Nightingale

Done.

The majority of swords produced commercially have "safety" features built in because of the rare nutcase like this. The most notable of these is a very weak piece of metal where the blade connects with the hilt. If you try to hit something with it, chances are the blade will break off before you manage to do any real damage. I have broken some of these swords in half over my knee. Also, the majority of these blades are not very sharp at all. They'd probably mash a tomato instead of making a clean slice, and there aren't a whole lot of places that will fully sharpen a sword. These tourist swords are the swords people get at places like hotel gift shops, heraldry shops, ebay, and cheaper places at renaissance faires. If someone wants to find a sword that will stand up to real use, they usually need more than a little knowledge about weaponry or quite a bit of luck in stumbling across a good weaponsmith that will actually sell a quality blade to someone who knows nothing about it. People own swords for many different reasons. Many people own swords and knives for historical interest. Others own them because they use them in martial arts. Some people own them because they have an interest in King Arthur/Lord of the Rings/some other fantasy stuff. Others own them because they collect movie/tv memorabilia. Some own them because they work at renaissance faires. Others own them because they are part of their military uniform. And, of course, others just enjoy them because they think they're interesting for whatever reason. A sword is a very impractical weapon in today's society. First off, it's not easy to carry around. Second, unless you know what you're doing, actually managing to hurt someone with it is not an easy task. Third, there are simply more efficient ways to dispatch someone if you really want to. If someone invaded my home, somehow I don't think I'd reach for one of my swords to defend myself, anymore than I'd reach for a baseball bat, kitchen knife, or tire iron, unless, of course, they were the only things I could get to. Any weapon is better than none at all, provided you know how to use that weapon and aren't afraid to do so if necessary. However, my swords are decoration for my renaissance faire costume and tools for my martial arts classes. While they, like almost any item, can be used as a weapon, they wouldn't be much more effective than a pointed stick.

if you don't like the actions of the network, send them an email at programming@wsmv.com. Then, send the companies that run ads on WSMV's news programs letters saying that you will not be patronizing their companies until and unless the network brings back the show or they pull their sponsorship from the network.

When I was a kid, an explanation about why running in the street was dangerous and that it scares mommy and daddy would have a lot more weight than a smack on the rear. An explanation about cars going in the street, drivers not looking, and kids getting hit by cars would make sure I didn't go in the street again. The only thing a smack on the rear would accomplish is make me more careful not to get caught next time.

IIRC, congress can't prohibit guns within 1000 feet of schools because it goes beyond congress' ability to regulate commerce. However, I don't think there's anything currently stopping states from doing so. (haven't had a chance to look it up, though)

Like most other gun laws, that one would be really stupid, because, like most other gun laws, the law would only affect law-abiding citizens, who aren't usually the people that the public needs to worry about. It would simply make gun ownership more inconvenient and expensive, while doing nothing to remove guns from the hands of criminals.

Many anti-depressants can cause false positive results on drug tests. If an employee of yours tests positive for amphetamines, are you going to pay for a more expensive test to determine whether it's illegal drugs or something like Wellbutrin? Or will you just take their word when they show you the prescription bottle? What if they don't want you to know that they're on an anti-depressant? Drug test false positives sometimes force employees to reveal medical issues they'd rather keep to themselves, such as depression or HIV, since when you take a drug test, you usually have to disclose all medications you're taking. I wonder how many people would be willing to be fired rather than reveal medical information they consider personal and private?

The actions of the SA blood organization seem unreasonable, so I understand the protest. Gay men do not have the highest HIV infection rate in SA. Women aged 18-24 do. Therefore, the actions of the blood organization don't really make sense.

