livendive

"Reduce the number of hostile personnel"...you mean "kill" so just go ahead and say it. You're trying to imply some sort of moral justification for one and not the other. "Rebuild antennas for the betterment of society." Really? Do you see the alternate possibility that he just wanted to make some money? Can you see how they might perceive that he was trying to profit from the invasion of that country? Face it. They want to "reduce the number of (American) personnel" and with Nicholas Berg they reduced the number by one and provided a very public discouragement to others. We don't want people there killing our troops, and with each bomb we drop we reduce the number by X people and provide a public discouragement to others. Killing is killing, whether done by aggressors or by defenders. We just have technologies that help us do it more efficiently and still get a good night's sleep afterwards. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Here we get into that wasteland of definitions, specifically of "Iraq", i.e. what constitutes "Iraq" having them. I know that some LAW rockets have been "diverted" into private ownership. If the US were ordered to destroy all LAW rockets, they wouldn't be able to destroy those ones because our government doesn't know where they are. In fact, there is at least one undetonated NUCLEAR bomb that we can't find. If we were subsequently invaded for failure to provide evidence that all LAW rockets were destroyed, and those (now ex) military personnel used them against invading armies, would that constitute justification for the invasion? I'm not saying that this artillary shell was in a similar situation, but the fact that it wasn't marked to indicate its contents nor used to its designed potential suggests it's quite possible. It may have been diverted at some point in the past, and it may have simply been overlooked due to its lack of markings. Hopefully, time and further investigation will tell. In any case, the existence of one or two artillary shells does not justify our invasion. If they turn out to be the tip of the iceberg then I will have to revisit my position. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

When driving home after a couple beers, your intent is to get home. When dropping bombs, your intent is to cause death and destruction. The 'physical' differences between killing them with a knife and killing them with a bomb are efficiency and distance, i.e. the bomb kills more people with less effort and you don't have to see the result from an arm's length away. I'm sure you can well imagine though, that some of those bombing victims suffer similarly long, or even longer, and excruciatingly painful deaths. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

i get it now. Could it really have killed 100,000s though? .... I know it depends on a number of different variables (if it fell into a concentrated area, wind direction etc) but 100,000s deaths seems quite a high number. He said "or", not "of". Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Even a child could successfully argue that Bush poses a larger threat to the world than Saddam Hussein. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Because the US hasn't invaded any other countries, lobbed any missiles, tried to assassinate any presidents, sent money to any armed resistance groups, or thumbed it's nose at the UN and the world? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I'm curious how you'd define that difference. The difference, to me, is simply a matter of denial. Bombs that kill women and children are more socially acceptable because we don't actually watch them die and can always claim some variant of "We didn't know they were there", "We didn't mean to kill them", or more recently "The bad guys were using them as shields." In the beheading example they have no such recourse of denial, and I think that just might be what we find abhorrent about it. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Agreed. He's an absolute idiot, but he's OUR idiot dammit! :-) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

So everyone with an accent is unsuited to hold public office? I have to say considering he had an accent even in his own country (imagine deep Louisiana bayou) his mastery of English is commendable. I respect anyone who speaks English better than I speak their language. You're putting words in my mouth (ok, keyboard). I said these people are clowns. The screaming Howard Dean did earlier this year was nothing compared to some of what Schwarzenegger's done. I agree Buchanan has some "interesting" views on how much the government should be involved here at home, but read his foreign policy pieces. He is very astute. Hell, if I were Pres, he would be on the short list for Sec State. When I typed his name in my post, I was initially thinking of Pat Robertson. I almost retracted it, but then realized I don't have to. Buchanan's a clown too. :-) So all actors are unqualified for public office and setting policy? (don't tell the Hollywood left wingers) I didn't say that. I said Reagan was/is a clown. How you translate that into "all actors are unqualified for public office" is beyond me. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I guess I'm nuts as well. Paranoid: Moderate Schizoid: Moderate Schizotypal: High Antisocial: Low Borderline: Low Histrionic: High Narcissistic: Moderate Avoidant: Low Dependent: Low Obsessive-Compulsive: Low Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

2nd level here as well. We should make this one a poll. I imagine a fair number of skydivers will end up there because of our "appetite for pleasure." :-) Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I've had my Toyota Tundra for 3 yeaers now and love it. It's quieter inside than most cars, and I've been able to haul as much as a ton and a half in the bed (short distances...not safe for freeway speeds!) The new club cab looks sweet (picture attached) except for the plastic over the front bumper. I like being able to push stuff with the bumper and not have to worry about scratching paint etc. Also, the new ones are 3 inches wider, the back window rolls down, and they have a sunroof option. Rumor has it they'll be coming out with 3/4 and 1 ton platforms next year, with perhaps a diesel engine. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

