chuck kottke

Bless you Ainsley for feeling the way you do about the man responsible for all the hurt; you are truly noble and aware of the higher path. Please be well, I sense your pain, and want you to be comforted here. I know how it feels to loose someone close like that. :cry: There are moments others will not understand, they haven't a sense of how close this is to you and your countrymen, but I understand, we understand.

I almost think there is a certain behavior which happens in groups, sort of a sociopathic tendency, where one can use a long standing norm and perpetuate an inequity to dominate another or ostracize one for their actions, while another who is a member of the controlling group gets away with it. It's as though the ones who scheme the best and know how to mess with the minds of others get away with it, and set up a way to slander the reputation of another well beyond any measure of pointing out what a misdeed calls for. Once the ball gets rolling, it's open season for anyone to take advantage of a weakened person and beat on them as well. It has truly got to change, it's an inequity that still operates in the unspoken societal patterns and rules.

I think sexual dimorphism is a part of human nature and human culture, and we have societies structured in such a way that they depend on patterns and roles to function, but there is more flexibility in those relationships than we have experienced on the whole. What it seems to be is role playing and alpha mentalities / hyperindividualism that cause some of the problems, plus group pressures. Greater value needs to be placed on those who have greater sympathy, empathy, and consistency in relating with others. It seems to me that the real core issue deals with a desire for control over others, to get attention and to try and dominate others, and to jostle for rank in the pecking order in society. The master-slave mentality needs to become a partnership mentality, and more objective assessments for a merit based system, with greater weighting towards how well a person works with others. While this master-slave mentality is an antiquated way of thinking, old ways are slow to change. Stereotypes are reinforced in the cultural mediums of the day, and from patterns of behavior, and social norms. So, to change that, be the change you wish to see!;)

> A great deal then!! But yes, time-wise, 25 years?.. what if you sell your home? Wish we had something like that as well. Here, our local utility company offered to install and maintain the panels, but I need to refresh my mind on the details.. wish they still had that offer going! >Really great mileage either way David! One can't argue with that small a drop in mileage from weather-related effects. Perhaps long trips will do that, that's an interesting thought - I seem to get my best mileage from long trips as well.. :thinking: Keep on rolling down that highway ;) > Thanks Nancy for the Green Divas / Green Scotts links and entertaining info! ;--))

lets

I wonder if those boiling potatoes on the stove are done..

Greetings Jeff! :hat:

It says, "free hot toddy" whatever that is supposed to mean! :laugh3:

I hope your reunion is a good one. I truly sense your loss, and I hope that the hurt will begin to heal. Loss is not easy, it saddens me to think about it as well. :cry:

Thanks Nancy! But it will be a long and winding road to get there, that's for sure! Seems like things are changing, a little here, a little there. Maybe an amendment is still a ways off.. but something to stem the tide of corruption and the inequities between the plutocrats and the 99.9% of us. I keep thinking if the money were shifted from the excesses of military equipment, and applied instead to building a green future, how many lasting jobs would be created, saving us money on fuel costs, the savings then to be put back into stimulating economic activity that further improves lives. Watched a show on the income inequities in the U.S., wondering why we can't improve working wages so people can actually make ends meet. The manufacturing sector needs to be rebuilt, for without it, we have no base. Paying a living wage is a must, we've lagged far behind in that as well. But I can't see how, without removing the power of influential interests over politicians, we can achieve any of this. To level the playing field, and understand it isn't just a game - it's our collective well being that's at stake, and we need to select statesmen and stateswomen, not just more politicians.

Yeah, things have changed. Modernity takes its toll on humble places. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLMotU8Tu9E]‪[/ame]Thinking about the world I once knew. Which isn't to say change is all bad, but it could be a bit more kinder to place, to nurture a sense of community, things at a human scale. I suppose I'm just a hopeless romantic, dreaming the impossible dream.

Heidelberg, Germany :)

That's true, these celebrities often communicate in forwards English! :laugh3: Over the moon the cow jumped. Me no understand.

Fargo, ND :laugh3: as though that were a global city!:P

So that explains it, he's basically an ultra-nationalist racist fascist who became radicalized at some point, maybe mentally ill or psychotic. Maybe racist isn't the term for it - what is the term for extreme religious intolerance? Apparently he doesn't understand that an eye for an eye leaves the world blind. Thanks for posting the news Nancy.

Yellowstone? :laugh3: I guess in the summer months! Zabljak, Montenegro.

"And the banks became cathedrals" The commercial banks are Wall Street gaming tables all rigged by a few high priests of finance, some you see, some you don't. Those same high priests, members of the plutocracy, control the government via campaign financing and lobbying jobs. This must come to an end. Game Over Banksters!

To truly keep CD's fresh and new, it's best to hermetically seal them and pop them in the freezer. They keep best at -25C, may last for 10's of 1000's of years if you keep the freezer plugged in. :P

Reckless abandon has it's price, although enjoy it when you can, there will come another day Nick. You deserve the money back, even if she has to work a little and pay in small amounts. But I sympathize with you - because I've been in those shoes. :socks:

to

:laugh3: Oh well, no big deal! Cheesy cat you are! ;) Here, a lovely dark chocolate bar, and some walnuts and peanuts, but I did have some real food too - hm, what was it? diced lambsquarters and canned tomatoes with feta cheese and whole wheat bread - it's easy.

Um yeah, how upside-down the world can be, when celebrities with addiction problems take precedent over a large number of innocent young people killed by some deranged extremist, intent on creating some sort of effect, I can't even imagine what this loonie expected to accomplish, outside of just some deluded revenge motive??

Welcome mrniik from Caracas, Venezuela! :sunny: glad you could join us here!

Nobody understands me...:wacko::artist: So how did the fries turn out, Viri?:chef:

Makes poifect sense to me. Xylo - as xylophone, and myloto, or my low toe, so it's clearly all about hitting one's low toe on a piece of wood - maybe stubbing a toe on a piece of furniture? :laugh3: What else could it mean? ;)