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mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 1 (view)

Will Louisiana go underwater? Posted: 7/2/2009 5:51:14 PM
A recent study by a group of "experts" at LSU concluded that, in effect, Louisiana had just as well throw in the towel as far as coastal restoration via sedimentation from the Mississippi River. A main reason was the reliance of this bunch on IPCC predictions of a sea rise of 2.6 feet to 3.9 feet by 2100 (a mere 90 years away). I say the IPCC prediction is poppycock. And I say get it on with the sedimentation.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 120 (view)

Is Rock and Roll dead? Posted: 6/15/2009 5:44:25 AM
RD: my bad. The great singer for the (Young) Rascals was apparently Felix Cavaliere. And it seems the great background guy harmonizing was possibly one Eddie Brigati. I was also mistakenly under the impression that the Rascal and Vanilla Fudge lead singer(s) was/were one and the same. Not the case, as it seems that Mark Stein was the one who sang "you just keep me hanging on" and other great VF songs. Regardless, both of these guys displayed emotion, heart, no fake emotions, etc. "Got to be free"/ "train of freedom" by the (Young) Racals: the singers were on the same page. When I hear that refrain/chorus (if I luck up once per every 3 years hitting it on radio) it absolutely inspires, by it's sheer honesty and emotional transmittal of "goodness". Last time I heard it, I think I was running on the Mississippi levee here in Louisiana, and it stepped my pace up 100% (which is, er, not that fast anyway).

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 116 (view)

Is Rock and Roll dead? Posted: 6/14/2009 11:53:08 AM
R & R that is heard by the public is some pretty dead stuff. At least 95% of the new stuff I hear. So, what is the main prob? Commercialism. This includes both commercialism for bucks, or commercialism for popularity, in the sense of betraying both yourself and "them", i.e. the folks out there. For music to be good, it has to be what is on YOUR mind. If "they" don't like it, tough shxx. It has to be between you and your maker. If you make rock music to fit the tastes of the audience, I think you are, to one degree or another, selling out. Another problem: when "musicians" live in a bubble, navel-gazing music many times is the result. Ya gotta be "out there". ==== RDtoo, stated: " As we are a society in decline, if any new music comes about, it will not be from an English speaking country." - Well, it seems we have too many "castratees" today. No attitude. Probably some of the better musicians would have been those diagnosed with ADD. ========== To PioneerValleyWoman, about Ian Anderson: IA is/was a very talented guy. Couldn't sing very well, tho. I think he is wrong about the end of R&R tho. As long as people sing with heart, whether JimmyEatWorld, or Taylor Swift, or Joe Cocker, or maybe the Lighthouse guy, there is gonna be good stuff. Even if only a fraction of what makes it to "commercial" radio, which, to some degree, is the LCD of the population. =============== To Just Carol: I like SOME of your list, but my edited 60s list would be... Blind Faith, the (Lil) Rascals (the singer later with GFRailroad), some of the Beach Boys, of course the Beatles, some of Cream, some Allman Bros, Neil Young (not his politics, but his music, and b.t.w. his singing is underrated), Starship with Mickey Thomas, some of ZZ (tho they seem limited), Cocker, Randy Newman, and, lest I forget, Vanilla Fudge! Oh yeah, and Potliquor!

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 428 (view)

The 2009 NFL Season Posted: 6/14/2009 11:42:52 AM
The NFL fretting about the UFL.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 87 (view)

Has society bred stupidity? Posted: 4/3/2009 7:28:24 PM
Dukky says "The internet is a piece of technology that may raise human consciousness to the next level." Comment: except when there is excessive censorship. Also, as far as the national debt: I don't think the Chinese or Arabs, when they are ready to collect, are going to argue fine points of US law, as to whether when the US govt contracts a debt, that the US people (esp those unborn when the debt was contracted) are not somehow liable. I personally did not consent to the present debt situation. The US govt did. But believe me, I had better pay my taxes, because the IRS man aint gonna go for that excuse that I did not personally consent to the national debt.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 1 (view)

BIG Cycling Society, Donaldsonville Posted: 4/1/2009 8:04:59 PM
Every Thursday (at least SCHEDULED every Thurs) in Donaldsonville at 5 is the BIG Cycle Society Thursday Roll. Speed depends on participants. You are welcome to join in. The Roll starts at 704 Railroad Avenue. groups.yahoo.com/group/bigcyclingsociety/ Regardless, have a nice week. PM

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 538 (view)

Hypothetical dilemma for Vegans/PETA... Posted: 3/28/2009 7:05:38 AM
HO2: yeah, I hear ya, but it is more like direct killing v collateral damage. I mean, getting particular, each meat-eater consumes probably thousands of critters per year, and much of it is cancer-inducing, generally is chock full of saturated fat, and, getting to environmental aspects, the run-off ruins streams (here in Louisiana, the Tangipahoa and other streams parallel to it have been pretty shot, and detrimentally affected Lake Pontchartrain). It is a weighted values judgment. I just have more contentment not being a participant in the bloody dismemberment of animals. To get vegetables, fields have to be tilled. And many times fertilized. We gotta survive one way or the other. Granted: meat eating has been the historical staple of survival. No non-meat-eating culture exists. However, in this age, with advanced marketing and production of protein-laden vegetable stock, having calcium and B12 enhancements, we now have a better choice than in previous ages. And I have made that choice. For the record: I am not a "liberal". Far from it. Check my profile. And, at age 57, I still play basketball with teenagers and youngsters in their 20s. Black and white. And beat them many times. Not bragging. Just selling the potential positive aspects of not "betraying" the critters. I think I have made the right choice. Also for the record: I don't lather myself in animal fat soap in the shower, either! PS: pine needles....you say: "Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder, physicians writing almost 2,000 years ago, both reported that consumption of pine needles caused abortion. American Indians, including the Arapaho, independently acquired and used the same knowledge." Maybe they more studiously AVOIDED pine needles, due to it's abortive effects. To Ih8tefrogstoo: total agreement on Survivor and the like: LCD....lowest common denominator fare.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 6 (view)

maybe........... Posted: 3/26/2009 7:14:42 PM
.......those 25 or 30 guys just need drivers ed.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 529 (view)

