George Aar

I did it for years, like any good Wayfer would. I never saw any tangible benefit from it (of course falling asleep was never terribly difficult for me). Maybe it's in the Bible because some long dead preacher man from Israel figured out that people could speak in something that sorta sounded like a language if they could just lower their inhibitions enough. And then ascribing some great spiritual significance to such an act wouldn't be too far behind. The basic concept also appears in many other cultures, and always with some mystical connection...

"I think it makes sense...don't you? " I dunno, MCarroll, how many vacuum cords have you had to replace in your lifetime? Me? I would guess about zero... But, there were sure goofier things they taught. It's so absurd to think of all the little WayBots scrimping and saving toilet paper and coupons and soap - all the while VP and co. are buying corporate airplanes, motor coaches, motorcycles and having board meetings in the Bahamas. No we weren't in a cult. Whatever gave you that idea? Oh Lord forgive me my blatant stupidity...

Well, I tend to be the obnoxious, abrasive one about certain topics (this one in particular) so I will try to exercise some restraint. But, I tend to see "healing" pretty much the way Oak spelled it out. Looky, when you're ill or injured SOMETHING is going to happen to you. You'll get better, or worse, or maybe stay about the same. But ONE of those outcomes in absolutely in your future. So if we make some sort of supplication to God or gods, or take some therapeutic herb and we get worse or show no change, what usually is the response? Generally, if my experience is anywhere near norm, the person wants to "make a positive confession" and doesn't want to dwell on the negatives so, what do they say? "I'm doing great" or much better, or whatever. So those who aren't directly involved, seldom get anything but good, or at worst, ambiguous information. And then, if we actually DO recover, well obviously the gods, or herb or whatever it was that we tried must have WORKED! OBVIOUSLY! So our information tends to get edited rather severely as it relates to healing. The good we hear about (usually MANY times), but the contrary seldom gets any airtime. Sorry, but that's not evidence of much of anything. And then, when someone DOES really recover, well, then Hallelujah! I've been HEALED! Well, yeah, maybe... It's funny that, try as they might, the "miraculous healing" crowd can never produce any evidence in a carefully controlled environment. That alone, speaks volumes to my ears. Again, you have to have faith to believe in it. Sorry, that's just not enough for me (or you either, if you really need healing)...

Anything County/Western flavored is the only thing that makes me consider that there really might be a Devil. My own private hell would be having perpetual breakfast in a Waffle House, while "witnessing" to some fat, smelly, disinterested trucker, all the while listening to George Jones and Loretta Lynn on the Jukebox... ARRRRGH! (maybe I should reconsider that whole "salvation" thingy?)...

I didn't much care for "Lenny" in the clips. He's seems far too lucid and quick-witted. At any rate, an awful story. Really awful. I always hated reading Steinbeck in school. Typical Steinbeck storyline: Things are bad They get worse They get even worse They get worse yet Everybody dies the end Having said that, I loved "Cannery Row"...

O.K., my last word on the matter. With the possible exception of Mz. Shellon, it seems from your posts that all of you ladies are in love with the IDEA of an honest, open, heart-sharing relationship. And I think that the idea you're carrying around in your heads is mostly fantasy. You don't want a man to be honest. You want him to be supportive, diplomatic, flattering, and maybe even intimate, but you don't want honesty. I often hear women bemoan the fact that their husband doesn't listen (like they think he OBVIOUSLY should!). They want him to converse with her like he's a girlfriend. Sorry, it ain't gonna happen. Not for long, anyway. (NEWSFLASH - We'll act anyway we have to - to get into your pants, at least the first time) Men ARE honest for the most part, it seems to me, they just don't talk like women would like them to, even after years of training. Get used to it, or live alone, (or maybe get a girlfriend)...

Shell, Yeah, I'm having a little difficulty buying the whole "honesty" line. Being honest has gotten me into more trouble than I care to talk about. Not because I have some innate adhreance to the truth, but more because I'm simply a really lousy liar. I just can't do it without blushing, or breaking out in a sweat, or stammering. EVERYBODY knows when I'm lying, But when you ask your one-and-only "Honey, do you think this dress makes me look fat?" and he responds, "No, it's your huge butt that makes you look fat, the clothes are pretty immaterial, I think." I'm betting that there won't be any world-class lovemaking going on in your bedroom that night.

I'm hearing the "honesty" line a bit too much already. I think women LOVE men to be "honest" as long as it's something they want to hear. Should it be more reality based, I think a man would be best advised to color up his "honesty" a smidge...

It seems as though the majority of responders were women, so in interest of fairness, allow me to give a more male perspective: What men find sexy in women, at least to begin with, is all physical. A nice figure, nice complection, and maybe a hint of willingness in her demeanor. I think what women find sexy in men is physical strength, power, and money (or so it seems to me). Having said all that, at my age, what the hell difference does it make now?

No, I'm thinking of becoming a nun...

Oooo, Looky what I found: http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince/060609_prince/ Congrats Mr. President!

