Guard Dog

It's snowing!

I'm sure there were lots of people who had similar arguments about letting blacks into the military. The organization will adapt and be no worse off for it. ^ He shoots, he scores. Precisely. Yes that was EXACTLY the argument that was used, and at the time it was correct. During WWI all American military units were segregated but the valor dispayed by the 10th Cavlary & 92nd & 93rd Infantry Divisions of the 1st AEF broke down a lot of the barriers and led to full integration during an following WW2. It was an idea whose time had come and for the most part it was accepted easily. Now, what do you think would have happened had Lincoln tried that during the Civil War? Or McKinley during the war with Spain? Change comes on it's own and usually it comes without complaint and leaves people wondering why it hadn't happened earlier. But if you try to force it before everyone is ready, it is messy. Gay soldiers are not going to have an easy time of it at first. Just as black soldiers didn't. But not far down the road, no one will think a thing about it. However, had this been rammed down everyones throats 20 years ago, it would have been much more difficult.

For Christmas this year I'm grilling a red snapper fillet with a Florida lobster tail, roasted ear of corn, and a balsamic tomato salad. Plus I'm going to cut and smoke some country style spare ribs to make jerky treats for the dogs because, after all, they love christmas too! Then I'm going to load up the Ipod with Bob Marley & Jimmy Buffet songs, drink a lot of beer and yell at the coyotes when they come knock my grill over later.

I used to have a problem with this. When i was in the military anyone who was openly gay (or even thought to be) could expect to be ostricised and probably get their ass kicked on a regular basis. Look, I know what you are thinking but I have no problem with somones sexual preference, that is just how it was.... 20 years ago. The military is not a social experiment, sometimes rules that seem wrong to freedom loving people have to be made to ensure good order and discipline. And yes, I know there are endless historical examples to prove that homosexuals make just as good a soldier as the next guy... i get it. I don't disagree, that is just how it was... 20 years ago. Now, a lot has changed in the last 20 years. Nobody who was in when I was is there now, and attitudes about homosexuality have certainly changed for the better in society as a whole. Now it is no big deal (which it should not be) and this new policy reflects that.

Yes, legalize, regulate and tax it. It's a win all around. Of course, if certain jobs require clean drug tests to get and keep them, thats ok too.

Truely sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. And for those who have responded to this news with disdain or sarcasam, shame on you.

Thank you. The general goal is ~50 pages and my first draft is about 65% done. It's on the smallish side as its meant to be a guide book a tourist bring with them as they explore Salem. I am hoping to finish the last leg of the first draft within a weeks time. Why do you ask? Just curious. I would not go to an editor until you have a completed draft, however rough. One other thought, have you considered self publishing? A lot of 50 softcovers will only run you a few hundred dollars and you can try to pitch them to the local tourist shops, or ghost walk tours, ebay, etc. Publishing a book is not all that expensive, the copyright will cost around a hundred bucks if you do the paperwork yourself.

I think they have a better than fair shot of winning over Detroit & Seattle, Detroit has little to play for and the Seahawks can't get out of their own way. Both games at home is a big plus. Winning at NO will be a stretch unless the Saints playoff seeding is already decided and they have reason to rest their starters. Looking at how the Wildcards are shaping up I'd say there is a fair shot of that happening.

A long way from California huh?

I hope Kelverin is ok. I know he was having a bad time with health issues. As for the ending of the Bucs-Skins game, you guys probably heard me shouting for joy all the way up north. To paraphrase Bucs tackle Kevin Rudd, winning ugly is still winning. I doubt playoffs are in the picture for the pewter pirates but it has been a great team to watch this season. I take back all the things I ranted about Coach Morris. The Pats are just that kind of team. They are like the Packers from the 60s, the Stellers of the 70s, 49ers of the 80s and Cowboys of the 90s. As for the AFC, the only team that matches up well against them is the Jaguars but they are a one trick pony, strong ground game, mediocre everywhere else. But what they can do is control the clock which is the only way the Pats can lose. I don't think anyone will outplay them. As for the NFC, it looks like the Falcons have the inside track. Imagine a Pats Falcons superbowl. What to you think the over on THAT one would be? BTW did you guys see Sal Alosi, a Jets coach trip a dolphins player while running in kick coverage? What an @$$hole. And how about the video of the Metrodome roof collapsing. Wild stuff.

Cursing out the Boston Red Sox on another forum right now. Damn them!

