mcrocker

Members
  • Content

    389
  • Joined

  • Last visited

    Never
  • Feedback

    0%

Everything posted by mcrocker

  1. As a male I am against abortion. I would never have one (lucky I'm a guy I guess right). I also feel that I do not have the right to tell another human being what she can/cannot do with her body/child. As a father I couldn't imagine not having my baby girl, she is only 2 months old and I fall in love with her again and again. As a husband, If my wife were pregnant and wanted to get an abortion we would have a *very* long talk about it. We had a similiar conversation before we were married. Luckily my wife feels the same way I do so I don't think it would be an issue. As a human I would prefer to see the child go up for adoption over an abortion and would hope the woman would explore ALL of the options before terminating the pregnancy. If after exploring other options the woman still feels abortion is the right thing for her then so be it. She will have to live with the 'what ifs...' in the coming years. Wether you believe a baby is alive at conception or birth you are still removing a future life from this world. You may have regrets as you see other babys that would have been his/her age running about
  2. If it wasn't Bush or the Bush campaign then it was over zealous Republican supporters. Either way it makes Bush look bad. Come to think of it, Maybe it is a master plan of Kerry to smear himself to make Bush look bad. Or.. Maybe it was Bush so he could deny it to make Kerry look bad for attempting to make Bush look bad. Where did I put my tin foil hat? The entire campaign advertising/soft money thing is so convoluted it would be impossible to prove/disprove involvemnt by the campaign.
  3. Communion/Eucharist doesn't HAVE to be the little white disks you normally see at church. They could very easily substitute ANY bread (has to unleven I think). It is just bread until it is turned into the Eucharist during the mass. The church could very easily perform two blessings and give the girl a corn flour based biscuit instead of the wheat flour based one. When I was an alter boy we used to have huge bags of the communion disks and woud fill the Eucharist cups by hand and bring them to the alter. Same thing for the wine. There is nothing in the Bible that states the Eucharist needs to be made out of wheat.
  4. Who drudged it up though? Kerry started running on his service record... he made it an issue... If you put something on your resume, be prepaird to answer questions about it. J Yes but Bush could have taken the high road and stuck to the issues that are truly facing this country. Sticks and stones and all that. This election looks like it is being run by a bunch of people who failed kindergarten. Kindergarten is where you learn how to share and be nice to people. Bush and Kerry (their campaign managers actually) are equally in bad taste with their smear campaigns. It would be refreshing for a candidate to tactfully brush off a mud slinging comment and continue on with their message.
  5. By 'security of our nation' what do you mean? Physical security of the land that makes up our country? You won't be able to stop someone from blowing up a building/train/airplane. Where there is a will, there is a way. A 30 foot wall surrounding our country will NOT stop terrorism. Security of our society and way of life? The economy has a bigger effect on our way of life than a truck bomb in a major city. Education and energy are HUGE drivers for our economy. Securing our Educational system and energy systems should be 'mission critical'. We have to stop thinking about today and plan for the future. We need to spend money to free our economy from the energy brokers (OPEC). We need to invest in our future by increasing our national literacy rate. We need to see a change in our higher education systems. Education today = Economy tomorrow. Economy = Military power = Security = Way of Life. Our economy (vast military spending) and technology (education, R&D) is what broke our last enemies back (USSR). We need to drop the cost of energy in this country. We can do it using many technologies (Pebble Bed Reactors, Fuel Cells, Hybrid cars, Bio-Desiel). We need to stop sending our energy money to countries that hate the U.S., our way of life. To answer the original post, Yes, it does disgust me how the media and major political partys sling mud every chance they get. I don't see either candidate with an answer.
  6. So a liqour store counts. You can't drink in a liqour store but you can buy alcohol. Do the stores hang a placard outside stating they make > 51% from alcohol so a someone knows not to enter with their gun?
  7. If you do something that is against the law you are breaking the law. Wether you think the law is good or bad is irrelevant. There are a lot of people that don't go looking for trouble but find some because of some other drunk idiot. Now, if you are under the influence when someone picks a fight you may make some bad choices. Now, if you have your firearm you *may* use that in your bad choice decisions. You weren't looking for trouble. This has got to be one the most rediculous analogies you have ever made. laws against blinking? Why not laws against breathing? or Eating? WTF? Here is a better one. I think most people will agree that it is bad (and against the law to ) 1) Drive while under the influence. 2) Fly while under the influence 3) Perform a surgical operation while under the influence I think most people will agree that is is bad (not sure if against the law to) 1) Shoot a firearm while under the influence 2) Skydive while under the influence 3) Operate Heavy machinery while under the influence. Now, If you are found, sitting in the front seat of your car, while drunk with the keys in your hand you will be charged with driving while under the influence. You weren't driving, you were just parked with the possibility of driving (which as mentioned above is bad, against the law) If you are found sitting in a bar, while carrying a firearm you will be charged as a crime (currently a crime correct?) You weren't shooting it, but you had the possibility of shooting it... It is probably safer to let a person keep their gun when they enter a bar instead of leaving it in their car. The gun/car could be stolen if left in a car.