Hypothetical dilemma for Vegans/PETA... Posted: 3/22/2009 11:45:44 AM
I am a vegetarian and if stranded I am confident that I would go fishing. I eat vegetarian (primary protein from beans, soy products (milk, burgers, ground, tofu), some peanut butter, whole wheat bread spiked with some gluten, etc), the reasons being primarily a values choice. But I feed my dog meat-based products, because he wouldn't otherwise survive. That's what they eat to survive. I would likewise not allow ME to starve. When I got off the island, I would go back to eating vegetarian. Because I think it's the right thing to do. Ref: " I have wondered how deep their conviction is"........deep enough. But not to the point of being suicidal. Ref: "From what I can understand it is based on the assertion that animals have the same inherent rights as humans".........it aint about "equal rights", it is simply about trust. I put myself above a fish, but that doesn't mean I feel justified to eat him/her.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 14 (view)

Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam Posted: 3/22/2009 3:54:18 AM
Would Yusuf invite Bono and Neil Young to give a string of concerts in Lahore, Cairo, Tehran, Riyhad, Baghdad, etc? The question about their survival should answer why Cat Stevens is irrelevent as far as music goes. He is now officially on another planet.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 260 (view)

Dog People Posted: 3/20/2009 4:44:27 AM
I'm a "dog person". Dogs are generically simultaneously lovable and mischievous. And jealous. While your dog loves "you", he/she hates (at least many times) other dogs that get in the picture. And they have, simultaneously, genius and idiocy. They recognize vehicles by sound, but can't drag a blanket back into the doghouse. They recognize people's emotions by smell, but think that a dead skunk is perfume. They are simultaneously self-contained, chasing off would-be trespassers, but at the same time are emotional basketcases if you leave them alone for too long. And they like you better than your girlfriend does. Put them both in a car trunk, and see which one is still your friend when you let them out. PT is my big buddy.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 27 (view)

I believe making music is a primary potential for world peace Posted: 3/20/2009 4:28:51 AM
First, let me say that a good band, be it a high school or college band playing some good funky stuff, strutting, or a GOOD funky jazz band, or a good rock band performance, or a great singer like Pavarotti, will do something phenomenal like no other factor on earth can do: cause a unified uplifting experience amongst the audience. In ref to your statement: "I just created a thread on Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam, which seems to be linked to this thread ...He truly is using music to assist him with his message ....... and he truly is a very talented musician. " ======================= Would Yusuf be willing to share the stage with Bono and U2, and also say Neil Young and Joe Cocker on a tour of Cairo, Algeria, Libya, Lahore, Baghdad, Damascus, Gaza, Tehran, and Rihyad? If not, why not? If such a tour WOULD be possible, I really think it would go a long ways to implementing peace. VERY big if........... And I think my posing my question facilitates peace, if only by exposure.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 59 (view)

Lets talk about Bruce. Posted: 3/16/2009 3:03:40 PM
I agree that B.S. is the greatest songwriter not in modern times, but perhaps in his own mind. I first saw him back around 1975, right after his simultaneously being on the covers of Time and Newsweek. Baton Rouge. There were only maybe a thousand or so folks. He was good. But I thought, even back then, a little bit put-on. He sort of played air guitar a lot of the times while the real guitarist was hitting the licks. But again, he was pretty good. Not a great performer on the same scale as Johnny Winter was, or Joe****r, or Hendrix, or say JimmyEatWorld in the past few years. Lennon/McCartney IMO wrote the best songs overall.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 25 (view)

I believe making music is a primary potential for world peace Posted: 3/16/2009 2:41:36 PM
If Neil Young, for example (or JimmyEatWorld or Kid Rock or whomever) could be guaranteed security, what do you think the effect would be if he/they played Baghdad? Or Tehran? Or, wow, MECCA? If Allison Krause's security could be guaranteed, how would she go over in Cairo? If Taylor Swift's security would be guaranteed, would she have a positive effect by playing Islamabad? How about Joe Cocker in Kabul? Could adequate security be had? I think if all of the above happened, it would be potentially phenomenally world-changing.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 22 (view)

I believe making music is a primary potential for world peace Posted: 3/14/2009 7:47:08 PM
Yeah. Some Hendrix blasted right over Ahmedenijad's house/palace would be great. It might unnerve him a bit, not to mention thousands of others, but many would regard it favorably. Maybe Neil Young could give a concert in downtown Tehran. Might not survive, tho. But back to subject: whether at a sports event, or a parade, or a Friday-after-work concert.........music can unite. Not all music. Different people like different genres. But who wouldn't like to be boogying to a Fats Domino tune? Even A-jad would probably jive to it.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 380 (view)

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH COUNTRY MUSIC? Posted: 3/14/2009 7:29:36 PM
Too formatted. The tunes are too repetitive. Twang. However, also at times great stories, and good craftsmanship, and periodically uplifting. And what is there not to like about Taylor Swift?

