and on that note. Good night all.

I clicked that off after about 20 seconds.

But I did save money on my car insurance.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!

Of course we will, eventually; no one lives forever.

Way to go, Sleepy B!

It is Ok , but kind of long and obvious. Really not my cup of tea. I read these books in high school for fun. As far as survivalist, that really is a different game altogether. The 2 are dissimilar.
/and I want to see this guy screw his ear

Holy carp! My first freakin' hat tip, evar! Sweeeeeet!

Thanks, Charles.

Oh shit....is Armageddon this week?

In case of Armageddon... Can I have your car?

Saw this on youtube a while ago. Pretty good episode too.

re: #8 Fenway_Nation

Oh shit....is Armageddon this week?

It was last week and you have been "left behind"............

Penn and Teller will definitely be “Left Behind” when Armageddon rolls around.

They'll be in good company.

P.S. Note to Christians; Israel is not your personal doomsday machine. It creeps out the Jews and makes the rest of us uncomfortable.

I gave up watching vid, I cant stand getting the download 1 word at time.

Well it's waay too late here on the East Coast for me to listen to a half hour bit from them - even though I do love P&T.
Plus I seem to remember having seen bits of this on YouTube and didn't think it was up to their usual standards - though that coulda been cause I never saw the whole bit.

How depressing it must be to live you life in such hysterical fear every day.

But the people making money off of this should really be more ashamed of themselves. That's just disgusting.

re: #12 Killgore Trout

They'll be in good company.

P.S. Note to Christians; Israel is not your personal doomsday machine. It creeps out the Jews and makes the rest of us uncomfortable.

Anyone who seriously reads the Book of Revelation, that bit where it says, "and a third of the world perished" should be seriously worried coz 2,000,000,000 is whole heap of people, a whole heap more than the 7,000,000 living in Little bitty Israel.

re: #12 Killgore Trout
Uh, what?

re: #13 A Kiwi Infidel

I gave up watching vid, I cant stand getting the download 1 word at time.

Hit the link, press play, then the pause button. Read a few comments, do something a few minutes, then hit play again.

I like the guy "Hoag" ? who rewrites his predictions. lol

re: #17 realwest

Uh, what?

He's speaking of the dispensationalists, bro.

re: #18 Thanos

Hit the link, press play, then the pause button. Read a few comments, do something a few minutes, then hit play again.

Roger, Roger

I've just been reading an excellent discussion by Howard Bloom (In 'The Lucifer Principle') about how the failure of doom prophecies often lead to an increase in the popularity of the cult concerned. In a typical example one such group grew after convincing their followers that their preparations for the big day had emanated such saintly energies among mankind that the day of doom was called off - they had actually saved humanity.

That 'survivalist' school is just sad.

It's like the survivalist movement of the 80's redux. That started from the Malthusian club of Rome report. Jeremy Rifkin was telling us how we better horde cans of Tuna because protein was going to be hard to get etc.

Expect the nutball survivalists to increase in number over the next year due to the bow wave from sustained high energy prices and the effects.

re: #20 A Kiwi Infidel
Sigh, ok, who are the dispensationalists ?

Here is something interesting. I followed a link on the previous thread to find that the Somali dead with the pound of cyanide in Denver was found in a hotel room that runs to $199 a night. That is a lot of money for a Somali immigrant.

Just out of curiosity, I decided to take a peek at the cost of the pound of sodium cyanide. The cost isn't all that much - 2.5 kilogram are ~$188 - but it is a restricted chemical. The approval process requires 15-30 days. And the stuff comes in briquettes, not powder in a jar.

[Link: www.sciencelab.com...]

There are great gobs of money to be made in professional fear-mongering*. Perhaps I should come up with my own version of apocalypse to cash in on this end times hysteria? Nah, I prefer sleeping with a clear conscience.

*How is it that Jack Thompson hasn't cashed in big? Maybe its his "I'm telling your mom" tactics.

re: #21 A Kiwi Infidel

Roger, Roger

OK, if your computer has the processing power 2 gigs RAM or more, do that and wait 20 min. Does not really matter does it? But if you still get the jerks, it is your processing power, so forget it. I have all forms of delivery from cable to dial up. Computer has a lot to do with it.

re: #28 pat

OK, if your computer has the processing power 2 gigs RAM or more, do that and wait 20 min. Does not really matter does it? But if you still get the jerks, it is your processing power, so forget it. I have all forms of delivery from cable to dial up. Computer has a lot to do with it.

Could also be a sign of the approaching end of days.

re: #25 realwest

Sigh, ok, who are the dispensationalists ?

They believe G-d deals with mankind in different dispensations, ie, with the Patriarchs, Israel, thenIsrael through the prophets, now the church........its called replacement theology. You must have heard of that lot.

re: #22 Jimmah

I've just been reading an excellent discussion by Howard Bloom (In 'The Lucifer Principle') about how the failure of doom prophecies often lead to an increase in the popularity of the cult concerned. In a typical example one such group grew after convincing their followers that their preparations for the big day had emanated such saintly energies among mankind that the day of doom was called off - they had actually saved humanity.

It didn't work for the Heaven's Gate cult.

re: #29 Charles

Could also be a sign of the approaching end of days.

Or a computer that needs some seriously more grunty RAM

re: #23 jaunte
Hey jaunte! Hope you're doing well!
And I'm not sure what you mean by that Survivalist School is sad - mind you I haven't seen this entire bit by P& T cause it's too late out here.
But I just thought the survialist/capitalists were too cool the last couple of times around - buy surplus military sleeping bags, rations, canteens, water purification pills and the like in bulk bidding from the DoD and then hype up the end of days and sell 'em all to the suckers who loved Red Dawn believed in it!
Capitalism at it's best!

re: #26 galloping granny

But we are unsure of the Agricultural and Mining laws in Canada. And that is where we think he got it. And believe me, the failure to specify cause of death means that something is worth looking at.

Wow- this author really thinks his end days books are the biggest publishing phenomenon ever? Two words, pal- Harry Potter.

re: #22 Jimmah

I've just been reading an excellent discussion by Howard Bloom (In 'The Lucifer Principle') about how the failure of doom prophecies often lead to an increase in the popularity of the cult concerned. In a typical example one such group grew after convincing their followers that their preparations for the big day had emanated such saintly energies among mankind that the day of doom was called off - they had actually saved humanity.

A good example of that was the cult at Strong City New Mexico. Their end of the world came and went, but they are still there and still zany as ever. E.G. They think the Protocols of the Elders of Zion might be "fake but accurate"

re: #31 Kosh's Shadow

The heaven's gate strategy was somewhat self-limiting, to be sure.

re: #29 Charles

LOL, or the telephone bill is due. But as a survivalist, I own drums.

re: #33 realwest

In the Penn 7 Teller video, there's a group of people (that appear never to have been camping) learning to survive in the wilderness on a 7-day training school.
They're learning how to shelter under pile of leaves, and throw sticks...

& Teller

If they really wanna see the Apocalypse, this movie (The Day After) is doing a pretty good job of it.
Bye Bye, Kansas......
Pretty scary for a 25 year old film.......

re: #30 A Kiwi Infidel
Heavy sigh - no, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it at all.
How does it fit with Killgore's idea that something creeps out the jews and makes him uncomfortable?

re: #33 realwest

I had to look up Dispensationalists, too:
[Link: www.endtimes.org...]

re: #39 jaunte

In the Penn 7 Teller video, there's a group of people (that appear never to have been camping) learning to survive in the wilderness on a 7-day training school.
They're learning how to shelter under pile of leaves, and throw sticks...

