To show how much of a giver I am, trying to help our host overcome his coulrophobia, I turn to a link from texpat yesterday:
“What we need to do is gradually come into contact with that thing – whether it’s spiders or heights, whatever you’re afraid of – and learn to cope with the anxiety, learn to recognize that what you’re afraid of won’t actually harm you,” he says. “You won’t lose control, you won’t panic, you won’t embarrass yourself with other people.”
I that spirit, I give you this:
by
Tags:
Face your fears, Hamous! Imagine the clown in bed with two gay lesbian trannie bears, smoking cannabis, singing show tunes, and honing his evil socialist proglibertine agenda to dominate the world.
Face your fears, Hamous! Imagine the clown in bed with two gay lesbian trannie bears, smoking cannabis, singing show tunes, and honing his evil socialist proglibertine agenda to dominate the world.
An egregious violation of the Benzion rule.
An egregious violation of the Benzion rule.
egads
egads
RUTRO Pyro – ya dun stepped innit now!
RUTRO Pyro – ya dun stepped innit now!
#4 Shannon: You are correct sir. I don’t think egregious is strong enough to describe the violation of my eyeballs and brain with that image. Thinking of worse images makes my stomach turn. Gutting a deer is not bad, and is a celebration of a victorious hunt; that wissin clown-terd is just plain foul.
#4 Shannon: You are correct sir. I don’t think egregious is strong enough to describe the violation of my eyeballs and brain with that image. Thinking of worse images makes my stomach turn. Gutting a deer is not bad, and is a celebration of a victorious hunt; that wissin clown-terd is just plain foul.
At least we have all learned a new word. Let this beTexpat’s legacy.
At least we have all learned a new word. Let this beTexpat’s legacy.
#6 M42: About the athiest thing yesterday, I want you to know and be clear that I do not hold you the individual MHarper42, in the same regard as the generalized athiest I mentioned. You are one cool lady, thoughtful and insightful and definitely not described in my post.
#6 M42: About the athiest thing yesterday, I want you to know and be clear that I do not hold you the individual MHarper42, in the same regard as the generalized athiest I mentioned. You are one cool lady, thoughtful and insightful and definitely not described in my post.
G’Morning All
To reduce the fear factor some, here’s the clown without his makeup.
G’Morning All
To reduce the fear factor some, here’s the clown without his makeup.
Happy Birthday Roy. You were one of the greatest. Sweet dreams to you.
Rock and roll legend born in Vernon
April 23, 1936On this day in 1936, rock and roll singer Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas. He grew up in Wink, and while attending Wink High School he formed a country music group called the Wink Westerners. Later, while attending North Texas State College, he transformed the Wink Westerners into his first rock and roll band, the Teen Kings. The group played throughout West Texas and recorded “Ooby Dooby,” which brought him to the attention of the Sun record label in Memphis. Orbison rerecorded “Ooby Dooby” for Sun, and in 1956 it became his first chart hit. In 1959 Orbison joined the small Monument label in Nashville, for which he recorded a string of international hit records, including “Only the Lonely” (1960), “Blue Angel” (1960), “Running Scared” (1961), “Blue Bayou” (1963), “It’s Over” (1964), and “Oh, Pretty Woman” (1964). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and died the following year.
Happy Birthday Roy. You were one of the greatest. Sweet dreams to you.
Rock and roll legend born in Vernon
April 23, 1936
On this day in 1936, rock and roll singer Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas. He grew up in Wink, and while attending Wink High School he formed a country music group called the Wink Westerners. Later, while attending North Texas State College, he transformed the Wink Westerners into his first rock and roll band, the Teen Kings. The group played throughout West Texas and recorded “Ooby Dooby,” which brought him to the attention of the Sun record label in Memphis. Orbison rerecorded “Ooby Dooby” for Sun, and in 1956 it became his first chart hit. In 1959 Orbison joined the small Monument label in Nashville, for which he recorded a string of international hit records, including “Only the Lonely” (1960), “Blue Angel” (1960), “Running Scared” (1961), “Blue Bayou” (1963), “It’s Over” (1964), and “Oh, Pretty Woman” (1964). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and died the following year.
Hey now, Red, you are not forgotten
Legendary jazz pianist dies
April 23, 1984On this day in 1984, jazz pianist William M. (Red) Garland died in Dallas, where he had been born in 1923. Garland played the clarinet and alto saxophone as a child and learned piano from other servicemen at Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Arizona. After leaving the army in 1944 he joined a band led by Henry (Buster) Smith, and by 1946 was playing in nightclubs in New York City. He was part of one of the most exciting periods of jazz evolution. Much of the 1950s jazz now regarded as classic was built upon Garland’s characteristic block chords. He achieved his greatest fame as a member of Miles Davis’s Quintet from 1955 to 1958. After leaving that group, Garland started his own trio. He returned to Dallas in 1965 because of his mother’s illness and made few public appearances until the late 1970s, when he performed several times in New York and cut a new album. His last performance was at the Park Central Jazz Festival in Dallas in 1981.
Hey now, Red, you are not forgotten
Legendary jazz pianist dies
April 23, 1984
On this day in 1984, jazz pianist William M. (Red) Garland died in Dallas, where he had been born in 1923. Garland played the clarinet and alto saxophone as a child and learned piano from other servicemen at Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Arizona. After leaving the army in 1944 he joined a band led by Henry (Buster) Smith, and by 1946 was playing in nightclubs in New York City. He was part of one of the most exciting periods of jazz evolution. Much of the 1950s jazz now regarded as classic was built upon Garland’s characteristic block chords. He achieved his greatest fame as a member of Miles Davis’s Quintet from 1955 to 1958. After leaving that group, Garland started his own trio. He returned to Dallas in 1965 because of his mother’s illness and made few public appearances until the late 1970s, when he performed several times in New York and cut a new album. His last performance was at the Park Central Jazz Festival in Dallas in 1981.
This might start to get really interesting.
The bishops are digging in.
This might start to get really interesting.
Cool holster. Gotta have the right build to properly hide and access it, but it does seem to work with the right clothing.
Although I’m sure the guys here are interested in the holder than the holster.
Not for the guys.
Cool holster. Gotta have the right build to properly hide and access it, but it does seem to work with the right clothing.
Although I’m sure the guys here are interested in the holder than the holster.
Gonna be a bad week for Obumbler
Secret Service scandal spreads to second hotel
By Whit Johnson(CBS News) Suspicion is spreading in the Secret Service scandal beyond the agents in just one Colombian hotel.
CBS News correspondent Whit Johnson reports that a law enforcement official told CBS News that the latest agent under investigation brought a woman back to the Hilton Hotel in Cartagena, Columbia, just five days before the president would be staying there.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57418600/secret-service-scandal-spreads-to-second-hotel/
The Weekly Standard
Catholic Bishops Take on Obama
7:05 AM, Apr 23, 2012 • By VINCENT PHILLIP MUñOZThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken a bold stand for religious freedom. In a recent statement, titled “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” the bishops call for repeal of contraception coverage mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services. The clarified position sets up a dramatic confrontation with the Obama administration—and would, if the bishops prevail, help preserve the religious liberty of all Americans.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/catholic-bishops-take-obama_640569.html
An $8 billion trick?
Toying with Medicare to fix elexBy BENJAMIN E. SASSE & CHARLES HURT
Last Updated: 1:41 AM, April 23, 2012Call it President Obama’s Committee for the Re-Election of the President — a political slush fund at the Health and Human Services Department.
Only this isn’t some little fund from shadowy private sources; this is taxpayer money, redirected to help Obama win another term. A massive amount of it, too — $8.3 billion. Yes, that’s billion, with a B.
Here is how it works.
