George Aar

I've pretty much reverted to my "pre-TWI" mindset. Well, except for becoming a lot more accepting of differences and (possible) shortcomings in people, which is probably just a function of aging. On a "spiritual" level though, if anything I've become even more of a rabid agnostic and hardbitten (cynical?) skeptic. Yeah, yeah, I know the verse "Dog returning to his own vomit" and all of that. Sorry, it doesn't move me much anymore...

O.K., you've hit a hot-button issue for me. Yeah, a pretty trivial one, but a hot one all the same. Yes, those "bubble-lips" look ridiculous. They remind me of those wax-lip candies we used to get when we were kids (around Halloween, IIRC). I think the worst offender is Jack Nicholson's main squeeze. I forget her name, but she was the one that played the D.A. on "The Practice". Gawddam, here's a poor lady who's not overly attractive to begin with, then she starves herself down to anorexic proportions, then for the topper she gets her lips blown up like balloons, and this looks good? Oh well, whaddu I know when it comes to fashion? My idea of "dressing up" is to wear something other than Levis, polo shirt, and workboots...

Long Gone, Gosh, the good doctor certainly has an impressive resume. Looks like the only thing he hasn't cured yet is death itself. Well, give him time. Maybe the congressman should get ahold of the Swedish Chef as an additional character reference. I think that would lend a little more credibility to his "nomination"... "Ferda shnerd a yumpin yimminy fer da Nobel peace prize fer medicine and physiology und everting elsa." Whatta dope...

Did this congressman learn syntax from Dubya by any chance? Sorry, it just sounded like a "Bushism"...

Well gee, I'll try not to speak for anyone else, lest I draw the righteous ire of O.M., but I saw the same crap that U.H. and Hammeroni did as well. In fact, one of the main things I wanted to see after first sitting through the "class" was my carpal tunnel symtoms to go away. So, rather than demonstrate blatant "unbelieving" by going to the doctor, I just prayed, got "ministered" to and then went back to work. I convinced myself for years that I had been healed (GLORY!) until one day I simply couldn't move my hands. That was a sort of rude wake-up call. So I went to an evil, negative, unbelieving doctor (horrors!). He was absolutely beside himself at the condition of my arms/hands. He was a specialist who had done nothing but carpal tunnel surgery for the past 20 years or so. He said I was tied with one other patient as having been the worst case he'd ever seen. So much for "believing action". So after this reprobate, worldly, negative-thinking doctor did about a half-hour surgery I felt better than I had in a couple of decades. Of course, I had done a lot of irreversable harm as well, but what's that when compared to the joy of "believing"?

Well, after having spent about 2 years in Ohio, I'd think moving to Texas as nigh unto moving to heaven. I wouldn't go back to Wapakoneta if they put a gun to my head. Sorry to those that know and love it, but I think it's a dump (in fact most anything east of the Rockies doesn't thrill me too damn much - well, NYC is cool - other than that, BAH!).

I've tied up a boatload of stimulators and nymphs. Stimulators are my favorite for just about any time of year. They don't require the patience of a chironomid or the constant action of hare's ear or other sub-surface fly. You tie them yourself? Nice job... I usually keep the body yellow all the way or maybe switch to orange, and sometimes use a black hackle to immitate a yellow jacket, if those are out. Damn, I haven't even wet a line in over two years now!

O.K., my quote from the nostalgia thread that got derailed a few days ago: "Heroin! Peppermint-flavored heroin!"

I recognize the quote but can't quite place the movie, "The Natural" maybe?

Yeah, that was always the default position. Gawd, how many times did we hear some MOG wannabe talking about how he was ministering to somebody and then offered to pray for their cancer or lambago or whatever, "But I don't have - whatever-!" they would contend. "Oh, you don't think so, huh?" the all knowing mini-mog would reply, with a smug self-confidence that he knew things that they couldn't hope to grasp. To anyone who still hangs onto the notion that there are "genuine" mind readers, healers, psychics, and whatnot around, take a few minutes to watch a mentalist perform (ala 3-cents) and listen to their explanations of how they do what they do. Now there's some really worthwhile "advanced class" information...

