ChasUFarley

I've only been out 4 years and have an investment that's gained over $30K in just three years since it was last assessed. It's called a house. I wouldn't have been able to buy one if I was still in TWI. It's a nice little return, I think, and sure beats paying rent! As far as the other savings... I think leaving saved my sanity... that's priceless! (The other stuff would take too long to add up!)

Shame on me for saying it, but I'm *glad* that they're freed of each other. I expect that anyday now we will see a picture of Rosielie and Donna kissing on the front page of USA Today when VT, HI, MA or whatever liberal state legalizes gay marriage!

At the time of my posting this response to your initial post of this thread, there have been roughly over 60 hits on this and no response.... The thing is, dear Skyrider, that everyone who has left, or should I say, everyone who has a mind to THINK, knows that there's no logical answer to your question. In short.... Who the hell knows?!? (I think that if anyone did try to honestly answer your question, I would suspect they are still "in"....)

This muggle is excited! The books just get better and better each time. I wish I could say the same for the movies - but I'll take a lame version of an HP movie (and the last one was seriously flawed!) over another Spiderman or Matrix or whatever (except LOTR) any day!

On Christmas morning I have half of a Greek village coming over to my house (hubby's side of the family). We host a Christmas morning brunch every year. But this year, being as I'm getting great with child, I'm not into being much of a domestic goddess.... What simple but spectacular sippies and munchies do you "wow!" your guests with? Many thanks for your help!

Good point ROR, but I think that Peterson is so void of any emotion or remorse or even grief that it would just be a beautiful view to him.

You gotta admit, that's the most clothing anyone has ever seen on Kylie Minogue... Oh, and one more thing I noticed... Why would "Joseph" wear crosses (aka bling-bling) around his neck at THE BIRTH of Jesus? Sick.

Wow, this is a topic I haven't thought about in years... I was taught how to do "mind mapping" as a freshman when I was in high school (1986), as part of a creative writing class I was in. It didn't seem to be anything more than just jotting down your ideas as you thought of them on paper, so that you could "revisit" them later - perhaps to use in a story or whatever. You could essentially capture your ideas in just a list or whatever, but it's the colors, doodles, etc., that are supposed to inspire the more "creative" side of your thinking. It's more fun that the typical outline format - you know, the one that looks like this: I. Topic A. Sub-Topic 1. sub-topic a. sub topic I sort of do something like this now when I'm working on a presentation in my job - it's just a way to categorize things I want to accomplish/communuicate/illustrate when designing and writing a presentation. It a technical and creative process - I have to use fonts, colors and very few illustrations to communicate some pretty dry subjects sometimes, so I like to "map out" what I want to do. I don't use software - just old fashioned pen and paper work fine for me.

Belle -- You forgot the response to the question "Why is this cult so small?"... "Many are called to God but few answer his call. Those who answer are the Household of the Prevailing Word. Those in the Household who have the discipline to live the present truth that we teach are called 'disciples'. It is the disciples of the household that bring it its strenth and the household is where protection from the adversay can be found. If you are outside the protection of the household, the walls of Zion, then you will be where there is only weaping and gnashing of teeth..." ...boy, doesn't that just make you want to jump ranks! YUCK!

My story is similar to Belle's story in that I found Waydale first. I think it was in the fall of 1999 when I found it and it was because LCM said, "Stay off the internet!" - it reminded me of a little kid who wants you to stay out of the bathroom because he overfilled the tub - something was a-hidin'! When Waydale shut down after the settlement with the Allens, Greasespot was already up and running for sometime. I'd been posting at both for a while by then - it was my second home!

Mr Hammeroni - the key words in your post just now are "...ordinary person..." If you look around at this island of misfit toys from TWI, you'll see we certainly aren't "ordinary"... nevermind those who are still in, drinking the kool aid... I've switched to Tang, thank you.

Beckham looks more like an elf from LOTR than "Joseph"!

About the "no bleach" comment... Just last week I had to replace my septic tank pump to the tune of about $600. (OUCH! - but, still cheeper than redoing to whole leech field!) Mr. Pooptankman (as my son named him), offered advise on what NOT to flush into the system. I learned that bleach is a big no-no! Since I am asthmatic, cleaning with bleach is not the smartest thing for me. I love the clean smell of it, but it's not worth a trip to the ER. I have a monster-in-law who loves to mix (yes, MIX! ) bleach with other cleaners despite all our warnings - she still does it. At least I have a good excuse for not going over to visit often.... :D-->

Cynic - Good point however, is it also actively offering these suffering/terminal infants "life" to have them remain in pain, dependant on pain medication, life-support and who-knows-what other herotic measures, just because...? Is it loving to keep them alive at all costs (not just financial, but otherwise)? Remember this is a decision that involves the family as well as the medical team. It's not just a doctor deciding that since Baby Doe has an APGAR score of 6 after an hour that he should be euthanized. Or because he doesn't have blonde hair and blue eyes. It's because he has no/little chance of survival and is suffering.

