Michele

Typhoid is certainly painful, and not quick like a heart attack. I dunno if he has died...as someone said above, DNA or bust... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy New Year to you, too!!! May your life be filled with more blessings than troubles, and may your smiles exceed your frowns. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You're all better than me...I can only count to 20, and that takes 5 hours at least. Sigh. I think Al-g'ebra needs to be annihilated. Ciels- Michele Edited to add: It was just pointed out to me (via pm) that I can count to 22 if I look down...considering that thought never occurred to me, no wonder it takes 5 hours! ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, the decline (and subsequent dissolution of) the Ottoman empire was the reason the ME was basically carved up and handed out to the indigenous people. Don't forget, though, that the Ottoman Empire was in existence from 1300-1924ish...and by the time WW1 was over, the Empire was well and truly done for. The decline is often thought of as the period between 1700-mid 1800s. Here is some interesting reading about the Ottoman Empire from Wikipedia (but be cautioned that I don't know if all the facts contained therein are true...upon the briefest glance, it seems to be). As all political issues, this is a dicey, difficult one to address. Because even though the OT Empire was in existence, it was already loosing traction by the 1900s, and the indigenous people were tribal and already "staking claims" to places, seeing the forest for the trees. Because of that, in the post WW1 era and in the redistribution of the ME was not terribly accurate (in following the historically "original" lands) but rather were given to those with some sort of claim, stake, or tribal power to the land. That's the primary issue we are dealing with now, too... Don't know the solution; I can promise that much redistribution now will lead only to major fighting, so partition isn't quite the answer to Iraq. Hopefully, any sort of bicameral, tri-branched government will work effectively enough so as to be able to get all people at least partly satisfied that representation and wealth is properly distributed, and that the rest can come over time and with effort from the constitutional government. It's definitely a very interesting time...and a tough, tough problem to solve. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, we turned out to be a damned wonderful entity, but it took two tries. The first failed miserably. The second time, involving the Constitutional Congress, actually created the system we have now. Took some doing, that did, with lots of compromises, effort, work, and trial and error - and we still ended up with a civil war about 70 years after that took effect. Once that was done, and the issues relatively settled, we were able to become the incredible nation we are today. So no, I'm not saying we didn't turn out to be a viable entity; I'm saying it took several tries, and a horrific war to become what we are today. If you weren't aware of the confederacy, I'd suggest you do some more research on the origins of this country's Constitution and Bill of Rights. Dunno about partition in Iraq (and even less about partition of Sudan and Darfur). I'd think that history - again, in the form of the US Civil War - might bring some lessons to the table that might not need to be repeated elsewhere. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Jimmy T! I agree with some points, and disagree with others. That which I agree with is that there was some indication that something was going to happen, and it might involve airplanes. However, the machinery of justice moves ever so slowly... The WH did know that there were reports of suspicious people asking unusual questions in various flight schools. The problem with that, though, is asking suspicious questions is not a crime. If it were, my anatomy professor would've had me arrested...I asked him if we were going to see an autopsy, and he said no. To someone, that might've been a suspicious question...to me, it's a normal question, and the professor treated it as such. So then we end up with what to do with "suspicious" information...if there's nothing to act on, the feds can't act. Even if someone is here illegally, the constitution protects them from unreasonable S&S, and that tends to tie the hands of the investigative organizations if there's nothing to induce probable cause. Probable cause didn't really exist at this point (just as there's no pc to arrest me re: the autopsy question), and so while ears were perked and attention given, there wasn't real, actionable pc to give to a judge to get a warrant for S&S (recall the 20th hijacker's arrest, and the court denying the feds the ability to search his computer...no pc...). So all the WH could do was wait and see what was coming down the pipe. Sucked that it was as bad as it was...but they really didn't have any other option. Well, why not have another option? We have one now, but the previous administrations treated terrorism as a law enforcement issue, and that accords the suspect all the same rights as a "regular" criminal. Because of that, we had a route to follow; unfortunately, the route we followed (because of established protocol) allowed the attack to occur. We've tried to change that, but lots of people object to the way we've changed it. The Patriot Act was the original attempt, and some of the clauses of the PA are now being challenged in a courtroom (and rightly so; that's the place for the challenge). Some might be found unconstitutional, and then struck from the PA. Some might be upheld, and thus more firmly implemented. Thus the difficulty in how to act on information gleaned prior to a possible attack; it's the same as any other conspiracy to commit a crime. PC must be had before a S&S can occur, and suspicious questions do not meet that level. Again, if it did, I'd likely have been arrested because I want to see (another) autopsy... Fucking tough situation, to be sure. The constitution does not clearly state what to do with this problem, and it's further complicated by the Feds v. the States differences in law enforcement. The only solution is to treat this threat in the future as a different situation than a typical crime. But how to do that while upholding the constitutional rights promised in both the constitution and the bill of rights. I'm glad I don't have to balance that one on the edge of a sword, you know? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Sounds an awful lot like the origination of the US - a confederacy. I wonder if it will work better for them then it did for us... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

My father is my cornerstone. No matter what I do, he's right there in my corner, cheering me on (even if he thinks I'm doing something he wouldn't ever consider, like skydiving). He's smart, gave me a strong work ethic, a stubborness which has served me well, and a great understanding of human beings and how to love even when it's not easy to do. His strength and comfort have lifted me over some incredibly difficult times, and I've never doubted his love and his friendship. And as he aged and I aged, we have become the best friends possible. We can talk about anything under the sun; the mutual respect is giant, the trust untouchable, and the love enormous. My father is my best friend...while still being my father. How blessed I am. How blessed indeed. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I think that's funny, in a groaning sort of way. I also found the OP photo funny inasmuch as you can't see who people are. I take photos all the time, and one of the things which is important when shooting a person is to be able to see them. I hope it was a digital shot; otherwise, someone wasted some film and money in developing it. Darius, relax. People aren't laughing at the muslim aspect of it...every time someone says something about muslim/islam it's not a personal attack, nor a personal affront to the religion. It's funny, that's all. It's not ignorance, it's not bigotry...it's simply humor (in this shot). Same as the jewish tires joke...I know some folks like that, and that's what makes it funny. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Fair comparison. My only difficulty with it is the fact that we (the US and Western cultures) are constantly being told that radical fundamentalist islamic people are not the majority...if one allows that claim to stand, then your comparison fails. But see, I agree with you. There is a majority of radical muslims in some countries. Because of that, I'll agree with your comparison, and say that some are frightened and indeed intimidated by a more vocal, violent majority. That I can agree with in a general sense. We often see Micro criticizing the Catholic Church, we have seen Darius on occasion criticizing the violence of the fundamentals (although often that's not the case), Falxori does indeed criticize the Israeli government. Can't say much for John R or Windcatcher, though. The difference, I believe, lays in a free society. We in most western cultures are free to express ourselves without too much fear of violent recriminations; that is not the same in a muslim based society, where if you don't spout the party line, you're stoned, ostracized, or put to death. Problem, that. Don't you think? There very well may be some people in those muslim countries who disagree with the fundamentalist islamic interpretation, but cannot speak out because they will be killed. Ciels- Michele Ciels- Same basic dynamic. ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Why yes, yes we are. And Kris2extreme, I hear ya, and I promise I'll stick it out. Gonna be a rough road, but hey, it'll smooth out or I'll have vertebral damage. Either way, I'll graduate. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Muenkel said: Hey. Kiss my ample ass...just trying a little Michele-whomp on ya. Is it working? (Love ya, you know that. I'm neglecting everyone, including me...). Squeak said: It is at that. But next semester might even be heavier...we'll see when that happens, and when I get a transcript review. Funny thing, though, is I am having fun. It's hard; it's challenging. I'm dealing with emotions and pressure I remember from High School and hated then. But still, I'm having fun. You should see me playing in the labs; how many other people sing "the head bone's connected to the....NECK! bone" and gets my whole study group singing? (My professor laughed so hard at that he left the room....) or running around asking if volvox should be going in circles like that 'cause it's making me dizzy and how do I make it stop... I am having fun. And while I'm not yet living up to my own expectations, I'm still doing fine. Thanks, Squeak, for the encouragement. I'm off to 5 hours' math now...the only class I've not found a way to play and have fun with. It's just torture. I can feel my brain fizzle and sputter out. But I can manage it... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Bobbi, I'm not gonna be smart...just whacked out and exhausted. LOL! And according to the edible nuts in my pantry, I'm either a pistachio or a chocolate covered peanut. Shell said: Shell, I know it's not forever. It just feels like it. I just have to remember that it's for a specific length of time, and I can do anything as long as I know it's not forever. In the meantime, I'm MIA to people and my fuzzbutts...but everyone understands and the cats are still getting fed. That's good, you know? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Arafat, the billionaire who left his people starving? Yeah, he was all about helping the Palestinians... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That girl looks good to me! Filling out well, happy body language, and lets you take photos without killing you - yup, she's doing well. Gotta say 'tol ya!'...and good to see all is well in the land of Shadow. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

So, in addition to all the other reasons I'm nutz, I thought I'd show you all my current schedule of classes, and my schedule of study for those classes. Total units carrying: 16 Class/Study time per week Anatomy 1: 7 hours (study time: 15 hours) Biology 3: 6 1/2 hours (study time: 8 1/2 hours) Algebra: 11 1/2 hours (study time: 16 1/2 ) Poli Sci: 3 1/2 hours (study time: 3 hours) Days attending class: M (evening),T (9-1, 6-10),W (evening),Th (9-1, 7-10), Sat 8 am-5 pm (hour break for lunch...). Total hours: Class: 25 1/2 hours Study: 33 hours, approximately Current grades: Anatomy: (unknown, no tests yet) Bio: 91 (an A, but barely) Poli Sci (unknown, no tests yet) Math: 100 (an A, strong, 'cause she tosses out our worst scores on 1 quiz and 1 test...YAY Dr. Chen!!!). And now, someone has suggested that I should add a class, and carry a total of 19 units. Erm, no, thanks. Just can't do that, and still live. I already have been a missing person to my best friend (if you're reading this, I love you dearly...sorry...), and my father thinks I've died. My mother and I are trading voice mails, my brother and I haven't spoken in 2 1/2 weeks (and we talk 3-6 hours a week...), and my cats think I've abandoned them. And financial aid still has not been approved, so I'm struggling hard to even keep the lights on. Another class? Nope. Sorry. No can do, so sorry. I have to be able to sleep, do laundry, and eat sometime, right? Can't run around starving with dirty panties... Good lord. Another class?????? It would be an easy class for me (English), but still, it's an addition to my load I would not survive. And yes, to transfer to a university, grades matter a great deal, especially in the core curriculum. So I'll carry 16 units, and make it up over the winter intersession, when I'm scheduled to take Chemistry. Spring will be equally as tough, if not moreso. Sigh. Just thought I'd let you know why I'm nutz these days. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

That's a great comment, and one I was hoping to find somewhere on this thread. Yes, there are times when it's just too hard to go on. So when those come, take a break for a bit from the running and the hustle and bustle, and just rest. Rest your body, mind, and soul...and when the resting's over, get back out there and play at 100%...even if you don't really want to. Have a spectacular day...look into the sky and know that's your playground. Look into the eyes of those you see today and know they're your friends. And find a peaceful spot in your soul to retreat to when it gets a bit too rough in the world...and then come back out and play. Hugs to you. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Quite right. I see it as just another form of terrorism, you know? Sigh...bunch of churches set afire over this. Bunch of synagogues set on fire from the Israeli/Lebanon war. Seems that no holy place has any regard unless it's a Mosque. Pity, that. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Happy birthday, Liz! Hope you have a spectacular day, and that you have many many more birthdays to come. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

