Guard Dog

Under other USA regimes he might not have been safe but under the Obama presidency its highly unlikely, I would say almost impossible, that the USA would send a special force raiding party into Ecuador to kidnap Snowden. That's why he will be safe as that's the only way I can think he would be forced to leave Ecuador. But as Walsie mentioned Ecuador risks economic penalties from the USA and that will effect the poor in Ecuador. Not the president who is enjoying his moment of anti-American sentiment in the limelight Are you freaking serious Bruce? As an American I have NEVER felt more threatened by ANY administration than this one. Just a few weeks ago this man asserted that it would be perfectly legal for him to use a drone to kill an American citizen on US soil, not due process, no judicial review, if he determined they were "involved in terrorism". Yes, they took it all back afterwards when they saw how upset everyone got. And of course his idea of what terrorism is has nothing in common with what most folks think it is. He has talked about raising a "new national security force, as well trained and as well armed as the military". Really? Who the hell do you think he means this force to fight? He is using the IRS to shut down political speech he does not like. In 2009 he joked about auditing his "enemies". In 2013 we found out he was really doing it. And that, all that is nothing when now we find out he has turned with massive NSA spying apparatus at the people he really distrusts: us. I would not be surprised if we hear that Snowden committed "suicide" any day now. I make light about politics but I want you to know I am being serious right now. We may get past all of this. We may throw that man and his miserable cadre of authoritarian freedom-hating statists out of office some day. Or we may not. But if there is a schism, if the country does break up, or God forbid, if there ever is a second Civil War, history will record that is began with him.

Taking ex girlfriend out to dinner tonight. For some reason I'm a little nervous. And I never get nervous about anything.

Wow, everyone is doing something interesting tonight, except me. But that's ok. I'm going to put Radio Margaritaville on my XM, pour a glass of nine year old bourbon and watch the sun set from my porch. For Ros and the rest of you folks... don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Hitting on lesbians is like trying to sell ice trays to eskimos. They don't need what you're selling!

Is this actually true? (I haven't really done much analysis on what the hobbies are of gay people - my assumption was that the distribution would be not a whole lot different) I have no idea. I'm generalizing. I'm guessing they would not be popular among the really gay. The regular gay folks probably as much as any other.

Sure: frustrated

Is it that you don't know any gay people, or that you don't know that they are gay? (I literally just learned that some people I have known for a long time are gay). More likely the latter than the former. It only stands to reason. But you have to figure, I live alone in the sticks, most of the friends I do have are married which does not eliminate them but certainly reduced the likelihood. My only vices are fishing, hunting (not popular sports among gay folks), and going to Redbirds games with the aforementioned married friends. Heck I spend far more time with canines (my dog and coyotes) than people. So it is at least very unlikely that I do know any gay folks. Certainly not impossible though. But I wouldn't care if any of my friends were gay or I made a gay friend as long as 1) They don't criticize my dog, 2) They are not Yankees fans. I won't put up with that!

I'm quite certain of my own. The thought of being intimate with another man does NOT appeal. Not that there's anything wrong with it....

Hetreroflexible = 1 or 2 drinks away from trying anything

You know it occurs to me that I don't know a single gay person. I'm sure I've met one or two along the way. It only stands to reason. But I've never asked and they have never told. I'm sure there are gay bars in Memphis. I could not tell you where one is. To me gay folks are sort of like vampires. I see them on TV and movies all the time. Other folks I know claimed to have seen one once. You hear rumors about places they can be found but since I never see any I'm not 100% sure they really exist.

The biggest supporters of this has to be divorce lawyers. Nothing like expanding markets for your services to get you behind a cause! If the government passed a law that said all public buildings must have WiFi I might have to check my Libertarian principles at the door!

I hate seeing signs of aging in folks I know. It reminds me that I'm getting older too. I like that term though. Legacy Ex.

No you're cool. That comment was not aimed at you. Nobody on this beard is seriously invoking Jesus to this discussion. But it is happening a lot in other forums and the press. My comment was just a general one.

This is a good read. I've always been fascinated with indy league ball: http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/51667380/

How cool is this: http://mlb.mlb.com/cutfour/#contentId=51834988

I may have to do something about these damned coyotes. I've always been inclined to live and let live and just tolerate their grill & garbage tipping. But they are becoming a little too bold lately. I was walking back from the creek tonight and I noticed a few of them pacing me in the distance. They usually don't come that close. A few nights ago they were growling at my dog from the porch. I put a gun next to every window and if they keep this BS up I'm going to thin out their pack a little bit. I like them a lot better when they were heard and not seen. On that note I saw this the other day:http://youtu.be/tHPvvkgrY2g

I feel like I've been on vacation reading this thread. Minus the road fatigue and depleted savings account.

I've always found the hubris of people claiming to know what Jesus does or does not approve of to be astounding. Based on what I read Jesus loves gay folks every bit as much as hetero folks. If fact I pretty sure he commanded every one of us to do the same. Mark 12:30: "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul and with all of your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." The funny thing is, the folks who spend the most time telling us what Jesus thinks are usually the ones who know the least about Him.

I would have a BIG problem with that. Gay couples cannot demand their freedom then insist on robbing others of theirs!

Sure there is a religious aspect to marriage IF the couple is religious. Once the state got into the business of sanctioning marriage however the legal and religious aspects became two different things. When you get right down to it, marriage is a contract in the legal sense. How can the government allow one group of consenting parties to enter into contract while at the same time bar another group of consenting parties from doing the same? It turns out, they can't. However, if individual religious denominations refuse to sanction or same sex weddings allow them on their property everyone has to understand they are free to do that! I'm not talking directly to you NK. I know where you're coming from.

Some of the responses I'm seeing make me wonder if the whole country has lost it's sanity. A noted congresswoman made a statement about the SCOTUS undermining Gods word and the bible teachings. Ok, I'll buy that but no church is going to be asked to perform or sanction any marriage it does not want to. This only applies to the definition of a marriage with respect to the government and property and children. Totally different animals. If I've said it once I've said it a million times, if you don't like gay marriage, don't marry a gay person. What the hell do you care what two consenting adults who you probably don't even know do with their lives? What a wonderful world this would be if we all would just leave each other alone to live our lives in the way that seems best to each of us. As to the specifics of the decision, from the summary I've seen it was a pretty cut and dry equal protection case. Even the dissent was not focused on the merits of DOMA so much as rather the review was properly handled or needed. I have not read it yet, I'll do that this afternoon.

I love all that open country out west!

Hmmm, makes you think about those ads where you can meet Russian women looking to get married.