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 9 (view)

ascension parish people......... Posted: 3/12/2009 8:25:32 PM
Works: Thanks for the tip. However, being that your message was right under my picture, it almost looks like your post is aiming at me. For the record, I have a crime record of zip / zero / nada. And, for the record, I only see two males with posts on this issue. Sincerely, PM

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 3 (view)

hi evryone who loves hitchin in canada? Posted: 2/18/2009 6:47:03 AM
glokazun: I hitchhiked most of the way from Trois Riveires Quebec to home in Louisiana back in 1973. That was the year before hitchhiking murders became "trendy". Hitchhiking was more the norm then. Well, not normal, a little adventurous, with some inherent risk. But you never really heard of hitchhike murders then. Maybe they were rare, maybe the media was just asleep on the subject (what else is new?). Of the approximate 70 rides I caught (most of my thumbing was backroads), the great majority were simply great people that simply had a little human mercy on you, or wanted to talk to you to hear a story or something. But a couple were nuts. One ride was with some bonafide murderous thugs going from Pennsylvania to New Orleans, where they were going to hoist another vehicle to continue on west. They were also apparently involved in a murder in Pennsylvania. I picked this out between the lines as I was "sleeping". They were not simply playing a joke, trying to scare me. They were too stupid. I jumped out when they stopped for gas. Even if I were 20, there is no way today that I would do this today. No way. Although I had discouraged another guy, another subject, from bike riding cross country, if I HAD to get from A to B, I would opt for the bike before hitching.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 8 (view)

Cycling New York to San Francisco Posted: 2/18/2009 6:38:12 AM
CSB: in regards to my previous post exhibiting fear about your survival due to 3,000 miles of having 4 ton vehicles zoom by you at 50 to 80 mph: you might consider doing an Amtrak thing. You could catch a coast to coast Amtrak, and probably could disembark where you want. From what I understand, the cost of them carrying your bike, packed, is only about $5. Now, possibly they would charge you an additional $5 each time you get back onboard with it. Maybe not. But either way, you might be able to simply jump off at desired locations. Yeah, it won't be as exciting a tale to tell. But your survival probabilities would be multiplied.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 5 (view)

Cycling New York to San Francisco Posted: 2/15/2009 7:18:17 PM
I feel like a party pooper, but it would be irresponsible not to profer that I can imagine that the casualty rate for such a feat would be high. If there were a coast to coast bike trail, that would be one thing. But 3,000 miles of two lane highways.........very best fearful wishes.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 6 (view)

Creationism in schools Posted: 2/15/2009 7:11:32 PM
I think I do understand. And also, there would not even be an argument of this subject if there were a wide choice/array of US public grade schools, as the public would be able to choose. At least the parents would have that choice. The bottom line: academic freedom is best. Vive liberte.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 7 (view)

ascension parish people......... Posted: 2/15/2009 6:22:46 PM
I have been trying to get a cycling group in Donaldsonville for the past couple of years. I would post a web site, but that is against site rules. I have done some biking in the immediate Gonzales area, along the river road between Houmas House and Geismar, from Sorrento to "behind" St Amant out toward "New River Road" and Poirier Road. But there is probably better riding on the west bank: along the river, both LA 405, as well as LA 18. Plus, Donaldsonville itself, if you ride circuitously, is a pretty good spot. Enough of this.....I don't know if even ONE of you rides.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 199 (view)

New Spin To Creationism Posted: 2/15/2009 6:14:17 PM
Errant dogma can come from either one side or the other. I have a problem with each camp. No dogmatic group should be able to define "creationism". And there is no proof that evolution is the sole means of descendence, nor is there any way to prove that "intelligent design" (broadly defined) was not involved. The bottom line is this: each school should be able to set up it's own guidelines. But for that to work ideally, we need choice in schools. That way, water could seek it's own level. Repeat: choice in schools. THAT is really what is, to a great degree, the crux. Frankly, I don't see a strictly biblical creationism as feasible. Evolution has been sort of kidnapped by those that would assert that evolution is proof that random mutations, in conjunction with selective breeding, is solely responsible for the array of species, with no creator involved. There is too much evidence otherwise. Including, yes, the complexity. A billion generations of random mutations would not come close to even building the arterial system of humans, much less the much more complex aspects of the body and nervous system and mind. Cellular placement, billions of relatively precise placements, in a bevelled arterial system with it's millions of branches and re-attachment to the veins - impossible without guidance. And that is a relatively simple part of the human body.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 4 (view)

Creationism in schools Posted: 2/15/2009 6:09:50 PM
Errant dogma can come from either one side or the other. I have a problem with each camp. No dogmatic group should be able to define "creationism". And there is no proof that evolution is the sole means of descendence, nor is there any way to prove that "intelligent design" (broadly defined) was not involved. The bottom line is this: each school should be able to set up it's own guidelines. But for that to work ideally, we need choice in schools. That way, water could seek it's own level. Repeat: choice in schools. THAT is really what is, to a great degree, the crux. Evolution has been sort of kidnapped by those that would assert that evolution is proof that random mutations, in conjunction with selective breeding, is solely responsible for the array of species. There is too much evidence otherwise. Including, yes, the complexity. A billion generations of random mutations would not come close to even building the arterial system of humans, much less the much more complex aspects of the body and nervous system and mind. Cellular placement, billions of relatively precise placements, in a bevelled arterial system with it's millions of branches and re-attachment to the veins - impossible without guidance. And that is a relatively simple part of the human body.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 92 (view)

