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General discussion

And those Obama Admin hits just keep coming

Jun 12, 2019 6:15AM PDT

Discussion is locked

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I found a few of your comments
Jun 17, 2019 7:31AM PDT

amusing and others to be 'spin' on some facts. I'll begin with your first paragraph and go from there.

Tweeting to circumvent the press is exactly WHY he does it....journalism is no longer trying to give fair reporting on Conservatives/Republicans anymore (no matter who that person is). A great recent example of that is how they treated that 16 yr old kid and the lying American Indian situation...even to the point of not only reporting incorrectly because they didn't bother to 'investigate' what was being said and done by who, but one woman 'reporter' deliberately tried to humiliate the kid during her 'interview' while the Indian was given a pass without checking his story or his background to realize he was lying from the gitgo. The only way Trump can get any real information out to the people is to tweet to millions of followers. Does he exaggerate? Sure he does. Does the news media LIE? Absolutely. When HALF of the country DEPENDS on their local news media and 90% of that news is all negative towards the President, we have problems. This outright media agenda began becoming openly hostile during the Reagan administration and has gotten completely out of control....or don't you recall all of the laughter, ridicule, and snide comments made by them back then? The same was all repeated during GWB and became ten times worse during the Trump campaign. When he actually won, you would have thought the entire world had been blown up with nukes.....the LITERAL tears were flowing. THAT's what we have for journalism today.....if it's not THEIR agenda that THEY have pushed, it MUST be doomsday and NONE had their bomb shelters in place. As for the SEAL team comment....have YOU forgotten that BO PERSONALLY outed the SEAL TEAM 6 as being the ones who took out UBL, and what happened as a result? An ENTIRE team, plus more, were taken out by a missile in retaliation. BO was personally responsible for those deaths because of HIS bragging EGO....

There were many societies that considered slavery acceptable.....at some time in their histories. It was never right; however, Dems conveniently forget that in the USA, it WAS accepted and practiced by THEM for decades; THEY started the KKK; THEY fought the Civil Rights Bill tooth and nail; Johnson was dragged kicking and screaming into signing it; Republicans were the ones putting their lives on the line going from the North to the South to enroll blacks to vote and DIED for that effort; Planned Parenthood was started by a sickening woman who believed that blacks should be wiped out and yet the Dems believe that PP should be and IS the ONLY abortion clinic to receive annual FEDERAL funding (from taxpayer money even though many don't believe in that agenda); Dems believe that killing 60 MILLION babies since 1974 when Roe v Wade was illegally put into place by SCOTUS since it was never passed as a BILL/LAW by Congress who MAKES laws is acceptable but ALSO believe that slavery ancestors generations passed are 'due' monetary reparations from people who not only hadn't been born or had ancestors of their own that FOUGHT against it but also hadn't been born HERE and are from legal/illegal immigrants.

As to your 'racist' paragraph....I don't believe we have anywhere near the amount of actual racism that liberals describe. I DO believe that liberals have used that term as a 'tool' to divert and deflect conversations so often that it's lost its impact as something real....just like the 'metoo' has gotten out of control and lost its impact.

Does it not strike YOU as 'fishy' that ALL Presidential campaigns and administrations (even during the three months of transition times) talk with foreign counterparts on a regular basis and yet ONLY the TRUMP one has been scrutinized for it? Doesn't it seem 'fishy' to YOU that HILL not only took over the DNC funds and merged them into her own campaign funds where SHE alone had control of that money, but spent nearly $10 MILLION on that dossier using RUSSIAN information and that the DNC REFUSED to allow the FBI to look at their server that was hacked into and all those emails taken from it? Does it not seem 'fishy' to you that HILL got over $150 MILLION 'donated' to her Foundation right before/after signing over 25% of USA uranium to Russia or that her husband was getting over $500 THOUSAND (five times what he was getting before) for speeches in Russia or that her husband was 'honorary chancellor' for a conglomerate of Laureate International Universities raking in $17+MILLION at HILL's direction?

