theloniusfleabag

Evidently, scientists have 'developed' a pig that glows in the dark... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4605202.stm Now, how are we supposed to know if it is safe to eat that green leftover porkchop in the back of the fridge? Would it be alright to eat genetically modified and cloned 'long pig'? We really aren't that far off.

Whoops, accidentally posted this twice. please read the other one, not this one.

Dear August1991, Don't forget the voter. Much of the opposition to opening the border is found in the US rancher's 'lobby', as it were, and being seen as 'protecting the farmer's livelyhoods' goes over well at vote time. Everyone likes labels. I suppose the USA is seen as the 'greed capital' of the world, so if one is 'right wing', it is assumed that they wish everyone to be like the USA. Not all 'right wingers' are pro-USA, to be sure, just as not all 'left wingers' are communist. But, the 'labels' fit easily. Actually, it is not the fact of 'refusal to buy' that rankles many, it is the refusal to trade fairly or live up to 'contractual obligations'. I would much prefer our lumber to stay where it is. We send our raw resources out and buy back junk at inflated prices. I'd rather see the junk made here. As speaker opines, Forests are reasonably renewable if managed properly. Our oil and NG, well, we can get richer by selling to greedy wastrels, but water? No way, too precious (or at least it will be, and sooner than many people think).

Dear tml12, Hate to attack the writer and not the writing, so I'll try to do both. Paul Jackson makes me cringe at how rabidly right wing people can be in Canada. I have read his stuff in the Calgary Sun for years, back before his tenure as the editor. He believed in and supported South African apartheid, and thought they were a great country. He is an ardent zionist and extremely pro-USA, to the point of making me wonder what on earth is he doing in Canada. From Jackson... If it were only so easy, simply swear fealty to a new potentate, and all of your wishes will come true. What would playing the role of sycophant cost? A billion a year to keep troops in Iraq? Free water?

Dear eureka, The only reason I used the term 'desperate' is because that is exactly what it seems like. As Wilber points out, There was not an inkling of this stance from Martin, nor any Liberals, for the many years they have been in power. Why is it brought up at the eleventh hour, if not from desperation?

Dear newbie, Indeed, it was difficult enough to wade through the 'troll posts', but now they are long and colourful.

Dear kimmy, I also see this as an incredibly desperate move, by a very desperate man. I believe he was trying to corner Harper into admitting that the CPC planned to use the clause (as per Liberal accusations). Now, with Martin himself having said that he would use the clause to defend religious groups, where does this move leave his promise to them? In my opinion, Martin just painted himself as the man who would stab his own mother in the back for a chance at re-election. Bases are loaded, and Mighty Martin is up to bat, swinging for the home-run, and a come from behind victory. However, after 2 debates, a swing and a miss, he's down two strikes. The French debate may or may not help, Martin sounds like he is giving birth when he speaks french.

I was touched by an Angel once, but it made me feel 'icky'.

Dear betsy, No, but that is not exactly what I meant. Business isn't about being fair. from... http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/...ine-060109.html Business isn't fair if it can help it. Now, the gov't can either get out of business altogether, (which should also then preclude subsidies) or remain in business, albeit automatically 'unfairly'. It seems that the gov't has decided that daycare is a social program and a 'right' which they should provide at the taxpayer's expense. I personally disagree, but that is the way the pickle squirts.

Wacky. I was just thinking this morning about belief and faith being a 'collective hallucination', and recalled the name of the 'liquid god' that I theorized existed. I gotta get down to the patent office...

Dear betsy, That is the nature of the beast, I'm afraid. 'Fair' has no place in business. Recently, 'fair' and 'honest' have been picked up as marketing ploys, but the bottom line is that 'business is business'. Usually, if a small company is doing well, it will either have to get bigger or it will get bought out. There are a few exceptions, mind you. For example, Peter's Drive In (in Calgary) has refused to sell, franchise, or open another location, even though there are lineups around the block. Most people I know call businesses like this 'a license to print money'. Some of the people in business that I know cannot believe that the owner is not trying to get 'more'. After all, were they to open a second location, they could create more employment, generate more revenue and help the economy. However, the owner seems to think that there is something called 'enough', a word that is an anathema to capitalism. Even err, probably the most left-wing on this forum, seems to see things this way... My wife and I also own a daycare, and we charge $25/day for our service. Fortunately for us, there is no maximum number we can take in, no 'caregiver-per-head ratio', and no 'certification' needed for caregivers. The customers must provide their own lunch, but we do give out cookies occasionally. We strictly rely on experience, but ours is extensive, probably the best in the city. Still, we have a booming business with word of mouth advertising only, we don't spend a dime on ads. Oh yeah, and it is for dogs.

Dear Sparhawk, lol. We have it in Canada, but the trick seems to be that neither of them are in charge. I am not in disagreement, but Palestine has yet to get some of it's 'statehood' back. Sadly, neither happened. Palestine was given to some of the Jews, and Palestine, de facto, ceased to exist. Funny, 'Semite' means Jews and Arabs, and they can and did co-exist relatively peacefully. While there was evidence of some anti-jewish pogroms in Islamic history, it is very muddled...from...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Islam_and_anti-Semitism What I dislike is the creation of a state based solely on religion. I started a thread a long time ago called something like "Does Islam need a country?" and I was wondering if this might possibly be a partial solution, but I doubt it.

