~Di

Hmm, well the folks in Dakur don't think of the government as a "friend", since it's the government that is committing genocide against them. I doubt the Croatians, Bosnians or Kosovar's thought of government as a friend, nor did the Russians during Stalin's time. The USA was founded by people who were persecuted by their governments, survivors of those who were murdered by their governments, and those who were escaping the tyranny of their governments. So yeah, under those circumstances we can see where the founding fathers of the USA would be more concerned that the power of government be controlled than they would in constructing an all-encompassing "friend" like those "friends" they'd just escaped.

Umm, I have to take slight exception to that statement, Mark, my sweet. The reason we have a federal constitution is to assure that certain behaviors are never deemed acceptable no matter how many folks decide to engage in them. If 80% of the population suddenly decided that slavery was a good idea after all, or that they want to withhold certain rights from those uppity females (like voting, owning property, that sort of stuff!), the constitution deems that unacceptable. And all the tooth-gnashing insistance in the world can't made it okay. Of course, worst case, the constitution can eventually be amended so that predjudice and bigotry becomes the law of the land. That takes considerable time, however. But it's doable. Unfortunately. At this point, it seems that a majority of our population believes that withholding rights from gays is okey-dokey, just like a majority of our population once believed that withholding rights from blacks and women was okey-dokey. I think that's kinda sad, actually. But that's just me.

*frown* Hitchhiking is dangerous, even in a rural place like this bastion of scenic beauty. Do not hitchhike. Ever. Walking, however, is good exercise for fit youngun's like yourself. Just be careful. [/mommy mode]

There are considerably more than three female gamers on this forum. I personally know of more than half a dozen of 'em, myself included, although like most forum-goers they don't check every thread of every forum every day. And actually the thread starter never did explain why counting female gamers was a particularly worthy endeavor. If this was a lonely hearts board, I might be able to understand the obsession with poster gender... but clearly, it is not.

Dear God, not again. Every time there is any topic on any forum on earth that criticizes, even remotely, republican decision-making, some fool brings up Clinton and the entire topic turns into Clinton bashing. Enough already. Clinton was a surprisingly decent president (whom I did not vote for, in case anyone is interested) who was hounded by political enemies for 8 freaking years. The republican behavior during the Clinton years is why I, a republican since the day I first registered right out of high school, am now an Independent. Cripes, Clinton has been out of office for four years and the GOP faithful are still leaping upon any opportunity to insult the guy. Get. Over. It. :D (obligatory smilie since I have been labeled the rudest, meannest person on the internet)

It's wrong, alright... but it's happening anyway, and it flat ticks me off. Norweigans, for example, took out a huge, full-page ad in the Washington Post denigrating Bush and extolling Kerry's virtues. Norweigans, for crying out loud. Now anyone who knows me knows that I dispise Bush, and would hack off my voting arm with a pen knife before I'd vote for him... but I still resent a group of Europeans trying to influence USA elections. Like, it's none of their freaking business. I doubt the French, for example, would be terribly pleased if Americans dumped a ton of money to officially campaign for some non-Chirac candidate because... and follow me here... France's choice of president is none of our business . Yet you cannot legitimately state, as some Europeans on other boards have, that America must stay out of Europe's politics but it's okay for Europe to attempt to influence American politics because America is a "superpower" (cripes, first you label us with that pathetic description, then y'all use that label to justify the unjustifyable). So yeah, I rolled my eyes when I first saw a "non-American" poll on the American election. Just as most of you would if the tables were reversed in your own countries.

Oh. My. God. I just spent 15 minutes looking for such a box in my Control Panel... then went to PM you that I could not find it, and saw the silly thing right there under the PM text box. I am so embarrassed. Er, feel free to delete this entire thread. *Thanks Phosphor, then slinks away*

I have an odd problem. I just noticed (although it may have been going on for a while) that although I'm receiving PM's properly, when I reply to them the replies appear to be sent properly (that is, I get the notice that the message has been sent and so-and-so is being notified) but when I go to the sent box, the message I just sent is nowhere to be found. There are a few old sent PM's in there... but nothing since mid-July, although I know for a fact that I've sent several PM's since July. I'm not even certain my messages ARE being sent ... anyone want me to send 'em a PM to check it out for me?... Anyway, I've been through the control panel several times looking for some elusive box I might have checked by mistake. Can some Obsidian website guru give me a clue what I might be doing wrong? I'd appreciate it!

