chuck kottke

You can have mine for free, but the shipping would be out-of-this-world Rachel!:laugh3: I'm betting a good, well-cared-for one, properly tuned, would be a good bet (unless mum wants to spring for something new..). A neighbor of mine had both of theirs repaired and tuned - it wasn't too expensive, and uprights are common enough to be affordable. One thing I've noticed - they vary greatly in sound quality - A Steinway might sound a certain way, and then some other might have a different quality altogether! So, take a good listen first - might even want to open the front up to get the true sound quality.. I had looked on Ebay for prices - there were quite a few pianos offered, so if you have some online auction houses to go to.. or a neighbor who has one just collecting dust in the house - they can be had somewhat reasonably so. Otherwise, if you're wealthy, go with the Grand, and add a piano room onto the house! (yea, wouldn't that be nice;)) Make sure the builders design the room properly for acoustics - some reverb, but not too much.

:laugh3:Good one, Rick! Hmm.. the smell of oak wood in a fire..

Sets high standards in school!!:scholar:

Well, this is interesting! Fried Chicken, Coconuts, and... Hmm.. I'm smelling a peculiar odor - overheated orange rinds..:P

Rufus had a disagreement with the Ambassador of Sylvania, and this was his reason for going to war..

What are you currently smelling?:square:

The Time is 10:12 universal standard coordinated time. At the tone, the time will be precisely 10:13.. Beep.:P I am contemplating opening that can of nuts (I tried the can of worms, but when you open a can of worms, it's very hard to get the lid back on it!).

Well, assuming they don't know the other's circumstances, this may be true. But, since this is a recreational forum for most, I gather the assumption is that life must be OK, or you would be somewhere else (like intensive care).:laugh3: It's just natural to rib others, I gather.. At first I thought only siblings did this; not so! Apparently a more universal component of human nature.. Moaning about others?? Well, moaning usually has a different connotation here.. Anyhow, hope I haven't moaned too much!:P

Groucho Marx, basically.. Hence, the "4 heads of cabbage"

The Winter that never ends. What - 25 below zero tonight?:stunned: There's no place like spring; there's no place like spring..:) Thor need more firewood. Must fill stove. OOoo Yea. Warm Good. Thor Happy. Is it true that Canadians are Barbarians, just waiting to invade?:P Why can't I just do 5 more things in a days' time?:thinking:

Does anyone here think Bush resembles Rufus in some significant ways? Each time I look at the movie Duck Soup (You Tube has it now, if you enjoy the Marx Brothers), I begin to wonder about this loopy nation of nuts I live in, and how we got as far as we did! Funny, how truth finds the most unusual avenues to display itself..:laugh3: Hail Freedonia!

Pardon?

Hello Gabriela!:hat::jester::sombrero: Do you make good Hungarian Goulash?:P

For some reason, I had been thinking today they took inspiration from A Dark Side of the Moon.. And sure enough, Guy says as much!! What makes Pink Floyd popular is their exploration into the bizarre side of music (and of thought), and the excitement that comes from exploring the other side of things.. Coldplay has done well with that as well on AROBTTH.

Cat returneth I have no clue about your outfit!:) Wear whatever you like Rachel - freedom is freedom to do your thing. Cats always come back!;) Just put out a little tuna or chicken.. make the food bowl clanking sound.. Ours kept coming back, even if we had hoped it would go away!:laugh3: If not, I could send you some of my neighbor's "free" kittens!:P Hmm.. seems like about the only thing in life that is free.. Do you need one dozen or two??

Cut the fuel first to stop the fire. The first line of defense starts with reducing the threat. Basically, stirring a hornets nest can lead to stings, no matter what else you try! I think we have our policy priorities backwards - letting dictators rule with iron fists to placate business interests inadvertently builds support for religious extremists, since they're about the only opposition left in those places, and everyone wants rid of the dictator. Supporting countries with leadership that come down clumsily & hard in dealing with bad apples - this winds up hurting innocent by-standards - & is almost certain to create animosity that boils over and sting us. Once you've got the ire of a whole people against you, there's only time between the next tragic event. I find what the terror groups do to be appalling - but what fuels their base of support, and provides them with willing converts is of equal concern. When there's massive unemployment, unrest, and poor respect for human rights by a ruling elite, there's bound to be trouble. So the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" makes sense here. We should keep the obvious images from falling into the wrong hands - but by now, that may already be too late. However, if we truly set a good example, and treat all others like we ourselves wish to be treated, then the forces pushing people to the extremes disappears, and with it goes the extreme threat.