The most oppressive aspects of the ObamaCare law don’t kick in until after the 2012 election, when the president will no longer be answerable to voters. More “flexibility,” he recently explained to the Russians.
Postponing the pain: The administration is temporarily restoring funds to Medicare Advantage so seniors don’t lose coverage before the election.But certain voters would surely notice one highly painful part of the law before then — namely, the way it guts the popular Medicare Advantage program.
For years, 12 million seniors have relied on these policies, a more market-oriented alternative to traditional Medicare, without the aggravating gaps in coverage.
But as part of its hundreds of billions in Medicare cuts, the Obama one-size-fits-all plan slashes reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage starting next year — herding many seniors back into the government-run program.
Under federal “open-enrollment” guidelines, seniors must pick their Medicare coverage program for next year by the end of this year — which means they should be finding out before Election Day.
Nothing is more politically volatile than monkeying with the health insurance of seniors, who aren’t too keen on confusing upheavals in their health care and are the most diligent voters in the land. This could make the Tea Party look like a tea party.
Making matters even more politically dangerous for Obama is that open enrollment begins Oct. 15, less than three weeks before voters go to the polls.
It’s hard to imagine a bigger electoral disaster for a president than seniors in crucial states like Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio discovering that he’s taken away their beloved Medicare Advantage just weeks before an election.
This political ticking time bomb could become the biggest “October Surprise” in US political history.
But the administration’s devised a way to postpone the pain one more year, getting Obama past his last election; it plans to spend $8 billion to temporarily restore Medicare Advantage funds so that seniors in key markets don’t lose their trusted insurance program in the middle of Obama’s re-election bid.
The money is to come from funds that Health and Human Services is allowed to use for “demonstration projects.” But to make it legal, HHS has to pretend that it’s doing an “experiment” to study the effect of this money on the insurance market.
That is, to “study” what happens when the government doesn’t change anything but merely continues a program that’s been going on for years.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/an_billion_trick_ImTBFfz7MeuZLJY7JzXEIJ
Gonna be a bad week for Obumbler
Secret Service scandal spreads to second hotel
By Whit Johnson
(CBS News) Suspicion is spreading in the Secret Service scandal beyond the agents in just one Colombian hotel.
CBS News correspondent Whit Johnson reports that a law enforcement official told CBS News that the latest agent under investigation brought a woman back to the Hilton Hotel in Cartagena, Columbia, just five days before the president would be staying there.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57418600/secret-service-scandal-spreads-to-second-hotel/
The Weekly Standard
Catholic Bishops Take on Obama
7:05 AM, Apr 23, 2012 • By VINCENT PHILLIP MUñOZ
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken a bold stand for religious freedom. In a recent statement, titled “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” the bishops call for repeal of contraception coverage mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services. The clarified position sets up a dramatic confrontation with the Obama administration—and would, if the bishops prevail, help preserve the religious liberty of all Americans.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/catholic-bishops-take-obama_640569.html
An $8 billion trick?
Toying with Medicare to fix elex
By BENJAMIN E. SASSE & CHARLES HURT
Last Updated: 1:41 AM, April 23, 2012
Call it President Obama’s Committee for the Re-Election of the President — a political slush fund at the Health and Human Services Department.
Only this isn’t some little fund from shadowy private sources; this is taxpayer money, redirected to help Obama win another term. A massive amount of it, too — $8.3 billion. Yes, that’s billion, with a B.
Here is how it works.
The most oppressive aspects of the ObamaCare law don’t kick in until after the 2012 election, when the president will no longer be answerable to voters. More “flexibility,” he recently explained to the Russians.
Postponing the pain: The administration is temporarily restoring funds to Medicare Advantage so seniors don’t lose coverage before the election.
But certain voters would surely notice one highly painful part of the law before then — namely, the way it guts the popular Medicare Advantage program.
For years, 12 million seniors have relied on these policies, a more market-oriented alternative to traditional Medicare, without the aggravating gaps in coverage.
But as part of its hundreds of billions in Medicare cuts, the Obama one-size-fits-all plan slashes reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage starting next year — herding many seniors back into the government-run program.
Under federal “open-enrollment” guidelines, seniors must pick their Medicare coverage program for next year by the end of this year — which means they should be finding out before Election Day.
Nothing is more politically volatile than monkeying with the health insurance of seniors, who aren’t too keen on confusing upheavals in their health care and are the most diligent voters in the land. This could make the Tea Party look like a tea party.
Making matters even more politically dangerous for Obama is that open enrollment begins Oct. 15, less than three weeks before voters go to the polls.
It’s hard to imagine a bigger electoral disaster for a president than seniors in crucial states like Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio discovering that he’s taken away their beloved Medicare Advantage just weeks before an election.
This political ticking time bomb could become the biggest “October Surprise” in US political history.
But the administration’s devised a way to postpone the pain one more year, getting Obama past his last election; it plans to spend $8 billion to temporarily restore Medicare Advantage funds so that seniors in key markets don’t lose their trusted insurance program in the middle of Obama’s re-election bid.
The money is to come from funds that Health and Human Services is allowed to use for “demonstration projects.” But to make it legal, HHS has to pretend that it’s doing an “experiment” to study the effect of this money on the insurance market.
That is, to “study” what happens when the government doesn’t change anything but merely continues a program that’s been going on for years.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/an_billion_trick_ImTBFfz7MeuZLJY7JzXEIJ
#12 – interesting – BUT – I’d be much more concerned about accuracy than a fast time on the draw – doesn’t matter how fast you draw if you don’t hit the target
#12 – interesting – BUT – I’d be much more concerned about accuracy than a fast time on the draw – doesn’t matter how fast you draw if you don’t hit the target
#12 TT
Neat for wimmens.
Here’s mine.
http://www.gamaliel.com/images/GumCreekMounted_L.jpg
I think the media should set up a table outside the courtroom and have 3 journalists wearing headphones (like football and NASCAR) and give us a blow by blow description, as it were.
Opening statements set to begin in Edwards trial
By MICHAEL BIESECKER
Associated PressGREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the John Edwards trial were poised to begin making their case to jurors on whether the former presidential candidate violated federal campaign finance laws.
Opening statements were to begin Monday in Greensboro, N.C.
Edwards, 58, pleaded not guilty to six criminal counts related to nearly $1 million in secret payments from two wealthy supporters. Much of the money was used to hide the then-married politician’s pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House campaign.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EDWARDS_TRIAL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=
I think the media should set up a table outside the courtroom and have 3 journalists wearing headphones (like football and NASCAR) and give us a blow by blow description, as it were.
Opening statements set to begin in Edwards trial
By MICHAEL BIESECKER
Associated Press
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the John Edwards trial were poised to begin making their case to jurors on whether the former presidential candidate violated federal campaign finance laws.
Opening statements were to begin Monday in Greensboro, N.C.
Edwards, 58, pleaded not guilty to six criminal counts related to nearly $1 million in secret payments from two wealthy supporters. Much of the money was used to hide the then-married politician’s pregnant mistress during his 2008 White House campaign.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EDWARDS_TRIAL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=
The Tea Party is dead.
Daily KOS
Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:15 PM PST
Ding Dong – the Tea Party is dead!
Or is it?
Haitian Daughter Tea Party Favorite Grabs UT Congressional Nomination
Mia Love, the 37-year-old daughter of Haitian immigrants, has nabbed the Utah GOP nomination for a new Congressional seat. As John Fund reports, “Utah selects its candidates at party conventions with primaries only occurring if no one wins 60 percent or more of delegates. Love won the nomination on the final ballot when she beat former state legislator Carl Wimmer with 70 percent of the vote.”
Love is heavily conservative, and she’s perfectly willing to take on the liberal elite so threatened by her very existence. Daily Kos recently called her “one of only two African-Americans living in Utah not currently playing for the Jazz.” They also called her a “token black Republican.”
