chuck kottke

Jails are county, or municipal places for detention. States have prisons, and the Federal Government has it's prison system.. The "big house" is prison; the "joint" or "slammer" can be either, I think.. I did spend some time in jail once many moons ago.. it was in the "Huber Law" section - work release program. OOO, the pillows were so hard, you had to ball up your shirts just to get something comfortable to sleep on at night!:laugh3:

If you read Scientific American, there was a pretty good article discussing the overlay of solar cycles on climate change affected by human activities. The wobble of the earth has quite an effect on climate, as well as solar activity. Small particles from burning organic matter and exhaust may actually be reducing the solar energy reaching the surface of the Earth.. It's rather complex.. We were close to loosing the North Atlantic 'conveyor belt', which allows warm water from the Gulf to reach Europe, and then dives down and return on the bottom as heavy, saltier water.. But consider that one year's recorded temps. is a dust-speck of time in the larger scheme of things. And, I still think it unwise to rapidly burn much of the carbon stored in the Earth's crust in so short a time span - that's a lot of carbon being turned into CO2 in a short span of time, being taken out of one system and put into another. True, and then there's the source one has to consider.. Anyone for another oil war?? We hit a logjam when it comes to changing foreign policy here in the US, often propping up hated dictators just to keep the oil flowing (until they buy enough weapons, and get the gumption to attack their neighbors..). (No offense to the citizens in those countries - they have to deal with bad governments, just as we have to here as well.. I'm hoping the Middle East can become a major source for solar power in the future; aluminum and silicon processing right at the power source makes the most sense;)) I'll keep working on the other options as well - it's a heck of a lot easier to insulate and put in new doors and windows; get a heat exchanger for fresh air, and a heating system not reliant upon fossil fuels.. My personal approach is biomass gasifier energy systems, which allow for electric production on site, and use of the "waste heat" to heat home and greenhouse. I would go 100% solar if I could, but this winter proves that nature's power-bank is essential during those dark, long days here in the snowbelt! (record snowfall - and most of it's still here!):) All I can say now is Think Spring!!!!:P

How true about our very nature! We all have moments when we think we are invincible; and then reality strikes us a blow.. Good to ruminate on.;) UNDERCURRENTS: The Drum was not soft, and all echoed it's beat Leaving the fife resting in the street. Tanners' beat, but who's hide would it be? In the narrow streets of old Babylon; Gravedigger's cry that earth move no more as Heaven would not budge from top to the floor (it was not a walk of cake, and nor could it ever be,) For in those streets of Babylon, one cannot lead, but must wait for the fife to sunder it's tune aloft as only the street will call their tune that echoes onward well into June...

Hmm.. maybe that is the answer to world peace??:) (a bike in every garage, and a chocolate egg in every basket!);) BTW - what's under the wrapper with one of those monster chocolate eggs??

I think anything taken to the extreme can be dangerous, just because we're pushing ourselves to the edge.. I once rode a bike down a steep hill, and attained a speed of over 70 mph (the speedometer was pegged half-way down) - luckily, no injuries (I had absolutely no padding on..).:biker: Lacrosse is done without protection?? I know the sport, but can't recall..

Acne was/is a problem for everyone, basically. But after my teen years (which were very embarrassing), I discovered that acne clears up somewhat if you eat less sugary sweets and fatty/oily foods. Also, less stress helps..(as though there's a cure for this!). Basically, sleep well, eat right, exercise, feel good, and worry less - less stress hormones, and then everything gets better in general. Nature knows best.;) (I know - sometimes that's impossible; but on average, it does help..) My biggest problem now is dry skin (winter is a killer here for skin). I'm going to look into some more natural types of lotions, as the ones currently on the commercial market are loaded with some unhealthy chemicals. I'm leaning more towards the lanolin, coco butter, aloe vera types.. (my feet get dry too, and the skin "splits" occasionally - no fun to walk on!). Any suggestions?

Where is Z? If you've got X&Y, you've got to have Z!:P

Aloha!

:daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy::daisy: :> Hello Lore!!!

^^^^That's interesting!:hat: Maybe Fair Trade Chocolate needs to get more into Easter Eggs? Hmm.. could boost their sales, and help spread the word!

Oh my! Well, that explains the confusion! :laugh3: I think the novel would be more like "Max Payne and the Promise of Pain in New York"! (which is actually historically true, as our beloved NYC is now safer than almost anywhere else these days..

All I can say is, "WOW". Our bunnies were these cute little things when we were kids.. most were hollow. (well, then there were the eggs and malted milk balls and jelly beans and little chocolate bunnies in foil).. Enjoy, and try and eat it slowly!:P

Yea, I used to ride a lot here too - but the traffic, and the way people drive now, it's pretty risky! (living near a touristy site, and all the people who are on cell phones, or who just don't seem to care one bit when you're on a bike, and they get wayy too close - I was forced off the road and into the ditch a few years back as well..) I like what San Diego did - they have a bike lane, with actual concrete curbs (barriers) between it and the traffic lane. Apparently, some SUV drivers have been known to hop the curb, but it's rare, and it really works well! I keep thinking about presenting the idea to the state for bike paths in the park, as well as all over the area - it would be nice, and I know they would see a lot of use from pedestrians, bikers, runners, skaters, etc..;)

:)Welcome!:)

OMG!!!:o:stunned: That could feed a family in Somalia for a year!:) Looks divine!:smart:

smiley source ...From the pile of smilies (near the bottom).. Just click on "Show All Smilies" when you click on smiles in the Message bar. It's near the end - right-hand column, titled "bandana." :bandana:

Welcome Peter!:pleased:

& Who is Max Paine?

Bread rises, tides rise, tulips and lilies rise, and sometimes molten lava rises from beneath the earth.. I see it symbolically - Jesus rose as life returned after a long pause. True - it is possible that Jesus rose from the dead. Probability makes it an extremely, extremely, extremely long shot; but perhaps it is true, just as sub-atomic particles do occasionally 'tunnel' through solid materials, and emerge on the other side, with no sign of them ever having gone through.. To me, the miracle is life itself. Here we are, chatting online - that's amazing enough!

:vampire:

foreigner Many thanks!:) OOO! YEA! I get to be a foreigner!!:wacko: I always wanted to feel "foreign", and here's my chance!:bandana:

Hello Angel Eyes! How is the weather in your sunny place?:sunny:

Choose Freedom! I have faith in the spirit of the enlightenment. Galileo said in essence, "God gave us brains to think and eyes to see, as well as hearts to feel and hands to work" - to me, it is the spirit of Jesus's message that walks on and resonates into the present - and I think a dose of rational thinking would do some good to set the records strait. Easter is really a pagan tradition - the rebirth of life in the northern hemisphere, and all the symbolic components of older traditions wove into one - rabbits, colored eggs, and all the costumes... It's good to remember that life returneth to the land, and so does life among us and the other animals, in the birth of new young, and a refreshing of the spirit. I do like Easter, as it's good fun!! And we all like a good tale - if for no other reason, than it makes us feel good, and strengthens our bonds between one-another, and in the positive future on humanity.. And would we be truly free, if we could not speak our minds, regardless of the day or occasion?:)

Happy Easter and Spring!!!!:sunny::daisy:

Mars, the red planet, is just a little rusty! More like deep-frozen, and fat-free!;) If it were lower in sodium content, one might even consider it healthy! A quote from Sir Elton, "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids.. ":cool: