peregrinerose

Isn't Cynthia Voigt great? I loved her books as a kid, still have most of them now. How about comparing it to being locked in a box. No other people allowed to visit you, you not allowed to visit them. That is what being a nobody is like, total invisibility, intentionally walling yourself off from the world. You matter to no one, no one matters to you. If you are locked in that box, it is impossible for anyone to throw stones at you or hurt you. But it is also impossible for them to crack a joke and make you laugh. If you open a window to that box, you take a chance at having a stone thrown at you. But you also take a chance at having someone tell you a good joke. Which is better, to be in a box and never feel pain and never laugh, Or to open the box and feel pain, but also be able to laugh. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

TSO is awesome. I have tickets 5 rows from the stage for the Hershey show Dec. 5th, my third consecutive year going, and my husband's 4th. My favorite is their version of Flight of the Bumblebee. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm with you guys. I would have voted for Powell in a heartbeat and actually been happy about that vote instead of going for the lesser of two evils in every damn election. However, the people who truly would be good and ethical in the position tend to not run just because of the quagmire of horsecrap they would be getting themselves into. From what I have heard, Powell was unhappy with how the war in Iraq was planned, so that is part of his reason for resignation. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Feel better, damnit!! I want to see you at cburg instead of crossing paths all the time

It sounds like a good amount of speculation with regard to what his motivation was. But to kill oneself over an election when far more positive options are available (move to canada) is sad. It seems he must have had other issues besides the political one alone. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Yes, but the opposite direction. I'm on an email list with 1500 other ODs. They are primarily white, male, 50ish, and republican. I get quite a bit of hate mail from them since they know I voted for Kerry. Frankly, I don't give a damn. If someone doesn't like me because of a difference in opinion, that is just tough shit and they don't deserve me bothering with a response. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

amazon.com Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It doesn't matter to me which party has a complete stronghold on government, the scary part is that a stronghold on government reduces us to virtually a one party system instead of having at least some degree of checks. It is bad enough that there are only 2 parties now. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree. Most of these people who want to be euthanized are on a LOT of medications, IVs, respirators, foley bags, catheters, feeding tubes, or some combination of the above. What is the difference between euthanasia and the person refusing all medical care? It isn't God keeping these people alive, it is modern medicine. If someone refuses all medical treatment, and the family supports this, they would not die in peace, it would be very slowly and quite possibly painfully. Isn't it far more humane to allow for euthaniasia? Is refusal of medical care the same thing as suicide? Is it the same as euthanasia? Can a person be forced to maintain medications or other means to keep them alive? My feeling is that just because something can be done doesn't mean that it should be. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

A hawk killing a squirrel is a normal part of the circle of life. Even a hunter killing a deer is normal. Butchering a lot of animals for absolutely no reason, not for meat or skin or anything else and just leaving them to rot is not natural. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Let's not see this degenerate into an abortion thread. This is about endangered species that someone went out and bludgeoned to death. It would be like knocking out the entire redwood forest. It is truly sick and sad, and I can't imagine the kind of wrath and hatred the person who slaughtered that many animals must possess. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I live on about $850/month food, shelter, utilities. When I lived in Philly as a student, I lived on $500 a month for the same thing. I would kill to have $1000 month to pay those basic bills. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree it was a hefty statement. I voted for Kerry and am truly frightened about Bush filling so many Supreme Court seats. But it is always possible that my judgement was wrong. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

My opinions are the same here as in real life. In real life I don't debate nearly as much as here. Pretty laid back, infinitely quicker to laugh than argue. I'm also extremely shy in person with people I don't know. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Getting your eyes checked is about health, not prescription. You could have glaucoma, no symptoms, and be slowly losing your optic nerve. With dilation, we check the blood vessels of your eye, this mirrors the blood vessels of the body. Things like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart valve problems, blood clotting disorders, and certain medications all affect these. We look at the optic nerves which is a part of the neurological system. This can show evidence of MS, brain tumors, pseudotumor cerebri, and other problems. We look at the retina, which is a fairly common place for cancer to metastisize to. On top of all that we check for all the eye diseases as well. Looking at the front of the eye, including tears, lens, and iris can show things like autoimmune disease. Eyelids can be affected by many skin disorders. Having had lasik, you are at higher risk for retinal tear/detachment, as well as corneal problems. These things are a much less of a problem if caught early. Vision is important, glasses/contacts/lasik are important, but is not the reason for eye exams every 2 years if you are young and healthy (more often for kids and old people and those with health issues) Your eyes are a part of every system of your body. Take them seriously. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I am confident to some degree which is why I hurtled myself out of an airplane voluntarily to begin with. But after I jump, I definitely have that 'I can do anything' sense which reflects in my attitude. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree. However, my reasoning is because if the free birth control program was already in place, there would be absolutely no excuse for whining if they pop a kid and have benefits cut back. There can not be any lawsuits saying 'I was on welfare so couldn't afford birth control, now I can't afford to take care of my children.' If BC is free, this is a non-arguement. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

This is a really interesting thread to read, how something we love binds us all together, but we cope with various aspects of it so differently. Yes, I'm afraid to jump. On the ground and the ride to altitude my hands shake, my mouth dries out, my heart flutters constantly, I run my jump through my head repeatedly so that I know exactly what to do and what to expect. I force my way through that terror so that it doesn't defeat me. I also know that as soon as my head is hanging out the door of the plane at the beautiful landscape below and the 14000 feet of freedom between earth and myself, that the fear is worth it. It dissappears completely, and I fly. On landing, I am nothing but smiles, even though I have so much to learn and do not acheive perfection with every jump and landing. I am proud of having done it again, and relaxed for those few minutes of freefall and canopy are the only time that I am not stressed out, not thinking about work and problems and everything else in my life. Skydiving is the only thing that focuses me completely, and knowing what the end effect is, fear is manageable. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I think that the only people who deserve mandatory birth control are those who have had their children removed from their care due to neglect, abuse, or other issues. They should not have the right under any circumstances to produce another human punching bag. I agree that welfare encourages people to have litters of children. Benefits (checks written to parents, not health care benefits) should be cut for each child born after initially enrolling in welfare rather than increasing them, but ONLY if free birth control of the parents' choice is available at no charge to make this a feasable option. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

3 surgeries on one eye?!?!? No wonder your lens is starting to get cloudy, all that trauma going on. And THAT is why I make sure patients know exactly what can go wrong with refractive surgery and only send truly ideal candidates for it. It isn't something to be taken lightly. Your starbursts at night is probably as much from the surgery as dilation since the light will hit the interface of surgery/non surgery zones of the cornea and scatter quite a bit. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Usually carry a S&W .357 (made of scandium, very little and the rounds weigh more than the gun). Also have a glock 9mm, but rarely carry that one, the grip doesn't sit right in my hand. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree, but if the total spent by people on the stickers was added up, how much by way of supplies could be purchased to keep troops safer over there? Stickers are fine, but I agree that true support of troops means more than a sticker on a car. And what's with these cars with 10+ stickers on them? I saw one the other day with 15. Unbelievable! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree with you. If I truly have no clue, I don't vote on a certain race. The problem with that is that other morons who have no clue don't have that kind of restraint so in the end the candidate is voted in by total guesses of idiots who pick whatever candidate has a bigger sign at the entrance to the polling place. I have no idea what a good way to handle it is. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I'm a registered republican, and I still find Rush irritating as hell. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It could be nasty mucoid crap from allergies or nasty pussy crap from bacteria. Only way to tell is look. What drops are they? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda