^I guess you haven’t been to the rest of America lately, because while Oregon might only have full-service fuel stations, I can tell you from first-hand experience that the following states do not, as I have driven in every one of them:

Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Pennsylvania
New York
Massachusetts
Delaware
Maryland
Washington, DC
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
Kentucky
Missouri
Kansas
Oklahoma
Texas
New Mexico
Arizona
California
Colorado
Wyoming
South Dakota
Montana
Utah
Idaho

In all those states, I only recall visiting ONE full-service station. It was on I-90 in New York state, in the summer of 1989. It was a station that was full-service only, and you had to pay the extra quarter per gallon for it too. Even then, they didn't clean your windows, empty your ashtray, or halt traffic so that you could safely re-enter the road. They just pumped the gas, and then they expected a tip too.

So while full-service may be the norm in the Oregon, it isn’t anywhere else I’ve been, nor is it the norm for most non-Oregonians.

>> ^dystopianfuturetoday:
I'm still scratching my head on this one. This appears to be an awful choice made by a desperate nominee. Hillary's people are roundly rejecting Palin on the blogs, so I have to wonder, is this the huge blunder it appears to be or is it part of a larger strategy?
Full Quote: "As for that V.P. talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that V.P. slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can even start addressing that question."

OK, what internet meme does this remind you of?


I call *meme about to be born.

http://www.videosift.com/video/Uhhhwhat-did-she-just-say-Miss-Teen-South-Carolina-2007

I win!

[GOP loses... though if they win, America loses]

That was pretty good, but like many atheists I don't have a problem with christianity's message. I have a problem with the way it's practiced by 99% of those who "believe" and the fact that they try to tell me how to act.

'Treat others as you want to be treated' and 'help those less fortunate than yourself' are both good ideas. I just don't need an imaginary friend to make me feel guilty in order to practice them in my life. See, I've got true free will and not christian "free will". I make choices because it's the right thing to do not because it will get me in good with the big guy in the sky.

Oh, and the only proof for any of it is a collection 2000 year old books and an oil stain in the shape of the virgin mary on the floor of some NASCAR fan's garage in South Carolina.

In reply to this comment by thepinky:

Taxpayers (including single mothers) pay for government waste, pointless wars, and yes, the occasional freeloader. We pay for the National Wildlife Turkey Federation in South Carolina, for transit centers for minor league baseball teams, for halls of fame and a million other ridiculous things. Wouldn't t be better to fund those sorts of things at a more local level instead of wasting so much money on overhead?

So, basically you think that the idea of taxes and providing a good social network should be thrown out because the current government isn't doing it right? No government is going to get it 100% correct, but the idea is sound, and the public has to vote in, and then lobby, governments to use the money in their best interest. You can't leave it all up to local areas to handle, because that means the small cities/towns will never have much money and slowly die, while the large cities get more and more money as everyone has to move to them as they're the only places with amenities because no-one was there to spread the country's wealth around to all the areas that need it. You need to have everyone pitching in, and then people that have been voted in, supposedly because the voters thought they were the best people to handle it, fairly divvy up the proceeds.

The problem with not having taxes, and having everyone supposedly giving money to where they think the money should go is that it never works... even the most good hearted of people will have times when they go "I just can't afford to give $x to Y, I need that money now for a, b and c"... but if you already have that money taken out of their wage, then they seem to get by just fine without it, and the money can be put to good use.

And that's assuming that everyone is good hearted in the first place... which is not the case, and the wanting to give money to others seems to decrease with one's wealth usually, such that the majority of the rich would keep all their money for themselves.

It would never, ever, in a million years, work.

Yes governments need to handle the money better... for one thing stop spending so darn much on the military, spend more on renewable electricity generation and electric cars (I mean, come on, we could ALREADY be powering ourselves via renewables and driving electric cars... humph)... but just because they're not doing things right now, doesn't mean the answer is to stop taxes altogether.


I don't care about Joe Shmoe's birth control. It is not a neccesity. I don't care how good his sex is. I intend to use birth control pills. I never had my teeth straightened. I still have my wisdom teeth. I'm not complaining about my quality of life. A vasectomy is a luxury, plain and simple.
Hmmm, so you plan to use the pill after you've had kids, all the way until menopause? I think you may wish to look into the health issues with that. The pill does some pretty bad things to a woman, and the longer you use it, the worse it gets. here, here and many other places besides.

And thinking of a vasectomy as a luxury is dead wrong. Having the state pay for it SAVES the country money. You avoid many, many unplanned pregnancies that lead to more social welfare and other problems. By the cheap, safe, effective vasectomy, you eliminate a whole host of costs associated with extra, unplanned/unwanted kids.