  8. http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/entomology/444-500/444-500.html http://www.google.com/search?q=termite+treatment&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
  9. Well, I guess I'm not a skydiver Anyone want to buy my gear? Can you explain Bandit Jump for all of the whuffos in the crowd?
  10. You forget about the nail guns, which are GUNS after all and should be banned (like all guns). There. That should get the party started Now, where are those buttons I like to push...
  11. I like my meat served with a side of meat. Gonna have a nice steak tonight. I'm sure AggieDave will laugh at what us New Englanders call a steak but it is the best I can do for now. Oooh. lookie! lunch time, gonna go have my MEAT sandwich
  12. Home Depot isn't responsible. The push carts should be banned!. Their crappy wheels caused the problem!. Oh, and 2x4s they should all be cut up into 1x1x1 blocks. Carpenters can assemble (aka glue) them back together as needed.
  13. He is either lying (he wasn't properly strapped in) or the seat belt broke. If the seat belt broke it should show some signs of stress before breaking. Have you examined the car and seat belt? Is there a recall notice on the car? I would think it would be pretty easy to prove if the seat belt was fastened before impact.
  14. England and Australlia are irrelevant, they are not the US and do not have the same laws. The case in New York could have been turned around if people filed suit and took it to the supreme court. I don't think it ever made it to the supreme court to be tested. Agreed. Yeah, laws are tested all the time. You have to believe in the system as a whole. Something stupid may happen (like prohibition) for a couple of years but in the long run the system wins. The system works, it has worked for 200 years. The system works with checks and balances. The NRA is a VERY strong lobbying group in D.C and is working to protect your rights. Registration without confiscation can be accomplished. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Your 2nd ammendment rights are safe, strong and secure. I'll venture out on a limb and say you will NEVER lose them. Guns are ingrained into American society, nothing will change that.
  15. Yes, A private business can refuse to provide services to anyone at will. That is ok. It is not ok for the government to pressure the business owner to make a decision they normally would not make. The government can change the laws if they want, raise the drinking age to 21.
  16. You are making the usual false assumption about laws - That nobody actually obeys them. It does help increase safety. People that obey the law get their cars fixed. It doesn't correct ALL problems but it does help increases safety. Once again, the 'if it doesn't fix the ENTIRE problem it is a bad thing' mentality doesn't apply in most cases. Not everyone obeys the law, not everyone breaks them either.
  17. Dah-aaam. I sure hope that belly ring survived free fall. Anyone have the link to the video? You KNOW there is a video... *cough* upload to skydivingmovies.com *cough*
  18. Registering them is one step from taking them. So we are all one step away from losing the right to vote? Is that just the aluminum foil hat wearing side of you talking? I don't believe in right or left wing conspiracy theories so I don't believe that registering is one step away from confiscation. Agreed, but that is gun control, it already exists and you are happy with enforcing it, so you support gun control? Um, Judges can't change the constitution. Judges interpret the law, they do not create it.
  19. Nope, wrong sorry your right is protected by the Constitution. They can't come conficate your firearms, it is unconsititutional. Any law that allows them to do that would be overruled by the supreme court. You can't just trust the 2nd ammendment, you have to trust the ENTIRE constitution. You can't just use one part of it in your argument. Your rights are safe, Now, what is the problem again? Need I go on? One polititian spouting campaign rhetoric does not a law make. It CANNOT HAPPEN, you will NEVER see the 2nd ammendment over written with another ammendment. You CANNOT lose your rights to bear arms. You need to trust in the system. The Government isn't out to get you or your guns, if they do, just vote different people in next election. Isn't this country great! Is anyone in government doing everything they can to outlaw car ownership? Driving outside your own state? They give me a pretty license plate... I dunno, catching hit and run drivers? Returning stolen cars? Again, do to the Constitution your guns will NEVER be taken away. You may have to register them. You may have to wait a couple of days before you pick one up. We all stand a better chance of losing our ability to drive (it isn't a right afforded by the constitution) than we have of losing our right to bear arms. We won't be losing either.
  20. Can you still go buy firearms? Yes? Your rights are still intact. That will never change, it is IN the constitution and will require another ammendment to change that. That will NEVER happen, it will never pass congress. Your rights to bear arms will always be protected. That doesn't mean that there can't be a registration/licensing process involved with your right. You have the RIGHT to vote but you still need to register before you do. You missed my point entirely. The effect of gun control on reducing crime can NEVER be proven. You can't count how many crimes never happened. So, just because it cannot be proven it therefore must be a bad idea? I don't agree with your logic, sorry. Let me know when you have a better solution... In fact, better yet, write your congressman so they can try to pass it into law. In the mean time, any law that is passed that violates the 2nd ammendment will be nullified by the Supreme Court. That is the beauty of our system of government. You have to trust in the system. Your rights are safe, the system guarantees it. Now lets try to figure out something that works. The 'gun control violates my rights' statement is false because it doesn't, it CAN'T. With that out of the way, why else do you oppose gun control?