Ha, they run into a problem when they are told there is no flush toilet.

re: #4 Kosh's Shadow

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!

Of course we will, eventually; no one lives forever.

I'm in the middle of a strong haven't-died-yet run, and have yet to be proven wrong. I give myself 3 chances in 10 of living forever.

BTW, how about the price of the 3 Gig Dell Laptop? $795 at Walmart. I prefer HPs and Apples, but that is a low price.

re: #17 realwest

You'll have to watch the video. It's a recurring theme.

when Armageddon rolls around

Armageddon rolls around! Women and minorities hardest hit! Film at 11...

re: #46 pat

BTW, how about the price of the 3 Gig Dell Laptop? $795 at Walmart. I prefer HPs and Apples, but that is a low price.

I've seen 4 gig HP laptops at Best Buy for that same price.

re: #39 jaunte Ah, well it's just like I said in my #33, or as P.T. Barnum used to say "there's a sucker born every minute".
At least I think it was P.T. Barnum!

re: #34 pat

But we are unsure of the Agricultural and Mining laws in Canada. And that is where we think he got it. And believe me, the failure to specify cause of death means that something is worth looking at.

There is a special terminal for the stuff in Eastern Canada for the mining community, but the sodium cyanide used in mining is liquid, not powder.

re: #46 pat

Save yourself the aggravation and just get a mac.
:)

Hi all.... Not sure where to go with this....Just Know I am confused about what to do with this question. All I know is this : Obama must be stopped!This stuff is too scary!

Kudos to Charles for posting this, even though he will be alienating the fringe nutballs.

re: #46 pat

Don't buy a Dell. They are crap and are heavily infested with proprietary software that you can never get rid of. I was given a new Dell a few years ago and just ended up salvaging $250 worth of hardware from. The rest went in the garbage.

re: #15 Sharmuta

It's kinda sad, if you think about it. Almost seems like an obsession with death.

re: #53 nigella

Well, you know, they're counting on that driving rain at Invesco.......

re: #55 Killgore Trout

Don't buy a Dell. They are crap

I have one that works just fine.

re: #36 Thanos

Yep, they sound like quality wackos. Here's another example - Seventh Day Adventists. The lesson is clear : being proved dead wrong is no obstacle to the growth of a religion.

From wiki:

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is the largest of several "Adventist" groups which arose from the Millerite movement of the 1840s. The Millerite movement was part of the wave of revivalism in the United States known as the Second Great Awakening and originated with William Miller, a Baptist preacher from Low Hampton, New York. Miller predicted on the basis of Daniel 8:14 and the "day-year principle" that Jesus Christ would return to Earth on October 22, 1844. When this failed to occur, most of his followers disbanded and returned to their original churches.

Following this "Great Disappointment" (as it came to be known), a small number of Millerites came to believe that Miller's calculations were correct, but that his interpretation of Daniel 8:14 was flawed. Beginning with a vision reported by Hiram Edson on October 23, these Adventists arrived at the conviction that Daniel 8:14 foretold Christ's entrance into the "Most Holy Place" of the heavenly sanctuary rather than his second coming. Over the next decade this understanding developed into the doctrine of the investigative judgment: an eschatological process commencing in 1844 in which Christians will be judged to verify their eligibility for salvation. The Adventists continued to believe that Christ's second coming would be imminent, although they refrained from setting further dates for the event.

re: #42 realwest

Heavy sigh - no, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it at all.
How does it fit with Killgore's idea that something creeps out the jews and makes him uncomfortable?

Not sure. The replacement theology had some meat on its bones right up to the point before the State of Israel was born in 1948. It was the fulfillment of a prophecy in Isaiah 66:8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.

At that moment Replacement Theology should have been kicked to touch.

What it means now is that some religious institutions continue to nag the Jew that the only way they can get into heaven is to convert to their lot, and that is wrong. I could go on but I wont coz its Friday afternoon...........

Hal Lindsay may be the most famous of the Dispensational false prophets, but I would not call him the grandfather of the movement.

John Walvoord and the like supplied more of the formal doctrinal background (used by people like Lindsay) as well as other popular end of the world books.

The grandfather ... I surmise to be E.W. Bullinger, a famous systematizer of Dispensational doctrine.

re: #56 Slumbering Behemoth

But I guess it's okay to make money fueling people's fears so long as you are spreading a good message of fear- or something like that.

re: #52 tradewind

Save yourself the aggravation and just get a mac.
:)

tradewind
Have Mac, Dell and HP at different places. Hate the Dell, love Macs, HPs are well made.
stevieray
We have Costco and Walmart here. I don't think either have a 4 Gig, but I will keep what you said in mind. Must fly to get to Apple store. All kids have Apples, of course.

I am a Christian . . . a preacher, in fact. Except for the gratuitous obscenities, I agree with Penn and Teller. This business of trying to predict the end of the world is pointless. Our time is better spent trying fix what's wrong with the world, not wishing for it to end! These kind are just dodging their responsibility.

re: #59 Jimmah

They also hit the skids when they declared that they were the "chosen" and they needed 144,000 members to kick in the Second Coming of Christ. So, when the membership went past 144,000 they had a problem, why were they still here? , why hadnt Christ returned?, and who is going to miss out? And the "church" still grows. Unbelievable.

re: #55 Killgore Trout

Don't buy a Dell. They are crap and are heavily infested with proprietary software that you can never get rid of. I was given a new Dell a few years ago and just ended up salvaging $250 worth of hardware from. The rest went in the garbage.

PC Decrapifier. It works! I used it when I bought my HP laptop back in February... cleaned the junk I didn't want right outta there!

re: #59 Jimmah

Yep, they sound like quality wackos. Here's another example - Seventh Day Adventists. The lesson is clear : being proved dead wrong is no obstacle to the growth of a religion.

From wiki:

Very true. Over the years they have metamorphed into a mainline religion. And they have slowly tried to rid themselves of the unusual stuff. But other cults have gone the other way.

I've been watching some of the other episodes after Armageddon the best so far is the one on Environmental Hysteria. Getting the protesters to sign a petition to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide was priceless.

re: #43 jaunte Oh, organized religious whackos - same as other organized religious whackos who say "Do as we say or you'll go to hell" type of thing.
I may actually read the rest of that cite of yours to get some sleep tonight, I'm really tired. Un, do P&T make fun of Dispensationalists - or are they Dispensationalists?!

Jehovah's Witnesses

OK I'm gunna go, have a good weekend, folks.

re: #63 pat

I didn't have a Mac after my very first computer for years, and when I started using an iphone last year it was like a lightbulb went on.... why had I been fighting viruses, spyware and crashes (Oh MY) when the new mac OS was so intuitive and hassle-free for non-techies like me.
Not going back there, ever........

re: #69 realwest

I don't think they are. I think the real D's are the ones who support Israel only because they think that's going to bring the 1000 year Millenial Kingdom.
I believe that's what Kilgore has been objecting to.

OT

New York area sports fans:

Rumors have it that Chris "Mad Dog" Russo has left WFAN for satellite radio. Reportedly got a $100 million contract.

I'll miss the Mike and the Mad Dog show. *sniff*

AHHHH! End Times!

Surprisingly, the world's supply of gas dwindles, yet it's supply of protective football equipment triples. Coincidence?

