Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
Gautam wrote: If the Washington Post wants to say that something wrong happened here, I'll get upset. Since so far they're said that there is no story here, that's what I believe. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13397-2003Dec18.html "This extraordinary internal audit suggests that Halliburton had been previously warned by its own auditors that it was overcharging for the fuel but apparently ignored these important warnings and continued to charge the federal government inflated prices," he wrote." -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > She posed after she was outed. Forget about her; > what about the person who outed her. Isn't that a > crime? Isn'/t the right very big on crimes? Perjury > in a private law suit is grounds for removal from > office but commiting the crime of compromising > national security is ok because the person > subsquently poses for Vanity Fair? Stay on topic. > What she does now is not the issue. That is not the > crime. Yes, but I _don't know_ who leaked it. There actually is no evidence that it was a crime at the moment. It's a crime if she had served overseas within the past 5 years (I think that's the time span) which she has not. The _CIA itself_ made no effort to cover her identity. That's all that we know. Everything else is the fevered wishes of the left. You will forgive me, by the way, if I laugh at the fact that people who during the Vietnam War and after happily cheered on lots of people who leaked American secrets of real importance care in the least about Valerie Plame. When I know who leaked it - in other words, when the investigation that is on going reveals the identity of the person - and if that person committed a crime, then I will happily call for the head of the person involved. But all of the evidence I have suggests that the major issue is that Joe Wilson is a gasbag who capitalized on this issue to build his own public profile, and that's about all that happened. > > As to Halliburton. Are you really claiming that they > will lose money on this deal? And once again even if > true so what? Your arguement comes down to forgiving > a thief because he had no money. If Halliburton made > a bad deal that is their problem. We live in a free > market economy. They took the risk. If they really > lose money then that is their problem because if > they make money they get to keep it. We call that > capitalism. Their actions were on their face > criminal and criminal of the worst type. War > profiteering. I would say, from what I know about the deal, that they are not profiteering. I don't know much about the deal - I automatically tune out any argument involving Halliburton, it's the black helicopters of the paranoid left. But as far as we know, they don't seem to have done anything wrong. I don't know much more than that - I just think that the people making accusations have no credibility. They are so clearly motivated by hatred for the Bush Administration that I _just don't care_ what they think. When I see people who look at Osama Bin Laden and George Bush and think that George Bush is their enemy, frankly I don't listen when they talk about Haliburton. If the Washington Post wants to say that something wrong happened here, I'll get upset. Since so far they're said that there is no story here, that's what I believe. = Gautam Mukunda [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Freedom is not free" http://www.mukunda.blogspot.com __ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
--- "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > But Gautam, that's not even the most ironic thing. > The most ironic thing > is that Doug somehow thought that the Halliburton > incident was an example > of the Right no policing its own - when in fact it > was a Republican > administration that uncovered and publicized the > potential abuse. > > JDG As, for that matter, was Enron. It has always struck me as ironic that the Bush Administration gets criticized for Enron. Most of the fraud and corruption took place under the Clinton Administration after all (and the same with Worldcom, Global Crossing, you name it). They were revealed under the Bush Administration. = Gautam Mukunda [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Freedom is not free" http://www.mukunda.blogspot.com __ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
--- "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Actually medical records are somewhat private under > the Consitution, as > they are protected by the Constitution from > "unreasonable" search and seizure. > > JDG Only if you think that "search and seizure" covers a doctor's office, and I can't bring to mind any rulings that it does. Search and seizure is usually thought of as covering your property and person, and your physician's office is neither of those. I'm not saying I think doctor patient confidentiality is a bad thing. Obviously I do not. I am, as I often do, pointing out the difference between "This is a good idea" and "This is what the Constitution demands". They are not in any sense coterminous. = Gautam Mukunda [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Freedom is not free" http://www.mukunda.blogspot.com __ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Merry Christmas
About to head for bed. Sammy will be getting the tricycle I assembled during his nap this afternoon. :) Merry Christmas, everyone! Julia p.s. Who Hash is Soylent Green! ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
In a message dated 12/24/2003 7:41:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > But Gautam, that's not even the most ironic thing.The most ironic thing > is that Doug somehow thought that the Halliburton incident was an example > of the Right no policing its own - when in fact it was a Republican > administration that uncovered and publicized the potential > abuse. Correct if I am wrong but wasn't it the press who uncovered Halliburton's actions? And of course the government oversight is carried out by portions of the government that are not under direct political control. The government (in this case a republican government) did what it was obligated to do. By the way doesn't your arguement imply that Clinton deserves credit for is own impeachment since the special prosecutor was appointed during his administration? ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
In a message dated 12/24/2003 4:49:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > That would be the CIA agent who just posed in Vanity > Fair, and the Halliburton that is operating at profit > margins _below_ its national average for its > operations in Iraq? She posed after she was outed. Forget about her; what about the person who outed her. Isn't that a crime? Isn'/t the right very big on crimes? Perjury in a private law suit is grounds for removal from office but commiting the crime of compromising national security is ok because the person subsquently poses for Vanity Fair? Stay on topic. What she does now is not the issue. That is not the crime. As to Halliburton. Are you really claiming that they will lose money on this deal? And once again even if true so what? Your arguement comes down to forgiving a thief because he had no money. If Halliburton made a bad deal that is their problem. We live in a free market economy. They took the risk. If they really lose money then that is their problem because if they make money they get to keep it. We call that capitalism. Their actions were on their face criminal and criminal of the worst type. War profiteering. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ROTK: my mini review (spoilers)
In a message dated 12/24/2003 1:58:21 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > If they'd made it clear that he'd been subtly yet > > dreadfully deceived by Sauron's manipulation of his > > palantir-viewing, his madness might have been > > understandable. As it was, I thought him pathetic and > > insane (not that I am fond of the character - but in > > the book it is clear that he has some very good > > qualities, sadly corrupted by his mistaken use of the > > palantir). I bet that will be in the extended version ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ROTK: my mini review (spoilers)
