TRUE or FALSE: What Goes Around Comes Around ?

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Jesus, David-the rich are rarely "INNOCENT".

Of WHAT r thay guilty ?

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I think that varies case by case.
But as you said, noone is entirely trustworthy-
I'd extend that to embrace the notion that noone is entirely innocent (your term).

Agreed.
Its been a predatory world
since long b4 the first dinosaur was hatched.

For your protection in the real ( professional ) world,
may I draw your attention to the fact that the frase * no one *
consists of 2 words.
If u want me to stop correcting your spelling,
lemme know, n I 'll respect your wishes n let u take your chances in the real world.

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and to impliment an artificial equality.

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What do you find distasteful about that?

It is a USURPATION of power.
It has NO jurisdiction to do that; the Founders wud have been aghast.
It is the Frankenstein monster slipping out of his chains
that bind him to the slab, in the lab.

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But what about when Ronald Reagan appropriated the decision
making power from the American people to achieve his ends in providing
support to the Contras in Nicaragua

For ONE thing:
As President ( by 2 overwhelming landslides ),
he had the constitutional right
n the constitutional duty to defend America from the commies.
We were in the middle of the 3rd World War.

For ANOTHER thing:
there is NOTHING in the Constitution
that prohibits his innovative financing of anti-communist efforts.

For a THIRD thing:
we r free of the onslaught of communist slavery,
thanx be unto him.

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or trading arms for hostages in Iran (I think that was Reagan - was it?)

He denied that.
Nothing has been proven.

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You stated that the outcome justified the means.

When, where n how did I say that ?

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Are you not at all interested in alleviating poverty in our society David

Yes; I am not at all interested in that.

However, I am convinced that the FREE MARKET
will be much more successful in elevating the well being of the poor,
as well as of everyone else,
than unconstitutional collectivist schemes.

Socialism, even in its drastic extremes,
has never succeeded in making the poor wealthy.
Collectivism is a dreary failure, economically,
and it has been violative of citizens' personal freedom.

I have no respect for it.

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- even if it means a transferrance of power or resources
to achieve such an admirable goal?

I dispute that the goal is admirable.
I deem it deplorable and evil,
partaking of the nature of robbery.

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I agree with you that equality is not inherently natural.
Why shouldn't we try to manufacture it?

Because there is NO JURISDICTION to do it.
If private citizens become involved in it,
making it their hobby, that might be OK.

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What do you mean there's no jurisdiction.

I mean that government WAS NOT CREATED TO DO THAT,
n it was never granted authority to do that,
and that is has NO RIGHTFUL POWER to do that;
hence, it can only proceed to do that by USURPATION
of power, the same way that a dishonest accountant
can do what he wants, after he has ripped off your funds.

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I admit total ignorance here, but this is something I'm interested in learning about -
as civil rights legislation established laws for equality based on race,

Even identical twins r not equal; differences will be found ( ask them ).
Legislating against inequality is like legislating against drought.

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couldn't there be some kind of legislation enacted to address equal opportunity

That has already happened.
I do not consider this to be constitutional.
Government was not created to do this,
and this is a perversion of the purposes of government.

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for those who are born into inherently disadvantaged situations?

The Constitution has not put government
into the business of taking notice of who
is in good or bad economic situations
( the only exception thereof, being the bankruptcy courts ).

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Does something about the concept of equality bother you?

Yes.
Government uses it to strangle personal freedom,
altho it has no jurisdiction to do so.

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But if it could be achieved without strangling personal freedom,
and there was jurisdiction to do that -
does the concept of people being treated
equally with dignity and respect, bother you in any way?

No.

People were treated with dignity n respect
during the 1800s, b4 government fell into liberal perversity.

I usually treat the poor with dignity n respect.

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Tolerable to who?

To ME, if I am deciding on whether or not to complain about it.

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I guess that makes sense,
but you realize it does make you appear inconsistent, don't you?

Yes; I am inconsistent in how I treat friend n foe.

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That's inconsistent and egocentric David.

Yes; I treat my friends inconsistently
with how I treat my enemies; ( the same as our enemies have always done ).
Hence, it is unnecessary to attack my friends.

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But what if your friend is a liberal?

That has actually HAPPENED in real life.

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Your willing to attack their core values and beliefs that make them who they are.

[ Note the spelling here; I only point this out
inasmuch as I believe that u 'd rather have ME catch it than
your principal, or your student, or his parent, but I 'll stop,
if u want me to stop. ]

Yes; I have DONE that.
Experience has tawt them to EXPECT IT.

I call it CANDOR.

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I just kind of threw up my hands and asked myself why I should even bother-it's nothing but a big game.

YES.
That 's all it ever was.
U shud be HAPPY to c the world as it IS.
U r not blind anymore.

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But how do I participate in a system in which I have no trust or belief?

The same as I do,
or anyone else.

U exert some limited degree of influence
by expressing your vu,
and voting in November.

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No.
I remember lying in bed,
at the age of 3, thinking of misappropriating
not only a police officer 's revolver,
but his entire rig, including bandolier.

When I entered a bank,
my eyes lustfully locked onto the guard 's revolver.
Kennedy was still a young lad,
of whom no one had heard.
Lyndon Johnson was a school teacher in Texas.

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So do you think you were inherently wary

Yes

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and distrustful

I don 't remember ever being TRUSTFUL.

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as to your assured safe existence in the world
or are you aware of something occurring before the age of three
that influenced your thinking and responses in some way?

not in this incarnation

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It reminds me of myself. My father loves history

Sounds like an admirable man.

He is. He can be an unreasonable cuss, believe me -
but he's always been my rock of gibraltar.
I couldn't have wished for a better father -or mother for that matter -
I was lucky.

Not born rich like you were, but in a comfortable, nurturing situation.

That's why I have liberal political and social tendencies.
I realize how much difference a decent start in life can make for a child,
so I wish it was a reality for all children.

We had a commie, during the 1940s n early 50s,
who defended Stalin, extolling Russian communism.
He was a furrier ( capitalist ); I spoke with him a lot;
took care of his dog, Hasty. He still owes me money for that,
but I don 't hold out much hope of seeing it.

Come on David - doesn't sound like you really need it.

That is NOT a trivial issue,

But David, do you think it's wrong to inspire or encourage
a charitable, sharing attitude among people?

I understand your stance now.
So can you address my question about what mechanisms
you'd employ to address these issues?

Or is this where you say, you don't know,
and you don't care because it doesn't affect you?

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I do agree that it's wrong to take something that doesn't belong to you
and give it to someone else without that person's cooperation or assent.

THAT IS MY WHOLE POINT.

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Are you happy with the status quo and the huge dichotomy between the rich and poor in this country

Yes.
Its only natural.

That saddens me David.
I know that's how it's always been, but that doesn't make it right.
Do you think you'd feel the same if you were poor?

Y shud it be DIFFERENT ?

Because all people deserve the chance to live a life
filled with dignity and purpose.

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and the chaos and strife it creates?

That is what defensive weapons r for.

That was not funny (in my opinion).

I oppose socialism.

In theory or in practice?

I take it you've never lived in a socialist society?

(I'm going on my impression that you've lived in NY and Arizona -
so within the US your entire life- is that correct)?

Unlike America, thay have little claim
of any statute being " unconstitutional. "
Thay have always lived under an authoritarian regime,
regardless of how gently it may have ( sometimes ) ruled.

But also unlike America, the MP's that I've read about and observed seem to employ quite a bit more effort and integrity in representing and upholding the wishes of their constituents.
I think the English system of government and nationalized services, seems to provide more effectively for more of its citizens than the US system of privatized services does.

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I'm also interested to know if you were someone who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps to get to where you're at,
or if you were born into a comfortable situation,
and simply progressed from there. Care to tell me?

The latter; we have always had money.

Lucky you. Maybe this explains your lack of understanding or motivation toward those who have started out disadvantaged and impoverished.

As I type this, I am consuming a box of chocolate covered caramels
that I bought. It looks like a Christmas present.
Thay r really quite good.[/b][/color]

What does that have to do with anything?

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I think it's more than that - it takes another step and becomes not just the lack of conservatism, thus liberalism - it becomes active criminal intent.

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I would be interested in your response to this.

Please re-frase the question,
to render it more comprehensible.

You stated that "liberalism" is a willingness to deviate from conservative or agreed upon standards.
I agree with that. But criminality calls for more than simple willingness to deviate. It calls for active criminal intent.

I don't think that is implicit in your definition of liberalism. Do you?

Trust is DANGEROUS and shud be kept to a minimum.
Governments shud NEVER be trusted.
History teaches that.

If u had not learned that,
u 'd have been living your life in a deluded
detachment from reality,
which is an educational failure.

Governments r very dangerous things.
More people have been killed by governments
than by anything other than old age.[/b][/color]

Interesting, I've never thought of it that way.
But again I ask - how or why should we even continue to try to participate in it then?

WHAT DID NIXON ADMIT ?

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He admitted that he had engaged in activity that was unbecoming of his office.

I don 't recall him saying that.
Can u cite to a quote,
or give a recitation of the gist ?

I have a very vivid memory of watching him on tv sitting at a desk, addressing the American people in very subdued tones about his regret at what had transpired before he walked across the lawn to the helicopter. I don't remember exactly what he said - I'll try to find a transcript of it.

I cannot represent the Nixon girls,
but I imagine that if thay were expressing themselves here,
thay 'd say that thay LOVED their time in the White House,
and were THRILLED to have had a father who was elected
President of the United States: the most powerful man in the world.
I can 't say as much about MY father, nor my grandfather.
Very, very few children r so fortunate.
If this had not happened,
it is unlikely that Julie wud have married Ike 's grandson
and that Tricia wud have gotten a multimillionaire.

