>> ^UsesProzac:

I don't care what the circumstances are, threatening someone with rape is never ok.


Where did you all grow up? I'm pretty certain I heard worse 'threats' than this direct at someone every single day in grade school from Grade 7 onward. The cop isn't threatening to do anything but charge them for the offense they committed. Sure, he goes on to suggest that they don't want to go to prison unless they like being raped. He also goes on to not even give them a ticket. If I could trade the two officers that have politely given me tickets with this guy, I would in a heart beat.

Seriously, does this officer really sound that threatening to people? Rude and inappropriate perhaps, but the only thing he threatened to do himself was to write them up for reckless driving, which was after all, his job.

My daughter HAS had congestive heart failure [3 times] and sat on ECMO for 8 days, as we wondered if she would make it out alive and then sat by for another 10 more days fully uncertain of any residual severe brain damage [of which none thankfully proved evident]. I have a video of her watching me record her own heart beating away under a thin plastic film, only to hold that diseased mass in my own hands a few years later. My daughter was born with a congenital heart defect [HLHS], and has undergone a number of surgeries and dramas to spin the hours on cable news...I mean real Dramas. In short, she is weeks away from the one-year anniversary of her 2nd heart transplant...and we are feeling that terror gripping again. What 'gripping terror', you may ask. Well, it's really complicated, this Medical Child In The Family thing.

And that's my point, that no real compelling bit of information was shared. It is FREAKY complicated, and this does nothing to tell their/her story...It just says, "there is this young child that needed an heart transplant and the family was scared about something and the mother is somehow to blame for her "thing"...bummer another child has to die first...and they lived happily ever after. [you can send us money here]". This is also a relatively ho-hum story, as medical dramas with children go, if that is really all to the story...which it isn't, I'd suspect. But why, then bother to tell it. There are some real issues in this MCITF thing. What did you learn from this? About Penny?

So well written. Fucking spot on.

In reply to this comment by handmethekeysyou:
Hey you fucking dicks, stop having fun at this concert by interacting with the people you're here with and start having fun by paying attention to me.

You come to concerts to be a part of something. That something is standing passively, watching me, and contributing nothing except applause, for me, given at the times that I deem acceptable...and of course $45. Well, plus a $7 Ticketmaster surcharge per ticket...and also maybe a $5 "convenience fee". But other than that, you are to contribute only adulation...oh, and $8 as many times as you like at the bar.

Seriously, when everyone is quiet, at my behest, in a room of people, you feel everyone's hearts beating, and all of their thoughts and feelings, like the feeling of power from controlling a room of people. Well not you. You don't feel that. But "you" feel that, you know?

Now we're going to play a game. You know this game. You played it when you were 4 years old and daddy had a hangover. It's called, "Who Can Be Quiet The Longest", or as I like to call it, "Shut The Fuck Up". Here's how it works: I patronize you, like really fucking condescend to you, and then you shut the fuck up.

Yeah, then I don't do what you paid me to do until you do what I say. Why? Because I fucking said so, that's why. Because this is the time when I talk, you listen, and we all come together as one fucking organism that like totally changes our perceptions, our lives, and like the fucking world, you know?

Hey, shut the fuck!

Hey you fucking dicks, stop having fun at this concert by interacting with the people you're here with and start having fun by paying attention to me.

You come to concerts to be a part of something. That something is standing passively, watching me, and contributing nothing except applause, for me, given at the times that I deem acceptable...and of course $45. Well, plus a $7 Ticketmaster surcharge per ticket...and also maybe a $5 "convenience fee". But other than that, you are to contribute only adulation...oh, and $8 as many times as you like at the bar.

Seriously, when everyone is quiet, at my behest, in a room of people, you feel everyone's hearts beating, and all of their thoughts and feelings, like the feeling of power from controlling a room of people. Well not you. You don't feel that. But "you" feel that, you know?

Now we're going to play a game. You know this game. You played it when you were 4 years old and daddy had a hangover. It's called, "Who Can Be Quiet The Longest", or as I like to call it, "Shut The Fuck Up". Here's how it works: I patronize you, like really fucking condescend to you, and then you shut the fuck up.