MIGHT solarcycle24 dispel manmade global warming? Posted: 1/30/2008 1:35:39 PM
Nox, glad to have a skeptic onboard. Apparently more skeptical than I am. The bottom line is that this is all very interesting, considering that solar cycle 23 is stretching out one year beyond expectations, the solar minimum is still very minimum (20 days of no sunspots as of now, but admittedly, no telling, that can change pretty quickly). And the very bottom line is the possibility, the maybe, of a reduced solar cycle 24, ,which had previously been forecast pretty universally to be a great tiger, but the predictions have been modified (yet some time ago, around April 2007) by the "bigwigs" to be somewhere between moderate to moderate/strong. But this could very well be re-modified, I assume, in the next few months if solar cycle 24 doesn't get to popping. And the crux is this: IF solar cycle 24 is weak (which would have been a heretical suggestion 2 years ago), we will have a potential acid test / fire test / truth serum on anthropological global warming. If the man-made GW folks are right about: * the relative insulating properties of CO2 versus solar variation, and the net temp effects * the cosmic ray aspects of cloud cover formation as being negligible * etc then they will be apparently vindicated. But if the temps drop....................... And, Nox, as you are surely aware, the composite UAH, RSS, GISS, UKMet temps indicate, in sum, a drop from 2002 to 2007. Is this a quirk? Or a resultant of slight lessenings (yet stilll high) of the high solar output in the past 60 years or so, in conjunction with the present elongated period of solar minimum? It's all extremely interesting. The global composite temps of 2008 are going to be IMMENSELY interesting. Granted, some quirk variables (such as El Nino(?) 1998) can have a big monkey-wrench effect, but it doen't seem like that type of thing has been a factor in the past 5, going on 6, years.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 53 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/29/2008 10:57:45 AM
Sea: you make some good points. But as far as the supposed treaty, with the provision you mention (I have heard nothing of it before this) - Egypt would still be complicit in such a peculiar arrangement. Your percentages of the electorate seem to be right on target. But still, it is against US geo-political interest to support Israel, the US does it because of the perception that it is simply the right thing to do. As far as the alleged treaty provision that Egypt for some God-only-knows-reason that FORCES them to hem in the Gazans, I'll have to snoop around, or maybe someone can educate me on it. Whiskey and rsx: well, in the words of the Great Philosopher, Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?"

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 49 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/28/2008 4:06:02 PM
Consider, for example, the following Reuters news, out today. To put that story in perspective: * the Israelites supply the Gazans with water and electricity, the Egyptians don't * but, the Palestinian govt wants Israel's destruction, but not Egypt's ***so, the logical conclusion is that Israel has good reason for a fence, from a logical survival standpoint, whereas the Egyptians not so much. So, who do the Jordanians in the news clip below want to sic suicide bombers on, because of a blockade? Of course.......Israel. And the media, like lapdogs, won't even see the irony. Meanwhile, the USA supports Israel, even though it is against the geo-political financial interest of the USA. Why? Because it is the RIGHT thing to do. ====================================================== AMMAN (Reuters) - Chanting slogans urging Islamist Hamas militants to resume suicide bombings against Israel, thousands of Jordanians marched in the capital on Friday to protest against Israel's blockade of Gaza. About 8,000 activists from Jordan's mainstream Muslim Brotherhood took to the streets to support their ideological allies, the Palestinian Hamas group, and hail militants' success in breaching the Gaza border in defiance of an Israeli blockade. "The people of Jordan are with Hamas," chanted the crowds who called on the Islamist group to resume a campaign of suicide bombings and intensify rocket attacks against Israel. ""Oh Hamas hit them with al-Qassam rockets ... bring the suicide bombers to Tel Aviv ," they chanted, waving the green flags of Jordan's opposition Muslim Brotherhood.... ============================

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 47 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/28/2008 8:23:01 AM
rsx, maybe Israel's actions against a government that is adament pertaining to Israel's destruction (even as Israel supplies it it's basic necessities) will be a little more appreciative. And maybe the Palestinians' allies, such as adjacent Egypt, can be the benefactor. Make that supposed allies.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 89 (view)

temps dropping in concurrence with extended minimum? Posted: 1/28/2008 8:16:19 AM
...and part of a long term trend? http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2008/01/08/musings-on-satellite-temperatures/ Excerpt: "...is this venture to cooler than normal conditions just a short-lived climate fluctuation? If the pattern of temperatures during the past three years is any indication (Figure 2) then perhaps the past two months are not an unusual fluctuation, but part of a longer period cooling trend. The next several months should shed more light on this question."

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 41 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/27/2008 3:22:57 PM
Yall are diverting from the subject of the thread, but I hope it is OK to respond, as your comments need responding to ============== Jed, don't laugh, it's your quote...... "However, partially due to US pressure, he also attempted to modernzie Iran and introduced many social reforms " ======= Anarkaos asks: "Didn't they support Sadam back in the 80's too?" -- comment: Saddam and Khomeini back then (repeat: back then) wasn't a great choice as far as taking sides. ======== Jed states: "True but as you can see some people like revisionist history or turn a blind eye." -- comment: Jed, the time was the 1980's, when the world balance was USSR expansionism vs free enterprise and all that other stuff. I personally don't know the extent of US support for Saddam at the time, but with the balance of power being questionable as to which way it was going, perhaps if the USA had disqualified all allies that lined up against the USSR, you might today be getting prepped up for the upcoming MayDay Parade in Moscow. ============= an earthling states: "If a country is run by a dictator or a monarch or a military general, the CIA need to buy (control) only one person" -- comment: that doesn't say too much about the selection of leaders by the people of that country, does it (whichever country that might be)

