pirana

Well we did elect an actor as president.... who kept bringing up his fictional characters as if their deeds were real. Wasn't that a hoot? Gotta have liked his honesty though; actually admitting in public that he thought nuclear missles could be "recalled" after they were launched. "Uh, no Sir, there isn't a JUST KIDDING or DO OVER button." Ah, giddy days. We could have them back though. Could you imagine if Hillary wins. We could have a semi-senile Old Bill, the quintessential dirty old man, chasing interns areound the White House; while Hillary does her best to impersonate a man. I'll bet all the comedians and the entire membership of the writers guild are pulling for her. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

The Meatballs & Spaghetti Monster? Aren't we supposed to keep church and steak separate? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I am 2 of 6. Very much in line with the 1st born traits you list though. Being the oldest of 4 boys, with a sister only 18 months older, I took over the alpha child role quite early. We had an interesting dynamic too. My mom had 2 batches of kids. 3 close together, then a 12 year gap, then 3 more close together. Leaving home at 17, I barely knew the 2 youngest ones until they were close to being teenagers. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Before you can enter the booth you see, you must answer me these questions three. 1 - What . . . . . is your name? 2 - What . . . . . is your quest? 3 - What . . . . . . is the difference between a chad and a shad? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Those things begin to explain his bias in thinking the here and now is somehow so special, when it is really the same old game. Appreciate the link; I'm interested to find out more about his agenda. EDIT: BTW nerdgirl, you a history buff, student, or professor? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Norman as a name is Viking (a derivative of Norsemen) in ancestry, and the people were only French by fault of where they eventually settled. Technically, they were Norse & Frank, though even the roots of the Franks are Germanic. What we now call France just happened to be every barbaric tribes favorite plasce to go pillaging. Might explain their early and quick embrace of Catholicism. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

A very interesting piece, and entertaining as well. I can especially identify with the statement about the 52-button remote. I work mostly in the tech world; yet away from the job I like to keep things relatively simple. My remote is way too complicated. I'd like it to turn the TV on and off, change the channels, and control the volume. It has buttons on it that appear to have symbols from the Ukranian alphabet. I'm afraid to push them. My telephone is way too complicated. I'd like to get and make calls, and as a bonus get messages. I have no idea why I would want it to connect to 173 satellites. The CD player in my car is way to complicated. In a sign of real innovation (probably due to space constraints) there are some buttons that have 3 functions; I think depending on which finger you use - but I'm not sure. I'm afraid to use them. The symbols on them appear to be Romulean. Now my old Waring Blender (affectionately known as the Margharita Master 2000X) is my kind of machine. Eight buttons; from CHOP on the bottom end to PUREE on the top end. A single, nice, easy to follow continuum. No 87 page manual needed. A visiting alien would probably be able to operate it first time out - and I'm sure would be pleased with the results. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That must be slang for a Harley. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

You do realize that eggs came before chickens. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Eureka! The solution to American obesity - learn to prepare and cook British. Why has noone ever thought of this? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Animals do not die from gunshot wounds. They die from infrasdtructure and/or operating systems failure. This has gotten entirely too silly. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Excellent couple of posts there billvon. Not only does science not sell, it also a lot more work than clicking on a couple website links (from proponents of either extremity of thought). I'd only add that we are very lucky to have so much of a conveniently inert gas like Nitrogen around; because with all the Oxygen and Hydrogen about, without the Nitrogen the Earth would burst into flames. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

