Hipwrddude

I think that qualifies for "cruel and unusual punishment." You're always the starter in your own life!

Divine intervention is that moment when the hand of God holds back the forces of fate in direct contradiction to the laws of physics, eyewitness accounts and the expectations of medical professionals. You're always the starter in your own life!

Hi Mark, While Loan (pronounced Lo-Ann) had titles to his authority, no individual can act as a tribunal under the Geneva Convention of 1949. This distinction is quite clear in both international and U.S. law. You're always the starter in your own life!

Ha, ha, ha. Thank you Happythoughts for throwing some embers on the fire. First off, I am still correct--you are not referencing the Geneva Accords which are considered international law. What your reference reflects is the phrase used in a controversial 1942 Supreme Court ruling that denied regular criminal trials to German saboteurs. The scope of that reference strictly confines itself to the U.S. Here, if you want to read more: http://fair.org/extra/0203/guantanamo-prisoners-rumsfeld.html The rest of the world, some of which are signatories to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 to mitigate the destruction of war, uphold the concepts set forth in that document. I am no expert on this matter. Back in '85 I had an extraordinary professor who shook me up in a "Law of Land Warfare," class at Temple U. I had just gotten out of the Marines after some experiences that made me re-think the value of human life. You're always the starter in your own life!

Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 prohibits the abuse or murder of POWs. Here is the passage that would govern the conduct of Col. Loan: "(d) the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples." So there it is, did Col. Loan commit a war crime? Yes. Was he ever prosecuted for it? No. What percentage of war criminals are actually prosecuted for committing war crimes? Perhaps less then 1/10th of 1%. You're always the starter in your own life!

In March, 1966, Premiere Nguyen Cao Ky dismissed Gen. Nguyen Chanh Thi to both gain control over central South Vietnam and for sympathizing with the Buddhists against Ky. When protests erupted in Danang in May, he sent Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Loan to lead government forces in slaying hundreds of soldiers loyal to Thi and more then a hundred civilians who had taken refuge in Buddhist temples. The internecine fighting so incensed the U.S. Marine commander at Danang, that he sent 6 jets aloft to prevent Ky's air force from rocketing what remained of the resistance. When a Buddhist uprising in Hue city threatened to destabilize the government, Ky once again sent Loan in to do the dirty work. On Feb. 1, 1968, thousands of Vietcong had penetrated Saigon on the third day of the Communist Tet offensive. Earlier that day of the Eddie Adams photograph, a Vietcong Captain had been captured after killing innocent civilians. The Commander of the National Police, Colonel Loan ordered the captured Vietcong be brought to his position for all the media to see. With a camera rolling, he removed a revolver from his vest and fired one round point blank into the captive's head. It was later reported that the Vietcong had killed the Colonel's family. You're always the starter in your own life!

Thanks for the update. Buddies and I hike and camp in Catoctin. I'd hate to wake the President with all our laughin', drinkin and fightin.' You're always the starter in your own life!

I like my Rio Kharma. 20 gb, works like a charm. I even transferred audio books and adult stories... oops! I mean audio books and more audio books and plenty of music. That stuff you heard a second ago, word salad. My Kharma is small, sounds crystal clear through Sennheiser earphones, easy to learn, operate, connect and update. Check it out, pick it up, look around, start it up. Hear it loud, listen low, crank it up, hear it blow! Move about, bank and turn, twist around, spin and burn. Okay, you can give it back now thank you. You're always the starter in your own life!

Stop with that truth. What are you trying to do? Turn the lights on in the place? Yea, so one's online persona may be more of the real them then normally revealed, but why'd you have to blow the lid off that secret? Now the whole wide world's gonna know. Dag gum it. Now I gotta go somewhere else to reveal the "real" me 'cause you just blew my cover! (Walks away, blanket in tow.) You're always the starter in your own life!

Bravo! You're always the starter in your own life!

Sounds like you need some lovin'! You're always the starter in your own life!

Bravo! You're always the starter in your own life!

On radio station WMMR here in the Philly area a caller said they saw Vince Neil with his new band and the dude's up to like 300lbs! You're always the starter in your own life!

We did it! Look, SpongeBob says I'm #1! You're always the starter in your own life!

I guess one would hump when one jumps a giant SpongeBob... hmmm.. well, it's not like it's a real person or anything.. I mean, there's no reciprocation either ... No exchange of body fluids... Just a meaningless fling. When humping and jumping a giant SpongeBob Squarepants, could that be like the Doublemint effect (2 for 1)? Hell, why not! I'm in! You're always the starter in your own life!

Three cheers for Gyros! (or is it pronounced Geer-Os?) Whatever the hell it is and however the hell you pronounce it, that shit tastes good man, -specially after a 12-pack! And when it comes back up, you get to savor the flavor a second time! Yumm! 'scuse me (burp.) You're always the starter in your own life!

It twas a sad day for little Johnny when he discovered the truth... You're always the starter in your own life!

Who wants to hump a giant SpongeBob? You're always the starter in your own life!

After the fall of communism, a comparison of defense budgets revealed that America spent more on defense relative to a "perceived" threat, while Russia's defense spending remained constant based on their perception of an "actual" threat to balance their economy. In other words, U.S. defense spending bounced around when scared. The perception in most every conflict is that "troops are spread too thin." The issue coming to fore are the upcoming elections to form the "official" Iraqi government. Troops are spread too thin for that--there's a very real fear the Iraqi govt. could be destabilized during this transition. In terms of global security, our two-front strategy as well as our status as being the "world's police force" backed us into that corner. The draft terrifies politicians and citizens. During the Vietnam war politicians routinely sought deferments or preferential assignments for their children. The priviledged class always finds a way to save their young. The largest anti-war riots occurred prior to the Civil War and World War I. Should everyone serve? No. Why? It would be an unnecessary and absurd drain on our economy. Each and every American already owes over $25,000 to the national debt!!! Our next crisis isn't terrorism, it will be the lack of social security due to our failure of fiscal restraint! I served. Everyone who pays taxes and is a lawful citizen also serves the nation. I think the highest service one can give to their country is one towards helping others and peace. Don't attack liberals. They gave you social security, welfare, desegregation, FMLA to keep your job when you or a loved one is ill, No Child Left Behind, etc., etc. Liberals simply prefer examining peaceful options before war. Conservatives would rather kill them all and let God sort 'em out. From what I gather, when it comes to terrorists, the only solution is: until you can find and destroy the sources that fund terrorism, you must use terror against the terrorists. In Jessica Stern's "Terror in the Name of God," she points out that terrorist organizations recruit the disenfranchised to commit (self) destruction for the furtherment of their organization both politically and economically. This may strike some as surprising, but the FBI didn't kill the mob. Big business (accounting regulations) killed the mob in Vegas. The FBI mopped up. The same is true for most forms of organized terrorism. We need to dry up the mosquito pits--their sources for $$. If it takes getting medieval on 'em, then that's what civilized society must do. You're always the starter in your own life!

What’s “The purpose of your life?” That converges with the eternal question, “What is the meaning of life.” In Zen philosophy, there is no separation between life and work. All of it is life. When you think about it, we are “let loose” to pursue our own direction depending on our personal motivations and insecurities. Our worldview and self-perception affects our journey. Our employment and those we meet and love affect the directions we take. At certain points in our life some things are more important then others. Mark Twain wrote, “To be what we are, and to be what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.” I think of a prominent psychologist who proposed that IQ was best reflected by financial success. His view was soundly trumped by the establishment which recognized the power of other motivators. IQ is also reflected in creativity, which is perhaps immeasurable. Money isn’t everything, never has been. Consider tragedy. The purpose of life undergoes drastic change then. A life purpose can change. When tragedy or depression or some other serious issue strikes, our world telescopes into that issue. It’s as if suddenly we are drowning in that problem, looking out from that portal. But, unless it affects one personally long-term, such as a physical or mental disability, life goes on. When we come out of it, our view of life can change, often with a new meaning and equipped to handle that situation better (or not.) Perhaps it’s as Abraham Maslow proposed. Maybe our life’s purpose is to achieve “Self Actualization.” Psychologist Terry Bradshaw (Inner Child) once said that married couples are “caretakers of each other’s solitude.” What most don’t realize is that the greatest accomplishment of the 20th century was not technology; it was the elevation of human dignity. In the latter part of the 20th century humanity began to improve child rearing and not transmit violence through beatings; that racial harmony was essential to being a people, that human rights for everyone must be recognized and that self-expression (religion, politics, etc.) must be permitted for us to seek enlightenment and accept differences. Despite those accomplishments, 160 million people were killed in wars in the 20th century--the most violent century of humanity. Maybe our purpose in life can be defined as: to form our identities; to find ourselves; to find love and create love in those we enjoin and those we meet; to be good and promote that which is good and in turn promote harmony in the world. So, what is the purpose my life? I guess it’s really the same as yours and everyone else’s. The purpose my life is … to live it. I guess that’s the greatest reason why we’re born.

Here's my contribution to the world. To those who have yet to have kids, they're amazing.. and how they make you feel, amazing. You're always the starter in your own life!

Awesome! Did you notice he was doing Tony Manero's (John Travolta) dance routine from Saturday Night Fever? You're always the starter in your own life!

I don't mean to say that humans run alongside big butts, I'm saying that scientists believe humans got big butts from running... or at least it evolved that way and that we're built for running: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6514089/ You're always the starter in your own life!

Hopefully this is of value and there's still a window of opportunity. Typically there's a formal process for investigating conduct issues which includes gathering statements. Hopefully you have a grievance procedure too. If you can pull a manager aside and tell them what's up, it can take the issue off the formal track and put it in a file with just a write-up explaining everything. If you write a statement, be slow and compose every thought (sit on your hands.) Don't allow something to construed differently then what you intended. Be lucid, use simple words. If your friend loses their job and it goes to grievance, now parts of management gravitate to what they think is right and battle lines are drawn. Years ago I helped a friend get his job back (he was out 3 months, reinstated with full back pay.) A few in management didn't like me. Then I got into management. Make a stand. I probably said that too late. So, take it light! You're always the starter in your own life!

Check out the video clip entitled "Machine Gun." http://www.craigshoemaker.com/ Broadband connection recommended. "A Women's World" was most entertaining too. You're always the starter in your own life!