dmiller

Yea -- I think. ;)-->

Garth -- Now you're being honest, and (dare I say it?), actually sounding human!! Thanks. You just gave me more "food for thought". I'm not the quickest thinker in the group, so it helps when I hear things like what you just posted. :)--> And FYI -- if anything I have ever posted seems to have been directed at you in anger (including the "knee-jerk" comment I made), I never meant it that way. I understand fully that I have many faults, have no comprehensive plan for the "Salvation" of mankind, nor do I have a full grasp on all the various implications of the many issues facing us today. I respond to these issues, as they are brought up (like you did), and go from there. If I came across sounding like I was "bashing" you for thinking, and speaking the way you did, then I apologize for my lack of discretion, and decency. I was merely making a comment about the subject at hand, and your response to it. No "bashing" was intended. Just my opinion, on what was said.

Garth -- your flippant interpretations of those who have answered you (on the "con" side of the link you posted), is only exceeded by your extreme desire to be "right", and grind those who think differently into the dust. Sorry bro -- Even though you stated a valid premise, and you posted a valid link, and you invited valid comments (even if you did "just eat"), your following refutations totally negate that which you originally asked for. I took a look at the site Geo posted, and found it food for thought. Then I have you castigating myself and others, for offering our opinion, when you asked for such. When I look at the two, it is night and day. At least Geo gave us something to look at, other than rhetoric which is so obviously one-sided, and not able to withstand any sort of discussion -- which came from your end of the table. I don't know the author of Geo's article, but I have a gut-feeling, that he would be willing to share what he knows with a whole lot less animosity, than what you have shown here. If you want to make a case for "whatever", post links like you did with Harvey what's-his-name. As I said earlier, I thought it was a well thought out, well articulated, point of view. I don't agree with all he said, but I agree with more of what he said, than what you did. You missed entirely what I meant, and am guessing that you did the same with the other "con"victs. Go ahead and play your baseball analogy, and make it to World Series. I'll pay more attention to your "athletic abilities", if you make the qualifying rounds for the Ironman, or le Tour de France. If you want to do nothing other than "flame" folks, say so, and be done with it. At least we/I will know where you are coming from, and can decide whether or not to spend time on a thread that leads to a dead end. :)--> I thought your link was a good one, and I thought you were inviting constructive criticism. Well --I got one out of two right.

Ok -- I found the tape, and here is the last segment of the updated version Arlo does on stage. This was from a performance of his at The Big Top, in Bayfield, Wisconsin a few years back. After the last chorus of the song, with the guitar still playing the tune, he continues on saying ........

Norman Rockwell? (was gonna say Van Gogh -- since the song mentions the red VW micro-bus, and the "van" did "go" to the 15 foot cliff, after finding the dump closed!) :D-->

Strike one to you Garth. He doesn't trust EITHER a nun, or an atheist -- and being protective of one's money, can hardly be equated to bigotry. ;)--> That was a "knee-jerk" reaction from you Garth -- offering no documentation, details, or proof -- but only the "baseless supposition" you just described. Strike two to you. ;)--> Good -- now we're looking at his individual words (I'm glad I heard it in the "original"! :D--> When will his speech have "chapter and verse" attached?? ;)--> Strike three. What rock are you hiding under?? --> Even back when I was in college at IU, in the 70's -- the "religious study" curriculumn was heavily slanted against Christianity, intent in casting more doubt about it than otherwise. The Freedom from Religion Foundation is just one of the groups promoting such these days. It is more than a "sporadic instance". I would call it a "concentrated effort". Strike four And now --- before I declare you "out" --- I thought his speech was good, articulate, to the point, and above all else -- an opinion. I won't condemn him, you, or anyone for holding an opinion, yet that doesn't mean I have to agree with it. You don't agree with me, and that's ok. But to invite discussion, and then rip apart everything someone says, and leaving little if any room for further discussion is less than polite (imo). :)--> FYI -- he made some good points. I don't agree with all he said, but he had an excellent delivery that demanded respect, as well as considerate attention. So -- don't call me an "unthinking bigot", and I won't tell you to pull your head out of the sand. Deal? ;)--> By the way -- yer out! :D--> As Geo says --- "fire at will".