Well that was nice to watch again, and I am off to bed to dream of falling bombs and survival training gone wrong. Night all, weet dreams and stay scaly.

re: #60 A Kiwi Infidel
Well theology was not even a minor minor for me, but having been married to two different Jewish Women, I am reasonably certain that Jews don't believe in Heaven and Hell, so "What it means now is that some religious institutions continue to nag the Jew that the only way they can get into heaven is to convert to their lot," makes some degree of sense to me - sorta like Jews for Jesus or something.
Hey KILLGORE - HONESTLY, most Christians don't believe in that Dispensationalist crap. Don't let it make you uncomfortable.

re: #65 A Kiwi Infidel

It's a world in which facts and reason just don't cut it. It's also why destroying the Kaaba - a strategy some not too thoughtful people have advanced from time to time - would not destroy Islam. If that were to happen, we would immediately learn that the Real Kaaba - the one Allah promised to protect - is in the heart of every muslim. Too easy.

Beyond The Fringe -- The End of The World:

:D

re: #72 tradewind

I didn't have a Mac after my very first computer for years, and when I started using an iphone last year it was like a lightbulb went on.... why had I been fighting viruses, spyware and crashes (Oh MY) when the new mac OS was so intuitive and hassle-free for non-techies like me.
Not going back there, ever........

Caution: the first virus I ever saw was on a Macintosh.

Granted, today's Mac's are totally different from the Mac's of 1988, but still, no system is totally immune except the one that is never turned on.

Bedtime again. Night folks:)

re: #80 victor_yugo Indeed, I think the reason for the relative lack of attacks on Mac's has been that there is such a small proportion of Mac users to PC users, that hackers and what all go after PC's not Macs - more bang for the buck or whatever.

re: #52 tradewind

Save yourself the aggravation and just get a mac.
:)

My mac has been the most unreliable machine I've owned. 3 hardware problems in barely over a year. (2 of them were intermittent or had work-arounds - I can't close the cover to make it sleep or it might not wake up now and I'd have to hard power off and restart)
Their support is great, but they'd have to agree to pay me for my time to get it fixed for me to get another one. For this reliability, they should be half the price. I've already "spent" over $200 of my time on this one, and that doesn't include getting the sleep problem fixed. That might just have to wait until I get another computer.
I just wish Vista wasn't such a piece of crap; I need to replace another machine soon.

Buy a box of matchs.. lol

Btw: Thanks SB & Charles for posting this, it's one I missed somewhere along the way. Now I'm off, sleep well lizards

Sheeeesh. A NorKor shooter just got found doping at the Olympics. Huh? What did he have Attention Deficit Syndrome?

re: #68 metal man

I've been watching some of the other episodes after Armageddon the best so far is the one on Environmental Hysteria. Getting the protesters to sign a petition to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide was priceless.

Their episode on PETA, and the one on gun control are also great.

re: #63 pat

tradewind
Have Mac, Dell and HP at different places. Hate the Dell, love Macs, HPs are well made.
stevieray
We have Costco and Walmart here. I don't think either have a 4 Gig, but I will keep what you said in mind. Must fly to get to Apple store. All kids have Apples, of course.

You can go to the Apple store online. We do rather often.

Kids have had no luck with Dell laptops. When I bought this machine I did quite some bit of research re the most bang for the $, got the latest HP with a light scribe (just out) and it has been going strong ever since. Will probably get a new machine this year on GPs, but we don't "have to" yet.

We did pick up a Dell in a box (including 17" flatpanel monitor) for less than $500 night before last at WalMart for one of the girls whose laptop had to go out for repair.

There's another Catholic saying yet another book in the Bible can't be read literally. I think they just enjoy pissing on the literalists parade. The big meanies.

re: #83 Kosh's Shadow

My mac has been the most unreliable machine I've owned. 3 hardware problems in barely over a year. (2 of them were intermittent or had work-arounds - I can't close the cover to make it sleep or it might not wake up now and I'd have to hard power off and restart)
Their support is great, but they'd have to agree to pay me for my time to get it fixed for me to get another one. For this reliability, they should be half the price. I've already "spent" over $200 of my time on this one, and that doesn't include getting the sleep problem fixed. That might just have to wait until I get another computer.
I just wish Vista wasn't such a piece of crap; I need to replace another machine soon.

There is a Dell in a box with 17" flat panel monitor and XP on sale at WalMart right now for under $500.

re: #83 Kosh's Shadow

Have you considered a Linux-based system? I'm out in left field with Slackware and its derivatives, but I've heard some very good things about Ubuntu and Mandriva.

To be specific: nearly anyone I've talked to who has had trouble with one, found success with the other.

You might also consider PCLinuxOS or PC-BSD.

There's a live one in the 'Stealth Creationist Play' topic right now, by the way.

re: #80 victor_yugo

I'm sure you're right, but for now, it's nice not to be the low hanging fruit.
I don't like complicated...meaning error messages, incompatibilities, ' we have to close now' .....b.s. with my computer, so I'm much happier.

Gonna make a note to view this when I get home. (: After Top Gear, of course.

re: #87 Slumbering Behemoth

I had seen little bits of their show before but don't have Showtime. Since seeing the link have watched 4 of them. Thanks for linking them, I knew this stuff was Bullshit but it's fun to watch them put the facts out and show how the sheep just follow their emotions.

re: #90 galloping granny

There is a Dell in a box with 17" flat panel monitor and XP on sale at WalMart right now for under $500.

If I get a desktop, I want 500 GB minimum, and reasonably decent graphics. The cheapies just don't do it. Especially since I need XP pro (or Vista business or ultimate), plus some other stuff. I start with the cheap machine and by the time I add everything I need, it is over $1200.

re: #92 Charles

There's a live one in the 'Stealth Creationist Play' topic right now, by the way.

He seems polite so far.

re: #91 victor_yugo

Have you considered a Linux-based system? I'm out in left field with Slackware and its derivatives, but I've heard some very good things about Ubuntu and Mandriva.

To be specific: nearly anyone I've talked to who has had trouble with one, found success with the other.

You might also consider PCLinuxOS or PC-BSD.

I teach at an online university, and need real Microsoft Office to read the student's work; I can't rely on Open Office to work right. Otherwise, Linux would be fine for some things.
I also develop software for Windows (but right now it runs on Server 2008, so I'm not going to have it anyway)

re: #96 Kosh's Shadow

When it comes to hard drives these days, you can just buy a big one, take out the old one and slip it in. It's almost always just a matter of matching cords.

re: #96 Kosh's Shadow

If I get a desktop, I want 500 GB minimum, and reasonably decent graphics. The cheapies just don't do it. Especially since I need XP pro (or Vista business or ultimate), plus some other stuff. I start with the cheap machine and by the time I add everything I need, it is over $1200.

I don't know - this one came with 2GB RAM (might have been 2.5) and half the hard drive space you want. Slots for more and RAM is cheap these days. The kid who uses it is a gamer and the graphics are not bad. Decent refresh rate.

OK- the old man at the end creeps me out the most.

re: #74 stevieray

It's true. Here's the news.

Would you believe that I have never listened? Honest, I never have.

When Armageddon arrives, will Sasquatch come to judge the quick and the dead?

re: #92 Charles

There's a live one in the 'Stealth Creationist Play' topic right now, by the way.

I repeat a question I asked the other day:

What is with these people?

Keeping old threads alive....

Do they just want to get the last word?

/Inquiring minds want to know...

re: #92 Charles

Charles, you big meanie...
/just kidding/
I saw. Kept hearing the theme from Rawhide while I was reading....
' head em up move em out, rawhide...'

Total crap. Everyone knows it all ends 12/21/12.