no shit, Jer. E coli has been found in 19 states, all from bagged spinach. One person has died, and at least 90 others have been taken very, very ill. There is a voluntary recall of spinach at the moment; I don't see any reason why one can't return a bag recently purchased. When I was at the market tonight, I noticed that there is none for sale in the produce department. Not even unbagged, spinach bunches. I'm avoiding it for the moment, until more data comes out. Ciels- Michele (BTW, Dave...Popeye only ate canned spinach, so he didn't get sick. Your hero lives!!) ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Linz is not racist, not by a long shot. Her son was shot at by a guy who was black. I'd be interested in finding out if he'd've shot at a black kid, or was just shooting at kids. Shooting at kids is a bad thing irrespective of the reason, though... For those who are mentioning the whole slave reparation thing, I'm wondering if they realize that the US didn't invent slavery; and that the US outlawed slavery within a century of it's being formed under a constitution. I wonder if those facts escape those people...I'd guess that they do. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I'm left considering the following... If I walked up to an african american friend of mine, and said "hey, Nigger!", would that be insulting irrespective of if I meant it as such? What if I walked up to an arab friend and said "hey, towel head!" Or a jew and said "hey, kike!" Or an asian and said "hey, slant eyed gook!" Does it matter if I meant it as a non-insult and/or a friendly greeting, or is it inherently insulting? Well, considering the fact that I've only done one of those, and I was 9 at the time, and it was indeed an honest mistake, I can say that yes, it's insulting whether or not I meant it to be. Belittling someone's faith by calling it an 'invisible friend' is the same principle. I was totally not surprised when opening this thread to see that I was the only non-catholic who understood Pope B's comment, and also not surprised to see the same old bullshit belittling of someone's faith. If those without faith cannot allow those with faith to be faithful in a peaceful manner, I see that as suppressive and oppressive. While it is currently de rigeur to condemn those who have faith (of whatever ilk it may be), and while it is popular to believe those who have faith as either poorly educated, superstitious, not-quite-as-smart as others, and so on, I think the opposite actually is true. Those who have faith, and who express it in a peaceful manner, have something over others who don't. They have an understanding of the numinous, the amazement at this universe and all it's inhabitants, that I find lacking in several of those who regularly post derogatory things towards those of faith. I think that the baiting of those with faith here is pretty dumb, and serves simply to demonstrate someone else's lack of something, rather than the illumination that others have. As always, prejudice exists in many forms. It is expressed here regularly against those of faith, and I find it disheartening to read/observe. And, as always, bigotry is based in an inferiority complex, and a need to feel better than or smarter than or bigger than. Nothing more than the school yard bully, only in words. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Congratulations! And iirc, you weren't sure it was going to even place, let alone win! Nicely done, oh Brewmaster. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Human rights, as far as I know, does not connote citizenship in the US as an automatically conferred right upon birth. I feel badly for those who don't have the income source they used to have, but the woman who quit wal-mart and went to work at the poultry farm demonstrates that there are Americans who are willing to take those positions vacated by rounding up criminals and deporting them. I do feel badly about the baby...to be deprived of his mother and father is a traumatic experience. Interesting to see how this plays out. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I'm not quite as sure as you that the situation is that simple. Yes, in theory, blast away if you don't care about civilian casualties. But what do you do when the enemy hides in apartment buildings? Shoots rockets from apartment building windows? Hides weaponry within those buildings? Use ambulances to not transport the dead/dying, but rather to transport weapons and military? Use hospitals in the same way? Paint red crosses on the tops of vehicles to "fool" those watching that a rescue operation is underway, when in fact they are transporting weapons, ammunitions and men to a better position behind enemy lines? And then the question is begged: are they civilians or military, if there is no uniform to distinguish them? How to tell? By the guns they carry? The place they live? Their actions? (Doesn't the GC have something on this??) Further question stems from that one: how does one classify the dead if it is known that the military does not wear uniforms, but instead deliberately dresses as civilians? Does one assume because they are not wearing military uniforms that they are NOT military? By their age? Gender? (BTW, age and gender lines have both been crossed in the suicide bombers; tends to make that less foolproof than before). Last question: who is doing the counting? The man who claimed 40 dead, but then retracted that to be only one single death? Or basing it on photographs (known to be staged and/or doctored)? Claims from the civilian population? When was the last census? How to determine a starting figure? How to accurately describe the dead numerically? See the complications? Sure, in theory, it's simple. But the reality on the ground was very complicated, and not quite so simple. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~