chuck kottke

An inconvenient fact: The first reference you cite is from the "Institute for Canadian Values", which already puts it in the camp of those limiting their views to those constrained by religious dogma. (where's the money for this group coming from, eh??). Separate science and religion - the facts and only the facts. I can see some independent research firm, composed of dissident scientists from academia, but I become highly skeptical when it's from a group trying to view things in science through the lens of "Judeo-Christian Values".. Galileo ran into similar problems a few years back, as I recall..

Argument by Monty Python Yes, science, not fads. so you say, but your so fixated on it NOT existing at all, that you won't see the other side's arguments one damn bit.:P:P:P Truth cannot be found by dogmatic thinking either way.

Sources, Please.. Discredited by whom? Citations, please:rolleyes:. Well, it is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, so I'm not surprised it was signed by bureaucrats - the Government part of Intergovernmental. Paid to vote the way the IPCC wanted them to? Once again, I would appreciate some citations - otherwise, if I mention this to anyone else, they'll just say I'm parroting radical jargon from the net.. Still, looking at the logic, as we are mining carboniferous matter stored in the Earth's crust, burning this matter in air, and in essence putting it into the biosphere (water, air, life), doesn't it seem likely that there would be some impact? I find it a bit incredulous to think this would have no significant effect - it just sounds so very unlikely.. Even if many scientists remain skeptical, and some do not believe the effects we are seeing are not man-made, there remains a number of scientists who do believe there is a significant effect. And by acting now, we will not only reduce the effects of possible climate change, but will reduce the very real effects of fuel shortfalls, inflation, number of potential spills, money flowing to governments that may be sponsoring terrorists, and reducing the profits and hence influence of monopolies that control politics. So, how do you reason it would do more harm than good to cut back on our dependency on fossil fuels?? I am baffled by your logic.

Serene.. She wore a cat suit!:hat:

@ @ * {__}:) Congratulations Daniela!!

Because - our new royalty are celebrities, and everyone tries to look like them! So, if they don't shave.. (ahem, like some aforementioned band), then we do the same!:P And besides, It's not my fault!:laugh3: And another thing - we have more hair than you, and it grows faster than grass in the lawn.. guys are just hairy - look at the photo of that guy running - see!:smug:

I Don't Know!:laugh3: Actually, it's because we're all birds of paradise, and women are the ones with the plumage..

You'll be safe in England, Ian!:hat: Far enough from the epicenter of the tear, and you should be able to ward off the wine grape if it attempts to wallow across the channel. And if it decides to sneak in through the chunnel, just put a stopper in the other end, and you'll be saved from the serious wrath of grapes..:laugh3: Be Prepared. Always re-cork, if the end is near...

Actually, yes, the excess makeup is a bit too much - and to tell it like it is, I think both men and women are somewhat like love birds - likes tend to attract likes; it's sort of a cuing thing, and eventually if women demanded it, guys would shave their legs to stay competitive. Swimmers already do this - so for various reasons, if the chase is on..;)

Slight misspelling there - but it just felt natural!:) I'll try and Quantum Mechanically Tunnel information to them through a worm hole in space...;) White City - Hmm! Interesting name - how did Belgrade get that name then? Anyhow, given that the Beatles played in the USSR, I think it would only be fitting for Coldplay to do the same in your part of the continent! Keep asking - they might swing by, if the tour is flying through... If you can find a reference in Life, The Universe, and Everything, then it's pre-ordained, and they'll have to go..:)

:laugh3: Good Question, David! France will actually be swallowed up by a giant irate wine grape, seeking revenge after all it's cousins have been stomped and their juiciness extracted all these years.:P You see, anti-particles come from the anti-universe, where normally friendly things can devour you whole, and ordinarily dangerous things could save your life. Naturally, if the tear between the universes becomes large enough, France could be saved from the grape by a particularly strong batch of German Sour-Kraut, if enough spin is put on the resulting Bosons..;)

:rolleyes::inquisitive:And just what is that supposed to mean??:laugh3: Sarah needs just to relax - I think Chis is right - too much excitement before any big event is overwhelming...

:rolleyes:Serbia's Great! Obviously, Bellgrade is there, and they do like bells!:wink::sunny: And maybe they could do the Strawberry Swing through Russia??:) It would help warm relations in a positive way, I think...

YES! Will do. Sensible, humane, & actually the way to reduce population pressure - to get people the help they need, and a chance at education and a start in life - it's the only thing that really works.. Same for all of us, basically! I'm trying to open a door to an enlightened understanding myself - seeing how we can make the future possible, by changing the way we look at resources. Common sense will do 1000X more than whiz-bang technologies, but both can be very helpful. Mostly, it's about understanding cause and effect in the human sphere of influence - so we may one day realize that so-called scarce resources are either largely unnecessary, or have more natural and commonly available replacement materials, so we never need to worry about running short, or what the 'getting' does to the environment..

:rolleyes:Some ideas...:laugh3: The doctor says to get lots of rest, smile, and drink plenty of water or juice. Eat a few soda crackers if your stomach is upset, and just snuggle down and rest a bit. Think happy thoughts:nice:. You'll feel good in the morning, and back to normal!:)

I used to Goggle myself, but then I learned that all these servers kick in (some huge array of servers in a gigantic warehouse somewhere) & search everything on the planet for my name - it takes an enormous amount of electricity, I guess.. But then, doesn't every search?? If I Google fleas, what's the difference? They probably take a lot of energy too!:laugh3: Gads, we just can't win sometimes - they'll just have to make more efficient search engines and servers...

When we play music we really are playing! I mean, to create something, it takes a relaxed but reflective mode of thought - some gestalt to put the mood right, and intimate familiarity with the instrument, but a zen moment of concentration on the finer points to the sound, the combination of notes; the feeling it creates, and the keys that mesh with the key. To be unafraid of mistakes once a new piece is created, and to incorporate intentional mistakes with the same intensity, just to see what that sounds like, and how we respond to it...

It wasn't until after a bit of reflection, and understanding what the world wanted and needed was something sincere; something that struck a chord with the tenor of times, and gave some solace to those in need of comfort, that I became more aware. Trying to find hope in a world barreling onward, and here was that hope.

Welcome to the Dark Side of the Moon..:P Given this site's low profile, I think it escapes a lot of visitors - it took me a while to find it too..;):bandana:

It's artistically interesting! But with the greenish lines intersecting those cheeks, it reminds me a little of the pictures of Mars..:P (the picture is good, but maybe a different overlay?). Just an opinion - maybe brighten it a bit? Well, I haven't even made one, so what have I got to compare, hey?!;)

Welcome Madrid! Are you off to the running of the bulls??:sunny::sombrero::p

Nick, spread your wings a little, and let your dreams take flight! The work is worth it - all part of the panning, and the search for the gems in life..;)

Seeing the difference takes some data, and I once again refer to Project VoteSmart. However, there is a problem with the corporate money and other special influence money buying preferential legislation and perks. It gums up the regulatory agencies, and often those in charge of regulation are nothing but industry appointees, who then circulate back into industry when their tenure as head of XYZ is over. But, corruption takes time to settle in, and the Republicans took it new extremes with Jack Abramoff. The corporate money is dished out to both sides, but not in equal measure. And the Democrats do not cook up phony reasons to go to war on some "holy crusade" to spread democracy by creating an American beach-head in Iraq. The solution I see is to form Citizen Oversight Groups to oversee the process, and limit maximum contributions to an amount affordable to the average citizen - and no more. Provide equal access to the media for spots and debates, paid for out of a fund of media money returned to the Government for their use of the Commons - the Airwaves themselves. Make this available for all viable candidates, so anyone who has a reasonable level of public support can be heard. Return the control of the debates and the questions to the League of Women Voters, so it isn't just another infomercial, and the candidates have to answer questions that the voters find important, not just use emotional rhetoric to convince the public of their worthiness for office.

Time heals all wounds.. Yes, I hear and feel for you, but whenever something happens like that to me, I remember what I heard a veteran of the Normandy invasion say once when asked a question about some minor problems he was having in life -"as long as nobody is shooting at me, and I don't have to shoot back at anybody, everything else in life is really no big deal." Immediately it's a headache and a frustration, but when you reflect on it a bit, you'll manage, and life goes on - forgive yourself! Life goes on, and the little bumps are in Bono's words "just a moment - this time will pass".. What I know to be true of myself - it helps to have routines to put things in place, so I'm less likely to get lost in thought and forget something.. But forgetting is actually a sign of great intelligence, since your mind's focus is somewhere else.

Gleetings, Hoffman! Welcome, and keep Maryland dry after the storm!!;)