chuck kottke

The Earth does that every 24 hours.;) I'll settle for just a huge reform effort / mini revolution of sorts.

weeds here too! Sounds like fun!! I need to do much the same. seeyaalllater!;)

Well, Rudy, we've been secretly adding more states, but just not telling the rest of the world.. So, I'm not sure where the count is either.. OOPS! did I say too much??:laugh3::P

Actually Rudy, you're flag is cool :cool: - it's really neat, with the crescent moon and star in the field of blue.:)

Yes! That tidbit from a friend in Indonesia.. (actually, there's a lot of nuts, and they're from all over!:laugh3:)

Sounds good too!:) Actually, when one thinks of it, chocolate is an international food - the cocoa nibs are from Africa & S. America, the sugar can be from beets or cane: (European, N. American, or S. American), and the milk for the milk chocolate comes from dairy cows - European or American. And the cashew nuts they dip in chocolate come from Malaysia and Indonesia!;)

Post Your Independence Day Festivities !!!! ++++++++ ========================:) ++++++++ ========================:) ++++++++ ========================:) ++++++++ ========================:) ++++++++ ========================:) =================================:) =================================:) =================================:) =================================:) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++:sunny: Thomas Paine, writing on a drumhead by campfire's light, after joining the revolution, and facing almost insurmountable odds: "These are the times that try men's souls: The summer solider and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly - 'Tis dearness only that gives everything its value." Freedom is dangerous. But as Paine aptly pointed out, "if dangerous in the hands of the poor from ignorance. it is at least equally dangerous in the hands of the rich from influence." Guess where we are today!;) Paine's remedy was education and democracy. "numerous electors, composed as they naturally will be, of men of all conditions, from rich to poor."

Go for the organic varieties - they pickle them cherries in some pretty strange brine!;) Yes, Endorphines! (well, endorphine analogs in all likelihood. The theobromine then is either that, or a stimulant found in chocolate?). Although, the runner's high is in part from Adrenalin, is it not? Either way, the best is to enjoy it, and do some running/dancing/climbing then! The natural antioxidants found in chocolate are in a class of chemicals called phenols, technically speaking. (some phenols you wouldn't want to touch with a 10-foot pole!) Shade grown is best, as it allows for more birds in the canopy above..

Hmm.. Well, it seems that every Church or religion or sect has it's own rules, but voluntary is the key, and taking that out of the picture makes it more of a contract with binding rules, which one might agree to initially, but without full understanding (as circumstances arise), can lead to nightmares! If each individual agrees to the Sharia law voluntarily each step of the way (be this the will of 'God' or the will of the individual), then I see no problem. But contracts that are binding?? That sounds like it could lead to cases of abuse, where the woman and/or children have little control over.. IEEIEIIIEE... Freedom of religion yes, but the rights of individuals should not be lost in the process. Whether it is Sharia law, Canonical law, or Buddhist laws; natural law trumps all.

:laugh3:Gee, thanks Ricardo! Which saint should I be??;) I've always likes St. Francis of Assisi, being a gardener and birder. :angel:(they need a gardener smiley!). Are you musically inclined as well, Ricardo?

Hello, and yes, at first it is a bit confusing! You'll get the hang of it quickly, though.;) Sticky threads - hmm.. I used to know! Like riding a bicycle, you just automatically know what to do after a while.. Sticky Threads are like post-it notes?

Nice! They have a sound somewhere between Toad The Wet Sprocket and Nirvana! Miss those days..

Yeah, butter pecan! :) I haven't had that in a long while!! I sort of enjoyed the experimental flavors at the commons down in Madtown - they had some interesting flavors, but one-time experiences - like pumpkin flavored, and black raspberry swirl. Could someone please tell me what gelato is?

Hello Brenda!!! I'm glad you came out of hiding!:curtain: you definitely have excellent taste in music and musicians! Sounds like you're majoring in music history as well a bit there!;) Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin are phenomenal - iconic rock and folk heroes.. And Coldplay certainly does have a following! Keep tapping into the site here, and glad to see you come out of the shadows!:daisy:

The place - could be in the foothills in the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, or the Catskills.. and a lot of the folk music here is derived from folk music from Scotland, Ireland, Wales (which all goes back to ancient tribal songs - Celtic, Gaelic, Picts, etc.)and some old English, as these were the families that first went inland to the mountains.. But I think if you look at it musically, it could as well be played on a hammer dulcimer, harpsichord, mandolin, etc. by more traditional musicians. But somehow the instruments sound like Chinese traditional instruments as well - the tuning, the twanging, something about the sounds..:)

I like this site better!! Their's is more artsy, but Ian's is just plain cool!;):cool:

Oh, just enjoy life, keep fit, and don't worry about weight! (exercise and a healthy diet does it automatically..:) I've seen anorexic gals, and it's not what guys like, so just aim for the body weight that's in the range for your height and build.. go for the runners' high - best thrill in the world!! (well, next to some others, but on an equal par.:P) Hmm.. what to buy on iTunes?? Yea, there are a lot of choices, so I'm no help there!:\ Today I feel good. I did everything I had planned to do, and escaped town before the traffic got too insane as the tourists are arriving like giant swarms of bees..:wink:;)

Nah, the top 10 are all the usual suspects - Goggle, Ebay, Amazon, etc.etc.etc... But then it seems like 1 out of 3 from there till here are porn sites! Oh, what difference does it make? Can you imagine trying to strike up a conversation with 10,000 other participants simultaneously? I'm actually quite thankful we're not that far up the ladder!!!:cool:

OK - so the internet has other uses. Uses no originator could have even imagined in their most wild, hallucinated, and intensely provoked state of mind!:laugh3: Let's see - of Bono is God, then Chris Martin is Jesus?:P (pardon my jargon;)) But who will be Mother Mary, full of grace??

Oh Canada, oh Canada:hat: Enjoy your Birthday!!:sunny:

Thought provoking! Truth often can be harsh, making us seem insignificant at times.. But even the sand does move us.

And you have obviously never had Polynesian Chicken with rice!:P (lots of pineapple, and it's goood!)

Same with our family - my ma started when she was 16, and she's 82 and still smoking! Doctors are confused - she hasn't any lung problems, and no emphesemia, but that's like the one-in-one-million odds, and I've breathed enough of it as well. Basically, steer clear of the smoking areas, and open a window a bit. I went so far as to install an exhaust fan in the ceiling over her living-room chair, and put the switch within easy reach, so that really makes a difference! If you reduce the amount of time spent in a smoky area, as well as vent as much of the smoke out, you'll most likely be fine.;) Stress is responsible for about 1/3 of our health problems in the US, so try not to stress about it too much...;)

That's what the dancing is for;)

YES!! And having some each day is actually healthy! (a couple of ounces). It's pretty high calorie content, so just be sure and do some dancing to Coldplay's strawberry swing, and you'll be just fine!:) Plus there's fiber in chocolate as well - it's really come around as a healthy food, in moderation of course (like we have that much will power!:laugh3:). Best to keep it in a place where it's cool - preferably in a safe.