Anyone watching the HIstory Channel - Senator Charley Wilson? chat & forums.

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singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 17 (view)

Anyone watching the HIstory Channel - Senator Charley Wilson? Posted: 1/16/2009 6:06:23 PM
...we really really need to clean house folks. Our government is a behemoth, secretive, Machiavellian, arrogant unit of elite individuals who have too much power in this world and over us. really? really? how many times did some very learned folk explain that 9/11 was the result of us covert ops that continued to wreak havoc in foreign lands, creating an impoverished and war ravaged generation that easily clung to the idea of the us as an "evil" demagogue? when americans were asking "why do they hate us?" and those very same folks were saying, we've done bad things in their countries in the name of corporate greed and political ambition and perhaps their reasons for hating us can be explained, americans didn't want to hear it. i have spoken to so many americans - decent common folk who just do their jobs and live their lives and raise their children and they simply don't understand this hate directed at them. instead, they turn to blind patriotism without acknowledging any wrong doing on the part of their own gov't. if your gov't is a war mongerer, however can your country exist peaceably within this world? perhaps, if americans would accept their culpability in some of the world's instability (i'm not saying all, just some) then perhaps, just perhaps, we could work towards lasting peace in the world. it would take some humility and the call of a superpower like the us, to start the process.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 23 (view)

Breaking the cycle of loneliness Posted: 10/19/2008 8:53:19 PM
But (there is always a but): What is "negative" IMO is desperately wanting to "lock" into long term "arrangements" regarding sex, companionship or friendship. Trying to force long term on a lover, friend, anyone. If LR comes, it comes, but trying or even wishing to force it cries out "clinginess" and scares off others. Or trying to evoke emotional blackmail on the friend or the lover is negative and scares people off. why is this a negative if you are upfront about what you want or need? i like sex but i also require the legitimacy of a relationship to give in to lust b/c i know i get emotionally involved. do i really want to just have a casual encounter only to wake up and be sad b/c that person doesn't want to be with me anymore? how is it blackmail to say i need a relationship in order to have sex? if you want someone who has no issue with casual encounters, find one. don't use the "humans are animalistic in that we have wants, desires and needs" defense. we also have the animal survivor instinct and don't want to be hurt.....

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 104 (view)

indian women Posted: 10/16/2008 10:15:35 PM
in response to northern lights message quoting and, i find, making some personal attacks at me without admitting to doing so (page 4 of those paying attention) whoa. first off, i qualified all my statements with "my experience"...which is just that. from the indian men i have met, interacted with, seen, heard from, been personally involved with in some way, shape or form - these are the men i base my opinions on and from which i derive my sense of preference. regardless of how "western" i may have found an indian man, they still come with traditional families. i am not saying that ALL indian men are as i've described - just the ones i've had the misfortune to know. i can understand why it might make you feel better to think of me as bigoted or racist or whatever it is you wish to call me. i get that. you feel personally attacked b/c you identify yourself as an indian man. but you are not one of the indian men i know. i would ask you to take a moment to consider this - why are there so many documentaries, films, novels, plays, etc depicting the cultural prevalence of violence against women in indian society? why does indian culture still ascribe to a dowry system? why do we even have a moniker as the "burning brides" linked to our culture!?!!? why do we hear of honour killings in our culture? because it exists and it's widespread. does that mean ALL indian men engage in such activity? of course not. but if i choose not to roll the dice and play in that pool, i'm labeled a racist. so be it. but i would ask you to consider the idea, the notion, that perhaps our cultural norms do play a part in how indian women are supposed to be seen by indian men. sometimes it is hard to overcome the nurture and environment you are brought up in - i'm not saying impossible to overcome but difficult. it is easier to go with the status quo. btw, my experience is related to a fairly conservative population of indians in the lower mainland of bc. i hear that the indian populations in, say, toronto and montreal are much more liberal but i don't know b/c i haven't met indian families from those cities.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 15 (view)

World's Greatest Current Alpha Dog? Posted: 10/14/2008 8:50:52 AM
the most influential by the definition given by the poster for this choice? i agree with gottapulse. bin laden has single handedly changed the political landscape around the world. terrorism has been taken to the nth degree thanks to the group he led. we now have a whole different idea of national and international security. he has spawned 2 (illegal i may add) wars, manipulated the western nations to give in to fear and ignorance and helped push the us into economic decline thanks to military and "national" security spending. in fact, he's pushed americans/canadians and the british to actually turn their back on their own constitutions - the right to free speech and security of person has been seriously compromised; not to mention the disregard of the legal system where people are supposedly given the right to a timely trial, to know what charges are to be brought against them, to seek legal counsel. he has made water boarding, rendition, and racial profiling household words in the west. he's created an illusion of fear that we haven't seen since hitler's scapegoating of the jews. he has founded a movement in areas of the globe that require leadership and understanding and hope. he's given those uneducated masses a cause and all they are asked for in return is to act as suicide bombers and terrorists - to die for a cause. he has manipulated both the east and west for almost a decade. terrifying thought but his influence continues to reign and we don't even know if he's still alive. he is the alpha dog.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 8 (view)

Define death... taken directly from the news Posted: 10/14/2008 8:29:30 AM
death is the most feared thing out there. most, if not all people, fear the "end" or whatever's out there after our bodies are no longer able to function. therefore, it's an easy tool to use to fear monger. frankly, if you prepare well enough in advance, in western countries, your wishes can and will be honoured. if you have a DNR (do not resuscitate) order, then the medical community will not use extraordinary methods to revive you. if you make a living will, you can stipulate whether you want to be placed on machines to breathe for you or not. it's those that don't prepare that leave their loved ones with the worst possible decisions to make at the most heartbreaking times. if you don't want to be an organ donor, don't be. the medical establishment isn't forcing anyone to do this so relax. surgeons who are given a viable candidate have to work fast and yes, sometimes this may seem inhuman. but think about it - if you love someone and they are no longer going to function and be who they were but YOU need to have them continue to live in whatever state the body and science can maintain, doesn't that speak volumes about YOU and not the person who is, in fact, most affected? i strongly believe in a person's right to do what they want to their bodies so long as it doesn't adversely affect other people. i think euthanasia should be allowed and that people should be able to die with dignity if they so choose. i also believe that people should be able to donate their bodies to science or in this case, to be used as donors to save other lives. i've seen both sides - my mother died while waiting for a kidney, my aunt was killed in a car crash and her family donated a bunch of her organs to help 7 people live. and even though my mother was on a transplant list, she didn't want any of her children to sign organ donor cards. the fear of death is a strange thing. i am an organ donor and hope that when i die, i die in such a way that my organs can be harvested and i can help someone else when i can no longer help myself.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 4 (view)

John Walsh for President! Posted: 7/20/2008 4:57:03 AM
he's a great advocate for many things but he's not presidential material....nor does he seem to want to run for president. it is a grueling process just to get the nomination and i don't think that's where his heart lies. the president cannot be a "one issue" horse - there are almost as many issues as there are americans that a president must contend with. let walsh do what he's been great at - he serves his country well in his current capacity.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 11 (view)

What will happen to Fox News if Obama wins? Posted: 7/20/2008 4:53:10 AM
As you can see from the above, during daytime news, FOX carries 263 compared to second place CNN's 163, MSNBC third place with 123 and HLN last place with 102. Considering the above, I would say that the people who watch FOX must consider it "Fair and Balanced," otherwise, FOX wouldn't be running away with first place standing during day and prime time. whether FOX news reigns in the nielson ratings doesn't necessarily = fair and balanced coverage. nielson ratings are based on numbers not quality of the coverage so there is no correlation between unbiased/fair coverage of the issues and popularity of the news programme. if FOX is first, it just means they're winning the popularity contest.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 18 (view)

OK, what about the World Court and its opinion on the Child Rapist/Murderer on Death Row Posted: 7/20/2008 4:41:01 AM
If you commit a crime in another country, you take the punishment they give you. I have no sympathy for this waste of DNA in Texas or the Canadian waste of DNA on death row in Montana. according to many western democracies, the idea of due process and fair trial is a key value that its citizens are privy to regardless of what country they may have been charged in. can you imagine an american visiting country x and getting arrested and languishing in country x's prison without benefit of a charge or trial for years on end? would you not expect your government to advocate for you (as a citizen of the us) for a fair and timely charge and trial? this particular incident is a stretch and i would prefer the world court make an issue about an amnesty international case that really shows significant lack of due process. without acceptable societal norms and rules, we would easily disintegrate western civilisation back to the days when barbarians ruled the world.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 45 (view)

Belgium is no more... Posted: 7/19/2008 2:09:27 AM
having multiple languages is no more divisive than having a multitude of opinions. i believe democracy is predicated on the freedom of the individual to have (and share) a diversity of opinions while eventually allowing the majority to decide which opinions govern a society. switzerland does very well while maintaining 4 official languages...i do believe swiss bank accounts are very prestigious and are legendary for the balances carried in them. that country doesn't seem to be suffering a "cancer" due to its multilinguistic approach to governance. belgium is not dead yet - its government has been dissolved. many gov'ts in the western world have been dissolved and re-established in a new way without losing its fundamental democratic principles. italy and the netherlands have both dissolved governments and no one's saying they're dead. even canada has dissolved parliament (in essence - government) and canada is still alive and well. besides, belgium has a pretty good record for diplomacy and compromise which is all this issue needs to be resolved. ps - great post dunrich....there are many more multilingual countries than even i thought!

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 118 (view)

Global warming will devastate economy: report Posted: 7/18/2008 2:12:28 PM
global warming is a misnomer...it's really climate change. but the climate is always changing due to all kinds of forces - both man-made and those completely outside of our control. when a volcano erupts or we release a ton of voc emissions from factories....it all does impact changes to the planet's atmosphere and therefore its climate.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 115 (view)

Global warming will devastate economy: report Posted: 7/18/2008 1:59:23 PM
it seems that with many issues in the world, in order to rally the troops, we need to go to the extremes and create enough fear and furor for people to change behaviour. some people will change just b/c they see where things are headed and adapt accordingly. smart change is about survival of the species. however, the vast majority will continue on their merry little way until they are made so uncomfortable, they have to change. it's for the vast majority that i see the global warming alarmists waging their campaign of fear. they have agendas - to mobilize real and meaningful change which is not altogether a bad thing. less reliance on fossil fuels, better care of our resources like water, wood, fish, etc. is necessary for the sustaining of a growing human population. of course, it doesn't hurt that there is some money to be made with all this change... then again, mother nature may tell us all to go to hell, and start again with a more respectful species.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 52 (view)