/

re: #88 galloping granny
Hey there galloping granny! Never have owned a laptop myself, but as far as "Brand Names" go, I've had the best of luck with Dell (back in the day when you had to order one to be made up for you at Dell) cause they used to have great support and Help.
My HP 4 in one (printer, copier, fax and scanner) has never been more than a printer and copier - scanner and fax don't work worth a crap (and the instruction book is literally over 90 pages long in English) and HP's support and Help absolutely sucked.
Now I've got a Gateway (only cause it was the LAST XP model any one of four computer stores had (Circuit City, Compusa, Walmart and Best Buy where I got it) and although it's supposed to be their "Home Theater Edition" with 400 gig HD and it has the usual CDR AND a DVD player - it only came with about 800 meg of RAM (after deducting for the RAM taken up by the Video Card) I've since added 3 more gig of RAM - giving me nearly 4 gig RAM after deducting the RAM necessary for the Video Card and I love this machine - even though everyone told me "Don't ever buy a Gateway, they suck."
I do think it's sorta hit or miss with computers these days and it pains me to hear how much folks are paying for Mac's - especially cause a lot of them report trouble with their Mac's.

re: #97 MandyManners

He seems polite so far.

He is earnest in his convictions for sure. However, it still boils down to talking points lifted from AIG and the like.

re: #88 galloping granny

You can go to the Apple store online. We do rather often.

Kids have had no luck with Dell laptops. When I bought this machine I did quite some bit of research re the most bang for the $, got the latest HP with a light scribe (just out) and it has been going strong ever since. Will probably get a new machine this year on GPs, but we don't "have to" yet.

We did pick up a Dell in a box (including 17" flatpanel monitor) for less than $500 night before last at WalMart for one of the girls whose laptop had to go out for repair.

I'm pretty happy with my HP laptop. Only crapped out twice in 4 years. One repair I paid for, the other was covered under a recall ordered by a class action lawsuit. (Overheating graphics chip died before it's time. ZD7000 model with the nVidia Go5700 graphics.) Don't think I would buy a Dell new, but I did buy my old desktop machine from work when they upgraded me. It's now my Son's. It was a good deal, but I had to install all the software, from the OS up (they didn't provide a Windows license with it), so didn't have to deal with the crapware suite that Dell usually stuffs into their machines. First step with all preconfigured machines is to strip the crap out of them. If you're a computer noob, you can usually leave the stuff in place until you are comfortable enough to know what you are doing, then take out the crap you don't use.

I built my own desktop machine as a decent gaming rig a few years ago. Needs updating now, but still can hold it's own with recent games.

People that believe in Armageddon are just people who have crappy 401Ks:)

re: #107 realwest

Hey there galloping granny! Never have owned a laptop myself, but as far as "Brand Names" go, I've had the best of luck with Dell (back in the day when you had to order one to be made up for you at Dell) cause they used to have great support and Help.
My HP 4 in one (printer, copier, fax and scanner) has never been more than a printer and copier - scanner and fax don't work worth a crap (and the instruction book is literally over 90 pages long in English) and HP's support and Help absolutely sucked.
Now I've got a Gateway (only cause it was the LAST XP model any one of four computer stores had (Circuit City, Compusa, Walmart and Best Buy where I got it) and although it's supposed to be their "Home Theater Edition" with 400 gig HD and it has the usual CDR AND a DVD player - it only came with about 800 meg of RAM (after deducting for the RAM taken up by the Video Card) I've since added 3 more gig of RAM - giving me nearly 4 gig RAM after deducting the RAM necessary for the Video Card and I love this machine - even though everyone told me "Don't ever buy a Gateway, they suck."
I do think it's sorta hit or miss with computers these days and it pains me to hear how much folks are paying for Mac's - especially cause a lot of them report trouble with their Mac's.

Gateway is now owned by e-machines; you might get a good one or not. At least they're cheap.
My current desktop is a 6-year-old Gateway, but I've had to replace the hard drive and video card within the past year. Not bad, though, for the age.

re: #104 thelongblogger

Maybe they haven't opened the site for a while and are back-reading, catching up and reading threads that interest them.

Gonna get something to eat.

Although I admit sometimes I just want Armageddon to happen regardless of when, long as I get snuffed quickly and painlessly.

re: #98 Kosh's Shadow

I teach at an online university, and need real Microsoft Office to read the student's work; I can't rely on Open Office to work right. Otherwise, Linux would be fine for some things.

I have used Crossover Office (a WINE derivative) to run MS Office on Linux. One could almost say it worked too well.

220 Dates for the End of the World

On Hillary - "she is a witch". Literally.

Hahahaha!

John Hogue is such a twit.

That pathetic little blue beret . . .

Just too much.

I'm waiting for December 21, 2012 for the next great disappointment. I'll wake up that Friday morning, go to work, come home and eat a steak. Hopefully there'll be a Wings game on.

And tattoos are the mark of the devil.

Haha!

The guys in this video are comedy gold.

re: #109 CyanSnowHawk

I'm pretty happy with my HP laptop. Only crapped out twice in 4 years. One repair I paid for, the other was covered under a recall ordered by a class action lawsuit. (Overheating graphics chip died before it's time. ZD7000 model with the nVidia Go5700 graphics.) Don't think I would buy a Dell new, but I did buy my old desktop machine from work when they upgraded me. It's now my Son's. It was a good deal, but I had to install all the software, from the OS up (they didn't provide a Windows license with it), so didn't have to deal with the crapware suite that Dell usually stuffs into their machines. First step with all preconfigured machines is to strip the crap out of them. If you're a computer noob, you can usually leave the stuff in place until you are comfortable enough to know what you are doing, then take out the crap you don't use.

I built my own desktop machine as a decent gaming rig a few years ago. Needs updating now, but still can hold it's own with recent games.

All of them shove a suite of crapware into their machines these days. Though with an Apple you do get functional, full version software.

The very first thing I do with every Windows machine that comes into the house is strip out all the trialware, the "antivirus" that isn't worth crap and so on. Then I disable Windows auto-update (there are TWO places you have to disable this to really shut it off) & Active X. And then I install any other browser and email program other than IE/Outlook and set them as defaults and add some decent (and free) security stuff.

Well, the Poles are doing their bit to stave off Armageddon.
Russians aren't happy.
This is no time to go wobbly, West.....

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]

re: #109 CyanSnowHawk " so didn't have to deal with the crapware suite that Dell usually stuffs into their machines." It's not just Dell - I've fooled around some with MAC's (friend is professional artist, webpage designer and needs Mac for the artistic abilities it offers) and - maybe because I'm so use to PC's, I hated it - he kept telling me "it's intuitive" and either I have no intuition - which I know isn't true - or that was just a line from Apple's marketing department.
But ALL PC's these days come with tons of crap you never asked to have installed - took me - a total tech tard, btw - the better part of 4 hours to hunt down and uninstall all the crap on my old Dell and my current Gateway.

re: #112 tradewind

Good Point.

re: #96 Kosh's Shadow

If I get a desktop, I want 500 GB minimum, and reasonably decent graphics. The cheapies just don't do it. Especially since I need XP pro (or Vista business or ultimate), plus some other stuff. I start with the cheap machine and by the time I add everything I need, it is over $1200.

You should be able to assemble a system for under $1000 that is reasonably powerful.

Check out MaximumPC. It's a PC magazine focused on mid to high spec rigs. They have many useful articles, for Noob through expert. They probably have the specs for their budget rigs online.

I'd find the link for you myself, but they recently change their pages and I can't find anything there right now.

re: #118 Idle Drifter

I'm waiting for December 21, 2012 for the next great disappointment. I'll wake up that Friday morning, go to work, come home and eat a steak. Hopefully there'll be a Wings game on.

Note that this is the date for the end of the MAYA world - not the entire Earth.

Speaking of blue berets or helmets, commander Schultz Graziano of UNIFIL says that Israel is violating resolution 1701, but Hizbullshit isn't.
Article here

During a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Graziano cited the IAF forays over Lebanon and the village of Ghajar, which he called "a permanent violation of 1701" and "a permanent area under occupation."

In contrast, he said that the UN enjoyed excellent cooperation with Hizbullah and with the local Lebanese people.

He conceded that his soldiers were not trying to prevent weapons smuggling from Syria as demanded by the UNSC because the Lebanese government had not requested such action.

So, does UN mean useless nincompoops or what?

US OUT OF THE UN. UN OUT OF THE US!

re: #127 buzzsawmonkey

What about Jehovah's Circumstantial Evidence?

Jehovah's Forensic Science!

re: #111 Kosh's Shadow
Huh. Well my Gateway is only about 15 months old and so far so good (well after I added all that "extra" RAM). It's pretty much a crapshoot with PC's these days I think.

re: #130 thelongblogger

Jehovah's Forensic Science!

Jehovah's Smoking Gun!

re: #132 victor_yugo

Am I going to hell for that one?

re: #127 buzzsawmonkey

You are very funny. :)

re: #115 HelloDare

220 Dates for the End of the World

Two-hundred and twenty-first time's a charm.

re: #126 CyanSnowHawk

You should be able to assemble a system for under $1000 that is reasonably powerful.

Check out MaximumPC. It's a PC magazine focused on mid to high spec rigs. They have many useful articles, for Noob through expert. They probably have the specs for their budget rigs online.

I'd find the link for you myself, but they recently change their pages and I can't find anything there right now.

I just don't have the time - but I probably will have to build one, or get a generic laptop - and install the OS myself, because I insist on a real installation disk, which is, from what I can tell, completely unavailable with packaged systems. All you get is a "restore" disk that wipes out your data and re-installs all the crapware. A real install disk allows a "repair" installation, which has saved me in the past, when they cost $10 with a system purchase.

Jehovah's Witness Protection?

re: #117 Syrah

John Hogue is such a twit.

That pathetic little blue beret . . .

Just too much.

Yes- but if you add an "e", turn the "w" upside down, convert the "t" to an "r" and rearrange the letters, you get merit.

re: #133 victor_yugo

Am I going to hell for that one?

Prob'ly.

re: #129 Kosh's Shadow
ROTFLMAO! "US OUT OF THE UN. UN OUT OF THE US!" has been my mantra for years now.

As I keep telling myself, one day in the far future, our Sun will become a Red Giant, the oceans of the Earth will boil off, and the Earth will become a smoldering cinder.

So, have a nice day!

re: #139 thelongblogger

Prob'ly.

Oh shit.

re: #128 galloping granny

Note that this is the date for the end of the MAYA world - not the entire Earth.

And it's not really an end of the world thing, but more like an end of an era/epoch and the beginning of a new one. Or something like that.

re: #128 galloping granny

Unfortunately, the Nuts are screaming it applies to us too despite the Mayans being a dead culture and civilization long before the end date. I still enjoy my steak.

re: #141 rawmuse

As I keep telling myself, one day in the far future, our Sun will become a Red Giant, the oceans of the Earth will boil off, and the Earth will become a smoldering cinder.

So, have a nice day!

There is a super massive black hole at the center of our galaxy. Sleep well!

re: #136 Kosh's Shadow

I just don't have the time - but I probably will have to build one, or get a generic laptop - and install the OS myself, because I insist on a real installation disk, which is, from what I can tell, completely unavailable with packaged systems. All you get is a "restore" disk that wipes out your data and re-installs all the crapware. A real install disk allows a "repair" installation, which has saved me in the past, when they cost $10 with a system purchase.

Most of them these days you do not even get a restore disk. What you get is directions and a Wizard to help you burn your own restore disk. You even have to buy the darned disk.

re: #133 victor_yugo
Probably. But hang in there, there's lots of us here who will join you there!

re: #141 rawmuse

As I keep telling myself, one day in the far future, our Sun will become a Red Giant, the oceans of the Earth will boil off, and the Earth will become a smoldering cinder.

So, have a nice day!

Why go into the far future? Two hundred years from now, nobody will care what you tell yourself. (As I keep reminding myself.)

re: #141 rawmuse

I frequently cheer myself up with this thought too.

re: #140 realwest

ROTFLMAO! "US OUT OF THE UN. UN OUT OF THE US!" has been my mantra for years now.

I think I got it from you.

re: #144 Idle Drifter

I'll...... PIMF

re: #140 realwest

But collect the overdue parking fines first.....

I have some ideas for my next computer, but they'll wait; I should have gone to bed an hour ago.

Good night, lizards

re: #46 pat

BTW, how about the price of the 3 Gig Dell Laptop? $795 at Walmart. I prefer HPs and Apples, but that is a low price.

If it comes with Vista, it will need those 3 gigs to run anything like 1 gig with XP or OSX.

If it comes with vista, it's worth nothing.

re: #144 Idle Drifter

Unfortunately, the Nuts are screaming it applies to us too despite the Mayans being a dead culture and civilization long before the end date. I still enjoy my steak.

RE all those dates for the end of the world: Jesus specifically stated that no man would know the day nor the hour. Thus, all the dates are wrong.

Oh wait, what if I want chicken or pork on Dec. 21, 2012?

Was it 01/01/01 that the world was supposed to end? I can't remember the date but one of our employees quit about five days before because he truly thought the world was going to end and he wanted to party it up before dooms day. LOL

re: #12 Killgore Trout

They'll be in good company.

P.S. Note to Christians; Israel is not your personal doomsday machine. It creeps out the Jews and makes the rest of us uncomfortable.

Note to Killgore: Not all of us think that Israel is our "personal doomsday machine".

re: #150 Kosh's Shadow
Ah, one of my finer moments out here! LOL!

My prediction? The date of the end of the world, when converted to binary, will contain 0s and 1s.

re: #137 Racer X

Jehovah's Witness Protection?

Here ya go, scroll down a bit for the caption.

re: #154 astronmr20

If it comes with Vista, it will need those 3 gigs to run anything like 1 gig with XP or OSX.

If it comes with vista, it's worth nothing.

One of the lizards just replaced her machine with a 3 gig machine. She was going to install XP and leave VISTA in a partition, until I mentioned the RAM usage. She checked. Almost 1 gig RAM to sit and idle.

re: #162 buzzsawmonkey

The workmen's comp claims for the end of the world will be a real bitch.

ROTFLMAO.

/Well, not really, I'm an employer. No doubt the insurance company and ourselves will be one of the few yet alive.

Umm.... sometimes I suspect Penn and Teller overreach, and this may be one of those cases.

I know a little about the survival expert they cite -- Tom Brown -- and the guy has nothing to do with the end of the world, etc ad nauseum. He's a sportsman. Lots of hunters, hikers -- and various other people who might encounter tough conditions -- take his course and others like it.

Watch the video and it's pretty clear they're painting it to be something it's not.

I say, "Boo."

Then again, Penn and Teller might have a somewhat more pungent word for it.

"Lo, I am become Death, Destroyer of Worlds."
from the Baghavad Gita

re: #166 Cognito

Umm.... sometimes I suspect Penn and Teller overreach, .

good pick up

/

The only to prevent the end of the world is to vote for obama obviously

/s

way

Well, I am in to survivalist skillz, but not because I think the world will end, but because I do not wish for my personal world to end, as long as I have other options.