Kit - I tried the Swifter because I have a hardwood floor and also wanted a quick "spot" cleaner for my kitchen floor. I found it to have too small of a head (I had to keep back-tracking) and the refills were expensive - until one day when I used a baby washcloth in place of the cleaning refills - worked great! Try it!

How is this any different from an adult, with a poor prognosis, who does not have Advanced Directives, a plan for dying, have the decision to remove all life support and have only "care and comfort measures" made by his/her children and medical team? Life support is removed in neo-natal ICUs eveyday here in America because it is felt that herotic measures for sustaining the baby's life will not make a difference in the outcome. The suffering of the baby is greater than the potential for survival, even on the most basic levels (brain activity with artificial support for life). How is the removal of those supports, with the consent of the parents and medical team, any different? No one really questions the removal of life support for an adult - "It was for the best." "They're in a better place." "They really weren't alive anymore." It's actually seen as a positive outcome for the patient, who had no other hope left. The difference between us & the Netherlands article that was first posted on this thread is that we don't talk about these bio-ethical issues as much in this country because they are "ugly". No one wants to think that people are consenting to the death of a baby - but it happenes daily in this country. We have nicer clinical phrases for it and the outcomes are protected because of laws like HIPPA (Health Information Privacy Protection Act) and because healthcare quality data is "non-discoverable".

Reiki - I'll be honest - I know very little about it but thought it sounded like "hooky-pook-ism" to me. Rated up there with people who believe in crystals and use Ouija boards.... However, I work with someone who practices reiki - or whatever you call it. I didn't know that about her until the other day when she gave me the most wonderful, relaxing, soothing shoulder/neck rub. I had been working some nasty hours under a lot of pressure, and as some of you may know, I am getting "great with child" (30 weeks pregnant). She did something behind me that I couldn't see - not touching me. I thought she was flexing her fingers - but after she was done and I had profusely thanked her for making me feel so wonderful, a co-worker started telling me how this lady is into reiki. The 'Way brain' side of me said, "Oh, no!" However, my neck, shoulders and parts that were feeling so much better than they had since I could remember said to 'Way brain', "Shut the #^@& UP!" I don't care - it works. I wasn't a believer before and if anyone had said, "Hey, you ought to try this!" I'd have said, "No, thanks."

I used to clean houses for a living (see the chapter of my life titled, "Young & Stupid & In The Way!") I had a partner and we could knock out a 2 bedroom/1.5 bathroom home in an hour. The method we used was from a study done at Harvard - it's quick, uses very little water, and is low-cost in supplies. I still try to use this method as much as possible. (1) Leave all the organization up to the resident of the home. Since you're the resident - Clear up the clutter first or leave it and clean around it. Don't confuse cleaning with organizing. Do them separately or you'll never finish both at the same time. (2) Simplify your cleaning supplies. You really only need: (a) a good grease cutter/all purpose cleaner (no bleach!) in a squirt bottle concentrated - then slightly diluted in a spray bottle; (b) a good window cleaner in a spray bottle; © a feather duster; (d) a dozen cotton diapers in a plastic gracery bag and a second empty plastic bag for the dirty cleaning rags, later; (e) lemon oil for fine furniture; (f) a vacuume; (g) a string mop & bucket - the smaller the string count, the better it will be for cleaning; (h) a green scrub pad; (i) a broom & dust pan. Put the supplies in one of those Rubbermaid totes with a handle. (3) Too much time is wasted in housecleaning by trips to the cleaning supplies. Take the cleaning supplies with you that I just detailed above to each area you are working in. You will start at the farthest bathroom from your front door. (4) The other way people waste time is by back-tracking once they are in a room. When you enter a room, remember you will clean it going from top-to-bottom and from left-to-right. The exception to this is bathrooms, where you start at - you guessed it - the toilet. (5) Bathrooms: (a) Start by squirting some of the full-strength all-purpose cleaner under the toilet rim. Using the green scrub pad, clean the inside of the toilet, working your way to the seats, tank and base. Leave the seats up to dry. Flush it. Spray your tub/shower with the diluted all purpose cleaner but don't clean it yet. Clean your mirror and vanity next - remember to work left to right. Return to your tub/shower - stand in it and clean it going from top to bottom, left to right. Finish by wiping out the floor of the tub/shower. Use the cleaning rag from this to wash your bathroom floor by wetting it and using the diluted cleaner in the spray bottle. If you can't clean on your knees, use the mop. Take the trash from that room with you as you leave. (6) Office/Bedroom/Kitchen/Family Room/etc. - Put the feather duster in your back pocket. Hang the glass cleaner on your belt loop or front pocket. Stuff a couple of dry cleaning cloths in your other back pocket. Dust, polish, clean counters, etc. working from top-to-bottom and from left-to-right. Take any trash in trash cans with you. Vacuume or sweep & wash the floors last. Remember you're not there to organize - just clean. (7) Floors - do all floors by starting at the point farthest from the door or enterance(if you're in an open-concept home). Work your way backwards from that point to the door.

