Douva

From what I understand, the changes we're seeing in American news media happened several years ago in Europe--News outlets started having to compete for business, so they started leading with sensationalized celebrity news because gossip attracts a wider audience than hard news. It's my understanding that the problem is two-fold. First, there is considerably more competition among news outlets--cable news, Internet, etc. Second, network news is now expected to turn an advertising profit; whereas, it used to be considered a lost leader. As I type this, Jon Stewart is making fun of the situation on The Daily Show. "CNN at one point going ninety minutes without a commercial, making the death of Anna Nicole Smith a more significant news event than a State of the Union address and slightly less than 9/11." This is a great segment. At one point they just start showing unrelated footage of scantily clad women in another window. I'm cracking up. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Is that why he needs a scoped carbine to bring down an elderly man from a distance he managed to walk in about 12 seconds? That's his pinnacle? t Nah, I'm sure that was a creative decision based on the look of the gun. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

http://www.thedeadarmadillo.com I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Because you're one chromosome away from being sued by Velcro USA Inc. for patent infringement. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Oh, did you end up doing it yourself? I'm sorry I couldn't get it to you sooner, but I've been swamped. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

WHY are you taking your rig to Vegas? Seriously. Skydive Mesquite February Sweet heart boogie 15.00 boogie fee Make 5 jumps and your 6th jump that weekend is free Free beer all evenings Food on Saturday Evening Rooms at the Virgin River. Group number: 35412 This is why You should come, it's not too late to get a ticket, and you can bunk with me, Jason and Jenn. But aren't you all going to Vegas for the 21st birthday of a woman who doesn't jump? Please tell me you're not going to make poor Whitney sit around the drop zone reading a book ON HER OWN BIRTHDAY TRIP! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

It is a dream you know. And besides those online colleges don't stress writing skills so much. It's okay, Josh. From now on just forward your dreams to me, and I'll proof them for grammar and punctuation. I'm always willing to lend my services to the literarily challenged. Of course, my turnaround time may be a little slower than usual because goodnplentygirl has me writing college essays for her. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Am I the only one who wants to scream, "PAST PARTICIPLE!" every time I read this thread title? I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Growing up, my best friend's dad was an entymologist who taught at Texas Tech University. Once a year, he'd prepare a meal of insect based dishes for his students. He'd make boiled mealworms, mealworm pizza, chocolate covered crickets, and cricket cookies. My friend and I would always get to sample the dishes. Everything was pretty good, except for the boiled mealworms by themselves. They were a little bitter but mostly flavorless. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

WHY are you taking your rig to Vegas? Seriously. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Thanks, everyone!

Happy birthday, Alana! You have such a cool birthday. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I almost placed a bid, but now that I'm not at the drop zone very often, I really don't know where I'd wear some of those items. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Okay, just to so we're clear, the position of this boycott is that February 14 should be just another day of the year, right? That works great for me--I've been wanting to reclaim my birthday (February 14) for years. I don't so much mind the idea of being alone on Valentine's Day, and I don't so much mind the idea of being alone on my birthday, but being alone on both at once kind of sucks. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

That's the way to insist on a little quid pro quo, cocheese! I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

You ladies might have thought you could slip this thread by us, but the men of DZ.com are still on strike. QuoteDoes anybody else have a problem with this thread? The men here can't get the women to post pictures of their tan lines, much less anything more revealing, without throwing out offers of free jump tickets, etc; yet all it takes is the mere suggestion that some woman might like to see your twig and berries to suddenly make half of you guys dig out the ol' trouser snake for a photo shoot. SLUTS--all of you! Did any of you exhibitionists even consider the possibility of negotiating a little quid pro quo? No, you were all so excited that somebody with a vagina might actually be interested in seeing your purple headed yogurt slinger that you let Pedro out of his cage without even asking, "What's in it for us?" Shame on you all! I, for one, am keeping my bishop under wraps until I see some cash, prizes, and/or photo reciprocity on the table. Good day, sirs. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I'm with wildcard451. Lighten up, people. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Quote some hippie "let's cure everyone" bullshit all you want......welcome to the real world. Medicine is a business sweetheart. I expect to get paid for what I do. Granted, it's only 15% worth of what I actually bill, but hell, it's a living. If you had any clue, you'd shut the fuck up and walk away. I know that when I'm looking for a doctor, I always try to find one who refers to the Hippocratic Oath as "hippy bullshit." I try equally hard to find a doctor whose debating style involves referring to his opponent as a "little bitch" and telling him to "shut the fuck up"--preferably a doctor who will quickly reach such an inarticulate state when debating a guy who graduated high school through the mail. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