Also, not having your wisdom teeth out... come on... for many people (like myself), they were causing excruciating pain and problems in my mouth... you think it's a luxury to have that pain stopped do you? You're falling into the trap again of 'well, I didn't use X service, why should I fund it?'... well, I'm sure you have used many services I would never use, why should I fund them? It's a case of "We all chip in so that everyone can afford the things they need".

You don't have to explain all of that to me. I understand and agree with it. I know that the majority of people benefitting from social programs are wonderful, deserving people. I'm not rich, either. I know what it's like to earn nothing and survive on it. Even then I was not happy with taxes because my taxes weren't going where I wanted them to go. Were you listening to what I was saying? I would be happy to share my money with whoever needs it, and I do! If everything was all fuzzy wuzzy like you said; taxes going to poor little elderly folks, single mothers, disabled people, etc., it would be great! I would love and adore taxes if that were true. I would love taxes if they simply funded transportation and education and medicare and welfare and all of those good things, but I know that this isn't the case. Taxpayers (including single mothers) pay for government waste, pointless wars, and yes, the occasional freeloader. We pay for the National Wildlife Turkey Federation in South Carolina, for transit centers for minor league baseball teams, for halls of fame and a million other ridiculous things. Wouldn't t be better to fund those sorts of things at a more local level instead of wasting so much money on overhead? I just found an IRS study that says that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides about $31 billion in refundable tax credits to 19 million low-income families. Great! However, the IRS estimates that $8.5 billion to $9.9 billion of this amount, nearly one-third, is wasted in overpayments each year. Ick.

My siblings and other family members have had to make use of "those services," and I very much appreciate their existence. I don't believe in the idea that people on Welfare are lazy drunks. I agree with Karl Marx about a lot of things. But Welfare IS abused and it needs to be a system where we encourage self-reliance and help people break the cycle of poverty instead of perpetuating it. And I think by "a couple of bad eggs" you mean tens of thousands.

I don't care about Joe Shmoe's birth control. It is not a neccesity. I don't care how good his sex is. I intend to use birth control pills. I never had my teeth straightened. I still have my wisdom teeth. I'm not complaining about my quality of life. A vasectomy is a luxury, plain and simple.

I've long thought evolution and religion can be compatible, its the people and institutions that are inflexible. At our current level of scientific understanding I think there are plenty of places to <insert creator influence here>, and I know many people that do just that. Truthfully, as an atheist, I don't mind those that are hardline literal scripturists. Its their right to choose what they do and don't believe in. I don't want to be told what to believe and neither should they.

My problem is when religion is pushed upon the populace as a whole. Laws whose only basis in reason is religion, or trying to wedge God into and on every aspect of society. Trying to get creationism out of the science rooms, or religious views/symbols out of law isn't an attack on religion its a defense against it.

I saw an interesting article today (I wish i could find again) talking about South Carolina's proposed "I Believe" plates. Though (as far as I can tell) the plates are an option, a lawsuit was/is being brought against the state by individuals trying to keep church and state separate. When i read the article further I was surprised to see it was being brought forth by four Christian pastors, a Rabi, and some Hindus. Though I don't remember the article going further into it, I can only guess they feel as I do, and that government has no place promoting one religion or denomination over another. Either promote all equally (including a lack of religion) or keep their noses out of it completely.

eh, she's not that pretty.


ohh you weren't talking looks? yeah i see it now. twins?

>> ^Shepppard:
Does the end of this video remind ANYbody else of Ms. South Carolina?

Does the end of this video remind ANYbody else of Ms. South Carolina?

I thought the same thing when I read yours. I'm sure we do have much in common. Wow, I feel for MKs. You know I was groomed for missions work when I was a teen. My big break from "faith" happened in bible college actually. It took a couple of more years before I actually acted upon it and left the church.

Tequila, whew! heheh No thanks. Tequila is not nice to me

I thought when my kids were a little older and could leave them with a sitter for a weekend, it'd be fun to throw a gathering somewhere. That'd be something eh?

Have a great weekend.

In reply to this comment by laura:
boy oh boy do we have a lot in common!
A few differences I noticed, however, are that my hubby and I like margs or straight Hornitos tequila, and my man is usually playing solitaire on the 'puter (even though I have been trying to get him hooked on other games to no avail) while I sift...would love to meet you and your family some day! I'm so tempted to hold a sifters gathering, you know?
Have a great weekend!