Well, I'm perfectly willing to believe in any sort of paranormal stuff, if I'd ever see any evidence of any. So far, zip. Until then, I'm a firm believer in the laws of physics. BTW, I second the notion that the Amazing Randi is an excellent source of rational explanations for all those fantastic events going on around us (actually the careful reader will realize that I've been touting Randi for quite some time now). If you'd like to perform paranormal feats all on your own, take a look at this site: http://www.ianrowland.com/ Mr. Rowland is an accomplished "cold reader", and not only does it, but teaches others how to tap into these resources from the "other side". You'll have to buy his book to get the whole story, but basically you learn to ask a whole bunch of questions. The human experience is not that exceptional from person to person, and basic issues crop up over and over and over again. All one need do to be an accomplished seer, is ask questions like "Has someone recently passed on in your family?" "Did they like to eat?" "Did they have a beloved pet?" or you can ask seemingly more specific questions like "I getting a 'j', does that make any sense?" "I get a sense 'water' was nearby?" If you get a "no" or an unenthusiastic response, move on quickly and keep firing questions. Keep them vague and general, and keep reading your mark's reactions very closely. It's amazing how little you have to give to desparate people to earn their enthusiastic support. Mention that Uncle John had a favorite pet dog, and that he liked to eat Bar-be-que, and they'll walk away convinced that they contacted the "other side". It's a sideshow. An act. A contrived parlor trick. As is all of the paranormal stuff I've ever seen in the media. And,... as was TWI and the related "Jesus" movement of the '70s. Or so this unrepentant infidel would have you believe...

I watched this last night on PPV. Jamie Foxx was amazing in the way he captured Ray's mannerisms, gait, and overall personna and, naturally, Ray's music was phenomenal, but I was kinda disappointed in the writing. The story was O.K. I guess, but so many scenes were corny, obivious Hollywoodizations and so many story lines just petered out in the end with no resolution or explanation of what eventually happened that I was somewhat perplexed when it ended so abruptly. See it for Foxx's performance and Ray's music, but don't expect much from the content, 'cause that's lacking. Not horribly so, but it just strikes me as somewhat amateurish in the screenwriting department...

I think that would have been Joseph Levitch (the one on the right)...

I thought it was "The Struggle for Southern Independance"? Either way, the actual shooting may have toned down a bit, but the fight is still being waged in every Waffle House and Churche's Chicken joint I ever wondered into...

One could only hope...

Damn, where have I been? I've heard a snippet or two of "Amos and Andy" from the old radio show, but have never heard a whole show and I never even knew there was a T.V. version. When was it on T.V.?

53% Dixie?(!) Yikes, does this mean my sisters are going to start looking more attractive to me? Come to think of it, my youngest sister...

Hmmmm, why does that seem so familiar? Shaz, Yeah, put the furniture back. But if your driveway slopes towards the house, I think it's still a good idea to build a wall at the end to keep the evil spirits from flowing into your front door. Hey, you can't be too safe...

Well, HCW has declared himself a "young earther" as well, so draw your own conclusions.

OMG! Geeze, thanks for that clip Pirate. I don't think I ever saw the ad, or if I did, have long forgotten it. What a trip! Cartoon characters pitching cigarettes (of course it was aimed at the adults in the audience, I'm sure). I wonder if they gave any thought to having Fred and Barney knock back a few at the bowling alley bar and tout the merits of Budweiser or Seagrams 7 ? Toooo funny...

Dropping back for a minute to talk about the "drunks" on T.V. Isn't it amazing how many there were? Dean Martin made a career out of playing the drunk, as did Foster Brooks (a one-trick pony if ever there was one), and as already mentioned, Red Skelton (I was never a fan), Crazy Guggenheim, Sid Caeser, and countless other stand-up guys. Who knew alcoholism was so damn funny? I wonder why we never moved on to heroin addicts, speed-freaks, or cokeheads? There must be some great humor to be mined there. The 50's (and early 60's) were a peculiar time, weren't they?

It cuts both ways, HCW. It never ceases to amaze me how many people still tenaciously hang onto the dubious tenets of Wierwille's homebrewed religion, even after having proved by their own experiences that it simply doesn't work. There's no limit to the ridiculous crap that people will believe, astrology, numerology, feng shui, wicca, Islam, and, of course, our own favorite cult - WayWorld. I don't think it should be that surprising that eventually some of the adherents finally wake up and start thinking. It isn't to me, anyhow...

Think: "Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, ROSE Marie, and MOREY Amsterdam" (they all worked on The Alan Brady Show)

Raf, Far be it from me to portray myself as a Biblical scholar, but I do remember PFAL (how can I forget after that many times?). And I distinctly remember VPW belaboring the point of it being "a different kind" when going over the passage about the guards breaking the legs of those crucified. So, yeah, I would say that it was in the filmed version as well.

First note here as well. I wasn't much a fan of the leading lady, though. I was more of an "Agent 99" kinda guy, or maybe the "White Owl" girl, Edie Adams.