GOODNESS, THAY WERE LUCKY.

I'm sure they were happy and excited at the beginning of the whole adventure. But as it soured, their feelings were probably somewhat different. That would just be human nature.

Although if their marriages have been happy - they probably do tend to view it positively instead of negatively at all.

Well, yeah, but I wudn 't blame him for THAT.
( I believe that is the first time in my life
that I have ever defended Kennedy ! )
So is everyone else ( including ME, for sure ).

Some people are less so than others though.

A little different in some way. Not typical or run of the mill or mainstream. I always appreciate someone kind of out of the ordinary or surprising.

I probably would never be attracted to anyone who would run for president and receive the majority of the votes (in America, anyway)

principals.

I'm a teacher - I say the word "principal" as in the head administrator of a school,

all the time- that's my problem there. But you're right - it should have been principles.

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My only question is - do you really believe that's okay?

In political warfare,
neither side wud hesitate to do it.

But what about you personally?

Outside of political warfare -do you think it's okay to do?

My ex-girlfriend, Marilyn,
used to torture me, with her lateness.
I 'd be parked illegally by a fire hydrant,
or by a NO parking sign,
and calling her from a fone booth every 20 minutes,
while she was preening; ( also B.C.: b4 cell fones ).
She used to be a valium addict.
When she finally arrived, I was so upset
that she slipped me a valium to calm me down.

Did it work?

For your protection in the real ( professional ) world,
may I draw your attention to the fact that the frase * no one *
consists of 2 words.
If u want me to stop correcting your spelling,
lemme know, n I 'll respect your wishes n let u take your chances in the real world.

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You stated that the outcome justified the means.

When, where n how did I say that ?

People were treated with dignity n respect
during the 1800s, b4 government fell into liberal perversity.

I usually treat the poor with dignity n respect.[/b][/color]

Hence, it is unnecessary to attack my friends.

But what if your friend is a liberal?

Your willing to attack their core values and beliefs that make them who they are.

Maybe u can get more cash.

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That's why I have liberal political and social tendencies.
I realize how much difference a decent start in life can make for a child,
so I wish it was a reality for all children.

That does not justify
ripping off the middle class nor the rich,
to bring that about.

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We had a commie, during the 1940s n early 50s,
who defended Stalin, extolling Russian communism.
He was a furrier ( capitalist ); I spoke with him a lot;
took care of his dog, Hasty. He still owes me money for that,
but I don 't hold out much hope of seeing it.

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Come on David - doesn't sound like you really need it.

I might not NEED a picture on the wall,
but if I own it, I have a right to KEEP it.

That was not what the Founders had in mind.

Or is this where you say, you don't know,
and you don't care because it doesn't affect you?

In the 1800s, people had all the dignity n purpose thay wanted,
without stealing the property of the financially successful.[/b][/color]

If I were impoverished,
I wud not get into robbery, neither directly nor
using government as my weapon.

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As I type this, I am consuming a box of chocolate covered caramels
that I bought. It looks like a Christmas present.
Thay r really quite good.[/b][/color]

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What does that have to do with anything?

Thay r yummy.
Hedonism is good.

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I think it's more than that - it takes another step and becomes not just the lack of conservatism, thus liberalism - it becomes active criminal intent.

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I would be interested in your response to this.

Please re-frase the question,
to render it more comprehensible.

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You stated that "liberalism" is a willingness to deviate from conservative or agreed upon standards.
I agree with that. But criminality calls for more than simple willingness to deviate. It calls for active criminal intent.

Neither WILLINGNESS nor INTENT r criminal.
Conduct, in furtherance of that willingness or intent,
can be criminal.

U win some n u lose some.
Thay knew that b4 Nixon was elected President.

Explain an " edge " ?

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A little different in some way. Not typical or run of the mill or mainstream. I always appreciate someone kind of out of the ordinary or surprising.

By THAT definition,
I have an edge.
On my best day, I never looked 1/4 as good as Ronald Reagan.

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principals.

For your work,
note the spelling here.

I'm a teacher - I say the word "principal" as in the head administrator of a school,

I worked for the HUAC, as a spy,
n I took delight in inflicting sadistic, dirty tricks on local commies.
It was OK with me, personally.[/b][/color]

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Outside of political warfare -do you think it's okay to do?

I suppose bugging ranks with listening at the door
or outside the window

I think we could have an interesting discussion around the whole
opulent/hedonistic lifestyle sometime if you're open to it David.
That might fit the philosophy angle a little better.[/color]

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For your protection in the real ( professional ) world,
may I draw your attention to the fact that the frase * no one *
consists of 2 words.
If u want me to stop correcting your spelling,
lemme know, n
I 'll respect your wishes n let u take your chances in the real world.

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I appreciate your concern.
I guess if it's an issue to you,
or if you believe that it's something I sincerely might be ignorant of,
I'd appreciate you enlightening me. Every little bit helps.

Its difficult to know what someone else knows.
We hardly know one another.

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But I should let you know -
before you invest your time in that manner-
that I often do know the spelling or the rule, but make mistakes.
I did take typing as a highschool student, and on an IBM selectric,
could type, with passable accuracy, 85-90 words per minute.
I don't know how fast I type on my keyboard. As a result, I often omit spaces,
or apostrophes, or letters in words. I also selectively use incorrect punctuation
on this forum out of pure laziness sometimes.

If you watch carefully, you'll see that I often substitute ""it's" for "its".
I know that it's means it is and its is the possessive pronoun and signifies ownership,
yet I still do it all the time. I also frequently mistype "interest" as "intrest",
and then there's the whole their, there, they're thing and then you and
you're which you've pointed out below.

They other day, I typed "believeing" instead of "believing".
The other thing I often do is place two periods at the end of the sentence.
I also tend to type my name REbecca, instead of Rebecca because I am
holding the caps key down just a tad too long.
I am aware of all these mistakes, but sometimes I leave them as
I'm trying to resist my impulse to compulsively edit.
On this particular thread, I find myself very distracted by my efforts to
apply my quotes correctly, as I try to preserve your quotes with their
colors, etc. - because I find that to be more accurate. So when I do edit,
it's because I messed up on a quote, and I've been tending to overlook
my spelling and grammar typos- no excuse I know - just the truth.

The word I do misspell consistently is occasion.
I always want to put an i after the a in the second syllable.

Luckily, I actually like using the dictionary,

From my earliest years of literacy,
I have loved falling into n getting lost in good dictionaries.
Thay r like treasure houses, with diamonds, big rubies n emeralds
scattered all around. I can wander n wonder, with full knowledge
that I can freely take as many of the jewels
as I can carry away in my memory,
and I can KEEP those jewels all my life

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and most of the writing I do when I teach is on the board by hand-
so I'm thinking more slowly and carefully and am much more aware
of applying correct spelling, rules of grammar and punctuation.
But thanks for your offer of help.
If you were paying me,
would you also be tempted to give me a raise,
as you were when you tried to convince the sweet secretary you had who
couldn't spell or type to stay on the job?

INELUCTABLY

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Just kidding...
PS - I also tend to omit question marks- all the time, in fact, but I'm aware of that, so in my work, I always go back and check that I've put question marks in the appropriate places.

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You stated that the outcome justified the means.

When, where n how did I say that ?

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I thought you inferred it,

[ Remember the difference between infer n imply.
To infer is to surmise. ]

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if you didn't actually say those words,
when you spoke about his involvement with the Contras in Nicaragua.

Sometimes, it does; during warfare, it ofen does.
We were deeply involved in World War III, at the time.

For instance,
most citizens r complacent n fairly docile about complying
with instructions from the police, in the street,
but if your mother or your child were trapped in a burning building
and police told u to stand idly by and await the arrival of the fire dept.,
u might tend to decide to let authority be damned
and do what u need to DO,
accepting the consequences thereof.

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I feel kind of sad and defeated today,
so I'm not in the mood to talk about your disinterest in the plight of those
facing poverty or inequality, etc. That will just make me sadder.

I hope that u r feeling more victorious now.

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So I'm going to skip over all that stuff -
but if you want to revisit it on another day - feel free to bring it back up,
because I do find it interesting,

Well, the First Amendment being what it is,
feel free to bring it up
at a time of your choosing.




especially this:

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People were treated with dignity n respect
during the 1800s, b4 government fell into liberal perversity.

I usually treat the poor with dignity n respect.[/b][/color]

and this:

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Hence, it is unnecessary to attack my friends.

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But what if your friend is a liberal?

That has actually HAPPENED in real life.

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Your willing to attack their core values and beliefs that make them who they are.

Yes; I have DONE that.
Experience has tawt them to EXPECT IT.

I call it CANDOR.

Maybe u can get more cash.

I'm happy with what I have-

in fact I realize that compared to most other people in the world,
my existence is pretty blessed- in terms of available cash as well as in other aspects.

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That's why I have liberal political and social tendencies.
I realize how much difference a decent start in life can make for a child,
so I wish it was a reality for all children.

That does not justify
ripping off the middle class nor the rich,
to bring that about.

I hate to call it ripping off - but if you want to call it that

- I think it does.

I'd feel better about misappropriated funds going toward a purpose such as this than to a national defense initiative that the majority of citizens have not voted to support.

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We had a commie, during the 1940s n early 50s,
who defended Stalin, extolling Russian communism.
He was a furrier ( capitalist ); I spoke with him a lot;
took care of his dog, Hasty. He still owes me money for that,
but I don 't hold out much hope of seeing it.

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Come on David - doesn't sound like you really need it.

I might not NEED a picture on the wall,
but if I own it, I have a right to KEEP it.

You need to learn to let things go, David.

That was not what the Founders had in mind.

Do you think the founders were infallible?
Do you think what they conceived and drafted was perfection
and left no room to be improved upon or adapted as circumstances
they could not have foreseen arose?