In a message dated 12/24/2003 1:58:21 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > If they'd made it clear that he'd been subtly yet > > dreadfully deceived by Sauron's manipulation of his > > palantir-viewing, his madness might have been > > understandable. As it was, I thought him pathetic and > > insane (not that I am fond of the character - but in > > the book it is clear that he has some very good > > qualities, sadly corrupted by his mistaken use of the > > palantir). I bet that will be in the extended version ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
In a message dated 12/23/2003 11:43:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Oh I see, Brad, the side with the "real arguments" is the side which argued > that "the Right does not police their own very well" on the basis of Rush > Limbaugh arguing that State of Florida prosecutors did not properly follow > the laws of Florida in asking for his private medical > records to be unsealed. Your defense of Rush is extraordinarly concrete. I am always amazed when you cannot admit that anything done by a member of the right is wrong. Rush admitted to his problem only after it became the subject of an investigation. He couldn't deny it. He went into a celebrity rehab center. Don Imus (who knows of such things) scolded Rush for not entering a serious rehab facility. I am always very suspicious of the addicted to pain killers because of my back pain arguement. Someone with his resources could have received help to kick this addiction at any time. He got his drugs illegally precisely so he could continue to use them without having to see a doctor. In short his admission was by necessity his explanation rings false and his rehab should be viewed with skeptism. By the way you should know that Alan Dershowitz has said that he should not be prosecuted since since this is not standard practice. Imagine that, a card carrying liberal saying that on principle that Rush should not be prosecuted. Maybe you could learn something Alan ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
John wrote: Actually medical records are somewhat private under the Consitution, as they are protected by the Constitution from "unreasonable" search and seizure. Isn't that the very arguement that Limbaugh has contested in the past and that prompted the title for this thread? -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
In a message dated 12/23/2003 9:59:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > As opposed, of course, to how well the Left policies it own. But John, it is the right that has been so firm in its moral rectitude (I could say sanctimonity if that was a word but that would be too pergaritive). If you are referring to Clinton I must reiterate that the left (aka the democrats who are of course virtually commie pigs) did not condone his actions they said they were not grounds for removal. So John: Is Rush a hypocrite? yes or no. Should the person who leaked Valerie Ps name be prosecuted? At the very least will you admit that the President should have shown outrage and investigated this leak when Novak's column came out this past summer? Yes or No. Should there be an investigation of Halliburton's profiteering (by the way that is what is called and in the past profiteers were tried for treason). Don't change the topic. Answer the questions. You claim the high ground. Deep breath and change of tone. Merry Christmas. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: An X-Files Christmas
From: "Gary Nunn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin Mail List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: An X-Files Christmas Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 21:40:19 -0500 I can't remember if I posted this last year. Oh well... Bethlehem, Pa. 11:51 p.m., December 24th. "We're too late! It's already been here." "Mulder, I hope you know what you're doing." "Look, Scully, just like the other homes: Douglas fir, truncated, mounted, transformed into a shrine; halls decked with boughs of holly; stockings hung by the chimney, with care." "You really think someone's been here?" "Someone, or something." "Mulder, over here--it's a fruitcake." "Don't touch it! Those things can be lethal." "It's O.K. There's a note attached: 'Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.'" "It's judging them, Scully. It's making a list." "Who? What are you talking about?" "Ancient mythology tells of an obese humanoid entity who could travel at great speed in a craft powered by antlered servants. Once a year, near the winter solstice, this creature is said to descend from the heavens to reward its followers and punish disbelievers with jagged chunks of anthracite." "But that's legend, Mulder--a story told by parents to frighten children. Surely you don't believe it?" "Something was here tonight, Scully. Check out the bite marks on this gingerbread man. Whatever tore through this plate of cookies was massive--and in a hurry." "It left crumbs everywhere. And look, Mulder, this milk glass has been completely drained." "It gorged itself, Scully. It fed without remorse." "But why would they leave it milk and cookies?" "Appeasement. Tonight is the Eve, and nothing can stop its wilding." "But if this thing does exist, how did it get in? The doors and windows were locked. There's no sign of forced entry." "Unless I miss my guess, it came through the fireplace." "Wait a minute, Mulder. If you're saying some huge creature landed on the roof and came down this chimney, you're crazy. The flue is barely six inches wide. Nothing could get down there." "But what if it could alter its shape, move in all directions at once?" "You mean, like a bowl full of jelly?" "Exactly. Scully, I've never told anyone this, but when I was a child my home was visited. I saw the creature. It had long white shanks of fur surrounding its ruddy, misshapen head. Its bloated torso was red and white. I'll never forget the horror. I turned away, and when I looked back it had somehow taken on the facial features of my father." "Impossible." "I know what I saw. And that night it read my mind. It brought me a Mr. Potato Head, Scully. It knew that I wanted a Mr. Potato Head!" "I'm sorry, Mulder, but you're asking me to disregard the laws of physics. You want me to believe in some supernatural being who soars across the skies and brings gifts to good little girls and boys. Listen to what you're saying. Do you understand the repercussions? If this gets out, they'll close the X-files." "Scully, listen to me: It knows when you're sleeping. It knows when you're awake." "But we have no proof." "Last year, on this exact date, SETI radio telescopes detected bogeys in the airspace over twenty-seven states. The White House ordered a Condition Red." "But that was a meteor shower." "Officially. Two days ago, eight prized Scandinavian reindeer vanished from the National Zoo, in Washington, D.C. Nobody--not even the zookeeper--was told about it. The government doesn't want people to know about Project Kringle. They fear that if this thing is proved to exist the public will stop spending half its annual income in a holiday shopping frenzy. Retail markets will collapse. Scully, they cannot let the world believe this creature lives. There's too much at stake. They'll do whatever it takes to insure another silent night." "Mulder, I--" "Sh-h-h. Do you hear what I hear?" "On the roof. It sounds like ... a clatter." "The truth is up there. Let's see what's the matter." That's priceless!!! I'm not sure which is better, this or the Star Trek one. -Travis "laughing quite uncontrollably" Edmunds _ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
RE: Star Trek Christmas songs
