Ron G.

Pmosh sez... "I want them to die and I'll pi$$ on their grave in front of their mother" Pmosh...you act like that's a BAD thing. There's lotsa stuff I hate that much. For example... Mice. Especially in my silverware drawer. Actually, I may have actually done what you, so vivdly, described...only it wasn't in front of their mothers, it was ON their mothers. Flat soda pop. Being out of coffee....I REALLY despise that. Running out of smokes and it's too late to go to the store. Flat tires. Dogs that kill my chickens. Big ol' ugly spiders like the one I just squished with my shoe. I didn't pee on it, tho...I'm savin' that up for the next mouse I see. 'Possums and racoons that eat my garden. Most things relating to computers. Wal Mart. There's all kinds of things that are worthy of ire. It's NOT an unwholesome thing.

Quoth Rottiegrrl... I thought she was, too. Happy anniversary, Chas!!!

Garth, You're right, I've never been persecuted or treated as a second class citizen due to my beliefs. That's because I don't wear my beliefs on my shoulder and don't challenge anyone because of theirs. It's just childish for an atheist to challenge the comfort and fulfillment some people derive from their religious beliefs just as it's childish for the religious to challenge the comfort and fulfillment atheists derive from theirs. It's just as much a myth that atheists are more intellectual as it is that the religious are more moral. All that is just absurd. There are numerous things in our culture for which people can feel themselves persecuted and feel made to be "second class citizens". I could get it from time to time, if I just wanted to I suppose, as... a smoker a film user as opposed to a digital user Boy Scout leader someone who prefers a standard as opposed to an automatic despiser of Wal Mart gun owner and enthusiast carnivore home school enthusiast membership in a fraternal order that allows no political or sectarian debate 60's rock and roll fan coin collector and a myriad other things people enjoy feeling superior or smug over. The reason I dislike liberals/statists and socialists so much is because they presume to know what's best for me and my life and think it's moral to pick my pocket to pay their bills. Chatty Kathy, Did I ever tell you I really consider you a class act? Well, if not, then here it is... You are a classy lady!!

I think it's childish, at best, to get your bowels all in an uproar over what anyone else believes. It's especially childish to get hostile over it, even if you fancy yourself as some sort of "persecuted minority" because of your beliefs or lack of them. I remember Pinky Lee. I also remember Cap'n Swabee (hosted the Popeye show), Buffalo Bob, Icky Twerp and of course, Clarabelle the Clown. But then I'm an old guy.

Top ten things I learned in my first PFAL class (Spring of 1981 in Houston, Texas) 10. Nutter Butter cookies make me fart. 9. VPW's voice will put you to sleep. 8. How to take a leak, smoke two cigarettes and drink a cup of coffee during a ten minute break. 7. I'm a little hard of hearing. 6. How long my butt can endure a folding chair. 5. Flatulence is frowned upon in session 5 4. Two cups of coffee is my bladder's limit for a one hour sit'n'listen session. 3. Standing and straightening your underwear as the blood rushes back into your legs after sitting for two hours in a folding chair facilitates the manifestation of speaking in tongues. 2. The epitome of boldness is passing the horn'o'plenty during a $200 class. and the number one thing I learned... 1. The lady who coordinated the class (and undershepherded me) is someone I'll treasure and admire all the rest of my life.

I'm curious. What do more people die from? Secondhand smoke or not minding their own business? Got any stats on that? YIdon'tgotochurch... Better watch that dippin'. Somebody's gonna step where you spat and slip and fall and get killed, then we're gonna be hearing silly stuff about secondhand dip. I just never seems to end.

Eagle... You're wrong. I just saw Alec Baldwin recently in a movie called "Team America: World Police", so evidently he can still get parts in movies. He didn't actually portray a character, but just came on as himself, so we'd all know what he was really all about. At least I THINK that was Alec Baldwin. Sure did look, act, think and talk like him. And it SAID it was.

Why are we listening to it on the internet? As much as I dislike Alec Baldwin, I think some things are private and shouldn't be open to public scrutiny. After all, I'm sure the appropriate PTB heard it before any of us did. I kinda think it's disrespectful to the little girl (not to mention her mom) although I don't know if she knows or can comprehend or understand that THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD now knows how her daddy did her. I would think that would be very painful in and of itself. All the while, there are probably MILLIONS of kids out there who get the same treatment and the world knows not nor would it care. I may be way off base here, but it all just doesn't set right.

