In retrospect .. I shouldnt have gone there.

Been there, done that.

I went there, paid too much, and still could not find a proper restroom.

Fellow travelers are glamorous through red-colored glasses.

-DE

Somehow all the fun of travel has been taken away in recent years. If its not madmen with religion, its scammers and kidnappers. I mean .. I like a vacation like anyone else, I just dont want to play the part of Indiana Jones while enjoying my vacation !

no matter where you go, there you are.

Giant crabs aren't glamorous even in retrospect.

Seens to me the further I go, the behinder I get.

I saw the Grand Canyon flying to New York.

re: #7 HelloDare

Giant crabs aren't glamorous even in retrospect.

Giant crabs are why i have a safe full of 30.06 black tip and the bolt actions to fire it from.

re: #10 itellu3times

I saw the Grand Canyon flying to New York.

but would all the New Yorkers fit in it?

re: #6 redc1c4

no matter where you go, there you are.

Buckaroo Banzai? I thought I was the only person on earth who had seen that movie

Hey, the Digg guys are on Jimmy Fallon. Didn't Digg bury a bunch of LGF articles awhile ago?

weet dreams all!

gmsc's money tips #22:

I've been getting serious on these posts, so it's time for a little more fun with money.

It's always fun to find money, such as that quarter down in the cushions, or the dollar in your pocket you forgot about. Sometimes, you can lose much more and not know about it. If you live in the US, you might want to check out Missing Money.com – it's a complete database of records from all the US states' unclaimed property divisions. It's free to search, and if you do find you have missing money, the site also links directly to each state's treasury office, where you can follow up, and can also usually proceed claiming your lost money for free (they usually will need appropriate documentation, though).

Speaking of official US sites and money, you're probably familiar with the fact that you have the right to check your credit report once a year for free. If you ask most people about a site at which to do this, they'll probably mention FreeCreditReport.com. However, that now-infamous site has numerous consumer complaints about it, as their service is not free.

The real site you should be using to check your credit annually is the one set up by the US Federal Government for this purpose: AnnualCreditReport.com.

Why am I putting this in the middle of a "fun" post? Because the FTC is warning people about FreeCreditReport.com, and doing so by parodying the FreeCreditReport.com ads (FTC ad# 1, FTC ad #2)!

Ever gone to a cashier, and they have trouble giving you the correct change? You might want to send them to FunBrain's Change Maker game. You can play in various levels (Easy, Medium, Hard and Super Brain), and in various currencies. In the game itself, you're given the amount of the purchase, as well as the amount of money given to you. You get the change by clicking on the various bills and coins that you need, with 1 click giving you one of the bill/coin you clicked on. If you need more than one, you simply click on the bill/coin again. When you think you have the right change, you click the go button. If you get it right, your score increases, and money accrues in your "piggy bank".

Ever seen origami done with money? You can learn to do some yourself at the Money Origami site. You can do things like glasses and bowties, and even spiders and butterflies!

Dan Tague is an artist who also folds bills, but not in origami fashion. As you can see in that link to his gallery, he folds bills in a way to reveal messages in amusing and amazing ways, similar to the 9/11 "hidden images" on bills that were so popular a few years ago.

I started this post talking about finding lost money, so I'll finish by returning to that. Did you ever wonder where those bills in your pocket have been? There are ways to trace its path online. If you're in the US, you can use Where's George? to find out where your bill has been (assuming someone else already entered it when they had it, which happens with surprising frequency). Canadians can use Where's Willy?, and Europeans can use Euro Bill Tracker.

re: #15 ggt

weet dreams all!

Good night, ggt!

re: #13 srb1976

Buckaroo Banzai? I thought I was the only person on earth who had seen that movie

Add another viewer. I remember it as "Wherever you go . . . " But now I'm nit-picking.

re: #13 srb1976

Buckaroo Banzai? I thought I was the only person on earth who had seen that movie

I saw it in the theaters. However, I still try to count myself among the people who haven't seen it.

re: #5 Buster Bunny

Somehow all the fun of travel has been taken away in recent years. If its not madmen with religion, its scammers and kidnappers. I mean .. I like a vacation like anyone else, I just dont want to play the part of Indiana Jones while enjoying my vacation !

If you're an American, it can be challenging. There are tons of Americans pretending to be Canadians with little Canadian flags attached to their backpacks. It frosts my sister, who lives in Canada, but then I tease her that she's an American pretending to be a Canadian, too.

theroux is wrong.

Every time I go to Singapore or Hong Kong, I feel like james bond. ;-)

They say getting there is half the fun.

I say, "they" never had to drive past a pig farm.

re: #20 tackle

If you're an American, it can be challenging. There are tons of Americans pretending to be Canadians with little Canadian flags attached to their backpacks. It frosts my sister, who lives in Canada, but then I tease her that she's an American pretending to be a Canadian, too.

So then they're not even up with Michelle O in finding a time to be proud of her country, and they have to masquerade? Or is it something else?

re: #19 gmsc

I saw it in the theaters. However, I still try to count myself among the people who haven't seen it.

I can claim that it wasn't my fault...I was a little kid and my dad was a fan... he's an odd one

Meanwhile in Australia.

Shock rise in unemployment

Unemployment in Australia has risen from 4.8% to 5.2% in February.

Who do I blame? Obama or Rudd or both?

re: #19 gmsc

I saw it in the theaters. However, I still try to count myself among the people who haven't seen it.

Ah, ya pansy! I saw it on VHS and it was semi-brilliant. Weller is a freakin' genius.

re: #21 StudSupreme

Try trudging through western China for a month. Or southern India. Zanzibar. Some of my fondest memories are of the misery of travel.

re: #13 srb1976

Buckaroo Banzai? I thought I was the only person on earth who had seen that movie

i lurves that movie. it's one of the only 3 or 4 DVD's, and we won a Soldier's Angels auction a year or so ago, just so i could have an authentic headband.
(well, that, and helping my fellow Soldiers is a good thing.)

re: #22 Sharmuta

They say getting there is half the fun.

I say, "they" never had to drive past a pig farm.

Or driving for miles past dead skunks in the middle of the road. Although some people claim to love the smell and you can buy it bottled somewhere online.

Leave it to "Them"

Q: Why is it that people believe that the government can never be wrong, but business will always be guilty?

A: Most people don't have a philosophy of government as either "good" or "bad." In most people's minds, government simply refers to "them." When you hear phrases like, "They're going to clean up those roads," or "They're going to get that bridge built," or "They can put a man on the moon..." it's the rough equivalent of government that people have in mind when they say "they." Whether government in fact does all of these things isn't the point, psychologically speaking. The point is someone else will take care of it. That's why government is the source of first, last and only resort during a crisis. When people, acting privately and independently, do stupid things, it's "they" who will take care of it all. If government intervenes inappropriately and creates stupid incentives, and too many people buy houses they cannot afford, and the bubble finally bursts--well, "they" will take care of it. This is why in poll after poll more than a majority of Americans--even in the liberal sweep of the last two elections--say that generally they don't trust the government to do things right, but they still--in each individual case, such as health care, mortgage relief, education--opt for government "solutions" rather than privatization.

