

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

I like you too Wiley. Thanks. Chip and Dale are fine but I like Mac and Tosh better as far as cartoon critters go. Old school Warner Bros. and Disney are perennial favorites for me. Thanks for the Back to Canada song, Pete. It was truly awful and I am still laughing now.

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

Hi Scorp, Don't get too excited. Canada elected a conservative government but remains a liberal (and socialist) country. The Conservatives have what is called a minority government, they were elected to 124 seats in a parliament that consists of 308 seats. A majority government would have required 155 seats. So the new Conservative government here is on a pretty short leash. If the opposition parties wanted to they could form a coalition and bring the government down very quickly and we would have another election (something everyone wants to avoid at this time). Expect cooperation and compromise to be the words …

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

... and in Germany, Merkel had to form a coalition government. Not exactly a sharp right turn.

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

Mad Jacques Chirac is threatening Iran with nuclear weapons. Scorp, you are bending and stretching the truth again. "The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using, in one way or another, weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part," Mr Chirac said on Thursday in a speech at a nuclear submarine base in Brittany. He named no countries. "This response could be a conventional one," he said. "It could also be of a different kind." Chirac threatens …

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

Here's something interesting. The firewall on this computer just told me there was a port scan attempt within a couple of minutes of that last post. I did a backtrace and it turns out the DoD Network Information Center was trying to do the port scan.

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

A little research and it seems that lots of people have the same thing happening. Here is what one guy said on a forum discussing it ... But they're not at all likely to use their own IP's to target a surveillance... that would be sort of like staking out a drug suspect by parking a marked Sheriff's van in their driveway and having a deputy sit on the roof with a Nikon .... and another comment .... Either that or it's a hacker using a spoofed IP. I'm not worried. Nothing to hide. But it is interesting. Maybe I will …

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

Right now I am using the Sygate Personal Firewall software but may have to look for another as it has been discontinued and isn't being updated/supported anymore. Any suggestions for another 'free for personal use' firewall? I have a friend who is a software developer and will ask him and his co-workers what is good to use these days.

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

Wiley, I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. As Liberal said on the

Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil

why can�t we just ban it? It�s really backward. Please? Can�t we be intolerant on this one? Just this one thing? No public worship of imaginary beings? No mention of Jesus unless it�s in vain? Rocco, you don't want to ban someone like tina1 for political beliefs, neither do I, but you want to ban speaking publicly about spiritual beliefs? Sorry to drag out your last point but I hope you were being facetious?

Posted to Reflections on Tookie's Execution

Thanks Rocco, I like your long answer and like your short answer better. Ban religion. Keep spirituality. But for some religion is the path to spirituality.

Posted to Reflections on Tookie's Execution

Rocco - Excellent retort. Nice to see you and Rabbit enjoying one anothers company.

Posted to Reflections on Tookie's Execution

not much enjoying ... but at least a little? I wouldn't characterize the banter as wasteful . There is always something to be learned even if the revelation is delayed.

Posted to Reflections on Tookie's Execution

Gruyere cheese is great. Melted on bread with French Onion Soup. Mmmm good. Vive la France, indeed. But the cheese itself is Swiss in origin although there is some dispute about it with the French. Gruyere Cheese is named for the town of the same name in Switzerland.

Posted to Postcards From the Front

whew... I have not laughed so hard in quite some time. Entertainment is a good part of why we are here, maybe the best part. From the reaction that trolls like tina1 normally get, I think they�re fulfilling a symbiotic need for most people here. Well said Rocco. Where would we be without someone like Tina1 to drive us crazy with "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder" rants. But I still don't get what you have against Rabbit beyond his third person self-references. Anyways ... Rocco, I enjoyed your joke, even if it was cheesy. Wiley, sorry I cheesed you off ;) …

Posted to Postcards From the Front

Good points Stinky Pete. Like it says .. Please be respectful in your comments .. and I have said the same, many ways and many times. Personally, I like trolls . Sick, huh? But like Rocco says we need the villains and I find them fascinating too. It is exciting when they come out from under the bridge.

Posted to Postcards From the Front

Hi Tina1, Why not take your political ideas to a more suitable thread like The Republican Crack-Up. You had the third post from the top and since then it has been almost all about you. This thread has gotten far enough off topic debating your presence. Please take it to the appropriate thread. Thanks.