Dating more than one person.... Posted: 7/3/2008 5:48:24 AM
it's funny that you should post this topic - there is a show that i have been watching called how to find a husband. it's a uk series examing dating rituals in the 21st century. it's really quite funny, hosted by this tv presenter sally gray who's 30 something. anyway, she talks about the "american" phenomenon of "multi-dating"; dating more than one person at a time. it doesn't seem to involve real intimacy, it's just casual "hang out" type dates which may include some kissing. she explains that brits don't tend to "multi-date" but it's popular in america. and as the "multi-dater" she can understand the advantages since she isn't waiting by the phone for a guy to call after a great date since she has other "options". i thought this was interesting since i've always been exclusive even before the topic of exclusivity has been discussed. i don't think i could multi date...i have so much going on in my life, it's difficult enough to make time for 1 other person, i can't imagine more. she does make some great points but then she has a bulletin board to keep track of all her dates and what she liked and what she didn't like about each one!

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 21 (view)

Humiliation Posted: 7/3/2008 5:25:41 AM
to the OP - i had an ex who gave me a great piece of liberating advice: "everyone has their kinks and quirks and what might be normal for you might be kinky for others and what's kinky to you might be normal for someone else." your gf was probably young and thrown off by your openness about what you like. sometimes you need to introduce this kind of thing gently especially in an existing relationship. you can say you'd like to explore different things and then gradually introduce what you'd like to try. if you meet with more mature, experienced lovers, they may be a little better able to explore or at least entertain your kinks/quirks. and ultimately, just accept that some partners are just not into your kinks/quirks just as you might not be into theirs...just as there are partners who are looking for the same things you are.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 19 (view)

Morgentaler's appointment to the Order of Canada, Posted: 7/3/2008 3:34:15 AM
omg, i can't believe i'm agreeing with loony here, but it's true that the order of canada should be awarded to individuals that canada can be proud of. whatever morgentaler has done on behalf of the reproductive choices of women, he's not universally beloved nor can he be by all canadians...unlike a terry fox. i'm sure there are plenty of other order of canada honorees that we've never heard of but i think we, as canadians should at the very least NOT BE so heatedly divisive on a candidate.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 5 (view)

Should Obama Embrace His Muslim Heritage? Posted: 7/3/2008 3:23:50 AM
Many Muslim voters love Barack Obama. They love him even if he doesn't seem to love them back. why does one have to be muslim in order to love muslims back? given the rheotoric that i've heard from obama, he seems to take a view that all americans (regardless of cultural or religious affiliations) should show a little more tolerance for each other. that doesn't sound like such a bad thing. perhaps that's why muslims love him? they see an end to the intolerance they've been feeling since 9/11? but he still has to be careful about public perception - any misstep could be interpreted by the american people in the wrong light and we have to remember he is campaigning to be the next president of the us. there are still many americans who equate their fear of terrorism with their fear of muslims. as for embracing his muslim heritage...that's like asking someone who's extended family was catholic so even though they weren't raised or baptized so, they should embrace the Church. if someone told me to "embrace" my hindu heritage, i'd be insulted since i already have a faith that i've chosen...as an adult. i think obama has done the same...like millions of other people.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 2 (view)

No Place Like Home! Where would you send your neighbors on a day trip? Posted: 7/3/2008 3:12:31 AM
i don't know edmonton well enough but i do know vancouver and all the hotspots i've actually been!! (at least i think so) so vancouver, bc (canada) - whistler is always worth a day trip in the summer - beautiful drive (and if you're really lucky you might see a pod of whales in the strait from different vantage points of the sea to sky highway); - the aquarium which is world renowned - there's no more killer whales but they do have the belugas, huge conservation and marine biology programmes and great kids' stuff. it can definitely be a day excursion and since it's in stanley park (one of the largest parks in a city in north america) you can get to it using transit (no car required) and rollerblade/walk part of the seawall; - granville island is full of unique craftsman and artisans including first nations - they has buskers who have some interesting and entertaining acts, easily accessible by bus, great food and a great public market and a kids' only market that can keep the little ones occupied while the adults can do their thing....and there's a couple of live theatres to boot! - vanier park has the "bard on the beach" festival every summer which is a lovely evening out; there's also the jazz festival, the pacific national exhibition (which is pricey) but easily accessible by bus there's even little aquabuses that can take you from granville island to vanier park or english bay... man, i am getting homesick. lol

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 32 (view)

World's Most Beautiful Hikes Posted: 7/3/2008 2:58:12 AM
it's funny that skudger should mention elfin lakes - there's a pic of that hike on my profile! actually anything in and around squamish or whistler is a breathtaking hike and you can make it as long or as short as you want. usually to get to those summitous glacial lakes require an overnighter though. if you live in the lower mainland (vancouver) british columbia, there's a huge hiking group called wanderung that lists their own experiences with diff trails/conditions, organizes hikes (its members do all the work so no fees, etc.) and also helps organize trail maintenance. they also evaluate guide books and the accuracy of the hikes listed (or not listed).

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 6 (view)

Calgary Posted: 7/2/2008 6:22:02 PM
well banff (in the rockies) is a little less than an hour away. some of the most beautiful skiing/boarding in canada (second only to whistler but then i'm biased...lol) great growing nightlife - there's the stampede every july which is probably the biggest western canadian summer party going on. it's a fairly young community - lots of young people have moved there for work on opportunities along with young families. expensive to rent and to buy although there has been a bit of a market correction in the last couple of months. winters are cold but they have chinooks which warm things up and melt the snow. the bad thing is that these same weather patterns that bring the warm air chinooks can also bring snowfall in july! men continue to outnumber women, oil and gas companies have many hq's in the city, and its affluence is quite a draw for various business sectors. what else do you want to know?

