NoShitThereIWas

Happy Birthday Jett!!! Sorry Dakota and I can't come celebrate your party with you since we don't live in California anymore but your picture is so cute and we hope you have a Happy Birthday anyway!!! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I like your ideas here and I think you are going in a good direction with them. What we need is super high powered batteries or ways to recirculate energy. I am not sure if there is any way in the future to achieve a 0% emmission, I guess if there was a way to charge a battery off of a generator or something ... I am not sure of all the details but from what I gather, this is more of an issue of power, wealth and politics than it is environment, war or philanthropy. This is not about the benefit of the planet or humanity, it is about GREED and POWER. JMO. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

"Solo Karaoke Drunk". Enough said. Back in the day (before Dakota), some friends and I would regularly go to this Tiki Bar with Polynesian food in Santa Monica. They also had Karaoke and those BIG GIANT clam shells filled with alcohol, super long straws for at least 2 people and fruit, fire, the works. Occassionally, we'd sit in these cabana booths and get super toasted and go up and sing Karaoke. Yep, sometimes it was good and sometimes it was bad, you kind of had to be there to know. Thursday was "go and watch drunk Karaoke people sing" night. Some nights were REALLY entertaining. Good times. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Well, I recognize many of the jumpsuits/rigs, but I'm not on that one Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Amen to that Arvel, I can feel your pain but Missouri is warming up! I think we got up to 50 today!!! And y'all had to post the pictures too didn't ya? People who have never lived or been there just can't understand can they? That's okay Arvel, we aren't in pairadice anymore, but we still rock!!! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Huh??? Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

And just to comment on the gay marriage issue ... Why can't we just give Gays whatever equal rights they want as far as benefits of marriage like insurance coverage, tax deductions, whatever. But leave the social norm of "marriage" separate. I just moved from San Francisco and I love that city but I think it is getting a little far out of control too. Seeing the pictures of all these gay women getting married just doesn't sit well with me. Now, I would consider myself very liberal but I also am trying to raise my three year old daughter in a time and a world that is confusing enough? Can't we just preserve nature's order in our society by keeping the more "sacred" word of marriage for a man and a woman? Maybe I am just a little conservative and closed minded about it but there is something to be said for social tradition and it just seems like a misuse of the Constitution to me. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Personally I have a couple things to say about Bush but I'll narrow it down: I predicted when he was elected the USA would be at war within two years. Our country elected "Republican George W. Bush" to carry our country, the largest superpower, the only superpower in the world, through a four year period. I can see why; at the time, I think America wanted a strong figure representing us in a very uncertain time with foreign relations. However, in my opinion I think GWB is leading us down a very bad path. I didn't vote for him but once he was elected I had an open mind and would give him a fair chance. At first, things seemed a little shady with the whole Florida vote issue and whether or not he really had the votes. Then a period went by when I was impressed by him and his administration. Then it just takes a little bit of time to get comfortable before a person or leader of a country with extreme power wants more. Like Lord Acton said: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," and that has been time tested and approved in my book. The US is the only major superpower and we are misusing that power. Eventually, that will weaken us and more people will want to take us out who aren't "with us" as GWB has given the rest of the world "it's" ultimatum. This in turn just breeds more terrorism. The cycle of violence is very damning, it is energy, cost and life fueling. My prediction is that it is likely to continue for a very long time. Just to wrap this up, any President or President's Administration who actively and knowingly lies to the American People in cahutz (sp?) with the media for the purpose of imperializing other countries for personal gain is not okay with me It is not all Bush's fault, he was led along a string to respond the way any arrogant, person in power coming from a family of arrogant, powerful people would. There may have been semen on Monica Lewinsky's dress, but I'd much rather deal with that any day. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I made 13 very nice skydives this weekend (8 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday) at the MP Boogie. It was a great time! Guy Wright was organizing bigger ways and we were cranking out some pretty nice points. I think out of all 13 jumps, there was only 1 skydive which did not complete every point. Unfortunately, Kelly and I missed meeting a few people because we had to leave the boogie on Monday to get back to St. Louis, but we came, we saw, we had a great time! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