Trump's casinos went bankrupt AFTER he had sold them....and OTHER casinos on that boardwalk went bankrupt pretty much at the same time, and yet only HIS is berated? And I actually don't recall ANY of his companies being 'bailed out'....can you point me to the ones that were? In any event, Trump's financial losses were an open book LITERALLY on every tabloid front page for YEARS as THEY HAPPENED.....none of this is new information to anybody who was around then. As for GE....I don't recall them being bailed out, but I DO recall that they shut down most of their companies and moved them all overseas, and then their President/CEO was given the position of "JOBS CZAR" by BO and held up as a prime example as someone who could CREATE jobs....all while paying ZERO in income taxes. And you criticize Trump for paying as little as possible? Show me a corporation full of accountants and attorneys who DOESN'T take advantage of tax loopholes. Get rid of those loopholes that Dems and Republicans alike LOVE and refuse to get rid of because they ALL take advantage of them, and we can talk again.

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Well, I guess there are
Jun 20, 2019 6:19PM PDT

some things we will quite literally *never* agree on. I'll respond to some of your points in a bit, just wanted to say right off at the start that it's refreshing to converse with you. As you noted in another thread, and perhaps I did not reciprocate my pleasure at the time, it's nice to actually talk with people about topics without it becoming a "screaming match" as they used to say. :^)

I suppose we aren't actually "talking" but corresponding, sort of like pen pals, but I imagine you'll forgive me for mixing metaphors, as it were. I've gotten to know you over the years - as much as anyone
can without actually meeting, and though perhaps if we met "in person" it would be awkward, then again I believe as we share _some_ views [ :^) ] it would be nice. Anyway, just wanted to note that it's fun to hear (read!) your opinions.

Firstly, I think your 90 per cent figure (negative news about our leader) is maybe high - there are some outlets as you know that have a mostly positive view of Trump. Conversely, you are right that some television news (Ok, a lot!) has negative news about him - but I would posit that is a function of his 'track record' for making absurd, inflammatory statements about a vast variety of subjects: such being noted by many journalists as being in the service of A - keeping himself in the news and B - riling up the populace against him so they don't notice the manuevering he is doing "in the background" - sort of a decoy ruse that so far has worked rather well, I'd say. I'm quite serious about this : The man works with the Republican party - their machinations and goals, end result desired being everyone on the 'progressive' side, shall I say, is distracted from their gerrymandering, placing conservative judges in lifetime positions and other 'behind the scenes' stuff that they desperately need to make happen to hold on to the shrinking power-base that conservatives seek. Of course one might say that _every_ President does service to his (yet to be a woman in this position...) party in this manner, but in Trump's case it is painfully obvious he is way out of his league, having been let's say not that well acquainted with politics other than what he needed to know as a businessman. I still think Trump did _not_ believe he would actually win and become President - this was obvious to me from his expression right before his victory speech back in 2016 - I think he was rather shocked at the responsibility just then placed on his shoulders, and while he was glad it occurred, it's my suspicion he realized it wasn't a game anymore, and with a win he would be restricted in his office as most sole leaders must necessarily be.[As a check against those who become power-mad or become insane,etc. for whatever reason]. Thus his first acts were to test the waters of his authority, and he has continued to do so and found *some* leeway towards what I'd imagine he thinks is a benevolent dictatorship. I cannot fault him for trying, it's basically in his nature to "push the envelope" (as evident in his biz career) - but I do have issue with those in his party and otherwise who let him get away with his stunts. As I've said here before, I do not think he's good for America - or the world. He wants a world that is static and predictable, and that just is not reality.

I agree with your comments on history of parties here regarding race issues but would note that under other Presidents efforts were made and sometimes succeeded in easing tensions while it appears under Trump he wants things to return to a former era or just pretend racism is not an issue much anymore - the latter which you seem to agree with. How you can say this I have no idea, only perhaps that race relations are less of an issue in your state/area. Here in Houston people still get pulled over for "driving while black" or if they are even walking around in ritzy neighborhoods or where " 'they' don't belong " and for similar supposed transgressions of culture. I think you are off about the me-too movement also, but whatever, you are entitled to your opinion.

You are most likely right about Hillary - she like many politicians are indebted to donors and do "deals" that are questionable at best and crimes at worst. That does not excuse being _openly_ receptive to foreign governments *and* known abusers of human rights and the legion of ills attributed to Putin and NK plus China, his near-fealty to the Saudi royal family - Trump acts as if his "friendship" with these monsters is OK and he can use his 'charisma' to get what he wants from them - that to me is appalling, especially his taking the word of Putin over his own intelligence services : How is that *ever* a good idea?

The info on his biz losses comes from the Frontline special (PBS) broadcast just before the election in 2016
that examined both Mr.Trump and Mrs.Clinton's pasts. As I recall his guarantors of money transaction on his Atlantic City casino deals waived his losses in hopes of
recouping in the future through other loans. If I'm wrong about *that* it's possible, but the whole tenor of the Frontline special made clear to me he was not someone to be trusted. If that is their bias/intention I'm not sure, but since he has become President it is even more clear to me he's a frickin' rat fink. Yes, I do not like him - though as I stated previously I _do_ commend his straight talking - just a shame to me his "talent" in screwing people over in business is now applied to attempting to hoodwink the public of our nation into thinking he's the answer to the country's problems...

I'm with you on tax loopholes - though fixing that will take a paradigm shift in policy or a complete "re-boot" of the tax code - and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

In all, I don't have a solution to much of what we are discussing - though the Dems. have some ideas, especially Warren and O'Rourke - among other 'hopefuls' ( in both meanings!). I just think another four years of Trump is going to get us nowhere. You think differently, and as he (Trump) is fond of saying, "we'll see" (!)

Rick "fingers are tired, maybe time for a beer?" Jones

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Thank you for the kind words
Jun 21, 2019 5:19AM PDT

and I agree that it is refreshing to have a conversation about real issues. It doesn't matter that we are on opposites ends of the spectrum on them and that neither one of us has any illusions (or delusions) about how we are going to change the heart and mind of the other....all that matters is that we have the ability and civility to discuss points of view.

Your thinking on Trump is probably better than what mine had been and still is about BO....and it's actually been nice to not wake up PO'd every single day for over 8 years. I only can hope that as more and more information keeps coming out about how he weaponized all branches of his administration against 'my side' and literally protected actual criminals for so long that at least SOME will be finally held accountable. "We'll see"....lol

Toni (I can't drink a beer or my painting/remodeling rooms right now will be horrible in the end....maybe later?)

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Thanks, Toni,
Jun 21, 2019 2:27PM PDT

And watch out for fumes from painting ( if applicable ). I did some work in a neighbor's house a couple of years ago and did not ventilate the area enough - and gradually got a sort of "far look" trance-like state of mind. Luckily she noticed the symptoms and ordered me out of the house for fresh air. Funny, but also kinda scary how easy it is to think to yourself " I'm alright, just a little more painting, _then_ I'll take a break... " :^)

Anyway, Prost! (if and when you do have that brew!)

Rick " a Rembrandt he ain't! " Jones

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My painting
Jun 21, 2019 2:52PM PDT

After almost 20 years I decided it was time for a massive change.....After my new wood flooring went into three and a half rooms (pantry that is wide open in the floor plan), I began painting...started in the bathroom (new cupboards too)...ceiling, walls, woodwork; then on to the adjoining laundry room (larger than the bathroom) and repeated the process but repainted the cupboards there. Then it was on to a room with the open stairwell to the second floor...no cupboards, but steps were repainted as well and put dusk to dawn lights on the wall for every other step and painted the ceiling fan paddles. This is the room that has the open pantry attached with built in (by me years ago) shelving so I finished that one, too with tiles on the shelves now. Then, while Derek was here for a few days, I put down the new floor in the laundry and bathrooms (close to the same as what's in the kitchen but cheapy stuff that still looks much better than what was there before) so he could help me move the washer and dryer without scratching it all up. Now I'm working on the kitchen.....I'm about a fourth of the way through it because everything has to be done 'one wall at a time' so I can keep up with what needs to be moved and still have room to move around. Unfortunately, for me, this is the largest room in my downstairs space and has an overabundance of cupboards....doors to be taken down, hardware removed and cleaned, paint the doors, paint the framework, paint the walls, the ceiling, paint the baseboards, paint the ceiling, paint the ceiling coving....not necessarily in that order. LOL The end result is that I then have the center of the ceiling to paint along with the ceiling fan blades an clean the mess that IT is. All leaning upside down.