I don't need a new asshole while we have you around. You're right, utilities, bills, childcare all come first. Bravo for realizing that I applaud that responsibility. I am not going to tell anyone what they can or can not do with their recreational time. However, don't come crying to those of us who pay for our insurance to help you out when you fuck yourself up. At that point, suck it up cupcake. You made your bed, now sleep in it. If you want to keep being a little bitch and veiling a personal attack at me then go right ahead. I don't give a fuck how out of touch you think I am with reality. I know what I see every day, and quite frankly, you have no fucking clue. Where did I suggest anyone "come crying to those of us who pay for our insurance?" For someone pursuing a career usually associated with compassion for one's fellow man, you seem awfully concerned you might be asked to save the life of someone who doesn't have the cash to pay for your services. "I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.....I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm." --Excerpt from the modern Hippocratic Oath, as penned by Louis Lasagna, former Dean of Tufts Medical School. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

You're right, skyshrink, I jumped to the wrong conclusion about wildcard451. My assumptions about his financial situation were completely unfounded. I assumed, from his comments, that he is much further along in his medical career than he obviously is. But if you look at wildcard451's response to my first post in this thread, you'll see that he seriously overreacted to my suggestion that being unable to afford health insurance is neither a death sentence nor financial suicide, and he made a very unflattering and unfounded attempt to characterize me as a deadbeat who believes people should shirk their financial obligations in favor of more enjoyable pursuits. So, although the cause may not be his financial situation, he is, for one reason or another, definitely out of touch with reality. His comments were out of line, and he deserved a new asshole. And for the record, I never pointed my finger at him for making a good living; I pointed my finger at him for accusing people who don't make a good living of shirking their responsibility by not paying for health insurance. I'm not arguing the "haves" against the "have-nots;" I'm arguing to make the "haves" understand the plight of the "have-nots." For people who are truly, perpetually, indefinitely poor--meaning they won't ever be graduating from anything and getting better jobs that will allow them to pay off their debts--sometimes utility bills and childcare and things like that take precedence over health insurance premiums. It's a fact of life. And I'm not going to tell those people what they can and can't do with their recreational time, simply because I can afford health insurance and they can't. Maybe jumping out of an airplane once every couple of months is the only thing keeping them sane. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Creative edditing is fun . . . I used to think that sort of thing was all creative editing until I worked auditions for a reality TV show. After a whole day of interviews, I believe only one woman correctly answered the question about how many states are in the United States of America. To paraphrase Jeff Foxworthy, we're as smart as anyone else; we just can't keep the most ignorant amongst us off the television. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

Always remember, Jeff, no matter how old you get, that's my age plus six. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

As I keep telling everyone, "There are empty bags and white powders in life. Deal with it." Every time I see that a freeway was shut down because someone's jacket blew out of their car and landed on the side of the road or that an office building was evacuated because someone spilled coffee creamer in the copy room, a little part of me hopes that whoever initiated the panic is gang raped by water buffalo. Somebody needs to congratulate the terrorists because they've succeeded in getting our nation to live in fear. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

If you want to rent a car, Enterprise will rent to you, and I don't think they tack on any ridiculous fees like the other rental places do when you're under 25. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

One day is all I care to expend on this discussion, anyway. My well-insured ass spent the day surfing (on water, not the kind I normally do), and I'm sunburned, sore, and about to pass out. I'm not spending anymore of my vacation in a heated debate. Any writing I do tomorrow will be the creative kind. I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.