LMAO. I think I'll have to second the pig in shit vote. Yep. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I can light up the barbeque, and the bonfire. Does that count??! YOU are so funny! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

LMAO: Capital punishment is good MMKAAAAAAAAAYYY? ummm, about your post Canuck, it is a shame you had to come across such a bitter person. Unfortunately there is a lot of bitterness in the world and when it leads to us becoming the victims of crime that is never a good thing. Good luck to you in whatever happens. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Hawaii: Skydive with Aloha from your choice of three DZs on one patch of land next to a big blue beautiful ocean; where whales frolic and you can land on the beach at sunset. How's that for the Aloha State? Or as my bumper sticker says: Happiness is going down in Hawaii. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

When I first think of fire dancing, I think of this Samoan hottie who lives on Oahu and works at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. If you are ever on the island, make sure you spend at least one day on the North Shore or Mokuleia and make sure you spend another day visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center. Go see the Samoan guy. He is in the Samoan village and he does the fireshow after the luau at the evening show. Men who know how to handle fire are HOT! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

My answer to your question is this and it is only an observation of my own, it isn't like law or fact or anything ... I have studied many things but mainly biology and criminal justice. My observation is when it comes to humans, "we" operate on macrocosmos and microcosmos. What I mean by that is that we like all things wishing to survive are competitive and we are always looking for a more efficient easier way of not just survival but achievement and self fulfillment. One thing with populations, especially ones who are dominant and begin to overpopulate ... at some point resources run a little low and even may run out. As it impacts that population it in some way impacts every other living creature for the most part either directly or indirectly, short term or long term. We are no different. We are living things who have needs to be met and have drive, desire and intelligence. We live on this planet as a part of the "Animal" Kingdom and I don't think a lot of people get that. What happens when the lions run out of food? They die off, they starve, they fight for survival just like any of the rest of us would. And yes it is happening in our world today in nations including our own. Close to half of the world goes to bed hungry at night... Then take a look at crime. See how it starts and how it circulates like the cycle of violence Angela was referring to. IMHO you can just equate violence with crime. It may be "justified" because our government says it is or because it is a means to and end but it is still crime. What does crime do it a nation, to an individual? Anyway, back to the issue here because I have gone on some tangeant ... Yes, I believe if we were attacked by another planet, our world would unite. When you are living in a country and there is war with another country, you may not "like" or agree with your government's course of action but if it is YOUR COUNTRY you will most likely be in favor of "it" getting ahead, being ahead, having the best protection/security, opportunity for the best life, etc and if you cherish those things and see a threat of losing them you will most likely fight to keep them. If you belong to a certain state in the US and someone asks you in the US where you are from and you say such and such Indiana or wherever ... you most likely would be like YEAH! Don't mess with Texas and I moved to the Show Me State. My point being is some people take pride in where they are from and will generally support their state for whatever reason over another state. Now you live in a city in a state, take California for example. Lets say you live in San Francisco and you are a 49er fan and when the Raiders were in LA especially, talk about the rivalry and displays of physical prowess or whatever the hell they call that . The rivalry at a Raiders 49er Game was intense. Now you live in a town. And your son plays basketball on a team. You are actively involved in your child's sports and your child's team is playing another team from a nearby town. Who are you rooting for now? Think well, that is "just" a such and such game. It isn't that serious. One child on a team lost his father the night his team played another team in town. His father (referee) was killed when the other father gave several blows to the head and it I remember right he died almost instantly. Add hormones like testosterone which is a major part of aggression, a dwindling economy, etc. etc. etc. The point I am trying to drive home is that we are animals. Not animals as we see them because we are way more complex. We are probably the most intelligent animals out there so we are going to utilize all we can to be all that we can with what we have be in on the macrocosmos or the microcscmos. I don't know if that made one bit of sense to anyone but me but if not, oh well Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I'm not single but I'm goin skydivin!!!!