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 215 (view)

Worst place you ever been? Posted: 7/2/2008 6:15:20 PM
hey barn2, i have to agree. some of the places that people have complained about, i've been to and while they weren't my favourite spots to return to, they were adventures and stories all on their own. of course, it helps that i'm a bit adventurous and probably get myself into things rather than sitting tight in my hotel but i figure if i'm paying for the trip, what's the good in staying in the hotel?!!?!? lol i have not seen the poverty that some have described and i'm thankful that i've been spared that. it's probably one of the reasons i won't ever go to india. but i never planned on going to china until i was told to go for work. was a lovely amazing experience and yes there was poverty but the people always seem to make a place, don't they?? i do have to say that i'm always glad to come home, though.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 41 (view)

The most important question of the 21st century!!!! Posted: 7/2/2008 6:06:28 PM
easyone - great post. i wish i had written it!!!lol

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 79 (view)

Dating service that bans ugliness comes to Canada Posted: 7/2/2008 6:03:53 PM
rita - it's probably b/c beauty is such a subjective term whereas a religion or a particular feature (like height or weight, etc) is much more tangible. and besides, people are threatened/intimidated/envious of beautiful people...so they do make an easy target. perhaps "beautiful" people are so difficult to specifially identify that it's easy to malign them?

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 78 (view)

Dating service that bans ugliness comes to Canada Posted: 7/2/2008 5:54:56 PM
liana - YOU have no interest in arguing? and yet you barked at me initially and even after i apologized for any perceived slights in my next post, you still had to insult me. the fact that you take any post following yours as a direct personal attack on you or your opinion says that you might be somewhat of a narcissist or at the very least a little too ego-centric. my initial post was never directed at you and yet you read it as a personal attack. my second post i attempted to explain and apologize. that post you read only what you wanted to read. if you want to villify me or try to make me seem ignorant, goody for you. i have no time for someone who inherently can't be bothered with serious debate (which is what these forums are about) and with someone who chooses to insult and inflame rather than respond in a reasonable manner.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 43 (view)

An Increase In Covert Ops Against Iran? Posted: 7/2/2008 7:35:30 AM
Geeeez. Didn't we do this before by installing the Shah? And look how well that worked out. When oh when is this country going to learn to mind it's own damned business. and americans wonder why oh why terrorists want to wage a jihad against them? honestly, terrorists are extremists who feel they have no other recourse than engage in the deplorable actions that will get them attention. they seem to think that they are under threat from us actions...and are they really all that wrong? the us has been playing covert ops in the middle east for decades and the invasion of iraq was illegal and simply a ploy to get rid of saddam. usually the us does instigate coups and install puppet gov'ts a little cleaner and neater than they did with saddam but c'mon already. it's the american and middle eastern people (civilians & soldiers) who get shafted in the end. they are the ones that bear the brunt of "armchair warriors", sitting in back rooms, plotting their machinations. the us would do well to leave iran alone and work through diplomatic channels but i think this is highly unlikely. i am by no means defending the terrorists...merely castigating any regimes that engage in illegal behaviour and painting them with the same brush as i would the terrorists.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 8 (view)

Is the auto industry in a meltdown? Posted: 7/2/2008 7:01:30 AM
the auto industry is going to suffer (and is suffering) for the next little while until it learns to adapt. and if it doesn't, perhaps it will be another manufacturing oppty that will be exported. however, i think that the auto industry is big enough bucks for north america that gov't would be loathe to part with it. so rather than sink, i think we will be helping it learn to swim, again. the industry will have to do what it has avoided for the past decade - invest in lower emission, less consumptive, more fuel efficient (and therefore smaller) cars that are better built, last longer and replace the big trucks and suvs that domestic mfgs have been relying on for far too long. we're probably also in for a consolidation of mfg's (already been happening) so that there is a global market rather than just regional ones. i think the technology for fuel efficiency will be the litmus test for those mfgs that survive this downturn - who can produce the best fuel efficient cars for best performance?

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 32 (view)

Husband and wife find joy in living apart Posted: 7/2/2008 2:05:31 AM
i think the world is opening up to all kinds of relationships that were not discussed/hidden or simply dismissed as not acceptable. this includes gay relationships, plural or polyamorous, and open relationships. the living arrangements in this particular case bring up their challenges as i'm sure any relationship does and this couple seems to have found a way to make it work. who is anyone to judge this? as long as the children are still loved and taken care of within a family environment, and it works for this couple, good for them. i've never been married and although i've had a couple of long term relationships, i often wonder whether i could live with someone else full time and share my space 24/7. they will know all my weird quirky habits - and i don't know that i want to know all theirs. lol perhaps living apart but together is okay for some people and keeps the relationship strong. it's an interesting concept anyway.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 30 (view)