So -- the 70 had the Word, David had the Word, yet David asked that the spirit wouldn't be taken from him, as it was from Saul. If the Word is the Incorruptible Seed, (rather than the new birth), how could it be "corruptible" at one time, and not another. It certainly doesn't seem permanent then, in Ps 51:11. Although, I may be missing something here. Not being fractious, I think I see an inconsistency, although I do admit that original premise that Goey posted here does make sense. If the Spirit was taken away from David, did he still have incorruptible seed? -->

I agree. Hey Song -- have you heard the "updated" version that Arlo does now at concerts?? It's hilarious! If I can find the tape (NO -- It is NOT a CES tape!) :D-->, of Arlo performing that at Big Top Chattauqua (sp?) in Bayfield, Wisconsin a coupla years ago, I'll transcribe it for ya. :)-->

Good pics, but where was the mandolin, in that festive music?? --> :P-->

Quoting Shellon (from the Abortion is Murder Thread) -- but switching the gender --- Not saying it is wrong, but it is just an observation! :)-->

Wacky -- what model is your 12-string Martin, and what year was it made?? I used to have a Martin D12-35. Beautiful instrument, both in sound and looks, but I sold it for $600.00 back in the early 80's. :(--> :(-->

Belle -- there are some really good suggestions here for ya! ;)--> Shellon -- you said --- Most folks who work in a music store, are players themselves, so they fall into the "different breed of cat" category. Unlike a used car salesman, they will most likely be genuinely interested in seeing you get the best instrument, and will often point out deficiencies of one over another, once they know what it is you are looking for. Granted -- some of the music "chain stores" are more interested in making the sale, but over-all, you will find the salesman at a music store to be a warm, friendly, and helpful person. ChasUFarley said --- This is VERY true, and if you don't have a tuner with you, and if they sell pianos at the music store, go to the piano, and use it to tune the guitar - since pianos are always at pitch. High action of the strings can also be fixed by loosening the truss rod that goes throught the neck of the guitar, and is accessed by taking off the "coverplate" up on the peghead, where the tuners for the strings are. Martins have no truss rods (at least mine does not), but a guitar in your price range would definately have one. These are used for "fine-tuning" the neck, and the action of the strings, and not for making a major adjustment. If the strings are "way too high", it might be better to pass on that instrument, even though it can be corrected through adjustments. You can find great deals at $300.00 also. Since you have a knowledgable guy going along with you, I'm sure you're going to find a good instrument, at a good price, and many fun hours of hearing it played. I've not heard of Carlo Robelli, but there are a lot of good guitars on the market today, and his sounds like one of them. :)-->

I usually am getting to bed, about the time these folks are getting in line! :D-->

WTH -- I saw that. ....ed me off big time, and those at the house I work at saw it also, and the general consensus is that we will no longer shop there. That there is extortion. :(-->

:)--> Me too. They cover up my bald spot!! :(-->

PS -- a decent guitar will run about $500+ bucks for a beginner (according to my standards). I have a friend who got a Yamaha "cheapie" from a pawn shop, for $100.00, that sounds almost as good as my 36 year old Martin, but he knew what he was looking for, and found it. Like I say -- take someone along that knows the instrument. If you do, you might find a better instrument, for a cheaper price, but I would guess that $500 is about what you are looking at.

Two schools of thought to be considered, when thinking of buying that "first instrument" -- either for yourself, or for someone else. A.) Buy a cheap instrument, and if they are willing to learn, then invest more for a better one, after they have proven their desire to learn and progress. And; B.) Buy the best you can afford, since the better instrument will enhance the efforts of even the most novice of students, thus will perhaps help bolster their willingnes to "stick it out", and continue on. My-Humble-Opinion: Forget "thought A", and thoroughly embrace "thought B". Not only are better instruments easier to play (making it extremely better for the novice), but they sound better as well, so even the mistakes don't sound all that bad. If you can afford a better instrument, by all means, buy that one over the "cheap one" that you might have found in your want ad section of the newspaper. And when you go to look at one, take someone along that knows (in this case -- guitars), so that they can give you their perspective on that particular instrument. I have several very good instruments here, and some of them were bought on the "say-so" of others, and I haven't been disappointed. If you are shopping locally, get someone who can offer "expertise" to go along with you. If you are NOT FAMILIAR WITH INSTRUMENTS, stay away from e-bay, because you have no way of evaluating your intended purchase. I'll give you an example: I saw on The Elderly Site, a Martin guitar (pre-war, D-45) for sale for $35,000. This is top of the line Martin, and anything pre-war brings big bucks. Even though I know what a Martin is worth, anyone buying that particular guitar would do so because of it's age, and because it is a D-45, and with no guarantee of whether or not it sounded good. Even if I had the money (which I do not), and given what I know about Martin Guitars, I would not buy that sight unseen, or unheard, and I know what I would be looking for. My point is -- if you are unfamiliar with instruments, buy local, and take someone with you that can give you an honest assessment of the one you are thinking of buying. And if it is a little more expensive, well -- it is probably better, thus easier to play, it sounds better, and the "novice" may be inspired to continue, instead of giving up. You DO NOT want a guitar that has "high action" (that means the strings are elevated high above the neck of the guitar. The higher the strings, the harder it is to press them down, causing discomfort for beginners, and experts alike. It will take a week or two to build up callouses on the hand that actually does the fingering, and if the strings are lower, it will hurt less. Now -- the good side of this all. If -- the student decides NOT TO CONTINUE (whether or not they have a good instrument, or a poor one), you can always re-sell a quality instrument for what you put into it, whereas most folks will not give you your money's worth for a poorer quality instrument, that you picked up for "cheap". They will see it the same way, and if you decide to re-sell, you will most likely lose -- monetarily. Good Luck! :)-->