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 37 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/27/2008 8:43:52 AM
Jed, in the case at hand, amongst the region at hand (Israel, Palestine, Egypt), the USA has had no interest, in the clearest, most apparent way, in seeing anything but a peaceful solution. Of those cases which you have copied from somewhere (very apparent by the footnotes), they are largely antiquated and arguable. Amongst those most recently cited by you include this -- " who have long histories in the U.S. backed "dirty wars" of the 1980s in Central America" -- This was at the height of the ColdWar, when the Soviet Union (hardly a democratic govt) was backing the likes of Nicaragua's dictator. The warring was initiated by the communists. The USA was backing the "freedom fighters", whereby, thereafter, the duly elected govt of Violetta whatever her name is came to power. Concerning Iran, you may have overlooked editting your paste and copy, which includes this quote: -- "However, partially due to US pressure, he also attempted to modernzie Iran and introduced many social reforms " -- To get back to the thread: it is in the interest of world peace, and the USA, to have peace in the region. The media and international bias is indicated very clearly in the case of the existence of the Egyptian blockade, which has been overlooked, while lambasting Israel. Also, the fact that it is Israel that supplies water and electricity to Gaza, who is ruled by sworn enemies of Israel, is extremely poignant. Translation: Israel is the "good guys" here. But you would never know.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 33 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/27/2008 7:47:10 AM
Grog, when I ask "who even knew about it? " I am speaking of the Egyptian fence to impede Gazan access to Egypt. The main point is that Israeli impedence has long been lambasted, while complaints of the Egyptian impedence has been practically non-existent. I am not talking about the destruction of the fence last week. Of course that was widespread, and thus this thread. ======== Anarkaos, when a group's (Hamas's) very fundamental premise is your destruction, talks would be suicidal to Israel. Talks are only constructive when there is a basis of conciliation. ========= Late, yes, quid pro quo is mutually destructive, but when the other side is relentlessly "quo-ing", the defensive side, in order to limit losses, what can they do but "quidding"? Hopefully, of course, we should strive for positive quid pro quos. ======= Jed, you state: "Another thing Hamas for all their faults was democratically elected by the people of Gaza yet the US and Israel refused to even consider talking to them from the very start and yet are happy to support unelected dictatorships around the world." - comments: a) as far as the talks, please see the response to Anarkaos. As far as supporting dictators: the ideal is support for any elected government that is supportive of freedoms of speech, religion, media, etc, and does not operate from intimidation. And, as the USA, like every other country, is comprised of human beings, with all of our faults, there is always a propensity of self interest. That self interest ideally should be limited, but we live in reality, and there are others that we may not consider to be as idealistic as "we" are, and we have to deal with those situations case by case. Please specify which dictators you are talking about. If you are talking about specific MidEast monarchs, the US support is not the deciding factor, anyway. Once a monarchy is established, "supporting" him for getting favorable deals is not necessarily amoral. An ideal (or thereabouts) is the US Constitution. But for some reason, such sensibilities don't always "translate" in the MidEast. ========= Seavoyage, you stated: "It was Jews who helped the Muslims defeat the Catholics in Spain, because they felt more comfortable with the Muslims than Christians" - comment: hmmm, that puts a different angle on the Inquisition. Also, congrats on your non-discriminatory dating. A hot chick is a hot chick.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 27 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/26/2008 6:30:20 PM
Seavoyage: no, of course I am not saying Gaza is free. It is an entrapped population. How much of that is self-imposed due to belligerence toward Israel, how much is due to Egyptian obstinance, how much is due to Israel, or to Israel's need for security, I don't know. But I don't see how the Gazans would be a security problem with Egypt. Whereas Islam and the Jews are inherently at odds due to Quranic verses (and some Old Testament ones too), Egypt and the Gazans have a common culture, and I cannot see why Egypt would not at least allow an open border. And I also cannot see how the international community and the media have been blasting only Israel on the likes of it's defensive wall. Israel's stance is understandably defensive. And Israel IS the provider of necessary amenities to Gaza. Bottom line: the media propaganda and the UN-types have to get closer to reality. And the reality is that the Egypt-Gaza problem has been swept under the table, while opportunism and a desire for victimization has made only Israel the punching bag. Granted, I am not an expert on the region. I am only reflecting what seems very obvious.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 22 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/26/2008 9:55:39 AM
First, I would like to clarify: the point here is that on one hand, the wall between Israel and Palestine & Gaza has been castigated repetitively for the past bunch of years since Israel built this defensive wall versus on the other hand, the fence between Gaza and EGYPT has gone uncriticized. Barely anyone even KNEW about it, until a few days ago, when it was dismantled, and the Gazans flocked to adjacent Egypt, which heretofore had been blocking movement. Also, get a load of a recent AP story: Israel says it wants to stop supplying electricity and water to Gaza Did you even know that the wicked Zionists were supplying electricity and water to Gaza in the first place? Just stop and consider for a moment the implications of that fact in light of the febrile Leftist/jihadist rhetoric about Israel. Here we have Gaza next to Egypt, but the international community has been forcing ISRAEL..... ooooo those wicked Jews!...to supply the Gazans with water and electricity. How ironic. How conveniently ignored by the international media. Here is the AP story: ======================================================== JERUSALEM - A top Israeli defense official said Thursday that Israel wants to relinquish all responsibility for the Gaza Strip, including the supply of electricity and water, now that the territory's southern border with Egypt has been opened. "We need to understand that when Gaza is open to the other side we lose responsibility for it," Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said, according to his office. "So we want to disconnect from it." It was not immediately clear if Vilnai spoke for the entire government. "We want to stop supplying electricity to them, stop supplying them with water and medicine, so that it would come from another place," Vilnai said. Israel will continue to be responsible for the flow of such supplies into the Gaza Strip until an alternative is found, the office quoted him as saying. ========================================================