In reply to this comment by swampgirl:
I had written you all this really wonderful little story about myself and I hit backspace out the window by accident and lost it. Damn! Do over! Ok, but a fast one:

I'm Kim

I'm originally from a rural area of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. I came from a strict Fundie Baptist upbringing. I rejected my indoctrination around age 23 and I now consider myself agnostic. Back in the south, I'm an in-the-closet agnostic so to speak until my mother passes. Sad huh? Well, with family it's complicated isn't it.

I met my husband while living in Charleston, SC back in my mid twenties. I was really horrible to him when I dumped him for an adventure in Japan. I loved that year I spent there, but it cost me some time I could have had with him. I regret that. Luckily we found each other again and we have been happy ever since.

We live in Indiana now along with our two kids, 3 dogs and various caged small animals. I've been home schooling our two kids for 2 years now.

My idea of an ideal Saturday afternoon is sitting here w/ my guy having a laugh sharing some nice bourbon while the kids play in the backyard. He's usually on the xbox while I'm sifting.... It's my happy place

A family picnic on a blanket at the park would have been my favorite, but since it doesn't have wi-fi....

I've been a member here at Videosift for two years I think...

I'll be 39 again this October.

boy oh boy do we have a lot in common!
A few differences I noticed, however, are that my hubby and I like margs or straight Hornitos tequila, and my man is usually playing solitaire on the 'puter (even though I have been trying to get him hooked on other games to no avail) while I sift...would love to meet you and your family some day! I'm so tempted to hold a sifters gathering, you know?
Have a great weekend!

In reply to this comment by swampgirl:
I had written you all this really wonderful little story about myself and I hit backspace out the window by accident and lost it. Damn! Do over! Ok, but a fast one:

I'm Kim

I'm originally from a rural area of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. I came from a strict Fundie Baptist upbringing. I rejected my indoctrination around age 23 and I now consider myself agnostic. Back in the south, I'm an in-the-closet agnostic so to speak until my mother passes. Sad huh? Well, with family it's complicated isn't it.

I met my husband while living in Charleston, SC back in my mid twenties. I was really horrible to him when I dumped him for an adventure in Japan. I loved that year I spent there, but it cost me some time I could have had with him. I regret that. Luckily we found each other again and we have been happy ever since.

We live in Indiana now along with our two kids, 3 dogs and various caged small animals. I've been home schooling our two kids for 2 years now.

My idea of an ideal Saturday afternoon is sitting here w/ my guy having a laugh sharing some nice bourbon while the kids play in the backyard. He's usually on the xbox while I'm sifting.... It's my happy place

A family picnic on a blanket at the park would have been my favorite, but since it doesn't have wi-fi....

I've been a member here at Videosift for two years I think...

I'll be 39 again this October.

I had written you all this really wonderful little story about myself and I hit backspace out the window by accident and lost it. Damn! Do over! Ok, but a fast one:

I'm Kim

I'm originally from a rural area of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. I came from a strict Fundie Baptist upbringing. I rejected my indoctrination around age 23 and I now consider myself agnostic. Back in the south, I'm an in-the-closet agnostic so to speak until my mother passes. Sad huh? Well, with family it's complicated isn't it.

I met my husband while living in Charleston, SC back in my mid twenties. I was really horrible to him when I dumped him for an adventure in Japan. I loved that year I spent there, but it cost me some time I could have had with him. I regret that. Luckily we found each other again and we have been happy ever since.

We live in Indiana now along with our two kids, 3 dogs and various caged small animals. I've been home schooling our two kids for 2 years now.

My idea of an ideal Saturday afternoon is sitting here w/ my guy having a laugh sharing some nice bourbon while the kids play in the backyard. He's usually on the xbox while I'm sifting.... It's my happy place

A family picnic on a blanket at the park would have been my favorite, but since it doesn't have wi-fi....

I've been a member here at Videosift for two years I think...

I'll be 39 again this October.

The shoulder pads and the hair, my god, I feel so embarrassed to be an American.

We might need to start a Ms South Carolina channel between her and the map girl.

lmao @ ms. South Carolina blending maps

Edit: There's also some hovering thing in the collage at the end that I cant figure out..you can see it the last time you see the South Carolina chick, behind her to the left.

The "Haiti UFO"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up5jmbSjWkw

Upon a bit more research, theres a Dancing Donald Duck and two alien lookin things at 2:37 which may be something to do with

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nz2ADowyy1I&feature=related

Edit: There's also some hovering thing in the collage at the end that I cant figure out..you can see it the last time you see the South Carolina chick, behind her to the left


Now, we can prettymuch just close youtube, and just link the website to this movie.