VR/Marg ... personally I'm more inclined to a Fukuyama-esque School of Thought but appreciate the pragmatic 'truths' underlying Huntington. I don't know who Huntington is, but in my opinion, if he is a historian, he is not a very astute one. Cultural differences have been the primary source of conflict since at least 4000 BC or so; not uncoincidentally about the time people started living together in large groups and bumping into each other's territory on a regular basis. The shit going on in the ME is not an exception, and is probably the best example available over the entire course of recorded history. Anyone who thinks the current conflict is not directly linked to the founding and divergent paths the 3 Abrahamic faiths have taken ought to obtain a good history book that covers the period from about 1000 BC to at least the 1700's (AD). Start pre-Roman Empire and go thru the pinnacle of Islamic influence (most are not aware that while Western Europe slogged thru the Dark Ages, Islam was flourishing and a far greater inflence on the world). In this amateur historian's humble opinion, a single seesaw battle of cultures has been waged back and forth for over 1000 years, with a line basically from the Bosphorus to the Suez serving as the fulcrum. There are blips here and there when certain nomadic barbarians have crashed over one or both sides in nearly unbelievable waves of terror (especially the Khans); but the modern history of that area is basically one of cultural indifference turning into cultural ignorance turning into cultural war. Speaking of terrorism; anybody who thinks it is something new the world has to deal with should read up on the Kahns. They make Al Queda look like a bunch of toddlers playing in a sandbox. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Every person's intellect has a limit yes. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I'm a big fan and teacher of the DO IT NOW approach. Haven't done it for a while, but I used to do sessions with kids, some in regular schools and some in alternative learning centers. The thing I'd always wrap up with is DO IT NOW. Whatever is it you think you want to do (even acknowledging that it will almost certainly change over time), start NOW. Not after the Simpsons is over, not after you wrap up some trivial meaningless detail that is probably just so much noise, not after you finish coming up with the next excuse - NOW. Leave the room and do SOMETHING that moves you at least incrementally closer to where you want to go. Then do it again tomorrow. Even if a step goes wrong, even if you have to repeat stuff, keep moving. If nothing else you start to build an attitude of taking charge. There is so much more to what I call Models for Effective Living (examining core beliefs - what you really believe to be true, visioning the future, defining needs, being really honest with yourself and others, and so on and so forth), but the bottom line is moving forward under your own terms. You are going to end up somewhere doing something; why not have as much say in it as possible? There's an old saying: "When you don't know where you're going, any path will do." It's fascinating to watch the different reactions. Some will shrink back, almost in terror. They have already been beaten down, probably by parents and teachers and other adults they have been modeling. Some are already there at the other end of the spectrum, again as the result of early coaching and modeling. In the late Elementary thru Middle School years most are near the middle, and still at least somewhat malleable. That's my target audience. Very fun stuff. I do believe I make a difference, and I strongly encourage responsible adults everywhere to do what they will to contribute likewise. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Sylvia Browne. How fast does it travel thru Sylvia Browne? " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

hey, that's handy-capable alternative lifestyle hearing impaired arctice native americans. sheesh, some people can be so insensative. I lost eligibility on the last adjective. Damn, so fucking close! " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

This issue is unfortunately starting to resemble a trial where each side parades in the experts that agree with their opinion. I wish I understood the science well enough and in enough detail to know who is being political and who is not. I have a lot of wishes lately. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

"It was just a balm." " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Nothing prevents you from editing the subject header, as I have done here. There is no need for a quick reply button. Better to have a single click than to type is all. Taken to an extreme, we could eliminate all buttons and require everybody to work from command prompts. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

NO! WRONG! If someone disagrees with you it is because they are wrong! Stupid is so judgmental. Oh for fucking Mo's sake! another BF refugee. If you read the whole thread you would know that I was criticizing that upside down rat's judgementalness ; I don't need you telling me I'm wrong and then reiterating my point. Wish I could always tell when I'm wrong. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

NO! WRONG! If someone disagrees with you it is because they are wrong! Stupid is so judgmental. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

What's with the bannings from Bonfire? Pretty soon it will be the hot place to be. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

That was very silly, and I demand you stop it at once. Those responsible will be sacked. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

Thank you for such a good explanation. The crowd that takes one too many freshman philosophy classes before moving on to a real education are usually the people parroting the "What is reality" and "Nothing is real" rubbish. People make the mistake of extrapolating fundamentals of quantum mechanics into the everyday world where rocks are big solid heavy objects; even if research in particle physics says they are mostly empty space. It is also good to remember that while some of our ancients broke new ground, and set the mechanics of the scientific method or other avenues of inquiry into motion; many of their specific ideas were at best mind games, and often turned out to be utter claptrap. " . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley