caroljane

or PS, is there anything to the "new terms of service" I asked about previously that R. Goode complained of? I agree that Darren was interesting and intelligent. Lots of posters on there are intelligent but somehow, they just are not interesting )you excepted of course)

I have noticed that too Brant. I usually notice the numbers of members and guests here and there when I browse, and most of the time for the past year, Solo had about 15-20 and OL about 25-35 everytime I checked. For the past few weeks OL is the same but the Solo has been below 20, often below 15.

Are you sure RuPaul isn't from Toronto? I' m sure I've seen her on Church St., lookin mighty fine.

I could not agree more. Blaylock is a retired neurosurgeon "with a nutritional practice." He has zero credentials in immunology or microbiology, and his own Wiki entry says diplomatically that his wingnut views on vaccines are "counter to scientific consensus." Believing him is dangerous if not to your own health, to that of your grandchildren.

"Before the advent of vaccines, human beings developed natural immunity to diseases like polio and measles" Some human beings did -- the ones who didn't die from them (that would be millions). Since most doctors including Blaylock had those vaccines as children, and thus lived to vaccinate, or to fulminate, another day, it is strange for him to say they would jump out windows rather than get booster shots.. Alex Jones? Enough said.

jts, your post is unintentionally ironic. New Hampshire the "live free or die " state is a magnet for libertarian types and one of the fiercest proponents of low-to-no government. Homeowners associations are, well, craft your own definition. I know I have mine.

Ok. I will stipulate that in a county where there are no households with firearms, the incidence of wounds and deaths from gunshots will be less than a county where eighty percent (80%) of the households have firearms. Thanks Adam. I know you are being wry, but thanks even so.

I too often think: there's still so much to for me absorb about philosophy and life is so short ... But the good thing is that one does not have to religiously wade through a philosopher's complete works (at least as a layperson), as philosophers often repeat their key thoughts. Each time I read something by Nietzsche, I have the feeling of beng pulled into some kind of 'vortex'. Form his exaltation and his "verbal power", I (subjectively) associate him more with 'poet', or 'prophet', rather than with a philosopher whose ideas are suitable to be put into practice. The strong effect of Nietzsche in itself an interesting object of study. What is it that attracts people toward his philosophy (or that causes them to feel an aversion toward it)? Nietzsche is a very polarizing philosopher toward whom it is nearly impossible to feel 'neutral'. X and Michael, Oh hell, now you've done it. I really will read the man just to see where I polarize. Wretched, authoritarian OL - forcing me to think again!

Carol: John Lott.. http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/ Lott's letter to the Baltimore Sun in response to a March 11th, 2012, entitled "Gun laws' sketchy effect," by Tricia Bishop:Tricia Bishop misrepresented my research as well as the debate over concealed-carry laws ("Gun laws' sketchy effect," March 11). She makes it appear that I am only "one economist" who claims to find that right-to-carry laws reduce violent crime. By now, a vast body of research supports my results. Among peer-reviewed national studies by criminologists and economists, 18 find that right-to-carry laws reduce violent crime, 10 claim no effect, and just one claims one type of crime temporarily increases slightly. The possibility that permit holders might lead to more crime is easily evaluated by looking at how incredibly law-abiding they are, with them losing their permits for any firearms-related violations (usually trivial ones) at hundredths or thousandths of 1 percentage point. Forty-one states currently have right-to-carry laws where permits are based on objective criteria, such as passing a criminal background check. These laws have worked well — so well that no state has chosen to repeal the law or even held legislative hearings to reconsider it. Carol: John Lott.. http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/ Lott's letter to the Baltimore Sun in response to a March 11th, 2012, entitled "Gun laws' sketchy effect," by Tricia Bishop:Tricia Bishop misrepresented my research as well as the debate over concealed-carry laws ("Gun laws' sketchy effect," March 11). She makes it appear that I am only "one economist" who claims to find that right-to-carry laws reduce violent crime. By now, a vast body of research supports my results. Among peer-reviewed national studies by criminologists and economists, 18 find that right-to-carry laws reduce violent crime, 10 claim no effect, and just one claims one type of crime temporarily increases slightly. The possibility that permit holders might lead to more crime is easily evaluated by looking at how incredibly law-abiding they are, with them losing their permits for any firearms-related violations (usually trivial ones) at hundredths or thousandths of 1 percentage point. Forty-one states currently have right-to-carry laws where permits are based on objective criteria, such as passing a criminal background check. These laws have worked well — so well that no state has chosen to repeal the law or even held legislative hearings to reconsider it. You introduced John Lott on this topic before, but his repeating himself here does not answer what I asked. I was not speaking of crime statistic reduction, but of death and injury stats due to gunshots -- whether deliberate or accidental. Just a body count. Because it seems reasonable to me that where a means of death and injury is most prevalent , such death and injury rates would be proportional. Just as where there are the most cars there are the most car accidents. That's all. If this is not so, which seems counterfactual to me, I need my bias to be disproved by being shown that overall, private gun ownership prevents people from being shot.