All I know is that the law was followed in both cases. I agree. I was just pointing out that your statements would seem to put you on the "popular vote" side if applied to the electoral college debate. That's my position as well, regardless of whether my guy wins or loses. I think that a single person's vote in Idaho ought to carry the exact same weight as an individual's vote in California. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I believe the marriages in Multnomah County, OR were fully legal. In any case, I agree. It's a good day for civil rights. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Have you ever heard Schwartzenegger speak or seen him try to act? Here's Pat Buchanan's answer to the gay marriage ruckus... Picture of Reagan attached...that plus his way of speaking made him absolutely qualify him as a clown. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Here is a picture of our dz (landing area circled in green). You can easily see how close we are to town. There is one guy who complains about the noise, and I'll admit it can be loud (especially our Twin Bonanza), so we try to do all of our climbing out over the Hanford nuclear reservation (in addition to not being populated, it's good for outs in the even of a problem with the plane.) Anyhow, every once in awhile, this guy complains to the Port, who tell us to try and watch the noise, or he writes a letter to the local newspaper. Actually, the last time I heard from him it was in a hilarious letter a couple weeks after 9/11/2001. He said "Now these guys are even jumping at NIGHT!!" (the dz has been in operation at this location for 35 years or so, with plenty of night loads), and "This is JUST the kind of activity terrorists are looking to exploit." What??! Just imagine some terrorist trying to hijack your jump plane. "DOOR!" and toss the fucker out. :-) Anyhow, so far this guy hasn't been able to get us anywhere near a court, and I doubt he ever will. It's an airport. Airplanes take-off and land there. If you don't like it, you shouldn't have bought a house next to it. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I heard 140something, but the gist is the same. I additionally heard that there was no appeal available because the number was actually picked quite some time ago and the time allotted for appeal has passed (or something like that). In any case, that might just be the rumor mill running rampant. I'm sure we'll hear from the Farringtons when they've decided what their next step will be. They're good people and I'm sure they'll find a way to come out on top, even if it means moving to a new location. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Let me add Al Sharpton and Marion Barry. Of course there are also Arnold Schwartzenegger, Pat Buchanan, Ronald Reagan, Dan Quayle, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and George W. Bush...clowns abound on both sides of the aisle. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Doesn't this sound an awful lot like the "mob rules" concept Republicans were railing against when Gore won the popular vote? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Although neither of those examples sound all that funny, I can definitely imagine some that I would laugh at. The charred body/suntan idea has potential. Something like, "We knew Iraq was mostly desert, but had no idea it was THIS fucking hot!" A few years ago a skydiver friend of mine died and a few of us put together her ash dive. My comment afterward about wearing a full-face helmet was "I know, skydivers are supposed to eat our dead, but she was a little over-done for my taste." I can definitely laugh at my own fuckups, and apply humor to otherwise sad situations. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Any idea what the price per barrel was 6 years ago when I was only paying $0.85/gallon? After watching our prices go up twenty cents in the last two weeks, I paid the most for gas I ever have in my life Wednesday...$2.18/gallon. I'm curious whether the per barrel prices have gone up the same 160% that the pump prices have. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

How come so many people (especially women) don't get that? I get the oddest looks from my girlfriend for laughing at shit sometimes, but it's like given the choice between laughing about something or crying about it, which feels better? Note for every guy who's young enough to have not done this yet...when your woman is chewing your ass so badly that her eyes are bulging out or spit is spraying with her words, REALLY, REALLY TRY to avoid laughing at her. They'll then start screaming, you'll laugh harder, and a vicious cycle of biblical proportions gets underway. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Bwa-ha-ha! Ya gotta be able to laugh during tough times, and I love most politically incorrect humor. Check out the new t-shirt from tshirthell.com. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I would not do it for 100k, but I don't think anyone is. The offers in my field were 180-300k for a one year commitment. Everything over 80k tax free as long as you didn't return to the States in that 1 year period. 3 vacations in the year, transportation and hotel expenses paid, so you could just have a loved one and/or your kids meet you somewhere in the world. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Sonofabitch! I got up the pipes, slid down the slide, couldn't figure what else to do, and now I'm REALLY stuck, i.e. my guy is standing on a plank with three door gears and he'll move around and look at me when I move the mouse over him, but he refuses to do anything else. Won't move gears, won't walk anywhere. Pissmeoff! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)