From: "Robert Seeberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Star Trek Christmas songs Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 19:42:05 -0600 http://www.pathcom.com/~boby/xmas-c.htm Let It Snow (sung by: Jean Luc Picard) Oh, the vacuum outside is endless, Unforgiving, cold, and friendless, But still we must boldly go-- Make it so, make it so, make it so! Winter Wonderland (sung by: Jean Luc Picard) We've just passed, Starfleet inspection Just plot a course --- any direction We're gonna explore, where none have before, Cruising in the starship Enterprise On my starship, I can run a program And pretend that I am Dixon Hill Walk into my office and then --- oh man!! My secretary 's making out with Wil... I need a break, from Wesley's whinin' I'll have some tea --- then talk to Guinan A nice quiet chat, about her new hat, Cruising in the starship Enterprise Deck The Halls (sung by: William Riker) Here's a vexing Christmas riddle: (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) Why must I play second fiddle? (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) How can I impress Deanna (Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la la la) When I'm number two banana? (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) Girls find him so cute and cuddly (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) (He) thinks his beard makes him so studly (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) Sleeps around, does what he pleases... (Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la la la) Spreading outer-space diseases (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (sung by: Wesley Crusher) I'm at Starfleet Academy, And I'd just like to say I miss the opportunity To weekly save the day-- To make things worse, I have to be In some dumb Christmas play! Yes, I'm bright, though I'm just a teenaged boy, Only a boy, And the Enterprise was my most favorite toy! I study hard, I do my best I really try and try --- (But) Sternbach and Okuda Are finding ways for me to die I'm such a charming little tyke It's such a vicious ploy "Maim that child" was just overheard from Troi, Counselor Troi (!) I guess starships might not be the place for boys Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (by: Deanna Troi) I get no surprises out of Christmas-- Presents leave me blue-- I know what they're giving me Before they do. Who wants to be Betazoid at Christmas? I read Jean-Luc's mind: "What's the cheapest gift for Troi that I can find?" Geordi thinks I'm a "Beta-bore"-- Worf likes Data more--by far. Wes to Mom takes his whinin', or, Sobs to Guinan o'er the bar. In Will's dreams I'm in a reindeer costume Bare at breasts and thighs-- He as Santa merrily His whips applies. Oh, Christmas is no fun aboards the Enterprise. Jingle Bells (sung by: Data) Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh-- or so I am reliably informed; lacking a subjective and intuitively perceived referent for the term "fun," I am able only to report the phenomenon as experienced by others, whose individual perceptions somewhat color the --- yes, sir. White Christmas (sung by: Worf) I'm dreaming of a dead Pakled, Just like the one in Rec Deck Eight. They all think they've hidden, But this one didn't, And I'm using him as bait. I'm dreaming of a dead Pakled-- Their mental skills are rather lame. May your foes die sonless, in shame-- And I hope you're wishing me the same! Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (sung by: Worf) Phasers flashing in the depths of space, Ripping up an airtight hull; Signs of fear on your enemy's face, And life-support signs reading null! Ev'rybody knows a Romulan's a spineless foe Who lacks the Klingon will to fight! Phaser beams set his torso aglow-- He'll find it hard to breathe tonight! He knows that Worf is on his way! And soon he'll be the object of the verb "to slay"! And ev'ry slinking Rom and Pakled spy Will soon become the subject of the verb "to die"! And so I'm offering this simple threat To Roms, and all Ferengi, too: You'll be as dead as a life-form can get-- Merry Christmas to you! xponentRemry Stirchasm! Marurob That's just awesome!!! -Travis "Merry Christmas" Edmunds _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FRE
An X-Files Christmas
I can't remember if I posted this last year. Oh well... Bethlehem, Pa. 11:51 p.m., December 24th. "We're too late! It's already been here." "Mulder, I hope you know what you're doing." "Look, Scully, just like the other homes: Douglas fir, truncated, mounted, transformed into a shrine; halls decked with boughs of holly; stockings hung by the chimney, with care." "You really think someone's been here?" "Someone, or something." "Mulder, over here--it's a fruitcake." "Don't touch it! Those things can be lethal." "It's O.K. There's a note attached: 'Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.'" "It's judging them, Scully. It's making a list." "Who? What are you talking about?" "Ancient mythology tells of an obese humanoid entity who could travel at great speed in a craft powered by antlered servants. Once a year, near the winter solstice, this creature is said to descend from the heavens to reward its followers and punish disbelievers with jagged chunks of anthracite." "But that's legend, Mulder--a story told by parents to frighten children. Surely you don't believe it?" "Something was here tonight, Scully. Check out the bite marks on this gingerbread man. Whatever tore through this plate of cookies was massive--and in a hurry." "It left crumbs everywhere. And look, Mulder, this milk glass has been completely drained." "It gorged itself, Scully. It fed without remorse." "But why would they leave it milk and cookies?" "Appeasement. Tonight is the Eve, and nothing can stop its wilding." "But if this thing does exist, how did it get in? The doors and windows were locked. There's no sign of forced entry." "Unless I miss my guess, it came through the fireplace." "Wait a minute, Mulder. If you're saying some huge creature landed on the roof and came down this chimney, you're crazy. The flue is barely six inches wide. Nothing could get down there." "But what if it could alter its shape, move in all directions at once?" "You mean, like a bowl full of jelly?" "Exactly. Scully, I've never told anyone this, but when I was a child my home was visited. I saw the creature. It had long white shanks of fur surrounding its ruddy, misshapen head. Its bloated torso was red and white. I'll never forget the horror. I turned away, and when I looked back it had somehow taken on the facial features of my father." "Impossible." "I know what I saw. And that night it read my mind. It brought me a Mr. Potato Head, Scully. It knew that I wanted a Mr. Potato Head!" "I'm sorry, Mulder, but you're asking me to disregard the laws of physics. You want me to believe in some supernatural being who soars across the skies and brings gifts to good little girls and boys. Listen to what you're saying. Do you understand the repercussions? If this gets out, they'll close the X-files." "Scully, listen to me: It knows when you're sleeping. It knows when you're awake." "But we have no proof." "Last year, on this exact date, SETI radio telescopes detected bogeys in the airspace over twenty-seven states. The White House ordered a Condition Red." "But that was a meteor shower." "Officially. Two days ago, eight prized Scandinavian reindeer vanished from the National Zoo, in Washington, D.C. Nobody--not even the zookeeper--was told about it. The government doesn't want people to know about Project Kringle. They fear that if this thing is proved to exist the public will stop spending half its annual income in a holiday shopping frenzy. Retail markets will collapse. Scully, they cannot let the world believe this creature lives. There's too much at stake. They'll do whatever it takes to insure another silent night." "Mulder, I--" "Sh-h-h. Do you hear what I hear?" "On the roof. It sounds like ... a clatter." "The truth is up there. Let's see what's the matter." ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