Posted to Postcards From the Front

"When I was in the army, it was clear that if you're in the IRR, the only time you're going to go off to war is World War III," Maybe World War III has arrived in the here and now and we are just seeing the opening acts. There is debate on when WW II actually started. When did the second world war start being called World War II ?

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Oingo Boingo - Little Guns Tiny people, with little guns Little armies march, to little drums What do they want? What do they want? Tiny soldiers, with little guns Little tanks, no bigger than your thumb They want you Little people, with tiny brains Little bullets flowing, in their veins What do they want? What do they want? Tiny people with little guns Little armies march, to little drums They want you, you You, you, you, you Little airplanes, with tiny bombs Little squadrons, dropping thimbles of Napalm They want you What do they want? What do they want? Tiny people, …

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Jay asks, So what do big people with no guns do when those little people come marching down your street? Stand there and get shot?

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Without Blinking During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived - everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn't treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. "You fool," he shouted as he reached for his sword, "don't you realize you are standing before a man who could run …

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Jay says, Your poem of �pacifism lost� loses sight of what happens to �big� people with big brains when they don�t defend themselves. Not at all, Jay. The poem (lyrics) may not describe in detail the death and destruction that little people with little guns visit upon those without guns. But it does allude to it ... ... and I see what happens very clearly.

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Jay, You still don't seem to get it. My pacifist house of cards does not require the participation of everyone. All it requires is my own.

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Jay says David, You still don�t get it. No, you don't get it, but I will try to explain it to you one more time. Read this very carefully. Several times if necessary. Pacifism is the rejection of violence as a means of resolving disputes. Pacifism is being willing to die rather than being willing to kill. Your pacifism can only survive if there are no �Little men with little guns�. No, my pacifism survives, regardless of others and their actions, even if I do not survive. Now I know you are the ultimate optimist ... No, I am the ultimate …

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

Yeah, eh.

Posted to Backdoor Draft, Back Again

I have to speak up here in defence of religious fantasy , as Hifi calls it. When I was in high school I, and some of my friends, went to a private Mennonite School. I also had friends who were in public schools. Most of the kids at the Mennonite School came from Mennonite families but there were some secular kids there too. Strength of character was a valuable lesson in which we were given instruction, at school and at church too. The public schools set up nursery programs for teenage mothers. We did not need nursery programs at my school …

Posted to Cult of Character

Hi Hifi, Thanks for your response. conformity, submissiveness to authority Another Mennonite school days story if I may. We had mandatory Bible Study classes as part of our curriculum. In the Bible class one day I started arguing with the teacher about an interpretation he was making. He seemed to brush off my challenge to his authority and moved on to another matter. That was fine, I had made my point. When the class was being dismissed he said " David, I would like to speak to you." and I expected to be reprimanded for what I had done. I was …

Posted to Cult of Character

So I guess my points are : Not all people of faith are hypocritical people of faith. Not all people of faith are DO AS I SAY people of faith.

Posted to Cult of Character

You probably won�t find such people at �character building� seminars. Very true Wiley. I was just talking to my Grandmother on the phone and when she asked what I was doing I told her. She was amazed that there even was such a thing as a "character building" seminar.

Posted to Cult of Character

Wiley, I have never been to a "character building" seminar. Maybe I wasn't too clear. When I told my grandmother what I was doing, what I was doing was making a post on a forum about "character building" seminars. Sorry for the confusion. I don't need a seminar, I am a character :)

Posted to Cult of Character

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Posted to Irans Anti-Gay Pogrom

Axis of Fanatics

Posted to Irans Anti-Gay Pogrom

Hmmm ... No [Thunderous Applause] anywhere ?? But I guess the [Applause] indicated is a prompt to cue the desired and expected response?? How about [Dead Silence] or [Boos and Hisses] I would not be to sure about the troops coming home after March : The Bush administration is preparing its NATO allies for a possible military strike against suspected nuclear sites in Iran in the New Year ...

Posted to My fellow Americans

Opeluboy, the words poetic justice for Sharon is the link, a hyperlink, just click on it. Good job,Wiley, you got one to work. I am on the west coast of North America. So is Wiley. So you are only two hours behind us.

Posted to My fellow Americans

A couple more tips ... for those who don't already know HTML ... and one for those who use tinyURL in hyperlinks. Using HTML to make a hyperlink to a reference is easy. Here is an example of a hyperlink HTML command : words to become link goes here The line above is an inactive example. Replace URL goes here between the " " with the URL/address. Replace words to become link goes here between the > with whatever word or phrase that you want to become the hyperlink to click on. I have found that using tinyURL is not necessary …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

By the way ... I have asked Natalie to bring the discussion taking place on the Democrats: It's the War thread to this 9/11 discussion. I hope she joins the discussion here.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Another point of note is that this story is way out of date and Jones, whose expertise is not so easy to discount, is only mentioned in passing. It indicates to me that this is a story the ITT staff felt the need to at least mention for the sake of it�s readership, but nobody in house is really willing to stick their neck out on. The fact that political journalists of whatever stripe are notoriously lacking in math and tech knowledge could have some bearing on the matter. An excellent point. The whole idea of being an alleged conspiracy theorist …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Wiley, you forgot the = sign .... I fixed it for you : 9/11 wargames - no coincidence Andi, you learned fast. Great posts by the way.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Hi Ad, It usually gets quiet on weekends. Christmas Eve and all, I would expect it will be very quiet here for a couple days. No stress here :) I just got back from visiting my parents for breakfast and taking the dog for a walk. Settling in for a quiet afternoon now, expecting a couple friends to visit. Merry Christmas everyone.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Eh - According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary the only usage of eh that is peculiar to Canada is for "ascertaining the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc., of the person or persons addressed ...

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Interesting that you mention red herring, Wiley. I have not read it in depth yet but I found this just today : Evidence That a Frozen Fish Didn't Impact the Pentagon on 9/11 I have always wondered if eventually evidence, i.e. all of the tapes they won't release, will eventually be released and the evidence will clearly show a Boeing 757 crashing into the Pentagon and then ... and then ... we can all rest easy, all snuggled up tight in our beds at night, knowing we were only crazy. But we got better ... Cured !! Eh ?!

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

But I doubt it.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

.. oops .. now I see that Ad had posted the same Fish link a little further back up the page. Sorry Ad. Didn't mean to steal any thunder or lightning ;) I am in the (bad?) habit of reading from the bottom of the thread, the latest posts, then reading the earlier posts. Playing catch up after being out of the loop over the holidays. Wiley, I am trying to be less crass too but not always succeeding. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Confucius

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Natalie, when you make up your mind have you ever changed your mind ?? Since we all enjoy tests so much I would like to share this as an aside : The Gullibility Factor Test

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

I have made up my mind .... 9/11 stinks. Smelliest event ever.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

... and doesn't Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City Bombing have an odour too ?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

That's right ... the Ministry of Lies ... needs more money ... and blind faith.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Minerva, I liked the Mahatma Gandhi pun best. Did you know Mahatma means Great Soul ? But I am not sure if I understand the previous post where you ask about a good cop/bad cop routine. What exactly are you talking about Minerva?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Hello everybody, I have found that the easiest way to avoid messing up the HTML link codes is to have a document where the codes like are blank and then you can simply cut and paste them into your post and add the URL and link. Don't feel bad about the electrons not wanting to dance for you all the time Rabbit. Even I had a link that crashed and burned a few days ago.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

What's up with the bold type? Did you guys break something? Is the electron revolution upon us?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

20 reasons to question the official story of 9/11

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Experts Claim Official 9/11 Story is a Hoax

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

bold is getting boring Hmmm ... maybe we should send word to Seamus?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

I doubt that Osama is still alive. Probably died in December 2001. Osama bin Laden : A dead nemisis perpetuated by the US government The Fake 2004 Bin Laden Tape

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

"We haven't heard from him in a long time," Bush told reporters at the White House. "I truly am not that concerned about him." George Bush on March 14, 2002 Osama bin Laden is, quite literally, a weapon of mass convenience.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

The Fake 2001 Osama The Fake 2002 Osama

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

BOO Osama's ghost is gonna getcha.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Thanks for the link Natalie. Isn't it possible that the person who created that site you linked to is a politically motivated rumor monger and just faking you out and making a tidy profit by doing it ?? Where is the sophisticated voice and face analyzing technology ? Is it possible that Osama is dead? Or do you refuse to consider the possibility because you are in deep denial?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

... and Natalie ... I said that I doubt that Osama is still alive. That is different than saying I know or believe that he is alive.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

... and different than saying I know or believe that he is dead. Do you understand?

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

....a cry of despair broke from every animal�s throat. A terrible sight had met their eyes. The windmill was in ruins. With one accord they dashed down to the spot. Napoleon, who seldom moved out of a walk, raced ahead of them all. Yes, there it lay, the fruit of all their struggles, levelled to its foundations, the stones they had broken and carried so laboriously scattered all around. Unable at first to speak, they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence, occasionally snuffing at the ground. His tail had grown rigid …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Natalie, It's funny that you criticize the guy for carrying ads on his website. So are newspapers and television news programs suspect in the articles and information they publish because they too have ads for revenue purposes? By the way, I have never intentionally clicked on an ad on the internet and have a blocker to stop ads from popping up so, as usual, advertisers are simply wasting their time and money when it comes to influencing me. Maybe the lack of ads on the 9/11 myths site is cause for suspicion. Smacks of sponsorship and propaganda? or are they sincerely …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

It would be nice if everything was black and white. If good guys wore white hats and bad guys wore black hats. We live in a world of grey shadows.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Hello everyone, Frog, thanks for the link to the ICH article. I had already read it at Global Research but it was very interesting to read the comments in the discussion forum at the depleted uranium article at ICH because of who was there doing the discussing. I found an old friend, and I use that term very loosely. Our dear friend Ramjet, also known as Roger Helbig, also known as Lt. Col. Roger Helbig USAF (ret) was there up to his old tricks telling everyone how great depleted uranium is. The last time I encountered Roger was on the depleted …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Hi Luminous Beauty, Thanks for the great links. Natalie, Does the evidence that Luminous Beauty provided by those links qualify as commonly accepted scientific studies and does that evidence begin to back up wild claims ??? You say that the danger from DU is not zero, but is hardly anywhere near the scale some would like you to believe. Dangerous, but not too dangerous? Radioactive and toxic nuclear waste seems to be dangerous enough that the EPA considers it a hazard and has regulations galore for disposing (storing) of it. Nobody seems to want a nuclear waste storage facility in their …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Right on, Luminous Beauty. ... in her role as a true believer ... Ding ding ding! And what a role! I can almost believe that she believes . ... come to her senses and seek healing ... We should be encouraging her ... Natalie, we love you and want to help you get well.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Hi everyone, Rabbit, the ADMIT acronym is clever but I have to respond when back a page ago you wrote to Natalie : "Reading between the lines, Lume and even Dave are mocking you" ... and I wanted to clarify something. What you say is true but it is also true that I have goodwill, also known as love, towards Natalie. And my love is unconditional love, most days anyways, as Luminous Beauty mentioned. And I applaud your hope(?) that Natalie one day may turn away from denial and confusion and allow you to make kissy faces at her. Natalie, you …

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Back to the main topic(s) and my decisive opinions. Depleted Uranium Munitions- war crime. 9/11 - inside job. One day, some day ... I hope my opinions will be proven and accepted as incontrovertable facts and the criminals are held accountable for their crimes.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

"I fear we are already �testing� mini-nukes. But I don�t KNOW. " Me too.

Posted to What's the 411 on 9/11?

Can anyone say �cherry-picking�? Here is another cherry, be sure not to choke on the pit. The survey was conducted by an Iraqi university research team that, for security reasons, was not told the data it compiled would be used by coalition forces. It reveals: � Forty-five per cent of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified - rising to 65 per cent in the British-controlled Maysan province; � 82 per cent are "strongly opposed" to the presence of coalition troops; � less than one per cent of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy? Mahatma Ghandi

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Hi What the Heck, Exactly who was defending the the rights of expression Ghandi used? ---------- Hi Jay, I wonder how the Iraqis feel?

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

while the Iraqis would like the American troops to leave as soon as possible, which is certainly reasonable, the Iraqis themselves mostly do not believe now is the time. � 82 per cent are �strongly opposed� to the presence of coalition troops; Seems like a contradiction to me Jay. I would welcome any references you have to polls that indicate otherwise.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

OK What the Heck, I will humor you. Yes, there was good voter turnout in the Iraqi elections. Jay, I knew you would be back. I detected a masochistic streak in you long ago ;)

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

OK. Don't post any references to support your assertion. Would you care to rebut the apparent contradiction between the poll I referenced and the allegation you made that the Iraqis themselves mostly do not believe now is the time for American troops to leave. Have the Iraqis told you when they want the American troops to leave their country?

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

NaderRaider, I can't vote for Nader because I don't live in the United States. I think independent third, fourth, fifth, etc. parties are great. I vote for the Green Party of Canada. The British Columbia Greens from Canada were the first Green party in North America by the way. Just a side note : A science fiction writer named Greg Bear wrote a book called Eon with Naderites in it.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Leave Iraq ... from 2003 !