Dobroi nochi, ya'll.
Duck and cover practice resumes tomorrow.

re: #55 Killgore Trout

Don't buy a Dell. They are crap and are heavily infested with proprietary software that you can never get rid of. I was given a new Dell a few years ago and just ended up salvaging $250 worth of hardware from. The rest went in the garbage.

I build my own computers, and computers for my parents.

After some issues with a computer I built for my parents a couple of years ago, I suggested that they get a $499 Dell quad core desktop machine with 3 GB of ram. It had relatively little crapware on it, and it was all simple to remove. Probably 90% of computer problems I see are caused by pre-installed crapware, so it definitely bugs me

Of course, some people might consider Vista to be crapware. I use OS X at work, and it has it's strengths and weaknesses compared to Vista, but I wouldn't spend the premium to get a Mac for myself.

re: #157 Pvt Bin Jammin

Was it 01/01/01 that the world was supposed to end? I can't remember the date but one of our employees quit about five days before because he truly thought the world was going to end and he wanted to party it up before dooms day. LOL

I thought it was supposed to be 1/1/00. Ya know, Y2K. Had a relative who bought a bunch of "end of the world" dehydrated food and such.

Me? I was at a New Year's Eve party, having a blast. We turned on the tube to watch the ball drop in Times Square. I shit you not, once the ball dropped and the countdown ended, the screen went to static. Someone at NBC was having one on the nation, I think.

The reaction of folks at the party was mixed. I was rolling on the floor laughing, and that ain't no internet euphemism.

re: #121 galloping granny

All of them shove a suite of crapware into their machines these days. Though with an Apple you do get functional, full version software.

The very first thing I do with every Windows machine that comes into the house is strip out all the trialware, the "antivirus" that isn't worth crap and so on. Then I disable Windows auto-update (there are TWO places you have to disable this to really shut it off) & Active X. And then I install any other browser and email program other than IE/Outlook and set them as defaults and add some decent (and free) security stuff.

Not too different from what I do. I set Windows update to Notify only, although I tend to install almost all the updates, just avoiding the drivers for the laptop. They always seem to mess those up. I run FireFox and Thunderbird for browser and email and also use Opera for some browsing. I've used AVG Pro for a while on the home network and am pretty happy with it, also use ZoneAlarm instead of the Windows firewall. Not much of a performance hit and give me fairly good configuration control. The most trouble I have with any software is the HP suite and drivers for my networked All-in-One Officejet, but it's been pretty stable since my last install. I won't buy another HP printer/fax/scanner/copier system though.

I played with Linux for a while last year until one of my removable drives died. One of the Ubuntu distros. It was okay, but didn't have a driver for my Creative X-Fi sound card, which was disappointing, but the built in sound on the MotherBoard handled it fine. Just didn't like to have to set up two speaker systems for when I switched from one OS to another.

re: #172 tradewind

Dobroi nochi, ya'll.
Duck and cover practice resumes tomorrow.

I am old enough to remember the duck and cover drills.

I remember thinking it a bit silly to be worried about one plane with one bomb.

Well it's been grand as usual all y'all but I gotta get some sleep NOW!
I hope you all have a GREAT EVENING/EARLY MORNING and that I get to see you down the road.

Goodnight, all.

Oh my......Jerome Corsi is set to appear on the white supremacist radio show 'The political cesspool' that Charles has blogged about. With friends like this idiot, who need enemies?

re: #175 buzzsawmonkey

Well, la-di-da! Mr. Somebody's got his own personal world!

You didn't get yours? I thought they came as standard options... I would contact your manufacturer tomorrow.

re: #178 realwest

Well it's been grand as usual all y'all but I gotta get some sleep NOW!
I hope you all have a GREAT EVENING/EARLY MORNING and that I get to see you down the road.

Goodnight, all.

See ya, real!

re: #179 MrPaulRevere

I forgot a link.......[Link: www.huffingtonpost.com...] This is very bad news.

OMG I totally get it now. If we are allowed to change a letter in Nostrasdamus's predictions for the anti-christ named Mabus then I think we can clearly see that it is Obama as in Mybus or My bus. See?

////

re: #129 Kosh's Shadow

Want to gather the Lizard Army, and have them come here, and turn the UN into affordable housing?

re: #166 Cognito

You may be right on the specific class but they did frame it as training to survive Armageddon. And pointed out that keeping survival supplies was ok.

re: #183 MrPaulRevere

I forgot a link.......[Link: www.huffingtonpost.com...] This is very bad news.

Damn!

He has really been making his rounds in many mediums with some great information.. he was even on the local talker in Charlotte today.

However, it seems he's not checking on the hosts he agrees to appear with...

Shame.

re: #175 buzzsawmonkey

Well, la-di-da! Mr. Somebody's got his own personal world!

Don't worry, they hate you there, too.

re: #79 Archimedes

Beyond The Fringe -- The End of The World:
[Link: www.youtube.com...]

:D

This is actually quite funny. These guys predate Monty Python. I was introduced to them by my parents, who had tapes of their shows. You have to patiently listen, but there is real comedic value here.

re: #174 Slumbering Behemoth

You are right, it must have been 2000. (Show's you how much I know about the troofer prophecies. LOL We partied it up as well but had to cover for that a**hole that quit.

Keeping survival supplies is not just OK, it is ordinary wisdom. We have a word to describe those who do not, they are called "victims".

re: #157 Pvt Bin Jammin

Did he come back, and sheepishly ask for his job back?

/Probably still hasn't recovered from the partay!

re: #186 Metal Man

You may be right on the specific class but they did frame it as training to survive Armageddon. And pointed out that keeping survival supplies was ok.

That's my point -- Penn and Teller framed it that way. If you listen to the class-related people in the video, they say nothing about Armageddon or the Boogie Man or whatever.

It's just dishonest reporting.

It casts their other work into question, in my mind.

re: #191 rawmuse

Keeping survival supplies is not just OK, it is ordinary wisdom. We have a word to describe those who do not, they are called "victims".

I am stockpiling chocolate.

re: #190 Pvt Bin Jammin

You are right, it must have been 2000. (Show's you how much I know about the troofer prophecies. LOL We partied it up as well but had to cover for that a**hole that quit.

Bet the a-hole didn't have the stones to show up on jan. 2nd to ask for his job back, did he?

re: #187 astronmr20

This allows Obama supporters to paint him in a VERY bad light. Mr. Corsi may have some good points to make, but his appalling lack of judgment discredits principled opponents of Barry.

re: #192 NY Nana

No, but once in a while we see him around town. He still likes us. He is probably still in party mode waiting for the next Armageddon.

re: #184 Eyes of Blue

OMG I totally get it now. If we are allowed to change a letter in Nostrasdamus's predictions for the anti-christ named Mabus then I think we can clearly see that it is Obama as in Mybus or My bus. See?

////

No, no- you forget the silent H, so it's My Bush.

For this asshole - today was the end.

Michael Rodriguez, the first of the infamous “Texas Seven” group to receive an execution date, was executed by lethal injection and pronounced dead Thursday night at 6:20 p.m.

re: #195 Syrah

I am stockpiling chocolate.

Chocolate is food, yes, and full of lots of good things. Having been thru an earthquake or 2, I have my disaster stash, and it has chocolate. Even for The End of the World you need chocolate.

re: #177 Syrah

I am old enough to remember the duck and cover drills.

I still hear this in my head!

We had to sit on the floor, in the hallway, in school, and practice.