  21. And you do have all of the answers? Oh great one, do indulge us with your wisdom. I can't recall the last time I heard of a Springfield 1903 being used to rob a 7/11. I suppose it could happen... Sure it makes it harder. I never said it made it impossible. Just because it isn't the end all be all solution it should be dropped? You don't register your car for safety, you register it to give the state revenue. This is well-established. I pay $35/year to register my car. Not a HUGE source of income for the state. The garage makes most of it. They also run it through a pretty extensive safetly check list. Sure it generates revenue for the state, but it DOES increase safety. Why does everything have to be all or nothing?
  22. There will NEVER be the 'ultimate' answer to this issue. And because of that you just want to forget the whole thing? Gun control can NEVER happen? What would be 'good enough' to infringe on some freedoms? 260 Million? Is that the population of the US or the membership of the NRA? Not everyone in the US owns guns so you won't be infringing on their freedom. There is no way to prove the lasting effects of gun control legistlation. What if the statistics stay the same? Does that mean there was no effect; Or, would it have been much worse without the legislation? It is impossible to statitically measure things that don't happen. You are saying that because it can't be measure it should just be forgotten? Are you happy with the current amount of violent crime involving guns? Would you like to figure out a way to reduce that? Are you just going to throw up your hands and say it will never work so why bother? And your statistics reference what? number of miles driven compared to rounds fired? number of cars owned compared to guns owned? number of times a car owner ate at McDonalds? You can throw anonymous statistics out all day long, it doesn't mean anything. I never said anything about guaranteed lower fatality rates. How do you know that car registration and proper licensing didn't lower the rate? What if there were a bunch of 12 year olds driving on the highway? Would the fatality rate be higher? Who knows, you can't measure it, your stats are worthless. Do the registration/licensing requirements have a long term effect? Short term? The point is you can't measure this stuff but most people agree it is a good thing for the cars. Why isn't it a good thing for guns? You still have the right to bear arms, that will never go away. You'll never see another ammendment pass that removes the 2nd ammendment. You may hear silly politicians spouting rhetoric but that doesn't pass laws. Increased gun control does NOT remove your right to bear arms, it never has and it never will. It also isn't a panacea for all of the world problems, it never will be. Does it save lives? I say yes, can I prove it? No, no one can. Does it reduce violent crime? I say yes, can I prove it? Again, no, no one can. Are there fewer guns on the streets, yes, are their NO guns on the street NO. Again. there is no ultimate solution, we have to do the best we can with what we have. I think there has to be something instead of nothing. To lay down blanket statements that gun control is good or bad is incorrect. I'm for gun control because I'm not paranoid that the government is going to start the black ops helicopters and hunt down all of the people with shotguns in their closets. I also firmly believe that if a US citizen meets the requirements they should be able to own as many guns as they want. I don't see it as a black and white issue like most people on the forum do. You can support both gun control AND the 2nd ammendment.
  23. I have a LOT of big ass equipment. I run an ISP and have SONET gear scattered around. (Cisco ONS 15454). I have routers in a couple POPs (Cisco 7513, 7609). I have modem pools (
  24. Move them? Hell I used to set them on fire with lighter fluid and run like hell. I also used to throw rocks at passing cars, oh and um. wet toilet paper balls (smuck balls) out of my bedroom window at cars. I think it was good to chase them, scare the crap out of them a bit. Gets their adreneline flowing and makes 'em feel good. That was probably exactly the rush they were looking for. My brother and I still talk about that one time we were chased through the woods by the neighboring high school football team. It seems I hucked a bunch of rocks at his Camaro and the window was down. He never caught us, nobody knew the woods behind my house like I did... Ah, the good ole' days.
  25. I dropped the price of my gas by 17% by slowing down. My truck ('03 Dodge Durango 5.9 L) gets 12.5 MPG when I drive aggressively at 75 MPH. A couple months ago I set my cruise control to 65 MPH and let all the other idiots pass me by. My drive time is MUCH less stressful and I'm running at 15 MPG right now. Gas price right now for me is $1.73/gallon. I have a 25 gallon tank. I drive 100 miles round trip per day. Here are some numbers 100 miles/day * 5 days = 500 miles/week * 4.3 = 2150 miles/month At 12.5 MPG that is 172 gallons/month * $1.72/gallon = $295.84 At 15 MPG that is 143 gallons/month * $1.72/gallon = $245.96 I save $50/month by slowing down. That is 2 extra jumps :) What I really need to do is get a hybrid and bump my MPG up to 45 MPG but I need this big-assed Durango to haul my equipment around for work.