Business is always perceived as "guilty" because business reminds people of things they would rather not confront: Cause and effect; personal responsibility; risks and tradeoffs in life; and the requirement of each individual to make his or her own way in life. All of these things are associated with business, and the way some people handle anxiety about these things is through the emotional reaction of hostility. Hostility towards business is at an all-time high in this country because the economy is bad and people are understandably anxious. Just as Nazis blamed everything on the Jews (and others), the typical American today blames all the evils of the world on capitalism, business and profit. Most find it more comforting to shout at reality--represented by "ugly, greedy business"--and to place all their trust and hope in the soothing illusion of "them" in government. What they will increasingly discover in coming years is that behind the great curtain of comforting government is...well, nothing--except bureaucracy, pain, mediocrity, red ink and probably massive inflation.

This notion of "they" is something like a spoiled adolescent or young adult counting on a well-off parent to keep bailing him out of every crisis or difficulty that arises, regardless of his personal responsibility in the matter, and regardless of limited funds on the part of the parent. There's a sense of entitlement across the land, and it comes from the notion that while money might not grow on trees, it certainly grows in Washington DC, and "they" will somehow take care of it. This mentality is completely at odds with the notion of self-government, individual rights and individual responsibility which gave rise to the original American government in the first place, and which propelled America to its former greatness.

Some of my favorite vacations are the ones I spent at home.

For those who love to travel: Where the Hell is Matt?

re: #25 Crux Australis

Meanwhile in Australia.

Shock rise in unemployment

Unemployment in Australia has risen from 4.8% to 5.2% in February.

Who do I blame? Obama or Rudd or both?

Blame the British Colonization of Australia for all your woes. Then give rights to all land back to the original owners, the kangaroos.

Worked great in Zimbabwe.

re: #29 Silvergirl

Or driving for miles past dead skunks in the middle of the road. Although some people claim to love the smell and you can buy it bottled somewhere online.

That is a horrifying thought.....

re: #6 redc1c4

no matter where you go, there you are.

Laugh-a while you can-a, Monkey Boy!

re: #19 gmsc

I saw it in the theaters. However, I still try to count myself among the people who haven't seen it.

ok, John Gmsc.......

re: #13 srb1976

Buckaroo Banzai? I thought I was the only person on earth who had seen that movie

Nope, seen it, loved it, own the DVD. "It's not my damn planet understand? Monkey Boy!"

A quirky quotable movie : Army of Darkness .. I can watch it 16 times and still find something new every time in it.

re: #19 gmsc

I saw it in the theaters. However, I still try to count myself among the people who haven't seen it.

If you didn't like Buckaroo Banzai, you are sure not to like "Of unknown origin", which pits Peter Weller against a rat. Seriously, I recommend it.

When you work for a defense contractor and have a bit of extra time on your hands, this can be the result:

Washington D.C. (March 11, 2009)

In a major announcement today, the Pentagon has indicated that the two largest defense contractors in the United States will begin a joint venture to provide the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with upgraded night navigation and fire control systems. Northrup Grumman will develop a new third-generation night vision system called the Multi Use Low-band Thermal Imaging Performance Level Enhancement (or MULTIPLE) system while Lockheed Martin will develop a fire control system known as the Optically Regulated Gunsight And Sensing Module (or ORGASM). Pentagon spokesman Joseph Mahma (or, as he is better known, Joe Mahma) indicated that while the new fire control system could function as a stand-alone unit, its value is greatly enhanced by the addition of the new night vision system: "Why just have an ORGASM when you can have a MULTIPLE ORGASM?" Joe Mahma was also quick to squelch rumors that F-35's retro-fitted with the new MULTIPLE ORGASM systems would be flown solely by female pilots.

re: #29 Silvergirl

Other fun travel experiences include screaming kids, gaseous pets, the stares from the locals that you want breakfast at the dinner at 11 am, and of course- road construction.

re: #26 BatGuano

Ah, ya pansy! I saw it on VHS and it was semi-brilliant. Weller is a freakin' genius.

Ok, not a genius but a pretty good actoe.

re: #27 Killgore Trout

Try trudging through western China for a month. Or southern India. Zanzibar. Some of my fondest memories are of the misery of travel.

Stand on Zanzibar

re: #32 Killgore Trout

I forgot how much I love the India segment of that one.

re: #23 Silvergirl

So then they're not even up with Michelle O in finding a time to be proud of her country, and they have to masquerade? Or is it something else?

Quite often Americans are targets, and somehow pretending to be Canadian deflects some of that. The irony is that the Americans are easily picked out because the walk around with Canadian (or other) flags. Heh.

re: #31 Sharmuta

Some of my favorite vacations are the ones I spent at home.

One of the big things now is taking a "fakecation". Instead of going to a real foreign country, you go to a place in or near your own country that's strongly influenced by another culture or country.

Can't afford Spain? Go to St. Augustine, Florida.

Can't afford Paris? Fake it with Quebec City.

Can't afford Japan? Visit Hawaii.

Can't afford a trip around the world? Visit Vegas, where you can walk from New York to Paris to Rome to Treasure Island (although I recommend the bus, as that's a long walk).

If you want someone who will eat
whatever you put in front of him
and never says it's not quite as
good as his mother made it........


.......... then buy a dog.

If you want someone always willing
to go out, at any hour, for as long
and wherever you want...

......then buy a dog.

If you want someone who will never
touch the remote, doesn't care about
football, and can sit next to you as
you watch romantic movies.......

........then buy a dog.
If you want someone who is content
to get up on your bed just to warm
your feet and whom you can push off
on the floor if he snores...

.......then buy a dog.
If you want someone who never criticizes
what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty
or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts
as if every word you say is especially worthy
of listening to, and loves you unconditionally,
perpetually ..... (you know this answer)

.......then buy a dog.

BUT .......on the other hand, if you want
someone who will never come when you
call, ignores you totally when you come
home, leaves hair all over the place, walks
all over you, runs around all night and only
comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as
if your entire existence is solely to ensure
his happiness .


Hey!.......then buy a cat!

Now be honest, you thought I was
going to say....then marry a man.

re: #46 gmsc

One of the big things now is taking a "fakecation". Instead of going to a real foreign country, you go to a place in or near your own country that's strongly influenced by another culture or country.

Can't afford Spain? Go to St. Augustine, Florida.

Can't afford Paris? Fake it with Quebec City.

Can't afford Japan? Visit Hawaii.

Can't afford a trip around the world? Visit Vegas, where you can walk from New York to Paris to Rome to Treasure Island (although I recommend the bus, as that's a long walk).

Vegas has a monorail service for the strip now...end to end I believe

re: #28 redc1c4

i lurves that movie. it's one of the only 3 or 4 DVD's, and we won a Soldier's Angels auction a year or so ago, just so i could have an authentic headband.
(well, that, and helping my fellow Soldiers is a good thing.)

It was a damn good movie, and it is now on my DVD list.

Whoaaa! Just what the FUCK is Debbie's promblem?!?: [Link: www.debbieschlussel.com...]

re: #33 Buster Bunny

Blame the British Colonization of Australia for all your woes. Then give rights to all land back to the original owners, the kangaroos.

Worked great in Zimbabwe.

You are correct! Before 60,000 years ago when the aborigines arrived Australia was empty of human habitation. Scary to think of it that way really.

re: #48 srb1976

Vegas has a monorail service for the strip now...end to end I believe

Only on one side of the strip (MGM to Sahara) - and the bus is still cheaper.

re: #50 conservativeChick

Whoaaa! Just what the FUCK is Debbie's promblem?!?: [Link: www.debbieschlussel.com...]

Debbie's problem is Debbie .. but she is getting over that.

re: #50 conservativeChick

Whoaaa! Just what the FUCK is Debbie's promblem?!?: [Link: www.debbieschlussel.com...]

