freethefly

What's wrong with showing children how to kill a rabbit? People Easily Tormented by Animals "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Why is it that an American kid can be trained in such a short time and be put on a battle field while at the same time an Iraqi cannot? Is it because the Iraqis would rather have Americans do their dirty work? Is it because some Americans are just war hungry? What is the reason? Certainly after all this time they should be ready to take control of their own country. Yet, they are far from being able to even kill a fly. It really is no surprise, considering that the Iraqi people did very little to squash Saddam over the years. Maybe they feared that the U.S. would had intervened to support Saddam if a uprising had occured. Could it be that the majority of able bodied Iraqis just do not trust the U.S.? When one considers that the U.S. was a major backer of Saddam for many years, this may tend to be a reason why so many are just not willing to back the U.S.. It is quite appearent that this war is not going away anytime soon and that many more Americans and unwilling Iraqis will die. How long untill Americans get off of their high horse of whatever the new reason is and see that this is a quagmire and that we cannot force our way of life on to people who clearly do not want to fight for it. Iraqi combat-readiness diminishes By ROBERT BURNS Associated Press 9/30/2005 Associated Press WASHINGTON - Only one Iraqi army battalion seems capable of fighting without U.S. help, a senior American general told Congress on Thursday, leaving some lawmakers worried about worsening conditions there despite his assurances that the overall military strategy is working. Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the number of Iraqi army battalions rated by U.S. officers as capable of fighting without U.S. help had dropped from three to one. This prompted expressions of concern by Democrats and Republicans alike, at a time when many lawmakers and members of the public are growing restless about the U.S. involvement in Iraq and the nearly 2,000 American troops who have died there. "That contributes to a loss of public confidence in how the war is going," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said of Casey's remarks. "It doesn't feel like progress when we hear today that there is only one Iraqi battalion fully capable." The Iraqi troop ratings are important because the Pentagon has built its Iraq strategy on the expectation that it can start bringing American troops home as the Iraqis gradually take the lead in the fight against the insurgency. Casey said 75 percent of the U.S.-trained Iraqi army was at least capable of engaging in combat, albeit with U.S. troops providing support in most cases. He declined to give an exact breakdown of Iraqi combat readiness, which he said was classified as secret, but he said that more than 30 battalions are judged capable of taking the lead in an offensive, with U.S. support. Only one can operate entirely on its own. Casey did not explain why the number had dropped from three in June to one today. But he said the Iraqi army is getting stronger, even though the Ministry of Defense that manages the army lacks expertise and stability. He said Iraqi soldiers performed well in recent battles for control of the city of Tal Afar. Underscoring the continued U.S. presence in Iraq, the House on Thursday passed, 348-65, a bill funding Pentagon operations at roughly current levels as part of a stopgap funding bill for federal agencies whose budgets will not have passed by Saturday, the start of the 2006 fiscal year. The effort to train Iraqi troops and police has progressed far slower than once expected, and Casey acknowledged that it has been hurt by infiltration of the army and Iraqi police by insurgents and their sympathizers. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he was troubled that with such uneven progress in training the Iraqi army, the Bush administration is still planning for the possible withdrawal of some U.S. troops from Iraq next year. Casey said troop reductions are an important part of the overall military strategy for stabilizing Iraq. He declined to predict, as he had in July, that the Pentagon could make a fairly substantial troop withdrawal next year if political progress continues and the insurgency does not grow more violent. But he said under questioning by committee members that troop reductions were possible in 2006. "You're taking a very big gamble here," McCain said to Casey. "I hope you're correct. I don't see the indicators yet that we are ready to plan or begin troop withdrawals, given the overall security situation." Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also testified. Together with Casey and Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command, they also testified before the House Armed Services Committee. Abizaid cited several encouraging signs in Iraq. He said the main battles against the insurgency had shifted to western Iraq, "which is a good sign, a good indicator that Iraqi and U.S. forces are having an effect elsewhere." Also, infiltration of foreign fighters across the Syrian border "remains a concern, but it's down." On a less optimistic note, Casey said political divisions in Iraq could widen if, as he expects, a sizable majority of Sunni Arabs vote against the proposed constitution. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

AirForce 1 to Air Traffic Control...The Prez has just launched a horny gorilla... "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

