packsaddle

I can hardly believe that I'm doing this (maybe one of those alien abduction/replacements?) but I'm going to defend Bush here. I haven't seen the movie but I have seen a few clips in the form of ads or discussions on television. Rooster and I disagree on the man and that's a fact. But I probably won't watch this film because I do NOT see it as a fair presentation of the man. In fact, I think it might be unfair to both views, Rooster's and mine. I admit that I am forming an opinion on a very thin basis. If this film was a truly serious work, carefully analyzing the man and his Presidency, I suspect that such a work would not be something that makes us laugh or react in the ways about which I'm reading. Instead this film is less informative and more entertaining, at least for those of us who would ridicule for sake of pleasure alone. If this is the case, and I admit I could be wrong, it does everyone a disservice. The breadth and depth of this tragedy deserves a more careful and serious treatment. And now, I can be released by the alien presence. Rooster7, I have to admit...you've certainly mellowed in your old age. I guess the fundamental difference between us is that I'm never certain of the truth while you seem to think you know it absolutely. I can't figure out how to reconcile those two viewpoints.

Wow, Rooster have you seen that movie? I haven't but then I rarely watch movies and I'm fairly certain it's not showing anywhere close. What little I've heard from clips, I suspect I'll pass anyway. Waste of time...and who wants to relive, even humorously, the tragedy that Bush II has been for all of us? With regard to that 'previous administration' comment, I'm glad that I can take Clinton and his predecessors off the hook for 9/11, the budget crisis, the economic meltdown, etc. It was all 'W'. We are agreed.

Welcome to the forums. I'm also not too far away. Good to have you around.

With regard to the passage from Romans, Rooster7 wrote, "Therell be a day when God will peer into the mind and heart of each man and all will be revealed. Now thats something we should fear." Rooster, you're judging yourself too harshly I think, I won't judge you harshly for your mind or heart. Or was that your estimation of everyone else? Just in case, and to set your mind at ease, I have no worry whatsoever. There. Feel better? See, the thing is, if God is omniscient, he already knows my mind and heart and peering further should be a waste of time (actually he's already wasted his time just knowing it in the first place - I am so incredibly boring!). So seeing as how I'm not getting the expected feedback, I'm fairly confident that either: 1) all is well, or 2) this is just a steaming pile of hocus pocus and isn't real anyway. Either way I'm good. But thanks for caring. P.S. You're probably good too.

Congratulations OGE! Finally, well-deserved recognition.

Something tells me a good hike with the guys might be better expressed metaphorically. Anyway, as much as I sympathize with gwd, (and here I suggest that there is a thin blue boundary layer of not "real America" around her, surrounded by a sea of red in SC) I'm not going to ride to the rescue with a white hat. I'm riding in and my hat is definitely black, OK maybe brown leather, but you get the idea. There is no way that either of these overblown egos (and I'm talking Presidential candidates here) can possibly solve the problems that we've been cultivating since Reagan and consummated with Bush II - in four short years of either candidate - or eight for that matter. Even if one of them had the intellectual ability (and Obama does) the American people don't have the fortitude or the will to pay the price for solutions. In short, we're not going to solve these problems - we're going to put band-aids on them or postpone them for our dear children. I have to mention...that I have, on many occasions, mentioned something about driving us over a cliff. I was right. You can't begin to appreciate the delight I am taking that the realization has hit right now just before this election. And not to put such a dark cloud over things, there is at least one good thing out of all this, the Bush toadies have been very quiet recently. It's a small thing but it counts. The last time we had a semblance of an energy policy was in the 1970s. We had a chance at fiscal responsibility eight years ago and we turned away. We took a look at health care and chose profit. Do you see a pattern? I could go on but what's the point? I'm with scoutldr on the costs and retirement scene, very similar situations. But we chose to have famiiies and retirement is always - ALWAYS - a fantasy that some are lucky enough to achieve. He and I may not retire. Oh well, tough luck, it's not as if retirement is some kind of entitlement. We made our decision and in spite of all that is going on, things could be worse. Heh, heh, there's a really good chance that we'll see that. In short we elected a long time ago to side with the unseen hand and market forces. We elected to place ourselves and our lives on a similar status with the goods and commodities that we demand from the same market and then....we stand in wonder that the unseen hand treats us the same way. Wow! Talk about self-deception on a massive scale. So with my black (brown) hat, I say take that hike...metaphorically speaking. Go with Ohio_Scouter's advice. Turn the source of addiction off. Enjoy a book, a visit to the museum, soup with friends, or maybe just some quality time with the family. You haven't lost a 401K, you've lost an illusion. Take heart, there may be more yet to lose. P.S. Was that just TOO negative? Sigh.