The most important question of the 21st century!!!! Posted: 7/2/2008 1:40:28 AM
beachbum - i'm assuming we are talking about american history books, right? 9/11 has been the catalyst for so much at the beginning of this century, it's difficult to see past this...i think it really depends on how american foreign policy addresses the "threat" of terrorism and how that pans out. we may well be in this for the next 20-30 years which would be significant enough for defining the century. however, if we're talking world history, i see the potential for 2 significant "movements": 1) the toppling of the us hegemony in favour of a chinese economic and military superpower or some type of shift in the global politics that results in a cold war type relationship btw china and the us 2) the huge ramifications of rapid evolving climate change particularly on the northern hemisphere - clean water scarcity, restructuring economies to deal with fossil fuel shortages, melting polar ice caps and the political ramifications of non-traditional trade routes (ie. nw passage)

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 38 (view)

17 girls at Gloucester High School are pregnant Posted: 7/1/2008 10:44:28 PM
The recent movies of Juno and Knocked up have lifted the shame that was previously associated with teenage unplanned pregnancy. and when pretty woman came out, many young girls fantasized about being prostitutes like julia roberts and getting a rich man to fall in love with them. back in the day, i'm sure plenty of young women fantasized about being marilyn monroe... if there are those THAT susceptible to the media, then they are likely to make bad decisions regardless of what movies come out. i can't see blaming the media for this one. this one was just sheer stupidity and immaturity.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 23 (view)

Canada Day and patriotism Posted: 7/1/2008 10:28:53 PM
where do i begin? there is so much to be thankful for, so much to appreciate about this country. i have criss crossed it many times (but haven't been to the territories..yet!!!) and i have to say that truly the people of canada are amazing. bc with its majesty of mountains and oceans and amazing wildlife, the prairies where golden wheat and rolling fields of green and gold abound (and of course white in the winter), ontario - the land of 1000 lakes, not to mention the great lakes, quebec with its laurentians, historical monuments and a seaway that's a key artery to this nation, the maritimes and its breathtaking coastline and amazing people... and then there's universal healthcare, diversity of culture and heritage and tradition, history of peace-keeping and diplomacy, service in war, the ability to apologize for past wrongs, ability to laugh at ourselves...the list can go on for quite some time. sure there's plenty wrong and we could pick at things but today is canada day and it's time to celebrate what's right. i have traveled to many beautiful places but canada will always be home. there's no other place i'd rather live, than here - with all it's quirks and foibles...it still maintains a majesty like no other. HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 73 (view)

Dating service that bans ugliness comes to Canada Posted: 7/1/2008 10:08:24 PM
liana k - relax...i wasn't attacking you, i was merely agreeing with a poster (gottapulse) about the freedom people have to pursue a preference (in this case, "beauty") and the right for an online dating site to exist to limit its members to this standard. i had no intention of responding to your posts which i haven't bothered to read except for the one specifically directed at me. if you felt i had attacked you in some way, sorry. you may be a tad bit sensitive though since i didn't quote your previous posts or debate what constitutes beautiful. so no beaking off to your post...or whatever you wish to think. and no, i don't think that dating sites built on the predicators of religious affiliation, wealth and status , etc. are any different than requiring members to be beautiful. you want to argue what constitutes beautiful? go argue with another poster. i'm just arguing that the right of a site based on beauty (however, they determine beauty to be) has the right to exist.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 59 (view)

Dating service that bans ugliness comes to Canada Posted: 7/1/2008 4:12:27 AM
Why is it wrong exactly ? People can choose to do whatever they want to do with their lives right ? You say that beauty is only skin deep but for some people that's a necessary starting point wouldn't you agree ? exactly - there's other sites for jewish only/ christian only singles or rich men and beautiful young girls (i think it's sugardaddies.com). there are sites for ALL kinds of preferences...so why should this be any different? if this kind of thing doesn't interest you, you have other options for online dating so use them (like POF).

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 7 (view)

Palimony Ruling Sets Precedent In Jersey Posted: 6/29/2008 11:20:24 AM
hi mungo... i was actually referring to the ruling that... In a decision described as the first of its type in the nation, the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a couple does not have to live together in order for one partner to sue the other for palimony after a breakup. i realize this woman did not benefit from the ruling in her particular case but it's the fact that the supreme court upheld the argument that cohabitation is NOT required for a palimony suit to be considered legitimate. i think co-habitation should be a key factor while there can be others in addition to this. then again, no need to get all hysterical over it either. i was just expressing disgust over this aspect of the ruling.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 3 (view)

Palimony Ruling Sets Precedent In Jersey Posted: 6/29/2008 4:48:39 AM
so mistresses can now be considered secondary wives...so i guess a man can have legal plural relationships akin to marriage...so i guess bigamy laws no longer apply? i'm sure the good doc probably did promise this woman that he would divorce his wife and kept on going with that ol' story. lots of married people do tell that to the people they are having an affair with. the moral of the story is usually, don't believe that - move on and find someone AVAILABLE. however, now that the courts have ruled in such a way - heck, you can believe the lying sack of crap and if you wait long enough, you, too, can sue for palimony. honestly, this ruling is disturbing on so many levels. disgusting.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 10 (view)