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 10 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/24/2008 2:28:36 PM
rsx states: "Now, what about Israel letting Palastinians survive in their own land that Israel is illegally occupying and has been for 40 years?" -- comments: a) the UN established Israel b) the Israelis have been there about 4,000 years c) why the duplicity, fussing about Israel, yet no problems with other "conquests" in the area (do I have to name some again?) d) we aint talking about but a sliver of land on this earth

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 8 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/24/2008 2:08:26 PM
trubblemaker stated: "isreal isnt an actual country" -- comment: no. But Israel is. ============== wolfie stated: "The BBC is all over it." -- comment: I am not talking about this particular destruction of the wall. I am talking about the past approx 5 to 10 years of everybody in the "international community" b!T@#!N@ about Israel's wall, but nobody even realized (you NEVER saw anything of it) that the EGYPTIANS were keeping the Palestinians in, and they are presumably allies. ================ singleforever states: "Israel is an apartheid state, taken by conquest" -- comment: yeah. Like Kosovo, and Turkey, and Pakistan, etc. For crying out loud, it's the 21st century. Israelites have lived there for 4,000 years. If THAT status quo is not acceptable, then it's time for us to "reclaim" Iran for the Zoroastrians. ================== frankster states: "Good to see not all Americans are in the Israelis pocket." -- comment: who's in whose pockets? It is a matter of peace, equity (at least a modicum, a token), justice, etc. The poor Israelis have one little strip of land. Oh, horrors! I'm in their pocket! For crying out loud. =========== rsx states: "I knew within the hour. That you didn't says more about you than "the media"." --- comment: jumping jupiter! I was talking NOT about the destruction in the last couple of days of the Egyptian-Palestinian fence! I was talking about the fact that almost NOBODY EVEN KNEW THERE WAS ONE. The media and the usual suspects were too busy B!+@#!Ng about the Israeli wall, you know, the one that is allowing them to survive. Survive?!?! Oh, horrors.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 1 (view)

International duplicity: Israel / Egypt, the wall Posted: 1/24/2008 7:55:53 AM
When Israel built a wall to protect itself from suicide-murderers (who were killing young women, old women, children, men), there was a subsequent (and unbelievably stupid) outcry from the usual "international" suspects (you know, the ones that hate the USA). Fast forward to a few days ago: there is that fence between Egypt and Gaza that was blown up. Who even KNEW about it? Where were the international suspect whiners? Where was the media, who had been propagandizing for Hamas et al? And don't give me the humbug about this fence being originally built by Israel, because it was the border of EGYPT and "PALESTINE". And the border was maintained by Egyptian security. Blast Israel, but Egypt? No problem. Duh, what fence? It is a typical gross double standard. The typical anti-Semite propaganda. Including on NBC Nightly News. ====================

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 16 (view)

The Beatles without George Martin... Posted: 1/24/2008 7:23:15 AM
The Beatles' best albums (by far, I would say) were their first few. Meetthe Beatles. Revolver. Rubber Soul. Beatles 65. Etc. Was Martin already in the mix in those early days? Granted that even if he wasn't, they had some inventive things thereafter, esp the WhiteAlbum, AbbeyRoad. But from Sargeant Pepper on, in sum, they were somewhat of a glitter band, sort of iconic. Not the same harmonic (and maybe hormonal) exuberance of the early days.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 49 (view)

Bin Laden's Son Plans Role As Peace Envoy Posted: 1/20/2008 4:14:14 PM
WhiskeyPapa: hoping I am in no way sidetracking this thread, but in need of clarifying a very pertinent point, the interpretations of the scriptures that Omar bin Laden uses, compared to the verses I quoted: right after 9-11, in order to check some Quranic verses, I went to the LSU library, which had several English versions. I saw no significant variances in any of the 3 interpretations of about 30 or 40 verses in which I was interested, from the verses I had in hand. And I am sure that Omar Bin Laden and Robert Spencer are on the "same page", at least pertaining to which book they are reading from. Also, the version I have is the one of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, which I acquired at Barnes and Nobles or Books a Million. It also aligned with all of the other 4 versions. That is a total of 5 Qurans. They aint ALL wrong. The version I have is indisputed. And, as said, I am sure that the Quran of Omar bin Laden, in Arabic, lines up with these. Bon jour.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 46 (view)