- Original Message - From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 6:39 PM Subject: Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite > At 01:45 PM 12/24/2003 -0800 Gautam Mukunda wrote: > >--- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >wrote: > >> I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush has > >> repeatedly > >> claimed that there is no constitutional right to > >> privacy. > >> That would likely apply also to medical records. > >> > >> xponent > >> Drift Maru > >> rob > > > >Your medical records are private not because of the > >Constitution, but because of doctor-patient > >confidentiality, which is a matter of law. There > >isn't anything in the Constitution on that topic. > > Actually medical records are somewhat private under the Consitution, as > they are protected by the Constitution from "unreasonable" search and seizure. What's a reasonable search of a person for whom there is credible evidence of illegal involvement with narcotics? If there is a law against going to multiple physicians to get far more narcotics than any responsible physician would prescribe, and there is probable cause to believe that a drug addict has done this, then I don't see any a priori reason why this type of search is unreasonable. Now, I'm not opposed to Rush having his lawyers fight to keep the records private. That's his right as an American citizen. But, this is not an unprecedented invasion of privacy. If he were poor and black, dollars to donuts, he'd be wearing orange for Christmas. Dan M. Dan M. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Holiday Alert
>From TopFive.com: The Top 15 Holiday Alertness Tips o.. Beware of bearded religious fanatics penetrating the air space above your house or chimney. n.. Anthrax spores may arrive in the guise of small white flakes descending from the sky. Run for cover! m.. This year, avoid the New Year's Eve fireworks display in Kandahar. l.. Beware of people sucking candy canes in a way that makes them very very pointy. k.. Carefully sorted mail with rubber gloves and a gas mask? Check. Incinerated suspicious looking mail? Check. Accidentally reduced holiday bonus check to carbon? D'OH! j.. Why fly when you can argue with relatives via instant messaging? i.. Keep in mind that airport security personnel spend 75% less time processing naked people through checkpoints. h.. Fruit cakes, if stacked properly, can make an effective and tasty bomb shelter. g.. Visions of sugarplums may indicate exposure to nerve gas. f.. Pointy, dangerous metal Menorahs should be replaced with the Nerf(tm) Menorah. e.. If you encounter a Santa's helper in the mall who says, "Dude, you're gettin' a Dell," do the world a favor and pummel him senseless. d.. Leave the tinsel strand hanging out of the cat's ass. It'll make Fluffy easier to find in a blackout. c.. Do random strip searches of secretaries at the company holiday party. THIS year, the Attorney General's got your back! b.. Guys: While carving the Christmas turkey with the electric knife, make sure you've finished having sex with the turkey first. and the Number 1 Holiday Alertness Tip... a.. Going to the Rose Parade? Keep your distance from that "Jihad Wonderland" float. xponent Danger Kris Kringle Danger Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Christmas Lights
Don't feel like getting in the car to go out looking at Christmas lights in the rich part of town? Just go here: http://www.planetchristmas.com/ShowingOff2003.htm xponent The Electric Bill From Hell Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Star Trek Christmas songs
http://www.pathcom.com/~boby/xmas-c.htm Let It Snow (sung by: Jean Luc Picard) Oh, the vacuum outside is endless, Unforgiving, cold, and friendless, But still we must boldly go-- Make it so, make it so, make it so! Winter Wonderland (sung by: Jean Luc Picard) We've just passed, Starfleet inspection Just plot a course --- any direction We're gonna explore, where none have before, Cruising in the starship Enterprise On my starship, I can run a program And pretend that I am Dixon Hill Walk into my office and then --- oh man!! My secretary 's making out with Wil... I need a break, from Wesley's whinin' I'll have some tea --- then talk to Guinan A nice quiet chat, about her new hat, Cruising in the starship Enterprise Deck The Halls (sung by: William Riker) Here's a vexing Christmas riddle: (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) Why must I play second fiddle? (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) How can I impress Deanna (Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la la la) When I'm number two banana? (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) Girls find him so cute and cuddly (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) (He) thinks his beard makes him so studly (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) Sleeps around, does what he pleases... (Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la la la) Spreading outer-space diseases (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la la) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (sung by: Wesley Crusher) I'm at Starfleet Academy, And I'd just like to say I miss the opportunity To weekly save the day-- To make things worse, I have to be In some dumb Christmas play! Yes, I'm bright, though I'm just a teenaged boy, Only a boy, And the Enterprise was my most favorite toy! I study hard, I do my best I really try and try --- (But) Sternbach and Okuda Are finding ways for me to die I'm such a charming little tyke It's such a vicious ploy "Maim that child" was just overheard from Troi, Counselor Troi (!) I guess starships might not be the place for boys Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (by: Deanna Troi) I get no surprises out of Christmas-- Presents leave me blue-- I know what they're giving me Before they do. Who wants to be Betazoid at Christmas? I read Jean-Luc's mind: "What's the cheapest gift for Troi that I can find?" Geordi thinks I'm a "Beta-bore"-- Worf likes Data more--by far. Wes to Mom takes his whinin', or, Sobs to Guinan o'er the bar. In Will's dreams I'm in a reindeer costume Bare at breasts and thighs-- He as Santa merrily His whips applies. Oh, Christmas is no fun aboards the Enterprise. Jingle Bells (sung by: Data) Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh-- or so I am reliably informed; lacking a subjective and intuitively perceived referent for the term "fun," I am able only to report the phenomenon as experienced by others, whose individual perceptions somewhat color the --- yes, sir. White Christmas (sung by: Worf) I'm dreaming of a dead Pakled, Just like the one in Rec Deck Eight. They all think they've hidden, But this one didn't, And I'm using him as bait. I'm dreaming of a dead Pakled-- Their mental skills are rather lame. May your foes die sonless, in shame-- And I hope you're wishing me the same! Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (sung by: Worf) Phasers flashing in the depths of space, Ripping up an airtight hull; Signs of fear on your enemy's face, And life-support signs reading null! Ev'rybody knows a Romulan's a spineless foe Who lacks the Klingon will to fight! Phaser beams set his torso aglow-- He'll find it hard to breathe tonight! He knows that Worf is on his way! And soon he'll be the object of the verb "to slay"! And ev'ry slinking Rom and Pakled spy Will soon become the subject of the verb "to die"! And so I'm offering this simple threat To Roms, and all Ferengi, too: You'll be as dead as a life-form can get-- Merry Christmas to you! xponentRemry Stirchasm! Marurob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
Robert Seeberger wrote: > I think the current president has not done a "stellar" job (though I > would agree that he is capable of better than he has done). I think > that for the most part he has done, in regards to the standout issues > of this term, about as well as an average quality president. > Bush *himself*, has done better than I would have ever given him > credit for being capable of. > That being said, I still think he is a [pick your favorite expletive], > just like he was here in Texas, and I am just plain tired of him. Anyone here a fan of "That 70s Show"? ;) Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
