nanook

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Moonlighting. I never thought I'd wish for Moonlighting reruns. You have to be old enough to understand this.

I actually enjoyed Moonlighting at my youthful age. The gags were great.

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Here you go. Use the first letter of your first name and last name to get your heavy metal band name! Rock the fuck on! \m/

Mine's Insane Slaves

Forsaken Realm, baby. . .

And the evil Elves of Andaghhhh will rock you till. . .9 PM. then I have to put my daughter to bed.

Rock rock on!!!

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Here is a list of 4 stars, the lowest amount in rank of generals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_four-star_generals

Are at least half of these generals known to have the issues you describe? What about all the others not listed?

Seems strange that there were relatively few prior to about the mid-40's, and I know of most of them; then there are scads from that point on, and I know of very few of them.

During and after WWII, did becoming a general morph into something that was much easier to do? Kinda like grade inflation in which getting an A used to really mean something, whereas now not getting one pretty much means you didn't really try very hard.

My wild ass guess is the sudden increase in troop numbers for WWII and later, Structual changes within service requiring different levels of oversight, for instance, technology allows slimming down on number of actual low ranking members but not responsibility. (example, an Iowa class battleship of 70,000 tons and about 2400 Sailors in WWII being replaced by an Aegis crusier of 10000 tons and about 300 personnel which is more deadiler and cheaper to operate but requires the same rank for the skipper due to capability and responsibility).
Can't tell you if it's easier today to make that rank comparatively to previous years.

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Yeah. I took offense at this post.

Why? Are you a general? Did I mention you by name and say YOU were dragging the country into oblivion?

Look, there is absolutely no denying that there have, in fact, been some horrible generals, not only in the world, but in the US military. A number of famous ones became famous specifically because they were horrible and to deny that some were power hungry asshats who craved war (let alone a lack of diplomacy) is simply being silly.

Custer was a fucking asshole carring far more about glory than his own men. Patton. MacArthur.

I'm not about to walk on eggshells and never say a bad word about "the military" as a concept simply because somebody might take it personally when, in fact, it has absolutely zero to do with them.

Suck it up cupcake.

But by these few, you are saying that in general, most stars don't have the tools to be president:

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The problem is we have a single person position that serves multiple purposes, only one of which is national defense. A military background will only get a person so far in dealing with the other issues and in fact might give the person the completely wrong set of tools in dealing with certain issues. In the military, there is a chain of command and orders issued are to be obeyed, but that is specifically not what works when we're talking about a free country and free individuals.

You read about some bad generals. how many good generals did you read about? In fact, of all the generals that served, how many were bad? This is confirmation bias at it's best.

Here is a list of 4 stars, the lowest amount in rank of generals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_four-star_generals

Are at least half of these generals known to have the issues you describe? What about all the others not listed?

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One word answer?
NO

Look at Rhiana, the girl can't sing worth a shit....but boy is she good to look at. Ask me if i care if she can sing or not? Better yet...ask all the ladies who love her if she can sing or not?
I'll give you a hint....NO!

As shallow as i am, your average 15-25yo woman who buys music is much much much worse! Don't believe me? Watch Adelle now that she has lost weight....odds are her sales will go up.

We are human we are shallow creatures and true artists just have to deal with our shit.

I agree here. In my opinion, the music industy is as much as a product as say, an automobile. The purpose is to make money. Shallow as it seems, people generally do not want to spend money for the purpose of being PC. They just want pay for something that they want. There are many great musicians who tour that do not have a major label and will never have one as they are not marketable.

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An Agnostic successful small business owner husband or wife with a background in world travel with good common sense and military age children.

Having military age children is useless as a desirable Presidential trait if the children, being adults, actually do what they want to do rather than what some voter thinks they are obligated to do. Seriously, who would want their father or mother in their direct chain of command? It definitely has issues with fraternization, which are against da rulz.

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Diplomatic Corps.

While a General might sound good to some, to me its the opposite of what the country should be about.

The problem is we have a single person position that serves multiple purposes, only one of which is national defense. A military background will only get a person so far in dealing with the other issues and in fact might give the person the completely wrong set of tools in dealing with certain issues. In the military, there is a chain of command and orders issued are to be obeyed, but that is specifically not what works when we're talking about a free country and free individuals.

I agree with Diplomatic Corps but I disagree with the military experience as being limited as a tool. . .

"Defense" is the mission of the Armed Service, not the process. Many skills are required. Diplomatic experience comes out of serving as senior leadership has to deal with foreign govts and their differences in laws and culture. Diplomatic Corps is heavily intertwined with all branches. There is also political requirements as part of the job deals with the legislative branch as well as executive. The brass is always in the center of various laws directly and indirectly involved with Service. The Chain of Command does not always come into play as with many civilian organizations and non-military govt organizations partnerships come into play, most of which don't take orders from the senior officer. Leaders also have to deal with local, state and foreign congresses and assemblies and other lawmakers. On the whole, it all leads up to defense, but non-traditional military skills are generally the rule not a rare exception when talking about skills earned. The Service Member starts life as a civillian and retires to a civilian. He or She has learned to change leadership/followership style on the fly and is used to constant change in mission, theory, process, style of leadership, amount of control, type of governance, when to follow. ect. In short, he is conditioned to quit the Military mindset immediately and also pick it back up.

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Skybytch's son's graduation, pilot's license

Wow. You remember that? That was, like, ten years ago.

there's been lots of memorable moments over the years. most of which are pretty cool a few less happy..

We've been able to watch some of the younger jumpers become adults

And some whose life expierences motivated one's own which led to success, sometimes with a price. (Gawain) .

To Skybytch. .I remember a lot since I've been here, usually try to keep the good memories, lost a few, but concentrate on the positives. fun times.

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Nope. You didn't meet him because of dorkzone. Plus does HH even have anything to do with the site anymore?

Who's HH?

Head Honcho, AKA Sangiro. Original big boss of this site. Unfortunately for me, one of the few original DZ. commers I've never got to meet.

Thanks, nanook! Johnny-come-lately, here!

In nine days, I'll be on here for a decade. I like reading the changes on the peoples' lives here, especially those that have been her longer. Nightingale's graduation from college and then passing her Bar Exam, Lawrocket's progression of his career, Skybytch's son's graduation, pilot's license, Skymama's recent success in love, Aggie Dave finally achieving his goal as becoming a police officer, BillVon's new youngun as well as achieving more patents. . .many changes. Lot's of HH pimping fees. It's addicting staying online here.

You may be a come-lately, but it's not a status that lasts too long. You start to care about these people a lot.

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Nope. You didn't meet him because of dorkzone. Plus does HH even have anything to do with the site anymore?

Who's HH?

Head Honcho, AKA Sangiro. Original big boss of this site. Unfortunately for me, one of the few original DZ. commers I've never got to meet.

Yup. Many people share hatred for the same people and same for someone they "love". So there will still be people left over.

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Maybe I'll go for my doctorates and make every one call me Dr. Shah!

Aww. . . you beat me to it! Congradulations.

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Iz official, I gradumicated college!!!

Now if you'll excuse me I must get back the 5 day drinking binge I've been partaking in since my last final on Wednesday

U iz edumuhkated! Congratulations! Enjoy your binge!!

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Gremlins! Mwahahaha!

They do exist. and evidently, you've been playing after midnight

They exist!! They put holes in your socks and steal your left shoe. Sucks that they moved to technology

Waking up early to take care of the kid. Making pancakes and bacon for her while she sleeps in. Something she rarely has a chance to do.

Would you be able to patent this idea? I thought you could only patent a product. Anyways, it will probably "piss" people off if you try to violate the Conservation of Energy.

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God bless you.

Now,that's not offensive. Thanks.

Here's a video about that flight. Mind you, that it's done by a show that may not be up there with technicalities, but it gives a blow by blow sequence of events to include the NTSB investigations:

Flight 232

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God Bless America and those in uniform who serve to protect us.

Before you applaud those who serve, keep in mind that Muslims and Jews serve as well as other religions to keep your Christian beliefs sacred. Don't "bless" us in Uniform with this crap. Your blessing is not accepted. This is our country, not your country.

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If I had it all to do over again, I would never have gotten married and would have been a Navy pilot. That's not a joke. I've known it for years.

I feel you. If I was able to start all over. . .I'd start back to my sophomore year of high school, working on getting into the Academy, then flight school, test pilot. .

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To your comment on why we get deductions on charitable donations, I received this quote in my email this morning:

""Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
-- James Madison

You are right. It's not. But these contributions do assist by lessening the amount of tax revenue that would be won by those who lobby for govt assistance to these programs.

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Then I suppose you've seen a complete set of the US Tax code. It takes up more shelf space than the Alabama Code. How can you say that eliminating that would not require much less administration? I'll do some research, but I think you're shooting from the hip on that one.

Nope. Only personal income tax code. I say it would not require much less due to the fact that the only people who don't need to be watched are the 1040EZ crowd. Most of the personal income tax code doesn't even touch them. The point here is the only way Flat Tax can be saving in cost is if money is automatically taken away (like in those folks) from everyone. Due to the lack of this, oversight is required. Unless you believe people are natural at following the law. Number of pages does not equate number of people required. It's a searchable Code. It's all online and only takes five minutes to find anything. Don't concentrate on the "size" of the Title 26. It's a red herring argument to fool voters into believing that they cannot navigate it. I bet many haven't even tried.

End of the spring and here she comes back
Hi Hi Hi Hi there
Them summer days, those summer days

That's when I had most of my fun, back
high high high high there
Them summer days, those summer days

I "cloud nine" when I want to

Out of school, yeah

County fair in the country sun

And everything, it's true, ooh yeah

Hot fun in the summertime

First of the fall and then she goes back
Bye bye bye bye there
Them summer days, those summer days

"Boop-boop-ba-boop-boop" when I want to

Out of school, yeah

County fair in the country sun

And everything, it's true, ooh yeah

All: Hot fun in the summertime

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Anyhow, if we save the dolphin, it's social engineering. Does that make it right? It's all about personal responsibility. Let him un-strand himself. Otherwise it's like welfare. Flipper, the welfare queen. It's sickening.

Now that I think of it. . .Ive noticed a bit more cadillacs on the I15 lately, with their turn signals permanently switched to the right, despite never changing lanes from the left-most lane.. I blame PETA.

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I didn't say the IRS wrote the tax code. I just said it is unnecessarily cumbersom and should go...along with the bulk of the IRS.

Going Flat Tax will decrease some of the operating budget of the IRS. But not by much. It would actually be minimal as only certain people wouldn't need to be paid attention to, such as W2 wagers that can use the 1040EZ, who are actually a small percentage of the population. If you want to reduce the IRS more, you would have to get rid of all deductions and credits and the Schedule A, B, D, E. F, G. But, you still have the farmers, business owners, trust fund babies, alimony recipients, ect. who don't report income till tax time. This requires oversight that utilizes the bulk of the IRS right now. So, in my estimation, Flat Tax with elimination of deductions and credits will reduce IRS cost by 10% at best. From 12 billion to about 10 billion a year.

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I'm starting to suspect you work for the IRS

Close. Wrong set of three-letter organization I belong to. But, my insight comes from a decade of being a volunteer tax preparer for them. You get a lot of exposure doing this. I don't get paid. My motivation is staying on top of the tax code (my return averages about 150 pages), and keeping my Sailors out of hot water with taxes.