Been at it since the beginning of March and quit for a week to go to Derek's commissioning and then right back at it. I figure it'll be maybe the second week of July before the kitchen is done (maybe longer since I still have the OUTSIDE to take care of). Then it's on to my livingroom and what is now the 'computer room' (took the wall out that broke it up into two separate rooms) but I have a massive 7' high hutch "L" shaped desk that comes out '7 under the hutch along the wall and the 'L" adds another 5' (total 7' counting the actual desktop under the hutch) along the corner wall. No way can I move it to paint and I refuse to paint around that sucker even if it IS only me that will know that lol. Trying to sell it on Craig's List but no bites yet. It was great when I was building/repairing computers or copying VCR's to DVD's but it's gotta go now.

I want to have everything done by fall so I can literally FALL DOWN DRUNK.....on Gallianno on the rocks. The bottle is waiting for me. I'm too old for this crap and I want to never do this again in my lifetime so I figured I better do it now and be done with it.

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What??? Girls can do stuff???
Jun 21, 2019 5:27PM PDT
Grin
I hate painting. We had some odd paint that came from somewhere. A pretty blue. Just enough to do the side and end walls of the "breakfast nook", if that's what it is. Looks very nice, sort of makes a room out of it.
Hope you get some good cash for your stuff. That's the only reward you'll get. Happy
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Wowza!
Jun 21, 2019 5:58PM PDT

Sounds like a Herculean house 'make-over'. But it'll be worth it - and no doubt increase the value of your homestead to boot. Victoria [my Sister] did a similar spruce-up when she was in Austin several years ago. Smallish wood house, on short stilts, she leased it in the intention of living there for the foreseeable future.

Her initial job ( which would have been quite well-paying for a relatively novice attorney ) fell through due to circumstances beyond her control and she was reduced to far lowing paying gigs. Austin's a nice town and her undergraduate and grad 'Alma Mater' but it's also v. hard to get a good job in the court system there, unless one has some excellent referrals. She actually did/does but it being a "college town" the competition is fierce. She was eventually reduced to taking two low paying jobs just to scrape by, and after a few months of _that_ nonsense I was finally able to convince her to come back to Houston to room with me for a while until
she could get a better job here - which she did, Houston being a far better place for job-seekers of just about _any_ branch of law work.

So, she was not happy at all about having to move yet again after only nine or ten months - annnd having completely re-finished all the hardwood floors, re-tiled the kitchen and bathrooms, painted the walls, added crown molding, re-finished the fireplace, setup a flower bed "feature" out front, and countless other improvements, which she was certain her 'landlady' would take advantage of _immediately_ by upping the lease rates for the next tenant! When I flew there to help her pack/move via U-haul I was amazed at how much she had done - she's been an artist and sculptor since she was a small girl, but never evinced any real interest in things construction-wise or architectural. Hearing her talk about the merits of different brands of belt sanders and such made me exclaim wonder and respect for her taking on jobs a lot of so-called "grown men" would leave to a "professional" ( lol !)

So, props to ya for your work! And let me know the completion date - we can raise a glass at an appointed time, maybe? - I'll try to set aside a tall glass of Guinness for me - and here are some Galliano recipes you might not know about (well, two of 'em!) just in case you feel the urge to 'cut' your choice of libation:

> https://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/drink/3-cocktails-will-make-you-dust-bottle-galliano

Rick " I like Zwack when it comes to herbal spirits " Jones

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At 72
Jun 22, 2019 1:18AM PDT

I've accumulated tools many guys would kill to own and I know how to use them all....some are ones that my 40 yr old son didn't know what it was for. The largest purchase I made just last year was to buy a 'mini' backhoe/loader tractor with all the bells and whistles (brush hog, tiller, snow blade, and box blade); some are PTO and hard for me to connect because some amount of lifting is required so ask a neighbor or wait for a visit from Derek. I also bought a log splitter since I have 23 acres here with plenty of wood that dies off and can be used for fireplaces or firepits. I had to finally buy a 'mower lifter' in order to clean under my rider since I don't trust blocks for tires and regular jacks anymore (the older I get the more leery I am of 'chancing' stuff). Like getting into a tree to cut a dead or bothersome limb.....I have a 'from the ground' pole chainsaw now that Derek thinks is really cool.

I always believed I was like an alien invader that jumps into a host body (parasite maybe instead?) and absorbs all it can before moving on to the next one. Every boyfriend and/or husband or boss I've had since I was a teenager taught me something new that was normally a 'man's' job (electrician, plumbing, carpentry, tools, etc) and I've carried it over to countless rental places I've lived in and three homes of my own.

My biggest challenge was moving from a postage stamp in a major city to 23 acres in a remote mountain with no tv reception for free airwaves or cable lines available and now no cell service reception or dsl/cable here. I had dial up at first until Starband satellite became available and was one of their first customers for the internet here and now I have Hughesnet. My original tv service was with a 12' satellite dish parked in the middle of a huge flower garden I put in around it...it was the type that would rotate and tilt towards various satellites in the sky....had that for years until Dish showed up and my huge dish was obsolete as those satellites all started dying off in space. Now it's Directv. Each company wanted their own poles for installation, so my yard for a while looked like a road block with them all lined up until I was able to get them dug out of the ground (concreted in, thank you) and only have two now....can't do roof mount or even wall mounts because they DO need to be cleared off in snow/ice situations or lose reception and having them on the ground is easy to get to with a broom....but they always charge $125 extra for the privilege of them digging the hole to put the pole in for you, but if you don't think about the maintenance ahead of time, it's an automatic roof mount for them because they don't bother to ask you if you have somebody stupid enough to climb 20+ feet in the air to broom it off.

Right now, God is making it easy for me to keep working on the inside of the house and plug along....rain every day...even if it's just enough to wet everything down so I can't mow or weedwhack. Now if He would just send a volunteer to paint the freaking ceilings for me, I love doing all the rest myself. I hate ceilings.

Thanks for the recipes....I haven't had a Wallbanger in 40 years. A guy I worked with at a furniture company in my early 20's introduced me to the 'on the rocks' and Galliano when a bunch of went out after work one night and I've been hooked ever since...and like the article says "it was a 70's thing". I took my own bottle to my daughter's wedding because she wouldn't buy a bottle knowing I was gonna be the only one drinking 'the crap' as my family refers to it. LOL I brought the rest of the bottle back home, too. I never taste the 'vanilla' in it...I only taste the 'anise' which is a definite licorice flavor and a favorite candy for me. If I'm out of Galliano, it's the lemony flavor of Drambuie although there is no lemon in it....again, on the rocks. Most of my 'straight booze' choices are on the rocks.

TONI (I've been watching paint dry for too long....I definitely need booze now LOL)

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That's hilarious!
Jun 23, 2019 1:56PM PDT

-about your folks' calling it 'the crap' ! Victoria associates Galliano with some seventies parties where/when Wallbangers were popular and I think she may have had a bad hangover(s?) as a result... I like the anise myself, but it being a sweet drink I'm a tad wary of having more than a cordial-size glass of it. (!)

I go to AA meetings and probably shouldn't mess with liquor at all - but do anyhow, rarely - mostly stick with beer (every other weekend - that's my 'plan' anyway!) which is harder to get "in trouble" with. I like stouts and porters, sometimes indulge in fancy "Trappist" ales and German Weiss beers (when I can afford them!). There's a style called Rauschbier which has a wonderful smoky flavour - hard to get but great on its own and perfect with BBQ.

Drambuie - that stuff is great! Back "in the day" (the '80's and '90's, mostly) I loved a shot or two of that for a 'nightcap'. Maybe why I go to meetings now... :^) That, and too much scotch. Anyway, I'm not an 'absolutist' as some are in AA, and as long as things are in moderation I do alright - had several runs of years long abstinence and v. rarely get actually trashed anymore - It hurts too much the next day!

About your ceilings - I guess you've considered an online ad? Maybe some kids on summer break would be willing to do them for a nominal fee? Anyway, good luck, etc.

Rick "Laphroaig - guaranteed hangover elixir, but way tasty"

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I forgot about your AA.
Jun 23, 2019 8:24PM PDT

My advice is to abstain, which means zero BTW. The 'occasionals' haven't done so well as I understand it.
If you function, with job, family and the like, then it's your choice.
Until it bites you.