- Original Message - From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 6:39 PM Subject: Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite > At 01:45 PM 12/24/2003 -0800 Gautam Mukunda wrote: > >--- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >wrote: > >> I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush has > >> repeatedly > >> claimed that there is no constitutional right to > >> privacy. > >> That would likely apply also to medical records. > >> > >> xponent > >> Drift Maru > >> rob > > > >Your medical records are private not because of the > >Constitution, but because of doctor-patient > >confidentiality, which is a matter of law. There > >isn't anything in the Constitution on that topic. > > Actually medical records are somewhat private under the Consitution, as > they are protected by the Constitution from "unreasonable" search and seizure. > This is a question and not a challenge. If it were a doctor being investigated then I could see the constitutional protection. But can you show some reference that would support your claim that a patient has a constitutional protection in a case where the patient is being investigated for criminal activity? I've never seen the argument John is making presented before, and I'm quite curious as to how that would work. And why. xponent Lawfully Unknowledgeable Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
- Original Message - From: "Ronn!Blankenship" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 6:21 PM Subject: Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite > At 06:15 PM 12/24/03, Doug Pensinger wrote: > >Gautam wrote: > > > >>That would be the CIA agent who just posed in Vanity > >>Fair, > > > >Well it doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of difference at this point > >does it? What's whe gonna do, grow a mustache? > > > >>and the Halliburton that is operating at profit > >>margins _below_ its national average for its > >>operations in Iraq? > > > >And if you believe that, I've got some gas for sale. Cheap, $2.64 a gallon. > > > >>And people wonder why Bush is at 60%. > > > >I think, when the campaign gets into full swing and people that normally > >don't think about these things or have been getting all their news from > >the television see how they and their country are getting screwed by this > >administration, that those numbers will go down quickly. God, I hope so > >because four more years with these jokers in charge will be a disaster not > >only for the country, but the entire world. > > > > Well, there certainly isn't anyone on the Democratic side who can do as > well, much less better (and that particularly includes Al Gore and HRC), so > who do you want to see elected? > Ronn!, I would disagree. I think the current president has not done a "stellar" job (though I would agree that he is capable of better than he has done). I think that for the most part he has done, in regards to the standout issues of this term, about as well as an average quality president. Bush *himself*, has done better than I would have ever given him credit for being capable of. That being said, I still think he is a [pick your favorite expletive], just like he was here in Texas, and I am just plain tired of him. I passionately dislike 3 of the people he surrounds himself with and admire only 2 others. There are just too many hints of corruption in the air for my taste. Maybe there's a fire, maybe its just some joker smoking in the bathroom, but since his administration entered the Whitehouse telling lies (that the GAO disproved), I don't see much reason to lend even grudging trust. I would greatly prefer a republican candidate that I felt would run a completely honest, no bullcrap administration. Even one with the same philosophy as the Bush administration. I probably wouldn't vote for them, but I could give unreserved fealty to an Republican president who impressed me as completely sincere and forthright. xponent Goldwater For President Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
At 01:49 PM 12/24/2003 -0800 Gautam Mukunda wrote: >--- Doug Pensinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Yea, and between this, the outing of the CIA agent >> and Bush waggling his >> finger at Halliburton we see how well the Right >> polices its own. >> >> -- >> Doug > >That would be the CIA agent who just posed in Vanity >Fair, and the Halliburton that is operating at profit >margins _below_ its national average for its >operations in Iraq? But Gautam, that's not even the most ironic thing.The most ironic thing is that Doug somehow thought that the Halliburton incident was an example of the Right no policing its own - when in fact it was a Republican administration that uncovered and publicized the potential abuse. JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity." - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
At 01:45 PM 12/24/2003 -0800 Gautam Mukunda wrote: >--- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >wrote: >> I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush has >> repeatedly >> claimed that there is no constitutional right to >> privacy. >> That would likely apply also to medical records. >> >> xponent >> Drift Maru >> rob > >Your medical records are private not because of the >Constitution, but because of doctor-patient >confidentiality, which is a matter of law. There >isn't anything in the Constitution on that topic. Actually medical records are somewhat private under the Consitution, as they are protected by the Constitution from "unreasonable" search and seizure. JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity." - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
- Original Message - From: "Gautam Mukunda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 3:45 PM Subject: Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite > --- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush has > > repeatedly > > claimed that there is no constitutional right to > > privacy. > > That would likely apply also to medical records. > > > > xponent > > Drift Maru > > rob > > Your medical records are private not because of the > Constitution, but because of doctor-patient > confidentiality, which is a matter of law. There > isn't anything in the Constitution on that topic. > Exactly! That's why they can be opened by a court order at any time. It is only a statutory protection, not a constitutional protection. xponent Hipaa Maru rob ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
At 06:15 PM 12/24/03, Doug Pensinger wrote: Gautam wrote: That would be the CIA agent who just posed in Vanity Fair, Well it doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of difference at this point does it? What's whe gonna do, grow a mustache? and the Halliburton that is operating at profit margins _below_ its national average for its operations in Iraq? And if you believe that, I've got some gas for sale. Cheap, $2.64 a gallon. And people wonder why Bush is at 60%. I think, when the campaign gets into full swing and people that normally don't think about these things or have been getting all their news from the television see how they and their country are getting screwed by this administration, that those numbers will go down quickly. God, I hope so because four more years with these jokers in charge will be a disaster not only for the country, but the entire world. Well, there certainly isn't anyone on the Democratic side who can do as well, much less better (and that particularly includes Al Gore and HRC), so who do you want to see elected? -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
Gautam wrote: That would be the CIA agent who just posed in Vanity Fair, Well it doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of difference at this point does it? What's whe gonna do, grow a mustache? and the Halliburton that is operating at profit margins _below_ its national average for its operations in Iraq? And if you believe that, I've got some gas for sale. Cheap, $2.64 a gallon. And people wonder why Bush is at 60%. I think, when the campaign gets into full swing and people that normally don't think about these things or have been getting all their news from the television see how they and their country are getting screwed by this administration, that those numbers will go down quickly. God, I hope so because four more years with these jokers in charge will be a disaster not only for the country, but the entire world. -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