The University of Missouri has a car that runs on hemp fuel. Hemp is the most versatile of all plants as its uses are virtually limitless. The Feds refuse to aknowledge that this one plant is the answer to our energy woes. Hemp can be cultivated with virtually no pesticides and does not leach the soil as cotton and soybean does. Hemp was a mainstay in this country up untill the Feds started waging war on marijuana. The founders of our country encouraged farmers to grow hemp. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written on hemp. Bring back hemp and save the planet. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Right on, Paul does indeed rock. Another show worth seeing is Ringo Starr. Saw him 3 times and hope to see a 4th. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

So you (and freethefly) would prefer that the U.S. not do any of those things for Iraq? By the way, John, how much did you give and, also, how much of the $600.00 they have collected so far came from the deep, deep pockets of GWB, Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld. The taxpayers who wholeheartedly support this war, maybe they should dip into their personal funds and pay. I never, not once gave any support to this war and feel no obligation to pay to fix something that Bush broke. By the way, I am using my money to do repairs on my own home. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

It's interesting to compare the coalitions built by Bush the Father in 1991 and Bush the Son in 2003. And Bush the Father didn't have to build his coalition on lies, either. He also knew that to continue into Iraq would be a horriable mistake. I recall hearing him say something along the line...You break it, you will have to fix it. I have far more respect for GHB than his son whom I have zero respect for. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I grew up in the military. My father spent most of the sixties in Vietnam. I joined during the Iran crisis. My father was extremely worried for me doing so as he has been to war and was worried that all hell would break loose. I find it alarming that some people are against peace and openly promote war. I am positive that a majority of troops would rather be home. I am also positive that a minority cannot wait to kill and keep the machine rolling. These are the ones that I am speaking of. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***So you (and freethefly) would prefer that the U.S. not do any of those things for Iraq? I would prefered that they had not invaded a country that poised no threat in the first place. I would prefer that our Government would tell the truth instead of whitewashing with false patriotism. I would prefer that the Government would stop and see what they have done to tarnish, even more, the country that I live in. Blowing up someones home and then saying it's o.k., we'll build you another one is much like blowing someones legs off and then giving them false legs and saying all is good let's pat ourselves on the back. It has all spun so far out past the event horizon that there is now no return. They broke it and will not be able to fix it. How sad for the Iraqi people, the American people and the world in general. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***you mean there are shitty people in the world? That's a given. What I was alluding to is how can a person be so proud to what their child has become? From what I gathered from what this guy was saying of the letters from his son is that a good number of the troops have a sense that the Iraqi people are nothing but "shit stains" and that they (the troops) are there to show the Iraqis that the U.S. in now in charge of their lifes. Some of what he said is not what the Government would want the world to hear. That he was so proud that his boy has killed and would be even prouder if his boy got killed is truely sad. How can a person wear the death of their child as a badge of honor? Would these people feel the same way if the Government would also supply them with pictures of their child after they had their head blown off? Would they parade that down the street. Here, look at my boy, now. His guts laying in a pool of blood in a dirty street. His face half blown away. These people who believe that having a child sent to Iraq is an honorable thing should be forced to view the pictures of theirs and other kids after they are maimed or killed. These people need to stop supporting a president whom, himself, did what he could to NOT go to Vietnam. Bush is far worst than any draft dodger of the Vietnam era. He is a man (a very little man) whom, himself, avoided putting himself in any danger, but, has no problem sending someone else's kid into hell. Bush and his supporters are in serious need of a reality check as there is nothing honorable about having the shit in your intestinse blown out onto a filthy street in Iraq. They are NOT dying an honorable death. They are dying a very horriable death and are dying for a lie. I fully support bring them back and shoring up the defense within our own borders. It is not Americas job to change the cultures of the world. Because of that we are most hated for doing so. If other countries do not like their government, let them change it. Stop sending Americans in to do a job that, if they want change, they can do theirselves. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Being one of Chile's offsprings (Saltamontes Jevon R.B. #1224) does this mean that I have a little brother on the way? Either way, CONGRATS on a job well done. Nothing but good vibes to Chile and his beautiful family!!! "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