/Those were the good old days!

re: #196 Slumbering Behemoth

See my #198. LOL What a loser he is.

re: #124 realwest

Yeah, they all got the crapware now, but it's been a problem from almost the beginning of the PC. I started off with Amiga Computers. They had a great OS and were easy to program and the hardware was miles ahead of both IBM and Apple. Then Commodore imploded and took the Amiga with it. Bought a Gateway when a Pentium III @500MHz was a cutting edge machine. It just worked, but I had to clean it up right out of the box. I've built all my desktop machines since then.

Don't feel bad about not getting the whole MAC meme. It's just different enough from Windows that transitioning is a pain in the ass. And I think if a MAC fanboy ever heard me curse Apple and Jobs the way I daily curse Microsoft and Gates, he might kill me. I swear, those RoPers have nothing on MAC fanboys.
/ Okay, no beheading, but their complaints will make you wish you were dead.

re: #195 Syrah

I am stockpiling chocolate.

I'm stockpiling empty beer bottles. When the apocalypse hits, and bottles are the new currency, I will be King of the Wasteland!

Crap, wait. What if it's bottle caps? Damnit!

re: #199 Sharmuta

No, no- you forget the silent H, so it's My Bush.

Oh, that's right Sharmuta I forgot. What does a silent H sound like again?

re: #193 Cognito

And how does one then argue these points without framing the argument? I have not researched the person you claim is teaching wilderness survival. Do you know he does not sell some of the classes with an Armageddon twist. I am a bit of a survivalist but not for Armageddon. For tornado or flood in my case.

OK, here is a question for you PC guys. I love Netflix, and I want that "watch on demand" service they offer, but they only have it for PC software, and I am a Mac guy. I want a cheap PC whose only job will be to download and watch the movies from Netflix. The PC will sit next to my HDTV and will be connected to it. What do you all recommend? I would not like to spend more than $500, but could, in a pinch.

re: #198 Pvt Bin Jammin

No, but once in a while we see him around town. He still likes us. He is probably still in party mode waiting for the next Armageddon.

It's funny that you brought up that story, because earlier I was wondering how many people make lousy financial decisions based on bogus end times nonsense.

re: #198 Pvt Bin Jammin

No, but once in a while we see him around town. He still likes us. He is probably still in party mode waiting for the next Armageddon.

I wonder if he works. Does he wear the same party hat? ;)

Seriously, to wait for Armageddon, when there is so much to do? Not me! It is not in our hands.

OT: Has anyone heard from Cartman? He had a medication problem last night, and as far as I know, hasn't posted yet today.

re: #202 NY Nana

I still hear this in my head!

We had to sit on the floor, in the hallway, in school, and practice.

/Those were the good old days!

From 1991: This wasn't practice.

re: #176 CyanSnowHawk

Not too different from what I do. I set Windows update to Notify only, although I tend to install almost all the updates, just avoiding the drivers for the laptop. They always seem to mess those up. I run FireFox and Thunderbird for browser and email and also use Opera for some browsing. I've used AVG Pro for a while on the home network and am pretty happy with it, also use ZoneAlarm instead of the Windows firewall. Not much of a performance hit and give me fairly good configuration control. The most trouble I have with any software is the HP suite and drivers for my networked All-in-One Officejet, but it's been pretty stable since my last install. I won't buy another HP printer/fax/scanner/copier system though.

I played with Linux for a while last year until one of my removable drives died. One of the Ubuntu distros. It was okay, but didn't have a driver for my Creative X-Fi sound card, which was disappointing, but the built in sound on the MotherBoard handled it fine. Just didn't like to have to set up two speaker systems for when I switched from one OS to another.

I used to use AVG, but recently they have released a new version that is essentially bloatware. It slowed down my machine so much & hogged so many resources that I could barely keep a browser window open. Switched to Comodo and I'm very happy with that.

re: #206 Eyes of Blue

Oh, that's right Sharmuta I forgot. What does a silent H sound like again?

I'm not sure....but if we flip that "M" upside down and realize there is another silent H it's "Why Bush". Cue dramatic music.

re: #185 NY Nana

Want to gather the Lizard Army, and have them come here, and turn the UN into affordable housing?

I'm getting older, maybe ready for affordable housing. Can I have a room with a view? LOL

re: #209 rawmuse

How new is your mac? Most newer macs will run windows I'm told by the mac guy at work.

(Hat tip: Slumbering Behemoth.)

Devout ateist, not that there's anything wrong with that.

/Waddy Watchel

re: #213 galloping granny

I used to use AVG, but recently they have released a new version that is essentially bloatware. It slowed down my machine so much & hogged so many resources that I could barely keep a browser window open. Switched to Comodo and I'm very happy with that.

That was Version 8, right? I think I stayed with 7.5 when I heard about the problems. Which means that I'll have to switch when my licenses come up for renewal.

re: #199 Sharmuta

So, wait... the anti-christ is actually your... aw, never mind.

re: #207 Metal Man

And how does one then argue these points without framing the argument? I have not researched the person you claim is teaching wilderness survival. Do you know he does not sell some of the classes with an Armageddon twist. I am a bit of a survivalist but not for Armageddon. For tornado or flood in my case.

I've never heard a peep about Tom Brown talking about Armageddon, and he very plainly does no such thing in the video.

You're calling it "framing the argument" but honestly that's ridiculous.

If I produce a short documentary about people who have a habit of giving their pets long, gross, open-mouthed kisses, then I spice in a bit of you saying, "Oh, yes, I love my dog!"... have I framed the argument?

Or have I perpetrated something dishonest?

re: #209 rawmuse

OK, here is a question for you PC guys. I love Netflix, and I want that "watch on demand" service they offer, but they only have it for PC software, and I am a Mac guy. I want a cheap PC whose only job will be to download and watch the movies from Netflix. The PC will sit next to my HDTV and will be connected to it. What do you all recommend? I would not like to spend more than $500, but could, in a pinch.

That under $500 machine I mentioned above would fit the bill nicely. But if you don't need a monitor, Staples has one for under $400.

re: #218 CyanSnowHawk

That was Version 8, right? I think I stayed with 7.5 when I heard about the problems. Which means that I'll have to switch when my licenses come up for renewal.

That was version 8. Had to switch when the license ran out just as you will. Switch to Comodo.

re: #211 NY Nana

I'm not sure if he works anymore. He's one of those types that is perpetually in and out of AA. Actually, a nice young man, but with big problems.

I've not seen Cartman. So hoping he is doing well.

"splice" in a bit, that is.

re: #202 NY Nana

I still hear this in my head!

We had to sit on the floor, in the hallway, in school, and practice.

/Those were the good old days!

I am not sure.

I think I remember being shown that film.

It was so long ago.

re: #216 Metal Man

How new is your mac? Most newer macs will run windows I'm told by the mac guy at work.

I have an Intel Macbook Pro, but I need it for work. It goes where I go. I want something that stays put, so I can let wifey and mother watch whatever they want.

re: #209 rawmuse

OK, here is a question for you PC guys. I love Netflix, and I want that "watch on demand" service they offer, but they only have it for PC software, and I am a Mac guy. I want a cheap PC whose only job will be to download and watch the movies from Netflix. The PC will sit next to my HDTV and will be connected to it. What do you all recommend? I would not like to spend more than $500, but could, in a pinch.

I recommend spending zero.

I spoke to someone at Netflix a few days ago and they said they've got Mac compatibility coming soon.

So they say, at least.

re: #216 Metal Man

How new is your mac? Most newer macs will run windows I'm told by the mac guy at work.

Newer Macs do indeed run Windows & stuff. We've had a number of Mac laptops around here. The iBooks seem to be problematic. The MacBook is an entirely different story - very reliable.

Thomas Dolby - Armageddon

re: #217 Killian Bundy

Devout ateist, not that there's anything wrong with that.