In the 1800s, people had all the dignity n purpose thay wanted,
without stealing the property of the financially successful.[/b][/color]

That would depend, I'm sure, on which population of citizen you were speaking to.
America in the l800's was not the land of freedom and opportunity for everyone David.

If I were impoverished,
I wud not get into robbery, neither directly nor
using government as my weapon.

How can you know
what you would do or who you would become
if your life had been different in any way?

Do you feel grateful for the opportunities life gifted you with,
through no effort of your own?

Would you willingly trade those for a life of grinding hunger and perhaps abuse, along with the knowledge that you will have to work twice as hard for something you see being handed to someone else, simply because of who their father was or what he did?

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I think it's more than that - it takes another step and becomes not just the lack of conservatism, thus liberalism - it becomes active criminal intent.

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I would be interested in your response to this.

Please re-frase the question,
to render it more comprehensible.

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You stated that "liberalism" is a willingness to deviate from conservative or agreed upon standards.
I agree with that. But criminality calls for more than simple willingness to deviate. It calls for active criminal intent.

Neither WILLINGNESS nor INTENT r criminal.
Conduct, in furtherance of that willingness or intent,
can be criminal.

Okay, so not only intent - actual conduct.
That's different than a simple willingness to deviate.

U win some n u lose some.
Thay knew that b4 Nixon was elected President.

I'd be surprised if they had a realistic idea of what dishonesty their father was capable of.

Unless they were as practiced at deception as he was.

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principals.

For your work,
note the spelling here.

I'm a teacher - I say the word "principal" as in the head administrator of a school,

I consider principals administrators-
very few of them continue to teach,

I worked for the HUAC, as a spy,
n I took delight in inflicting sadistic, dirty tricks on local commies.
It was OK with me, personally.[/b][/color]

That sounds kind of frightening.

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Outside of political warfare -do you think it's okay to do?

I suppose bugging ranks with listening at the door
or outside the window

Are those behaviors acceptable in your mind?

I think we could have an interesting discussion around the whole
opulent/hedonistic lifestyle sometime if you're open to it David.
That might fit the philosophy angle a little better.[/color]

No. For two reasons:
1) I have no actual experience with an opulent/hedonistic lifestyle.
I'm a fairly down-to-earth person, and I live a fairly down-to-earth existence.

I think I have some naturally hedonistic tendencies - I enjoy things thoroughly
and like to experience all that I can- but I've never indulged myself to the
extent that that philosophy of enjoyment overshadowed responsibility or
respect for someone else, or my core morals and values,

I wouldn't even know how to approach the subject David.
From what you say is important to you, it would seem that you'd be much better equipped and informed to start the thread and continue it.

2) I don't want to start another thread in which you and I
may end up being the only participants.

I really meant to skip over the political stuff -
but I have to admit I find it irresistably fascinating.

Its difficult to know what someone else knows.
We hardly know one another.

Luckily, I actually like using the dictionary,

and most of the writing I do when I teach is on the board by hand-
so I'm thinking more slowly and carefully and am much more aware
of applying correct spelling, rules of grammar and punctuation.
But thanks for your offer of help.
If you were paying me,
would you also be tempted to give me a raise,
as you were when you tried to convince the sweet secretary you had who
couldn't spell or type to stay on the job?

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You stated that the outcome justified the means.
When, where n how did I say that ?
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I thought you inferred it,
[ Remember the difference between infer n imply.
To infer is to surmise. ]

For instance,
most citizens r complacent n fairly docile about complying
with instructions from the police, in the street,
but if your mother or your child were trapped in a burning building
and police told u to stand idly by and await the arrival of the fire dept.,
u might tend to decide to let authority be damned
and do what u need to DO,
accepting the consequences thereof.[/b][/color]

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I feel kind of sad and defeated today,
so I'm not in the mood to talk about your disinterest in the plight of those
facing poverty or inequality, etc. That will just make me sadder.

I hope that u r feeling more victorious now.

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Maybe u can get more cash.

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I'm happy with what I have-

Thy will be done.
I don 't want u to have more of that unsightly cash
than u prefer.

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That's why I have liberal political and social tendencies.
I realize how much difference a decent start in life can make for a child,
so I wish it was a reality for all children.

That does not justify
ripping off the middle class nor the rich,
to bring that about.

I hate to call it ripping off - but if you want to call it that

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We had a commie, during the 1940s n early 50s,
who defended Stalin, extolling Russian communism.
He was a furrier ( capitalist ); I spoke with him a lot;
took care of his dog, Hasty. He still owes me money for that,
but I don 't hold out much hope of seeing it.

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Come on David - doesn't sound like you really need it.

I might not NEED a picture on the wall,
but if I own it, I have a right to KEEP it.

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You need to learn to let things go, David.

So u think I shud give up
on that dog-sitting debt from 1952, from Comrade Murray ?

That was not what the Founders had in mind.

Do you think the founders were infallible?
Do you think what they conceived and drafted was perfection
and left no room to be improved upon or adapted as circumstances
they could not have foreseen arose?

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In the 1800s, people had all the dignity n purpose thay wanted,
without stealing the property of the financially successful.[/b][/color]

Quote:

That would depend, I'm sure, on which population of citizen you were speaking to.
America in the l800's was not the land of freedom and opportunity for everyone David.

Dignity n purpose come from within.

Quote:

If I were impoverished,
I wud not get into robbery, neither directly nor
using government as my weapon.

Quote:

How can you know
what you would do or who you would become
if your life had been different in any way?

I know my own nature.

quote]
Do you feel grateful for the opportunities life gifted you with,
through no effort of your own?

and buy more tickets to jazz concerts
where bad noises can be expected to be generated.[/b][/color]

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I think it's more than that - it takes another step and becomes not just the lack of conservatism, thus liberalism - it becomes active criminal intent.

Quote:

I would be interested in your response to this.

Please re-frase the question,
to render it more comprehensible.

Quote:

You stated that "liberalism" is a willingness to deviate from conservative or agreed upon standards.
I agree with that. But criminality calls for more than simple willingness to deviate. It calls for active criminal intent.

Neither WILLINGNESS nor INTENT r criminal.
Conduct, in furtherance of that willingness or intent,
can be criminal.

Quote:

Okay, so not only intent - actual conduct.
That's different than a simple willingness to deviate.

Yes

Quote:

U win some n u lose some.
Thay knew that b4 Nixon was elected President.

Quote:

I'd be surprised if they had a realistic idea of what dishonesty their father was capable of.

I know that Julie continues to support
her father 's position. I saw her on TV.
She denounced John Dean 's disloyalty n discredited him.

Unless they were as practiced at deception as he was.

Quote:

Quote:

principals.

For your work,
note the spelling here.

Quote:

I'm a teacher - I say the word "principal" as in the head administrator of a school,

or the principal teacher thereof ( in theory )

I consider principals administrators-
very few of them continue to teach,

Quote:

I worked for the HUAC, as a spy,
n I took delight in inflicting sadistic, dirty tricks on local commies.
It was OK with me, personally.[/b][/color]

Quote:

That sounds kind of frightening.

It was to the commies.[/color[/quote]
It's frightening that you enjoyed being sadistic to anyone David. That's why I'd be hesitant to give you my e-mail as Snood suggested, (not that you've asked for it ) so we could communicate privately without boring anyone else. I sometimes detect a little bit of sadistic glee in some of the things you say. Although I also detect an undercurrent of real kindness and polite concern- so you're very, very hard to figure out. And as we've already discussed, I tend to be too trusting, so I realize I'm often the butt of little sadistic jokes that some people on internet forums like to play. But the real joke is - that I realize I'm the butt of the joke - and so it kind of almost becomes my joke sometimes- you know what I mean? But rest assured - I'm not sadistic. Even if you are playing a joke on me, I accept that and I still enjoy talking to you. That really says something...
I just want you to know that the characteristics I enjoy most about you are the kind of over the top outrageousness you display in your thoughts and opinions sometimes, your very dry humor, and your obvious intelligence. I also wanted to tell you that if you did come to my house for dinner - you'd have to leave your gun at home - and I'd have to check all those pockets in your custom tailored English vested suits before I'd let you in the door.
I'd also feel intimidated cooking for you, as it sounds like you're used to gourmet faire- although you did say you like potato salad, and I make a killer potato salad. In fact, I can make either of two types - a warm German potato salad, or a more traditional southern style American potato salad. They're both delicious (so I've been told).


[quote][quote][quote]Outside of political warfare -do you think it's okay to do?

Are those behaviors acceptable in your mind?

quote]No. For two reasons:
1) I have no actual experience with an opulent/hedonistic lifestyle.
I'm a fairly down-to-earth person, and I live a fairly down-to-earth existence.

I think I have some naturally hedonistic tendencies - I enjoy things thoroughly
and like to experience all that I can- but I've never indulged myself to the
extent that that philosophy of enjoyment overshadowed responsibility or
respect for someone else, or my core morals and values,

Quote:

I wouldn't even know how to approach the subject David.
From what you say is important to you, it would seem that you'd be much better equipped and informed to start the thread and continue it.

I think I'd have some of my preconceived notions debunked.

Quote:

2) I don't want to start another thread in which you and I
may end up being the only participants.

That can happen in any thread wherein
others stop participating.

Snood 's posting was foolish n devoid of logic.
That vu of posting wud require all posters to flee
from a thread, whenever its posters fell below some
unspecified number; ( maybe 3 ? ). Nonsense. I can 't take that seriously.

Quote:

I really meant to skip over the political stuff -
but I have to admit I find it irresistably fascinating.

Understood.
It has to do with basic considerations of right n rong.
David

Quote:

Its difficult to know what someone else knows.
We hardly know one another.