The Tea Party is dead.
Daily KOS
Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 07:15 PM PST
Ding Dong – the Tea Party is dead!
Or is it?
Haitian Daughter Tea Party Favorite Grabs UT Congressional Nomination
Mia Love, the 37-year-old daughter of Haitian immigrants, has nabbed the Utah GOP nomination for a new Congressional seat. As John Fund reports, “Utah selects its candidates at party conventions with primaries only occurring if no one wins 60 percent or more of delegates. Love won the nomination on the final ballot when she beat former state legislator Carl Wimmer with 70 percent of the vote.”
Love is heavily conservative, and she’s perfectly willing to take on the liberal elite so threatened by her very existence. Daily Kos recently called her “one of only two African-Americans living in Utah not currently playing for the Jazz.” They also called her a “token black Republican.”
Dog Wars. The white House will choke on this one. 🙂
Dog Wars. The white House will choke on this one. 🙂
#7 Bonecrusher, your comments of yesterday and earlier today are interesting. Do you contradict yourself often?
The characteristics above all point to mental illness, which makes sense because you have to be crazy to not believe in God
Which God?
I’ve read with great interest (but no desire to participate) comments from you and others (usually Darren) about your respective interpretations of a Deity. Your personal interpretations differ to a degree of exclusivity that guarantees that you both simply can not be absolutely correct–It is a logical impossibility. Have either of you considered the possibility that both of you could be wrong?
…And I’m apparently painted among your “crazy” ones, yet Ms. Harper somehow isn’t. The psychology and epistemology behind such dissonance is well understood, so I won’t bother to explain. To do so is likely to reinforce your already fallacious perceptions from yesterday. I’ve heard them all before.
Really, why can’t we all just get a bong?
#7 Bonecrusher, your comments of yesterday and earlier today are interesting. Do you contradict yourself often?
The characteristics above all point to mental illness, which makes sense because you have to be crazy to not believe in God
Which God?
I’ve read with great interest (but no desire to participate) comments from you and others (usually Darren) about your respective interpretations of a Deity. Your personal interpretations differ to a degree of exclusivity that guarantees that you both simply can not be absolutely correct–It is a logical impossibility. Have either of you considered the possibility that both of you could be wrong?
…And I’m apparently painted among your “crazy” ones, yet Ms. Harper somehow isn’t. The psychology and epistemology behind such dissonance is well understood, so I won’t bother to explain. To do so is likely to reinforce your already fallacious perceptions from yesterday. I’ve heard them all before.
Really, why can’t we all just get a bong?
I remember being taught in my training for youth ministry not to denigrate other religions, as those members are all seeking God in their own way. I personally have a hard time with Islam, given how they treat their women and advocate the killing of infidels, and even their own people. IMHO, it’s a harsh, cruel, and twisted religion, spread more by the sword than by the heart. I believe Mohammed was driven more by ambition and selfishness than by faith. But I try not to judge all Muslims the same way, and try to understand that they are reaching for their Creator, albeit in a twisted way.
As a Catholic, I believe our Church has the “fullness of faith”. Just because you’re a Presbyterian or a Morman, I don’t believe you are going to Hell. Only God determines that. We can certainly argue the tenets of our faith, understanding that not all are going to believe, or even understand, but we can appreciate each other for who we are, and help each other on our journey to our final destination. We all make our choices, and we will all pay the price for our wrong decisions.
But I don’t think “get a bong” is a solution or even a cute tongue-in-cheek suggestion. Maybe it’s from personal experience, but the people I’ve met who are into the “get a bong” mentality are not those whom I would choose to travel my journey with me. Heck, I don’t know if I could even get them off the couch.
Not Hammy’s Couch, just the couch potato couch. They’d be useless, lazy, and apathetic, and I don’t need them in my life.
I remember being taught in my training for youth ministry not to denigrate other religions, as those members are all seeking God in their own way. I personally have a hard time with Islam, given how they treat their women and advocate the killing of infidels, and even their own people. IMHO, it’s a harsh, cruel, and twisted religion, spread more by the sword than by the heart. I believe Mohammed was driven more by ambition and selfishness than by faith. But I try not to judge all Muslims the same way, and try to understand that they are reaching for their Creator, albeit in a twisted way.
As a Catholic, I believe our Church has the “fullness of faith”. Just because you’re a Presbyterian or a Morman, I don’t believe you are going to Hell. Only God determines that. We can certainly argue the tenets of our faith, understanding that not all are going to believe, or even understand, but we can appreciate each other for who we are, and help each other on our journey to our final destination. We all make our choices, and we will all pay the price for our wrong decisions.
But I don’t think “get a bong” is a solution or even a cute tongue-in-cheek suggestion. Maybe it’s from personal experience, but the people I’ve met who are into the “get a bong” mentality are not those whom I would choose to travel my journey with me. Heck, I don’t know if I could even get them off the couch.
Not Hammy’s Couch, just the couch potato couch. They’d be useless, lazy, and apathetic, and I don’t need them in my life.
hater
hater
Good morning Hamsters. Yea, the reinforcing front is here and doing its job. Down to 58 at 6 with lower humidity than is customary overnight, but now it’s down to 26% and only 68 and breezy. Thank you, Lord, for another 10 day. 🙂
Computer is on remote mode since spouse is using his for telecommuting today. The remote keeps disconnecting. I think it is ready to practice its rendition of Daisy. Might be more useful off the remote connection when spouse has finished his work day. Adios for now, y’all.
Good morning Hamsters. Yea, the reinforcing front is here and doing its job. Down to 58 at 6 with lower humidity than is customary overnight, but now it’s down to 26% and only 68 and breezy. Thank you, Lord, for another 10 day. 🙂
Computer is on remote mode since spouse is using his for telecommuting today. The remote keeps disconnecting. I think it is ready to practice its rendition of Daisy. Might be more useful off the remote connection when spouse has finished his work day. Adios for now, y’all.
#20 TT
They’d be useless, lazy, and apathetic
Not to mention, all too often: unpleasant, smart-a$$, creepy, self-destructive, irresponsible and depressing. Well, those are the adjectives that came first to my mind. Thinking back over a lifetime of being aware of any dopers in my vicinity.
Yes, I know this isn’t a charitable list of attributes.
Yes, I know that I am very far from perfect myself.
#20 TT
They’d be useless, lazy, and apathetic
Not to mention, all too often: unpleasant, smart-a$$, creepy, self-destructive, irresponsible and depressing. Well, those are the adjectives that came first to my mind. Thinking back over a lifetime of being aware of any dopers in my vicinity.
Yes, I know this isn’t a charitable list of attributes.
Yes, I know that I am very far from perfect myself.
#sw 20 & 23 –
They’d be useless, lazy, and apathetic
In many cases yes but ALSO in many cases not at ALL – plenty of herbal participants (with moderation being the key) will regularly work a circle around plenty of the totally sober population…………………..and usually leave them in the dust of high motivation AND action to match!
#sw 20 & 23 –
They’d be useless, lazy, and apathetic
In many cases yes but ALSO in many cases not at ALL – plenty of herbal participants (with moderation being the key) will regularly work a circle around plenty of the totally sober population…………………..and usually leave them in the dust of high motivation AND action to match!
#24 Katfish
In many cases yes but ALSO in many cases not at ALL – plenty of herbal participants (with moderation being the key) will regularly work a circle around plenty of the totally sober population
Obviously not the ones I’ve encountered in my life. I’ve known some that at first would work circles, etc., but over time lost motivation.
A few of those woke up and realized their problem, and stopped using. Others, sadly, have not.
I’m glad I’m a spectator and not a participant.