Robert Seeberger wrote: > > - Original Message - > From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 9:30 PM > Subject: Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite > > > At 10:12 PM 12/23/2003 EST [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >> As opposed, of course, to how well the Left policies it own. > > >> > > > > > >Is that always your answer? "You're another"? Deal with the issue > at hand: > > >Rush Limbaugh is demanding an accommodation for himself that he has > > expressly > > >insisted, loudly and without compassion or mercy, not be accorded > anyone > > else > > >who has done similar things. > > > > This is false. I know of no instance in which Rush Limbaugh has > not > > accorded anyone else the privacy of their medical records. > > I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush has repeatedly > claimed that there is no constitutional right to privacy. > That would likely apply also to medical records. Hm. What are his views on attorney-client privilege? I'd say doctor-patient privilege is just one step below that -- has he said anything in the past about doctor-patient privilege? Does anyone know? Other "privacy" rights may have less protection. Or he may think they should have less protection. Julia ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
--- Doug Pensinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Yea, and between this, the outing of the CIA agent > and Bush waggling his > finger at Halliburton we see how well the Right > polices its own. > > -- > Doug That would be the CIA agent who just posed in Vanity Fair, and the Halliburton that is operating at profit margins _below_ its national average for its operations in Iraq? And people wonder why Bush is at 60%. = Gautam Mukunda [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Freedom is not free" http://www.mukunda.blogspot.com __ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
--- Robert Seeberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush has > repeatedly > claimed that there is no constitutional right to > privacy. > That would likely apply also to medical records. > > xponent > Drift Maru > rob Your medical records are private not because of the Constitution, but because of doctor-patient confidentiality, which is a matter of law. There isn't anything in the Constitution on that topic. = Gautam Mukunda [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Freedom is not free" http://www.mukunda.blogspot.com __ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: christianism is evil, why it must be eradicated
On 24 Dec 2003, at 7:57 pm, Kevin Tarr wrote: At 01:20 PM 12/24/2003, you wrote: On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 05:23:51 -0600, Ronn!Blankenship <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: At 03:45 PM 12/23/03, Doug Pensinger wrote: Ronn! wrote: Like a toilet? Carefull now, I've been to Alabama. And not just driving through, either. Ever driven past a paper mill? Not in Alabama. There's one in Maine that you used to be able to smell from miles and miles away. Doug Rou On Jefferson Davis' Birthday, Even Doug The my first college, that town had a paper mill, but never had a smell problem. Moved to another town, with another paper mill; on a bad day you could smell it 25 miles away, easily. (That's how far I was from it.) When the '72 flood came along, the creek that runs past it was flushed out, the water was so nice looking afterwards. Then once the plant started running again the creek turned ugly, yet the company says they don't pollute. Even today they fight the state environmental people. The paper mills don't smell bad here, but the chicken processing plant stinks when we drive past it (it's on the other side of town). Of course thirty years ago the whole town smelled of fish... -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ "The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible." - Bertrand Russell ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: christianism is evil, why it must be eradicated
At 01:20 PM 12/24/2003, you wrote: On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 05:23:51 -0600, Ronn!Blankenship <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: At 03:45 PM 12/23/03, Doug Pensinger wrote: Ronn! wrote: Like a toilet? Carefull now, I've been to Alabama. And not just driving through, either. Ever driven past a paper mill? Not in Alabama. There's one in Maine that you used to be able to smell from miles and miles away. Doug Rou On Jefferson Davis' Birthday, Even Doug The my first college, that town had a paper mill, but never had a smell problem. Moved to another town, with another paper mill; on a bad day you could smell it 25 miles away, easily. (That's how far I was from it.) When the '72 flood came along, the creek that runs past it was flushed out, the water was so nice looking afterwards. Then once the plant started running again the creek turned ugly, yet the company says they don't pollute. Even today they fight the state environmental people. Now I live ten miles from two chocolate making towns. Can't smell it at my house, but it's a nice treat when you're on a bike ride, to hit a pocket of chocolate vapor. Kevin T. - VRWC Coming to a store near you ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Christmas greetings
At 07:14 AM 12/24/2003, you wrote: I just got back from a short holiday before Christmas to find 300 Brin messages waiting for me (not to mention another 400+ others). I'll catch up in a few days. In the morning, Maree and I will be going to Melbourne to have Christmas lunch with her family, and then to the other side of town to have dinner with my folks. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas, Ray Ludenia. PS: I know I'm an hour early, but my connection is about to be broken. Aye, the same here. Went to work expecting a ten hour day, got a gift from the boss letting everyone out four hours early. (Still have to work Dec 26 grumble). Called the garage, my truck is driveable but not finished, so I can use it to get a fridge and return it Friday. This repair bill will be very high. Went to other job to see if they needed help, since I can use the money, but they were fine. I've heard horror stories about three lines with 20+ customers in each. I got there and no one was in the store. Must have been the rain. Came home to get truck and change clothes for the drive north. And burn a CD while I'm at it. So happy holidays. Kevin Tarr ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
BallDroppings
http://www.jtnimoy.com/itp/balldroppings/ For Mac OS X or Windows, "BallDroppings is a noisy play-toy. It can also be seen as an emergence game. Balls fall from the top of the screen and bounce off the lines you are drawing with the mouse. The balls make a percussive and melodic sound, whose pitch depends on how fast the ball is moving when it hits the line." -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ "It is our belief, however, that serious professional users will run out of things they can do with UNIX." - Ken Olsen, President of DEC, 1984. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Notes on Uplift
Trent Shipley wrote: > >> My estimate includes all five. Of course, as in Drake's equation, >> each factor has an error from 10% to 900% :-) >> * about 10 planets per race * about 200,000 races > > Alberto, as I recall Drake's Equation has no factor for > "Planets Fallow by order of the GIM." > ??? What I said is that the factors I get for Uplift have error bars similar to Drake's equation's terms: they can be 1/10 to 10 times the guesstimate. > Are you proposing there 2M habitable planets, some of > which are Fallow or that there are, perhaps, 6M habitable > planets 2M of which are *not* Fallow? > No. I propose that there are 2M planets _with_ galactic civilization settled on them. But they could be 20M or 200k. > Have you made any allowance for an increase in the number > of habitable planets due to terraforming? (Do you need to?) > No, because I suppose that this is a small factor in the last, say, 500 My. Stars come and go, planets come and go. The terraforming of planets should probably just keep the number of planets in a stable number. BTW, I also guess that there are about 10 fallow planets for each settled planet, based on the data that a planet is usually leased for 100ky, and it is let fallow for a minimum of 500ky [usually more]. > >>> If we want 1MY mean life-spans, then 11% clients and 5% patrons might >>> provide for interesting but not grossly inequitble politics consistent >>> with existing sources on the Uplift Universe. >> >> Uh? > > I picked 11% > I got the 11%. I didn't get the "provide for interesting but not grossly inequitble politics consistent with existing sources on the Uplift Universe." > because there will be some mortality among uplift projects. > With current medical technology the replacement birthrate is > something like 2.1 births per couple. 