theloniusfleabag

In no particular order... Mein Kampf The War Hound and The World's Pain- Michael Moorcock. Brave New World The Count Of Monte Christo The Old Man And The Sea-Hemmingway Ecce Homo-Nietschze The Outsider-Camus Inside the Third Reich-Albert Speer and many more... I also enjoy reading any of the seven or eight diictionaries I own, particularly the one from 1942. I also enjoy reading the two 'Britannica Books of the Year' I have, from 1946 and 1961. A whole different perspective.

I do shudder at threads like this, someone is bound to be forgotten and ill-will bred, however mild. I say this because I was flattered to be mentioned by a couple of other posters, and can imagine the opposite feeling of those not mentioned. However, I shall mention only a few of my favourites, plus the reasons for my choices. Hugo (I echo August1991's sentiment...a truly great mind lost. The 'toughest nut to crack') August1991 (a real enigma, I honestly still don't know which side of the spectrum he is on, but he questions the 'story behind the story', and has a very firm grasp of federal politics, but is willing to admit to the cases where he doesn't. A good knowledge of the arts and classical literature, and a world traveller, probably a homo.) KrustyKidd (A fervent right-winger with a soft spot he keeps well hidden. Tremendous ability to back up argument with articles and links of proof.) PocketRocket (A realist with a wonderful sense of humour.) kimmy (Another enigma, seems far-right wing, but I share her disdain for popular culture...and she is witted.) Black Dog (The best of the 'left', with a good knowledge of history and like KK, is willing to do research to back up arguments) I also have a lot of respect for: Mr. Hardner, Argus, RB, Leafless, geoffrey, Melanie, FTA Lawyer....well, most everyone on August1991's list...plus a couple of others. Which is why I was loathe to name names...don't want anyone to feel less (or more) important, me being a leftie and all...

Dear Argus, Well said. I have a similar reason for not wanting Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Lack of foresight is a killer. The Canadian troops would do more for the country by becoming the gov't than believing that they are ready to have 'freedom and democracy' tomorrow. If you are going to rule with an unpopular gov't, you'd better make make sure it's well armed.

Indeed, there is a 'stampede' almost evey year in Mecca, just too many people in too small a space.

Dear Charles Anthony, #2 is unreasonable for so many reasons, not the least of which is that even in the US, schools ban guns. So, technically, even with the 'right to bear arms', there should not have been another gun in that school to kill the shooter. Have you ever noted the suicide rates? More guns would simply mean more people would choose to 'go out with a bang'. (silly pun intended) As to #1, a possibility, but unless they are posted in every room (or at every entrance) there is little to be done, a response time of even a few minutes would generally be inadequate.

Dear GostHacked, They have been caught a few times. The CIA was eventually found to be responsible in the death of a doctor (he jumped out a window) while testing LSD as a weapon on the 'unsuspecting'. I belive it took some 20-30 years for them to admit legal (and financial) culpability. They also towed a barge around San Francisco Harbour that was filled with a 'bacterial weapon' to test how WMD's might be spread. from...http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/cbw/bw.htm There is some speculation that the US tested laser weaponry when they invaded Panama, and some speculation that the Anthrax attacks in the US were in fact perpetuated by the US gov't, in order to test delivery mechanisms. If you'll recall, the particular strain of anthrax used was traced back to a US army lab, and the investigation ended. from... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks As to the 'volunteer testing', yes it does happen. In my "Britannica Book of the Year (1946), prison inmates volunteered to be 'guinea pigs' for malaria infections, (and I assume the were compensated somehow), and I also am told that the police must receive a taser jolt before they are issued one. One officer I personally know said that a friend of his got tasered, and he admitted that it was the most painful thing he ever felt in his life. It is my understanding, though that the vast majority of testing is done on animals.

Dear Argus, While I think I understand where this is coming from, there is no need for 'flamebait'. A bit of a noarrow-minded take on the situation. It could be said that the victims of 9/11 were 'cogs in the machine' of that which is being fought against. I personally don't equate them as such, but....Further, the corrupt, brutal gov'ts are often paid directly (but mostly indirectly) by the 'stockbrokers and insurance executives' to be just exactly the way they are.

Dear jbg, Indeed there were, but rather than address them, the US (and it's media) chose to pretend that it was all about Bin Laden hating 'freedom and democracy'. The biggest 3 were: US troops out of the Saudi Peninsula, end of US support for Israel, and the end of US support for 'apostate' and often tyrannical Islamic 'puppet regimes'.

Dear August1991, I don't believe Argus wants a 'liberal society'. I wholeheartedly concur. I think that the world religious leaders should have to stand up and openly debate all of the present (and past) goings-on, until they all are willing to convert to the right one. Individual freedom is a double-edged sword, for it is my argument that it has been taken too far, where individual responsibility is avoided at all costs. For this, I blame the consumerist mentality, and those that espouse it.

Dear M. Dancer, Actually, this is an example of very successful 'terrorism', for the Soviets were forced to leave. The 'Muj' didn't really want a state, they just wanted an end to foreign occupation. As to the Tamils, guess which country in the region had both trained, and sold arms to, both the Sri Lankan Gov't and the Tamil rebels simultaneously?