Speaking of which, look at Proverbs 23:29-35. Those of us who have been there will understand. Happy

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good advice -
Jun 26, 2019 5:25PM PDT

and yes, my 'group' - actually it varies in members from week to week - advises the same : heck, even "non-alcoholic" 'fake beer' - which most varieties contain 0.5 % is verboten. I read somewhere recently that actual 0% beer is possible now and available some places, though I have yet to try it. Many years ago when I first went "on the wagon" I lasted over a year sober, even able to go to one of my old haunts (an old-style Texas "ice-house") and sip soft drinks or fizzy water and watch guys get tipsy and 'better' while catching up on the local 'gossip' (!) [most men don't call it _that_ , but essentially that's what it is] . Anyhoo, you're right - I got bit (more than once, sadly) and had to take a "good look in the mirror" as they say. My first (and only) DWI happened in 2005 - and after that I was wise (translation - scared!) enough to not drive drunk - had to take a "course" and even make
a 'journal' of sorts - actually a scrapbook of newspaper
articles related to drinking offenses, etc. for an entire year - thanks to local judge Ted Poe (who's now a congressman) and was known nationally for his "creative" sentencing. I went through two jars of rubber cement and supposedly my tome is kept somewhere and available for perusal by the public ! Though who would want to I have no idea.

Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.

Hmm, taken out of context, that sounds ok to me - heck, I'd love the second part especially! :^) kidding, mostly! But then I'm strange (and have a 'scrip to prove it!).

Rick " one of quetiapine's side effects is old memories are once more 'found' and this is useful when one gets to be an 'old fart' like moi " Jones

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Hi Rick.
Jun 26, 2019 6:10PM PDT

I have to admire you for posting this in an open forum. Looks like you had a long journey. All the best for the future.
Dafydd.

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Thanks
Jun 26, 2019 9:11PM PDT

for the kind words. Yep, it ain't pretty coming "back" from self-destruction - that's basically what I was doing, getting drunk whenever I could. As a younger person I could sorta do it - always showed up for work, hungover or not, and my body took a bunch of punishment from me - but as I got older it finally cost more and more. Getting diagnosed as bipolar helped me realize a lot of things and medicating _that_ was step one. It gets easier with time and working at it. I still
'slip' but don't sweat it too much and aim for getting tipsy at worst - sort of flirting with disaster ( according to AA rules ) but have been thankfully off the "radar" of the police - they appreciate that as much as I do! :^) The silver lining of that is I'm well documented in Harris
county and Bellaire, Texas - if need be my fingerprints are in multiple locations for easy access by law enforcement! ( too many times I thought it was a "good idea" to stumble home from the bar at 2:30 a.m. - leads
to an overnight stay in jail rather often!).

So now it's cheaper, too - three beers or one stiff drink and I'm liable to wake up on the couch with the television on - sometimes with a stiff neck but nothing else amiss.

Rick " gin 'll make ya sin, wine 'll make ya whine, but good scotch is what I (try) to stay away from ! " Jones

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I told him once before that IMO alcoholics get extra credit
Jun 26, 2019 9:43PM PDT

for recovering. Alcohol is socially acceptable and legal, so more pressure from society.

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BTW did you notice the censorship?
Jun 19, 2019 2:54PM PDT

S/w is something like a HS class I had. When the 'dare not speak its name' word came up, as a Gk prefix, it got the usual sophomoric giggles. I took time to explain h*** (L) = man and h*** (Gk) = same. Lee's s/w giggles. Wink

And the Latin h******etc. includes women, because such male prefixes default to both genders a/r, in most ... tongues.

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I did
Jun 20, 2019 6:25PM PDT

I also recall in school some kids giggled at milk cartons that abbreviated "Homogenized" to a four letter word. Kids are funny that way. Fart jokes, etc. Heck, most bodily functions are a source of amusement - and to judge from popular film and TeeVee (tm) - the luster never wore off...

Rick " I like _some_ fart jokes, just not all of them " Jones :^)

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(NT) Kids think the fart is God's greatest gift to man.
Jun 21, 2019 5:20PM PDT
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Yep.
Jun 21, 2019 5:39PM PDT

The farter, the son, and the holy spirit.
Dafydd.