What a waste of time and money. Much like rebuilding your house while in the path of the next hurricane. I don't know, yet, I imagine that their salaries are far greater than what they give. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Over the weekend I overheard someone recounting the letters his son sends fron Iraq. He talked of how they describe the Iraqi people as "shit brown" and of that the only good Iraqi was a dead Iraqi. He went on to describe how one letter spoke of kicking down doors and showing these walking, talking turds who is in charge. He was proud that his boy can kill those "fucking shit stained Iraqis". He went on to say that if his boy was to die over there, he would be proud that his boy died for the bravest man he has ever seen, George Bush. I said nothing to him as it would had only started a fight. I did however think to myself that this man was in fact a moron and then left. Anyone who is "pro-war" in my opinion is barbaric by nature. Anyone who would feel pride to have their kid die on a dirty street in Iraq needs a reality make-over. Anyone who believes that GWB is a brave man needs to read up on the history of GWB. He is far removed from being brave. Families of US troops killed in Iraq lead pro-war rally Sun Sep 25, 7:13 PM ET WASHINGTON (AFP) - Led by a group of families of US troops killed in Iraq, some 200 people held a rally in Washington backing President George W. Bush's war in Iraq. The number was a far cry from the 100,000 anti-war demonstrators who gathered in Washington a day earlier, demanding the withdrawal of American troops from the battlefield. The US-led war in Iraq has killed more than 1,900 American military personnel and left almost 15,000 wounded. "Efforts to divide the nation by urging America to cut and run only embolden terrorists to escalate attacks on our troops and on Iraqis and leave us vulnerable here," said Diane Ibbotson, who lost her son in April last year. "These so called 'anti-war protestors' should more accurately be described as 'pro-terrorist' supporters," retired serviceman Gary Qualls told the crowd, waving a white cross with the name of his son written on it. "We must defeat the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan or we will be fighting them here," said the 48-year-old father, among 25 familes of fallen US troops who spoke at the rally against the backdrop of an enormous US flag. Attached to the rostrum from where they spoke were yellow ribbons and posters, some of which read "Our families support our soldiers," "Freedom is not free" and "Keep the promise to Iraq." Across the street, a dozen anti-war protestors shouted "Bush a war criminal" and accused the president of lying to the people to justify the costly war. They carried a cross with an attached poster "He lied, they died." A Gallup poll this week showed 55 percent of respondents favored speeding up plans to withdraw troops from Iraq. A New York Times/CBS poll one week ago said support for the Iraq war has fallen to 44 percent, the lowest ever for the poll over the past two years "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Meet the Beatles in 1965. Still have it, along with all the rest of their albums, 40 years later "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Actually, I have gave it a lot of thought. When first diagnosed with a fatal illness ten years ago, I questioned everything. I searched through my bible for answers and came up with a lot more questions that could not be answered. Some of what I read was damning me to burn in hell for what I did, for how I was. Drinking, drugging, fighting and having sex with as many women as possible. Some of what I read countered the former. All in all it merely went in circles and gave me no definitive answers. In the last ten years my way of conducting myself is commendable when I consider how I use to be. I very seldom have a drink, don't use drugs, never get in fist fights and have not been with a woman in ten years. (the last one, really, is not by choice, just that it is difficult to meet a woman who is also HIV+, I refuse to be with a woman who is not due to fear of infecting her). I have become a far better person than the majority of those I know who claim to be christ-like. I do not ride on a high horse and claim superiority over others as many christians do. I merely go about each day working to improve myself without coming off as vain. I honestly do believe that I have a personal higher power that has abled me to see each day through. Believe me, there are times when I do consider ending my life prematurely. It is extremely difficult to spend 99% of your time alone. I know that there are people in the skydive community who do not care for me to be around. Same as outside that community. I also see the same people heading in the same direction that got me where I am today. How many TM's use the sport to screw their students? I have known quite a few. Not many think of their mortal future as well as an eternal future. I USE to believe that I could go on forever doing what I was doing without consequence. I never considered such things as cancer, diabetes, motorcycle accident that could lead to paralysis or loss of limb and I never even considered that I, of all people, would ever get AIDS (I honestly believed that only gay people were able to contract the virus). So, should I be thinking now of an eternal life after death? Should I consider it on christian terms. If I were to think of it in the christian view, I have already bought a first class ticket to hell. I do find it to be extremely vain to say one knows what will become of another after death when one cannot possibly know. If I consider it in my own belief, then all is good and it works for me. It keeps me from blowing my head off. It helps me to stay alive one more day just to see what happens next. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

http://evolutionoftruth.com/evo/evoluck.htm This came up first on the list. Considering my interest in evolution vs creation, it is quite strange. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