#24 Katfish
In many cases yes but ALSO in many cases not at ALL – plenty of herbal participants (with moderation being the key) will regularly work a circle around plenty of the totally sober population
Obviously not the ones I’ve encountered in my life. I’ve known some that at first would work circles, etc., but over time lost motivation.
A few of those woke up and realized their problem, and stopped using. Others, sadly, have not.
I’m glad I’m a spectator and not a participant.
OK, how about “get along” then.
In my “crazy” world, religious freedom means the protected right to believe as you wish, or not at all. As Jefferson put it:
But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
With such freedom comes an obligation to not legislate laws and involuntary public policies based solely on faith held beliefs. This is the root of my complaints with social conservative authoritarians, the political/religious charlatans like David Barton, Rick Perry, Dan Patrick, etc., and >60% of the platform of the republican party.
I’m not offended when I’m told that not only is it an absolute certainty that my conscience will survive the death of my body, but that it will also suffer a very unpleasant eternity. That’s a mere difference of opinions in regard to the supernatural. I welcome such interesting discussion, as long as they are open, objective, and factual.
I am intellectually offended when I read something like, “Well, I guess it’s possible that an atheist can be moral too…” because the premise of such a notion is that the default condition for most atheists is that of immorality, or that all morality is dependent on individual belief in a self aware and involved higher power (not to be confused with deism.) This entirely false perception is common, and absolutely does impact the one life that all atheists know they have.
I’ve read both notions on these pages and elsewhere. But again, my major gripe with authoritarian religions is their tendency to desire dominance, via government, over those who do not share their beliefs.
OK, how about “get along” then.
In my “crazy” world, religious freedom means the protected right to believe as you wish, or not at all. As Jefferson put it:
But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
With such freedom comes an obligation to not legislate laws and involuntary public policies based solely on faith held beliefs. This is the root of my complaints with social conservative authoritarians, the political/religious charlatans like David Barton, Rick Perry, Dan Patrick, etc., and >60% of the platform of the republican party.
I’m not offended when I’m told that not only is it an absolute certainty that my conscience will survive the death of my body, but that it will also suffer a very unpleasant eternity. That’s a mere difference of opinions in regard to the supernatural. I welcome such interesting discussion, as long as they are open, objective, and factual.
I am intellectually offended when I read something like, “Well, I guess it’s possible that an atheist can be moral too…” because the premise of such a notion is that the default condition for most atheists is that of immorality, or that all morality is dependent on individual belief in a self aware and involved higher power (not to be confused with deism.) This entirely false perception is common, and absolutely does impact the one life that all atheists know they have.
I’ve read both notions on these pages and elsewhere. But again, my major gripe with authoritarian religions is their tendency to desire dominance, via government, over those who do not share their beliefs.
#24 Katfish
In many cases yes but ALSO in many cases not at ALL – plenty of herbal participants (with moderation being the key) will regularly work a circle around plenty of the totally sober population…
There is no shortage of empirical evidence to support that fact.
#24 Katfish
In many cases yes but ALSO in many cases not at ALL – plenty of herbal participants (with moderation being the key) will regularly work a circle around plenty of the totally sober population…
There is no shortage of empirical evidence to support that fact.
I’m not offended when I’m told that not only is it an absolute certainty that my conscience will survive the death of my body, but that it will also suffer a very unpleasant eternity.
Good. Although I don’t recall anyone ever talking about your conscience.
Your soul, however, is a different story. Everyone has one; it’s what really separates us from other animals.
btw – God still loves you.
I’m not offended when I’m told that not only is it an absolute certainty that my conscience will survive the death of my body, but that it will also suffer a very unpleasant eternity.
Good. Although I don’t recall anyone ever talking about your conscience.
Your soul, however, is a different story. Everyone has one; it’s what really separates us from other animals.
btw – God still loves you.
Bob,
But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Absolutely!!!
With such freedom comes an obligation to not legislate laws and involuntary public policies based solely on faith held beliefs.
So, you want to base legislation on. . . . . what?
Legislation always derives from moral imperatives. If there is no moral objection then why make a law? The question becomes: Whose morals? I prefer the Judeo/Christian set of ethics that gave us our Constitution rather than the atheistic/agnostic set that delivered the French Revolution and the USSR.
Can atheists be moral? Sure, and religious believers can be immoral. The real question, once again is how you define morality and the foundation of that definition.
Speaking as a (very) conservative believer I can assure you that I do not want to dominate you or try to force you to believe. I am not interested in living in a Theocracy or in a nation that is dominated by a single denomination or sect. I am interested in living in a society that maximizes the freedom of its citizens. I believe that society is Judeo/Christian in nature.
Bob,
But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Absolutely!!!
With such freedom comes an obligation to not legislate laws and involuntary public policies based solely on faith held beliefs.
So, you want to base legislation on. . . . . what?
Legislation always derives from moral imperatives. If there is no moral objection then why make a law? The question becomes: Whose morals? I prefer the Judeo/Christian set of ethics that gave us our Constitution rather than the atheistic/agnostic set that delivered the French Revolution and the USSR.
Can atheists be moral? Sure, and religious believers can be immoral. The real question, once again is how you define morality and the foundation of that definition.
Speaking as a (very) conservative believer I can assure you that I do not want to dominate you or try to force you to believe. I am not interested in living in a Theocracy or in a nation that is dominated by a single denomination or sect. I am interested in living in a society that maximizes the freedom of its citizens. I believe that society is Judeo/Christian in nature.
On another note, regarding the teaching of alternative creation scenarios:
I welcome such interesting discussion, as long as they are open, objective, and factual.
People who get indignant when schools, legislators, etc. begin to talk about teaching “Creationism” and other alternatives to classical evolution, seem to me to be some of the most intolerant, small minded people around.
Macro-evolution is a theory – not a proven fact. There are numerous scenarios that offer plausible explanations for the origin of life, and several competing ideas about the origin of the universe. Any intellectually honest person should be willing to admit that an external creative force is at least as likely as any of the other explanations.
On another note, regarding the teaching of alternative creation scenarios:
I welcome such interesting discussion, as long as they are open, objective, and factual.
People who get indignant when schools, legislators, etc. begin to talk about teaching “Creationism” and other alternatives to classical evolution, seem to me to be some of the most intolerant, small minded people around.
Macro-evolution is a theory – not a proven fact. There are numerous scenarios that offer plausible explanations for the origin of life, and several competing ideas about the origin of the universe. Any intellectually honest person should be willing to admit that an external creative force is at least as likely as any of the other explanations.
Any intellectually honest person should be willing to admit that an external creative force is at least as likely as any of the other explanations.
There’s actually a field of study/branch of philosophy concerned with those very questions.
Any intellectually honest person should be willing to admit that an external creative force is at least as likely as any of the other explanations.
There’s actually a field of study/branch of philosophy concerned with those very questions.
#26 Bob
I am intellectually offended when I read something like, “Well, I guess it’s possible that an atheist can be moral too…” because the premise of such a notion is that the default condition for most atheists is that of immorality, or that all morality is dependent on individual belief in a self aware and involved higher power (not to be confused with deism.)
Interesting. Without morals from somewhere, there are no morals. However, for those who don’t believe in a “higher power” or submit themselves to a belief system which incorporates a set of morals, yet still follow a list of “rights and wrongs” – we Catholics believe there is an answer for this.
We call it “natural law,” written on our hearts by God. By following a set of morals which in large part follow the law of Jesus – to love others as you love yourself, don’t steal from others, don’t kill – you are unknowingly submitting to the law of God.
#26 Bob
I am intellectually offended when I read something like, “Well, I guess it’s possible that an atheist can be moral too…” because the premise of such a notion is that the default condition for most atheists is that of immorality, or that all morality is dependent on individual belief in a self aware and involved higher power (not to be confused with deism.)