What's an ateist? What would an ateist be devoted too? That's a real head scratcher.

re: #201 rawmuse

Chocolate is food, yes, and full of lots of good things. Having been thru an earthquake or 2, I have my disaster stash, and it has chocolate. Even for The End of the World you need chocolate.

I think it might work as a "currency" or exchange good as well. In a "Mad Max" world, he who has the most chocolate will be king.

re: #221 galloping granny

That under $500 machine I mentioned above would fit the bill nicely. But if you don't need a monitor, Staples has one for under $400.

Something like that would probably do nicely, as the cheapest graphics chip can handle a TV sized movie now.

If you want HD though, downloading from NetFlix is the wrong choice altogether.

re: #214 Sharmuta

I'm not sure....but if we flip that "M" upside down and realize there is another silent H it's "Why Bush". Cue dramatic music.

Whoa, one thread at a time.

/not that you're required to be consistent

re: #214 Sharmuta

I'm not sure....but if we flip that "M" upside down and realize there is another silent H it's "Why Bush". Cue dramatic music.

Oh thanks a lot. Now I won't sleep tonight. : )

re: #209 rawmuse

Have you tried bootcamp?

re: #232 CyanSnowHawk

If the movies look like Youtube vids look on my HDTV, then yes, I will pass on the downloads. They are fun, but not high def.

re: #227 Cognito

I recommend spending zero.

I spoke to someone at Netflix a few days ago and they said they've got Mac compatibility coming soon.

So they say, at least.

Well, that's the cheapest option so far.

re: #230 Slumbering Behemoth

What's an ateist? What would an ateist be devoted too? That's a real head scratcher.

Probably has something to do with food.

re: #235 Neo Con since 9-11

Not yet, it is worth a look.

Scientists: Atom-smasher Won't Bring Armageddon

Back. What'd I miss?

re: #238 CyanSnowHawk

Probably has something to do with food.

Oh, I do like food. I guess I'm kind of devoted to it also, as well as air and water.

re: #225 Syrah

OMG, Syrah, I always figured you for a smart thirty year or someting year old....I think I remember that too.

re: #240 Racer X

Scientists: Atom-smasher Won't Bring Armageddon

That's a common misinterpretation of the original Aramaic: We're supposed to keep a watchful eye out for "Adam's Masher."

Easy mistake.

re: #230 Slumbering Behemoth

What's an ateist? What would an ateist be devoted too? That's a real head scratcher.

Atheist, my mispelling bad.

/get with it

Later, Lizards! Thanks for all the PC tips.
On the 1-10 scale for this Penn and Teller, I give it a 3 or 4. Too preachy and vindictive.

re: #205 Slumbering Behemoth

I'm stockpiling empty beer bottles. When the apocalypse hits, and bottles are the new currency, I will be King of the Wasteland!

Crap, wait. What if it's bottle caps? Damnit!

Glass, like obsidian, can be made into arrow heads. The bottle caps, they can be sewn into clothing to make a type of mail shirt.

With a little imagination we could really have really some fun with this survivalist paranoia

re: #240 Racer X

Dang. Although I think it would've been cool to be converted to strange matter. All midnight blue and gooey. q:

re: #240 Racer X

Scientists: Atom-smasher Won't Bring Armageddon

The Large Hadron Collider will not destroy the Earth!

All you Luddites out there have my personal guarantee on that.

re: #246 rawmuse

Later, Lizards! Thanks for all the PC tips.
On the 1-10 scale for this Penn and Teller, I give it a 3 or 4. Too preachy and vindictive.

Yes and it's hard to dance to.

re: #217 Killian Bundy

Devout ateist, not that there's anything wrong with that.

/Waddy Watchel

Nothing wrong with that, eh?

Easy for you to say ! I'm still paying for all the crap that I ate ...

/

re: #249 CyanSnowHawk

The Large Hadron Collider will not destroy the Earth!

All you Luddites out there have my personal guarantee on that.

I do love the bit of the video where the woman is saying, "This is perfectly safe! Nothing to worry about!" while wearing a helmet in a bunker miles beneath the earth's surface.

re: #244 Cognito

That's a common misinterpretation of the original Aramaic: We're supposed to keep a watchful eye out for "Adam's Masher."

Easy mistake.

LOL!

re: #245 Killian Bundy

Atheist, my mispelling bad.

You're a devout atheist?

re: #194 buzzsawmonkey

Monty Python is merely Beyond the Fringe with a little more obscenity and a an expanded batch of skits. MP would never have existed without Beyond the Fringe.

My folks were lucky enough to see them live.

They had some extremely funny skits and did a great job of incorporating music.

And they exchanged frank words in their respective languages.

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Bo Dudley:

re: #183 MrPaulRevere

I forgot a link.......[Link: www.huffingtonpost.com...] This is very bad news.

You can reach Corsi here and tell him it's a bad idea. Click on his name on the bottom of the page.

re: #243 Pvt Bin Jammin

OMG, Syrah, I always figured you for a smart thirty year or someting year old....I think I remember that too.

I was a smart thirty-something . . .

Growing old sucks, but it sure beats the alternative.

re: #249 CyanSnowHawk

The Large Hadron Collider will not destroy the Earth!

All you Luddites out there have my personal guarantee on that.

If it does, I'm holding you personally responsible.

The Large Hadron Collider: The End Of The Universe?

Good one - nice presentation on the collider.

rawmuse had a good idea. I'm off to bed. Later lizards.

And you Luddites, remember my guarantee, it will ease your troubled breasts.

re: #260 CyanSnowHawk

And you Luddites, remember my guarantee, it will ease your troubled breasts.

You leave my man-boobs out of this!

re: #12 Killgore Trout

They'll be in good company.

P.S. Note to Christians; Israel is not your personal doomsday machine. It creeps out the Jews and makes the rest of us uncomfortable.

KT!
Y'know how it can be annoying when someone makes a broad-brush statement?
P&T, you and a whole buncha folks are so very wrong about what I've come to believe and know.

re: #208 buzzsawmonkey

Before the US finally entered WWII, it was isolationist...and Americans went to Canada to enlist. Pearl Harbor was contrived by FDR and his cronies...and thus we went to war....he knew ahead of time, and did nothing to alert the Armed Forces there, and the rest is history.

After WWII, and the use of the atom bomb, and during the Korean War, no one really knew what to expect. With hindsight, I realize just how little 'Duck and Cover' would accomplish..but what else could they do for kids like me, who had lived during WWII here, with special curtains, etc., and air raid wardens patrolling the streets at night, all civilians...I still remember the tin hats and batons they carried..that they would knock on the window with on first floor apartments on the street where I lived, if any light was showing...all 3 and 4 story apartment buildings. It was a part of life, just like rationing, saving all tin, etc., for the war effort.

We survived it, and I do not feel that my friends were traumatized specifically by this. Some lost their Dads, who fought in the European theater, and also in the Far East.....that had an effect. So did the windows with flags with stars on for each son who died in WWII...

I seriously wonder what would be done now, to prepare people, just in case...

The Air Raid shelters are long gone, not that they would be much help.

Sorry to say it, but I do not think that there has been any sort of preparation by the Government...just in case. Duck and Cover just is not enough now.

re: #261 victor_yugo

You leave my man-boobs out of this!

See that ?

Just one more awful consequence of being an ateist ...

re: #220 Cognito
You have framed your argument to me on a point so specific I can't argue with you. Is Tom Brown (if this is the right one ) weird yes. Are there survival schools out there preying on the paranoid and teaching them no real world skills yes.
But I will concede the point that they may have taken something out of context to juice up the piece.