Michele

One of the things that helped my father begin to accept (not understand, just acccept) my skydiving is when I took my gear over to his house and showed him the RSL, the cypres, where the reserve and main live, and so forth. It helped him get a good solid visual of the gear I use, and it helped him over the hump. He didn't know he was in for a gear lesson, and I didn't go into details, but he feels somewhat more secure seeing it and touching it (well, except for the reserve...) for himself. Have fun, and see you soon... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Sure. Talk smack about me. after all, absolutely everything else has gone wrong today, so why not have friends turn on me too?? Sigh... M ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Lummy...I didn't go back far enough, it seems! (And also must have not used the best wording in the search, either! LOL). Appreciate it. Bill, if you want to rehash a thread, bump it up. Or, as stated, we can take it to PM's... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, I didn't take issue with that at all, Bill. What I wanted was a listing of sources you would consider credible. Not intercepted e-mails, or whatever, but a listing of media sources etc that you would not immediately disregard. If you thought I was taking issue with that, please don't. I was asking for information. And that was from a post 6 months ago...why'd it take you this long to ask me about it? And you don't believe certain sources...and some sources you do accept aren't exactly accurate either (remember that quote you kept attributing to GWB that he didn't say?). Look, that quote was from months ago, and if you still have an issue with it, I suggest you bring it into pm's so we can resolve it without cluttering things up here. I'd never said I wanted revenge for 9/11 with SH, although you continually imply that I do. In my research, I found interesting things (Salman Pak, the Ramzi Yousef connection to both Iraq and AQ, etc). But I've never once said that SH is responsible for 9/11...nor that I wanted to "punish" SH for 9/11. Your continuous intimation of that is getting rather old, BillV. So, honestly, asking me what I'd consider proof of something I don't believe is not answerable. BTW, I answered the Ramzi Yousef question some time ago...pity you didn't see it. And it didn't deteriorate into an acrimonious discussion... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Because we don't have responsible folks in the government seat. We have people who think it will be all right to raise taxes to pay for poor spending habits; not correct those spending habits for the future. In your example, Jerry, above...that lays it out beautifully. When one is operating in a deficit, then one must make serious choices - no steak dinners, just top ramen...while it hurts, while it sucks, it also works...and soon, one is out of the quagmire the spending has created. "Why"? Because we have a fiscally irresponsible government. This isn't a flat fee. It's not a usage charge. If it were a usage charge, bus fare would've been raised. Metro fees would've been raised. Nope, instead, they whack people around who have cars, regardless of the car's value, use, or economy of fuel. They sat there, and thought: hrm, what can we do that people will have to comply with or be illegal. Hrm...wow, I know. Everyone relies on cars. People need their cars. Let's triple the registration fees. They'll have to pay them so they won't get tickets,a nd can keep their cars legal. Yeah!!! Nucking futz, I tell ya. (And sorry, Quade, I don't listen to drive-time radio, so it isn't that with me...) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

"Higher taxes" are fixing the state's problems? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I think the point Sparky was making was that the tax doubled...and it is doubtful that his use of his Harley doubled, and it is equally doubtful the value of his Harley doubled. Therefore, the taxes getting doubled/trebled has nothing to do with the use/value of the Harley, but rather a quick, easy way to yank more dollars from the motoring public. I know for certain that while my use of my car has NOT doubled, and the value has definitely NOT doubled (rather, it has lost value, but that's another story), my registration fees have more than doubled. Further, I sincerely doubt that the repairs/upgrades of the road system here has doubled. Just curious - does anyone know if the fares for busses and metro services/trains have doubled? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

In a post BillV made on March 8 of this year, he said: "And it's working - more than 50% of people in a CNN poll thought that at least one of "the 9/11 terrorists was Iraqi, and more than 60% thought Hussein had a link to what happened"... So I went to CNN, ran a search for Poll Hussein, and this link came up... Poll from 9/17 2002 Two months later, some different questions were asked, and the results are here... Subsequent Poll And then I got to this particular poll, which is the only one I could find with "70%" of anything...and it's not that they believe SH was connected to 9/11...but rather, as far as I could tell, that 70% of the sampling was "worried" about the upcoming war... March 18, 2003 (all above links were taken from this site: CNN Search Polls)... And then I went to the Gallup site...and their analysis is subscriber only. However, I found this synopsis from October 1, 2002... And then I went searching broadly... And did locate a number. Scroll to Washington Post 8/03 This poll asks the question: "Do you think Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September 11 