Dear jbg, No offence intended, but it isn't your usual writing style. Further, there have been tons of 'cross-posts', plaigiarism and trolling on this forum recently, which has left me a bit skeptical. Otherwise, a good post.

Dear August1991, Here is the biggest lie. Colin Powell had said "Saddam is unable to project force against his neighbours", and that he was "being kept in his box". Strange he would keep repeating this lie. Not as long as their existence can be seen as beneficial to the US.

Wacky. Though you claim to be non-religious, your writing indicates that you are still somewhat a 'practicing Jew'. But, perhaps you mean you are not a 'hardliner'. I found something interesting while trying to see if you wrote this post... http://listserv.shamash.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=...;T=0&P=2604

I also concur with Melanie, and I would think that the jumpers and their numbers has a time and place for discussion, but not exactly anywhere. I would suggest that the 'taboo' is not much more than etiquette and manners. For example, in discussing the Kennedy assassination, one needn't delve into how his brains were blown all over Jackie, of how brains tend to scatter, or the curious places brains may have been found (or eaten???) at the supper table, or in certain company.Now, if you wished to discuss the 'jumper ratios' and it's relevance and relationship with the human psyche, then it should be at the forefront. Remembering the tragedy, though, should also be just that. The gory details aren't really important to the widow(er)s, the orphans and least of all to the victims. I doubt you'd wish a widow of the tragedy to overhear you discussing the 'splatter-pattern' her husband must have left that day, I think you'd be embarrased if happened.

Dear lost&outofcontrol, Yes, however, as far as I know, there was just one "Thelonious Sphere Monk". I was limited to a certain number of characters when I coined the nickname, so I had to drop the 'o'. I am a music fan, and do love Jazz, but not exclusively. I woul;d have to say that my 'musical influences' would be: Tiny Tim, Metallica, Frank Zappa, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, and Englebert Humperdinck. To name a few.

Dear kimmy, Just a quick note, poodles have been crossed with labs, dobermans, etc in recent years, to be service dogs, because they are 'hypoallergenic', and are also highly intelligent. Oddly, they are rated #2 in canine 'intelligence' (behind the Border Collie) and were originally 'retrievers', just like the Golden Retardeds.However, banning stuff from the many for the sake of the few is getting out of hand. Why doesn't someone create a "peanut/service dog/coloured folk -free school" for those that are offended/allergic, and have the rest of the schools for normal people?

Dear Charles Anthony, I suppose my analogy was somewhat facetious, no one can really 'take away the guns' from the US. However, I would be very reluctant to serve anywhere near them. My father and two uncles served in WWII, and they joked that it was equally dangerous to hear that Germans or Americans had been spotted in your sector.

Dear Wilber, Fantastic piece of equipment. However, air power cannot win a war. It's been tried, and it cannot be done.

Dear Argus, I agree. However, if someone 'on my team' accidentally shot another teammate, we'd all feel sad, a bit of anger, etc. and move on. If that teammate did it on a daily basis, I'd take his gun away.

Dear FTA Lawyer, http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index....ic=2676&hl= After the 50th time, what do you do when a pattern develops?

I have seen Niemoller referenced lots of times, mostly by our troll. Lies, garbage and trolling, then snivelling about how 'freedom of speech' should also protect lying, and trolling, and if you don't like it, you must be a nazi. Hogwash. I shall put you on 'ignore' until such is the time that you are banned.

post reported to moderator. Bout time for this garbage to be put to bed.

Dear kimmy, 'Daddyhominum's ad hominum towards you gave me a jolly good wheeze. This is laughable. As is this. A reasonable person knows that, as with most religions, one is brainwashed as a child to conform to their parent's beliefs. Both Islam and Christianity converted by the sword. Even the Catholic Church, during the Sapnish Inquisition, changed their parameters for allowing different beliefs from :conversion or expulsion, to "conversion or death". Yet some followers of Islam are among the few that still hold this pratice as legitimate.

A co-worker lent me a movie last night, called "V for Vendetta". A very similar plot-line, where the gov't 'manufactured' terrorist attacks to enable them to tighten their grip on society. An interesting movie, though it reminded me of "The Last Remake of Beau Geste Guy Fawkes". Of course, there is the examination of 'ends justifying means' and all that. kimmy, The Arms Trade, not just the from the US, but throughout the world, would take a heavy hit if 'world peace' broke out. It is the biggest business in the world.

Dear Toro, I totally agree. Interests in Asia 'own more of the US' than the US gov't, and will continue to own more, so long as the US continues deficit spending without tax increases, and making up their shortfall solely with foreign investment. So, the US dollar is becoming critically dependent on those Asian investors perceived value (and safety) of the greenback. Should that confidence become jeopardized (or, as I have been hinting at, replaced) then they may just call in those loans, or invest elsewhere. The 'crash of 29' would look like a bounced cheque in comparison. However, access to supply is often more important than price. $1 or $100/bbl of oil is irrelevant if you can't get any. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/ The issue was...Iraq has used chemical weapons against Iran, how should the US respond? To that end, the US aided Iraq with intelligence and weaponry, lest it fall to Iran and jeopardize Gulf Oil. evidence here... http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/iraq61.pdf While it is true that the US does not receive the bulk of it's oil from Iraq, the other suppliers would have seen the rest of the world clamouring for contracts to ensure supply, regardless of price increases.