Animal rights group turns its fire on celebrity meat-eaters Posted: 6/29/2008 4:39:25 AM
Alistair Currie, a spokesman for Peta, said: "Jessica Simpson might have a right to wear what she wants, but she doesn't have a right to eat what she wants – eating meat is about suffering and death. Some people feel like they are standing up against a tide of political correctness when they make a statement like this – what she is really doing is standing up for the status quo." apparently she doesn't have a right to wear what she wants if she wants to wear fur. if she does around PETA she may just get paint all over her clothes....ms currie lives (i presume) in the us, where jessica does have the right to eat what she wants as long as it's ok'd by the FDA. if it's not ok'd, she might have a little trouble. there is a lot PETA could be doing rather than the outright radical "terrorism" it engages in. if eating meat is cruel, how do we slaughter less cruelly? how do we care for livestock in a more humane manner? why do they have to go to an extreme that will turn off many more than it will engage in their cause? b/c the publicity stunt will guilt people into sending $$$ to ease their consciences...i'm with loony on this one. it's a money grab. i'd rather give money to the local humane society or spca.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 25 (view)

The Worst is Yet to Come. The Mortgage Crisis Is Spreading Into All Consumer Credit Markets Posted: 6/27/2008 11:35:18 PM
this is a wave of bad consumer choices and when the market has been this hot for this long, there is bound to be a market correction. people will return to a more "savings" based economy rather the "spend frivolously" economy we've been experiencing. the market correction was bound to happen particularly in markets experiencing unsustainable levels of growth (ie some california, arizona, and nevada real estate to name a few). other markets are still quite steady - ie, new york, massachussetts, etc. the worst is just about here - i think 2008 will be the worst of it and then 2009 will be the reeling from 2008 and 2010 will be the start of real decipherable recovery. best thing to do is to pay down debts that you have as realistically as possible and attempt to get lower interest rates so that you can actually start paying principle amounts. AND STAY AWAY FROM FAST CASH/PAY DAY LOANS. they are legalized loan sharks.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 18 (view)

Was WWII a Necessary War? Posted: 6/12/2008 3:24:46 AM
as ezzee posted, hindsight is 20/20. if the guys had known the treaty of versailles would have led german fervour to a 2nd world war, would they have done it that way? of course not. they believed that world war 1 was the "war to end all wars". they didn't want to see it again. and if anything, they learned from their mistakes and did things a little differently at the end of ww2...other than creating the state of israel which has it's own flaws since they kind of ousted the people already there to carve a homeland for the displaced jews. the lasting legacy of ww2 is continued conflict albeit (thank goodness) not a 3rd world war (although that's probably more due to nuclear mad than anything else). diplomatic negotiations are not perfect and neither are the treaties. the un is a great idea in theory but undermined by those nations who chose to not honour their commitments to its principles. ..frankly, i don't think very many wars have been necessary at all - ww1 was not either if you look at what started that whole kerfufle. but it became necessary to fight them once the conflict got to a certain point.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 37 (view)

Ex Presidents Posted: 6/12/2008 3:10:39 AM
Bush 1 - retired into oblivion. i beg to differ. i think bush 1 had plenty to do with getting his son elected as the current president not to mention pulling the strings in the whitehouse and lobbying hard for the (current) war in iraq and the push to oust saddam hussein. you may not hear much from him but i think he remains a powerful player in the machinations of american foreign policy.... and reagan didn't really retire into oblivion....until he died. up till then, the media still wrote about him and nancy for a long time after his presidency ended. i don't think carter goes around trashing his country; i think he tries to extend the veritable olive branch to those that us foreign policy may have hurt in the past. seeking reconciliation does not necessarily = trashing. clinton was a very popular president mostly due to a very charismatic presence. he remains charismatic as a speaker and media figure and is still popular...you could say he already had the rockstar 'tude before he even became president. lol republicans seem to start out as movie stars and then go on to become governors and presidents...reagan, schwartznegger (sp?), ventura....i guess democratics just want to grab their own celebrity, too!

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 3 (view)

Fellow human, please have your say on this Posted: 6/11/2008 2:51:27 AM
Since the majority of Westerns citizens value justice and freedom, why their governments can’t stand up or intervene (this can be peacefully or forcefully) in order to put pressure on the Palestine to respect Israel’s right to the lands that they have bough, and pressure on the Israeli to return the territories that they have been occupying in order to achieve ever lasting peace between the two countries? your question is rather convaluted but if i may put my spin on what your post seems to indicate: the west (and by west i say the us in particular) needs israel as a buffer in the middle east for its foreign policy agenda(s). so it will continue to support israel's unjust occupation of palestinian lands. israel continues to be an ally in the middle east in direct opposition to iran/iraq/syria/lebanon, etc. both palestine and israel are guilty for various terrorist activities - the only difference being that israel's crimes are generally justified and supported by the west (read: us) . neither side is blameless but the conflict is riddled with egos, religion, lands, political opportunism and need for revenge. this is a quagmire that cannot be simply resolved by what the op proposes although it would be great if it could be that simple. i could write endlessly on this topic - volumes have been written over the years and by far better writers than i could ever hope to be. the jews need a homeland but so too do the palestinians. unfortunately for both, political interests and other agendas have taken the spotlight from that fundamental idea and drawn the conflict we see today.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 13 (view)

quotes Posted: 5/30/2008 11:58:24 PM
from thoreau... "I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. "

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 13 (view)

Surely she didn't Posted: 5/24/2008 3:35:42 AM
i'm with jedi girl - i can't believe with all that is important when it comes to the nomination process, that the media focuses on such stupid points. from the context of which she spoke, she was obviously indicating the "game isn't over til' it's over" and cited 2 examples where 2 nominees went right to june in their campaign for the nomination. i understand scrutinizing each nominee and what they say but this one is ridiculous. hillary and obama say lots of stupid things that are much more telling about how they plan to run the country. those are the things americans should be focused on. (oh, and i'm not saying mccain hasn't said plenty of stupid things as well...)