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Don't you get it yet ?

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

His regime was also at least pursuing the development of weapons of mass destruction Looks like they got that one wrong too. Nobody is perfect. Years of weapons inspections seemed to do the job very well. Better than a war by a long shot.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Instead of accepting a less-than-ideal situation in Iraq, the United States now is in the position of having to fix what it broke. Iraq is more broken than ever before : Electricity below pre-war levels. Oil exports below pre-wear levels. The only thing above pre-war levels is the killing.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Well ... not the only thing ... but you get my point. Living Conditions in Iraq: A Criminal Tragedy

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Jay, What exactly did I get wrong? Your source for the Iraqi per capita 30% increase, please. I could care less if an argument goes my way or not. If I am wrong about something I will happily correct myself.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Why believe the Iraq inspections were any better? Because no (significant) weapons of mass destruction were found.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

At a Christmas party a good friend and retired Army Lt. Colonel told us we are building their electric, water and sewer systems from scratch. ... and you believe him? Consider this excerpt from the link I provided above : According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), "Iraq had a modern sanitary infrastructure with an extensive network of water-purification and sewage-treatment systems. Water networks distributed clean, safe water to 95% of the urban population and to 75% of those in rural areas. In 1990, Iraq was ranked 50th out of 130 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index, which measures national …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

US War Crimes, An International Vow of Silence

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

I don�t know anyone at WHO. But aren�t they a part of the UN, that outfit which has Libya on their Human Relations Commission? What the Heck, That's right. I suppose that rather than having Libya taking part in efforts to improve human rights you would prefer to bomb them back to the stone age? Thanks for the inforamation regarding our power grid. Ask your friend if he thinks the North American power grid needs any improvements. Wouldn't it be great to be spending some of the billions and trillions of Iraq war costs at home?

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

In 1990, Iraq was ranked 50th out of 130 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index, which measures national achievements in health, education, and per capita GDP Jay, After the first Gulf War in 1991 and the subsequent sanctions it went downhill in Iraq. After the 2003 invasion and occupation Iraq went over the cliff's edge. Clinton wasn�t even president then. So what ? I don't understand your point. When are you going to tell me what I got wrong?

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Jay, thanks for the LA Times URL. It was informative. How do weigh it against this. The survey was conducted by an Iraqi university research team that, for security reasons, was not told the data it compiled would be used by coalition forces. It reveals: � Forty-five per cent of Iraqis believe attacks against British and American troops are justified - rising to 65 per cent in the British-controlled Maysan province; � 82 per cent are �strongly opposed� to the presence of coalition troops; � less than one per cent of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Jay, the reasons for those sanctions ? Hmmm ... To punish Iraqis for being unfortunate enough to have a brutal dictator for a leader and to weaken the country for the 2003 invasion. could you do me the favor and explain away the stats The opinion polls we are discussing have little to do with one another except that they are about Iraq. One tells statistics of automobiles, telephones and newspapers and another tells of opinions about the military occupation of the country. One does not explain away the other. What the Heck you are right about one thing; this is …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Jay, I am not cherry picking polls. Never have. What makes you say that ? I merely stated that polls about different subjects and stats on different indicators do not necessarily invalidate or refute the other. As I have said before : I am willing to look at any information anyone has to offer. It's good that Iraqis have independant newspapers to read and that there are more auotmobiles on the road. It's bad that US soldiers at checkpoints shoot up innocent families travelling in their cars. As far as your interpretation of the reason for the sanctions, please explain why …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Jay, Please forgive me : When you said Conspiracy- tainted theory I thought you were trying to taint and malign my statments. I did not say it was not a conspiracy. Jay, will all due respect and please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like you are trying to create animosity and looking for a fight. You will get neither from me. I will repeat for clarity : The reason for the sanctions was to punish Iraqis for being unfortunate enough to have a brutal dictator for a leader and to weaken the country for the 2003 invasion. …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Does it matter if you call it a civil war? Iraq's constitution could be seen as a draft 'peace pact' for warring parties.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

oops Does it matter if you call it a civil war?