I won't work for an employer who requires drug testing. I don't do drugs, but I consider a drug test a waste of my time and an invasion of my privacy. I would not, however, object to drug testing with a reason behind it other than "we test everybody". If I worked in a doctor's office and they had medication missing and wanted to test the whole staff, that's fine. They have a reason, and it's not a stupid one. Also, there are many substances that cause a false positive, and the last thing I'd want documented in my employment history is a positive drug test because I ate a poppyseed bagel or took cough medicine. My cousin was fired from his job because he was taking cough medicine prescribed by his doctor, and tested positive for opiates. He had the prescription bottle with him to prove it, but they didn't care. Recent estimates from the Journal of Analytic Toxicology showed error rates of 5 to 14% for initial drug testing. A recent study of 161 over the counter and prescription medications indicated that 65 of them can lead to false positives on drug tests (source: LA Times) THC - Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives Dronabinol (Marinol) Ibuprofen; (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin, Excedrin IB etc) Ketoprofen (Orudis KT) Kidney infection (Kidney disease, diabetes) Liver Disease Naproxen (Aleve) Promethazine (Phenergan, Promethegan) Riboflavin (B2, Hempseed Oil) Amphetamines - Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, propylephedrine, phenylephrine, or desoxyephedrine (Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed, Allerest, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, etc) Phenegan-D, Robitussin Cold and Flu, Vicks Nyquil Over-the-counter diet aids with phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Accutrim) Over-the-counter nasal sprays (Vicks inhaler, Afrin) Asthma medications (Marax, Bronkaid tablets, Primatine Tablets) Prescription medications (Amfepramone, Cathne, Etafediabe, Morazone,phendimetrazine, phenmetrazine, benzphetamine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine,dexdenfluramine,Redux, mephentermine, Mesocarb, methoxyphenamine, phentermine,amineptine, Pholedrine, hydroymethamphetamine, Dexedrine, amifepramone, clobenzorex,fenproyorex, mefenorex, fenelylline, Didrex, dextroamphetamine, methphenidate, Ritalin,pemoline, Cylert, selegiline, Deprenyl, Eldepryl, Famprofazone) Kidney infection, kidney disease, Liver disease, diabetes Opiates - Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives Poppy Seeds Tylenol with codeine Most prescription pain medications Cough suppressants with Dextromethorphan (DXM) Nyquil Kidney infection, Kidney Disease Diabetes, Liver Disease Ecstacy - Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, propylephedrine, phenylephrine, or desoxyephedrine (Nyquil, Contact, Sudafed, Allerest, Tavist-D, Dimetapp, etc) Phenegan-D, Robitussin Cold and Flu, Vicks Nyquil Over-the-counter diet aids with phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Accutrim) Over-the-counter nasal sprays (Vicks inhaler, Afrin) Asthma medications (Marax, Bronkaid tablets, Primatine Tablets) Prescription medications (Amfepramone, Cathne, Etafediabe, Morazone,phendimetrazine, phenmetrazine, benzphetamine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, dexdenfluramine,Redux, mephentermine, Mesocarb, methoxyphenamine, phentermine, amineptine, Pholedrine, hydroymethamphetamine, Dexedrine, amifepramone, clobenzorex, fenproyorex, mefenorex, fenelylline, Didrex, dextroamphetamine, methphenidate, Ritalin, pemoline, Cylert, selegiline, Deprenyl, Eldepryl, Famprofazone) Kidney infection, kidney disease Liver disease, diabetes Cocaine - Substances or Conditions which can cause false positives Kidney infection (kidney disease) Liver infection (liver disease) Diabetes Amoxicillin Benzodiazepine False Positives Most prescription sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication. Barbiturate False Positives Fiorinol, Donnatol, some sleeping pills, antiasthmatic preparations that contain phenobarbitol, Dilantin. LSD False Positives Migraine medication: egotamine, Ergostat, Cafergot, Wigraine, Imitrex. Hydergine, bromocription, methysergiside, lisuride, lysergol, Artane, triprolidine, amitriptyline (Elavil), dicyclomine (Bentyl), antinausea medications that contain promethazine: Phenergan, Promethegan.

Many violent crimes are unlikely to be repeated, unlike sex crimes. For example, the guy (or woman) who goes nuts when he/she finds his/her significant other in bed with someone else and beats the SO or his/her partner to death. It's a crime of passion, and not likely to happen again. The person committing that crime is probably not a danger to the general public. I could see registering serial killers or people who have committed acts of violence against strangers. However, I'm against the sex-offender registry. I think it causes a lot more problems than it solves.

Hey... anyone know where this was?

Nightingale's Disorder Cause:spaceborne bacteria Symptoms: forgetting what day it is, bone pain, fear of the number thirteen, imperceptibly pointy ears Cure: take a day off work

If I was a kid and found out, I'd be completely icked out by that. LOL. How about getting yourself a BIG box of rechargable batteries, and one of those really fast battery chargers. That way, the kids won't be asking why their toys' batteries are always drained.

No. I don't approve of his support of Opus Dei.

Half the time I'll get kids meals. They come with apple slices now if you want apples instead of fries. My stomach would be angry at me for a week if I ate the mexican food at the cafeteria. About the only thing I'll trust from that place is a grilled cheese.

Two strange ones: 1. on a trampoline in his parents' backyard while they were in the kitchen. 2. outside in a state park, about 20 feet away from a bear.

I pretty much live on fast food. I don't have a whole lot of choice of what I eat, being in school. I don't have money to spare for buying a lot of fresh fruits and meat and stuff, so when I'm at home, I eat out of a can, and when I'm at school, I eat what's available. The cafeteria food is horrid and bringing a lunch isn't really practical. However, there are many healthy things that can be found at fast food restaurants, and they don't cost much more than a burger and fries. Since I started school, I've eaten much more fast food, but I've lost weight. Without trying, I've gone from a size 14 to a size 6. I do a lot more walking than I used to, and I think I actually eat more healthy when I go through the McDonalds drive through, rather than opening a can of Spaghetti-Os at home.

Sure, race probably has something to do with it. In trying to argue against the death penalty for this person in particular, Allen's case is not easy. However, in the Tookie thread, we also went over the general reasons people object to the death penalty, all of which can be applied in Allen's case as well.

We are protesting. There are many planned protests over the next week in California. I can get you a list of some if you like. There are two in my area that I am planning on attending. I think it hasn't shown up on dz.com because we just had the argument over Tookie Williams, and there's not much use in saying the same thing twice in such a short time period. I think that's why it's not on the news as much as Tookie either.

You weren't at Elsinore, were you? I was driving down the main road near the dz (mission trail?) and a shoe fell out of the sky right in front of my car! Never did find out who it belonged to.

My boyfriend did the same thing... We're guessing it happens when you hook your thumbs under the other person's legstraps, with your fingers over the strap and thumbs under... when you get pulled away from the other person, it hyperextends the thumbs. I was warned about this on my first tube jump. The guy organizing it told me to just hook my fingers over the top of the strap, and keep my thumb out of the grip completely.

If you've already been to Japan, go somewhere else.

The glue in most glue traps will dissolve if you put mineral oil on it. You can un-stick a mouse that way, but it will probably bite you. Better to just get a humane trap to begin with.

Personally, I wouldn't pay for it, or be paid for it. However, I have no problem with other people wanting to make sex a business arrangement. It's a private arrangement between two (or more) people, and nobody's business but theirs. Honestly, I think the government should legalize it, because then they can tax it.

I'll be there. Already cut my hair, but saved the ponytail.