chuck kottke

:)Hello Joyce!:) You may get your wish some day.. They are very much supporting fair trade, and Lebanon must have something going on in that regard?? Anyhow, keep those cedars growing strong, and glad you could join the merriment!!:hat::hat::jester:

:rolleyes:Justin, that makes you a natural philosopher, but not a geek! (well, maybe a Greek, but no geek:laugh3:). Personally, I love to figure things out in physics, working out the problems on paper - energy balances and such. I want to know how the world really works, not be just mystified by not knowing, but to be awed by discovery.. Although, there is a part of me that just wants to enjoy, without questioning what I am enjoying. A balance in all things I feel is best.:juggle::curtain: But being one-dimensional isn't the case with anyone really - it's just a part of who we are..

:sunny:Felicitaciones Sofy!!!!:daisy::hat:

Spinning Leaves Found this in an Arbor Day Manual, ca 1907, and dressed it up a bit.. THE NEW HEART. --------------- Would you understand The language with silent word, The speech of the brook and bird, Of waves splashed along the sand? Would you make your own The meaning of the leaves, The song the silence weaves Where little winds make bows bend, And water washes stone? Would you know how sweet The falling of the rain, The Thrush's song in the lane- All the tunes the days repeat? Neither arms nor art, No toil, can help your hear; The secret of the ear Is in the open heart; ..The secret of the year Is among natures part. based on John Vance Cheney's poem THE OPEN HEART.

Thanks! :daisy:How true - it's like an anonymous gift.. Only the shadow knows..:laugh3::P

:=> Hola Sofy! Well, I like to compliment - I think everyone likes that?!;) What does it really mean anyhow??:laugh3: If it makes you happy...;) Buenas Noches Sofy!:cool:

Capitulo? Como en marco? Marco Auto?:)

^^yes, that is a nice smell Rick! Here, it's the peculiar smell of decaying hardwood..:thinking::glasses:

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Hola Marcoldplayer!;) Si. ?Nombre cristiano?? Es un viejo nombre europa; Charles AKA Carlos AKA Charlemagne rey de Europa. !Bohemio!:laugh3: And your nombre?

Hola!:sombrero::smart:

:elf:Hi Dotty:elf:

I'm soo out of it. I recall the series, many moons ago.. Well, there were soo many Dr. Who's that I lost count! Anyhow, can I take a peek at an episode on the net? My TV is limited to just area broadcasts (and now I must get the digital converter for the thing!)..

sub cul tu're ze resistance' Welcome to the subculture, Enjoy your stay here at the hotel Cold play!:cool:

Gleetings Melissa:hat::hat::hat::curtain:

Komputtering.. Have computers just become another version of the machine that goes 'bing', like in the famous Monty-Python skit?:laugh3::jester::jester::hat2::laugh4:

More good news about Chocolate!!:chef: Six Benefits: 1. Lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels 2. Reduces risk of diabetes by reducing blood sugar insulin 3. Activates enzymes that eliminate cancer-causing carcinogens 4. Reduces the risks of blood clots and strokes by inhibiting the clumping of platelets 5. Keeps cholesterol levels stable, or even slightly improves them 6. Enhances cognitive function by increasing bloodflow in the Brain.:) 7. More antioxidants than Pecans (a close 2nd) or red wine (close as well). The darker the better, but some sugar is OK. Choose closer to 70%cacao; but I like to spread melted dark chocolate (roughly 50% cacao; some sugar) on wholesome whole-grain bread, to make it like cake, but much healthier and tastier.:p:p:p:pleased:

Banana belt!:rolleyes: ...Here, in the sub-arctic, it's a lovely 28F (roughly -2 Centigrade), with the new-fallen snow frozen like a thick crust of bread..:cool:

Happy Birthday Tifosi!!:hat::sunny:

Peppermint or Spearmint ? Spearmint, me thinks..

