George Aar

I usually get moderately inebriated and wallow in self-pity for a few hours. Hey! It's a tradition. You gotta problem with that?

Cman, I'm not "implying" it, I'm stating it outright. Religious folks (no, not all of them) often DO make such remarks - very often in fact. If you don't believe me, just read some more of this same forum. Lots of spinmeistering going on right here, pal. It's almost a prerequisite if one is going to believe the Bible -especially for the more fundamentalist-minded, as the Bible (IMHO) seldom lines up very well with real life...

Uh, gee, is this stuff from the law enforcement profession, or, uh, recreational equipment?

Well, not sure how important it is, but maybe I can try to answer the original question this time. Here's a question: Why do religious folks seem to spend so much time doing "spin" control for God? You know, explaining why prayers weren't answered, why a good person (or child) died, why such bad things happen to good people, why very specific promises of scripture aren't fulfilled, that sort of thing. Stuff like "Well God had to let - insert horrific calamity here - happen, otherwise he wouldn't be a just God!" (to which I can only respond "Huh?")...

I'm not sure there is such a thing, Chas. My personal favorite is Veuve Cliquot Pensardin, demi-sec. Yeah, it's a dessert drink, but what else is Champagne for? But, at about $40. a bottle, I don't consider it "cheap". I guess that depends on your income...

Well, two oldies that I've been flogging for a loooong time, but are still my favorites: "The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan, a REALLY sensible, well-thought-out way of looking at the world. "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond. A wonderful overview of human existence for the last 20,000 years or so. It's not all set in stone, and there is a lot of conjecture and theorizing, but a really stimulating read. Of course, if you believe the world is only 6,000 years old, lots of it may prove difficult for you...

The truth is that which - when you've quit believing in it - doesn't go away...

Oh, pardon me. I saw the title and I thought this would be a thread about furry handcuffs and the like. My bad...

Religion lost its hold on me some time ago. I dunno, the more you "dig" or research, or whatever you like to call it, the LESS sense any of it makes. I finally realized that there's no difference between religion and any other garden variety superstition. "Step on a crack and break your mother's back" or "In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk", is there really any significant difference?

Well, I can't think of much to really get me worked up about Mr. Ford. He seemed like a decent enough guy. Worked in government a long time without many scandals circling him, I guess that's something. May he rest in peace (uh, does anyone really have a choice?). BTW, the whole JFK conspiracy and all really needs to just go away. Lordy, the gazillion theories put forth and not a one is one tenth as reasonable and credible as the simple conclusions of the Warren Report. They've duplicated the "magic bullet" shot almost exactly with virtually identical results. Nobody has come forth - who would have been in any position to know - with any deathbed revelations of any sort of cover-up, and all of the "evidence" from the crime that's proved phony is on the conspiracy side of the question. Maybe it's time to just give it all a rest? Yeah, not likely, I know...

Geeze Shell, where else would you put them? The front and back seat are for the chickens, afterall. You city slickers......

Well, I'd have to vote "wrong", as I don't know as there ever was any time when Wierwille and his minions had any goal in mind other than serving their own bellies. Ever wonder why VP really got his walking papers from his denomination? I'll bet it had nothing to do with poor 'ol Vic just wanting to "do the Werd". He pilphered Leonard's class in the early 50's, likewise several other men's books a while later, and ALWAYS had a real penchant for fast living and expensive toys. So he sold some Bible blather now and then. So what? Of course, superstition in whatever form doesn't impress me much anymore, no matter how holy or noble one perceives it to be...

Well, I guess it's no secret that I'm not a fan of the "Holidays". The expectations are so unreasonable and there's little or no allowance for those that don't fit the Ward and June nuclear family typos. No, it's "The MOST Wonderful Time of the Year!" So you'd better enjoy yourself dammit! The truth is - it's a LOUSY time of year. The days are short, dark, and cold. People die then (much more so than other times of the year - my father among them, on my fifteenth Christmas - yeah that sorta set the tone for all the succeeding holidays to come). So you end up alone in a dark, cold house and Andy Williams is taunting you at every turn of the channel to revel in the wonder of it all. It's gets to be a little much. But, fortunately, they don't last forever. Another week and we can go back to "normal".

And all of that presupposes that Bullinger was some sort of indisputable paragon of Biblical scholarship. To which I could only ask - according to who?

Anybody see where I left my rose-colored glasses?

Geeze, I wish I knew some snappy thing to say to make it all better, but, as you must be all too aware, sometimes life just kinda goes where it wants to. Although we're basically strangers, I do feel like I've gotten to know you over the years - a little bit anyway. I've always admired your well-tempered common sense and your logical approach to things. I guess you don't need me telling you, but savor the time you've got. It's nice that you've been able to smooth things out with your wife and get your affairs in order. Thanks for sharing a bit or yourself with us over the years. You've been a definite plus, and I too am filled with grief at the prospects...

Hey Ryan, Re:"If I keep my mouth shut and bite my tongue, everything is fine, if I open my mouth and challenge anything, SHE FLIES OFF THE HANDLE and goes CRAZY" Well, welcome to the relationship game. Uh, it doesn't get much better, even without the cult nonsense. Might as well get used to it. Or, you could consider a life of celibacy...

Sorry to say, but your situation is far from unique. Last year there were two funerals the same day I was supposed to attend (I didn't go, sorry, I don't do funerals very well). Nobody gets outta here alive, the older we get, well, the numbers start to catch up with us. I worked for an actuary once. He gave me a little insight into the cold numbers of reality, deaths per 100,000 by age, and all that sort of stuff. That's one of the big downsides of living a long life that nobody tells you about. You get to see all your friends and family go. I'm not so sure I'm all that excited about going there...

Yeah, I'm listening. I promise I won't mix the colors with the whites, and only use a quart or so of bleach per load... And also - to get back to my original point - just how is it you KNOW you're buying detergent and not fabric softener or stain remover or whatever? There's no clues on the actual label, of that I'm sure...

Well, if you can ever find in on tap (in a bottle it's only so-so) Watney's Red Barrel Beer is about as good as it gets. Fer everyday, I usually get a six-pack of Sapporo (in bottles)...

Hiway, What a relief, I thought I was the only one in the world who hated that show (and particularly the star - was there ever a more talentless person given more accolades? Maybe the "Rat Pack" - uh oh, I'd better duck now). Even as a kid I remember my sisters always tuning that show in and - at the tender of age of 6 or 7 - finding myself thoroughly disinterested. But then, I can't think of any sitcom I really liked. Well, maybe "Barney Miller"...

Well, I think this is cool. I'd much rather see them doing real exploration and pushing the envelope rather than burning through another billion dollars for a space-shuttle trip (now that IS pointless)...

Oh and yeah, if I were like really disgustingly rich it would be fun to collect all 150 or so known Sharaku prints. I don't know if it would be as fun as giving it away to those who could really use a hand, though. Not to worry, I don't anticipate unwieldy wealth overtaking me anytime soon...

Kathy, I can't see the signature but that looks like a Kuniyoshi print. He's definitely wearing the garb of the "47 Ronin" (black and white, symbolizing the rising and setting of the sun, denoting absolute faithfulness) - a true story. Kuniyoshi often did prints that didn't quite fit the mold of the accepted norm. He experimented with perspective and focal points and different looking faces - all somewhat rare in Ukiyo-e. And yeah, Rick, how's about a hint?

Yikes! An original Sharaku (that is, one printed from the original blocks, a print that would now be about 210 years old) in any kind of condition at all would easily bring 10s of thousands of dollars. I saw a pretty nice one in the most recent Mita Arts Catalogue. It's listed at $120,000 U.S. Reproductions (which is all I'm ever gonna be able to afford, I fear) can be had for 20 or 30 bucks on eBay...