theloniusfleabag

Dear B. Max, That's a larf. I understand the ratio is less than 5% 'self defence' cases, the majority outright murder. Then, a substantial amount accidental (children playing with daddy's 'found' gun), then suicide. Self-defence probably accounts for the least number of cases of gun deaths. For cases of individuals using a gun 'to protect the individual from tyrannical, self-serving gov't', the cases number around zero, (That is, if you don't count Waco), and Timothy McVeigh used explosives.So, if you are saying that the 'right to bear arms' is inherently to keep the gov't in line, you actually aren't allowed to use guns for that purpose, so the Second amendment is worthless.

I have to agree with crazymf on this one. Robertson should be charged with 'inciting hatred' and used as an example of the US' intolerance of religious rhetoric to further violence as a means to an end. If they fail to do so, I think you have your answer of how 'religiously right' the US gov't is or isn't.

Dear eureka, Further to that, One of Saddam's highest ranking ministers, Tariq Aziz, was a Christian. I'll bet the US won't have a Muslim 'Secretary of Defence' anytime soon.

Dear eureka, I believe the Beatles titled the song..."Happiness is a Warm Gun". Just as the old Colt .45 was nicknamed "The Peacemaker". The American way to 'peace, security and happiness' is to make it so nobody will f*#k with you.

Dear B. Max, (and crazymf) What of those who wish to serve neither God nor Mammon? I suppose I should see, hate and fight Islamists with equal passion as I would fight Capitalist warmongers, but I'm not like that. If push comes to shove, though, I guess I'll fight both; them and their gods. It is not exactly Bush himself that is seen to be in the wrong, just US foreign policy. Bush is merely the present 'quarterback' of the team.

Dear TokyoTakarazuka, I echo the other's sentiments, yours are always valuable and well presented posts. However, I am not disputing the result, just the cause. It is as though the US simply prints more money to make up for overspending. It should devalue the currency, and it will work for a while, but only as long as foreign investment (which covers the chronic shortfall) continues to believe, and reinforce, that "The Emporer's New Clothes are not only beautiful, but also valuable".

Dear crazymf, Good one, an excellent reduction, to the point, of one view in the matter.I am somewhat like Black Dog, I have contempt for both sides. I see it as a fight between two symbols, GW Bush and Bin Laden. I see the two representing two bad guys in a gunfight, with almost all the rest of the townsfolk wishing that they both kill each other, so they can get on with their lives.

Dear BHS, No, it doesn't, that's why I don't like the internet for info too much. I first read about Israel funding HAMAS in Victor Ostrovsky's book "By Way Of Deception', and can't quote it right now as a friend has it. Victor was a Mossad agent who quit, moved to the states and became an artist. I have debated the point with a woman on another forum, (she had a Jewish husband and could readily find links and info to disprove or confirm most of what I said) and she did some research and came back to me in agreement, 'Yes, Israel did fund (and help create) Hamas to undercut Arafat's support". Unfortunately, the internet contains about 10% truth, 80% entertainment, and 10% garbage.

Dear BHS and Sparhawk, No way. I shun electronic transactions like the plague. I use them for emergencies only. The bank alerted me to fraudulent activity regarding my debit card, (someone made a copy, by swiping it in a 'false reader' at a legitimate business) and had shut it down. Stuff like this is becoming more and more prevalent. Electronic transactions make fraud and robbery easier, not harder, and it costs both the comsumer and the merchant more. I only take cash or cheques at my business, (the cheques are 99.99% good, my customers are doctors and lawyers, etc, the only 'bad cheque' I ever got was due to an 'electronic screw-up' and was the fault of the bank!) "Cash is King", and always will be.

Dear B. Max, It is only disputed by the lunatic fringe.

Considering the fact that HAMAS was created by Israel (to split support for Arafat and the PLO), this is one of those cases of 'oops, we created a monster'. No one doubted they would take credit for the pullout, and these claims of credit should be ignored by everyone. Sharon has taken an incredibly courageous step, hopefully it is towards peace and not the abyss. I expect him to be knocked from power at the earliest opportunity by the hardliners shooting for 'Eretz Y'Israel', though.

Dear Melanie, Tee hee. Looking at crazymf's photo, I'd say he could use a little help in the 'public image' department. lol

Dear crazymf, That's funny, one of my dad's sisters spelled her name 'ski' but the rest of the family was 'sky'. I never got a real explanation as to why except 'She chose to'.

Dear August1991, I wholeheartedly agree. The penny is a nuisance and I have heard rumour that on occasion (when the CDdollar was in the toilet) the penny cost more to produce than it was actually worth, rated against other currencies. However, that would mean the GST would have to go to 5% or 10%. Tax earnings calculations and all those other goodies would have to all be taken to only the first decimal. Still, it could work, but it means a massive, across the spectrum standardization, that will require either incredible teamwork or untold billions of dollars in gov't expenditure.

Dear crazymf, Ahhh Ukes. They are the classic example of 'colourful' jokes that contain the unwritten line "Insert race or ethnic group here". (mind you, my last name ends with 'sky'.) I personally am hoping to tour the Mundare Sausage plant soon. Some relatives went there and said the food in the little resaurant they have was stellar.

Dear crazymf, Yes, thank you, I made that up on the spot. I could almost use it as my signature, lol.

Dear crazymf, And where shall we put these 'liberated queers'? Your house? We'd just have to invade again.

Dear Sparhawk, This taken from www.infidels.org ... If you know of some sort of 'dogma' that is pervasive amongst atheists, let us know. Life is kind of like soup. A person can take the base (events and happenstance) and add their own sprinkles of morality, faith, effort, etc. to create whatever flavour suits them. Every once in a while, though, another person may come along and pee in your soup... adjust seasonings accordingly.

Dear mirror, The past head (and I do mean 'passed') of Bre-X, Mr. Walsh, used to be a regular (during the scandal) at the bar of which I was kitchen manager. (The entire staff showed up one afternoon because of a bomb threat...our restaurant&bar was 2 blocks from Bre-X's head office) He used to rant about being 'hung out to dry', and how it was unconscionable how the media was also after his son. Felderhof, evidently, might have been the guiltiest party, and left them all 'high & dry'.

Dear crazymf and eureka, Back up in them thar hills, kinfolk is whut we call our 'Incestry'....and mah family tree's a stump...

Dear B. Max, The link did not work for me, (worldnetdaily is a tabloid, I don't get 'news' from there or from the 'Enquirer') but...I am an 'agnostic', so I'll agree that 'atheism' is based on faith as much as any 'deism'. It has to do with proclaiming (or believing) that one knows, definitively, the answer to whether or not there is a 'god'. I usually laugh at atheists, because they claim to 'know the answer' just as the religious types do. Where did they go to find this 'proof' one way or the other? I wouldn't count atheism as a specific religion per se, as there isn't a set of guidelines or standardized 'worship' set down, but ultimately, it is faith-based.

Dear Black Dog, The phallic connotation of the gun is prevalent, but I don't see a way to construe it to represent the female genitalia...except maybe the Blunderbuss.

I would think that if certain counties don't want certain 'victemless crimes' within their borders, rather than execution, they should be extradited and stripped of citizenship.

Dear August1991, They were deceived by false reports to think it was a good (or at least safe) investment. That is the real crime, not the actual losing of the money. Someone (or several people) should be threatened with 'dancing on the end of a rope' for the gun registry and the ad scandal. (OK, bit extreme) Canada is way to lax when it comes to any type of crime, the US is over-zealous. Gotta find a happy medium.

Dear crazymf, I can't seem to find any source for this, except hearing it when I was younger. It was the first (and only) explanation I got for a long time, ( I am quite sure it pre-dates both of us put together)and in a way, it makes the most sense. Why didn't the farmers (et al) get (or even want to be) 'tanned'?