Indeed. I think this is a good thing. What I'm far more annoyed about is the stupidly large increase in university fees for UK students. University should be free or heavily subsidised. Find other spending cuts to make you bastards, like this ship! Of course it should. Because universites don't cost anything do they? I mean, all those professors and lab intructors and campus staff, they work for free right? Capus facilities and equioment like research labs and the money to fund them, that just grows up from the ground right? The day college is free is the day a degree becomes worthless. I've seen you critisise others for having an uninformed outsiders opinion on the U.S - let me tell you your comment shows me you know nothing about our university system. Not a thing. I did not mean to imply otherwise. I was just annoyed by Krezack whining about how other people should be paying his way.

Oh ok I'm the anarchist again huh? You don't actually read my posts do you? I don't think I've ever chanted "DOWN WITH GOVERNMENT". Unless of course you are unable to distiguish that from the notion that a government should live within it's framework. Maybe you are, nuance can be difficult for some to grasp. Oh, now I'm the putocrat again, you jump around like a flea on a hot rock. No I don't think that at all. I graduated from a major university with a Bachelor Degree and I'm not rich. And I paid for it myself, every last fu***ng cent. The difference between you and me is, if I want something, I go out and do what is required to get it. I don't waste time lamenting how no one will pay for it for me. It is YOUR responsibility to see to it you get an education (beyond the basic one you are entitled to from the state). It is not the responsibility of your fellow citizens to pay for it in your stead. Anyone in America can go to college if they want to. ANYONE. There are literally thousands of opportunities but they require work and sacrifice. Dirty words to a liberal, I know.

Can you eat Coyotes? I'm neck deep in them on nights I cook on the grill. I used to fire a round in the air with my shotgun to run them off, that doesn't even phase them anymore. Anyway, speaking of the grill I'm smoking a whole pork loin tonight.

Here is great case against the DP. There is a girl in Orlando who murdered her daughter, put here in a plastic bag and sank her into a pond. She did it so she would be free to go out and do drugs with her friends. The State is seeking the DP and the evidence in the case makes a guilty verdict all but a lock. But because it is a DP case is has been bogged down for years in pretrial hearings and haggling. If the DP was off the table she would have been tried, convicted, and locked away, probably for life w/o parole by now. Because it IS a dp trial the state has to pay part of the cost of her defense even though she has private counsel, to say nothing of the costs incurred in proving a DP case. Just take the whole damned thing off the table and lock these people up for life and be done with it. I really think the US should adopt Truth-in-Sentencing laws. In other words no parole for violent offenders, if you get a five year sentence you WILL do all five, and if you get a life sentence then you will only leave that prison in a body bag.

Say you have airborne herpes. At Christmas. It's like malaria. It comes back now and again. I'm becoming a rreal scrooge I guess but I just wish I could skip christmas this year.

I was invited to spend Christmas with this lady I'm dating and her son. I really don't want to but I haven't come up with an excuse yet. I'll think of one though, just give me some time...

Indeed. I think this is a good thing. What I'm far more annoyed about is the stupidly large increase in university fees for UK students. University should be free or heavily subsidised. Find other spending cuts to make you bastards, like this ship! Of course it should. Because universites don't cost anything do they? I mean, all those professors and lab intructors and campus staff, they work for free right? Capus facilities and equioment like research labs and the money to fund them, that just grows up from the ground right? The day college is free is the day a degree becomes worthless.

I'm against it, I used to be for it.

Try liberal amounts of bourbon in your coffee/tea. It always works for me. No, bourbon is awful in tea you have to use vodka. I have field-tested this extensively, if you are going to drink bourbon at work become a lawyer or a doctor. Lawyers don't drink at work, they do blow instead. Huh. My ignorance of this particular rule might just have something to do with the disappointing performance assessment... Well, th extra pep from the coke might have helped your communication score but your wife would be wondering why the bank accounts were always empty. Besides, lawyers are supposed to drink scotch. You don't want to get disbarred do you?

Heh, me too... I feel a midlife crisis coming on. The only problem is to get the corvette and younger woman I need to have either money or good looks. I'm a little short on both counts!

Right about now Argentina is thinking"Hmmmm if we only had air superiority back in '82"

BTW, your idea sounds very interesting. How complete is it?

This makes a lot of sense to me. Tread carefully though. Hopefully if the scores for this cycle can not be revised your boss will be inclined to grant you that mid cycle review.

I'm in the process of rewriting/revising a book I've been working on for a few years. After hearing "No" a lot while trying get a publisher to even look at the full manuscript (never send them a full manuscipt, just a sample and an outline or you might see your book with someone elses name on it) I hired a real editor to work with me on it. If you have the money to do that I highly reccomend it. The lady I hired is a professor at Mississippi State and is freelance editor and writer with few published works and articles. Plus she has some connections to help sell the manuscript once it is finished. If it ever is. Editing a book is a lot of work, getting a friend/collegue to help is nice but my advice is to bite the bullet and hire a professional.