George Aar

I hope CoolChef will give you some real advice, but what I've learned about cooking lamb or goat is that the fat is really nasty. You want to remove all of it you can possibly get off of it before cooking. In the leg there's a skein of fat inside the muscles that takes a bit of digging around to find. Once you find that, cut out all of it and trim off any traces of it on the outside, then marinade and put it on a rotisserie for 45 minutes or so (I like it on the rare side). Mint jelly works with goat too. Yum yum!

And for some real sobering info. just listen to Boone Pickens for a minute or two. According to him even the supposed "inexhaustable" oil fields of the middle East have past their peak. We've used up a good deal of the easy-to-get oil, and from now on, it's gonna be "pay up or do without". Pickens claims that $3.00/gal. gas is a dead certainty this year and that $40/barrel oil is history, never to be seen again, and that there will be a sizeable shortfall in the oil available in the U.S. versus demand. Economics 101 anybody?

Depends on your perspective I guess. And as an aside, just how do you know your particular superstition is "The Truth"? To me it's saddening to see grown adults still clinging to ancient notions of invisible beings guiding the planets and interacting with the inhabitants, despite any concrete evidence that any such thing exists. If the God of the Bible is indeed an ever-present reality, He sure knows how to keep a low profile.

To Mz. Couric, NBC, and television execs in general, shame on you. This is beyond pandering to the least common denominator, well beyond...

Oh, and I meant to add, What if I was a believer in dowsing and had used a stick to tell me where to place those wells and then got the same results? You think I might be pretty well disposed to completely deluding myself as to how effective "dowsing" is? Yeah, I'd think so too... (BTW, as an aside, just how the hell is water supposed to pull on a stick anyway? Does that make any sense at all?)

. Against my better judgement, I guess I'll reply. Why can't dowsing work? Well, I suppose if you want to nullify the laws of physics, I guess there's no reason. No reason at all - for anything. Gawd, if anything's possible, if there's no reliable way of determining how anything will react or to tell how something will work, then we're going through life totally at the mercy of whatever capricious circumstance the "gods" care to throw at us. There's no science, no technology, no way to plan beyond the next minute or two. We're helpless pawns in a world without rules. And the fact that there are numerous people who have anecdotal evidence as to the efficaciousness of dowsing means nothing. No more than Uncle Joe testifying as to the great healing powers of Doctor Feelgood's miracle elixir. I thought about it a little more and realized that I've actually picked out the site for several wells in the last few years. I actually drilled a couple of wells a few summers ago, and I've set numerous well pumps, as well as advising landowners on lots of matters with regards to their wells. And so far, I've yet to have a "dry hole". Does that mean, as has been suggested (rather facetiously, I suspect), that I am a gifted Shaman? No? But look at the results I've had! 100% effective!

A skeptic's validity? I'm not sure I understand the question. A skeptic, as I understand it, is simply one who expects a certain degree of proof before he's willing to believe in something. Obviously, that's a way of thinking that's not much appreciated, at least around these parts. Is it any wonder that we all fell for the promises of "signs, miracles, and wonders" crap despite scant evidence in that regard? I was taken in by my unbridled credulity once. I certainly don't intend to go there again. How often do you want to get beaten with the same stick?

Dave, Yeah, I've done it too. I've also used Ouija boards and even pendulums to "divine" this or that. Sure, it seems to work, as long as you don't look too closely. With dowsing the device one uses is always an inherently unstable sort of thing. The slightest twitch and "LOOK! It's pointing towards water!" But, there's an awful lot of water out there. On my property, when I had a well drilled several years ago, I walked out with the driller and pointed to a spot on the ground, "I think the well should go here" I said. My reasoning was - it was over 200' from my septic system and it was close to the old pumphouse yet off the access road. Lo and behold, 300' down they hit water - 25 gals. a minute worth of it. WOW! I was a successful dowser without even using a stick! Take a look at the skepdic site and look up Clever Hans for a classic case of self-delusion. If dowsing really worked, how come they've NEVER been able to pass a simple clinical trial? Not once, not ever.

Here's a bit more about dowsing: http://skepdic.com/dowsing.html Why do you suppose it is that despite the fact that in virtually all the well-designed clinical tests of dowsing, even though the dowsers never averaged better than would be expected of chance, that so many are so eager to believe it? What is it about woo-woo science that some find sooo appealing?

I'm fascinated by history, what's really gone on before us that is (as best as that can be determined). And where the road will lead us is still interesting, though tempered a good deal by the constant political unrest and potential (inevitable?) cataclysmic destruction of civilization by some religious geek or other. But woo-woo, pseudo scientific claptrap has zero appeal for me. Dowsing has been thoroughly discredited in countless clinical trials over the years. Seers, shaman, gurus, and all sorts of holymen who divine the future or give grave warnings of impending doom have been shown to have about the same degree of accuracy as simple chance. The more interesting question to me, especially in light of our shared cult involvement, is why people give credence to such stuff at all. It certainly isn't because of the success rate of the paranormal practitioners. For in that regard, their record is dismal. O.K., I'm a wet blanket. So sue me...

Maybe, but who's saying that?

Most any of the Japanese cars are a great value, IMHO. A Subaru, a Toyota Camry, or even a Honda are all veeeery dependable and not terribly expensive. There is a glut of used cars out there right now, so it's definitely a buyers market. Tell him to be choosy. Personally I'd stay away from the mid-sized Chrysler cars (Dodge Spirit and the like). They just seem to self-destruct after awhile. Likewise most any of the early to mid '80s American cars. Real junk, most of them.