1.1 is a convenient > (if not totally convincing) replacement rate for the > population of O-2 species > Ok, but I am not (yet) worried about this precision :-) > My other point is that if there are X uplift minors and X uplifters then > the system is egalitarian. The Uplift Universe is *VERY* fair. Even if > there are 10 uplift projects for 9 uplifters the system is still pretty > darn fair. We get what economists would call a flat wealth curve. The > implication is that there is little class warfare -- most (almost all) > races are middle class and equal. It implies that even powerful clans, > like the Soro or Thennanin are not too powerful. Democratic and > egalitarian socio-political dynamics keep them in check. > > This is bad for literature. > No - the system may be fair, but some clans might twist it a little bit. So, most of the 200k races would be egalitarian, except a small minority of powerful clans. > If there are 10 clients being uplifted then we need fewer than 10 patrons. > If there are 2 or 3 patrons per 10 clients things are ripe for revolution. > But then things would be quite unstable. Most of the lines would quickly extinguish - at the fast rate of 50% to 66% each "generation"! > 4 to 6 to 10 and things are noticibly unfair, but we can claim there is > equal opportunity. Social Darwinism is good say Dr. Pangloss. 7 or 8 and > we have some sort of dialectic between fair distribution and rewards to > cummulative advantage. > > The wealth curves that involve 4 to 8 patrons per 10 clients probably make > for good story backgrounds. > But it is _very_ unstable. I claim that the rate should be quite close to 1 client : 1 patron, so that _most_ lines would be mantained for long periods of time. This doesn't prevent a few lines to "usurp" clients from extinguished lines, and growing at the expense of others. These expansionist lines should be just a few, otherwise the system would be too unstable. Literature is saved: the famous fanatical races of the Canon are those expansionist clans, eager to expand by taking Terra's 3 unfinished races. > (These ratios assume that patrons are assigned their clients all at once, > instead of finishing a project and starting the next Still you see my > point.) > Yes - I think Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: christianism is evil, why it must be eradicated
On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 05:23:51 -0600, Ronn!Blankenship <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: At 03:45 PM 12/23/03, Doug Pensinger wrote: Ronn! wrote: Like a toilet? Carefull now, I've been to Alabama. And not just driving through, either. Ever driven past a paper mill? Not in Alabama. There's one in Maine that you used to be able to smell from miles and miles away. Doug Rou On Jefferson Davis' Birthday, Even Should I Be Embarrassed Because I Don't Know When That Is? Maru Well, no, but AFAIK it's a state holiday. We found out when we couldn't tour the capitol building that day. -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
> Rather, I am referring to the fact that Roe vs. Wade is the _original_ > "right to privacy case" in the United States. The US Supreme Court in > that case, did not find a right to abortion in that case - how could they? > - but rather found that 'the penumbra of the Constitution' contains a right > to privacy. > I believe the first "right to privacy" case was actually Griswold vs Connecticut in the 1960s, which overturned that state's law against the use of contraception. Tom Beck www.mercerjewishsingles.org "I always knew I'd see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed I'd see the last." - Dr Jerry Pournelle ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: First Mad Cow Case in U.S.
On 23 Dec 2003, at 11:34 pm, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A) Veneman did not appear to indicate any second thoughts about American cattle eating animal byproducts. B) Wonder what this will do to the US blood supply. They already exclude people from donating blood who've lived for more than a certain amount of time in England and other places that have had cases of mad cow disease. If there are any significant number of cases here, what will they do? http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1112561,00.html?=rss "The infected cow identified yesterday was a Holstein which was tested because it was a "downer", unable to walk, when it arrived at a Washington state slaughterhouse. The meat from the cow was nevertheless sent to a processing plant. Agriculture department investigators were yesterday urgently trying to track it down. Ms Veneman said that only the "muscle cuts" had been sent for processing for human consumption and there was no record of the disease being transmitted through the meat. The brain and spinal column had been sent to a "rendering facility" elsewhere, but she did not specify how it had been used. ... However, her assurances that the outbreak would be contained were questioned by public health activist, John Stauber. He called them "extremely disingenuous", and pointed out Ms Veneman was a former lobbyist for the cattle industry. "I suggest this cow is the tip of an invisible iceberg," Mr Stauber, co-author of a book about the threat of the disease, told CNN last night. "My presumption is mad cow disease is spread throughout North America at some level, but because our testing programme is so inadequate we have not identified it." He said the US livestock industry, unlike its European counterparts, continued to practise "animal cannibalism"." -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/ "It is our belief, however, that serious professional users will run out of things they can do with UNIX." - Ken Olsen, President of DEC, 1984. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Christmas greetings
In a message dated 12/24/2003 5:15:32 AM US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > In the morning, Maree and I will be going to Melbourne to have Christmas > lunch with her family, and then to the other side of town to have dinner > with my folks. May you never even think of that song with the kids. and may your trip be much shorter than eight hours. William Taylor - (Blocking that song out by mentally singing Sunrise.) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
At 10:27 PM 12/23/2003 -0800 Deborah Harrell wrote: >> "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> > Robert Seeberger wrote: > >> >I think the point Tom is riffing on is that Rush >> has repeatedly >> >claimed that there is no constitutional right to >> privacy. >> >That would likely apply also to medical records. > >> Why does arguing that there is no constitution right >> to privacy to have >> abortions or homosexual relationships at all apply >> to the execution of the >> laws of Florida regarding medical records? >> >> Or more generally, what is so inconsistent about >> saying that there is no >> right to privacy to have an abortion or a homosexual >> relationship, but that >> there is a right to privacy that protects one from a >> government's >> unreasonable search of your medical records? > > >How can you *possibly* equate sexual activity between >consenting adults to abortion? Especially since >homosexual sex has *no* chance of leading to abortion? Deborah, I have made no such equation. Rather, I am referring to the fact that Roe vs. Wade is the _original_ "right to privacy case" in the United States.The US Supreme Court in that case, did not find a right to abortion in that case - how could they? - but rather found that 'the penumbra of the Constitution' contains a right to privacy. Conservatives, of course, were immediately outraged that somehow this idea from the "penumbra" of the Constitution could somehow cast aside the central question of determining when human life begins in this case . Ever since, objection to this "right to privacy" has been a central tenet of the pro-life movement. As you might imagine, the Supreme Court did themselves no favor by invoking this same "right to privacy" from the "penumbra" in ruling all sodomy laws unconstitutional - especially in a way that appeared to indicate that they would soon be imposing homosexual marriage on the United States. Naturally, this invocation of the "right to privacy" from the "penumbra" would be simply wholly unconvincing to conservatives - indeed, it would instead be viewed as an antagonistic source of outrage. Anyhow, this "right to privacy" from the "penumbra" is very logically held by many people, including Rush Limbaugh, to be quite different from the Constitutional protections against "unreasonable search and seizure" that protect a citizen, such as Rush Limbaugh, from havin his medical records searched "unreasonably" and without "due process."