rob

Here's to you, Matt :kisss:

I've had more leaches than any of you. Every single one of them took surgery to remove, because they tried to lay eggs in my spleen. That's why I always rub them with tiger balm now, which relaxes them.

ticks don't burrow all the way under and stay there, they will come off eventually on their own. That's what they do. Obviously, there are plenty of health reasons to remove them ASAP. Don't use alcohol or other "smothering" agents, just pull it straight out with tweezers. It's no big deal, just grip it as close to the skin as possible so you don't tear it in half, and pull straight up. I've never heard of anyone needed surgery.

Republican is just a label. There have always been political conservatives, and there have always been political parties -- only the political parties keep changing names. Conservatism isn't going anywhere, but maybe there will be a new conservative party that is better positioned for the modern electorate. Or maybe the republicans will kick out the tea-partiers and pivot. Either way, the "angry white guy" vote isn't going to cut it, anymore.

No, not really. It's more about voting demographics -- if anything, he predicts a return to the strength of the democratic majority, as happened with the Roosevelt majority from 1932 - 1968. He posits that the republican "age of Reagan" has ended and that the power has shifted back the other direction, due in part to the internal bickering of the Republican party and to the party's recent history of pandering to a small, politically insignificant (but loud) base -- the tea party. The shrinking of the white voter base is presented as one of many reasons behind this shift in power. He also breaks down changes to the democratic party, led by Obama (and Clinton), including the Democratic preemption of National Security as a platform, and cites the migration of big money and corporate support away from the republican party and towards the possible new democratic power base -- again, namely because people are realizing that the Republican party has been driven into irrelevance by the tea-party, and describes republican efforts to stop this self-destruction (and their failures) It's a good article, well-written, and where it lacks in originality it makes up with abundance of data.

I don't think you're being oppressed, I think people just didn't think that article was as fresh and original as you did.

Clearly, you're not familiar with the author's work. I'm not sure he's capable. He has a special genius that makes him capable of simultaneously criticizing both sides of an argument (quite lucidly) without actually presenting any suggestions of his own.

I heard that Ron Paul tried to get a job at a D.C.-area think tank but he wasn't qualified.

If you like Mike Davis, you should read his Planet of Slums. It would probably be right up your alley.

HI! I found this photo on the internet, can you explain it to me? THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

I don't actually really have a problem with the felony bits -- nobody needs the right to shoot bullets from their RC plane. It's the misdemeanor bit that upsets me -- just for taking pictures? What wrong with taking pictures? Totally over-reactive, especially the whole "we're facing an emergency!!!" language of the bill. Luddites. I read that similar bills are being proposed in California and other states. OMG I'M so worried about private drones!!!!!! Not. There already is a time-tested method for preventing people from watching me get naked -- curtains.

I gave your mom a five last night, but she should probably keep it for your new baby brother

I'm about to take a shower, if anyone wants to come watch with their drone now is the time

"the space above the ground that is not part of airspace governed by federal law" What space is that, anyway? I thought the FAA controlled all airspace.

Flying an RC plane with a camera would be in the same category of misdemeanor as DUI, and harsher even than concealing an illegal switchblade. Kinda weird

Weird, although this: seems to be somewhat hyperbolic. Flying a drone and taking pictures would a misdemeanor under this law, they probably don't send people to prison for 20 years for a misdemeanor -- even in oregon? Does the state even have the right to tell me I can't fly a camera around?

But it's in a youtube video, how can it not be true?????

Stupid? Yes. Fraud? You're high

Wrong again http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/02/24/iran-drone-capture-denied_n_2753230.html

Weird, I had no idea Ivan and/or Rob were Asian. Then again, I've never met Rob. Ah so!

Oh, have I ever given you shit for one of your jokes? I don't recall ever having done that, but if I did, I was probably just busting your balls

I've never once see a comedian who didn't make me laugh my ass off without being incredibly offensive. To me, the differentiation lies (lays?) in the intent. There is a difference between making an offensive joke about a homosexual's stereotypical love of fashion, for example, and supporting actual legislation aimed at disenfranchising gays and lesbians. No?

Pink and I are friends on facebook, we've been penpals for a while now. No xmas cards tho