Carol: We do not know any facts yet. This is not the first, or last time that a Latino has shot a black person, and, it will not be the last time either. Therefore, let's not rush to judgment. Leave the stupid actions to the attention whores like Al "not too" Sharpton. Finally, that is a specious argument about any link between "stand your ground" laws and gun sales. Unless of course, you have some statistics, but you do not, because they do not exist. Adam carry on...carry nation...cash and carry...carry a gun! I was not making an argument. I was making an observation, that the gun lobby (the NRA in fact) pushed the SYG law in Florida, (as reported by Reuters and other sources, if you accept that Reuters is credible). I did make the assumption that a group representing the makers and owners of a product would encourage laws that promote the sale and use of said product. As to statistics, if there are any to show that where private gun ownership is highest, gun death and injury are lowest, I would be happy to see them.

I have no doubt that once I started, I'd have a near-impossible time stopping, and just now I can't afford the time to become immersed in a novel. Roofers scheduled to begin banging next week, and lots of other household projects in process around here. After April 15th....(IRS day)... Ellen OK Ellen, it's a deal. Start practicing your Greek Maidens dance for the Nice Party (hey, it's a cyberbash so we can be maidens if we want... matrons just sounds so...matronly

How long has it been that way? Don't know. I would like open carry to be an option in Missouri. Open carry would help to re-normalize guns to younger generations who have be indoctrinated by the Marxists running our educational system and the media. I would open carry all the time if it were allowed. I didn't think anything of it when I worked security when I was 19-22 years old in Omaha and haven't been able to do it since. Open carry back then - while working security - saved the life of one of my friends when he was mugged outside a grocery store. Dennis Damn straight. In this vein, I would like non-inoculation to be an option everywhere. It would re-normalize smallpox, and has saved many people I have heard about from the death-in-life of autism.

Now that everyone has committed to the election night Play Nice Party, like always it is left to the Few to do the actual work, so I expect the input of Everyone to be less feeble than usual as the Few have sketched out a few ideas. Theme, a Feast of Reason. In the spirit of Agape Carol and Ellen (maybe Angela, we don't know how she feels about shoes) will appear in classical Greek dress barefoot, bearing Cornucopiae contents to be determined. Menu: tea, beer and cucumber sandwiches as expected at any civilised gathering. Doritos for the Beck fans. We might hire a Michelle Obama impersonator to playfully snatch these from selected guests. Applicants for the special appearance of Bacchus are being considered. (Soloists not welcome, sorry) Transportation - who else but the Ninth Doctor? If anyone can persuade the occupants of an intergalactic vehicle to cooperate in getting it out of a ditch, it must surely be he. And to persuade the occupants into the vehicle in the first place, he will need assistance - we suggest he check out Emmerdale Farm. There might be a surprise guest! More updates to follow as your creative input comes bounding in! --no, Adam, that 2009 Welcome Wagon inventory you have been trying to unload for 3 years is not "creative input", though your description of it is.

The ending seemed "fantasy" to me, too. Another movie which was altered with an upbeat ending which I thought inappropriate to the story was the remake of "The Heiress." I think the original, William Wyler, movie was superb in every way, the ending scene chillingly wonderful, and de Havilland's voice enunciating her final line tone perfect: I've never read Middlemarch. You and Angela talking about it make me wish I had. Maybe I will yet. Ellen I thought the deHavilland heiress was wonderful too. At the risk of putting you off (I know nothing makes one so resistant to reading something as having it pushed on you), I would love to know if you enjoyed say, the start of Middlemarch... just a thought!