Quote:

I know. That fact was brought home to me this week when I had no idea where you'd gone, or if maybe something had happened to you and I would have no way of knowing what.

I had a slite cold, n after some work, I felt very, very sleepy n tired.

Quote:

That's the hardest thing for me to deal with on this forum.
I talk to people and I feel connected to them in one way or another,
whether or not they feel connected to me at all (a friend of mine said
that I could bond with a doorknob - not that I'm comparing you to a
doorknob- but you know what I mean) and then I realize, I might never hear from them again.
And I won't know what happened or whether they're alright, etc.

I remember about 30 years ago, one of my clients hired a clerk
and over the weekend the weather swept his car off of a bridge
and he drowned in a river. Then on Abuzz, we had a few reported casualites.

Quote:

It's hard to explain. I don't want to make you feel beholden, because of course you're not, but if you ever do just take off - please just shoot me a pm, so I'll know you're healthy and okay.

OK
I travel a lot,
attending a lot of conventions, NRA, Mensa, IANDS,
2nd Amendment Foundation, Cosmology, as well as other vacations.

A couple of years ago,
I thought I might be having a heart attack
and I abruptly disappeared into a hospital for a while.
It turned out that my heart was good n strong,
with good blood presure, tho I needed surgery
for an intestinal obstruction.
Thank u for your concern for my well being.

Quote:

(What can I say- I'm a mother - I worry about everyone).

Quote:

Luckily, I actually like using the dictionary,

From my earliest years of literacy,
I have loved falling into n getting lost in good dictionaries.
Thay r like treasure houses, with diamonds, big rubies n emeralds
scattered all around. I can wander n wonder, with full knowledge
that I can freely take as many of the jewels
as I can carry away in my memory,
and I can KEEP those jewels all my life

I know what you mean. I also like pouring over maps.

Quote:
Quote:
You stated that the outcome justified the means.
When, where n how did I say that ?
Quote:
I thought you inferred it,
[ Remember the difference between infer n imply.
To infer is to surmise. ]

Right, I inferred that you implied it. Damn David - you're always right.
I did laugh really hard at that though and I can't make any excuse.
You're just smarter than I am and more accurate, and quicker thinking and better informed around politics, and as I already said, better educated in general. That explains why I like talking to you - I always learn something. But

it makes me wonder why you continue to talk to me...

I thought you implied it in our discussion about Ronald Reagan and his aid to the contras.

Quote:

I feel kind of sad and defeated today,
so I'm not in the mood to talk about your disinterest in the plight of those
facing poverty or inequality, etc. That will just make me sadder.

I hope that u r feeling more victorious now.

No, not victorious. But definitely better- and anything is better than sad and defeated.
I have routines that keep my emotions on an even keel and when I drop them, I really feel the repercussions. It'd been so dreary and rainy that I hadn't taken a walk in weeks,

so I forced myself to do that this week-end (the weather happened to improve as well- I'm sure that had something to do with me feeling somewhat more encouraged about things) and I immediately felt my spirits lifting somewhat.
I read a study in which researchers compared the effects of a thirty minute walk three times a week and a daily dose of Prozac. They found that the walks proved to be more beneficial in terms of promoting a feeling of happiness or well-being.
Do you have routines that keep you on an even keel (besides the occasional valium)?

Quote:

Maybe u can get more cash.

Quote:

I'm happy with what I have-

Thy will be done.
I don 't want u to have more of that unsightly cash
than u prefer.

Why did you say,
"Maybe u can get more cash" in the first place?
What were we talking about?

Quote:

That's why I have liberal political and social tendencies.
I realize how much difference a decent start in life can make for a child,
so I wish it was a reality for all children.

That does not justify
ripping off the middle class nor the rich,
to bring that about.

I hate to call it ripping off - but if you want to call it that

Okay- but why is that the philosophy of the robber when a liberal does it for his or her purposes, but the philosophy of a freedom fighter when someone like Ronald Reagan does it?

Quote:

Quote:

We had a commie, during the 1940s n early 50s,
who defended Stalin, extolling Russian communism.
He was a furrier ( capitalist ); I spoke with him a lot;
took care of his dog, Hasty. He still owes me money for that,
but I don 't hold out much hope of seeing it.

Quote:

Come on David - doesn't sound like you really need it.

I might not NEED a picture on the wall,
but if I own it, I have a right to KEEP it.

Quote:

You need to learn to let things go, David.

So u think I shud give up
on that dog-sitting debt from 1952, from Comrade Murray ?

At this point, it probably makes sense to.

OK

Were you born during the Depression by any chance?

That was not what the Founders had in mind.

Do you think the founders were infallible?
Do you think what they conceived and drafted was perfection
and left no room to be improved upon or adapted as circumstances
they could not have foreseen arose?

David, what do you think of this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2496005,00.html

Quote:

In the 1800s, people had all the dignity n purpose thay wanted,
without stealing the property of the financially successful.[/b][/color]

Quote:

That would depend, I'm sure, on which population of citizen you were speaking to.
America in the l800's was not the land of freedom and opportunity for everyone David.

Dignity n purpose come from within.

Yes, and can be stripped from without.

Are you saying that a slave in the l800's was given the opportunity to retain the dignity

and purpose he or she was able to muster up from within him or herself?

Quote:

If I were impoverished,
I wud not get into robbery, neither directly nor
using government as my weapon.

Quote:

How can you know
what you would do or who you would become
if your life had been different in any way?

I know my own nature.

I know my own nature too, and though I'm honest,
I'm unable to keep myself from rebelling against what I know to be unfair.
I think you're probably very similar.
You've definitely exhibited a rebellious streak.
You've even spoken on this post about rebelling against authority
when it goes against your common or better sense of what is right or wrong.

I bet if you were directly affected by poverty,
your thoughts about how or why that was true and what to do about it
would be very different than what they are now.

quote]
Do you feel grateful for the opportunities life gifted you with,
through no effort of your own?

Your father or mother or grandparents for working hard and being successful at whatever it was they did which ensured that you were born into a comfortable home so that your energy and efforts could be directed at something other than simple survival.

and buy more tickets to jazz concerts
where bad noises can be expected to be generated.[/b][/color]

You don't like jazz?

When jazz is bad - it's the most annoying - but when it's good -
I don't think there's any music quite like it.

To each his own though.

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I think it's more than that - it takes another step and becomes not just the lack of conservatism, thus liberalism -
it becomes active criminal intent.

Quote:

I would be interested in your response to this.

Please re-frase the question,
to render it more comprehensible.

Quote:

You stated that "liberalism" is a willingness to deviate from conservative or agreed upon standards.
I agree with that. But criminality calls for more than simple willingness to deviate. It calls for active criminal intent.

Neither WILLINGNESS nor INTENT r criminal.
Conduct, in furtherance of that willingness or intent,
can be criminal.

Quote:

Okay, so not only intent - actual conduct.
That's different than a simple willingness to deviate.

Yes

So although a person may have liberal tendencies,
that does not automatically make them a criminal -
which is what I believe you IMPLIED.

Quote:

U win some n u lose some.
Thay knew that b4 Nixon was elected President.

Quote:

I'd be surprised if they had a realistic idea of what dishonesty their father was capable of.

I know that Julie continues to support
her father 's position. I saw her on TV.
She denounced John Dean 's disloyalty n discredited him.

That's denial.

She's either very proud,

or really, really loved her Dad.

Quote:

Quote:

principals.

For your work,
note the spelling here.

Quote:

I'm a teacher - I say the word "principal" as in the head administrator of a school,

or the principal teacher thereof ( in theory )

I consider principals administrators-
very few of them continue to teach,

I understand that,
but I recall a teacher explaining to the class
the conceptual n orthografic distinctions
of principle n principal,
during which he mentioned its origin as having been
from " the principal teacher. "

Again, you're correct (in theory). I guess that's why they still call them Head Teachers over here

- although again- very few of them have done any teaching in years.
They should probably come up with a more accurate title.

Quote:

I worked for the HUAC, as a spy,
n I took delight in inflicting sadistic, dirty tricks on local commies.
It was OK with me, personally.[/b][/color]

Quote:

That sounds kind of frightening.

It was to the commies.

It's frightening that you enjoyed being sadistic to anyone David.

That's why I'd be hesitant to give you my e-mail as Snood suggested,
(not that you've asked for it )
so we could communicate privately without boring anyone else.

I sometimes detect a little bit of sadistic glee in some of the things you say.

Although I also detect an undercurrent of real kindness and polite concern-
so you're very, very hard to figure out.

Quote:

And as we've already discussed, I tend to be too trusting,

I 've endeavored to discourage that.

Quote:

so I realize I'm often the butt of little sadistic jokes that some people on internet forums

[ shud that be fora ? ]

Quote:

like to play. But the real joke is - that I realize I'm the butt of the joke - and so it kind of almost becomes my joke sometimes- you know what I mean? But rest assured - I'm not sadistic. Even if you are playing a joke on me, I accept that and I still enjoy talking to you. That really says something...
I just want you to know that the characteristics I enjoy most about you are the kind of over the top outrageousness you display in your thoughts and opinions sometimes, your very dry humor, and your obvious intelligence.

Thank u

Quote:

I also wanted to tell you that if you did come to my house for dinner -
you'd have to leave your gun at home

Which gun ?

Quote:

- and I'd have to check all those pockets
in your custom tailored English vested suits before I'd let you in the door.

I am reminded of one Dion O 'Banion, a rich Irish tennor and
well-to-do florist of Chicago.
He was well known to always have a smile for everyone,
n brite blue eyes. His hobby was leading the Northside Gang,
which was at war with the Southside Gang, lead by Johnny Torrio,
who was annoyed with Mr. O 'Banion
since he swindled Torrio out of $500,000 in May of 1924.

