Rocky

Didn't it used to be made at 1 Mustard Street? btw, yellow mustard is actually good for you. Very low in calories, highly packed with flavor. The vinegar and turmeric in it are both very good for you. There's actually a restaurant very close to where I live here in the Phoenix area that serves those white hots. It's probably the only place outside of Rochester I've ever been that serves that Rochester staple food! Of course Rochester isn't the NY metro area.... it's UPSTATE for goodness sake. Not sure Coup was suggesting it was near NYC.

Met them once, with Catcup's husband, for dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Chandler, AZ a few years ago. At that time, Steve was still working for Peavey, I think. They seemed happy. I recall they still were doing a weekly (I think) fellowship (non-twi) meeting in their home in Mesa, AZ. Didn't stay in touch with them.

It's beginning to sound like the Yankers think like you on this... the AP reports today (yes, Christmas Day) that the Bronx Bombers have begun trade talks with a view toward unloading the Big Unit... and one of the teams they are talking to is the D'backs... (well, RJ DOES live here!). It's way too early to tell what might happen, but Johnson could get more butz in seats at the BOB, er Chase Field... even though he started to show his age with the Yanks.

Well, I'm off (as soon as I finish this post) to my mother's house for Christmas dinner. It's just me and my cat here at home, and he doesn't care what day of the year it is. Just over three years ago, things happened (much too much to go into right now, it would take at least an hour to set the background clear enough for anyone to understand what I've been dealing with) and I haven't seen my only child (my daughter) but for very brief moments since. She was 13 when she and her mother, after her mother's church (mormon, she converted after we separated) paid off the judge, succeeded in pretty much severing my relationship with my daughter. And I haven't even heard her voice since August 5, 2005. And that day it was only about a three minute phone call. Since then, I've been unable to work. Yesterday, my mother learned from my ex that my daughter, now 17 is not doing well in school. Of course, this tears at me even more. She's always been an exceptionally bright kid. The unfortunate thing about that is that she became particularly adept at playing her mother and I off of each other. And her mother has, ever since we separated (when Amy was 4), been extremely permissive. That puts me, who believes that kids need structure as well as clear rules and boundaries, in her eyes as a meanie. So, you can imagine (which is pretty much all I can do these days, because they both put great effort into keeping me from learning the truth about what happens in Amy's life) how such a situation plays out for a teenage girl. So hearing yesterday about her troubles with school just grates on my soul even more. Now, to the point -- I cope, year round, these days by volunteering at a children's shelter, working one day a week with kids 4-6 years old. And that is such a blessing that I don't know what I'd be able to do if I wasn't volunteering with them. Anyway, Hopeful, stay hopeful... and I'm glad you have friends here and elsewhere to give you a smile and a hug from time to time.

I only missed one -- existence. I spelled it "existance." That pesky "ence" vs. "ance" gets me (almost) all the time. In 7th grade, I was the best speller in the class... but I remember often having a hard time with "necessary." Then, when I was working for the newspaper, "cemetery" got me, until the boss got so irritated with me missing it, I had to remember.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navc...p;q=%22bob+ross I remember Bob Ross as the guy who taught oil painting on PBS on Saturday mornings... Ho ho ho!

Well, don't we still teach our boys about "jail bait" as they grow up? As irrational as it seems that a 17 yo would be convicted for this, it IS against the law. As with JL's son, I can't imagine the prosecutor in the Georgia case didn't have enough discretion to make this go away. What we don't get from this news item is any of the political background/environment in which the situation occurred. And political environment matters. First, the judge pointed out that the state legislature had made specific provisions related to this type of activity. Given the controversial nature of a situation like this, can a reader reasonably assume there was NO press coverage of what the legislature was up to when they dealt with it? How often do we hear about the need for parents to be involved in their kids' lives, even as teens. I know, much easier said than done. But the roots of this behavior go back, in these children's lives to early childhood/preschool years. Did the parents' of either of them try to teach/train their kids about delayed gratification? In light of last week's reports that 90 percent of Americans, according to at least one study, engage(d) in pre-marital sex, I would think it would behoove parents and maybe others in the community (schools/churches, perhaps others) to find ways to get the point across to (most) kids to make a clear distinction between sexual activity with "of age vs under age" partners. I'm quite familiar with how horny and impulsive teens can be. But for goodness sake -- teach boys how to keep it in their pants to keep them out of (more than one kind of) trouble.

And to all, a GOOD NIGHT! :)

Well, our own Rev. 2Ts is better than the next best thing.... He IS the best (thing). Mayhaps when a time of phamine finds its way to his door, he would give of the gifts of his life to assist you in all the remembrances necessary.

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the new movie! 8)

You FINALLY found your calling! Nice job rhino.

Oh sure you're shocked! A likely story.... Any guess as to how many I got correct? Anyone care? (probably not)

Hey LG, I'll echo what many of the GSC friends here have said... I'm very thankful to have had you share of your insights and now of your self. Being a single dad myself, beside your clear headed sharing on political topics, I certainly admire you for the daughter who will be your living legacy. Indeed, for her sake and for grandchildren to come, write, write, write not just of your memories and experiences, but your hopes and dreams, and your insights. The record of your heart and mind will live on -- leaving Lisa thankful everyday. Thanks.

I respect your "I" statement and no problem on having said all you'd like to.

Disagreement vs denial? I would agree with you (to disagree) on that point, except that your posts taking issue with the particular posts, IMO, can reasonably be characterized as denial. And obviously, as to whether the USA is or is not a Christian nation, we do agree. Do we clearly have a Christian heritage? In general (and because I'm not familiar with the role of Christianity in the Articles of Confederation and the time during which the country was under the Articles) I do believe that there are people denying that we have such a heritage. I agree with rhino that Islam certainly can be a part of the overall discussion on this thread. Yet, I still believe that you used Islam in these particular posts, to compare/contrast with Christianity as a way to minimize an obvious reality. What would come to play in the event fundamentalist/rightwing conservative Christians in the USA got the kind of country they desire is enough to make one shudder.