Bin Laden's Son Plans Role As Peace Envoy Posted: 1/20/2008 8:37:22 AM
Where do I start? Or DO I start? OK. Let's start with Mr. WhiskeyPapa. Nona's approval? Nona thinks I am the creme de le creme. Smile. Omar, in your estimation, can have little influence with the Russians, the Serbs, the Indians, etc. Yet here we are discussing him. Apparently he is influential in our eyes. You stated: "It is an outright falsehood to say the US is trying to establish a democracy in Iraq." All I can say to this is "oh brother!" I won't even go through the argument. But with an elected govt that is BEGGING the USA to stay............. Mr. WhiskeyPapa, you ask: "Is it possible that you are confusing the Koran with The Art of War? Perhaps you can quote the verses vis-a-vis jihadist strategys." Well, Sura IX, the first 5 verses, has a seesaw of contractual honorings, and voidings. verse 1 - honor the contract verse 3 - on the day of the Great Pilgrimage, treaties with the "pagans" are voided verse 4 - treaties with ALLIED pagans are in effect to the "end of their term" (10 years max?) verse 5 - however, when the "forbidden" 4 months are past, then "fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them......(except that) they repent Also, according to Robert Spencer, Islamic jurists have enunciated the principle that, in general, truces were to be concluded for no longer than ten years and only enterred into for the purpose of allowing weakened Muslim forces to gain strength. I admit that I am not on top of the particular "jurisprudence" in this regard. You conclude: "Omar has taken the stand that he wants to an embassador for peace we should watch and see how he proceeds before being so negative. " You might be right. We should regard his moves with a big grain of salt, as a possible Trojan horse, but no telling, he might seriously be attempting to foster TRUE peace, not just a tactical peace for future jihadist/Quranist aggression. Omar comes from a Quranic background, and is highly familiar with the over-riding aspects of Surah IX, that admonishes the "believers" to "fight them ("unbelievers"), and Allah will punish them by your hands". But again, POSSIBLY he is a proponent of true peace, with the implications of freedom of religion, media, speech, women, etc, which freedoms are usually restricted by intimidation in countries with large Muslim majorities. I'll have to respond to the other responses later, as it is getting close to Sunday nappy time. PEACE AND FREEDOM AND LOVE ETC. (and war to the oppressors)

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 41 (view)

Bin Laden's Son Plans Role As Peace Envoy Posted: 1/19/2008 5:51:07 PM
Badger: Now come on! I didn't say anything about him having to do ANYTHING. I just am highly suspecting that what he is engaging in is a strategy with the same goal as violent jihad, but since that aint working, he is perhaps taking another tactic. "Truces" are old tricks played time and time again on the Israelis. Wearily, in a desire for peace, even the Israelis intermittently fall for this stuff. And the same thing happens again and again: resumption, when the time is "right". It is also a Quranic-prescribed tactic.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 39 (view)

Bin Laden's Son Plans Role As Peace Envoy Posted: 1/19/2008 5:25:38 PM
Nona: this is 99.99% a fraudulent move. Whenever a jihadist "truce" is called, that is translated to: "we aint doing so hot right now, so let's call time out, gather our forces, and, when the time is right, we'll be back at it again - the infidels fall for it every time." Omar's time in the Sudan is indicative. Millions of Christians and animists killed in the south. They were beatable. No "peace truce" from Omar then, huh? Why doesn't he get on the peace train in Chechnya? Or Kosovo? Or Kashmir? Or the Phillippines? Or Nigeria? Or why didn't he try to convince the Iraqis to make peace with the USA, who were just trying to establish (naively) a democracy there? No. What Omar is attempting is obviously to get a foot in the door. When the numbers are more favorable, THEN the REAL action will take place. I suggest that you all a) consider where this guy is coming from b) read up from your Quran (with eyes VERY cocked and skeptical), including jihadist strategies But, I have not seen him on the tube or anything. I concede (that .01% probability) that he could actually be credible. Fat chance, though, judging from empirical and historical evidence. Not Omar's evidence, as I am indeed ignorant about that, other than the OP by Nona. I am talking generic, historical jihadi empirical evidence. But my concession is limited, esp in light of potential Freudian slips as this one, that you (Nona) quoted Omar as saying: ""I don't want to be in that situation to JUST fight. I like to find another way, and this other way may be like we do now, talking," he said." Peace is absolutely the most wonderful goal. But we have to watch out that we don't get sold a deceptive pallet of goods. And to avert that, the best defense is Quranic knowledge, and keeping up with allies that are well versed in Muhammad's book, in order that we know the motivations of jihadists such as Bin Laden SR, as well as, assumedly, those of JR (Omar) as well.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 700 (view)

Ex-CIA agent: Waterboarding 'saved lives' Posted: 1/19/2008 9:03:05 AM
Just another little anectdotal comparison of throwing a little water (a.k.a. waterboarding) down the noses of cold killers in order to scare the teetee out of them, and prospectively save innocent lives (while the US Democrats advertise to the world that it laments such "torture" by its military, all the while passing partial birth abortion laws) vs real torture..... According to Agence France-Presse, "HASSAN Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief and one of Israel's most wanted men, appeared in public for a Shi'ite religious event in the Lebanese capital for the first time in more than a year. In a fiery speech, Mr Nasrallah said that his Lebanese Shi'ite militant group had the heads and body parts of soldiers that the Israeli army had abandoned. We have the heads, the hands, the feet and even a nearly intact cadaver from the head down to the pelvis," he said. "God protect Nasrallah," chanted the crowd, carrying portraits of the Hezbollah chief. "

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 1 (view)

BikerSociety (bicycling, Louisiana) Posted: 1/17/2008 9:07:29 PM
I started this little biking outfit out of Donaldsonville about a year ago. Activity is admittedly a little "slim". But spring-time aint far away, so keep yo eyes out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bikersociety/ Of course, feel free to join, contribute, suggest, etc. Paul M

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 43 (view)