Mr. O 'Banion believed in being well prepared.
Accordingly, he had his tailor install pockets for each of his 3 guns.

Unfortunately, he was so injudicious as to let word get out
of the architecture of his attire, in violation of the principle
that matters of personal security shud best be kept confidential.

Anyway, on Nov. 10, 1924, Johnny Torrio sent 3 representatives
to Mr. O 'Banion 's flower shop,
of whom Frankie Yale politely shook Mr. O 'Banion 's hand,
but wud not let go,
while his companions took Mr. O 'Banion 's flank,
effecting remote ( tho unauthorized ) surgery upon him,
bringing his floral career to an abrupt conclusion.

Quote:

Quote:

I'd also feel intimidated cooking for you, as it sounds like you're used to gourmet faire- although you did say you like potato salad, and I make a killer potato salad. In fact, I can make either of two types - a warm German potato salad, or a more traditional southern style American potato salad. They're both delicious (so I've been told).

Sounds good; next time I 'm in England, I 'll let u know.

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Outside of political warfare -do you think it's okay to do?

I suppose bugging ranks with listening at the door
or outside the window

Quote:

Are those behaviors acceptable in your mind?

I do not practice them.

I'm happy to hear that.

Quote:

When I was an Anti-communist spy,
that was the essence of my function.[/b][/color]

Quote:

You've had quite an exciting life David.
I'm just glad you made it out safe and sound.

Thank u.
It was loathsome, associating with those communists.

Quote:

What did you think about what happened to Alexander Litvinenko? I read what his widow had to say about it. It sounds as if she was a little uninformed about her husband's doings. I'd guess it was for her own safety though. Putin is sounding scarier and scarier, if what we've been reading in the western press is to be believed.

He was the head of the KGB;
I guess old habits die hard.
Do u know that he speaks PERFECT colloquial English ?
As to be indistinguishable from any American ?

Quote:

quote]No. For two reasons:
1) I have no actual experience with an opulent/hedonistic lifestyle.
I'm a fairly down-to-earth person, and I live a fairly down-to-earth existence.

That is where we have most of our opulent/hedonistic lifestyle
( tho we HAVE ascended into the celestia vault in hot air balloons
[ and in jets ] )

See, that was funny.

Quote:

I think I have some naturally hedonistic tendencies - I enjoy things thoroughly
and like to experience all that I can- but I've never indulged myself to the
extent that that philosophy of enjoyment overshadowed responsibility or
respect for someone else, or my core morals and values,

That did not happen to me, neither.

Quote:

I hope you didn't INFER that I meant you either didn't have appropriate morals or that you compromised them to follow your hedonistic bliss. I wasn't IMPLYING that at all.

OK

Quote:

It would be an interesting philosophical discussion to address how one reconciles hedonism with casting a vote for a President who advocates an almost puritanical return to fundamental religious morals and values in our secular society.

I was terrorized into doing it,
by the Democratic Party.

Quote:

2) I don't want to start another thread in which you and I
may end up being the only participants.

That can happen in any thread wherein
others stop participating.

Snood 's posting was foolish n devoid of logic.
That vu of posting wud require all posters to flee
from a thread, whenever its posters fell below some
unspecified number; ( maybe 3 ? ). Nonsense. I can 't take that seriously.

I don't really either- especially since he first said that he was just kidding. It makes it hard to know what to believe - as I stated.

I do however take seriously the fact that it makes me uncomfortable to feel that I'm annoying other people, and hard to enjoy what I'm doing. And again, I think that's a more typically female or feminine trait.

The other point you need to recognize David, is that as we discussed before, women are given much less freedom to talk about certain subjects than men. If the subject of hedonism veered toward the sexual

- it wouldn't matter how theoretically or matter of factly I approached it - I'd be looked at differently (read: in a derogatory fashion) than if you were to approach the same subject matter. I've had that experience, and it isn't something I'd like to repeat- because it isn't accurate when applied to me - and it also depresses the hell out of me that it's 2006 and such judgemental and repressive attitudes toward women are still in evidence.

But if you want to talk about it here - I'll participate in the discussion. As I said, I'd find it interesting.

Quote:

I really meant to skip over the political stuff -
but I have to admit I find it irresistably fascinating.

Understood.
It has to do with basic considerations of right n rong.
David

Exactly. Hope you have a good day- it's raining cats and dogs here.

OmSigDAVID wrote:

aidan wrote:

Quote:

Its difficult to know what someone else knows.
We hardly know one another.

Quote:

I know. That fact was brought home to me this week when I had no idea where you'd gone, or if maybe something had happened to you and I would have no way of knowing what.

I had a slite cold, n after some work, I felt very, very sleepy n tired.

I hope you're feeling better.

Quote:

I remember about 30 years ago, one of my clients hired a clerk
and over the weekend the weather swept his car off of a bridge
and he drowned in a river. Then on Abuzz, we had a few reported casualites.

That's what I mean- the fact is in this world it's easy come, easy go and I at least like to know what the heck happens to people I enjoy having spoken to or have known in one way or another.

Quote:

Quote:

It's hard to explain. I don't want to make you feel beholden, because of course you're not, but if you ever do just take off - please just shoot me a pm, so I'll know you're healthy and okay.

OK

Thank you- and I'll do the same for you.

Quote:

I travel a lot,
attending a lot of conventions, NRA, Mensa, IANDS,
2nd Amendment Foundation, Cosmology, as well as other vacations.

Everytime you write cosmology - I think you've written it a couple of other times - I initially read it as cosmetology and I think to myself, "Geez, David is such a well-rounded guy- so many varied interests", and then I realize it's the cosmology, not cosmetology. Little things like that amuse me. I laughed for about five minutes picturing this guy in tailored suits moonlighting as a beautician after his day in court.

*Oh, and by the way, I keep wanting to correct some of your spelling, now that you're not so obviously or consistently doing the phonetic thing. I'm resisting the impulse though.

What's your favorite vacation spot?
I have a chance to go to Tibet in the summer. I went to this kind of hippie alternative college when I was young -for me, it was a perfect fit because I met all different kinds of people who were out of the scope of my usual experiences and acquaintances up to that point and really had my horizons expanded. Anyway, I'm still very involved with a lot of the people and activities there and they're sponsoring a trip to Tibet next June
which will be led by one of the professors of religion. I'm really, really tempted to go, except that I don't know if I want to spend two weeks away from my kids-I've never done that before. What do you think? Have you ever been to Tibet?

Quote:

A couple of years ago,
I thought I might be having a heart attack
and I abruptly disappeared into a hospital for a while.
It turned out that my heart was good n strong,
with good blood presure, tho I needed surgery
for an intestinal obstruction.
Thank u for your concern for my well being.[/b][/color]

You're welcome. I'm glad to hear your cardiovascular health is in order. That's important. I know intestinal obstructions can be very painful and dangerous though. That must have been quite a scary ordeal.

Quote:

Yeah; I look at the maps thay show us in flite on JetBlue.

What is JetBlue?

Quote:

it makes me wonder why you continue to talk to me...

U r a nice person,
with a nice personality

Quote:

I thought you implied it in our discussion about Ronald Reagan and his aid to the contras.

1. Under the Constitution, he was in charge of creating n implimenting American foreign policy.
I c nothing in the Constitution that prevented him from clever,
and innovative financing of the Anti-communist war effort in Nicaragua,
regardless of what the Democratic Congress wanted.

2. As a greater man than I, has pointed out:
" In war, there is no substitute for victory. "

He merely out-THOUGHT, out-reasoned n out-manuvered
his liberal Democratic adversaries in Congress.[/b][/color]

I have no valium and no Rx therefor.
I have not taken valium for several decades.

If I feel a little down, I mentally savor the demise of communism
and that cheers me up. I also believe that reality is like an onion
whose layers can be peeled away; that the universe is painted in 2 colors:
truth and illusion, and that truth is defined by its beauty.
I can focus my attention on that.[/b][/color]

I believe that u uttered some negative statement qua
your possession of wealth.

( Note, incidentally, that my reference to robbery,
or [ less violently ] to larceny,
does not imply that I call for harsh punishment
for all thieves. My vu on this point has been
heterogeneous n disparate.

My memory goes back some 15 or 20 years
to a situation wherein I had thrown some dimes, quarters,
half dollars n silver dollars to some children upstate NY,
where I 've gone to see some friends.
It was like an Easter Egg hunt in the grass, without the eggs,
using cash instead. Some of their parents watch the coin distribution
and subsequent thereto, help their children hunt for undetected coins.
[ I suppose that in England, thay throw the children shillings, crowns and quids. ]

One boy was downcast in melancholy at the loss of his cupful of coins.
Strong suspicion fell upon another boy;
[ thay were, give or take, around 11 years old ].
I gave the victim $25 to assuage his feelings of loss
and his emotions were rehabilitated.

As to the suspected perpetrator,
I did not even mention it. I know his parents fairly well.
His mother is an R.N. [ pretty girl ]
and his father is the manager of a supermarket. Nice people.
I thereafter continued to throw coins to him,
as well as to the other ambient children,
my point being
that vengeance need not always be served, if I don 't feel like it. )[/b][/color]

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

We had a commie, during the 1940s n early 50s,
who defended Stalin, extolling Russian communism.
He was a furrier ( capitalist ); I spoke with him a lot;
took care of his dog, Hasty. He still owes me money for that,
but I don 't hold out much hope of seeing it.

Quote:

Come on David - doesn't sound like you really need it.

I might not NEED a picture on the wall,
but if I own it, I have a right to KEEP it.

Quote:

You need to learn to let things go, David.

So u think I shud give up
on that dog-sitting debt from 1952, from Comrade Murray ?

Quote:

At this point, it probably makes sense to.

Quote:

OK

Quote:

Were you born during the Depression by any chance?

I was not depressed

Quote:

David, what do you think of this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2496005,00.html

The statute in question is unconstitutional.
Congress endeavors to infringe upon the constitutional rights
of American citizens. It cannot constitutionally do that,
without offering an amendment which 75% of the States will ratify.

If a citizen were treated as Padilla is alleged to have been treated,
that wud violate the Constitution.

It will be interesting to c how the USSC will respond,
when presented with a case.

quote]
Dignity n purpose come from within.

Yes, and can be stripped from without.

Quote:

Are you saying that a slave in the l800's was given the opportunity to retain the dignity

Yes; dignity is conceptual n subjective.

He may well have had his purposes frustrated.

Quote:

I bet if you were directly affected by poverty,
your thoughts about how or why that was true and what to do about it
would be very different than what they are now.

U lose the bet.

Witness the fact that many citizens had their financial circumstances
drasticly reduced in the 1930s, yet America was not plunged into
a crime wave ( other than the one engendered by the Prohibition of the 1920s, until 1933 ).
The citizens had better character than to reduce themselves to criminals.

Quote:

quote]
Do you feel grateful for the opportunities life gifted you with,
through no effort of your own?

Grateful to whom ?

Your father or mother or grandparents for working hard and being successful at whatever it was they did which ensured that you were born into a comfortable home so that your energy and efforts could be directed at something other than simple survival.

Quote:

When jazz is bad - it's the most annoying - but when it's good -
I don't think there's any music quite like it.

I 'll admit that its unique; in a negative way.

Quote:

To each his own though.

Yeah

Quote:

Quote:

U win some n u lose some.
Thay knew that b4 Nixon was elected President.

Quote:

I'd be surprised if they had a realistic idea of what dishonesty their father was capable of.

I know that Julie continues to support
her father 's position. I saw her on TV.
She denounced John Dean 's disloyalty n discredited him.

Quote:

That's denial.

She believes that denial is historically justified.

Quote:

She's either very proud,

HOw many daughters have their fathers elected President:
the most powerful man in the world ?

Quote:

or really, really loved her Dad.

By reason of paucity of information,
I cannot address the state of her emotions.

Because thay teach heads ?

Quote:

I worked for the HUAC, as a spy,
n I took delight in inflicting sadistic, dirty tricks on local commies.
It was OK with me, personally.[/b][/color]

Quote:

That sounds kind of frightening.

It was to the commies.

It's frightening that you enjoyed being sadistic to anyone David.

Quote:

I sometimes detect a little bit of sadistic glee in some of the things you say.

[ Twinkle ]

Quote:

Although I also detect an undercurrent of real kindness and polite concern-
so you're very, very hard to figure out.

In warfare, realism is a valuable component of success.

That includes wreaking a sufficient degradation of your enemy 's
combative ability as to make the world safe for u ( the good guy ).
I cud not count the movies or TV shows wherein
the liberal male lead, defeats the bad guy in mortal combat,
only to have him arise again in combat,
because the good guy did not finish the job.

UNrealism rankles me, for the illogic ( the suicidal illogic ) of it;
( such as putting the well being of your enemy b4 your own ).

This was fatally manifested in a nature show I saw on HDTV
a few weeks ago; ( do thay have HDTV in England ? ).

A large, heavy old bull water buffalo was set upon by a pride of lions.
He fled ; thay pursued.
He stood little chance of outrunning the relatively lite wate lions.
Thay all stood looking at one another.
This was not in the old bull 's best interest.
Thay pounced on him n had fresh buffalo steak for dinner,
the point being that his best n ONLY chance for survival
lay in aggressively COUNTERATTACKING,
by goring them, or by delivering lethally powerful kicks
to the head, from his hind hooves.
His torpor led to his demise; pacifism can bring bad luck ( like being devoured by your enemies ).

I felt a need for America 's leaders to be AWARE of that during the last World War.[/b][/color]

Quote:

And as we've already discussed, I tend to be too trusting,

I 've endeavored to discourage that.

Quote:

so I realize I'm often the butt of little sadistic jokes that some people on internet forums

[ shud that be fora ? ]

I just want you to know that the characteristics I enjoy most about you are the kind of over the top outrageousness you display in your thoughts and opinions sometimes, your very dry humor, and your obvious intelligence.

Quote:

I also wanted to tell you that if you did come to my house for dinner -
you'd have to leave your gun at home

Which gun ?

Anyway, on Nov. 10, 1924, Johnny Torrio sent 3 representatives
to Mr. O 'Banion 's flower shop,
of whom Frankie Yale politely shook Mr. O 'Banion 's hand,
but wud not let go,
while his companions took Mr. O 'Banion 's flank,
effecting remote ( tho unauthorized ) surgery upon him,
bringing his floral career to an abrupt conclusion.[/b][/color]

Sounds good; next time I 'm in England, I 'll let u know.

He was the head of the KGB;
I guess old habits die hard.
Do u know that he speaks PERFECT colloquial English ?
As to be indistinguishable from any American ?

Quote:

It would be an interesting philosophical discussion to address how one reconciles hedonism with casting a vote for a President who advocates an almost puritanical return to fundamental religious morals and values in our secular society.

I was terrorized into doing it,
by the Democratic Party.

I do however take seriously the fact that it makes me uncomfortable to feel that I'm annoying other people, and hard to enjoy what I'm doing. And again, I think that's a more typically female or feminine trait.

The SIG that I founded gets into RGs,
not into orgies.

Quote:

- it wouldn't matter how theoretically or matter of factly I approached it - I'd be looked at differently (read: in a derogatory fashion) than if you were to approach the same subject matter. I've had that experience, and it isn't something I'd like to repeat- because it isn't accurate when applied to me - and it also depresses the hell out of me that it's 2006 and such judgemental and repressive attitudes toward women are still in evidence.

I believe in counterattacking, when appropriate.

Its relatively warm n dry here.
David

P.S.:
By way of clarification,
I shud add that World Wars I, II, n III
r over; hence it is unnecessary to continue
aggressive PRACTICES against the nazis,
Japs, or commies ( tho one might be tempted to slip in an occasional
verbal needle, to those who continue moral support of evil ).

Quote:

David - I've been from the southern tip of Cornwall all the way up to the Scottish Highlands
in the north, primarily along the western coast.

I like the Scotch accent,
but the English accents ( including Cockney ) get on my nerves.

During the last century, I went for a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II.
Thay had many very young Irish boys ( 13 or 14 ) as crew.
When I asked for directions, thay made very earnest efforts
to help me out, but between their Irish accents
and their use of nautical abreviations, I had very great,
and time consuming, difficulty in figuring out what thay were saying.


What do u think of the accents ?

Quote:

I've traveled extensively throughout southern England and through Wales
and the midlands and the Lake District , Cumbria, etc.
I haven't explored the eastern part of the country as much.
I'm thinking about going to Yorkshire and Northumbria for a few days
while my daughter is off from school and I'm off from work during the Christmas vacation.
I really love the moors in the winter,

Did thay go to England after thay were driven out of Spain,
in Columbus' time ?

Quote:

and it will be quieter (in terms of tourists, etc.)
I'll have to see if I can talk her into it.

Child or adult ?

Quote:

She might get bored away from her friends with just me for company,
and she might get sick of walking, but I know I won't..

Does she prefer cabs ?

When I am out of NYC, I take a lot of cabs, to get around;
( come to think of it, I take a lot of cabs to get around within NYC ).

Quote:

I've traveled in between Somerset and London numerous times-
so I've seen a lot of the sights along that route,

What were thay ?

Quote:

and I actually feel that I am becoming familiar enough with London
to find my way around without becoming hopelessly lost -
certainly more so than NYC.

What do u think of the FOOD ?
Have u found any good restaurants ?

Quote:

Wiltshire is a beautiful county.
I love the countryside around there very gentle and less forested than Somerset.
Parts of it (especially the vast acreage of tilled fields) remind me of the plains states in the US.

I've taken the Eurotunnel over to the European continent twice instead of flying.
I like to drive so I can see stuff on the way to places, but it's always a struggle
to get everyone to agree to do that. But since both times we drove,
we took the tunnel and not the ferry,

I have enjoyed ferries;
the Staten Island Ferry, and
the Star Ferry between Hong Kong n Kowloon.

Quote:

I haven't seen much of the southeastern or eastern coasts of England -
which I understand are stunning - so that's something I'd like to do.
Someone told me that there are these cool prehistoric fossils
on the beach around Poole, which isn't too far from me,
so I'm planning to make a trip down there to see if I can find some.

There might be some in Devon,
from the Devonian Period, of the Paleozoic Era; u think ?

Quote:

I tend to enjoy seeing natural/landscape/geological sites

What do u look for at the geological sites ?
What is your favorite geological site ?

Quote:

more so than cathedrals or castles, although I have to say,
I've seen some of those that have absolutely amazed me.

Which were the best of those ?

Quote:

I'm really excited about seeing the ruins of castles that are supposedly everywhere in Northumbria.

I have been to Stratford on Avon - and to see a lot of the other famous sights
that everyone thinks of when they think of England.

Have u an opinion as to the controversy
of who wrote the works of William Shakespeare ?

Quote:

It's hard to explain, but I think the most exciting and satisfying thing to do
is just to set out in the morning and let yourself take roads you've never been down, etc.

U shud take a lot of cash with u,
just to be safe; do thay accept American cash in England ?
I 've observed that thay lunge for it,
in other countries that I 've visited.

Quote:

You'd be amazed at what you can see that isn't highlighted in the guide books.
Everywhere you look, you see something more beautiful than what you'd expected,
or what you were originally on your way to see.

What is the most beautiful thing that u have found, by this method, Rebecca ?

Quote:

The trouble is you could live here for years and never feel that you've seen all you want to see. I know it seems like a small country, but there are just incredible and beautiful sights at every turn. Even the smallest village may have some historically relevant church or prehistoric burial mound, etc. I think it's impossible to ever feel that you've seen everything- even if you live here your entire life.

I'm so sad to think of leaving.
But I know I'll be back- maybe even to live at some point.
Coming here was the most enriching thing I've ever done in my life.

What was the very most enriching aspect of it ?
Your favorite ?

Quote:

It's opened up a whole new world to me.

That is deeply interesting.

A world is a sphere of consciousness.
There r many trillions of worlds on this planet.

In the last century,
I observed that my Golden Retriever, Mike,
had too many giant bowls of water strewn around
the rear patio, so I moved one of them over to the top
of a low shed, to get it out of the way.

A few months later,
as I passed thru my driveway,
my glance chanced to fall into that bowl.
I observed that some leaves had fallen in
from my maple trees, and the bowl was now
INHABITED. There were thriving societies of bugs,
contentedly swimming around in there.
As I contemplated the bowl,
it occurred to me that it was the entirety of all that thay knew.
Did the citizens thereof entertain controversies
qua the possibility of life beyond the confines of the bowl ?

If thay had a Space Program,
it wud be to get out of the bowl.

If thay had a creation myth,
it wud be of me carrying the bowl
to the top of the shed.

Quote:

*I don't think I've been through Devonshire.
I'll have to look on a map to see exactly where it is. I'm not very good
about noting every county I go through. I tend to know the names of the counties
I travel through regularly, and not the others. And since I've been working,
I haven't been sight-seeing as much, so I've been traveling
the same roads over and over lately.

Hope you're well - Rebecca

Thank u, Rebecca, and I hope that U r even BETTER !
David

I like the Scotch accent,
but the English accents ( including Cockney ) get on my nerves. What do u think of the accents ?

During the last century, I went for a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II.
Thay had many very young Irish boys ( 13 or 14 ) as crew.
When I asked for directions, thay made very earnest efforts
to help me out, but between their Irish accents
and their use of nautical abreviations, I had very great,
and time consuming, difficulty in figuring out what thay were saying.

Did thay go to England after thay were driven out of Spain,
in Columbus' time ?

and it will be quieter (in terms of tourists, etc.)
I'll have to see if I can talk her into it.

She might get bored away from her friends with just me for company,
and she might get sick of walking, but I know I won't..

I've traveled in between Somerset and London numerous times-
so I've seen a lot of the sights along that route,

What do u think of the FOOD ?
Have u found any good restaurants ?

Wiltshire is a beautiful county.
I love the countryside around there very gentle and less forested than Somerset.
Parts of it (especially the vast acreage of tilled fields) remind me of the plains states in the US.

I've taken the Eurotunnel over to the European continent twice instead of flying.
I like to drive so I can see stuff on the way to places, but it's always a struggle
to get everyone to agree to do that. But since both times we drove,
we took the tunnel and not the ferry,

Someone told me that there are these cool prehistoric fossils
on the beach around Poole, which isn't too far from me,
so I'm planning to make a trip down there to see if I can find some.

I tend to enjoy seeing natural/landscape/geological sites

more so than cathedrals or castles, although I have to say,
I've seen some of those that have absolutely amazed me.

Have u an opinion as to the controversy
of who wrote the works of William Shakespeare ?

Quote:

It's hard to explain, but I think the most exciting and satisfying thing to do
is just to set out in the morning and let yourself take roads you've never been down, etc.

U shud take a lot of cash with u,
just to be safe; do thay accept American cash in England ?
I 've observed that thay lunge for it,
in other countries that I 've visited.

Quote:

You'd be amazed at what you can see that isn't highlighted in the guide books.
Everywhere you look, you see something more beautiful than what you'd expected,
or what you were originally on your way to see.

What is the most beautiful thing that u have found, by this method, Rebecca ?

quote]
What was the very most enriching aspect of it ?
Your favorite ?

Quote:

It's opened up a whole new world to me.

That is deeply interesting.

A world is a sphere of consciousness.
There r many trillions of worlds on this planet.

In the last century,
I observed that my Golden Retriever, Mike,
had too many giant bowls of water strewn around
the rear patio, so I moved one of them over to the top
of a low shed, to get it out of the way.

A few months later,
as I passed thru my driveway,
my glance chanced to fall into that bowl.
I observed that some leaves had fallen in
from my maple trees, and the bowl was now
INHABITED. There were thriving societies of bugs,
contentedly swimming around in there.
As I contemplated the bowl,
it occurred to me that it was the entirety of all that thay knew.
Did the citizens thereof entertain controversies
qua the possibility of life beyond the confines of the bowl ?

If thay had a Space Program,
it wud be to get out of the bowl.

If thay had a creation myth,
it wud be of me carrying the bowl
to the top of the shed.

Quote:

I like the Scotch accent,
but the English accents ( including Cockney ) get on my nerves.
What do u think of the accents ?

Quote:

Interesting. A thick Scottish burr sounds a little tortured to my ear - so many of the words seem to involve extra syllables and really kind of twisty tongue movements that I would find hard to reproduce and understand.
I like many of the English accents I've heard, in fact now that I'm surrounded by English accents,
when I hear certain American accents,
they sound flat and nasal and grating to my ear.

When your children speak to u,
do thay sound flat ?

Quote:

I think English men sound patient and thoughtful compared to American men,

I 've read of English girls complaining,
that, in contrast to Americans,
their boyfriends r more abrupt, inconsiderate n demanding:
( " Get in the car ! " an attitude that I, for one,
have never manifested in addressing a lady ).

Quote:

and English women sound very clipped
and efficient compared to American women.

That accent, or maner of speech,
seems very cold n hard, to me; stiff upper lip.

Quote:

I always feel like I'm speaking in slow motion compared to English women.

I can think of a certain chief judge, of Puerto Rican extraction,
who speaks too fast; reminiscent of an automatic weapon.
I keep telling her to slow down;
" I can 't hear that fast. "

Quote:

I've also found English people to be much better listeners than Americans.

Do you have a New York accent?

No; I believe that it is more nationwide.

Quote:

When I go back to NJ - my kids say I slip back into it- saying things
like awfice (office) and cawfee (coffee). They always laugh at me.
As far as Irish accents go, I find them melodic and lyrical.

I feel that way about the Scotch accent.
Did u ever see a TV show or movie,
called The Highlander ?

Quote:

I think Irish people have a little extra mystical something
about them that I find charming.

My dead friend, Neil Callahan, was Irish.
He was charming, very bright, and led a very adventurous life.
He was interested in mystical matters.
I went to visit him, in Las Vegas,
after he died about a dozen times,
in the Veterans' Hospital there ( which I confirmed with his floor nurse ).
He said that he felt cheated, in that he did not remember dying.

I told him that I 'd spring for a memorial service,
but HE had to deliver the eulogy,
since he knew his own life better than I did,
but he did not go for that.

Quote:

During the last century, I went for a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth II.
Thay had many very young Irish boys ( 13 or 14 ) as crew.
When I asked for directions, thay made very earnest efforts
to help me out, but between their Irish accents
and their use of nautical abreviations, I had very great,
and time consuming, difficulty in figuring out what thay were saying.

Quote:

That reminds me of my mother.
When she came to visit me in Maine she said,
"Rebecca, these people sure are nice, but I cain't understand a word
they're sayin'..." in her sweet little Texas drawl.

In response to your question
qua which town in Devonshire my grandfather came from,
I called my cousin, Norma, in Florida.
She does not know, but she asked me to find out if u r called " Becky ".

Quote:

Did thay go to England after thay were driven out of Spain,
in Columbus' time ?

Quote:

Who, the Saxons?

The moors who u love in the wintertime.

Quote:

Is this a test David?

No

Quote:

Are you going to make me do research to answer every single question?

It did not occur to me
that u 'd take the time nor labor
to do THAT.

Quote:

I would say no. I would say the Saxons are Germanic people aren't they? And I would hazard to guess that they were in England long before Columbus' time. But I haven't researched it formally, so I could be wrong.
Can't you give me a break - it's Christmas time....

OK; Merry Christmas !

Quote:

and it will be quieter (in terms of tourists, etc.)
I'll have to see if I can talk her into it.

Child or adult ?
Child.That's her with my dog.

Quote:

I've traveled in between Somerset and London numerous times-
so I've seen a lot of the sights along that route,

What were thay ?

Quote:

Salisbury Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Bath and all it's delights (I love Bath),

What r the best features of Bath ?

Quote:

What do u think of the FOOD ?
Have u found any good restaurants ?

Quote:

The food is a little heavy sometimes, for my taste-
lots of fried stuff and creamy sauces, which I like, but can't eat so much
of without feeling weighted down. I like the way they give you lots of
vegetables when you eat out - they always add a big dish of carrots,
cauliflower, red cabbage, etc. and as I love vegetables, this works well for me.
I have found some lovely restaurants which I enjoy.
I usually order salmon - as I love it and I've found that it's always cooked well here.

The important thing is that it not be overcooked.
My favorite fish restaurant is in St. Paul, Minnesota;
blew my mind.

Quote:

Wiltshire is a beautiful county.
I love the countryside around there very gentle and less forested than Somerset.
Parts of it (especially the vast acreage of tilled fields) remind me of the plains states in the US.

I've taken the Eurotunnel over to the European continent twice instead of flying.
I like to drive so I can see stuff on the way to places, but it's always a struggle
to get everyone to agree to do that. But since both times we drove,
we took the tunnel and not the ferry,

I have enjoyed ferries;
the Staten Island Ferry, and
the Star Ferry between Hong Kong n Kowloon.