Interesting. Without morals from somewhere, there are no morals. However, for those who don’t believe in a “higher power” or submit themselves to a belief system which incorporates a set of morals, yet still follow a list of “rights and wrongs” – we Catholics believe there is an answer for this.
We call it “natural law,” written on our hearts by God. By following a set of morals which in large part follow the law of Jesus – to love others as you love yourself, don’t steal from others, don’t kill – you are unknowingly submitting to the law of God.
Tedtam
We call it “natural law,” written on our hearts by God.
There are two parts to that statement. I agree with one of them.
Fat Albert, I’m short on time at the moment and will respond later to your well phrased comments.
Tedtam
We call it “natural law,” written on our hearts by God.
There are two parts to that statement. I agree with one of them.
Fat Albert, I’m short on time at the moment and will respond later to your well phrased comments.
Bob – Whether you agree or not does not change the situation. Hubby doesn’t like some of the laws we have to operate under, either, but he can’t avoid them. As much as he tries.
Just a general FYI – filing a mechanics lien in the state of Texas is a real PITA. And I’m not talking about the bread, either.
Bob – Whether you agree or not does not change the situation. Hubby doesn’t like some of the laws we have to operate under, either, but he can’t avoid them. As much as he tries.
Just a general FYI – filing a mechanics lien in the state of Texas is a real PITA. And I’m not talking about the bread, either.
Workers in Iran’s oil industry musta been looking at the same pr0n sites as the workers in Iran’s nukuler industry.
Workers in Iran’s oil industry musta been looking at the same pr0n sites as the workers in Iran’s nukuler industry.
The clown of circus and pantomime, in his baggy costume,whitened face, grotesque red lips, and odd little tuft of black hair,probably derives ultimately from the devil as he appeared in medieval miracle plays.
The clown of circus and pantomime, in his baggy costume,whitened face, grotesque red lips, and odd little tuft of black hair,probably derives ultimately from the devil as he appeared in medieval miracle plays.
#11 Pyro, from your linkie:
The bishops did not have to take this route, but all those who cherish religious liberty should be glad they did. If the bishops settled for a more expansive accommodation, they might have been able to get an exemption for their hospitals and universities (including my own, Notre Dame). That would have been the easy way to “preserve” religious liberty while also retaining the mandate.
But what, then, would the bishops have said to business owners who likely would not have been covered by a more expansive exemption? How could church leaders say that it’s wrong for church institutions to pay for contraception and abortifacients, but that Catholic business owners must cover these costs?
The exemption approach might have allowed the bishops to secure religious liberty for their institutions, but not for all their followers. That would have been a failure of moral authority and political strength to protect the common good.
This is absolutely brilliant! Only a total repeal of the mandate will secure the 1st amendment rights of those individuals who believe that abortion, abortifacients and contraception violate their religious principals. Further this statement really addresses the line from bobo:
But again, my major gripe with authoritarian religions is their tendency to desire dominance, via government, over those who do not share their beliefs.
The mandate that businesses owned by faithful Catholics must buy abortion, contraception coverage in their insurance policies is nothing more than the government worshiping busybodies using the authoritarian force of government to promote their own religious beliefs to the detriment of those who believe otherwise.
What could possibly be more authoritarian than forcing someone to buy a product whose use is contrary to their religious beliefs?
#11 Pyro, from your linkie:
The bishops did not have to take this route, but all those who cherish religious liberty should be glad they did. If the bishops settled for a more expansive accommodation, they might have been able to get an exemption for their hospitals and universities (including my own, Notre Dame). That would have been the easy way to “preserve” religious liberty while also retaining the mandate.
But what, then, would the bishops have said to business owners who likely would not have been covered by a more expansive exemption? How could church leaders say that it’s wrong for church institutions to pay for contraception and abortifacients, but that Catholic business owners must cover these costs?
The exemption approach might have allowed the bishops to secure religious liberty for their institutions, but not for all their followers. That would have been a failure of moral authority and political strength to protect the common good.
This is absolutely brilliant! Only a total repeal of the mandate will secure the 1st amendment rights of those individuals who believe that abortion, abortifacients and contraception violate their religious principals. Further this statement really addresses the line from bobo:
But again, my major gripe with authoritarian religions is their tendency to desire dominance, via government, over those who do not share their beliefs.
The mandate that businesses owned by faithful Catholics must buy abortion, contraception coverage in their insurance policies is nothing more than the government worshiping busybodies using the authoritarian force of government to promote their own religious beliefs to the detriment of those who believe otherwise.
What could possibly be more authoritarian than forcing someone to buy a product whose use is contrary to their religious beliefs?
#19 Bob:
It seems to me from reading lots of posts, articles and such that, in most cases (M42 is specifically excepted here), atheists are:
I guess you missed the part in bold, didn’t you? Most means not all, there are exceptions, yet without me naming you specifically you simply assumed that I was speaking of you, why is that?
how does most conflict with this:
#6 M42: About the athiest thing yesterday, I want you to know and be clear that I do not hold you the individual MHarper42, in the same regard as the generalized athiest I mentioned. You are one cool lady, thoughtful and insightful and definitely not described in my post.
Once again, a generalized description does not imply that those being described are monolithic in nature.
Look, there’s a conclusion lets jump to it!
#19 Bob:
It seems to me from reading lots of posts, articles and such that, in most cases (M42 is specifically excepted here), atheists are:
I guess you missed the part in bold, didn’t you? Most means not all, there are exceptions, yet without me naming you specifically you simply assumed that I was speaking of you, why is that?
how does most conflict with this:
#6 M42: About the athiest thing yesterday, I want you to know and be clear that I do not hold you the individual MHarper42, in the same regard as the generalized athiest I mentioned. You are one cool lady, thoughtful and insightful and definitely not described in my post.
Once again, a generalized description does not imply that those being described are monolithic in nature.
Look, there’s a conclusion lets jump to it!
Every law ever passed is a legislation of someone’s morality on some level. The big question is: Whose morality are you going to base your laws on; those who worship the government, or the flying spaghetti monster, or those who worship the Creator of the universe?
NO, the choices above are not exclusive.
Every law ever passed is a legislation of someone’s morality on some level. The big question is: Whose morality are you going to base your laws on; those who worship the government, or the flying spaghetti monster, or those who worship the Creator of the universe?
NO, the choices above are not exclusive.
While US Northeast refineries such as ConocoPhillips’ (COP) Trainer as well as Sunoco’s (SUN) Girard Point and Marcus Hook are on the verge of shutting down if a buyer is not found, the historic Port Arthur refinery near Sabine Lake in East Texas is about to complete a massive expansion.
and,
After the Port Arthur project is completed within the next month, the 110-year-old facility’s throughput capacity is expected to more than double to 600,000 barrels per day (“bpd”). It will rank as the largest in the United States (measured by operable capacity) and among the top 10 in the world. Following expansion, it will surpass the largest US refinery, ExxonMobil’s (XOM) Baytown, by approximately 40,000 barrels. The Port Arthur refinery currently handles 285,000 bpd and is the 15th largest in the country. For the sake of scale, the world’s largest is Reliance Industry’s 1.24 million bpd facility located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
While US Northeast refineries such as ConocoPhillips’ (COP) Trainer as well as Sunoco’s (SUN) Girard Point and Marcus Hook are on the verge of shutting down if a buyer is not found, the historic Port Arthur refinery near Sabine Lake in East Texas is about to complete a massive expansion.
and,
After the Port Arthur project is completed within the next month, the 110-year-old facility’s throughput capacity is expected to more than double to 600,000 barrels per day (“bpd”). It will rank as the largest in the United States (measured by operable capacity) and among the top 10 in the world. Following expansion, it will surpass the largest US refinery, ExxonMobil’s (XOM) Baytown, by approximately 40,000 barrels. The Port Arthur refinery currently handles 285,000 bpd and is the 15th largest in the country. For the sake of scale, the world’s largest is Reliance Industry’s 1.24 million bpd facility located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
#42 TP: Why are those refineries in yankee-land in such dire straits? Is it because of the new and obscene “clean air” regulations to combat the mythical dangers of CO2 or are they simply too old to bring into modern efficiency, or something else perhaps?