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Jay, Peckish, that's OK, it happens. that does imply long ranged intent and planning and collusion between the various personages in power You are an ex-military guy. You should know that the Pentagon has war plans drawn up for conflicts that may happen. It is prudent to plan for eventualities. You are a political guy too. You should know that their is very little difference, especially when it comes to foreign policy (even more so mid-east foreign policy), between Democrats or Republicans. I think that the various personages in power have been waiting for the opportunity to dust off those war …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

The civil war link was one that I save from months ago. I think my point would best be summed up in this excerpt from that article. "It's not a threat. It's not a potential. Civil war is a fact of life there now,'' says Pavel Baev, head of the Center for the Study of Civil War at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway. He argues that until the nature of the conflict is accurately seen, good solutions cannot be found. "What's happening in Iraq is a multidimensional conflict. There's international terrorism, banditry, the major foreign military presence. But the …

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

What the Heck, Thanks for lightening the mood. Hail, Hail, Freedonia!

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Freedonia In the 1990s, the satirical magazine Spy pulled a practical joke on several members of the United States Congress. The magazine successfully convinced several Congressional members, such as Corrine Brown, to issue statements condemning the "ethnic cleansing in Freedonia," without their realizing that Freedonia was a fictional country.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Rabbit, Since I don't hate Jay, I must love him. Since I don't hate anyone, I must love everyone. Hard to fathom, I know, but that's the way it is with me.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

If my Grandfather (on my Dad's side) was still alive he could read it. He read, write and spoke German (high and low), Russian, Romanian and a spoke little Hungarian too.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

Sorry Rabbit, I don't loathe or despise Jay either. The best I can do is dislike his ideals.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

My German is terrible, my French even worse. But seriously, when I try my German out on my grandmother I have to translate it back into English for her to understand me.

Posted to To Leave or Not to Leave

The fact that you hold pacifism in such disdain means to me only that you do not possess the courage to be a pacifist. Thank you Luminous Beauty. What the Heck, I would also mention that plenty of pacifists have given their lives for their respective societies. Being a pacifist to save your own life is normal, being a pacifist for the lives of others is true pacifism. Jacob Borer

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

I love stories. A very nice collection. Many thanks.

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness. Otto von Bismarck

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

Merry Christmas Luminous Beauty and What the Heck and Jay. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

I�ll bite---Sweden and Canada. Thanks for the nod to Canada, Wiley :) Happy Hogmanay See you next year.

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

... und tschuss, ja. Gather the rosebuds while you may, the thorns come soon enough.

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

... ashes to ashes, dust to dust ...

Posted to Tale of Two Wars

Oh .. he is funny alright :)

Posted to Lapham's Way

KV JR, I too am munching wunching on fried chicken (home made) from another ground zero right now. Avian flu be damned. Late lunch. Yummy.

Posted to Your Guess Is as Good as Mine

Go away ad marshall ... you are abusing electrons. Not nice.

Posted to Your Guess Is as Good as Mine

Did someone say voices inside my head? Voices Inside My Head (lyrics/music by Sting) Voices inside my head Echoes of things that you said Voices inside my head Echoes of things that you said Voices inside my head Echoes of things that you said Voices inside my head Echoes of things that you said

Posted to Your Guess Is as Good as Mine

Well said Wiley. I arrived here just before Dave Lindorff bid ITT farewell. Watched it all go down on the Radioactive Wounds of War thread. My thanks, also, to ITT for providing this forum. It is like an idea factory. People put ideas in and more ideas get made .. or reconditioned .. or thrown on the scrap heap.

Posted to Your Guess Is as Good as Mine

Wiley, Like Ad, I am a Canadian. We have several parties ... Three mainstream, left to right : New Democatic Party (NDP), Liberals, Conservatives. Several fringe, one of them being the Green Party of Canada. The Green Party gets my vote and more people are voting for them every year. ... and a even a satirical political party called the Parti Rhinoc�ros. Unfortunately they disbanded in 1993 or I would be tempted to vote for them.

Posted to Your Guess Is as Good as Mine

Wiley, earlier you asked about political parties and I told you about the situation in Canada. Three mainstream, left to right : New Democatic Party (NDP), Liberals, Conservatives. I neglected to mention the Bloc Qu�b�cois . They only run federal candidates in Quebec and currently hold 54 out of 308 seats in our federal Parliament. Didn't want my French Canadian brothers and sisters to feel left out.

Posted to Your Guess Is as Good as Mine

I liked it when AnarchoSozi called Rabbit Kaninchen . (German for Rabbit.)