Yeah, then I don't do what you paid me to do until you do what I say. Why? Because I fucking said so, that's why. Because this is the time when I talk, you listen, and we all come together as one fucking organism that like totally changes our perceptions, our lives, and like the fucking world, you know?

Hey, shut the fuck!

>> ^EMPIRE:

>> ^Janus:
>> ^EMPIRE:
He's a regular guy, and apparently a moron, as he obviously hurt his foot, but seemed just about ready to leave the scene of the accident as if nothing happened.

Actually, you see the driver jump out and run back the same way. It's easy enough to venture that somebody else did get hit offscreen, in the direction they're both heading.

I don't know... the driver certainly did run in that direction. the almost-victim was a bit too nonchalant about it


The guy just dodged death by a heart-beat, and you're bitching about his behavior?

Oh wow, that made my heart beat faster. Awesome.

How short is the typical GOP's memory? the 2003 energy crisis was held by the largest energy companies. At the White House, in closed doors, off the record. They did allow republican congressmen in to the dealings, but not democratic.

To bad Mr. Cafferty doesn't bring that nugget of history up. Would keep the republicans from crying foul.

Knowing history, If the Democrats DID air the debate between the bills, I think we would have the following:

A) The lobbyists would be jocking for position. Using money to 'motivate' a senator to 'vote' how they want. You and I both know, they'd do it in a heart beat. They would also tell their republican senator minions (that's right, minions) of the details.

B) Those who are in the GOP, but not a senator, would just be in a mindless rage. They would walk on the mall, in the freezing cold. Hundreds would die of the cold, because their mind's can only think on so many things at once. And of course, the GOP would blame those deaths on the Democrates some how. You and I both know, they'd do it.

C) We'd get to see what its like to have educated people argue over something, based on the merits, not passionate stupidity, as we saw in town hall meetings across the nation this summer.

winston,
i think we can agree that we have differing philosophies.
that being said,understand that what i say here is in no way an attempt not to change your viewpoint but rather to give historical context.
1.in the 1800's a corporation was a temporary venture between different companies to achieve a common goal,the charter was only allowed if it was for the "common good".when the goal was achieved the corporation was dissolved i.e:the brooklyn bridge.
2.after the civil war a few creative lawyers used the newly written 14th amendment,installed to protect newly freed slaves rights,to create limited liability corporations that would not have to dissolve but rather flourish and have rights as a person.even though a corporation is not an actual person.
3.in the the 1960's (if i recall correctly) lawyers once again got creative and lobbied to have the "for the common good" removed from the corporate charter.which in essence took any morality out of the corporate charter leaving profit as it's sole impetus.
4.a governments role concerning business should be fraud protection.why?because the government is for the people and by the people (in theory at least) and with corporation no longer bound by law to do "common good" it is the last line of defense.
a.the reason i state this is because many people echo the "free market" line.what we have now is nothing close to a "free market".when a corporation can buy legislators to enact laws that benefit their own bottom line in the form of lobbyists we move closer to a plutocracy rather than a people run government.
b.i use adam smith and milton friedman as examples to make my point.for both of these men were huge proponents of the free market but for both of these economists plans to work there needed to be an equal playing field.how can we have a free market when international conglomerates own our political leaders?they own the media so they control the message.

we are a republic.what makes us a democratic republic is our right to vote but if the message is controlled the vote will be slanted by that propaganda.the last thing our government,corporations and financial institutions want is an informed citizenry.

there are two more points i would like to make.
1.you state that you are immune to such manipulations and indoctrinations.
ok.if this is true then why do you constantly use terms like "lib" or "leftie"?
you my friend have been snookered into buying into a polemic paradigm that does not, in reality, exist.the message has permeated your views on people who may think or feel different than yourself.humanity is a far more diverse grouping than TWO ways of thinking,feeling,being.
2.i also saw that you put the responsibilty on the borrower.that in itself is not an entirely incorrect statement BUT according to the GOA it was only 20% "stupid borrowing" while 80% fraudulent,predatory and deceitful lending practices.i could go into further details but there is plenty of information out there to back this statement up.