Well -- I got in there just fine, but they asked me to register. I did, and then they didn't want to accept it. :(--> Thanks for posting the pic! :)--> "The hats we wear today, form our hair-style for tomorrow" Act2

I've got to agree on this one. Saw a thing on TV last night, that pretty much laid out Wal-Mart's "MO", and their lack of ethical dealing, as far as legitimate business concerns are being dealt with. W-Mart is dictating to all their suppliers, what they are willing to pay. There is no room for compromise, nor will W-Mart take no for an answer. The show I saw last night, also made mention of where W-Mart sided with the Chinese, against an American company, who filed a lawsuit claiming "unfair trade practices". Long of the short of it is -- the American company won (it was a TV manufacturer), and hopefully, this will be the first of the eroding waters that attack the W-Mart empire, brick by brick, and reduce them to the rubble that they have made the American work force to become. Don't get me wrong. I am all for success, hard work, and achievement. Those that attain such, are to be lauded. However --- As much as my personal opinions fly in the face of liberals, I have to agree that while W-Mart may be a cheap place to shop, it is (as a big conglomerate), a cancer to our society --- given the way it has grown, an proliferated. The show I saw mentioned that the Chinese folk were making 50 cents an hour. This is one of the reasons you and I can buy from them for so cheap. The bumper sticker I saw on a car the other day said it all: "Shop Mall-Wart --Home of cheap plastic crap". To which I say -- "Amen".

Cowgirl!!!!! Them there look almost obscene!! :D--> :D-->

And -- this puter, and keyboard use a USB port, so even though I have a Mac, I am thinking that you can do the same on a PC. Guess it depends on your keyboard. I have to turn the volume up here, when audio comes across, otherwise I'll miss what is being said --- it is all "mastered" by the volume control, that I either have set high, or low.

My old Mac here, has a coupla keys (at the top of the numerical board to the right of the main key board) that will either enhance or reduce sound. I have the sound set low, so I don't even hear the "online squeal" that happens when I log on. If I have it up high, the mouse is as obnoxious as the initial internet connection. The keyboard I have here is a "pro" model, that (I think) is used for both macs, and pc's alike. The "sound" keys, are just to the right of the F15 key. Good luck! :)-->

Money saving tips --- The best one I picked up on so far --- is pre-planning. Especially for food. It may seem to be a hassle, but make out a menu for the week coming up (use your own day to start on). We at the group home use Friday as our starting day --- but plan a 7 day menu, and go from there. We make out a menu, and buy only what we need, to to make sure we have the ingredients neccesary for that week,and stick to it. This method feeds 9 people (staff, and clients) 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, every week, for an approximate cost of $150.00 per week, (usually less). If we bought presumptuously (and sometimes we do, when we forget things, the cost goes up, even though we are prolific coupon cutters also. Turning off lights is huge, ( we have over 20 light bulbs in 2 rooms alone), as well as not letting a coffepot run all day. A coffeepot running all day sucks up a lot of electricity, and though I forget the actual figures, it is comparable to several 100 watt bulbs burning continuously. Shopping for items "out-of-season" works really well at department stores. I bought a new 6-person tent this year (in August) for $39.00, that normally cost over $200.00 (I didn't want one that big for myself, but the price was right!) :)--> Searching your local paper for ads, and garage sales, can be more rewarding than you would think. Decide what you want/need, before you go out to buy it. That alone will save you a lot, along with all the other great tips here!

And the new name would be "Skears-Mart"? --> ;)-->

Zshot -- maybe take Flat with you (if he gets to you before the 19th), and send him on his way from "out-of-state"?? Just a thought.