Posted to Torture in the Homeland

I have called our bunny like friend Ricochet Rabbit . You liked that one didn't you Rabbit? Vorpal is cool. Coined by Lewis Carroll to describe a sword. Wiley, a humorous ( some would say torturous :) interlude is welcome every now and then. It helps everyone to bond a little and maybe see the other as a friend.

Posted to Torture in the Homeland

Kuya, excellent posts. I get your points and they are good ones. You say : Now, could all my supposed knowledge be the result of a vast hoax, a global conspiracy to trick people into getting vaccinated and taking medicines, to the profit of some companies. I admit, it is remotely possible. However, in reality, I think it would be impossible to sustain the hoax because too many scientists of integrity would shoot it down. There�s too much freedom of investigation and too much access to media to be able to trick us all like that for long. I would like …

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

As for monetary profit we need only examine a well worn script. WELL- WORN SCRIPT - Tim O�Shea -thedoctorwithin.com Historical context is certainly relevant: avian flu is right on schedule, with the winding down of the post 9/11 smallpox vaccine and SARS vaccine programs. In these two instances, appropriate hysteria was whipped up, billions were spent, and magically � poof! � both threats disappeared. Nature abhors a vacuum � new funding requires new threats � ergo, we need avian flu to take up the slack. As for marketing, it�s already in place. Why change a successful sales strategy? In the fall …

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

Heeding court order, Pentagon halts anthrax shots

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

Other nations, mine included, too. The list is predictably long and distinguished. Here is another example. In the Shadow of Past Atrocities : Research Ethics with Human Subjects in Contemporary Japan Of course, this in keeping in mind that for the most part the governments have admitted past atrocities and promised not to do it anymore. Really, you can trust them now. Now it would seem that some drug manufacturers are doing some of the governments dirty work and possibly getting legislation that protects them from all manners of lawsuits but Legislation would require proof of willful misconduct. Willfull misconduct? We …

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

I�ve never had a flu shot in my life, and haven�t caught the flu Me too. And isn't catching the flu, assuming you are a healthy individual and it doesn't kill you, as good or even better, in the long run, than a flu shot?

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

I am living quite healthily without them now, relying on proper supplements and good nutrition. Good to hear you are doing well, Truthseeker.

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

Johnny, Please explain to me how Truthseeker's evil nature shows in the last comment? Please consider apologizing.

Posted to Beatrice Were: Fighting a Deadly U.S. AIDS Policy in Uganda

Korean Ginseng and Korean Kimchi too.

Posted to Cult of Ideology

Excellent points Athens. Seems like scaremongering to me too. Bird flu is nothing new. It has been around for many years. Some years worse than others. For birds at least. .. the supposed source of a mutation into a human form of the disease .. is an important issue and a concern of mine too. My scam detector has been going off on a regular basis when I hear all of this propaganda to run out and get a flu shot and be worried about the new flu coming to a town near you. Smacks of fear and consume advertising, news, …

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life

Here is a carrion eating buzzard feathering his nest.

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life

Beware of Avian Flu Hoax

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life

Oh never mind, This whole scenario is as unlikely as crazy people hijacking planes to kill people with. . Wolfie .. Don't forget the people who feathered their nests with millions of dollars of profits with insider trading and put options on airline stocks in the days preceding 9/11. Amazing but true.

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life

It's not clear whether Tamiflu is effective against the current strain of the avian flu. In addition, flu viruses are constantly changing so that if there is ever an outbreak of bird flu in the US, Tamiflu may not be effective against that strain. .. read more avian flu information here ..

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life

Vickbabu, great posts. I agree forget Tamiflu. It is interesting how when I watch the news (CNN) and they are hyping the avain/bird flu they are always flashing pictures of scary chickens and a package of Tamiflu. Great article about the Kimchi and Sauerkraut. The very long URL you posted got broken, extra c and a space. I have provided the hyperlink below for convenience. Kimchi and Sauerkraut

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life

WELL- WORN SCRIPT Historical context is certainly relevant: avian flu is right on schedule, with the winding down of the post 9/11 smallpox vaccine and SARS vaccine programs. [6] In these two instances, appropriate hysteria was whipped up, billions were spent, and magically � poof! � both threats disappeared. Nature abhors a vacuum � new funding requires new threats � ergo, we need avian flu to take up the slack. As for marketing, it�s already in place. Why change a successful sales strategy? In the fall of 2005, the identical techniques by which SARS and smallpox vaccine terrorized the American psyche …

Posted to Their Patents or Your Life