What if some of us do not claim to be christian. By all accounts I am bound for hell. AWWWW, what the hell. Listen up... ain't nothing but a thing.... If god is all forgiving, then I am good to go... not worrying 'bout nothing( Cajun thang' I picked up from Mel Cantrell, that somma a bitch wernt worryin' notting)... just alive today as I was yesterday and hope to be tomorrow. "You do your thing.... I'll do mine... you go your way... I'll go mine... and if by chance we shall meet... then, it is beautiful"...Fredrick S. Pearl From a poster I had on my wall, 1972, good acid, good weed, good vibes. Damn it as all good when we knew little but pretended to more. Wish I was 13 again. Hanging at the park. Sweet things floating with flowers in their hair. At such a young age, the world was so new and enticed us all to search for more to entice us. Damn this aging process that only awaken us to the reality that comes with knowing that we are only open to a critical existance that is bound to mock what it is that we, each ourselves, to hold dear. For all who have a sound belief that there is something else beyound a mortal existance. Hold on to that. I, myself? I am agnostic and I hold on to that belief that alll will pan out in the end, however the end may come. Be it a total mal, death by a virus or a gun in the mouth, it is all but a thing. If you are so busy worrying about where you are going to be when the bullet hits the bone, then how can you be happy today or tomorrow? I am not worried about that last breath or where the next flight lands. I am just happy that I lived one more day without pain or thinking about the whole ordeal. Happy to be alive now and not dead. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and there ARE some beautiful sunsets... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks be to God. Chris Actually, it is the results of airborn pollutants that make sunsets so beautiful. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

If you are talking about the James Randi Foundation, I am already familiar with that group. Can I dowse? I did find all the water line and septic lines in back of my place by using rods. Could I find a well in the desert? I doubt it. As far as finding unmarked lines that have been buried for over fifty years, I did not have one miss. Could I prove this? Only those who were here know the truth. I suggest that you try it sometime. I was somewhat amazed that it actually worked. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***Sorry champ, but dowsing, after astrology is the most widely debunked pseudoscience out there…. Most of the time it is the result of the idometer effect, or just luck… Although I will give you the benefit of the doubt here and if you genuinely believe that it works and you can “dowse” then you could make yourself a $Million dollars… Interested????? Besides what effect do you think the water has on the rods that causes them to move???? Nothing mystical about dowsing. Try it sometime. It does work. FINALLY NEW SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE BEHIND DOWSING ----------------------------------------------------------- Divining rods and all common dowsing devices, are the simplest forms of electroscopes. The bent rod for example is just a variation of Gilbert's straw needle electroscope. The divining rods are charged with static electricity from the dowser's own body. This static electricity can be seen quite adequately with a simple millivolt meter. This voltage is measured between the hands of the dowser, to measure this voltage accurately a diff amp should be used at the input to the voltmeter, "this eliminates stray signals which are common to both hands". The amount of voltage will vary depending on the person. A good dowser will have a high reading, "above 100 mv" while a poor dowser may read as low as,"0 mv.". For males the right hand is usually a negative polarity, and the left hand is positive in polarity. These polarities are usually reversed in females. The divining rod charged positively will rotate in the dowsers hand to line up parallel to a negatively charged object being dowsed. A divining rod charged negatively will remain perpendicular to a negatively charged object being dowsed. This is because like charges repel, while unlike charges attract. Thus both bent divining rods are not required for dowsing. When two divining rods are used, and they are seen to cross, one of the rods is being moved to line up parallel with the charged object being dowsed. The other rod is moving to line up parallel to the first rod. A second reason for the two rods crossing is that of dowsing over an alternating current source, such as a pipeline or buried cable. these are usually buried shallow and are conducting ground currents as the path of least resistance. The above statements can easily be proven by, dowsing over negatively and positively charged objects. The devices used in my experiments were, a rubber rod rubbed with cat fur to produce the positive charged object, while a glass rod rubbed with silk was used to produce the negatively charged object. The reason conventional devices cannot detect these positive and negative charges, is probably because of the array in which the charged object gives off it's lines of force in all directions. Most instruments being omnidirectional devices would not pick up the small incremental changes in voltage along the earth’s surface. But the bent divining rods being unidirectional devices, can only turn to line up parallel to the charged object, when they are directly above the charged object. The willow crotch is another type of dowsing device, this divining rod begins to pick up an attraction to the charged object prior to reaching the object, having it’s greatest amount of pull directly over the object. After dowsing with the willow crotch , the crotch itself can laid down and dowsed with the bent rods, which will indicate a charge left on each arm of the crotch, one positive and one negative. A metallic pendulum attached by a wire will take on the charge of the hand it is being held by. A pendulum held by a nonconductive string will take on the charge of the last hand which held the pendulum. The pendulum when rotating above an object of a similar charge will continue to rotate and eventually swing back and forth perpendicular to the object. This pendulum when rotating above an object of the opposite charge will start to swing back and forth parallel to the object being dowsed. Caution here when dowsing an object you have touched the object will usually take on the charge of the last hand that touched it. This can be demonstrated by dowsing over an object such as a table knife depending on which hand touched the knife last an opposite reaction of the dowsing device will be seen. Another interesting phenomenon To discover the depth of a water stream underground some dowsers use a long rod, made of either iron or a fresh cut poplar pole. This pole is held by one end near the located underground stream, the other end of the rod is allowed to oscillate up and down directly over the stream. The number of oscillations are counted and this is the approximate number of feet below the earth where the water will be found. This action can also be demonstrated, by realizing that the rod is just a pendulum working in a vertical plane rather than a horizontal one. To duplicate this action a charged object can be placed on a table, by having a pendulum swing back and forth, a few feet away, and in the same horizontal plane the number of oscillations can be counted. By moving the pendulum closer or farther from the object the number of oscillations will decrease or increase. When this is graphed, number of oscillations vs. distance, a straight line graph will be observed. By varying the length of the wire on the pendulum, the slope of the line will vary. My theory here is that a static electric wave or pulse is being sent to the object being dowsed, this charge is being reflected back from the object being dowsed, when it reaches the pendulum again as the same charge it stops the oscillations, since like charges repel. Giel Dutoit of South Africa sent me info on a discovery he had made. If you place a 250k ohm potentiometer between the dowsers hands as he is dowsing. You will see a decrease in his dowsing ability as this resistance is decreased to a zero ohms. In testing this I have also found it to be valid. Giel can be contacted at gieldutoit@hotmail.com The significance of these finding are overwhelming . The applications in which dowsing has been used is HUGE. When all of these applications have been explored scientifically Mankind will take another leap forward. For reference to differential amplifier circuit click here. For further Scientific information on the subject, check out: JohnWilcock also Dr. Hans Dieter Betz TEN YEAR DOWSING STUDY and Human Energy Field (scientific theories) Part 1 and Part 2 or e-mail Ken Tylosky "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***No, don’t believe in Satan, or the devil, God, Jesus, or Father.... dowsers,.... Dowsing's real. I had to dowse for the septic lines outback. Used two 1/8th copper wire about 20' long with about a 2 inch bend at 90 on one end. Balance between thumb and fore finger whilst holding hands apart 6" to 12'. Rods will move towards each other to form an X when aproaching and passing over water. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***Just so you know, I also believe alcohol has the same affects as these other substances (if abused), but these affects can be less dynamic in nature and the timeline is typically longer, allowing for some measure of correction. That cannot be said for most illicit drugs. You should research your statement. Alcohol abuse has done far greater damage than all of the illegal drugs combined. On a side note, the greatest danger of marijuana use is being arrested. I much rather be around people who just smoke pot than people who drink, even those who drink occasionaly are extremely obnoxious after a few drinks. Pot smokers do not act in the manner of a person who has been drinking. People who drink are prone to being violent, causing property damage, missing work due to hangover. Not to mention medical cost for liver damage and other ailments contributed to alcohol. Solely because one is legal and one is not does not make it better for society. I understand that you feel that alcohol has the same affect has other drugs. Though you point out "if abused". Also a "legal status" does not constitute culture. Marijuana was legal up until, I believe, 1937. Legislation of cannibis was racially based and villified by Harry Anslinger. Not to say that cannibis use is completely without harm, it, however, should not be classified with heroin as it is. All the while a more dangerous drug, cocaine is classified as a schedule 2 drug and has done far greater damage to society. It is mine and a majority of Americans belief that cannibis should be legal for adults who responsiable, same as alcohol is. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***Surfing the blogs I can find "other reports" that extraterrestrials were there too. No, we weren't there. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Maybe the ABA can find work for him as a stableboy. Plenty of money can be made shoveling shit. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

***As it is - she'd probably be put on a 'watch list' What kind of watch is it? Timex or Rolex? Sure would be nice to have a Rolex but will settle for a Timex. Put me on the list. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young