Of all the recurring arguments that crop up on this board, I think this has got to be the dumbest. Looky having something is NOT the same as NOT having it. Does that require a lengthy proof to defend? We're all born agnostics. Somewhere along the line we may decide (generally after a lengthy indoctrination period) to accept an additional set of beliefs. If you think that's a good thing, BE MY GUEST. Gawd, it's like we've entered into some bizarro world where having something is the same as not having it, bald is the same as having hair (I WISH), having dinner is the same as going hungry, being single is the same as being married. Uh, no... Um, just what is it that you're trying to prove? That we're all human? Well, I would hope so. That we all have to put our pants on one leg at a time, that we all have to use the bathroom on occasion, that we all do things from time to time that we're not particularly proud of? Well, I confess! Yes, I'm guilty of ALL of those heinous crimes. Yes, we all share certain human foibles, so? Is that the ultimate goal of this whole line of (lack of) reasoning? Just curious...

Uh un, yeah, I'm on the edge of my seat... (I really shoudn't be posting here at all, should I?)

Sorry, did a little research...

Oh, I had all sorts of stuff to say, but, ah hell, suffice it to say, You and I have remarkably different ways of looking at such things.

Kathy, Oh, I LOVE Brando's movies (well, except for his directorial debut "One-eyed Jacks" which was absolutely dreadful - almost laughably so), just think that he was probably a horse's foot in real life. How did a boy from a dorky, midwest town get such an attitude?

Sudo, That's one my alltime favorite scenes ( I don't think I'm very unique in that). Funny how the music actually detracts from the movie now, though. It's so overdone. Well, the whole movie was pretty overdone, in retrospect. BTW, a bit of trivia about that scene - I guess Brando was so full of himself that he wouldn't sit in the cab while Steiger was doing his part of the dialog, he went home instead - to leave Steiger talking to Elia Kazan, who sat in for the missing Brando. Whatta primadonna... (edited cause I got the people wrong - Sorry Mr. Steiger!)

"The Avengers" was another one of those shows that I just never quite "got". It was such an odd program, always so tongue-in-cheek, sorta spoofing itself and the spy-genre in general. I could never figure out if I was supposed to believe them or not. Just odd... And then there was "The Prisoner". Another English show that had quite a cult following as well. And every bit as goofy. I guess I just don't appreciate the British approach to T.V. Although "Benny Hill" is still a favorite...

I think Mr. Carroll says it better than I can: http://skepdic.com/althelth.html BTW, just so you know MY bias, I spent about 20 YEARS going to chiropractors, massage therapists, and Osteopaths for treatment until FINALLY I couldn't move my hands anymore and was in so much pain that I couldn't sleep. I went to one of those evil, knuckle-dragging, devil-possessed MDs and, lo and behold, after about 20 minutes of surgery, I felt better than I had in TWENTY YEARS. Unfortunately, due to the length of time I went untreated I did irreversible harm to the nerves in my arms. Consequently I have little sensation in my hands anymore, and tend to drop things more often than I used to. I also watched my uncle slowly morph into an unrecognizable, twisted blob of humanity due to RA. He tried all the alternative stuff and those practitioners fed on him unmercifully. My sister is battling RA as well, and I'm starting to show symptoms myself. So I'm not a stranger to the ailment. I'm just not willing to pay somebody to perform pointless procedures on me in the expectation that "Well, it can't hurt!" Sorry, but it CAN, and DOES - everyday. And no, the fact that I can have an opinion doesn't make me a doctor. The folks that seem to favor the altrenative regimen get a free pass from you on that count, though (it seems).

O.K. did I CLAIM to be a [edited profane language] doctor? Sorry, but you are right. I've lived my entire life without the slightest medical issues bothering me EVER. You and a few of your friends are probably the only ones who've ever suffered any such problems. And if you'd like to spend your life stroking a rabbit's foot or having your chakra adjusted, be my guest. But Alternative Medicine that works soon becomes MAINSTEAM medicine. All one need do is perform the basic clinical trials, publish the results in a peer-reveiwed journal and before you know it, it will become accepted therapy. That is, if the results are postive. Funny that so few of the alternative crowd bother with that regimen? Maybe it's because it's easier to sell snakeoil - and take advantage of the desperate - than it is to do real science? Maybe? Anyway, I WAS trying to be nice. Best wishes to you Mr. Finch on your treatment, whatever it is.

O.K., I'm not much of a sporst fan, but, THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN DONE WITH THIS YET!? God, I've been hearing about something to do with "the finals" since about January. Uh, just how "final" are they anyway?

I don't wanna rain on anybody's parade, but... You might want to take a look at this site as well. http://www.quackwatch.org/index.html In WayWorld the goofy, offbeat, alternative health regimen was always endorsed, and usually without a scintilla of evidence in it's favor. Looky, we're not kids anymore. You've got a real ailment, you owe it to yourself to get REAL treatment. I'd love to think that there was some magical cure out there for just about any malady. Just get the right herb or the right aroma or the right crystal or find that person with the special gift, and Voila! instant healing Problem is, things don't work out like that in REAL life. If there doesn't seem to be any solid, complete explanation of the way some treatment works, I'd be wary. Caveat emptor (a lesson that was NEVER taught in TWI)...

You're having a special celebration to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the signing of the Smoot-Hawley Tarriff bill?

Re: "Remember Soylent Green is people!" Well, thank God for ketchup!

Mark, Re:"After all, EVERYBODY in this country is offended by SOMETHING" I'm deeply offended by that remark!