William: I am afraid no one can make that promise. Any more than we could make the promises as to the outcome of the "Arab spring" which looks a lot like it is going to wind up as a bitter cold winter. Pandering to maniacs just does not pay, in the end. But I see what you mean. There is, I acknowledge, a long slog ahead, even for a Western-ish bastion like Tunisia. Still, I would stress that people there are no longer at the mercy of an unaccountable personal state as they had been. They have a real, legitimate (if temporary) President and a real (if temporary) leader (PM) of the majority of their new constituent assembly. This after a fair, clean election for the first time..... How about this? If last year was Tunisia's 1776 or (in Canada's case) 1982, a legal and social-psychological break, a revolution indeed, when do we then weary of futile movements for freedom and democracy? In 1778, 1785, 1789? 1812? 1862? Dearest comrade, as much as I can see the beginnings of great change and causes for great hope, I cannot hope that our American friends here can see the same. 1776 does not translate. The American Revolution was unique, born as much of pure idealism as of territorial pragmatism, and it is uniquely theirs. Looking at the old, old world with its old, old hates and tribalisms and unenlightened cultural practices, it is hard to see anything good emerging, except a rearrangement of ancient savageries. And especially hard to see anything good for America emerging, in turmoil far away, where American interests might be threatened and American blood might be spilled. Middle Easterners cannot understand freedom or democracy the way Americans understand it. Americans now, are something in the position of the English in the 18th century, I don't mean as imperialists, but as puzzled observers of unfathomable actions in parts of the world that had never seemed important before. As to 1982 - ah. I am looking at my commemorative dollar coin that was at the bottom of an old jewel box, tarnished and disregarded. So entirely us - the completion, the acknowledgement of what already is, and the guarantee of what should be. Taken for granted.

Multiple torture devices. Call me unwomanly but I don't like shoes and I never wear them unless I absolutely have to. And you thought you were kinky!

Well, that was 30 years ago. Here we are in the future. Let's consider it. in her famous scenario from "The Nature of Government" a man suspects his neighbor of stealing his wallet and each calls their private security force. Clearly, Rand intended that the victim call the police. If he suspects his neighbor, he can say why. The police will investigate. If, based on the evidence, they find reason to carry the case further to prosecution, they will do so. Otherwise, they will continue their investigation. Nothing gives the victim the right to act on his own to recover his property. Thus, apparently, we surrender our right to self-defense, except in the most immediate of circumstances. Yes, here we are in the future, where Florida and other states have a "Stand Your Ground" law, promoted by the gun lobby to encourage sales of handguns. The law did not protect Trayvon Martin's rights much. The silly boy should have got hisself a gun.

that's interesting. I just clicked on and got an ad for jewellery.!!!

I strongly suspeced her. What do you think? Here is an interesting discussion of Thackeray's illustration of Becky behind the curtain. ("Becky's second appearance in the character of Clytemnestra"): http://www.victorian...keray/67.1.html I haven't seen the movie yet; going by the info on Wiki, Becky's character was portrayed as more 'sympathetic' in the film. Great stuff. I'm sure Thackeray meant us to think her guilty. I wonder if he got fascinated with her himself and had to keep telling himself how wicked she was. He was such a moralist. Yes - how could anybody not find Reese W sympathetic? But I found it quite faithful to the book until the fantasy ending, totally inappropriate. Re Eliot and Middlemarch, it occurs to me that our lately lamented seymour was a sort of Casaubon in her project to systematize all knowledge into the pomo grid. Life imitates art as ever.

Another new category, and a shoo-in for a winner -- the Wah'habist Award (big shout-out to our new sponsors!) The front runner is Thomas M. Miovas Jr of Oonline, the guy who put the Fun back in Fundamentalism, and revitalized the flagging cause of Respect for Respect's Sake. TMM, or Al-Hominem as he's known in the intellectual trenches, brings to mind the greatest figures of Western civilization,, such as PG Wodehouse, and causes us to ask ourselves: If this is Thomas M. Miovas Jr., what on earth can Thomas M. Miovas Senior be like?.

How dare you refer to Ayn Rand as a “crazy woman”! Oh I’m sure you’ll say it's only in jest, but that you could make any such jest is definitive proof of your ugly nihilistic premises. You slime!! How dare you, you who rides around in a glorified telephone booth, refer to the pre-eminent scholar and leading world authority on Smithian Anartheism as a slime? Such disrespect can only be punished by the calling of a fatwa and the construction of a denunciatory website, and my two crazy friends and me are going to make you pay.

Yeah. I saw that Sgt. Stein has a couple of months to go in his current hitch and had reapplied to re-up. Looks like Reidy was right, he is planning for a post-military career as Marine martyr for free speech and the Constitution. I foresee multi media in his future.

She's more of a cross between Tsarina Alexandra and Imelda Marcos, with her new Christian Louboutins and her turning up the volume on the imported C&W wailin' fiddles, while Syria burns.

Amen, brother!

Michael, Religious conversion? Surely you mean "interfaith epiphany" ! Carol Hopeless multiculturalist