Dear Argus, Actually, in 1945 Trans-Jordan had an area of 34,740 sq mi (which converts to 89, 976 sq km), and Jordan now has an area of 92,300 sq. km. A difference of 2,324 sq km. As to Palestine, it went from an area of 10,100 sq. mi. (or 26,158 sq km) in 1945 to presently 'zero'. from the CIA World factbook FAQ section, So, Palestine did exist, contratry to the beliefs of many, as an entity, albeit a British protectorate. They had borders, (the following from Britannica Book of the Year 1946) "bounded on the west by the Mediterranean, on the southwest by Egypt, on the south by the Gulf of 'Aqaba, on the east by Trans-Jordan, on the northeast by Syria, and on the north by Lebanon." If Jordan took any of 'Palestine', it certainly wasn't a 'large chunk' by any stretch. Further, Trans-Jordan's population in 1945 was an estimated 325 000, while Palestine's was 1,750,000. Palestine had over 5 times the population that Jordan had had. sources: Britannica Book Of the Year 1946; Trans-Jordan pg 737, Palestine pg 556, modern stats: the CIA World Factbook, http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

IMR, Fairly simple explanation, and it render's Mclean's quote below merely cheap rhetoric. Canada is 'centrist', (more so than other countries) and the liberal party is the central one. Canada has a small population, relatively, especially for 'first world' countries, but is 'modern' and secular. There are only 3 major political parties(that could feasably have a PM), with the cons on the right 33%, the ndp on the left 33%, and the liberals managing to play the middle card up until now. It could be said, that from aside from the corruption, that they are still there. The middle 33% are the most important 'bloc' of voters, so the left or right 33% have to bend a little, as Harper is appearing to do, to enter that 'middle ground', and have a strong party and leader. Neither the Cons nor the NDP had these things for the last couple of elections. This time around, however, the election is probably the most interesting one in since the Mulroney/Campbell sh*tkicking.

bahhh

Dear kimmy, I recall that she was also well known for her outlandish attire and ubiquitous brooches. In fact, I recall some sort of controversy about her attire, but cannot at this time recall what it was. Anyone?

Dear kimmy, Indeed, the user numbers has been seriously inflated by a great number of 'troll names'...a huge percentage have only 1 or 0 posts to their credit.Cameron, If you look at any post, the poster has their 'member #' and number of posts listed under their moniker. Should be easy to figure out.

Dear GostHacked, from... http://www.udreview.com/media/paper781/new...ww.udreview.com from...http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/drowfacts.htm In Texas, anyway, the average time on death row is 10.43 years. I believe the cost of this would be in addition to the 2 million. The average age is 39, so let's split the difference and, for argument's sake, take 5 years off the average time and age, to a 34 yr old. Would it take 2 million to keep the 34 yr old alive until he/she died of natural causes? If it costs $61.58/day for an inmate, that 2 million roughly pays for 80+ years. Added to the average age of 34, that makes 114. Mind you, the cost of a non-death penalty court case hasn't been factored in, but you can roughly see where the figures come from.

Dear scriblett, Posting whole articles, especially without adding your own 'two cents' is a contravention of forum rules, I believe. All that is needed is a link and possibly one or two pertinent paraghraphs. Otherwise, you are merely debating by proxy, and not with your own words.I can just imagine a debate of nothing more that cut&pasted quotes and blogs... "Tune in tomorrow for the debate on Euthanasia...featuring Ghandi vs. Hitler"

Dear crazymf, I also own a small business, and post from my work computer perhaps once or twice a month, tops. Sometimes far less. I do get a couple hours off for lunch, though, as I work a 'split shift' in a 13 hr day. So, I'll come home at lunch break, sometimes post for a bit, and then have a 1 hr nap, then back to work. Sometimes I post early in the morning before work, sometimes after. BTW, This really doesn't belong here. Perhaps under 'Moral issues".

Happy New Year everyone. I must echo kimmy's sentiments... I will also resolve to try to experience the 'vegetarian lifestyle' by smoking much more marijuana this year.

Dear Argus, I am in total agreement. The problem is, how many people would agree to a rise in income taxes to pay for this? Or a 2% hike in the GST? These things are unpopular with voters. Promising to do something at election time is one thing, but ask a politician how he intends to pay for them is something else, when it is actually an important indicator as to whether or not it will be done.

Dear rbacon, A friend of mine was actually given this advice by a friend of his who happened to be a cop. Not the shooting part, mind you, for it is well nigh technically impossible to shoot someone 'in self defence' in Canada. There is so much less paperwork if the assailant is dead.

Dear crazymf, Not exactly 'gallows humour', for I think that is reserved for the condemned. More like... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude Actually, I have only accused you of plaigiarism. I have to agree, that if everyone was of the same opinion, things might get boring.

I am not sure is plaigiarism covers anonymous authors, but.. http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40010