Quote:

I took the ferry over to Ireland.
It was okay - though the seas got a little rough and I started freaking out.

In fear of sinking ?

Quote:

I'm such a wimp about traveling situations which I can't control like pitching ferries and turbulence in airplanes.

Yes; I prefer that thay not be turbulent.

Quote:

Someone told me that there are these cool prehistoric fossils
on the beach around Poole, which isn't too far from me,
so I'm planning to make a trip down there to see if I can find some.

There might be some in Devon,
from the Devonian Period, of the Paleozoic Era; u think ?

They're called annomites.
I'm not certain what era they're from

- but they're incredibly beautiful.
They're cut in cross sections and polished up and they range in color from gold,
to amber to brown to black - in spirals of descending size.
People here make them into brooches and pendants. They fascinate me.
I tried to look them up on google, but there's not much there. Maybe I'll
go to the library and get a book out on them.

I tend to enjoy seeing natural/landscape/geological sites

What do u look for at the geological sites ?

I just enjoy the drama of the scenery.
I'm not an archeologist or geologist David.

What is your favorite geological site ?

I have to say I love the Mendip Hills.
They are a band of limestone and red sandstone that run across
Somerset from the western coast to about twenty-five miles inland.
There are warrens of caves all through them, and they are criss-crossed by old stone walls.
They are very spare, barren and beautiful in their own unique way.
I used to go up there almost every day - now I go about two or three times a week.
It is always windy and profoundly silent and still.
I've never been anyplace like it.

more so than cathedrals or castles, although I have to say,
I've seen some of those that have absolutely amazed me.

I love Well's Cathedral. I go to church there sometimes.
It's got a very unique interior system of circular supportive arches that
were put in place to help hold the ceiling of the cathedral up.
I've never seen anything like it. It's looks very graceful and delicate -
yet it is supporting this incredibly heavy structure.

This is the gatehouse of the Bishop's Palace.
My friend and her husband are the caretakers. This is where I ate dinner tonight.
It and the cathedral were built in the 12th century.
You should see the ruins of the Bishop's Palace in the moonlight.

Have u an opinion as to the controversy
of who wrote the works of William Shakespeare ?

No. I accept the commonly held biographical details that are offered about William Shakespeare. It seems a waste of time to me to worry over what can't be proved one way or another. I guess if someone came out with new and/or definitive proof of something - I'd find it interesting.

Quote:

It's hard to explain, but I think the most exciting and satisfying thing to do
is just to set out in the morning and let yourself take roads you've never been down, etc.

U shud take a lot of cash with u,
just to be safe; do thay accept American cash in England ?
I 've observed that thay lunge for it,
in other countries that I 've visited.

Actually, all you need is your chip and pin card.

I almost never carry cash except coins for parking and a snack or something.
They don't accept american cash in shops-
but you can exchange it for british pounds in any post office or bank.

Quote:

You'd be amazed at what you can see that isn't highlighted in the guide books.
Everywhere you look, you see something more beautiful than what you'd expected,
or what you were originally on your way to see.

What is the most beautiful thing that u have found, by this method, Rebecca ?

quote]
What was the very most enriching aspect of it ?
Your favorite ?

The people I've met.
The different way of living that I've experienced.

The peace I've found in the beauty that is all around me.
The stillness and silence.

It's opened up a whole new world to me.

Yes, I was just talking to my friend, (the caretaker at the Bishop's Palace) about that tonight.
We were talking about how at the very moment that we were sitting in
this 12th century castle turret in rural Somerset England, our families
were experiencing very different lives and experiences many miles away
(she's also American - married to a Brit). There are so many different
choices of lifestyle and experience, and if I hadn't moved here -
I would never have known about this one.

OmSigDAVID wrote:

I apologize for taking so long to answer.
I intend to respond to each of your posts, tho.

No apologies necessary. You know of course, you're under no obligation David.

aidan wrote:

Quote:

I like the Scotch accent,
but the English accents ( including Cockney ) get on my nerves.
What do u think of the accents ?

Quote:

When your children speak to u,
do thay sound flat ?

People say they both sound English. As they're in school and constantly surrounded by it, they've picked up a lot of the terminology and pronunciation more quickly and to a greater extent than I have. Neither one of them have a flat or nasal tone to their voice (thank goodness) so no - they don't sound flat to me.

Quote:

Quote:

I think English men sound patient and thoughtful compared to American men,

I 've read of English girls complaining,
that, in contrast to Americans,
their boyfriends r more abrupt, inconsiderate n demanding:
( " Get in the car ! " an attitude that I, for one,
have never manifested in addressing a lady ).

I'm talking about the way they sound. And again, I'm talking about fairly educated British people whose accents makes their words sound calm and measured - as if they've put thought into what they're saying.
I've found English men to be very polite and charming - and wonderfully interactive with their children - but who the hell knows what the real story is when no one is watching...it's probably the same all over the world in some aspects.

Quote:

Quote:

and English women sound very clipped
and efficient compared to American women.

That accent, or maner of speech,
seems very cold n hard, to me; stiff upper lip.

I agree, unless the woman has a soft voice, and then the over all impression is softened and cultured and rather lovely, to my ear.

Quote:

Quote:

I always feel like I'm speaking in slow motion compared to English women.

I can think of a certain chief judge, of Puerto Rican extraction,
who speaks too fast; reminiscent of an automatic weapon.
I keep telling her to slow down;
" I can 't hear that fast. "

Yes, I think I've become a better listener, because I'm forced to focus and concentrate when someone speaks quickly and is using pronunciation and terminology that is unfamiliar to me.


Do you have a New York accent?

No; I believe that it is more nationwide.
That's what people say about me, although I use a lot of southern terms that I picked up from my parents (both of whom are native southerners).

Quote:

Quote:

When I go back to NJ - my kids say I slip back into it- saying things
like awfice (office) and cawfee (coffee). They always laugh at me.
As far as Irish accents go, I find them melodic and lyrical.

I feel that way about the Scotch accent.
Did u ever see a TV show or movie,
called The Highlander ?

I just bought that on sale, after my students highly recommended it to me. They said, "Miss - you will cry...it's the best movie ever." I'll probably watch it over the holiday.

Quote:

Quote:

I think Irish people have a little extra mystical something
about them that I find charming.

My dead friend, Neil Callahan, was Irish.
He was charming, very bright, and led a very adventurous life.
He was interested in mystical matters.
I went to visit him, in Las Vegas,
after he died about a dozen times,
in the Veterans' Hospital there ( which I confirmed with his floor nurse ).
He said that he felt cheated, in that he did not remember dying.

I told him that I 'd spring for a memorial service,
but HE had to deliver the eulogy,
since he knew his own life better than I did,
but he did not go for that.

Why not? (Just joking- I got it David).

Quote:

She does not know, but she asked me to find out if u r called " Becky ".[/b][/color]

Why, does she know a Becky in Somerset? A few people in my life have called me Becky. My mother never liked it - so she never encouraged it with my friends or teachers- but every once in a while someone does it automatically and if I like them, I don't correct them, and I come to like it because it feels kind of unique and special from those certain people.

Quote:

Quote:

Did thay go to England after thay were driven out of Spain,
in Columbus' time ?

Quote:

Who, the Saxons?

The moors who u love in the wintertime.

Oh... I totally missed that one. Funny David.

Quote:

Quote:

Are you going to make me do research to answer every single question?

It did not occur to me
that u 'd take the time nor labor
to do THAT.

If you ask something that I'm interested in and don't know the answer to, I like learning enough that if I have time, I'll try to educate myself. I don't really mind - I was just feeling testy the other night-don't mind me.

Quote:

quote]
What r the best features of Bath ?

The architecture. The Roman influence is very apparent. I love the square around the cathedral and the Roman baths that have been preserved there. I like the shops and the restaurants. It's a pretty cosmopolitan little city - but much more manageable than London. The scenery going into and leaving the city is absolutely stunning. It just has a nice feel that I enjoy.

Quote:

The important thing is that it not be overcooked.
My favorite fish restaurant is in St. Paul, Minnesota;
blew my mind.

Yeah - and they have some nice champagne and peppercorn sauces, etc. they use that I like. I love seafood - it's my favorite. I do have to say though that there is much more variety available in American restaurants - they don't do a lot of shellfish (which I love) here.

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I took the ferry over to Ireland.
It was okay - though the seas got a little rough and I started freaking out.

In fear of sinking ?

Yes - I have a very active imagination.

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quote]They're called annomites.
I'm not certain what era they're from

just a little humor about the Devonian Period
of the Paleozoic Era

That is my only joke about that Era.

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- but they're incredibly beautiful.
They're cut in cross sections and polished up and they range in color from gold,
to amber to brown to black - in spirals of descending size.
People here make them into brooches and pendants. They fascinate me.
I tried to look them up on google, but there's not much there. Maybe I'll
go to the library and get a book out on them.

I bought some colorful sliced geodes,
from the American Museum of Natural History,
in addition to some petrified wooden bookends,
that r strikingly successful in retaining their original arboreal appearance,
some with holes eaten by primordial insects.

That sounds very interesting; good place to meditate.

Your pictures r very beautiful !

You should see the ruins of the Bishop's Palace in the moonlight.

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Have u an opinion as to the controversy
of who wrote the works of William Shakespeare ?

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No. I accept the commonly held biographical details that are offered about William Shakespeare. It seems a waste of time to me to worry over what can't be proved one way or another. I guess if someone came out with new and/or definitive proof of something - I'd find it interesting.

Yes; I thought it was nonsense, until I saw some presentations
of historical analysis on the subject.

What chip ?

The different way of living that I've experienced.

How does it differ from that of NY or NJ ?

Merry Christmas, Rebecca
David