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Was that a book?
Jun 21, 2019 5:54PM PDT
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Dunno.
Jun 21, 2019 5:59PM PDT

Think it was a song by REM, everybody hurts.
Dafydd.

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(NT) Blasphemy! :^)
Jun 21, 2019 6:03PM PDT
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(NT) Good one!
Jun 22, 2019 3:01AM PDT
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Religious flaming, too.
Jun 23, 2019 8:07PM PDT

I recall one post to me that appeared long enough for me to read and then got cut. I guess the Mods hadn't seen real anti-Witness vitriol before. We have, from professionals, heads of state and the like. Happy Anyway, I told the late MarkFlax (I think) not to worry and put it back. He did.

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I think I recall that
Jun 26, 2019 5:58PM PDT

particular post. I've seen you treated rather harshly here for some of your perceived "pontificating" (if that's the right word, though I'd imagine it ain't, being derived from Catholicism and all!). Shoot, around here (the South) some peeps are intolerant of _any_ religion but their own - and that I attribute to their upbringing and a further lack of interest in educating themselves about other faiths. Anti-Islam is particularly strong in Texas at least in rural areas though there are some exceptions. City folk tend to be way less concerned about what other people do as long as they themselves are left alone. Same with LGBTQ issues and also race relations, I reckon such being a function of exposure to other cultures and proximity/density of people per square mile. Here in Houston there are so many different peeps it's quite hard to _not_ be "cosmopolitan" though as noted elsewhere there are still some 'cracker' types who are almost openly racist. And police 'profiling' (the bad kind) occurs infrequently but is thankfully mostly exposed and dealt with promptly, either through law and or public outrage that leads to dismissal of offending parties and sometimes criminal proceedings.

But it's still a big state. For a "liberal vacation" there's always Austin, which prides itself on being "weird" (there are even bumper stickers which proclaim such!)
And there is a large German 'contingent' around New Braunfels and in the East Texas area around Palestine. (Though the 'natives' pronounce it "Pal-as-teen" or something like that!) - the Piney Woods I think they call it. And the area around Lubbock and the "panhandle" -closer to you- is v. conservative. Lubbock was once a "dry" college town - ! - and had been till 2009, if you can believe that! I visited a high school pal there once for a week and he tried to get me to join him there for a degree - I had a good job and declined, but liked Texas Tech and the people in general were nice. But maybe a touch too "staid" after experiencing the "anything goes" vibe of UT. :^) (and the music scene is fantastic there!).

Rick " SXSW is still a good bet " Jones

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Barr wants to talk to sources
Jun 13, 2019 3:50AM PDT

at the CIA now....Brenner better have a good attorney on call. He testified under oath to Congress that he didn't know anything about the dossier until October, 2016, but somehow forgot to mention that he took the dossier directly to Harry Reid in August, 2016.

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Folks seem to be missing the point
Jun 15, 2019 11:40AM PDT

This is Toni's thread to knock BO.
I won't try to defend BO.

Knocking the Don is easy but it does not fit with the original topic.

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I rarely START a thread
Jun 16, 2019 2:58AM PDT

but CAN point out that MOST of YOUR thread starters are directed at knocking Trump.

And you CAN'T defend BO, even if you just considered doing it. The BEST you can do is to refuse to comment on him and his 'legacy' policies and actions.

And the POINT of my thread is to counter JP's 'We'll see' thread that was/is nothing more than a liberal opportunity for wishful thinking; whereas my thread is to let you and others know that the 'walls are closing in' around the previous administration and veering away from the Trump many fake accusations that were made.

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RE:JP's 'We'll see' thread wishful thinking;
Jun 16, 2019 5:08AM PDT
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BO is not the prez.
Jun 16, 2019 6:27AM PDT

So I don't carp about him.

The Don is the prez.
A prez that seems to feel that the rules don't apply to him.

I did not agree with some of the stuff BO did so whatever an investigation finds is fine with me.

I doubt any past admin would pass an investigation squeaky clean.

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(NT) Your pat response is a non-response as usual
Jun 17, 2019 7:32AM PDT