terrorist attacks". the number answering somewhat/very likely was 69%. (Poll sampling data was 1003 people asked, +/1 3 MOE). It doesn't indicate if the polls were from a random sampling from one particular locality, or if it was nationwide. It also doesn't indicate where they obtained the data (website polls, telephonic polling, or "mall polling".), nor the time of day that the data was obtained (which, interestingly enough, might skew the results a bit.). So the data is there, but not from CNN that I could find. It's from another site that I've never seen nor heard about, but seems interesting (it has polls from different pollsters and from different angles). It's simply the only poll I could find with that particular question (barring purchasing a subscription to the Gallup site) at all, let alone with the respondents answering at 70%. I found far more polls which indicate GWB's approval rating at 70%... But I can't simply can't find the poll BillV quotes. But torn between me believing BillV is psychic or that he read the data somewhere, I think it's more likely he read the data. I just can't find it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Mikkey and BillV. I had never heard them say it, nor could I find it in speeches and transcripts. Several times people have ascribed things to others which were not said...they spun things, I suppose you could say. I tend to look at source material, and have never said our war with Iraq was in revenge of 9/11, despite what has been alluded to. There is a phrase I use. It's called "already always listening". I guard as heavily as I can against it. It basically contends that people will always hear what they want, not hear what is being said, and are already hearing it before the speaker says it. Because I know this happens, I look for sourcings of things, and read in context what actually was said. I then make my own decision about the subject at hand, generally after much more research and digging. Sometimes, though, this doesn't happen. People repeatedly quote things which weren't said in the first place, until, if they are loud enough and say it long enough, someone thinks it was actually said...makes for some interesting reading and researching. BillV... [Quote ] So the question I would ask is - what did _you_ consider proof? What did I consider proof of what, exactly? And why did you edit out your Ramzi Yousef question? Weren't you interested in the answer? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Mikkey... O.K., a question. In your post (which you didn't source except as today's media, btw, can you source it please? Thanks...), you quote a story with the sentence... ""I've not seen any indication that would lead me to believe that I could say that," Rumsfeld said. ".... Having run several searchs, I can't find where he said definitively that SH was connected to 9/11. I also can't find a place where GWB did, or Rice did. My search technique may not be as advanced as yours, however...so can you link for me where they did indeed say it? Really curious. Not saying they didn't...just can't find where they did. Again, it could be my search techniques are inadequate (likely that). I'd appreciate it! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I love it, Turtlespeed. Very true!!!!!!!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Which is precisely why I don't watch O'Reilly (or for that matter, Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh and the like...)...I don't want to. Simple and easy to watch something else. And if there's nothing else to watch, some music or a book is always available... Since I don't watch them, I really can't offer criticisms on their style, their accuracy, their rudeness or politeness, or their content. And I certainly don't waste my time watching them to find something wrong with them, you know? Should I be in need of something, a quick search on the 'net yeilds tons of sources to find out what I want to know (and often begins a multi-source research project that can, at times, lead to very interesting places...sort of like a word-walk in the dictionary.) And yes, Kiltboy, I agree...it's pretty hard to believe that neither the guests nor the viewers know what they are in for... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Last night, I was watching Dan Abrams. He turned off the mikes to some of his guests, too. Abrams' show is on MSNBC. I suppose the point is simply that others turn off mikes, as well, and aren't called rude for it (not saying you did, Wendy, just drawing a parallel). Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That's just not acceptable, Deucey. You rawk. You're cute. You have an amazing mind, a great heart, a wonderful outlook and contagious optimism. So, remember, if you're hurting, either I need to get irish on someone (and don't think I won't, in your defense) or you have forgotten what an incredible human you are. So hurt if you are, but only briefly. And then, let the hurt go away. Just let it leave, and know you are loved by many (even the guys who won't say so.). goodnight back atcha... Ciels- Michelee ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I don't understand your post, JP. But that's likely because I took some vicodin, and don't understand much of anything right now. BUT! I understand the request for a hug. A "freaking Hug" at that. So here you go. HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How's that? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Ow. Good lord. Ow. See, that's not even an adequate description. how about owowowowowowfuckinghellthathurtandmademehollarowowowowowowowowarewedoneyet? pleasepleasepleaseyesI'mbreathingareyoufuckingdonerippingmeapart??? I didn't kill the Dr. I thought I might have to, but then the procedures were complete. Apparently, I cried loudly enough to be heard in the waiting room. Thanks for the vibes, guys. They really helped. And now the other part - results in 5-10 days. The Dr. wants the state pathologist to make the analyses. Cora, you rock. I have no idea how to express my heartfelt appreciation, knowing you were right there for me. How amazing you are. Thank you so much. I love you dearly. And now, I believe there is a vicodin with my name on it. I hate that stuff, and it makes me hallucinate, so I hereby decry and disavow any inappropriate posting I may make this evening before I pass out. I also apologize in advance for anything untoward I may say. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Lori, I am sending you vibes and thoughts and prayers to you and your family, and especially your Dad. Hang in, and if I can do something to help, let me know. In the meantime, I am sending prayers your way. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You guys are amazing...I am totally scared; but somehow I feel better knowing I will be taking my sky-flyin' friends in with me. Without going into details (which are pretty gross), I am having some biopsies taken. Someone told me to get Sebazz's 3-hole punch (because the equipment used is similar to a one-hole punch) and hand it to the Dr and inform him to do all of them at once! LOL, what a horrid visual! I will never look at one-hole or three-hole punchs the same way again...... It's Drs. last procedure of the day, so at around 3:45 or so, send more vibes...and hopefully he won't make me take vicodin afterwards; I don't do well on that....(right, guys??)... As soon as I'm back, I am sure I will post - and if I can't, Cora will, and let you all know how spectacularly the vibes work. They are coming from all over the world...man, what a great family we are... You guys RAWK!!! Thanks so much. For all of it - the e-mails, the pm's, the posts....really, thanks. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I dunno...I kinda go with the thought that some seriously deadly stuff can be manufactured and dispersed really simply, without thousands of folks knowing about it. If the point is to promulgate terror, one needs just enough to kill a bunch of folks. Seems reasonable to me that it could be done way under cover... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LOL, I used one of those punch cards. I wasn't disenfranchised. My vote counted. I'm not a minority. My county is a large county. I had no trouble with the ballot. Hrm... Just FYI, the 9th circuit court is the most over-ruled court, according to MSNBC, in the US. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

There is a lady I've walked by. She lives with her suitcases on a folding chair under a tree, with her shopping cart next to her. She wears dresses exclusively. They are not new dresses, or even clean, really, but there is an air of former class in their cut and style. She sits there, day in and day out, through the 104 degree heat, the cold chilly mornings. She sits there, watching the cars go by. Watching the people walk past. Watching the world revolve. The tree she sits under isn't very big. Occasionally, I will see her fanning herself, creating a small breeze, designed to cool herself in the brutal summer day. I have never seen water or food with her. I wonder, what does she see? What does she think? Why does she sit, day after day, and what led her to the street in Burbank? What is her story? One day, I walked past her. A tired look in her eyes, she nodded and smiled at me. I said "good morning", and she replied "good morning, Miss". Nothing else was said. Dignity rolled off her, and, once past, I stopped and turned to look. She was watching the street again, as if I were a ghost. Or as if she was. She was, in manner and person, unobstrusive. She was quiet in herself. She was trying, as best she could, to survive the day unnoticed. She is a large woman, but in her presentation to the world, it was easy to not see her, to register her only on the level of awareness on which the trees live...as a fixture, as an "unseen", someone who didn't count. Except - she does count. She has a heart, a soul. A mind, a heart. She has needs and wants - even if they are so small as to be insignificant to me, they are hers, and all she has. And she sits there. Waiting. For something, I know not what, nor whom, but she is waiting... And on this day, the day I walked past, I brought back more than I had intended. I gave her two sandwiches, and a large soda. I brought them back, and, as she refused to meet my eyes, and as she had not asked for anything, I set them on the concrete next to her chair. Not saying anything, I walked home. Several hours later, I drove past her. She had moved her chair into the shade of the tiny tree, and was eating. I was pleased. The ghost lady, at least for one day, was seen, noticed, and cared for. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You might be a lutz if everything bad which happens to you is someone else's fault, and you sue because of it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Blue skies, bright white puffy clouds, and endless joy to you, Tom. Thanks for giving back, in all the ways you did. Prayers for his family, for the witnesses, and indeed all who knew him. Godspeed. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Charlotte is in my prayers, as are you, Ed. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy Birthday, Chuck! Many more, to be sure, all better than the last!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~