#42 TP: Why are those refineries in yankee-land in such dire straits? Is it because of the new and obscene “clean air” regulations to combat the mythical dangers of CO2 or are they simply too old to bring into modern efficiency, or something else perhaps?
I worry about expanding current refineries instead of building new ones.
By focusing so much refining in one place, we create a tempting target for terrorists.
If the plant suffers some disaster, such as hurricane, lightning strike, bombing, etc., the “all eggs in one basket” issues becomes a problem.
As the technology needs to be upgraded, we have to shut down parts of one plant, instead of shuttling production to another plant to take up the slack as the renovations are done.
I’m assuming all of this has been addressed elsewhere and by people more wise than I, but I still find it troubling. I’ve always been one to spread risk if at all possible, especially where national security is involved.
I worry about expanding current refineries instead of building new ones.
By focusing so much refining in one place, we create a tempting target for terrorists.
If the plant suffers some disaster, such as hurricane, lightning strike, bombing, etc., the “all eggs in one basket” issues becomes a problem.
As the technology needs to be upgraded, we have to shut down parts of one plant, instead of shuttling production to another plant to take up the slack as the renovations are done.
I’m assuming all of this has been addressed elsewhere and by people more wise than I, but I still find it troubling. I’ve always been one to spread risk if at all possible, especially where national security is involved.
They really do need to be concentrated to efficiently transport crude. For instance, the Keystone Pipeline (if the Usurper-in-Chief ever gets out of the way) moves crude all the way across the country to a few concentrated refining complexes. You wouldn’t want to have legs shooting off to scattered refineries. The other major transportation is by ship so you need a large port.
They really do need to be concentrated to efficiently transport crude. For instance, the Keystone Pipeline (if the Usurper-in-Chief ever gets out of the way) moves crude all the way across the country to a few concentrated refining complexes. You wouldn’t want to have legs shooting off to scattered refineries. The other major transportation is by ship so you need a large port.
#36 PyroMan
Ah, son of Stuxnet, excellent.
/rubbing hands a la Mr Burns
#36 PyroMan
Ah, son of Stuxnet, excellent.
/rubbing hands a la Mr Burns
#19 bobbityboo42
Let me violate my self-imposed rule not to address the trolls. This one time only. After spotting my name in a discussion.
Bob, there isn’t a single person allowed access to post here, other than you, that can’t easily understand why you are considered a “crazy one” and I am not.
You should try stand-up for your next career. Or maybe go to clown college?
/still chuckling
#19 bobbityboo42
Let me violate my self-imposed rule not to address the trolls. This one time only. After spotting my name in a discussion.
Bob, there isn’t a single person allowed access to post here, other than you, that can’t easily understand why you are considered a “crazy one” and I am not.
You should try stand-up for your next career. Or maybe go to clown college?
/still chuckling
Tedtam
One of the reasons America has been able to continue to grow without building more refineries, outside of much higher usage efficiencies and importations, has been the dramatic transformation in the refining process.
I had a friend, a brilliant software & petroleum engineer, who worked for Shell back in the eighties and he wrote a lot of new programs and designed the integrated microprocessors for their refining units. He told me that in the 50s, 60s and 70s, for instance, a plant might have to run a batch of paint thinner or some grade of gasoline 3 or 4 times to get the chemical targets correct. After he installed his systems, it was almost never more than once. He eliminated a tremendous amount of time wasted as well as material. He ended up traveling all over the world for various o&g majors installing his systems.
Tedtam
One of the reasons America has been able to continue to grow without building more refineries, outside of much higher usage efficiencies and importations, has been the dramatic transformation in the refining process.
I had a friend, a brilliant software & petroleum engineer, who worked for Shell back in the eighties and he wrote a lot of new programs and designed the integrated microprocessors for their refining units. He told me that in the 50s, 60s and 70s, for instance, a plant might have to run a batch of paint thinner or some grade of gasoline 3 or 4 times to get the chemical targets correct. After he installed his systems, it was almost never more than once. He eliminated a tremendous amount of time wasted as well as material. He ended up traveling all over the world for various o&g majors installing his systems.
#44 Tedtam
Large refineries are not one big “conveyor belt system” of chemicals. They are usually a series of refining streams in parallel so that one can be shut down for maintenance while the others are still running.
#44 Tedtam
Large refineries are not one big “conveyor belt system” of chemicals. They are usually a series of refining streams in parallel so that one can be shut down for maintenance while the others are still running.
You should try stand-up for your next career. Or maybe go to clown college?
/still chuckling
Doesn’t that require one to be actually funny?
You should try stand-up for your next career. Or maybe go to clown college?
/still chuckling
Doesn’t that require one to be actually funny?
Left to die as a newborn, abandoned in an antbed in a Florida orange grove 22 years ago, Nick just graduated magna cum laude from Florida A&M. You can still see the scars from the ant bites on his face. He’s going on now to graduate school.
Left to die as a newborn, abandoned in an antbed in a Florida orange grove 22 years ago, Nick just graduated magna cum laude from Florida A&M. You can still see the scars from the ant bites on his face. He’s going on now to graduate school.
Amazing story.
I just found a service that will track lien notice deadlines, file the notices, track the returned notices, file liens, lift liens, etc.
A four project minimum required to get their “Enterprise Rate”, approximately $150/month.
Considering I have spent all wissing day trying to decipher the Texas Property Code and determine which notices go out when and why, especially the difference between being a first tier or second tier contractor, and whether the project is government, commercial, or residential, which information gets into which notice, and not getting a whole heck of a lot closer than I was this morning….the $150/month seems like quite a deal.
Damn bureaucrats. I know the intent was to protect private property rights, but hoe-lee krap!
I just found a service that will track lien notice deadlines, file the notices, track the returned notices, file liens, lift liens, etc.
A four project minimum required to get their “Enterprise Rate”, approximately $150/month.
Considering I have spent all wissing day trying to decipher the Texas Property Code and determine which notices go out when and why, especially the difference between being a first tier or second tier contractor, and whether the project is government, commercial, or residential, which information gets into which notice, and not getting a whole heck of a lot closer than I was this morning….the $150/month seems like quite a deal.
Damn bureaucrats. I know the intent was to protect private property rights, but hoe-lee krap!
#47 mh42
I thought the “crazy one” was, you know, the crazy aunt. 😉
#47 mh42
I thought the “crazy one” was, you know, the crazy aunt. 😉
#48 texpat
Advanced control & optimization systems have not only improved yields, but have improved raw throughput as well.
All plant engineers have productivity improvement targets on their units – some are in the 10% range. This can mean more product, higher yield, less energy consumption, reduction in downtime (planned & unplanned), and more and any combination thereof.
#48 texpat
Advanced control & optimization systems have not only improved yields, but have improved raw throughput as well.
All plant engineers have productivity improvement targets on their units – some are in the 10% range. This can mean more product, higher yield, less energy consumption, reduction in downtime (planned & unplanned), and more and any combination thereof.
I wish you guys would stop talking petro-chem.
Shemp’s gonna come in here in a coupla minutes and take credit for all of it anyway.
I wish you guys would stop talking petro-chem.
Shemp’s gonna come in here in a coupla minutes and take credit for all of it anyway.