LOL! When I saw the title, Grommy, I was beyond horrified. I mean, the Bio board without Gromnir? Dear God, this cannot BE! Now quit teasing us and confess that the red-faced Gaider has reinstated you. :D

LOL, "old" is relative. To a pompous 12 year old, 22 is positively ancient. (Er, I WISH I was still 22.... heh!) Thanks for the translation. No, that isn't what I'd support. I believe in the constitution, which means that even those who are physically unable to serve in the military, the peace corps, or whatever, or have been deferred due to family hardship still should always have their citizenship priveleges. I just seriously believe that mandatory service to one's country for a couple of years would be beneficial to most people, beneficial to the country, and give a broader understanding of the world as a whole to our citizenry. But it isn't gonna happen, LOL, so 'tis all just the musings of a somewhat menial mind.

Er... *blush*... I'm sorry, I'm Starship Trooper illiterate. You'll have to translate your question into Old-Person-Language for me.

I'm beginning to be all for the draft, frankly. Too many generations with no expectations put upon them, and they feel absolutely no duty to anything or anyone but themselves. If a country is to thrive, then it needs people who consider themselves part of society and feel a duty to that society. Any country that becomes top-heavy with selfish, me-first and damn-every-one-else mentality citizens is doomed. A couple of years of required service to one's country for all citizens, male and female, would grow some of these selfish whelps up. I don't care if the required service is military or some other form, just shoving young people out into the world to broaden their horizons and teach them a modicum of self-discipline would help. Of course every generation says this about every younger generation. So take it with a grain of salt. That said, I don't see a return of the draft unless the country is in imminent danger from another world war or similar catastrophy. The current "draft legislation" is simply a political ploy by the far-far left to make a partisian statement. Nobody takes it seriously. Not even the so-called sponsors of the bill.

There is "enough to live on", and there is "enough to expand, grow the market, and employ 1.5 million people in a global economy." So simply stating that those at the top earn "enough to live on" doesn't really view both sides of the equasion. You didn't mention whether Catepillar is a publicly-traded company or not. If it is, then it is stockholders, thousands of 'em, who have the ultimate say in how much return on their investment they consider to be enough. If they aren't happy with their profit, they'll pull their money out and invest it somewhere else. Then stock prices plummet, and eventually the company goes out of business. That doesn't help those now-permanently-unemployed workers, does it? Sometimes we have to stop envying what others have, and turn our sights to living life the best we can.

None of my remarks were personal, Dakoth, and certainly none were directed at you since I do not know you and of course have no way of knowing what your financial situation is. I was specifically referring to several people, nearly all from countries other than the USA, who have made the conscious decision to live on government subsistance rather than earn a living simply because it's a viable option. I do not believe it should be a viable option. *shrug* There's a trickly balance between those who own a company and must shuffle billions of dollars to maintain it and those who work for a company, and are entitled to a fair wage for their work. It's a global economy. To survive internationally, an American company must compete against profit margins in countries where workers are paid pennies per hour. Now nobody is suggesting that USA workers be paid pennies an hour, but it is possible to bankrupt a company with union demands that simply cannot be met. It's happened. Then nobody wins, don'tcha know. I have already explained I am in favor of a hybrid capitalist/socialist system of economics. The point remains, however, that Catepillar (and most other large companies that employ millions) would not exist under a socialist system because the founders of these great companies wouldn't have been allowed to earn enough money to create them. With due respect for the suffering of all concerned in the Catepillar union struggle, I personally would not favor an economic system in the USA that favored one side over the other. It is a balancing act, with unions keeping corporations from abusing employees; that doesn't mean that the union should be under the impression that it either owns the company, or has a right to destroy it should its demands not be met. IMHO, of course.

Every country on earth, and every people on earth have had moments of indomitable struggle over the years. It's just that Russia and Great Britain are at the top of my most-admired list. Your list may vary with my blessing. :D

Great Britain. There aren't a people on earth who can top the Brits when it comes to dry humor, dogged courage, and unshakeable self-confidence. You simply have to admire that!

Russia is one of the two countries I admire most. Why? Because the Russians have overcome so much suffering and exhibited such resiliance as a people. What a horrific century they have endured. Revolution, mass murder, 20 million dead in WW2, decades of oppression from which they are still struggling to extricate themselves... I truly do admire them.

Well, no. I don't have an identity crisis because my name really IS Di, and what you see on line is what you get in person. Sadly. Maybe I should try creating a new internet persona of a slow-speaking, seemingly witless barbarian type to cover a brilliant mind, thereby luring the unwary into my cunning trap. *goes out to look for a brilliant mind to borrow*

