What in the fuck happened to the Democrats?  I’m no idiot, but it blows my mind that in just 5 years, the Dems have gone from Bill “I’ll sleep with anyone, anytime” Clinton to being the Ralph Wiggum of american politics.  Maybe being canadian blinds me to some obvious reality, but in any case, could you shed some light on this question?

How long did it take to grow that beard?

Is it true you have a brother named Wes? That must’ve been confusing growing up.

What in the fuck happened to the Democrats?

Very, very good question. I think we are long overdue for the Democrats to stand up to the assholes on the Right and stop being afraid. The one Democrat (that I’ve observed) who has actually done this in recent years has been Howard Dean. Dean has shown the Reich—er, Right—repeatedly that he is completely unashamed of who he is and what he stands for, and as such, the Right is largely very resentful (not to mention terrified) of him. We on the Left need more of Howard!

Do a lot of people (upon first encountering you) mistake you for a Montana Freeman-type? I know I did…

I’d like to hear you opine on justice.  How, in a hypothetically secular society would you think about justice?  What is crime and what is appropriate punishment and/or rehabillitation?  How ought the state - and the individual - value the life, and quality of life, of an individual?  How just can justice be?  Do you feel that you’re individual perspective on justice is different from how you think the state should view/administer justice?

Why on Azeroth did MTV cancel Sifl & Ollie?

So why SHOULDN’T the Iranians get nukes?

Been wanting to play Devils advocate for that for a time, so I might just hand it to you, as I still have way too much to do right now….

First we got the bomb and that was good,
‘Cause we love peace and motherhood.
Then Russia got the bomb, but that’s O.K.,
‘Cause the balance of power’s maintained that way!
Who’s next?

France got the bomb, but don’t you grieve,
‘Cause they’re on our side (I believe).
China got the bomb, but have no fears;
They can’t wipe us out for at least five years!
Who’s next?

Then Indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day.
South Africa wants two, that’s right:
One for the black and one for the white!
Who’s next?

Egypt’s gonna get one, too,
Just to use on you know who.
So Israel’s getting tense,
Wants one in self defense.
“The Lord’s our shepherd,“ says the psalm,
But just in case, we better get a bomb!
Who’s next?

Luxembourg is next to go
And, who knows, maybe Monaco.
We’ll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb!
Who’s next, who’s next, who’s next?
Who’s next?

-from That Was the Year that Was, by Tom Lehrer (1965).  A great album, and hardly dated, unfortunately.

Don’t try to guilt me, Zilch, I#m arguing from a realpolitik standpoint here

Nations that got the bomb ain’t being shoved around. Not hard to understand why many want one.

BTW: Nice thing, that little flag icon. It even adapted instantly to my new location…

I totally believe in lust at first sight, but think love at first sight is a crock of shit.  What do you think?  Is love at first sight really that warm funny feeling or is that just the start of a lust filled hard on?

What?  You wanted topics and you know where my mind stays.

I totally believe in lust at first sight, but think love at first sight is a crock of shit.  What do you think?

I believe in love at first sight, as it has happened to me before. I also believe in lust at first sight, of which I can also speak from first-hand experience.

By the way, thanks for the Tom Lehrer lyrics. Big fan here.

ingolfson- yes, the prez of Iran was on the news last night, arguing quite reasonably that if other nations could have the bomb, why couldn’t Iran?  Not trying to guilt you at all.  And I like my cute rot-weiss-rot flag too.
cindy- yes and yes, just like Sadie said.
Sadie- you’re welcome.  Tom Lehrer is God.

Accepting the risk that this might encourage an open thread, I’m commenting. Cindy, I’ve never experienced love at first sight, but at first sight you don’t have the knowledge of the other person to allow you to perpetuate a loving relationship. Sure you can love at first sight (I won’t deny the possibility), but it’s not worth much on it’s own, anyway. Love at first sight is of no consequence to me. Of course, I’m of the mind that love is selfish, so I would also say that it’s possible to have a loving, lasting relationship while being almost entirely ignorant of the other person.

Now as for lust at first sight, (Carnation instant-boner) it happens with me all the time, and it happens by looking at a beautiful face. I saw a woman in the hall, and I remembered her from a political activism seminar months ago. I saw her hair, her tasteful dress, and I thought “It’s that face!“. I’m not even sure I acknowledged that she was a human being :oP. I just remember staring at her face a lot during the seminar.

the prez of Iran was on the news last night, arguing quite reasonably that if other nations could have the bomb, why couldn’t Iran?

Tom Lehrer’s Who’s Next?, anyone?

Luxembourg is next to go
And, who knows, maybe Monaco.
We’ll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb!

I think I might actually trust Iran with nuclear capabilities than I do the Bush administration, simply because Iran will have international oversight and the Bush administration has yet to tell the truth about anything.

For Les.  I’d like to hear your thoughts on what, if anything, will eventually replace god as the human, emotional security blanket.  Do you Christianity imploding and another religion arising, or a complete overhaul of the god concept?  God version 4.2.1 (beta)

On a more personal note.  Do you know where my keys are?

Do you know where my keys are?

deadscot, I bet they’re where my keys are.  And my thirty-speed bike, and my first kiss…

I bet they’re where my keys are.  And my thirty-speed bike, and my first kiss…

Damn! It’s worse than I thought.  It’s a fucking conspiracy.  International conspiracy at that. Don’t know about you, but I’m ordering closed door hearings, huge spending bills and wiretaps immediately.  I promise whoever did this to us will be completely forgotten before the end of this entry.

Deadscot, did your international cat of mystery take liberties with your keys

“Poisoning pidgeons in the park
Tra-la-lah”
Also a big fan.
BTW, love is a series of actions which prove that someone else’s happiness is more important to us than our own. Therefore, only lust at first sight is possible, and, I might add, highly desirable.

Love/lust at first sight:  Well, I had an experience that’s not that exactly, but made me look at it different.  During my earlier college stint, there was a girl who worked at the front desk of the dorm.  I only knew her first name, she was attractive, but I was seeing someone, not looking for anything else, so she was “off the radar”, so to speak.  One night, I had this dream(non-sexual) that I was dating her, and I had the intense love/infatuation feeling going on.  Not a sex dream, I have those and they’re all about lust.  I had been in love by that time, and since it was in a dream, I know it was at least that strong assed infatuation feeling.  It was pretty freaky, b/c when I woke up, I remembered the dream and the feeling, but the feeling was completely gone.  The only thing I felt after was this thrill of guilt when I saw her the next morning, like I had done something wrong.  Never had it again, never looked at the girl differently after that, aside from wondering how the hell I ended up with that dream.  The only other dreams that involved feelings of love were about those I loved. 

I’ve heard that if you can realize that you’re dreaming, you can ask questions and see what your subconcious replies, but I’ve rarely ever been that aware in my dreams.  I dream pretty much every night, but rarely remember them unless I wake while in a strong dream.

“Dead puppies… aren’t much fun”
Okay, Ogden Edsel, but I have Dr Demento’s 20th annv. cd.  The Tom Lehrer lyrics made me think of it.

Les, there is something wierd going on with the comments.  The ‘Post a comment’ form says ‘Sexy Sadie3’ over it, though I am logged in under my real secret identity, DOF.  I have noticed other people commenting on this as well.

Anyway,

“Be nice to people who
are inferior to you…
it’s only for a week so have no fear
Be thankful that it doesn’t last all year!“
(Tom Lehrer, National Brotherhood Week)

Wow, I turned my back on this thread for a day and darned if it didn’t turn into a lot of fun!  I’m commenting mainly to subscribe.

Yes, another great song from the Master, DoF!

But let’s not forget Randy Newman:

“We give them money
But are they grateful?
No they’re spiteful
And they’re hateful.
They don’t respect us so let’s surprise them;
We’ll drop the big one and pulverize them.“

-from Political Science, 1972

Iranian nukes are the new WMD bogeyman to support the petrodollar conspiracy?

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/RRiraqWar.html#p2

Messy link to an article written in 03 about the Iraq war,basically stating Saddams switch to Euros for their oil deals was the last straw if not the whole reason for the venture.
Given that Iran is contemplating? the same,in fact it appears to be setting up it’s own oil exchange and that the US economy is it seems underpinned by the petrodollar cycle the consequences are far reaching.

I’m a Brit and UK Norwegian oil is still traded as with most oil in dollars even though economically the Euro is now a strong contender.

I’ve got a burning question:  Why no edit post button?

Because ExpressionEngine currently doesn’t have a way to implement it. It is a feature I’ve requested, though. Probably time to update that request. I’ll talk to the guys about it.

It’s called Preview.

Unless you run a small site populated by mutually amicable users, the facility to edit posts after the fact asks for more trouble than it’s worth.