Every time I see a restriction on information I begin to wonder.. another load of bullcrap to make it sound like the defense dept/ etc. is doing something, and on the other end, the FBI or CIA or now Homeland Security is dropping the ball on solving the cases they have opened. Not too long ago, I had picked up a hitchhiker in uniform trying to get to a base in the U.P. They took down all the signs to the armory for security reasons - we had no clue how to get there! It took an extra hour or two wandering around town looking for the base.. (which, of course, terrorists could have done just as well..) What gets me is this: In the past, each time there was a terror threat, they knew it, and had people on the case. They waited too long and/or canned good people, and then bad things happened. So now, we need to hide all information (even though it's already out there), because our own agencies can't do the jobs they're supposed to do? Well, by now, I think they're not about to let another mistake slip by their noses (I hope not, at least) - like they did with 9/11/01 and the earlier bombing of the trade center. So, how much do we need to hide, when it's already been seen and made available for so long?? Seems like trying to put a cork in an open bottle, after most of the contents are already in the glasses. And you have to wonder about our government - remember the Chinese Embassy we bombed in Belgrade? OOPS! Better keep those maps available, because one agency can't always get access to the other's maps - and using old maps can lead to some pretty bad mistakes! Yesterday's phone junction in Belgrade could be tomorrow's Hotel Hilton.. All I can say is: Duck Soup. Take one chicken, one turkey, and no duck; add 4 heads of cabbage. Stir. If anyone offers it to you - Duck!:laugh3:

:shocked2:Is that what goes on in Canada?:laugh3: I've often wondered about you Canadians!!:P Here, condoms are a precious commodity - not to be wasted (unless this is just to stretch them out a bit..:dozey:) Yes, I feel the same about food being thrown out, Tracie. Actually, I wouldn't mind it so much, if the packaging were biodegradable, and the food was at least being composted for gardens.. all that un-natural plastic stuff has me worried a bit - if it ever does break down - what's left? I wonder.. It looks like fun for kids I gather - we did have one incident at our school many decades ago.. but what a mess! The kitchen staff was mad at us for months and months.. - not the nicest thing to do to the cafeteria staff..

Hello & pardon me! Welcome!:):hat::jester: Pardon my error - Sometimes I get my Uzbecks and Kazaks mixed up! Tashkent looks nice - beautiful buildings! I hope life is improving where you're at - challenges abound here too as well. As far as release dates - not my department. Yes, it certainly has been a long time coming!! I hope your patience will be worth the wait - but given the quality of their new alliances with Brian Eno, it should be world class;). I would offer to help if they needed a hand - but no word back from them:).

I just couldn't bear the thought of seeing good food go to waste!:cry: Water balloon fights - now those are great!:P

Yes, that's the trouble! I'm trying to keep a better diet, but a lot of the healthier foods tend to produce enough gas to fill a weather balloon! Oh well - as long as I stay downwind of everyone else..:lol: (and avoid flames..)

Chelsea, some of us are blessed with genes that confer hair loss - oh well - I've already surpassed by Uncle's hair loss by 20 years (he went bald at age 20 - a wonderful genetic trait to have...) - so it is "thinning" and is very light blond to begin with - looks funny to see my head in the mirror! But what the heck - there's nothing natural to do about it (yes, there's those goofy hair plugs, and some hair tonics - wonder what else they do to one's health??:dozey:) Grey isn't so bad - at least you can color it, and it isn't falling out any more!! - though I have to wonder if some stress isn't a factor - I know it's somewhat the case with me (more stress = noticeable loss).. One other thing - and this is something I deal with as well - too many high-release carbs (sugars and refined white breadstuffs, cereals, etc.) do a number on the hair follicles. So, if you can cut back on the sugary/starchy carbs, it does help a lot (I have done so, and my hair has been coming out less). Grey is usually from stress hormones, though.. but can have genetic components as it does sound like the case with your hair. I would settle for grey - sure beats what I've got going on up on top!

Hey, I yam what I Yam! :P This is a thread for random food thoughts!:) - please, no sadistic or otherwise defamatory references!:policeman: Anyhow, I was thinking how certain foods cause gas - onions, beans, apples.. Still not quite sure why - supposedly indigestible sugars in each..:thinking:

Going around the chains. David, you are so right! But some of my neighbors are still farming, and they're going to go right around the chains - by getting the equipment and making their own certifiable dairy, egg, and produce products. I should get in touch with them, to sell the products through the co-op we have. True - it's the chains that get the lion's share of the profits - but there are ways around their greed.;) And again, I keep thinking about the importance of honest government - checking the power of chains and giant conglomerates in the food business. We truly need our governments to work on behalf of the citizenry, else we get the problems we have...

True - direct aid is essential as well. I think though, in the long run, working towards more honest governments everywhere will make the process fair between the hemispheres - at least improve the negotiated treaties, to give those people in need a better chance. It's really good to be involved in reform and education, to work towards more honest government as well - but for the immediate, yes charities that offer direct assistance do the most immediate good. Oxfam is basically the Fair Trade charity - so there's a combination of Fair Trade and on-the-ground direct aid involved.. Yes, the microfinance does a great deal of good too!! Right now, I need to keep my own head above water as well though.. I will give as I can;).