* JDG * - To be clear, I have not read any of the briefs in the Florida case, and these statements should not be taken as an endorsement of Mr. Limbaugh's legal position. Rather, I am simply noting that Rush Limbaugh's arguments were predicted on the Florida prosecutors' search being "unreasonable" and not following the due process provisions of Florida State Law - and regardless of the merit of these claims, they are logically different from the "penumbra" claims of the abortion and sodomy cases. ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity." - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Christmas greetings
I just got back from a short holiday before Christmas to find 300 Brin messages waiting for me (not to mention another 400+ others). I'll catch up in a few days. In the morning, Maree and I will be going to Melbourne to have Christmas lunch with her family, and then to the other side of town to have dinner with my folks. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Christmas, Ray Ludenia. PS: I know I'm an hour early, but my connection is about to be broken. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
Well, it's nice to see that the flap over environmentalism was short-lived . . . -- Ronn! :) Professional Smart-Aleck. Do Not Attempt. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
At 12:27 AM 12/24/03, Deborah Harrell wrote: *Graphic terms warning this paragraph* And abortion is a medical procedure, so it falls under the medical records umbrella. I personally think that parts of medical records, such as injuries sustained in a physical assault or caused accident, do need to be allowable in court; however, intimate detailed accounts such as Miss Brown being sodomized by a beer bottle, or Mr. Smith having his genitals shredded by a viciously swung chainsaw, should not be made public OTOH, it might convince the court to give the SOB some of the same rather than probation . . . -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Allergies (was: Environmentalism is Evil and Must Be Destroyed)
At 09:19 PM 12/23/03, Deborah Harrell wrote: Debbi who is inoculated almost daily with cat saliva ;) Not to mention covered with cat hair . . . (Midnight is currently curled up on my lap, sitting on my left hand so I have to type one-handed.) -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: It was like watching a train wreck..
At 08:11 PM 12/23/03, Gary Nunn wrote: I couldn't look away.. I was sick tonight and was semi trapped on the couch without the remote, and The Simple Life came on TV. For those of you not familiar, that is a reality TV show that puts Hilton Hotel heiress, Paris Hilton, and Lionel Richie's daughter Nicole, on a farm to see how they survive without money or credit cards.. I hope this show was staged, I can't believe that any human could be this useless and still be breathing without a respirator. One of the classes I teach meets in one of the geology labs. Next to it is a work and storage room with two of the walls covered floor to ceiling with shelves filled with uncovered wooden boxes (each probably a little larger than a typical copy paper box) which hold specimens of various rocks and minerals. More such boxes are stacked on the floor. So when it comes to somebody being dumber than a box of rocks, I can say as someone with more than the average person's knowledge of boxes of rocks that the comparison is frequently an insult to the box of rocks . . . The Previews Were Bad Enough That I Haven't Watched The Show Maru -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: christianism is evil, why it must be eradicated
At 03:45 PM 12/23/03, Doug Pensinger wrote: Ronn! wrote: Like a toilet? Carefull now, I've been to Alabama. And not just driving through, either. Ever driven past a paper mill? Doug Rou On Jefferson Davis' Birthday, Even Should I Be Embarrassed Because I Don't Know When That Is? Maru -- Ronn! :) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ROTK: my mini review (spoilers)
> Doug Pensinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Debbi wrote: > > Debbi > > Alas, We Have No More To Look Forward To - > >Although Hidalgo Ought To Be Good! Maru ;) > There's the extended edition, anyway - over an hour > longer by all reports. Well, that's true - and a friend wondered if there was room for a sequel with Sam having to write in the Red Book -- but they'd have to flesh out skimpy appendix material to do _that_. Guess I'll just have to watch the three we have now over again a time or 5... ;) Debbi __ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/ ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rush Limbaugh is a hypocrite
On Tuesday 2003-12-23 23:27, Deborah Harrell wrote: > > How can you *possibly* equate sexual activity between > consenting adults to abortion? Especially since > homosexual sex has *no* chance of leading to abortion? With the disclaimer that I do not know JDG's personal views on the matter, homosexuality and other sexual practices are *NOT* private matters for many conservatives. At minimum they involve issues of sin and morality and at most they have grossly corossive effects on society, possibly even leading to Gibonian decay. I am pretty much a social darwinist (more cynical, disillusioned liberal than a real conservative), but used to work with people who were much more conservative than me. I once said that Clinton's effort to allow homosexuals in the military (then maybe 8 years history) was morally laudible (irrelevant, social darwinist remember) and importantly technically and fiscally responsible ... I was gently reminded that not everyone thought that letting gays in the military was noble, some people thought it morally reprehensible and a pernicious idea no matter how appealing from a fiscal or technocratic perspective. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ROTK: my mini review (spoilers)
Debbie wrote: If they'd made it clear that he'd been subtly yet dreadfully deceived by Sauron's manipulation of his palantir-viewing, his madness might have been understandable. As it was, I thought him pathetic and insane (not that I am fond of the character - but in the book it is clear that he has some very good qualities, sadly corrupted by his mistaken use of the palantir). But I liked having Pippin light the first beacon fire - that was neat! Yes, that was pretty cool. I also thought that Frodo telling Sam to bugg off on the stair worked fairly well. One more nitpick - Arwen's sacrifice of her immortality was trivialized by having her already dying b/c of Sauron; IIRC she could have sailed West anytime before marrying Aragorn. But the scene where she sees her future son was beautifully done. I had the same thought exactly. I particularly liked the cutting-back-and-forth from massive battle scenes to Sam and Frodo's lonely struggle across Mordor -- very effective. Adored the music, and even the end-title drawings. Well, after panning TTT, I think they did a good job on this one, though I was sitting too damned close to the screen - I may just have to see it again from at least far enough back so that I can see the whole oliphant at once. 8^) Debbi Alas, We Have No More To Look Forward To - Although Hidalgo Ought To Be Good! Maru ;) There's the extended edition, anyway - over an hour longer by all reports. -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