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 447 (view)

Black-focused (not black-only) schools Posted: 5/23/2008 8:22:23 PM
You do know that our schools here have breakfast programs to help alleviate just that problem right? Proper nutrition does help learning, but at what point do we stop doing it for people. Must I take the tests for them too? I'm all for helping others but if they want continued support I'd like to see them working as hard to help themselves or harder than I am. not all the schools have breakfast programs in the gta (bc has some in the inner cities but not all schools are covered either). loony - i absolutely agree that there is only so much you can do for a person and at some point they've got to do it for themselves. i come from a single parent household, yet i put myself through school, make enough money to afford a house and give my son tons of opportunities (even though i'm a single mom). i just think education is an opportunity to nip a lot of problems in the bud - we can pay now or we can pay later but if we defer it, we'll only be paying bigger in the long run. children are a lot simpler than impoverished adults on welfare or in the prison system or addicts living on the street.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 445 (view)

Black-focused (not black-only) schools Posted: 5/23/2008 6:54:42 PM
the OP states quite clearly in the title of this thread that we are speaking of "black focus" not "black-only". can those who are speaking of segregation please read the title of the thread carefully? if whites or browns or greens or purples wanted to attend a black focused school, they could. the school is not being set up to keep other races out. there was a poster early on who made a great point - one of the most significant reasons for developing a black focused curriculum is disproportionate number of black dropouts. (we've also heard plenty of discussion on first nations' schools in order to deal with the very same issue.) i think a school that focuses on children most vulnerable to not finishing their education or having special learning needs is the issue - not race based. teachers deal with class sizes of upwards of 30 kids with very diverse and mixed needs in their classrooms - esl, learning difficulties, socio-economic factors i can't even begin to list here. we need our children to be educated; to finish high school; to become productive members of society. the public education system as it stands now cannot do this for every child. hence we've seen the rise of various "private" schools and faith based schools...and now this debate over a specialized focus, catering but not limited to, a specific race. we should be focused on the learning outcomes and how to make learning successful - the reading, 'righting, 'rithmetic model does not work for every child and is doubly difficult if you are hungrier for a meal than you are for learning. schools based on learning rather than race might be better suited to the problem at hand.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 29 (view)

Need a postivie story about race ? Here's a good one. Posted: 5/23/2008 6:16:13 PM
When I was in Vancouver I saw an interview with the lady cheif of a tribe based in BC. The statistics of abuse and racism against them particularly in the past was shocking .One statistic she quoted was that the Native American is 4 times more likely to commit suicide and thats because their hopes ,spirits and dreams had been eroded and crushed . be careful about taking something out of context or listening to just one person. first off, there are many first nations (or tribes) throughout canada. and while history tells us that the white settlers who first came to canada did them horrible injustices and many first nations people live in deplorable conditions both on and off reserves...there is another side to the story: the indian act is anethema to any person who values the dignity of the human being and their rights to live a free and just life. having said that, there are many bands, particularly in BC (in vancouver even) where they are amongst the wealthiest land "owners" in the province. they don't pay taxes, have free reign over fisheries, game and forestry on their lands, and are quite commercial in the way they operate. some chiefs share their wealth amongst the band so that housing and services for the people are very good. other chiefs keep the wealth among their "executive" and let their people go to hell. first nations people do populate our jails in statistically higher numbers than would be the norm, the children born have a higher incidence of FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) and therefore have a hard time in school and holding down jobs, and they don't live long lives. there are many many complex problems related to how we've historically treated our first nations people. however, we also throw a lot of money at them in the hopes of assauging our guilt. there is plenty that the bands are responsible for as well and many seem to look to the cdn govt to fix what's broken. there is blame to be cast on both sides but rather than looking for another handout, the chiefs should be looking at the successful bands and using their financial savvy and their innovative community programs to help their people. not all bands are blameless when it comes to the plight of their people. They are the history of North America and the best part of it. everyone who lives or has lived in north america is a part of its history. i wouldn't say that the first nations people are the best part...maybe one of the best parts but there are others who have done amazing things - those that died in the wars for freedom from oppression, those who have been at the spearhead of environmental crusades before it was trendy, those who have fought through the courts for the human rights of the most vulnerable...i could go on but i hope you get the idea. the very diversity of na is what makes it great and the knowledge that we can always do better is what should keep us trying.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 28 (view)

Need a postivie story about race ? Here's a good one. Posted: 5/23/2008 5:53:17 PM
Correct me if I am wrong but can I assume then that America consists of just white and black now ??? be careful about assuming... the statement can be taken to mean that without a black history month, the rest of the year is a celebration of "white" history. hence the reason that native americans (or as we call them first nations' peoples), hispanics, different asian groups, etc. all carve out their own holidays and celebrations to honour their heritage/culture/origins/history. it doesn't take away from traditional established rituals and customs - it should be considered "adding" to it.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 18 (view)