Some people don't understand you should back off the children of political figures.

re: #46 gmsc

One of the big things now is taking a "fakecation". Instead of going to a real foreign country, you go to a place in or near your own country that's strongly influenced by another culture or country.

Can't afford Spain? Go to St. Augustine, Florida.

Can't afford Paris? Fake it with Quebec City.

Can't afford Japan? Visit Hawaii.

Can't afford a trip around the world? Visit Vegas, where you can walk from New York to Paris to Rome to Treasure Island (although I recommend the bus, as that's a long walk).

Or a staycation. Isn't that staying in your own state?

A guy is 70 years old and loves to fish.

He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, 'Pick me
up.' He looked around and couldn't see any one. He thought he was dreaming
when he heard the voice say a gain,'Pick me up.'

He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog.

The man said, 'Are you talking to me?'

The frog said, 'Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up then, kiss me and I'll
turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll make sure that
all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your bride!'

The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up
carefully and placed it in his front breast pocket.

Then the frog said, 'What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I
said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.'

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said,

'Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog.'

Ooh .. I've crossed the 900 Karma point rubicon !

Sharmuta .. how did you end up getting to 60k + ? Did you get a bunch of groupies .. or stay up late at night so you were the only karma punching bag they had?

I should be on here more, or something like that.

re: #50 conservativeChick

Whoaaa! Just what the FUCK is Debbie's promblem?!?: [Link: www.debbieschlussel.com...]

i sense a serious need for medication there.....

re: #55 Silvergirl

Or a staycation. Isn't that staying in your own state?

Our favorite: A night in a nearby hotel. Drive enough to make it worth it, but not too long. Let the kids jump on the beds, swim in the pool, eat the disgusting free breakfast... fun times.

re: #13 srb1976

Buckaroo Banzai? I thought I was the only person on earth who had seen that movie

That quote was originally from Firesign Theater, wasn't it?

re: #57 Buster Bunny

Ooh .. I've crossed the 900 Karma point rubicon !

Sharmuta .. how did you end up getting to 60k + ? Did you get a bunch of groupies .. or stay up late at night so you were the only karma punching bag they had?

I should be on here more, or something like that.

DADT.

re: #50 conservativeChick

The words I've used to describe Debbie in the past wouldn't make it through the LGF filters anymore. She's a nut.
Also I couldn't give a shit what Palin's children are up to. Gossip rag trash.

re: #50 conservativeChick

Whoaaa! Just what the FUCK is Debbie's promblem?!?: [Link: www.debbieschlussel.com...]

Right next to her post in the rotating ads when I looked at the page was an ad for "Support SarahPAC"

Comedy...

re: #62 Killgore Trout

Amen.

re: #61 redc1c4

DADT.

meaning?

re: #44 Killgore Trout

...and the two little girls up front in South Africa are too much. Those people grok dance.

Frank was excited about his new rifle and decided to try bear hunting. He traveled up to Alaska, spotted a small brown bear and shot it.
Soon after there was a tap on his shoulder, and he turned around to see a big black bear.
The black bear said, ‘That was a very bad mistake. That was my cousin. I'm going to give you two choices. Either I maul you to death or we have sex.'

After considering briefly, Frank decided to accept the latter alternative. So the black bear had his way with Frank. Even though he felt sore for two weeks, Frank soon recovered and vowed revenge. He headed out on another trip to Alaska where he found the black bear and shot it dead. Right after, there was another tap on his shoulder.
This time a huge grizzly bear stood right next to him. The grizzly said, 'That was a big mistake, Frank. That was my cousin and you've got two choices: either I maul you to death or we have rough sex.’

Again, Frank thought it was better to cooperate with the grizzly bear than be mauled to death. So the grizzly had his way with Frank. Although he survived, it took several months before Frank fully recovered.

Now Frank was completely outraged, so he headed back to Alaska and managed to track down the grizzly bear and shot it.
He felt sweet revenge, but then, moments later, there was a tap on is shoulder. He turned around to find a giant polar bear standing there. The polar bear looked at him and said, 'Admit it Frank, you don't come here for the hunting, do you?'

re: #57 Buster Bunny

I don't know. People like what I have to say? I don't really like talking about it. I'm overwhelmed and humbled by it.

hello

re: #59 tackle

Our favorite: A night in a nearby hotel. Drive enough to make it worth it, but not too long. Let the kids jump on the beds, swim in the pool, eat the disgusting free breakfast... fun times.

now that i'm back in the good graces with Uncle Sam, we can rent the trailers on the beach at Camp Pendleton. off season, no one is there, and we can stay right on the surf, surrounded and guarded by the Corps, just minutes from the family and friends for dirt..... no room service, or maids, but we can get over that.

Hi, Afro!

re: #68 Sharmuta

I don't know. People like what I have to say? I don't really like talking about it. I'm overwhelmed and humbled by it.

I added another to your collection. Well done.

re: #65 Buster Bunny

meaning?

Don't Ask Don't Tell

re: #71 Sharmuta

{Sharmuta}

Hi, afrocity.

re: #63 ArchangelMichael

OMG! LOL!

re: #72 Silvergirl

Thanks.

re: #69 Afrocity

hello

hey there.... didn't mean to freak you out the other night.

/sorry 'bout that.

re: #73 redc1c4

Don't Ask Don't Tell

Awesome ! Lucky for me I work with computers so any TLA is comprehensible, but when it gets to FLA .. noway .. too many letters.

All of this worrying about America has me tense and unable to sleep. I have been thinking about taking my money out of the bank, buying canned goods, and preparing for the worst.

re: #78 redc1c4

apologize accepted, not sure what u mean my friend.

re: #55 Silvergirl

Or a staycation. Isn't that staying in your own state?

Yep. I've often thought of doing that. I haven't been to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam (and there's really only a mountain and a short drive separating me from it), Rachel, Nevada (home of Area 51 and the little Alie-Inn), and, uh, Pahrump.

re: #80 Afrocity

All of this worrying about America has me tense and unable to sleep. I have been thinking about taking my money out of the bank, buying canned goods, and preparing for the worst.

The better half and I have been having the "what would it take to fall off the map" conversation lately.....not sure what our next move will be

re: #69 Afrocity

hello

Good morning/evening, Afrocity!

re: #80 Afrocity

The missus has been after me to do just exactly that-same words and order.....

re: #81 Afrocity

apologize accepted, not sure what u mean my friend.

your upcoming medical adventure, and my insights into it.

i didn't mean to stoke your discomfort.

re: #82 gmsc

Yep. I've often thought of doing that. I haven't been to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam (and there's really only a mountain and a short drive separating me from it), Rachel, Nevada (home of Area 51 and the little Alie-Inn), and, uh, Pahrump.

I've seen all of that stuff...mother in law used to live in pahrump...and unless you're looking for certain....ummm....services, there's not much there. Hoover Dam is cool enough, and Rachel is more amusing than anything...good souvenirs if that's what you're after

re: #78 redc1c4

hey there.... didn't mean to freak you out the other night.

/sorry 'bout that.

Oh, sure, you didn't mean to freak out Afrocity.

You've always freaked the rest of us out!
;)

re: #80 Afrocity

I've been exploring Zen philosophy recently. It helps. I've been a little wound up the past few weeks too but I've calmed down and I'm ready to ride this out.

re: #59 tackle

Our favorite: A night in a nearby hotel. Drive enough to make it worth it, but not too long. Let the kids jump on the beds, swim in the pool, eat the disgusting free breakfast... fun times.

