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There seems to be a feeling that because very few people vote, voting is not important. But keep in mind that as less votes are cast, the weight of each vote increases. And political parties, regardless of their budgets and abilities to control the media, will always be subject to the vote. (For those of you who are itching to respond with references to the '00 Presidential Election, please put the pacifier back in your mouth and refrain from displaying your ignorance.) If you don't think your vote counts, please do stay away from the polls and let mine count even more! By the way, voter registration drives are designed to get at those who are too damn lazy to walk to the Post Office. Do we really need these people to vote? (Again, in an effort to fend of attacks, those who are incapable of walking to the Post Office are not the focus of voter registration drives.) FallRate

I should probably add that this does not mean that I will be off the couch before noon! Thanks for the well-wishes guys! FallRate

Well, a lot of people have been asking so I might as well respond openly. In recent months my Father has become very ill. For at least four months he has been treated for a heart condition. However about three months ago he started complaining of serious abdominal pains. They were severe enough to warrant a visit to the ER and subsequent stay in the hospital. But at the time he was told, quite rudely, that the pain he was experiencing was a side effect of the heart meds. Essentially, he was told to tough it out and try to get more exercise. After being released from the hospital the pain only grew more intense. He dealt with it as best he could for five weeks, until it very much seemed like he would not survive the night on July 18. I took him into the ER and an x-ray showed a partial bowel obstruction. This seemed positive, at least there was a reason for the pain. But after a CAT-scan (SP?) showed no obstruction, and an ultrasound showed nothing, and a colonoscopy showed nothing, the doctor finally sought help from a critical care specialist. We knew something had to be very wrong as there was so much blood in my Father's urine that it looked like V-8 on ice! The critical care specialist, Dr. Levitav, took over the case on Sunday, July 21. Until that day my Father's case had been treated primarily by his cardiologist, who again believed the pain and even the blood in his urine to be a side effect of his heart condition. Dr. Levitav immediately identified my Father's need for surgery and discontinued his heart meds. Unfortunately, my Father could not have surgery immediately because steps had to be taken to reverse the effect of the blood thinning medications he had taken for months. He was erroneously instructed to take aspirin regularly by his doctor, but in conjunction with one of his other meds it made his blood dangerously thin. So for three days they pumped him full of plasma and red blood cells. On Wednesday, July 24, I received a call from the hosital to inform me that my Father had become critical. After arriving at the hospital, Dr. Levitav told me that my Father had to have surgery immediately. But seeing as it was sooner than planned, his chances of surviving it were less than fifty percent. He did survive the surgery, and we learned that my Father had been suffering from (obviously) severe diverticulitus. He had been bleeding internally for quite a long time; he had lost about 2500cc of blood. Also the cause for his critical state was that his Diverticulum had ruptured! He also had an absess the size of a grapefruit, but I don't know if it also ruptured. According to Dr. Levitav, had his diverticulum ruptured a day earlier he would have died. My Father spent two weeks in the Surgical Critical Care Unit. For nine days he was fully sedated. He is still currently in the hospital, undergoing physical rehabilitation. He is now coming up on his sixth week in the hospital. He has been bedridden for the past couple of months, and he was able to eat very little prior to going into the hospital this time, so he has very little strength. The goal is to get him home as soon as possible. But he will require a great deal of care at home and I be will taking care of this. The staff mentioned the possibility of a rest-home, but I have a deal with my Dad: No rest-home, ever!!! And that brings up the reason why I will have to miss the Boogie this year. There is pretty much only one thing that could keep me away and my Father is that reason. It sucks, but I will just have to be extra active at next year's Boogie to make up for it. FallRate

A C-130!? Holy-Huge-Tailgates, Batman! Now I AM going to cry all week. FallRate

Ok, this may seem trivial but I need a region 2 DVD player and don't feel like paying through the nose for it. So is there a compassionate Brit out there who would be willing to purchase one and have it shipped to me via FedEx? Of course, I'll send the money first. In case you are wondering why I need a region 2 player, please don't ask. The reason is quite sad. FallRate

No. FallRate

Well, there is very little logic concerning the fact that men paint their toe-nails, but there is logic in the fact that they paint their "toe"-nails. It allows them to enjoy the activity, while also enjoying the ability to easily conceal it. Yeah, no humor here, but you asked. :) FallRate

You're on the right track Bill, but missing one very important point. The Recording Industry won't make jack from live shows, and this is a very positive step. The Recording Industry was built on limited access technology. In recent years, their ability to corner the market on high quality recordings (and reproductions) has been taken away. As more and more Artists come to understand that they can produce their own recorded music, distribute it themselves (for no expense if they wish), and gain a true audience for their art (those who pay to see them actually perform, which is still the most lucrative endeavor for Artists), the middle-man (Recording Industry), will become obsolete! To paraphrase McCartney: the music will once again belong to the air it occupies...to those who perform it AND to those who enjoy it! The Recording "Industry" is seeing its last days! God Bless the information age! FallRate

Then what manner of punishment do you deem suitable for the crime you have committed. Specifically, how should you be punished? Or are you not willing to take responsibility for your "crime"!? FallRate

Typos...again, beer before posting. FallRate

I have read that to end a sentence with a preposition is not a poor grammatical choice, considering that there are many examples in classical English literature. Apparently it is a realitively new form of snobbery, invented to distinguish the Well Breed from the Unfortunates in a largely literate society. FallRate

Congratulations! Best Wishes!!! FallRate

What about "quite out of the way facility"...like say, Detroit. FallRate

Ahhum...Somalia!?

I'm really hoping that I can! There is only one thing that would keep me away, and unfortunately it might. Hopefully, things will improve in the next couple of weeks! I'm fairly certain if I have to miss it, I'm going to need LOTS of tissues. FallRate

OK, I don't know the address but here is how to get there from I-70... Take the last (or first) exit off of I-70 before (or after) the Ohio-Indiana border. It's an exit for Route 40... Head West on Route 40... Turn Left on the road that runs by the west side of the Target Store, there is a stop-light... Follow this road past a 4-way stop until you reach a "T" intersection (You have to go left or right) Make a RIGHT, there is a pond on the right side just before the stop sign... At the next road (by a Church) make a Left. Follow this road for a couple of miles, go straight through the 4-way stop (after stopping ). Another couple of miles and you'll pass a school, shortly after that there is a weird stop where the road curves in from the left to become the road you are on. Go Straight or Left and you'll see the Airport on the left up ahead. Hope that helps! FallRate

What is the significance of the countdown? FallRate

Dude, that's just perverse!!! FallRate

The Onion? FallRate

I'm quite sure that Bill will survive this indignation. FallRate

Finally, someone who understands the point. OK, truthfully, he doesn't have much of a clue concerning the point, but he still came through with a wonderfully supportive statement. Thanks Bill! FallRate

Done.

You might just be kidding, but if you do happen to get some bad fish and you mix it with Heineken, which is always rotten, there is a good chance you could die! FallRate

Hot Pink!!! It's poised for a comeback! Be there first! FallRate

I'll try to live with myself. FallRate