I went to school with a girl named Clearwater and her little brother was named Ocean. Methinks their parents liked da wacky weed a bit too much, eh? And let's not forget Bob Geldof's daughter named Fifi Trixie-Belle....

One more thing to consider, Exie... Many stores also have good deals around income tax rebate time (April-ish) - consider shopping then, too. I scored a great deal earlier this year around that time - haven't seen it beat yet by anyone...

I had forgotten about Fry's - Oh, yes! What a great place that is! Totally ditto with you on that one, Paw... Exie - one other word of advise, if I may... If your new 'puter has a bunch of rebates, etc., then make sure that you mail everything off via certified mail so that the recepiant has to sign for it. It will cost you a couple of bucks for each piece of mail that you have to send out, but you can better track what's been sent to whom. Then, you can follow up with them. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU SEND PERTAINING TO YOUR REBATE! (Recepits, forms, etc. - I mean everything!) I recently took HP to task over $250 they still owed me from last spring. Since I had excellent documentation of my rebates and signed certified mail recepits, they couldn't argue with me about it (didn't keep 'em from tryin')! Also - if you do shop after Christmas, consider an "open box" computer - that's one that someone bought - usually as a gift - but was returned to the store or exchanged. You count on scoring around 30-50% off the list price AND it's still under the same "unopened box" warantees. Just some thoughts from a professional shopper.... :D-->

You know something? I can't wait to put up the Christmas tree (phallic symbol) this weekend after Thanksgiving! There's going to be a big angel (debbil spurt) on the top and lots of presents (bribery) below. We're going to set up one of those manger scenes (more debbil spurts & wrongly divided Word) and play Christmas music (debbil spurt inspired music). Our favorite song is, "The Little Drummer Boy" (LCM's least favorite). I'm going to hang mistletoe (full o' debbil spurts) in the kitchen doorway and make up a big vat of wassale (more than 2 glasses will let more debbil spurts in). The rug rat & I will bake and decorate cookies to look like stars (phallic symbol), Christmas trees (phallic symbols) and reindeer (animal worship). Next weekend, the kiddo is going to have his picture taken with Santa Clause (big debbil spurt) and give his list to Santa (bribery, greed, lust). I can't wait!

Kinda the opposite of "The Burning Bed", isn't it?

Bluzman - Thanks for the link but this computer is one that's at work - I work for a non-prof (need I say more?)....

**Warning: Most guitars for sale in music stores are tuned down a half step - make sure the person "test driving" the guitars for you has his own tuner with them. The stores do this to make instruments seem more playable (the strings are looser than with standard tuning).** Before picking what type of guitar you get for your friend you might want to consider what their tastes are in music, as well. If they're wanting to learn top-40 or country, then probably a steel string would be best. If they're wanting to learn classical pieces, flemenco, etc., then the nylon string would be the better choice. Classical is a little easier on the fingers due to the nylon strings but has a wider neck and is fussier to care for (you have to consider a good case and excellent humidifier for the instrument). Fender makes a decent little classical that's around $300 new. Steel strings are harder on the fingers at first, but there are now polymer coated strings that make less "buzzing noise" and are easier to work with. Yamaha and Fender both make decent low-end acoustics. The great thing about instruments is that you can trade-up with them later, if you desire. Hubby has six guitars - 3 acoustic and 3 electric, and two amps. He recently had a pick up put on his Martin acoustic so he can "plug-in" and play on stage. (He moonlights as a musician on weekends.) He makes a trade up about once a year on them - it's an addiction! (I was his groupie when I was his girlfriend - now that we're married, I'm his roadie!) When dmiller warned you about "high action" - that is also something that a luthier can fix by lowering a bridge. Any music store worth it's weight in salt will have on-site repairs. When considering the cost of an instrument, you must also consider the case, a humidifier (especially this time of year!), and a tuner for it. A good hard case is about $70, a humidifier is about $10 and a good digital tuner is about $15. Please please please don't put a guitar in a gig bag! They offer no protection! Finally, when you make the purchase, have the salesman double check the tuning, the straightness of the neck and check the front for warping (caused by dryness). Make sure you get everything in writing about warantees and check their post-holiday return and exchange policy. Good luck!