"a front wheel drive car, the radiator fan was driven by an electric fan, NOT by an engine shaft" pssst....pssst... uh...Rocky, They ALL have electric fans these days...and have since the early 90's. It adds HP and improves gas mileage while cooling the engine more efficiently. If the engine should get a little too hot, the fan will run after the car is shut off so the engine doesn't cook immediately after turning it off. It helps protect the aluminum heads that reduce weight also adding to improved mileage. Betcha a dollar to a donut that your truck does, too. Just thought you'd be interested. Interestingly, a friend of mine found an old '52 Studebaker that had been sitting up for a number of years. He took it and cleaned the points and replaced the battery and it started right up. It's a straight 6 with cast iron head and three on the tree (remember those?). It's built like a tank and is quite plush inside. DAMNED if it doesn't get about 30 MPG! Why don't they build cars like that any more?

I know a few people who've had Tauruses and it seems they just go and go and go and go. Saturns are excellent, also. The only question might be in parts availabilty. Certainly there are LOTS of good Taurus parts available out there. The mileage seems a bit high on the Taurus. You might take it to a good mechanic and have him check it out, particularly the compression. If the engine has ever overheated, that will cause problems later as the heads are aluminum and don't take heat very well. That should show up on a compression check. It may be dumb to suggest this, but with that many miles, you might want to check the oil for evidence of water and check the radiator for any evidence of oil...also with the engine running, hold a clean piece of paper under the tailpipe for a while just to see if there is any oil collecting. That could mean very early stages of ring deterioration. If the dealer is reputable as you say, then it's probably okay....just never hurts to check.

Bumpy comments... "Really, he has slanted eyes and writes strange papers when not taking pills to control his “discontent”, but he has a Green Card!" Ron wonders... What do slanted eyes and green cards have to do with it? A green card means he's here LEGALLY and I think (I don't know if statistics will bear me out on this) Koreans, generally speaking, would account for VERY little violent crime in the US. This guy was just an anomaly. Being Korean wouldn't/shouldn't be relevant. Bumpy...would you care to elaborate on your comment?

How DARE the media roast the police??? First of all, it sells copy therefore advertising, it gives the talking buffoons something to philosophize about, it makes them feel important in giving the impression that their "journalistic investigations" outweigh those of police officials and it titillates liberals. I used to take pictures for a newspaper back in the archaic days of film and darkrooms. I sat in the donut shops with local police many times and when I wasn't, I had my scanner and Nikon at the ready all the time. I saw a lot of stuff and can tell you that cops earn their keep. I only saw and recorded stuff...they LIVE it and take a great deal of heat for much of it, even though they shouldn't have to. I understand why so many find solace in bottles. I'm with you 100% on this'un, Belle. PMosh... I wasn't aware that Gettysburg qualified as a school shooting. I don't exactly get your point.

Andrew and I have some favorites we enjoy together. Number one is Altan...A Scots/Irish folk band featuring Maraide Mahoney...a finer fidller and singer you'll never find. Andrew enjoys a lot of old '60s stuff like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin etc. Our favorite which we listen to nearly every night, however is this song called "Pie Jesu" written by Andrew Loyd Webber for all who died in the violence in northern Ireland over the years...sung by Charlotte Church. It's in Latin and Andrew and I both studied Latin so we enjoy that part, too. Pie Jesu Merciful Jesus Qui tollis peccatta mundi Who takes away the sins of the world Dona eis requiem Give them rest Agnus Dei Lamb of God Sempiternem Eternally Click on the picture to listen...

I read all this and just wonder how much courage it really takes to post something like this anonymously. Now if he were to come out with his identity and tell ME personally that he had done something to one of MY kids...or even a friends kid or a relative, I would not only admire his great courage, I would help him seek his forgiveness by sending him to be with God forthwith. Doojable is right...something don't smell right. I reckon I'm gonna have to go over to Abi and Doojable's side of the room on this'un. They really make sense.

So what's the first thing he does? He buys a whole lot of chewing gum, puts on his Yellow Submarine CD REAL LOUD, and then runs outside in the rain with his machete and proceeds to whack up brush, weeds and a few mice.

Stick around. We NEED voices of common sense like you, Rhino, weout etc to offset some of the more shrill and less sensible folks.

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Happy Birthday!! Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Happy Birthday!!

Ron G.'s (readaholic) top five most recently read or currently reading... "Wild Foods Field Guide and Cookbook" by Billy Joe Tatum (Outdoor stuff/how to) "How to Grow World Record Tomatoes" by Charles H. Wilbur (How to) "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Richard Smullyan (puzzles) "Empire of Unreason" by J. Gregory Keyes (fantasy/fiction) "The Postman" by David Brin (science fiction)

It never would have occurred to me to suggest Hoppe's #9, but then I'm very much more into muzzleloading. For that reason, I recommend T/C BORE BUTTER! It increases accuracy, reduces fouling and helps you get the ramrod down the barrel with minimal effort and maximum effectiveness. It's non toxic and all ingredients are food grade. It smells okay, too. It's claimed you can fire over 1000 times without cleaning. Try it, you'll like it.

Nothing like the invigorating aroma of Jack Daniels Bourbon whiskey. Jim Beam is pretty good, too. But WD-40 will do in a pinch.

I just read the NY Times piece and think this is just an incredible outrage. Morris Dees needs to join Molly Ivins. When private citizens can no longer protect their private property, then it's time to take definitive action. It's time to feed the hogs!

dmiller... There's a fine line between Gaelic music and bluegrass. Just get out your Bill Monroe recordings and add a bodhran and maybe some pipes. Just start up a little "Irish Washerwoman" or maybe "Red Haired Boy" and maybe we can get Lori to do a jig dance with us. Ya reckon?

I'm Scottish on my dads side....Clan MacPherson (but that's not my last name) with some Stewart thrown in for good measure. My mothers side is Danish, mostly. I think there's some connection between the Danes and the Irish....as a matter of fact, the Irish were once called the Dans or something like that...I think. Maybe someone knows about that. Anyway, it was St. Patrick who originally brought the Stone of Scone to Scotland...in case anyone is interested in that sort of thing. So crank up the Altan and Cheiftains CD's and let's have a Ceilidh.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Did a bad experience turn you off camping? Maybe your tent leaked in a rainstorm or you shivered all night in a borrowed, smelly sleeping bag. Or that thin foam pad you were trying to sleep on didn't do much to protect your back from the rocky, uneven ground beneath your tent. It doesn't have to be that way. Tour companies and resorts now offer luxury camping, and the term "glamping" -- shorthand for glamorous camping -- is starting to turn up in reports from the United Kingdom and Canada. The New York Post recently mentioned "glamping" in an article on a new Web site for luxury travel, http://www.globorati.com. (The story also referred to "jetrosexuals" as a globetrotting jetsetter who thinks nothing of hopping on a plane to Asia for a shopping spree.) In British Columbia, Canada, the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, a 30-minute boat ride from the town of Tofino, is offering "glamping" on a fjord on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Tents have Persian carpets, down duvets and even electricity. There's a sauna and hot tubs on site, and activities including fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, hikes and wildlife-watching. But if you thought camping was a budget vacation option, you'll have to readjust your expectations for glamping. Three-night packages at the Clayoquot resort begin at $4,100 a person, double occupancy. Details at 888-333-5405 or http://www.wildretreat.com. Other tour companies offer luxury tent accommodations as well. Abercrombie & Kent has several trips to Africa that include high-end camping, such as guided tours of Botswana that include game drives and accommodations in "walk-in tents with extra length beds, crisp sheets and warm blankets," plus a "mess tent" for what's described as "bush-style haute cuisine" served on china and linen tablecloths. Details at http://www.abercrombiekent.com or 800-554-7016. Closer to home and a bit less upscale, but still a world away from the do-it-yourself leaky tent, Maine Family Adventures offers a deluxe guided camping trip to Acadia National Park; http://www.mainefamilyadventures.com/trips_acadia_camp.html. Meals prepared by the guides, camping equipment and activities are all included in the cost of about $1,000 a person.

I sometimes like to fancy myself as an artist and, as such, tend to render reality in an idealistic fashion. I've been a photographer most of my life and while others were getting their needs and wants parallel, I was getting my horizons and horizontals parallel. One thing I learned is that people won't as readily buy a portrait of themselves if it actually looks like them. Being a realist or being an idealist don't have to be mutually exclusive. One can maintain an equilibrium and obtain a more ideal reality for themselves. But then that may be overly idealistic.