I happen to love those big fat waffles from the places that have waffle irons as part of their breakfast bar.

re: #89 Killgore Trout

I've been exploring Zen philosophy recently. It helps. I've been a little wound up the past few weeks too but I've calmed down and I'm ready to ride this out.

Have you read The Tao recently?

re: #90 Silvergirl

I happen to love those big fat waffles from the places that have waffle irons as part of their breakfast bar.

Can't you just eat your waffles?
;)

re: #80 Afrocity

All of this worrying about America has me tense and unable to sleep. I have been thinking about taking my money out of the bank, buying canned goods, and preparing for the worst.

Regardless of political or economic situation, you should have a couple weeks of food stored up for a multitude of reasons just in case. That might have saved a lot of lives in Louisiana a few years ago for example.

I wouldn't take your money out of the bank though. If it gets to the point that you lose everything you have in a bank, that money will probably be worthless to you out of the bank anyway.

re: #89 Killgore Trout

I've been exploring Zen philosophy recently. It helps. I've been a little wound up the past few weeks too but I've calmed down and I'm ready to ride this out.

re: #91 Sharmuta

Have you read The Tao recently?

That was Zen, this is Tao.

re: #85 Pietr

The missus has been after me to do just exactly that-same words and order.....

we're cutting way back on everything, and i'm shopping even more frugal than before.

the only exception is that we're building the stockpile, and we should be CMP certified shooters before the moth is out.

re: #57 Buster Bunny

Ooh .. I've crossed the 900 Karma point rubicon !

Sharmuta .. how did you end up getting to 60k + ? Did you get a bunch of groupies .. or stay up late at night so you were the only karma punching bag they had?

I should be on here more, or something like that.

I hit the 2K last night and don't even know who did it.

re: #94 gmsc

One of the best birthday gifts I was ever given was the Tao Te Ching.

re: #85 Pietr

The missus has been after me to do just exactly that-same words and order.....

Good so I am not crazy.
Does anyone know of any online survival list?
The funny thing is today my apartment building slipped survival lists under our door but for vehicles- have water, spare tire etc.

We keep hearing “Wise Men” assuring us that Obama is “really brilliant” It is like it was a script handed out in the Charlie Rose green room. Some of those who say it have had a passing acquaintance with him and others are openly passing on hearsay and giving it the imprimatur of their own social standing and credibility. These are all people who rose through the best educational systems we have to offer. No one is ever called on it, yet it is a given that any competent teacher would have torn such a lazy position apart if no evidence or footnotes could be attached to it. We are constantly assured that Democratic presidents or candidates are really intellectuals. I can remember reading about the braininess of Woodrow Wilson, Adlai Stevenson, Jack Kennedy (based on his ghost written book and quotes from Robert Frost), and even Carter and Clinton. FDR was elevated beyond such considerations and on the other hand given cover as “a first rate second rate mind.” LBJ was never mentioned, although he probably had as many brain cells as any of them. I expect that text books will eventually rewrite him as a Republican or delete him entirely. Republicans are of course assumed to be cretins.

re: #94 gmsc

That was Zen, this is Tao.

GROAN........that was so bad, it was wondermous......

re: #67 Pietr

Here is a story by NRO's John Derbyshire:
A friend of Derbyshire's went to his gun dealer. He explained to the gun dealer that he he was going to Alaska to see grizzly bears. He asked if his .44 Magnum would be adequate if things went wrong.

The gun dealer said, " What you need to do is file that front gun sight down as far as possible"
"Why,?" he asked.
The gun dealer said, " When your bear takes that gun away from you and sticks it up your ass it won't hurt as much".

re: #98 Afrocity

Good so I am not crazy.
Does anyone know of any online survival list?
The funny thing is today my apartment building slipped survival lists under our door but for vehicles- have water, spare tire etc.

So in the event of disaster your car can run away and survive without you?

re: #88 gmsc

Oh, sure, you didn't mean to freak out Afrocity.

You've always freaked the rest of us out!
;)

it's nice to know i'm getting the j*b done.

re: #96 Erik The Red

I hit the 2K last night and don't even know who did it.

wasn't me. %-)

re: #98 Afrocity

Get a rifle.....then you can get anything you need.

re: #98 Afrocity

I would use common sense- some first aid supplies, canned goods, bottled water, batteries. Things like that.

re: #70 redc1c4

now that i'm back in the good graces with Uncle Sam, we can rent the trailers on the beach at Camp Pendleton. off season, no one is there, and we can stay right on the surf, surrounded and guarded by the Corps, just minutes from the family and friends for dirt..... no room service, or maids, but we can get over that.

Sounds really nice. Warm enough to swim?

re: #90 Silvergirl

I happen to love those big fat waffles from the places that have waffle irons as part of their breakfast bar.

you and Ear Leader......

you mikght wanna change preferences.

Moral conundrum: There's an upcoming provision to help people refinance mortgages. I'm in pretty bad financial shape but I'm probably not in danger of losing my house. If I qualify for bailout help, do I take it? I take advantage of tax write offs, etc. but for some reason I find myself resisting taking advantage of mortgage help. I'm sure if I got desperate enough I'd go for it but my initial reaction is just to get a second job and tough it out. Thoughts?

re: #93 ArchangelMichael

I am paranoid because I lived in NYC during 9/11 and the big black out in 2003, I think. During the black out the ATM's would not work and I had zero cash on me.

re: #90 Silvergirl

I happen to love those big fat waffles from the places that have waffle irons as part of their breakfast bar.

Funny, I can think of waffles now without thinking of Obama. Thanks alot, Barry!

Men will never win
If you work too hard, there is never any time for her..
If you don't work enough, you are a good for nothing bum.

If she has a boring repetitive job with low pay, it is exploitation.
If you have a boring repetitive job with low pay, you should get off your rear and find something better.

If you get a promotion ahead of her, it's favoritism.
If she gets job ahead of you, it's equal opportunity.

If you mention how nice she looks, it's sexual harassment.
If you keep quiet, it's male indifference.

If you cry, you are a wimp.
If you don't, you are an insensitive bastard.

If you make a decision without consulting her, you are a chauvinist.
If she makes a decision without consulting you, she's liberated woman.

If you ask her to do something she doesn't enjoy, that's domination.
If she asks you, it's a favor.

If you appreciate the female form and frilly underwear, you are a pervert.
If you don't, you are gay.

If you like a woman to shave her legs and keep in shape, you are a sexist.
If you don't, you are unromantic.

If you buy her flowers, you are after something.
If you don't, you are not thoughtful.

If you are proud of your achievements, you are full of yourself.
If you don't, you are not ambitious.

If she has a headache, she is tired.
If you have a headache, you don't love her anymore.

re: #107 tackle

Sounds really nice. Warm enough to swim?

in the winter, with a wet suit, sure, as long as the rip tides don't drag you out.

in summer, it still never gets very warm, which is why California isn't a desert.

re: #106 Sharmuta

I have radios and flashlights that are driven by internal gyros with hand cranks. Batteries are notoriously unreliable.

re: #91 Sharmuta

Have you read The Tao recently?

No, I've been puttin it off. The Tao Te Ching is pretty heavy stuff and I'm not sure if I'd understand it even if I managed to wade through it. I have a copy just sitting there looking at me.

re: #97 Sharmuta

One of the best birthday gifts I was ever given was the Tao Te Ching.

Ever seen The Tao Speaks? It's a sort of comic book version of the Tao Te Ching, but done with great care and respect.

You just can't really make this stuff up: Newsweek partners with AirAmerica
ROFLMAO!

You guys..... you're dinging me up for being overwhelmed by my karma, and it's making me choke up. I really, truly am humbled by your support and was from the day the karma ratings were installed. I can't express what it means to me, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

re: #80 Afrocity

All of this worrying about America has me tense and unable to sleep. I have been thinking about taking my money out of the bank, buying canned goods, and preparing for the worst.

If you get really desperate, you could come stay at my place.
It can't get much worse than that. :)

re: #109 Killgore Trout

Moral conundrum: There's an upcoming provision to help people refinance mortgages. I'm in pretty bad financial shape but I'm probably not in danger of losing my house. If I qualify for bailout help, do I take it? I take advantage of tax write offs, etc. but for some reason I find myself resisting taking advantage of mortgage help. I'm sure if I got desperate enough I'd go for it but my initial reaction is just to get a second job and tough it out. Thoughts?

Tough one KT. All the irresponsible people are going to take the help. Why should the responsible people suffer?

re: #109 Killgore Trout

So you'd be refinancing for a lower rate and pamment, right? Are there any sort of strings attached to the mortgage help? Would it ding your credit score?

re: #118 Sharmuta

You guys..... you're dinging me up for being overwhelmed by my karma, and it's making me choke up. I really, truly am humbled by your support and was from the day the karma ratings were installed. I can't express what it means to me, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

For what it's worth, I don't tend to say a lot about the heavy serious subjects around here, because someone has usually said what I'm thinking first (and better)....it tends to be you a disturbing amount of the time = )

re: #108 redc1c4

you and Ear Leader......

you mikght wanna change preferences.

No way. He may try to ruin our country, but I'm not letting him ruin waffles for me. Waffles were on my top ten food list before I ever heard of Obama.

re: #120 Erik The Red

It's very odd. I wouldn't pass up a deduction on my taxes but for some reason this feels different. Can't put my finger on it.

re: #109 Killgore Trout

Moral conundrum: There's an upcoming provision to help people refinance mortgages. I'm in pretty bad financial shape but I'm probably not in danger of losing my house. If I qualify for bailout help, do I take it? I take advantage of tax write offs, etc. but for some reason I find myself resisting taking advantage of mortgage help. I'm sure if I got desperate enough I'd go for it but my initial reaction is just to get a second job and tough it out. Thoughts?

Kilgore, if you don't do it someone will.

I owe student loans. There was a scholarship program in my masters that I could have went for free because I am a minority. I had this personal rule that I would never take a minority scholarship. I am probably the only minority in my field that did not take the money. When I told my brother about it recently he said I was an idiot. Now as I pay my loans of to the Dept. of Education, I wonder of I should have just taken the money.

re: #109 Killgore Trout

Moral conundrum: There's an upcoming provision to help people refinance mortgages. I'm in pretty bad financial shape but I'm probably not in danger of losing my house. If I qualify for bailout help, do I take it? I take advantage of tax write offs, etc. but for some reason I find myself resisting taking advantage of mortgage help. I'm sure if I got desperate enough I'd go for it but my initial reaction is just to get a second job and tough it out. Thoughts?

fuck it: they're gonna give the money to someone, so why not make sure at least your part isn't wasted.

re: #121 tackle

I'm not sure what the bill is going to look like when it passes but yes, it would involve lower payments.

re: #109 Killgore Trout

We're in a similar position (it sounds like) and may be taking advantage of a deal to refinance our mortgage. In our case it's purely to lower the interest rate though....I've rationalized it to convince myself that it's not really a bailout in that case

A woman goes into Bass Pro Shop to buy a rod and reel for her grandson's birthday. She doesn't know which one to get so she just grabs one and goes over to the counter.
A Bass Pro Shop associate is standing there wearing dark shades. She says, 'Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me anything about this rod and reel?' He says, 'Ma'am, I'm completely blind; but if you'll drop it on the counter, I can tell you everything from the sound it makes.'
She doesn't believe him but drops it on the counter anyway. He says, 'That's a six-foot Shakespeare graphite rod with a Zebco 404 reel and 10-LB. Test line.. It's a good all around combination and it's on sale this week for only $20.00. 'It's amazing that you can tell all that just by the sound of it dropping on the counter', she says. I'll take it!' As she opens her purse, her credit card drops on the floor. 'Oh, that sounds like a Master Card,' he says.
She bends down to pick it up and accidentally farts. At first she is really embarrassed, but then realizes there is no way the blind clerk could tell it was she who tooted. Being blind, he wouldn't know that she was the only person around.
The clerk rings up the sale and says, 'That'll be $34.50 please.'
The woman is totally confused by this and asks, 'Didn't you tell me the rod and reel were on sale for $20.00? How did you get $34.50?'

He replies, 'Yes, Ma'am. The rod and reel is $20.00, but the Duck Call is $11.00 and the Bear Repellent is $3.50.

re: #118 Sharmuta

Thanks for being you, and for the time you devote to LGF.

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

I have radios and flashlights that are driven by internal gyros with hand cranks. Batteries are notoriously unreliable.

batteries are *not* unreliable.......

they will fail *every* time you need them. %-)

Someone posted a link trying to logically explain to Obama why Democracy works and why Socialism fails. Add another to the rather stupidly large stack of articles purporting to teach Obama and hard Marxists in order to get them to change their ways through reason, when they don't want that.

Why don't people get it? If Socialism makes America fail, yet still makes Obama, Dodd, Pelosi, and a few thousand other hard Marxists filthy rich and insanely powerful, then by their reckoning, DID IT REALLY FAIL? I don't think Obama and the rest are going to be sitting on their private islands and Dubai freeholds in 20 or so years sipping umbrella-drinks, saying "I say, old boy, I sure do wish that economic and social collapse thing we did to America hadn't failed...a shame, really." No, they're going to see the Failure of Socialism as a rousing success, evidenced by the luxury they surround themselves with and steep themselves in, like the pigs in Animal Farm.

THE ONLY WAY THEY'LL EVER SEE IT AS A FAILURE IS IF THEY END UP LIKE BENITO MUSSOLINI.

re: #115 Killgore Trout

No, I've been puttin it off. The Tao Te Ching is pretty heavy stuff and I'm not sure if I'd understand it even if I managed to wade through it. I have a copy just sitting there looking at me.

It's not heavy at all, imo. It seems very natural to me, to the point where a lot of times I'll call myself a Taoist Christian. Of course- Pooh is a good guide to the Tao, too.

re: #109 Killgore Trout

Moral conundrum: There's an upcoming provision to help people refinance mortgages. I'm in pretty bad financial shape but I'm probably not in danger of losing my house. If I qualify for bailout help, do I take it? I take advantage of tax write offs, etc. but for some reason I find myself resisting taking advantage of mortgage help. I'm sure if I got desperate enough I'd go for it but my initial reaction is just to get a second job and tough it out. Thoughts?

They're taking your money to do these things. If you qualify under the conditions they set forth, there's no reason you shouldn't take your own money back.

re: #125 Afrocity

Wow, good for you. Don't worry, you'll pay pack the loans. And you'll have the pride and confidence knowing you did it on your own merits.

re: #118 Sharmuta

You guys..... you're dinging me up for being overwhelmed by my karma, and it's making me choke up. I really, truly am humbled by your support and was from the day the karma ratings were installed. I can't express what it means to me, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

you have a heart?