Obama's Church Doctrine Posted: 1/15/2008 5:20:33 PM
Mr. Skypoetone: There is a Barack > UCC > Louis Farrakhan connection. I don't know if anyone has yet brought what I am to post up yet. Richard Cohen (a liberal columnist, by the way) in this morning's column that ran in the Baton Rouge Louisiana paper today, states that Barack's church (he calls it simply the Unity Church of Christ) is pastored by one Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. The church's newsmagazine, the Trumpeter, is edited by two of the reverend's daughters. Last year they (the Trumpeter) gave the Dr. Jeremiah A Wright, Jr Trumpeter Award to a man that (their words) "truly epitomizes greatness".... LOUIS FARRAKHAN!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, Skypoetone, if you lived in the USA, you would know what Farrakhan stands for. I have seen him on TV down here rabblerousing to make war on whites in the USA. You get the message.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 88 (view)

Might Solar Cycle 24 dispel man-made global warming? Posted: 1/14/2008 9:14:50 AM
Beltaine states: "Look again. How many data sets are above their 2000 mark? What's that...all of them? A two year downward trend isn't nearly long enough to invalidate the general rise over the past few decades....especially since the past few years have seen a decrease in solar emissions...a decrease which reversed and marked a new solar cycle. And while you believe that the next solar cycle is going to be weak (for reasons I don't think you really articulated...the experts disagree, anyway), it's still going to be an increase in incoming energy." --- comments: a) in the first post I made about this (m.80), I very clearly said that there was a rapid rise between 2000-02. b) I also said (m. 80) this: "I am not saying that the trend of upward temps are reversed." c) solar output's effects, as previously averred, have a delayed effect. d) whenever I refer to SC24, I have put, repeatedly, in CAPITAL LETTERS, *IF*, and there is some disagreement, plus NASA, NOAA have already reduced their predictions, which will be a continued downward trend, probably, but the amount is in question, but IF SC24 is weak, and it may or may not be (but, to repeat what I have said many times, SC25 will most assuredly be weak, but that won't be until about 2024), we will possibly have some empirical data to test the theoretical. e) the increasing energy at solar max of course will be increased, but with delay in results (with heat retention by seas, for example), we are looking at a smoothed curve. =================== Beltaine states: "Something as simple as orbital drift can, and has, caused errors in satellite readings. Temperature data from cities tend to be removed, or normalized if they cannot be removed, from long term climate calculations. All measuring methods have their advantages and disadvantages" -- comment: OK, noted. But next year's measurements should be very interesting, to see whether or not "corrections" are made, or the reverse.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 24 (view)

Sleep. Why have we not evolved out of the need for it? Posted: 1/12/2008 8:00:46 PM
Mio stated: "The question (OP) is idiotic." --- comment: I think it's a good question. Being that traditionally the evolutionary school (which really IS a random operation, with a dose of selection) has had an orthodoxy of "survival of the fittest", surely a being that could operate around the clock would be some mean bugger. (I am not "anti-evolution". However, it's typical incorporation with atheism is guesswork). Maybe that's just the way it is supposed to be. Maybe dreams not only give insight at times, but also serve as shock absorbers of life. The subject of appendices came up. We humans didn't see any use for them, but of late, a function has been ascribed to them: conservatories of "good" digestive/colon bacteria. Probably the same thing with "useless" "junk" DNA. Who actually knows for sure that it's "junk"? Likewise sleep. But if anybody in the future can live without it, and function with bright eyes around the clock, go for it. Mio stated: "An appropriate question to ask would be why dont we all sleep 24/7 like the sloth. That question has tormented me all my life". ---- comment: right on.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 86 (view)

Might Solar Cycle 24 dispel man-made global warming? Posted: 1/12/2008 7:10:30 PM
For the record (ref message 80): GISS (NASA) and UKMet are surface readings and analysis of global temps. RSS and UAH are satellite readings and analysis of global temps. My two bits: the surface readings would seem to be less reliable, with the "heat island" factor, esp when we are talking of minute temp changes. But granted, this recent 5 or 6 years of satellite flat or lower temps globally could, for example, simply be a function of oceanic currents, in light of the heat retention of the seas. If currents force cold water up............... Just surmising. I have no idea of the progress of true experts in this regard. But I can certainly see how that, for example, would only be a temporary cause of global satellite air temperature stabilization, as is reputed. But then again, the GISS and UKMet temps DO take into effect sea surface temps, and they (net surface, including land and sea) are going up, for example, on the GISS graph line. So, my surmising above might have missed the target. So, what then would be causing the stabilization (temporary or not) of the satellite measurements? Solar variance a possibility? We should see, IF SC24 is weak....

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 85 (view)

Might Solar Cycle 24 dispel man-made global warming? Posted: 1/11/2008 5:09:01 PM
NovaScotiaLass: this apparently is nothing to do with opinion, but is apparently a composite of 4 global temperature watching outfits. GISS is an American "subsidiary" of NASA, and UKMET I have heard of. UAH and RSS...I'll have to look.

mpaul7172

Joined: 11/30/2007

Msg: 83 (view)

Might Solar Cycle 24 dispel man-made global warming? Posted: 1/11/2008 2:05:57 PM
Beltaine states (in ref to m 80): "Frankly, it's amazing. Piles of evidence, thousands of scientists, thousands of peer reviewed papers... But then one op-ed comes along...." --------------- comment: I don't think so... a) the NYTimes article's graphs are from the apparently major measuring groups, apparently weighty b) granted, not a trend, but PERHAPS bucking the previous trend. What is important is that 3 of the 4 indicate either level or downward in the 5 year span. One downward would indicate inaccuracy on their part, some kind of statistical variance. Two downward would warrant taking note. Three downward would indicate something is VERY possibly, even probably, going on here. And DEFINITELY should make the next year or two very interesting in this regard. So, I'm interested in what you think would be the explanation for this.

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