Wow, you guys were really sensitive about that 'testicle' remark. Perhaps they doth protest too much?

Interestingly, I wondered the same thing for many years but never asked her before she died. In my child's minds eye, I always envisioned what she was talking about as more of a pasture-type meadow muffin rather than actual food. But I really DO love grits. I could (and have on many occasions) eat nothing but grits for breakfast. They go great with pan-fried fish or pan-fried fish roe - for any meal (and for all of them, for that matter, YUM). It must be time for lunch, I am getting some serious hunger pangs. When I first met my wife (a Yankee) I sent her a bag of grits and a note that said, "love me, love my grits". She knew what she was getting into.

Rainey Mountain is one of my favorites although it is small. Too bad about Daniel Boone, that would have been the best choice. One more to consider is Camp Old Indian. If you can get in during June it's still not too hot. No farther to drive than Rainey Mountain. I think they still have openings but you need to check. Edited part: Oops, just realized where you're coming from. COI is about 50 miles farther than Rainey Mountain.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

I see his post as a respectful goodbye. Good luck to you, Pappy.

Hi perdidochas, welcome to the forums. I'm guessing you are from the Perdido Key area? I'm in to my 6th decade of living my entire life in the South. And I guess I'm the guilty party for getting some of the statistics out on regional differences. My motives are not to bash the South for no reason. Rather they are to wake people, especially Southerners, up to the grim facts. If you know where I have been factually incorrect, I'd sure like to get it right so let me know about it. Otherwise, facts are facts.

Now just in case the moderators are thinking about me in less than generous terms right now, while I'm fine with letting this 'dialogue' continue on its own 'merits', it is clear that decorum is pretty much gone. If everyone will just stop responding, this thread will die of its own accord. My grandmother liked to say, "The more you stir a turd, the more it stinks." This sort of applies just now. Alternatively, someone could revive it by actually discussing the topic.

Beavah, that would be oatmeal with raisins, please.

Hi Liz, I see you've discovered some of Gold Winger's more endearing characteristics. I have to admit, for a while I was hoping to become the official forum curmudgeon and I think I was giving Beavah a run for the money but when Gold Winger came along I quickly saw I had no chance, outclassed...there was no contest. Just put on your thickest skin, maintain a sense of humor, and try to recognize the good stuff when it comes along.

Rooster, no one knows what he/she will do until presented with that situation. You might be correct that you would resort to some particular kind of behavior but you can't be certain of it until you are presented with the choice. What we do know for sure is that this President made the choice. And then he lied. They kind of go together don't they?

I agree with Beavah and Gold Winger. This particular law is there for moral and practical reasons. Torture isn't required by us, we consider it morally reprehensible if done to us and that cuts both ways. And it invites more of just the kind of acts we want not to happen, not to mention that it doesn't produce reliable results. There is a comparison here as well. Torture a suspect and under that kind of duress he will say anything to make it stop, even if he knows nothing. But a President is under no such duress. He can choose to be honest or to lie. If he has done something he knows is wrong, there is no pressure other than politics or threat of punishment, to lie. We don't know what Bush was thinking when he authorized torture. It may indeed be a decision filled with emotional forces. I suspect it took little effort, on the other hand, for him to decide to lie about it. Probably one of his easiest decisions.

As if anyone should be surprised..."The United States does not torture. It's against our laws, and it's against our values. I have not authorized it -- and I will not authorize it." George W. Bush http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101403331_pf.html I hope the next President will open the files for all to see.

When I read the words Florida and 'tree weed' this is the first thing that came to mind. Is this the one? If so, hack the heck out of it and make as many staves as possible, it's a really noxious invasive. Be nice if someone could make some money off it somehow, maybe the demand would knock it back. http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/images/melqui/melqui5.jpg http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/node/264

SSScout's version of 'truth to power' is indeed a better rendition than mine. Merlyn, when I went to Scouter_Terry's web site, even I was shocked at the number and intensity of the negative things that had already popped up. When I listened to the voices I realized that metaphorically speaking, and sadly, these were voices I grew up with, and some of whom I still have as neighbors. I can only hope that allowing them to vent in that manner will perhaps keep them from doing anything more tangible.

I had been told that Pacific madrone was the best wood for a hiking staff and I picked some up on travel. It is beautiful and strong, but it's really hard and doesn't carve well. I also like the cherry, as AnniePoo says. Hickory is really heavy and it is terrible for carving IMHO. But I do like some of the softer woods like lodgepole pine, douglas fir, redwood. Right now I have discovered that sweetgum is really lightweight when dry and, for its weight, one of the strongest staffs I have ever seen. And it's almost worthless for anything else. If it carves well, I'm going to take it very seriously.

Welcome to the forums! Sparta, Wow! My family had a place not far from Laurel Springs. So the river in your moniker must be the New River, just a guess. I was cubmaster for years before I moved on to boy scouts. I loved the cubs and I'd go back if they needed me. Live it up. And remember, the boys are easy. The adults are another story.

Oops, I see that SC has risen to #2 one year later, just behind NV which also seems to have found something they do really well. Alaska is down to 14. NH is still the safest for women followed by IL. Hey, SC is near the top in something besides STDs, obesity, and neo-con(federate) flags. Nice! Here's the newer document just released last month: http://www.sccadvasa.org/articles/140.pdf Top 10 still dominated by the South. We may beat hell out of women but we sure are protective of chickens and dogs (thanks GWD, you confirmed my suspicion that the legislators, of course, have done nothing).

As ChiefThundercloud says, mostly we let imagination take its toll. In this part of the country we have different woods available compared to the far north. The wood will give you vastly different options for carving and I've tried a large variety of wood. I try to carve a new staff each year and I have a couple I've been working on for a long time. I'm just a beginner but the boys really like to watch and offer ideas, some of them are great ideas too. I picked up some nice carving tools from Highland Hardware in Atlanta as a father's day gift to get started: http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp but there are many other sources for tools. And you can get ideas for designs in books on the subject or even online. Just search around for woodcarving designs. Just don't go cheap on tools and remember that they are really, really sharp. They cut through flesh as if it isn't there if you slip. I jammed a gouge across the end of my thumb and up under my thumbnail last summer. At least it was a really clean wound. The boys were impressed by that too. Be careful.

It means willingness to communicate the most honest, objective truth that you can supply to someone with great power, who probably has extremely strong interest in what you think the truth is. The highest I've ever done this for is briefing a few Army Generals (1-2 stars) on different occasions. Some people would be tempted to sugar-coat or 'bend' the truth for a variety of reasons, sometimes related to lack of confidence and sometimes self-deception. As a scientist, the greatest temptation is to express it in terms of uncertainty. Power needs to make hard decisions and power is not helped by deception of any kind, even if the news is bad. Power simply needs to have the best information available. Edited part: Answer to other question on whether Powell will make a difference - I think he could make a difference in some of the states where Obama has a marginal lead right now. I think he took a huge step toward trying to rebuild his stature with the public. He is an honorable man.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Wow, Beavah! Except for the accent THAT was beautiful! ScoutMomSD, I hate to poke a pin in your balloon. Nope, I actually enjoy it. If you peek under the surface, you'll find that in my area at least, there's a whole lot of domestic violence...more than most parts of the country. And in South Carolina a couple of years ago, there was a political embarrassment that the legislature had revised two laws, giving cockfighting and domestic violence stiffer penalties (they had both been misdemeanors in the past). They ended up passing the new protection for chickens (felony, up to 5 years in prison) and tabled (thus killing) the domestic violence bill (which stayed misdemeanor at 30 days max). The legilature was overwhelmingly male. I thoroughly enjoyed this site: http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2005/04/south-carolina-legislators-sexist.html I'm not certain if they've gotten around to protecting women yet...perhaps Gwd_scouter can tell us. Anyway,from the Violence Policy Center, SC, LA, GA, MS, TX, and TN were all in the top ten for the rate of murder of women by men. The fact that AK (number 1), AZ, NM, and NV rounded out the list indicates that perhaps it isn't strictly a Southern thing. But the top 20 brought in the rest of the South. A woman was least likely to be killed by a male in NH and SD. Florida wasn't ranked because of lack of data. Here's the source: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2005.pdf So while Rhett Butler might cut a dashing figure, there's a good chance he's really a jerk. And next time you're in a bar, if the jukebox only takes Confederate money, be careful. Very, very, careful.