/shattering illusion

re: #20 tackle

If you're an American, it can be challenging. There are tons of Americans pretending to be Canadians with little Canadian flags attached to their backpacks. It frosts my sister, who lives in Canada, but then I tease her that she's an American pretending to be a Canadian, too.

Do actual Canadians put little Canadian flags on their backpacks, or is this solely something Americans pretending to be Canadians do?

re: #109 Killgore Trout

If a second job will help, do it. "He who sups with with the devil should use a long spoon" and if all else fails and there is gub,ment money available take it.
You are productive member of society and an asset. Take care of you family regardless IMHO.

{Archie} For you:

Today in History, March 13th:

Happy Friday the 13th!

re: #33 Buster Bunny

Blame the British Colonization of Australia for all your woes. Then give rights to all land back to the original owners, the kangaroos.

Worked great in Zimbabwe.

Anyone seen Bender's Game, the Futurama feature? War kangaroos!

re: #110 Afrocity

Good point, I wouldn't take thousands out though. A couple hundred max. I have various emergency cash cashes around my home and in my car. Not a lot, but enough to get some basic things if its a power-outage or earthquake problem rather than a civil war or downfall of civilization problem. I have a few gold and silver coins for the ultimate "in case shit..." I also keep a lot of bottled water around. I'm still working on building up the food situation though. A gun would be good too, I have that covered. I know it's easier said than done to get a gun in Chicago though. Maybe you can go over to Hammond or Gary for that if you think you need to.

re: #137 SanFranciscoZionist

I think it's just the Americans.
They're onto us!

Killgore- you're struggling with taking a bailout refi because you have principles. I know kind of how it feels because at one point I had to take public assistance and I hated every minute of it- got off it as quickly as I could. I'm an independent person and want to take care of myself. I have a feeling that may be where your struggle is emanating from.

re: #140 gmsc

Today in History, March 13th:

[Video]

Happy Friday the 13th!

Oops - scratch that! I've been so busy this week, I don't even know what day it is!

re: #139 Sharmuta

What a gorgeous setting, and they were so young then!

re: #140 gmsc

Today in History, March 13th:

Youtube Video

Happy Friday the 13th!

You just scared the crap out of me! I'm supposed to go back to work tonight (thurs. night) and thought I had screwed up my days.....(easy to do on a rotating shift) Had to check my TV to make sure it was still today and not tomorrow.....

re: #146 MrPaulRevere

That entire live album is really good.

re: #142 ArchangelMichael

Well whats the rule? A weeks supply of water and food per person?
Did you see that movie Blindness?

re: #145 gmsc

Oops - scratch that! I've been so busy this week, I don't even know what day it is!

I was wondering!

re: #45 tackle

Quite often Americans are targets, and somehow pretending to be Canadian deflects some of that. The irony is that the Americans are easily picked out because the walk around with Canadian (or other) flags. Heh.

When I did study abroad, we were all told in the little introductory booklet that Americans are easily spotted because they wear athletic shoes, and urged other footwear for safety.

We all showed up in hiking boots we had bought so we wouldn't look like Americans wearing sneakers.

Of course, this was the same booklet that gave advice on beating the hell out of little Gypsy kids trying to grab your money, so I didn't take its advice very seriously.

re: #147 srb1976

You just scared the crap out of me! I'm supposed to go back to work tonight (thurs. night) and thought I had screwed up my days.....(easy to do on a rotating shift) Had to check my TV to make sure it was still today and not tomorrow.....

Sorry - I got mixed up.

re: #142 ArchangelMichael

I friend's father also stocked up on high-value commodities, like liquor and cigarettes. He was a Mormon, but he figured someone out there would be desperate for them. Too bad his kids found the liquor stash and they started sneaking out the contents and replacing it with water.

re: #140 gmsc

You think Charles will have anything up tomorrow about the Scopes Monkey Trial anniversary?

I love Brigadoon!

Let's try this again:

Today in History, March 12th:

re: #145 gmsc

Oops - scratch that! I've been so busy this week, I don't even know what day it is!

Friday the 13th doesn't always fall on a friday.

/or on the 13th.

re: #154 Silvergirl

You think Charles will have anything up tomorrow about the Scopes Monkey Trial anniversary?

I love Brigadoon!

We should remind him when it gets to actually be the 13th.

re: #133 Sharmuta

I loved the Toa of Pooh and the Te of Piglet (the sequel). For some reason I'm intimidated by the Tao Te Ching.

re: #152 gmsc

It's all good, just made sure I'm wide awake now, which is just as well, as I'm up all night tonight to switch over.

If I disappear from posting suddenly, this early morning-I've probably lost power. This storms been building slowly, but the Thunder/Lightning appears almost here-very short 'light to sound' timeframe, now.

re: #146 MrPaulRevere

What a gorgeous setting, and they were so young then!

Red Rocks!

re: #158 Killgore Trout

Don't be! It's not difficult at all. It would be anti-Taoish if it was.

re: #133 Sharmuta Ahh so you study the Tao of Pooh?

re: #158 Killgore Trout

I loved the Toa of Pooh and the Te of Piglet (the sequel). For some reason I'm intimidated by the Tao Te Ching.

i'm more into Ching Ching Pow.

U2 Live at Red Rocks

re: #82 gmsc

Yep. I've often thought of doing that. I haven't been to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam (and there's really only a mountain and a short drive separating me from it), Rachel, Nevada (home of Area 51 and the little Alie-Inn), and, uh, Pahrump.

You better get going! Explore and report back.

re: #144 Sharmuta

I think so. I want some financial help but I don't need it. It would make my life easier but I'm not so sure an easy life should be something to strive for.

re: #151 SanFranciscoZionist

Whilst in Russia we did our best to blend in. We wore Russian clothes, laid low etc. They had a dual price system and paying the American rate was terrible. Towards the end of our stay we could pass as Lithuanians (couldn't get rid of the accent entirely).
And yes, there were tons of gypsies. I remember one of our friends was getting surrounded by them and he said (in Russian) "back off I have AIDS!". They all scattered. This was nearly 20 years ago.

re: #149 Afrocity

3 weeks supply of food and water is a good rule of thumb, and remember, water is much more important than food. I have to be blunt though, if the poop ever really hits the fan, survival in a big city will be, problematic as they say.

re: #89 Killgore Trout

I've been exploring Zen philosophy recently. It helps. I've been a little wound up the past few weeks too but I've calmed down and I'm ready to ride this out.

That is because the worst that could happen has already happened.

I think...

Goodnight all, not that I partook in conversation, but this is the latest I've lurked at LGF in ages, and must now sleep the slow-arriving sleep of the news- and information-soaked.

'Night, Lizards.

re: #62 Killgore Trout

The words I've used to describe Debbie in the past wouldn't make it through the LGF filters anymore. She's a nut.
Also I couldn't give a shit what Palin's children are up to. Gossip rag trash.

WOW. That's some serious hostility there. She sounds absolutely crazy.

I did some searching FEMA has a disaster checklist

Disaster List

re: #163 Rustler

Ahh so you study the Tao of Pooh?

I do own The Tao of Pooh, lost my copy of The Te of Piglet, but my Tao Te Ching is the best of the three. It's a great translation too- Stephen Mitchell.

re: #170 rawmuse

That is because the worst that could happen has already happened.

I think...

Murphy was an optimist, and Humpty Dumpty was pushed.