I think I need to go move dirt for a while. Beating up on a pile of dirt may reduce the stress level I’ve built up this Monday.
I think I need to go move dirt for a while. Beating up on a pile of dirt may reduce the stress level I’ve built up this Monday.
But Mommy I don’t want any ice cream.
But Mommy I don’t want any ice cream.
#55 Pyro: Cankles hell, them’s phone polls or elephant legs or sumptin. I wonder if her footprint is round like an elephant?
#55 Pyro: Cankles hell, them’s phone polls or elephant legs or sumptin. I wonder if her footprint is round like an elephant?
Bob, there isn’t a single person allowed access to post here, other than you, that can’t easily understand why you are considered a “crazy one” and I am not.
Bob420 just got beat up by a girl!
/:>)
Bob, there isn’t a single person allowed access to post here, other than you, that can’t easily understand why you are considered a “crazy one” and I am not.
Bob420 just got beat up by a girl!
/:>)
A Hero of the MMGW movement is wlaking things back a bit.
Here’s what they were saying about him 5 years ago:
In 2007, Time magazine named Lovelock as one of 13 leaders and visionaries in an article on “Heroes of the Environment,” which also included Gore, Mikhail Gorbachev and Robert Redford.
“Jim Lovelock has no university, no research institute, no students. His almost unparalleled influence in environmental science is based instead on a particular way of seeing things,” Oliver Morton, of the journal Nature wrote in Time. “Humble, stubborn, charming, visionary, proud and generous, his ideas about Gaia have started a change in the conception of biology that may serve as a vital complement to the revolution that brought us the structures of DNA and proteins and the genetic code.”
Here’s what he’s saying these days:
“The problem is we don’t know what the climate is doing. We thought we knew 20 years ago. That led to some alarmist books – mine included – because it looked clear-cut, but it hasn’t happened,” Lovelock said.
“The climate is doing its usual tricks. There’s nothing much really happening yet. We were supposed to be halfway toward a frying world now,” he said.
“The world has not warmed up very much since the millennium. Twelve years is a reasonable time… it (the temperature) has stayed almost constant, whereas it should have been rising — carbon dioxide is rising, no question about that,” he added.
He pointed to Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and Tim Flannery’s “The Weather Makers” as other examples of “alarmist” forecasts of the future.
I wonder what they will be saying about him now.
A Hero of the MMGW movement is wlaking things back a bit.
Here’s what they were saying about him 5 years ago:
In 2007, Time magazine named Lovelock as one of 13 leaders and visionaries in an article on “Heroes of the Environment,” which also included Gore, Mikhail Gorbachev and Robert Redford.
“Jim Lovelock has no university, no research institute, no students. His almost unparalleled influence in environmental science is based instead on a particular way of seeing things,” Oliver Morton, of the journal Nature wrote in Time. “Humble, stubborn, charming, visionary, proud and generous, his ideas about Gaia have started a change in the conception of biology that may serve as a vital complement to the revolution that brought us the structures of DNA and proteins and the genetic code.”
Here’s what he’s saying these days:
“The problem is we don’t know what the climate is doing. We thought we knew 20 years ago. That led to some alarmist books – mine included – because it looked clear-cut, but it hasn’t happened,” Lovelock said.
“The climate is doing its usual tricks. There’s nothing much really happening yet. We were supposed to be halfway toward a frying world now,” he said.
“The world has not warmed up very much since the millennium. Twelve years is a reasonable time… it (the temperature) has stayed almost constant, whereas it should have been rising — carbon dioxide is rising, no question about that,” he added.
He pointed to Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and Tim Flannery’s “The Weather Makers” as other examples of “alarmist” forecasts of the future.
I wonder what they will be saying about him now.
#51 Texp
Amazing story indeed. The birth mother must have been barely human to leave — no, dump — a baby where he wouldn’t be found immediately.
#51 Texp
Amazing story indeed. The birth mother must have been barely human to leave — no, dump — a baby where he wouldn’t be found immediately.
#53 Pyro
That’s a different kind of crazy. Ya know, the good kind.
🙂
#53 Pyro
That’s a different kind of crazy. Ya know, the good kind.
🙂
#58 Squawk
From your link:
Maybe that’s why IT’S-IT was named “The official food of San Francisco.”
I thought Rice-a-roni was the official food of San Francisco.
#58 Squawk
From your link:
Maybe that’s why IT’S-IT was named “The official food of San Francisco.”
I thought Rice-a-roni was the official food of San Francisco.
#55 WB
RE: the Daily Mail link
I noticed President Bush is wearing the same pair of shoes I bought last month. They’re made by Ecco and they aren’t cheap, but they are the most comfortable footwear I have ever owned. Smart guy that GW.
Oh yeah, my last pair lasted me 10 years (wearing them 2-3 times a week), seriously. The uppers still looked great, but the soles finally gave out.
#55 WB
RE: the Daily Mail link
I noticed President Bush is wearing the same pair of shoes I bought last month. They’re made by Ecco and they aren’t cheap, but they are the most comfortable footwear I have ever owned. Smart guy that GW.
Oh yeah, my last pair lasted me 10 years (wearing them 2-3 times a week), seriously. The uppers still looked great, but the soles finally gave out.
Houston story makes the Brit paper:
It is every high school girl’s dream to be asked to the prom by a handsome young man.
The parents of Amber House, however, never thought their daughter would see that dream come true because she has Down Syndrome.
But thanks to one, sweet 16-year-old guy, Amber, 18, from Houston, Texas, was able to go to the prom like all the other high school teenagers last Thursday.
Houston story makes the Brit paper:
It is every high school girl’s dream to be asked to the prom by a handsome young man.
The parents of Amber House, however, never thought their daughter would see that dream come true because she has Down Syndrome.
But thanks to one, sweet 16-year-old guy, Amber, 18, from Houston, Texas, was able to go to the prom like all the other high school teenagers last Thursday.
I thought Rice-a-roni was the official food of San Francisco.
No, it’s the San Francisco Treat.
I thought Rice-a-roni was the official food of San Francisco.
No, it’s the San Francisco Treat.
#14 Katfish
#12 – interesting – BUT – I’d be much more concerned about accuracy than a fast time on the draw – doesn’t matter how fast you draw if you don’t hit the target
You are right, of course, but watching the video, I’d say she was a pretty good “point and shoot” shooter because EVERY time she fired the pistol it was straight and level and at belly height. She also removed her finger from the trigger after each shot. I’d say that she could handle a pistol pretty good. FWIW; I’m not a fan of “point and shoot” unless you’re really good at it. 😉
#14 Katfish
#12 – interesting – BUT – I’d be much more concerned about accuracy than a fast time on the draw – doesn’t matter how fast you draw if you don’t hit the target
You are right, of course, but watching the video, I’d say she was a pretty good “point and shoot” shooter because EVERY time she fired the pistol it was straight and level and at belly height. She also removed her finger from the trigger after each shot. I’d say that she could handle a pistol pretty good. FWIW; I’m not a fan of “point and shoot” unless you’re really good at it. 😉
#67 Texpat, dang I think I’ve got dust in my eyes, tearing up a little. 😉
#67 Texpat, dang I think I’ve got dust in my eyes, tearing up a little. 😉
Huntin’ Buddy’s daughter went to the prom Saturday and the skinny little “Tom Boy” that I’ve know since she was born is all growed up, she looked so beautiful in her long black dress. That cute little girl is now a lovely young lady. Seems like only yesterday that she was born….
DANG! Lots of dust in the air. 😉
Huntin’ Buddy’s daughter went to the prom Saturday and the skinny little “Tom Boy” that I’ve know since she was born is all growed up, she looked so beautiful in her long black dress. That cute little girl is now a lovely young lady. Seems like only yesterday that she was born….