BillVon, Thanks for clearing that up. That was a good point you made. These are "other" people's beliefs PEOPLE. There is no reason to call "them" names or attack them. I haven't seen anyone stand alone in their beliefs here and almost everyone has made a point. I think it is interesting to see where people are coming from and "their" beliefs. But personal attacking is not cool. These issues can get us riled. our thoughts moving and our blood pumping (kinda like skydiving ), I know that but lets not get carried away. I think BillVon made some very good points and was VERY CLEAR as to what a personal attack is. I didn't see any reason to argue that. Anyway, I think when people are in a mess and need to come up with a solution, the first step is to analyze the situation. We'll really get nowhere or ever move forward if we can't at least try to understand another human being. I'd be willing to bet money that if we were attacked by another planet, the world would change. Now instead of primary threats being other countries, we are possibly dealing with who knows what. I'd bet $$$ that the entire world, planet Earth would become a United force. I believe it is human nature to fight based on where we came from but as we become more advanced we should be able to learn ways of toning it down a little. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

I just have a question ... how many of those cases do you think go unreported??? Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Yeah, well after serving her country for 3 years and then having a baby she had hoped to use some of that GI Bill money and get her college out of the way. She also joined the Reserves. A college degree at the very least is not a bad thing to have if you can use it wisely, especially when you have a 2 year old son to raise. She goes to school full time and does her military duty on weekends. It is a pretty busy schedule and a bit of work ... Unless you were born into a lot of money, etc. most single moms do not choose to be single moms. A lot of the time the dad dissociates/is irresponsible/skips out on child support/etc. for whatever reason. In the world that we live in, being responsible for raising a child "right", trying to keep on top of current affairs, staying educated and trying to get ahead in the world with a college education, supporting yourself and your child and yours and your child's needs, staying fit and having time for yourself and a little bit of a life can be a lot. And no it is not impossible, there are a lot of us out there doing it. She also by the way works at the University 10-15 hours a week. Oh and don't forget to add on the homework. I don't think she or anyone else is asking for your empathy about any of those things. But when you've already served your country for three years and live a substandard lifestyle because you are trying to further yourself in a day when I hate to say it but it is a Man's world. Isn't it true that when comparing salaries, women make 75% of what men make with the same job title/qualifications? I'm not over here trying to raise a huffy but once in a while it is good to read between the lines and try and really understand another. I think JohnRich and Angela both have valid points. I'll write more on some of that stuff later, I need to go to bed Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Whew! Let's get back to this thread!!! That other one is so serious and getting a bit depressing although very interesting to hear everyone's views ... I didn't expect that other one (see draft thread) to take off so quickly , but I thought I'd lighten up the Forum a little bit by getting back to the Best Screenname thread.

I'm not sure of all the details but I can tell you this: She was active duty for 3 years, got out for 2 and I think had her child and then went back into the National Guard Reserves. Her ex was (or is) a Marine and is not paying his child support and she is on food stamps. That is all I know at the moment but I will try to find out more details. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Yeahhbutt, why is it that we still use cars dependent on oil which is damaging to the environment and why do we consume more natural gas than any other country in the world? It isn't because we need to. I don't EVEN want to get started on the environmental ramifications of running our natural gas well dry and the overburning of fossil fuels ... I hate to say it but we can run most of those things off of generators and electricity. Political interest groups which represent oil companies and industries have far too much power and hold too many capitalist cards politically for a thing to happen. Fortunately and unfortunately we live in a Capitalist economy where power and the dollar precede what is right for the environment, the people and the world. What is going to happen when the dollar declines such and the world refuses to do foreign trade with us? The Euro is already kicking our ass ... Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

OK fair enough to you back, you served your country. You are entitled to your opinion. Sorry I think I am a little premenstrual today and a little hyped about this topic. I intended no offense either. Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Also, JohnRich, I forgot to mention ... funny you should mention the freedoms and prosperity of American citizens. My ROOMMATE is serving in the Army and has an 8 year commitment. She is treated like shit by our country. She is on food stamps and welfare because she gets paid so little. She also has a two year old son. If she gets deployed, what happens to her son if God forbid she didn't come back? Most people serving get paid a little above poverty to serve their country. And also just out of curiosity, have you served your country? Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

Ooooh Pick Me Pick Me, I love those!!!! Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."