/read that somewhere.

re: #169 MrPaulRevere

3 weeks supply of food and water is a good rule of thumb, and remember, water is much more important than food. I have to be blunt though, if the poop ever really hits the fan, survival in a big city will be, problematic as they say.

You know when I lived in NYC we did pretty okay during 9/11 and the black out.

Tao te Ching (pt.1)

re: #169 MrPaulRevere

3 weeks supply of food and water is a good rule of thumb, and remember, water is much more important than food. I have to be blunt though, if the poop ever really hits the fan, survival in a big city will be, problematic as they say.

dig in, hunker down, and watch your lane.

Hello, Lizards!

Night everyone. Big day tomorrow.

re: #155 gmsc

Let's try this again:

Today in History, March 12th:

That's one Joe Biden might have watched to save himself from that FDR gaffe. About reassuring the country when the stock market crashed.

Night tackle.

re: #167 Killgore Trout

I think so. I want some financial help but I don't need it. It would make my life easier but I'm not so sure an easy life should be something to strive for.

I think the best ability one can have at this time is the ability to live meagerly when needed. I've had more than enough opportunities to practice this art form, and I'm not too worried I'll be able to get by now.

re: #175 redc1c4

Murphy was an optimist, and Humpty Dumpty was pushed.

/read that somewhere.

Wow, you're kinda starting to sound like my dad....pretty soon you'll be quoting heinlein and mark twain...or quoting heinlein quoting twain....

re: #167 Killgore Trout

I think so. I want some financial help but I don't need it. It would make my life easier but I'm not so sure an easy life should be something to strive for.

oh, come on..... it'll give Ear Leader a great ad that he can use to show he helped both sides of the fence when he's running in 2012.

what could possibly go wrong with that?

re: #169 MrPaulRevere

3 weeks supply of food and water is a good rule of thumb, and remember, water is much more important than food. I have to be blunt though, if the poop ever really hits the fan, survival in a big city will be, problematic as they say.

Try Here for a good start

I am going back to bed.
Thanks everyone for getting me through my nightly anxiety fits.

re: #167 Killgore Trout

I think the fact that it is bothering you so much gives you your answer.

Hard work, like a second job, makes sleep come easy. Your conscience, however, is a tougher taskmaster.

re: #163 Rustler

Ahh so you study the Tao of Pooh?

In my previous job, I worked directly across from the Tao Nightclub. It was great until Friday and Saturday nights, when the clubbers would block the door to the store. After 3 weeks of repeatedly calling security, the Venetian finally got the idea that this would be a regular problem, and started posting security so that our doors wouldn't be blocked.

I'm sitting in my office in Afghanistan, using my new MacBook Pro. Communicating via BlueTooth to my Nokia N72 for an internet connection.
It's expensive, but at least it's slow.

re: #186 Erik The Red

Try Here for a good start

Hey now that is a list. I like that. I will see if Chicago has a survival store.

re: #171 Taqiyyotomist

G'night, Taq.

re: #149 Afrocity

I try to have 2 weeks per person for normal emergencies. That should also cover some abnormal ones like solar flares knocking out part or all of the power grid, terrorism, nutty bank runs, riots, Cat 5 hurricanes, earthquakes 8.0 or greater, etc. Nothing could be worse than to survive a natural disaster and then starve to death or die of thirst before FEMA can get relief supplies to you.

I've never seen Blindness, but my gf did and I made the mistake of asking "what was it about?" and had the entire plot explained to me in every last detail... ruining it for me, but she's cute that way.

Going to sleep. Be well, all.

re: #176 Afrocity

Sorry I had a Glen Beck moment there, I'm not really into apocalyptic scenarios. The governments list seems pretty complete.

re: #163 Rustler

Ahh so you study the Tao of Pooh?

Eliminate the middleman. Study Poo.

re: #188 stevieray

Let's not get carried away here. I'm also considering a few other options to help my finances that aren't really within the law. I'm far from saintly.

I live in one of the 10 most violent cities in America, with a Green Party mayor intent on destroying business, my house is about 1000 feet from a major earthquake fault, and the city has been absolutely overrun with illegal aliens.

How much worse can it get?

One of my favorites from The Tao (Mitchell translation):

Without opening your door,
you can open your heart to the world.
Without looking out your window,
you can see the essence of the Tao.

The more you know,
the less you understand.

The Master arrives without leaving,
sees the light without looking,
achieves without doing a thing.

This was also put to music by my favorite band (different translation):

re: #190 haakondahl

Is it early morning there?

re: #176 Afrocity

I think the "poop hitting the fan" he was talking about would be something more like the plot of the TV show Jericho.

re: #198 UncleSam

I live in one of the 10 most violent cities in America, with a Green Party mayor intent on destroying business, my house is about 1000 feet from a major earthquake fault, and the city has been absolutely overrun with illegal aliens.

How much worse can it get?

Maybe it's time to start looking for a house in the country? I hear prices have come down some = )

re: #197 Killgore Trout

Hell, I would have given you a twenty to vote for Johnny Mac... :)

Good-night, Tackle, Afrocity, and San Francisco Zionist.

Hello Haa.

re: #200 Killgore Trout

Is it early morning there?

It is just about noon. We're at 4.5 hours ahead of GMT.

re: #198 UncleSam
We are talking about when hte rest of us are living like you are now. He at least they aren't doing round ups in your area yet for reeducation.

re: #202 srb1976

Maybe it's time to start looking for a house in the country? I hear prices have come down some = )

I've been thinking about it.

re: #183 Sharmuta

Adversity introduces a person to themselves....

On a much lighter note The Little Man (he's 4) has accomplished 2 major things this week..... He got to ride a camel and managed to convince our little dog to sleep in his room. He's been trying to get that dog to hang out with him his whole life..... the dog is mostly indifferent unless treats are involved

re: #201 ArchangelMichael

I think the "poop hitting the fan" he was talking about would be something more like the plot of the TV show Jericho.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, you can watch Jericho here and here (Just about all the episodes, as far as I can tell).

re: #206 Rustler

We are talking about when hte rest of us are living like you are now. He at least they aren't doing round ups in your area yet for reeducation.

I have to go to my "Why I'm Ashamed to be White" class at 11:00 AM tomorrow.

re: #198 UncleSam

I live in one of the 10 most violent cities in America, with a Green Party mayor intent on destroying business, my house is about 1000 feet from a major earthquake fault, and the city has been absolutely overrun with illegal aliens.

How much worse can it get?

*NEVER* ask that question.......

re: #208 MrPaulRevere

Adversity introduces a person to themselves....

This is true.

Your saying also has a connection to "Wherever you go, there you are."

re: #210 gmsc

Totally unappreciated show. I was really bummed when it was canceled... twice.

re: #213 Silvergirl

This is true.

Your saying also has a connection to "Wherever you go, there you are."

it helps though, if you can expect the unexpected....

re: #209 srb1976

On a much lighter note The Little Man (he's 4) has accomplished 2 major things this week..... He got to ride a camel and managed to convince our little dog to sleep in his room. He's been trying to get that dog to hang out with him his whole life..... the dog is mostly indifferent unless treats are involved

Not a bad week's work for a 4-yr-old. An actual live camel?

re: #203 rawmuse

I might have taken it.
/BTW, that's illegal

re: #205 haakondahl

Stay safe, Bro.

Another from The Tao- #33

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.

If you realize that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.