in summary:
corporations can,and do,much good but they can also do incredible amounts of damage.the way the system is set up it comes down to cost/ benefit every time and maybe that needs to be changed,but when the government and our representatives are in bed with the very same companies that can create/destroy on such a huge scale we should all sit up and take notice.

on a personal note.winston,you sound like a pretty stand up guy but do not project your integrity onto a corporation.they would eliminate you in a heart beat if it profited them.also...dont be so quick to judge those who you do not know,understand or walked one inch in their shoes.life happens and sometimes it aint pretty.
i enjoy our conversations winston.
till next time...peace.

[wind noises]

If I could sample the wind, I would loop it

And let my life poem flow over its sacred beats.

Using Kilimanjaro as my djembe I would drum rainbows out of the moonlight and use them as hooks in between verses; verses of little girls spinning ropes in opposite directions, waiting for an opening to jump in.

As the world turns, double dutch, I jump, double time over oceans and back; the water waves and I wave back.

Rippling echoes of "sunshii-ii-iine" - folks get ground in the "sunshii-ii-iine."

But the lightning flaaash three times and its time for the chorus which includes corn bread, candy yams, and all that good stuff, which black folks on Saturn are made of.

As we approach the second verse the roots of trees are plucked from bass lines, which resonate and shake the earth -- devastating everything that's not built in harmony in it.

The second verse is a journey through the ruins of ruined souls; that valued all that was nothing, and nothing of the all-knowing ever flowing wind - which is the undercurrent of this current blowing, the funky drummer from here to eternity.

But even as ruined souls backspin, the wind mills forward and rocks steady 'till the sun hits the fader and the chorus kicks in; then the moon yells "Go!" and we all backspin -- ZULU! As the moonlight shines true blue silvery indigo light my spirit takes flight - because the moonlight is my indigo; indigo ON, to the break of dawn, I rock rock steady steady 'till the early morn, word is bond I'm talking about seeing your nature in nature innate in your nature - New York states of mind did not create ya.

Not until you listen to Rakim on a rocky mountain top have you heard hip-hop.

Extract the urban element that created it and let an open wide countryside let us illustrate it.

Riding in a freight train listening to Coltrane and my reality went insane and I think I saw Jesus; he was playing hop-scotch with Betty Carter who was cursing him out in a scat-like-gibberish for not saying "Butterfingers."

And like the grains of sand, like the seeds of time, the pains of Man, the frames of mind which built these frames which is the structure of my urban superstructure. The trains and planes can corrupt and obstruct your train of thought so that you forget how to walk through the woods which ain't good, 'cause if you never walked through the trees listening to 'Nobody Beats The Biz' you ain't never heard hip-hop.. and you don't stop, and you don't stop, and you don't...

STOP lettin' cities define you, confine you to that which is cement and brick.

We are not a hard peoples, our domes have been crowned with the likes of steeples. That which is our being soars with the eagles, and the Jonathon Livingston seagulls - Yes - I got wings, you got wings, we all got to got wings!

So let's widen the circumference of our nest, and escape this urban incubator -

You see, the wind plays the world like an instrument; blows through trees like flutes but trees don't grow in cement. And as heartbeats bring percussion, fallen trees bring repercussions; cities play upon our souls like broken drums, we drum the essence of creation from city slums - but city slums mute our drums and our drums become humdrum, 'cause city slums have never been where our drums are from - just the place where our daughters and sons become, off-beat heartbeats, slaves to city streets, where hearts get broken and heart beats stop - broken heart beats become break beats for niggas to rhyme on top, but they rhyme about... NOTHIN'.

You don't got nothin' to rhyme about 'cause you've never seen the moon, your styles can't be universal if you're not in tune, with the... [wind noises]

I hate groupthink, it's always A vs B polarized stupidity. I've seen the pictures of babies in utero. I've bothered to notice all the people born in the second trimester living full lives. I've watched my own daughter on an ultrasound at 8 weeks old, with arms and legs wiggling and heart beating.

