archenemy

It is legal to kill crows year round. And coyotes.

Torture is a side show to war--just like rape and pillage. To pretend that "we" don't engage in torture is a blatent lie easily seen through by anyone who has ever read a history book.

All men are a mystery to me. I do not understand their actions and cannot understand their motivations. Most of this is beyond comprehension to a normal person.

hagiographic

I love hail. And firewood.

I learned a new word today.

I don't want to get off track here, but I just want to mention that other organs can also suffer from non-physically traumatic stimuli. Mainly stress.

Why did I think that you lived up near Index? Weren't you posting pics of flooding "right out your front door" earlier this year? Normally I live 1/2 time in BAllard, 1/2 time in Index. I have two "primary" homes.

and some women

It should be an interview technique for WAMU

Yes, actually it does seem to be what all the fuss is about. The other things we apparently do are sleep deprivation, long interrogations, threatening detainees that they'll never see their family again, etc. All psychological stuff. Some physical discomfort (without permanent damage). OTOH we kow-tow to Muslims at Gitmo, giving them Korans, letting them pray 5 times a day according to their practices, and feeding them according to their dietary restrictions. I have a hard time calling it humilitation and torture when folks use these techniques. Now, wearing a bomb into a public place, flying airplanes full of people into buildings full of people, and gassing subways--that is torture.

Those insta-condos and bad urban/surban planning are the way of the future in this country, and they suck ass. They are a big reason why I moved out of the N. side. Them and the damn Lowes/WalMart/HomeDepot/megaplexes put up everywhere. It makes me want to put an arrow in the heart of every person who insists that high-density building is going to magically help traffic, global warming, community spirit, whatever. It just fucks everything up, brings in a bunch of people who couldn't afford to buy a house, and packs more cars onto the same small roads. Sucks. there is another perspective though...that is if you live out of the city, then high density means those people don't live where you do...so better there than clogging up your favorite rural retreat? i know it isn't much help when you live in ballard and don't want it to change. you can always wait for that real rain that will wash all the scum off the earth I am convinced this does not hold true. More people move into the city, but more people move into rural areas as well. If anything, the higher density shit in the city takes competitive pressure off buying rural, so those who want to are more easily able to afford it. And more city packing will not make the rural life less attractive to people like me; in fact, it does the opposite. I was happy being in Ballard over the last 6 years, but now I think I am willing to commute even farther so I can get away from the encroaching city. I bet I am not the only one.

I think it's all gotten a bit overwhelming. We can't avoid having the "big picture" in front of us all the time; and so the thought of doing little things doesn't seem to be enough. And with everyone all ready to jump your shit over any wasteful action, it gets to be pointless. Nevermind you recycle, if you don't drive a hybrid you're a hypocrite. Nevermind you donate to environmental causes, you use nice soft asswipe and you're a fake. It gets tiresome. I sympathize. My philosopy these days is "do something - anything" besides go to work, consume, play, die. People are much more seperated from community life these days. They're not invested. But if you work some volunteer time into the rythmn of you life - it works. I agree, I am all for that. I enjoy volunteering and find satisfaction in that. But I have found over the years that I volunteer less for people-focused stuff and more for environment-focused stuff. That concerns me--mostly b/c I think I have less hope for people than I do for trees. Or maybe just less empathy. Or less patience. Whatever it is, I don't think it's good.

He will not answer the damn question, because the evidence is that we have done water boarding. So what is the alternate suggestion? We just ask nicely and say pretty please? When did we become such pussies? I agree that things like electrocuting someones balls or having dogs gnaw their feet off is not nice. But come on, putting a wet washcloth on someone's face can't really be the cause of all this commotion, can it?

Those insta-condos and bad urban/surban planning are the way of the future in this country, and they suck ass. They are a big reason why I moved out of the N. side. Them and the damn Lowes/WalMart/HomeDepot/megaplexes put up everywhere. It makes me want to put an arrow in the heart of every person who insists that high-density building is going to magically help traffic, global warming, community spirit, whatever. It just fucks everything up, brings in a bunch of people who couldn't afford to buy a house, and packs more cars onto the same small roads. Sucks.

Congress did no such thing. A handful of Senators and Congressmen did, however. Dude, that's the kind of bullshit we don't need in this country. Your comment above is just as evasive and rationalizing as this pathetic comment below: When asked by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, if waterboarding was constitutional, Mukasey responded "I don't know what's involved in the techniques. If waterboarding is torture, torture is not constitutional." http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/18/mukasey.hearing/index.html I don't understand the quote. Isn't torture unconstitutional regardless of whether waterboarding is or is not torture?

I think it's all gotten a bit overwhelming. We can't avoid having the "big picture" in front of us all the time; and so the thought of doing little things doesn't seem to be enough. And with everyone all ready to jump your shit over any wasteful action, it gets to be pointless. Nevermind you recycle, if you don't drive a hybrid you're a hypocrite. Nevermind you donate to environmental causes, you use nice soft asswipe and you're a fake. It gets tiresome.

I've never been towed before. And to think I was all ruffled when they installed pay thingys all around Ballard. Pisses me off. I moved there b/c it was not the hip Freemont area. Now with insta-condos and multi-fucking-plexes everywhere, I just hate it.

Yeah, but you have to chalk up.

I open beer bottles with my teeth.

just go to the store and ask for a bottle. they'll get you the right size. do they still have drive through liquor stores in FL? that was the best! So yesterday, I did just that. Parked at a liquor store. Then, after making my purchase, I went to the Sloop. Fuckers towed my truck. I was so pissed, I called and asked where the fuck my truck was. They asked what my truck looked like. I said it was a white pickup. They asked what kind. I said the kind with my fucking dog in it. They said I better come get it; so I asked how the fuck was I supposed to get there since they had my goddam truck. When I showed up to the tiny little tow place to pay my damn $300 ticket, I apologized for being such a bitch. They were all nice to me and complimented me on my dog. Then, I learned that I got to pay for a parking ticket on top of the goddam tow charge. I wished the deer were still in the back. Assholes.

I got yer full rack right here. Jeez, I made a numerical error and I'll never live it down. That's it, I'm sticking to whiskey. It comes in "flask" size. I can remember that.

pressure is good.

Good distinction. You've really thought this one out. What island?

On another thread--the topic was supporting local and/or organic businesses, one of the folks here mentioned that it doesn't make economic sense to support something local just because it is local. Businesses need to evolve to remain competitive in a changing environment--that is part of what keeps capitalism healthy and alive. It was a good point, and may be applicable here. We complain about various abuses in China, but without income, how will any of that change? Simply boycotting a product won't do much--we know that sanctions on any scale often don't work. And not buying BD just b/c it is made in China is not going to do anything to clean up their environment or change their work policies. Just food for thought.