DANG! Lots of dust in the air. 😉
Yer such a big mush-pot.
Yer such a big mush-pot.
Crap Word Press wins, I lose.
Crap Word Press wins, I lose.
Did ya lose something, Dave?
Did ya lose something, Dave?
Hope this doesn’t get me banned.
Hope this doesn’t get me banned.
I got away with 2 clown music videos last night, so I think you are safe.
Unless maybe there is a threshhold of tolerance…
/cue ominous spooky theme
I got away with 2 clown music videos last night, so I think you are safe.
Unless maybe there is a threshhold of tolerance…
/cue ominous spooky theme
………….someone needs to start their own Cat blog moderated by clowns……………..jus sayin
SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESH! 🙂
………….someone needs to start their own Cat blog moderated by clowns……………..jus sayin
SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESH! 🙂
fat albert;
If there is no moral objection then why make a law? The question becomes: Whose morals? I prefer the Judeo/Christian set of ethics that gave us our Constitution
BINGO!!!
Bob;
Bonecrusher, your comments of yesterday and earlier today are interesting. Do you contradict yourself often?
I don’t see where he contradicted himself.
Which God?
Two simple questions, bob: what god do you speak to and what god speaks to you? You know my God and you are always welcome to investigate and find out for yourself about God. You can always know ofthe Father through the Son and know of the truths they teach. That comes with communicating to the Father spirit to spirit and through the Son. You can do that and you will be edified by doing so.
I welcome such interesting discussion, as long as they are open, objective, and factual.
But you just said (bold mine):
I’ve read with great interest (but no desire to participate) comments from you and others (usually Darren) about your respective interpretations of a Deity.
Now who’s contradicting himself. 😉
Tedtam #33;
We call it “natural law,” written on our hearts by God.
I’m sure Catholics may as well but we Mormons call that the “light of Christ” which scientifically-speaking is our conscience. That’s a natural gift from God and given to all whereas the gift of the Holy Ghost makes the Holy Spirit an additional constant companion and magnifies ones conscience and therefore knowledge of God and a desire to serve Him.
And I really liked your #20…despite what Wagonburner says. 😉
fat albert;
If there is no moral objection then why make a law? The question becomes: Whose morals? I prefer the Judeo/Christian set of ethics that gave us our Constitution
BINGO!!!
Bob;
Bonecrusher, your comments of yesterday and earlier today are interesting. Do you contradict yourself often?
I don’t see where he contradicted himself.
Which God?
Two simple questions, bob: what god do you speak to and what god speaks to you? You know my God and you are always welcome to investigate and find out for yourself about God. You can always know ofthe Father through the Son and know of the truths they teach. That comes with communicating to the Father spirit to spirit and through the Son. You can do that and you will be edified by doing so.
I welcome such interesting discussion, as long as they are open, objective, and factual.
But you just said (bold mine):
I’ve read with great interest (but no desire to participate) comments from you and others (usually Darren) about your respective interpretations of a Deity.
Now who’s contradicting himself. 😉
Tedtam #33;
We call it “natural law,” written on our hearts by God.
I’m sure Catholics may as well but we Mormons call that the “light of Christ” which scientifically-speaking is our conscience. That’s a natural gift from God and given to all whereas the gift of the Holy Ghost makes the Holy Spirit an additional constant companion and magnifies ones conscience and therefore knowledge of God and a desire to serve Him.
And I really liked your #20…despite what Wagonburner says. 😉
#50 Sarge
Doesn’t that require one to be actually funny?
Well, I was actually laughing — at bobo’s befuddlement. He thinks: he’s an atheist, she’s an atheist, ergo we are exactly the same. How can anyone call him crazy but exempt me from the same label? He honestly doesn’t seem to see any difference between his online persona and mine.
I’m glad he has some friends here; we all need friends.
#50 Sarge
Doesn’t that require one to be actually funny?
Well, I was actually laughing — at bobo’s befuddlement. He thinks: he’s an atheist, she’s an atheist, ergo we are exactly the same. How can anyone call him crazy but exempt me from the same label? He honestly doesn’t seem to see any difference between his online persona and mine.
I’m glad he has some friends here; we all need friends.
Texpat #51;
WOW!!!
Texpat #51;
WOW!!!
MOBILE, Alabama —
Mobile police need your help to catch a mob that beat Matthew Owens so badly that he’s in critical condition.According to police, Owens fussed at some kids playing basketball in the middle of Delmar Drive about 8:30 Saturday night. They say the kids left and a group of adults returned, armed with everything but the kitchen sink.
Police tell News 5 the suspects used chairs, pipes and paint cans to beat Owens.
Owens’ sister, Ashley Parker, saw the attack. “It was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed.” Parker says 20 people, all African American, attacked her brother on the front porch of his home, using “brass buckles, paint cans and anything they could get their hands on.”
Police will only say “multiple people” are involved.
What Parker says happened next could make the fallout from the brutal beating even worse. As the attackers walked away, leaving Owen bleeding on the ground, Parker says one of them said “Now thats justice for Trayvon.” Trayvon Martin is the unarmed teenager police say was shot and killed February 26 by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Samford, Florida.
Since the New Black Panthers, Obama, and Martin’s mother and father are dumbfoundedly silent on this ensuing violence, let me expresse how blessed we are for the 2nd Amendment.
MOBILE, Alabama —
Mobile police need your help to catch a mob that beat Matthew Owens so badly that he’s in critical condition.
According to police, Owens fussed at some kids playing basketball in the middle of Delmar Drive about 8:30 Saturday night. They say the kids left and a group of adults returned, armed with everything but the kitchen sink.
Police tell News 5 the suspects used chairs, pipes and paint cans to beat Owens.
Owens’ sister, Ashley Parker, saw the attack. “It was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed.” Parker says 20 people, all African American, attacked her brother on the front porch of his home, using “brass buckles, paint cans and anything they could get their hands on.”
Police will only say “multiple people” are involved.
What Parker says happened next could make the fallout from the brutal beating even worse. As the attackers walked away, leaving Owen bleeding on the ground, Parker says one of them said “Now thats justice for Trayvon.” Trayvon Martin is the unarmed teenager police say was shot and killed February 26 by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Samford, Florida.
Since the New Black Panthers, Obama, and Martin’s mother and father are dumbfoundedly silent on this ensuing violence, let me expresse how blessed we are for the 2nd Amendment.
Man Beaten By Mob, In Critical Condition
#12, well la-de-da. I’ve got a dunlop that can cover a 12 gauge sawed off at the belt buckle. Trying to do a fast draw will result in hari kari with external hammers so I proceed rather cautiously.
#12, well la-de-da. I’ve got a dunlop that can cover a 12 gauge sawed off at the belt buckle. Trying to do a fast draw will result in hari kari with external hammers so I proceed rather cautiously.
Well here it is 8:00 in the am on Tuesday morning and yet here I am typing on the Monday O/C thread; I must be in a time warp or sumptin.
GTO: Was it you who mentioned some funny business about some Demoncrap getting into the race after the deadline in New Joisey? I think the guy was Frank Lautenberg who got plugged into the spot. He got put there because Bob “the torch” Torecelli got caught in blatant corruption (he may still be in jail) and had to resign after the filing deadline.
Well here it is 8:00 in the am on Tuesday morning and yet here I am typing on the Monday O/C thread; I must be in a time warp or sumptin.
GTO: Was it you who mentioned some funny business about some Demoncrap getting into the race after the deadline in New Joisey? I think the guy was Frank Lautenberg who got plugged into the spot. He got put there because Bob “the torch” Torecelli got caught in blatant corruption (he may still be in jail) and had to resign after the filing deadline.
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