You're being stupid if you don't think those are human lives. Sorry, might be rude to say it, but that's how i see it. Close-minded, unthinking, willfully ignorant, etc. Believing life starts at birth might have been arguable 30 years ago when most people had never seen an ultrasound and we didn't have the medicine to support preemies that we do now. But that's just ignorant, unscientific and, frankly, heartless to still claim that.

So drop the stupid lines about women's rights and devaluing women. I've never met a pro-lifer who was pro-life for that reason. If you honestly think that's the motive, then again, you are being willfully ignorant and close-minded.

And those on the pro-life side, it'd be nice if you'd drop the "all or nothing" arrogance. Not everyone shares your theology. So legislating based on that isn't very reasonable. Wouldn't it be wiser to find an argument that should carry weight with the vast majority? How's this: allow abortions up to the point when brain waves can be detected. Fund some studies on that, get some science behind it. Allow people the choice for 2-3 months. That's plenty of time for women to become aware and do something about it.

And pro-choicers, get a clue and stop denying the humanity of the unborn. It's a losing battle. The pro-life viewpoint has been gaining in popularity for decades not because of religious ideology (which has been declining afaict), but because you're wrong. Consciousness, humanity, whatever you want to call it that makes us us doesn't start at birth. And more people get the chance to see that all the time. You can't hide that information from them forever.

Drop the all or nothing, folks.

Excerpt of Bryan's never-delivered closing argument...

Outmaneuvered by Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan never got to deliver his closing argument in the Scopes trial. But soon after the trial -- and Bryan's subsequent death -- the entire text of Bryan's 15,000-word argument was published as Bryan's last speech. Here are a few excerpts:

Science is a magnificent force, but it is not a teacher of morals. It can perfect machinery, but it adds no moral restraints to protect society from the misuse of the machine. It can also build gigantic intellectual ships, but it constructs no moral rudders for the control of storm tossed human vessel. It not only fails to supply the spiritual element needed but some of its unproven hypotheses rob the ship of its compass and thus endangers its cargo. In war, science has proven itself an evil genius; it has made war more terrible than it ever was before. Man used to be content to slaughter his fellowmen on a single plane -- the earth's surface. Science has taught him to go down into the water and shoot up from below and to go up into the clouds and shoot down from above, thus making the battlefield three times a bloody as it was before; but science does not teach brotherly love. Science has made war so hellish that civilization was about to commit suicide; and now we are told that newly discovered instruments of destruction will make the cruelties of the late war seem trivial in comparison with the cruelties of wars that may come in the future. If civilization is to be saved from the wreckage threatened by intelligence not consecrated by love, it must be saved by the moral code of the meek and lowly Nazarene....

It is for the jury to determine whether this attack upon the Christian religion shall be permitted in the public schools of Tennessee by teachers employed by the state and paid out of the public treasury. This case is no longer local, the defendant ceases to play an important part. The case has assumed the proportions of a battle-royal between unbelief that attempts to speak through so-called science and the defenders of the Christian faith, speaking through the legislators of Tennessee. It is again a choice between God and Baal; it is also a renewal of the issue in Pilate's court....

...Your answer will be heard throughout the world; it is eagerly awaited by a praying multitude. If the law is nullified, there will be rejoicing wherever God is repudiated, the savior scoffed at and the Bible ridiculed. Every unbeliever of every kind and degree will be happy. If, on the other hand, the law is upheld and the religion of the school children protected, millions of Christians will call you blessed and, with hearts full of gratitude to God, will sing again that grand old song of triumph: "Faith of our fathers, living still, In spite of dungeon, fire and sword; O how our hearts beat high with joy, Whene'er we hear that glorious word -- Faith of our fathers -- Holy faith; We will be true to thee till death!

Excerpts from Bryan, William Jennings. Bryan's Last Speech: Undelivered Speech to the Jury in the Scopes Trial. Oklahoma City: Sunlight Publishing Society, 1925.

Floating through the midday dreary
My spirit beaten, soul is weary
Going through the constant motions
Caught in a vast gray ocean
An ocean without any floor
An ocean without any shore

Peering through the surface downward
Algae, tang and muck to hoard
Doing this for untold ages,
I'm so very very bored

A glimpse of color in the surface,
something I've never seen
Cutting though the gray and brown,
like a knife infinitely keen

Gone it was, absorbed by darkness
Withered in the ocean's starkness
Gone for ever,
ever more

Again! My eyes are filled with color
Where do all these dreams come from
Like some ancient, unseen drum
My heart beats, thump - thump - thump

Turning all of my sight upward
I see light
burning like a candle bright
like it could my flesh ignite,
Opening my eyes for ever,
bathing in the sight of light

When I woke the light had gone
Shrunken for the coming dawn

Looking down towards the bottom,
colors peering up at me
Orange, blue, red and yellow
White and black and green and more

My eyes had opened up for ever
opened up for ever more.

Round, round, and around
Surrounding my planet
Arousing my planet

Round, round, and around
Surrounding my planet
Arousing my planet

My heart beats madly like a drum
Beaten chamber, almost numb
It's beating faster and faster
Slow down dear, slow down

Round, round, and around
Flying me forward
Thrusting me far
Round, round, and around
You caught me a star

You can make me if you try
Gently like a lullaby
You dig me deeper and deeper
Go down dear, go down

You are the ink, drawing me
You are the mouth, gnawing me
Yours in the voice, calling me
Star, star

You can make me if you try
Gently like a lullaby
Hold me tight inside your arms
Make me feel just like a star
Like a star

You can find me if you try
Slip into the needles eye
Fold me, hold me like a charm
Make me feel just like a star
Like a star, like a star
Like a star, like a star

heart beat away... mccain pun

>> ^MarineGunrock:
W H Y W A S N ' T T H I S M A N M A D E P R E S I D E N T ?
[edit]
Show me a man that has a better understanding of our economy. Without a doubt, the economy is now the most important issue facing America today.
He NEEDS to be president. NOW.



Sorry dude, but a lot of us wholeheartedly disagree with you.

Yes, Ron Paul is one of the smartest men in congress when it comes to certain aspects of the economy. He understands the markets, and our economic history almost more than anyone.

But, after watching him for the last two years I've come to realize that his knowledge is based 100% in theory, and not in reality. He couldn't give less of a shit about your and my reality, or the reality that faces huge swaths of this country. He doesn't give one shit.

He is a "free-market" fundamentalist, and thinks that somehow, CEO's everywhere are totally honest, good men who would only do awesome and honest and good things if that darn government oversight would stop, you know, overseeing stuff. Anyone who's had their eyes open, their heart beating and their lungs taking in breath over the last couple decades understands the exact opposite, and has watched these very same awesome CEO's tear our economy apart, slash our wages, steal our healthcare benefits and 401k's, and walk away with enormous bonuses worth more than most countries GDP.

Ron Paul's ideas of a "free market" are theories, and dangerous ones at that. His theories are one of those "if only" ideas/concepts that have NEVER ever been put into practice anywhere.

I would take a tanked economy with guidance under Barney Frank, than a "free-market" in a country that now has forced-prayer in schools, abortions made illegal, and "states rights" putting an end to anti-discrimination laws, integrated schools, and usher in every completely nutball right-wing extreme-christianist wedge issue you could ever imagine, shoved down the throats of us citizens.

Yes, Obama could do well with putting Paul somewhere in his cabinet, or in the FED or somewhere. But his domestic policies are utterly frightening, and the dude who he just supported for POTUS is one of the most crappy, hacked-out straight-up-white-dude's out there, with a completely laughable and outrageous platform.


Ron Paul is way more of a christianist fundie than you are allowing yourself to understand. "States rights" is a code-word. It's a lie. It's real meaning is to give the states their right to enforce some of the most backward, draconian laws every considered.