Responding to Satori's questions of a couple pages back: I guess I do accept a certain amount of what "science" says at face value, primarily because it's demonstrated great understanding of how things work as evidenced by all the technological advancements that have been made due solely to the knowledge gained through the scientific method. That, and what the scientific community propounds is subjected to intense scrutiny. It's all part of the method. And finally, I'm not married to any of the conclusions of science. If someone comes along with contrary evidence, I'm free to change my mind. On the other hand, in the "spiritual" relm, nothing has to make too much sense, it seems. A basic appeal to one's emotions and a few feel-good (empty) promises is all that's required. And don't go around questioning basic tenets either. That's reeeally evil, you know? Doesn't turn out the way it was advertised? Well, you didn't have enough "faith" or "it's God's perogative" or some other lame excuse. Few ever seem to be willing to ask why an omnipotent, all seeing, omnipresent being has such a hard time fulfilling the most basic of His "promises". I don't have that problem anymore...

I am confirmed believer in the known laws of physics and not much else. So through my "filter" words like "spirit", "God", or any metaphysical jargon you can come up with are simply poetic ways of conveying the same thing: "I don't know".

I think you do. To quote Mr. Occam, the simplest explanation is usually the right one. He was pathological, we were kids and easily impressed. The amalgam of those elements was a heady concoction which resulted in many of us attributing significance to WayWorld that it simply didn't merit. So says me, anyway...

Not much to add to Satori's analysis, except to say that, as hucksters go, Wierwille was hardly unique. Gawd, we've got a million of 'em. Hitler, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Mussolini, and a few others are probably the most infamous of the breed in recent history, but there's loads of lessers that fit the mold. Take a look at any of the pyramid scheme MLMs around. They've all got a Wierwille-esque critter at their helm. All of those "self-help" gurus, same story. Big egos, bigger bull-pitching ability, and mountains of empty promises. Throw in a few tacky suits and Voila!, instant MOG! The only thing significant about Wierwille and his "ministry" is the amount of importance we gave it. Outside of that, it was just another vapid salespitch for a really dubious "product"...

The estimate doesn't sound too out of hand to me. I don't know if it's available in your area, but there's a product made for drainfields to use instead of the standard 4" perforated draintile pipe. It's called "Infiltrator" and is a sort of pyramid shaped length of poly-type material with louvered sides. It comes in 8' lengths and sets directly on the bottom of the 2' deep trench and several lengths can be connected with 4" sewer piper. You then simply backfill over the stuff with a reasonably "perking" type of soil. That's it, and it cuts down the amount of trench you need by 40%. The biggest issue I see with the French drains would be from the local EPA. In my neck of the woods they'd be all over anybody who was trying to divert surface water without their blessing. You might want to check with them before doing some expensive procedure that they may make you undo...

Wow, this is the first movie I've actually seen in a theatre in 5 or 6 years! Too bad it wasn't a better one. There's nothing horrible about it, but not much to recommend it either. It's just another McMovie. Stock storyline, a few tortured emotional scenes of the heartbroken (albeit thoroughly professional) lawman, and a rather trite cast of characters. Wait for the video.

Uh, gosh, when was the last time anyone looked to Marilyn Manson for moral guidance? sheesh...

Nah, never happen. I don't have enough hair for the "flattop"...

Danny, THAT'S the place. Sorry, I got my "lands" wrong. You think that "Creationland U.S.A." can measure up to those high standards? What could be more fun? Maybe they could offer Holy Water colonigues and Dead Sea baths for the health conscious? (oh, BTW, I think the "Pharisee Wheel" is a sure winner)

Danny, There used to be a video tour (a very tongue-in-cheek variety) of "Bibleland U.S.A." on the net, but damned if I can find it now. The place was basically just a bunch of miniature buildings, supposedly replicating 1st century Jerusalem and some other Bible hotspots - Golgotha, J.C.'s tomb, The Sea of Galilee and whatnot. The buildings were made of pebbles and sticks and whatever crap the owner had in his garage at the time, I guess. The overall look of the place was somewhere between pathetic and morose. I think the usual attendees were Boy Scout troops (no doubt trying to get their honor badge for religion) and youth groups from nearby churches. I'm sure it's in your neck of the woods, maybe you could do some research and take a tour of the place and report back? Hey, it's the least you could do, no? Then later we can all go to the grand opening "Creation Science, U.S.A."! I'm sure it'll be quite an event...

I guess that explains the poor personal hygiene and the speech problems...

I think we were a fairly ordinary family up until my dad decided to drop dead one day. He was only 50. That kinda threw us all for a loop. It was several years later that I started hanging around with the girl who would eventually drag me to "twig", but it sure seems likely that not having a father figure around was at least marginally to blame for my being attracted to the cult of personality that was TWI. My sisters delt with it differently. They both either got pregnant or married young (only to divorce a few years later). At least they weren't dense enough to follow after the cornfield pied piper, and wander off to nowhereland...

I'm reminded of another ersatz "amusement park" for the religiously demented, "Bibleland U.S.A." It was located somewhere in the Northeast, Massachusetts I think. Yeah, it was a reeeeeall crowd pleaser, you bet...