Roller, Holi Why is it that I've run into this strain of Holy Roller before?? They're skulls are impenetrable by any and all forms of logical reasoning, and yet they persist. I've had more intelligent discussions with the red squirrels that sit in the pines behind the house!:laugh3: And when one thinks of Puritans here in America, they arrived precisely because they were intolerant of others' ways, and had done unkind things that got them booted out of Europe. Once here, they began to continue their intolerant arrogant behavior, using biblical passages as excuses to abuse all others, and to burn witches, (though that was relatively rare - you're safe Tracie!:laugh3:). What get's me the most is the assumption that they must "go forth and convert the non-believers" - which is ridiculous, since many are believers already, and some just have other ways of perceiving God. Speaking of which, it's almost time for the Jehova's Witnesses to make their annual pilgrimage around the neighborhood. Oh boy, I can hardly wait! Let's see.. the last sermon was the Kingdom of Clay.. Hmm.. this year, what will it be?..

Careful where you stand.. It's a bit complicated. The Russian people have a relatively prosperous growing middle class, but lots of troubles with lost pensions, displaced workers, and the like. Discontent builds support for the "old ways" and contentment builds support for "new ways"; On the whole, I think the Russian people have adopted modern market reforms thoroughly, and there is overall greater prosperity than there had been, but they are concerned that their government will slip back further, so they are uncertain about their future. Putin - there's a mystery to me! He's a chess player for sure. Old KGB style rule and power consolidation seem to be his mark, but perhaps he's wise enough not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. I'm saddened to hear of the press assassinations - awful! ..But a growing middle class will only tolerate so much, before reform moves ahead (I hope!). As far as NATO expansion and Ukraine, I wonder this: (1) How reformed is the government of Ukraine? (2) with regards to Russia: Perhaps a better route would be to use international standards of behavior to put pressure on Russia to reform their policies, much as had been done with Libya? Ultimately, containment seems wiser but slower - and giving Russia's old guard an argument to become "closed" again because of a perceived threat from NATO expansion would not be wise. This is what the 'conservatives' in Russia want - a reason to return to a closed society against the outside world, as Sparta was to the rest of Greece. Lessen the pressures, and as ironic as it may seem, the conservative forces in Russia will loose power. Militarily, it's very unlikely either side will act either way, as it's not the world it was 50 or 60 years ago.. Bosses like money, so long as they get a big piece of the pie - going back wouldn't probably be their choice either. For example, western firms and market reforms help to plug the leaks in their pipelines, and double profits. ..and I see down the road more of a problem with the Chinese government's policies towards freedom and basic human rights - and they seem to be more interested in taking countries over for good - somewhat unlike Russia with their former republics. So, the open societies of the world might need the aid of Russia in containing the current Chinese government's expansionistic tendencies. Or perhaps the Chinese will move along faster towards respecting neighboring states and human rights, and the reverse could be true as well. But I'm not holding my breath on that one! I would think a wise compromise would be to allow Ukraine to cooperate with NATO, but not expand NATO into Ukraine, thus preventing the Russian conservatives/reactionaries tendency to clamor for old-style power consolidation and a bunker mentality. Hence, no "Cuban missile crisis" in Russia's back yard. Then, the process of international standards can slowly affect change, along with the Russian people's grassroots efforts towards change, and economic progress will also foster a more egalitarian society. I've seen what "rolling the dice" with rash moves does do - usually, with catastrophic consequences, as we see with Iraq. Encouragement and firm clear limits by international standards will do us all a lot more than fast moves to put our combined military might up against Russia's borders. Bart, it sounds like you're on top of this topic, so keep us informed!

:laugh3:This is funnier than watching a couple of kids trying to sneak a cookie out of a cookie jar!;) What about that old saying, "patience is a virtue"??:P Oh well... good luck raiding the cookie jar!:hippy::kid::wink:

I have turned the corner, and life will get better every day from now on!:)

:laugh3:About the same here.. Seems like we may do ourselves in with too much technology! Maybe the brain cancer danger will curtail some use, as it's a scarier sounding risk, even though auto accidents are by far some of the most horrible ways to get hurt..