In my experience, (which is limited, I know... but then again, so is everyone's), those who holler loudest for "redistribution of wealth" economies are those who stand to benefit from it. In other words, those who will be given free stuff stolen from others, not those who will have their stuff taken away. Not surprisingly, I've spoken to a lot of folks who salute the concept of socialism/communism womb-to-tomb governmental care... folks who are sitting home on their computers all day and all night, venturing out only to cash government dole checks. Their biggest complaint is that the dole checks aren't big enough to supply them with all the luxuries they want. Oh, they have free food, free clothes, a free roof over their head (and somehow manage to have a computer, internet connection and games, LOL!), but nonetheless complain that they should have MORE free money! This means they believe that others should work harder to have more money available to be taken away and given to strangers who choose not to work at all. Does this sound like a great system? Of course it does! Trouble is, it won't survive unless there are more people who believe in earning their own way than there are people who have decided to let others earn their way for them. Historically, it doesn't take long for the abused to get sick of carrying the lazy on their backs; they decide to become one of the supported rather than continue to be a supporter. That's when the government has to step in and become, well, dare I say it? Totalitarian. The government has no choice but to take over control of the entire workforce or else it has nothing to redistribute. The redistribution of wealth, you see, is a one-time deal. You steal it from the rich, hand it over to the poor, then what? There are no more rich folks left to support the poor folks. Or to operate companies that supply jobs. So only the government has jobs to offer. Soon the entire country must work for the government. Personally I think a combination of capitalism/socialism, similar to what we have in the USA is best. Those who work hardest will gain more than those who don't; therefore, we have incentive to work hard (USA workers are the most productive in the world, I have heard... hard to believe but I'm assured by NOVA on PBS that it's true!), yet we still take care of those who cannot care for themselves. I'd like to add healthcare to our list of socialist programs, which include but are not limited to food stamps, welfare, medicare and unemployment insurance... but all in all, I think we do pretty well with a reasonable tax rate. Well, reasonable compared to the tax rates of many other countries.

Cue Twilight Zone music while parroting conspiracy theories. Blame the victims for their own murder. Make excuses for those who would target children or commit other atrocity by saying "It's terrible, BUT ...(add irrational justification for atrocity that again blames victims for their own murder)." All a way of giving individuals power by pretending nothing like that could ever happen to them, because they are better, smarter, more politically correct and have fewer enemies than the victims. Pretty hateful, lacking in compassion, and self-indulgent, but allowed in a free society. Which is more than I can say for the socities that spawned those who murdered thousands of innocents on 9/11 because of a Fatwah issued by a madman.

I remember that day all too vividly. I watched the television in horror, because I have so many friends who live/work in Manhattan. I've been up in the WTC on one of my trips to NYC. And I knew several people who worked in and around the WTC. Two of them died. I knew them only casually, but still their loss has affected me deeply. Someone dear to me, a long-time friend and my one-time editor, was in the city that day. She was 8 months pregnant with her first child. Her husband worked in a building right next to the WTC. It was a building I saw buried in rubble before my eyes. I was certain her beloved husband was dead. He wasn't, because he'd been called to a meeting uptown at the last minute. His best friend was dead, though... the person who had been his dearest friend since childhood and best man at their wedding. The loss devasted him and his wife; and since they are both so dear to me, the loss devasted me as well. So close to home, even 4000 miles away. Another friend of mine in Texas called that week. Her brother was the pilot who had been scheduled to fly the plane that was hijacked into the Pentagon. His wife had been taken ill and hospitalized the night before, so he asked his best buddy to take the flight. You can only imagine how devasted he was by 9/11. There are millions of personal stories of how 9/11 changed lives in this country, even the lives of those who lived thousands of miles from Ground Zero. One of the things that touched me most was seeing Brits pay their respect by playing the Star Spangled Banner; one of the things that hurt me the deepest was seeing various groups around the world that were celebrating our loss. I will never forget either of those things. I cannot imagine, chemchok, how horrific the experience of living there, seeing the devastating, tasting the debris in the air, must have been for you, day after day, month after month. My deepest condolences.

LOL, I've never had to shoot anything. Neighbors have had to shoot a few coyotes, and use gunshots to chase away a mountain lion trying to eat a calf being birthed by a desperate, panicking mama... Me, I tend to stay in my office and let husby wander the wild range down the hill.

@ Phoenix: LOL, you're lucky! Now rattlers are easier to scoop into a shovel than to shoot, granted, but on our lower pastures (pretty wild area) the wild boars are deadly, mountain lions trying to rip calves into shreds are common, and even more common are packs of coyotes killing calves and foals. So everyone around here has a weapon to protect themselves and their livestock. I'm glad your dog wasn't snake-bit. Folks around here lose too many beloved pets that way every year.

Guns can end life. Guns can also save life. Context is everything. (Said the woman who lives in mountain lion/rattlesnake country, where wandering the the woods without a gun is like playing Russion roulette with the wildlife).

Eh, I can remember when a similar list came out about the dye used to make cherries red and a spray used to make apples shiny. Both turned out to be totally bogus claims started by eco-terror groups. Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners have made life bearable for diabetics. Since my husband is diabetic, I thank God for these products every day.