Need a postivie story about race ? Here's a good one. Posted: 5/23/2008 1:27:54 AM
"Black men and White men" - again smacks of racist talk. All men and women are equal - they are not divided by the colour of their skin or disability. you're kidding right? if all men and women were equal in the world, there would be no affirmative action, no racism, no racial profiling, no need for pay equity measures and no need for human rights charters....do you really believe all people are treated equal in this world no matter their race, religion, gender, etc? the reality is people ARE divided, segregated, disadvantaged for all kinds of reasons. of course, we hope that one day, all people will be treated equal - that day is NOT today. as for canada - sure there's racism - there is bound to be that wherever diff races mix. if white people go to india, they'll get some too. but i have to say having been to the us and across canada, the race issues up here are much less divisive than they are in the us. this is not to take away from the fact that racism is alive and well up north - unfortunately.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 57 (view)

Questionning Israel = antisemitism? Posted: 5/22/2008 11:49:15 PM
Definition of antisemitism: discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews. (from dictionary.com) debating a jewish state or their right to self-determination that manifests itself in statehood does not necessarily constitute hostility to jews. it could be simply about debating the process of statehood and whether one group has the right to create a state that supercedes the right of those already living in a specific area. that in itself is not antisemitism. israel is a recognized state so arguing its legitimacy is moot. however, being critical of a state does not imply that you are being discriminatory about the people that dwell there - we are critical of many states - the us, canada, japan, etc. for any number of policies that don't agree with our values. i wouldn't say i discriminated against the japanese b/c i didn't like their whaling practices, or that i hated all americans b/c i disagree with their foreign policy.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 11 (view)

Need a positive story about race ? Here's a good one. Posted: 5/22/2008 11:37:06 PM
montreal guy!!! with so much divisiveness over race in the us, it's really good to know that colour barriers are still being broken. it's a shame that there still are colour barriers to break but progress is better than stagnation. it is becoming increasingly clear though that attention has been diverted from the black/white conflict to the middle east/white debate now. it's a saddening thing when fear takes hold and people become irrational mongers of hate. and sarabara ^^^^ great point.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 20 (view)

stock market so high yet economy is so bad Posted: 5/21/2008 11:08:20 AM
the stock market is largely based on speculation and can be one factor in economic growth - have high consumer confidence in the commodities being traded and stock markets do well. commodities include rice, grain, oil, etc. all in demand and all necessary components to our lifestyle. but housing starts/sales, interest rates, consumer debt rates and labour all impact economic health as well. if you export lots of jobs elsewhere, impacts your labour force; if housing prices fall as the market is oversupplied (as it is now in key areas of the us), then foreclosures rise, if people borrow to life the lifestyle they can't afford on their wages, the debt servicing becomes unbearable leading to the rise in bankruptcies. so we're in this weird space where commodities are doing great but we can least afford them. the speculators are making the $$$ on the backs of those who need those commodities most. but just as the housing market (which has been red hot for about 4-5 years) is finally adjusting, so too will other aspects of the market. americans will move to a more "save" culture than "spend" and interest rates are likely to stay low so that the vast majority of taxpayers can continue to contribute to the tax base. as another poster indicated - this is a period of adjustment and adjustment is always hard after the "good" years.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 26 (view)

Let's start to explore possible McCain VP candidates Posted: 5/21/2008 10:48:01 AM
i'm with romantic. mccain has had trouble with the christian right. he already has the popular support of the slightly right of centre group. he needs that christian right to solidify his position and huckabee makes a better choice. condi won't bring the black or female republicans to the polls - mccain already has whatever support he's going to get from those demographics. powell would be a great choice but he won't bring the christian right and neither will mit. so huckabee gets in by process of elimination. he's already got a ground swell of support...that was a different demographic than mccain's supporters. combined, they would be a logical ticket.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 49 (view)

Enforcing Human Population Law??? Posted: 4/5/2008 10:26:08 PM
I'm not responsible for anyone else's kids, and I wouldn't rightfully expect anyone else to be responsible for mine. i noticed how you conveniently ignored my second line...you may not be responsible for other people's children...but other people's children will be responsible for you in your old age. you live in society - therefore, you are expected to pay into the collective in order to get the "collective" benefits (ie universal health care, old age pension, etc.). we could go on and on but i'm not looking to hijack the thread here... i thought it was interesting to read about the woman who wanted to reduce her carbon footprint as much as possible and therefore got sterilized. to go to the absolute extreme, she should probably advocate we all commit suicide. human beings will always wreak a certain amount of havoc on the planet in order to meet their basic (and non-basic needs). some of the most harmful things we do to the environment revolve around food production. but if we don't produce food...we starve. the planet will be around a lot longer than we ever will...it can be a barren wasteland where we all die cause we have no air or water, and yet the planet, in a few million or billion years will eventually renew itself all over again.

singlemaltgirl

Joined: 12/31/2004

Msg: 42 (view)

Enforcing Human Population Law??? Posted: 4/3/2008 3:59:53 AM
oddandy, breaks for the childless!" thread, this is what SHOULD happen. i won't go on and on about the cost of raising a child or that the brunt of those costs are paid for by those people/families who choose to have a child (not the state). nor will i wax lyrical about how those children, once raised, become taxpayers who contribute to society's (both childless and non-childless people) bill for universal healthcare and old age, etc. and before you hit me with welfare rolls, etc. take the % of children who are on welfare vs the working population...all those taxpayers were children once... anyway, as for the OP's opening gambit - mother nature will take care of itself - the fittest will survive and the weakest die..which in turn will make the human population stronger. all populations of living organisms on this planet do falter and replenish due to different environmental factors. sometimes we should stop trying to prevent the unavoidable and focus on being good to each other and to ourselves in this life.

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