A man had just settled into his seat next to the window on the airplane when another man sits down in the aisle seat and puts his black Labrador in the middle seat next to the man. The first man looks quizzically at the dog and asks why the dog is allowed on the plane?

The second man explains that he is a Drug Enforcement Agency officer and the dog is a "sniffer dog". "His name is Smithy and he's the best there is. I'll show you once we get airborne when I put him to work."

The plane takes off, and once it has leveled out, the agent says: "Watch this." He tells Smithy to "search". Smithy jumps down, walks along the aisle and finally sits very purposefully next to a woman for several seconds.

Smithy then returns to his seat and puts one paw on the agent's arm. The agent says, "Good boy", and he turns to the man next to him and says, "That woman is in possession of marijuana, so I'm making a note of her seat number and the authorities will apprehend her at the airport when we land."

"Say, that pretty neat," said the first man.

Once again the agent sends Smithy to search the aisle. The Labrador sniffs
about, sits down beside a man for a few seconds, then returns to his seat and, this time, he places TWO paws on the agent's arm.

The agent says, "That man is carrying cocaine, so again, I'm making note of his seat number for the police."

"I like it!" says the other man.

The agent tells Smithy to "search again".
Smithy walks up and down the aisle for a little while, sits down for a moment and then comes racing back to the agent, jumps into the middle seat and proceeds to shit all over the seat.

The first man is really stunned by this behavior and can't figure how or why a well-trained dog would behave like this, so he asks the agent, "What's going on?"

The agent nervously replies, "He just found a bomb!"

re: #211 UncleSam

I have to go to my "Why I'm Ashamed to be White" class at 11:00 AM tomorrow.

I'm trying to get my "Fathers ancestors immigrated to the US after the Emancipation Proclamation" waiver and my "My mothers ancestors were Iroquois" waiver.

re: #50 conservativeChick
Best quote:

Did Sarah Palin shoot your dog or something?

She also has a son serving in Iraq. How about a few nice words about him?

Anyway, I wish I came from a family as impeccable and exemplar as yours so I could be free to take such cheap shots at a decent yet admittedly flawed family.

re: #209 srb1976

the dog is mostly indifferent unless treats are involved

It's a good lesson. It will prepare him for future relationships with women.

re: #215 redc1c4

it helps though, if you can expect the unexpected....

"It is likely that the unlikely will happen."

re: #216 Silvergirl

Yep! Our nearest local zoo is doing camel rides as an attraction....he went twice. One of the area horse pastures has a camel in it (I don't know why) and he's been a little obsessed with them since he started seing it every day on the way to day care.

re: #217 Killgore Trout

I might have taken it.
/BTW, that's illegal

all he had to do was say he was from Acorn,and all would have been forgiven.

re: #223 Killgore Trout

It's a good lesson. It will prepare him for future relationships with women.

Hey!

re: #212 redc1c4

*NEVER* ask that question.......

re: #198 UncleSam

I live in one of the 10 most violent cities in America, with a Green Party mayor intent on destroying business, my house is about 1000 feet from a major earthquake fault, and the city has been absolutely overrun with illegal aliens.

How much worse can it get?

The Mime Convention is coming to town and the Marriot is booked for the Wonderful World of Polka Accordion Festival

re: #213 Silvergirl

This is true.

Your saying also has a connection to "Wherever you go, there you are."

re: #199 Sharmuta

One of my favorites from The Tao (Mitchell translation):

Without opening your door,
you can open your heart to the world.
Without looking out your window,
you can see the essence of the Tao.

The more you know,
the less you understand.

The Master arrives without leaving,
sees the light without looking,
achieves without doing a thing.

This was also put to music by my favorite band (different translation):

[Video]

How about some David Gilmour?

There's no way out of here, when you come in, you're in for good
There was no promise made, the part you've played, the chance you took

There are no boundaries set, the timing yet, you waste it still
So it slips thru your hands, like grains of sand, you watch it go
There's no time to be lost, you'll pay the cost, so get it right
There is no way out of here, when you come in you;re in for good

And never was there an answer, there an answer
Not without listening, without seeing

There are no answers here, when you look out you don't see in
There was no promise made, the part you've played, the chance you took
There's no way out of here, when you come in you're in for good

And never was there an answer, there an answer
Not without listening, without seeing

There's no way out of here, when you come in, you're in for good
There are no answers here, when you look out you don't see in
There was no promise made, the part you've played, the chance you took

re: #212 redc1c4

*NEVER* ask that question.......

I thought about that when I posted.
Don't tempt Fate, and all that sort of thing.

re: #219 Sharmuta

If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.

Have you watched the video attached to my nic? I think I came to Zen via Chuck Palahniuk.

Speaking of camels, when Charles posted those angry camels in a car, and someone remarked that they were fighting over who had to sit on the hump, I laughed myself silly. I don't remember who said that.

re: #227 Silvergirl

Hey!

Sorry. Wanna treat?

re: #228 lifeofthemind

The Mime Convention is coming to town and the Marriot is booked for the Wonderful World of Polka Accordion Festival

The horror, the horror!

re: #228 lifeofthemind

The Mime Convention is coming to town and the Marriot is booked for the Wonderful World of Polka Accordion Festival

If a tree falls in the forest and falls on a mime, does it make a sound?

re: #208 MrPaulRevere

Adversity introduces a person to themselves....

Quite true. It's adverse situations where character really shines through. Not just in yourself, but in others too.

I guess it's why it's troubling to see so many people freaking out and going off the deep end, whether it's concerning 0bama or the islamization of europe. The only way to get through adversity, imo, is to first and foremost keep your wits about you.

re: #232 Killgore Trout

Chemical Burn Scene

Morning all!

re: #229 gmsc

Bernadette Peters. She was the best as the witch in Into the Woods.

re: #238 Killgore Trout

"Congratulations, you're one step closer to hitting bottom."
/Namaste, Y'all

re: #236 gmsc

If a tree falls in the forest and falls on a mime, does it make a sound?

That depends on what is the antecedent to which "it" refers.

Pedantically yours

re: #236 gmsc

If a tree falls in the forest and falls on a mime, does it make a sound?

Yes, the sound of forest animals cheering.
Even Nature abhors a mime.

re: #239 Fenway_Nation

Morning Fenway-aren't you late today?

re: #240 Silvergirl

Bernadette Peters. She was the best as the witch in Into the Woods.

I've never heard of Into the Woods, but it sounds interesting.

re: #242 lifeofthemind

That depends on what is the antecedent to which "it" refers.

Pedantically yours

Either tree or mime, it's your choice.

re: #242 lifeofthemind

That depends on what is the antecedent to which "it" refers.

Pedantically yours

The referent?

Ever-so-slightly more pedantically yours.

re: #219 Sharmuta
Now don't we wish Obama embraced Taoism rather than Marxism.

re: #242 lifeofthemind

That depends on what is the antecedent to which "it" refers.

Pedantically yours

I was going to say pretty much the same thing, but chose to go with a smart-ass sarcastic reply instead.

re: #248 Rustler

Now don't we wish Obama embraced Taoism rather than Marxism.

Hell yes.

re: #245 gmsc

I've never heard of Into the Woods, but it sounds interesting.

Four fairy tales, with a couple others mentioned, thoroughly entertaining, and with life messages.

Update on Give President Obama a grade:

161467 responses

He gets an A:19%
He gets a B: 6.1%
He gets a C: 4.9%
He gets a D: 12%
He gets an F: 59%

re: #252 gmsc
Must be a conservative website?