YOU're the one who was comparing, not ME. The thread topic is "America's Christian Heritage." A poster posed the question of what might happen if the Christian Right got what it wanted... theocracy, etc. He suggested what he believed to be a reasonably likely scenario. You THEN denied it as -- a figment of the person's imagination; and THEN compared it to radical Islam as a device to further your denial of the point/idea he brought up. PERIOD. I then provided references to very recent AND relevant news to show that his hypothesis was NOT some far off figment of an active or paranoid imagination. You then AGAIN compared it to radical Islam as a device to ascribe insignificance to the point. This ALL adds up to only one thing. You are in denial about the issue. Period. The hypothetical scenario the other poster brought up goes DIRECTLY to the thesis: America is NOT, and NEVER has been a so-called Christian nation. The ramifications, in the hypothetical scenario of America having been established as a Christian nation, and/or if it were to become such a theocracy in our time are genuinely so terrible and hideous that we each should dare to get honest about how bad it could have been/would be. This has NOTHING to do with your ridiculous comparison/contrast with Islam. Islam, and all variations thereof, are completely not relevant to this discussion.

Excuuuuuuuuuuuse me. I believe the correct expression is "Holy CRAP!" (in remembrance of the late Peter Boyle, aka Frank Barone).

And don't forget Thomas Paine. Without his writings, we might never have had an American Revolution. His Common Sense lit the fuse, as it were... put another way, though there was plenty of grumbling about the tyranny of King George, the Colonies did not galvanize to undertake the founding of this new nation until Paine lit a fire under their collective a$$es. AND, Paine was persecuted by Christian churches of all flavors after his essay The Age of Reason was published. This pamphlet essentially wiped out the hold churches and preachers had on the masses by way of superstition. Look it up. Google "Thomas Paine." The enmity toward him was so deep and long lasting that one time I mentioned something about the guy that said "Give me liberty, or give me death" -- Patrick Henry, in front of Wierwille. I had no idea who Paine was at that time. But Wierwille practically had a cow, doing a double take and asking me again who I had mentioned. It took me more than 20 years to realize he was thinking of Paine... Paine was considered a heretic of the highest order for that particular essay.... http://www.infidels.org/library/historical...ason/intro.html

And THAT (your comment, quoted above) is what I call DENIAL. First you accuse one person of making it up. Then, when presented with tangible evidence that "Christians" when given "what they are asking for" (not all of them, but get honest Evan, Christians, especially fundamentalists -- are SHEEP -- they'll do what their pastor suggests they do) will be violent... you rationalize it away. Fundamentalist Christianity will be NO less dangerous, if given too much of a place in society, as radical Islam. Surely you see it already -- by "virtue" of the radical attacks on abortion providers? Unless you block it out of your awareness because it will cause psychological pain. It doesn't take a rocket scientist (engineer) to figure out the sociological implications of such a scenario. But it DOES take someone willing to face potential anxiety producing truth.

Does he now? Making that part up? I DOUBT IT! You haven't seen this item (a USA TODAY editorial on something being marketed that sounds eerily like just such a scenario as Bramble imagined) yet? http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2006/12/post_39.html AND This news report on it. http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/fun.games/12/...ntorversy.reut/ Hysterical? I don't think so. Google "video game"+Christian and look for news on that search.

I'm pretty sure you meant that either tongue-in-cheek or as sarcasm, but it's still a most insane idea.

Amen and Amen! Brilliant rhetorical device! Eloquently stated. And besides that, though someone might be able to find isolated verses here or there to so justify, from the perspective of what it appears God (and the writers) intended to convey, I don't believe it can be done. Please sir, would you kindly provide some of the evidence of which you write?

Am I forbidding... I have, on several occassions/posts, specifically addressed this same question. The answer is the same today as it was before. NO. I'm not even thinking in those terms. Indeed you will decided if the presentation is credible. All I did, and all I DO when I point out something like that is just that --- call attention to it. I did not even suggest he should have left that source out of the post. How many times will I have to address this same question? I guess as many times as someone infers (wrongly, btw) that I am suggesting a source should be excluded and comments on it. Now, as to why I saw bias (berean's not rhino's in this case) is because I understand that the Founding Fathers were NOT so emphatically Christian. Indeed, as rhino pointed out, some considered themselves deist. Worry not, Evan, I'm EMPHATICALLY NOT calling for ANYone to exclude sources. However, I might take your comment as suggesting that I not call attention to the bias. I do NOT take it that way, because even if I did, I don't see myself being shy about commenting on a source.

Ah... one of my pet peeves. Good topic. I don't know how many times I've heard "I'm sorry YOU feel that way." Now, as to the opening post, the way I look at it is that if the person "apologizing" is trying to say he recognizes that his words or actions are what the problem is, then I accept it. I believe the statement, "I apologize if I offended you," is such that it does recognize the responsibility for the offense is with the person giving the apologizing. HOWEVER -- when someone tries to tell me they are sorry for something THEY are NOT responsible for -- that is inherently insincere and disingenuous. Therefore, I generally reply something like "don't apologize for my feelings, apologize instead for your actions/words." I have found that there are plenty of people who don't "get it." By that, I mean that they don't understand what they just did/said by trying to apologize for something they aren't responsible for. Some do understand and intend their insincerity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rousseau Of course, America's economic heritage traces to Adam Smith and his Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.