MikeL

Contest? Where? (Frogs are always ready to play.) *Nervously looks for goat entering the pond*

No you're not Mr. +113. Whoever voted + for you so many times must be crazy.

GA's reputation system is only as glitchy as the people who abuse it. Some of those reading this blog will disagree with Chase enough to ding him at every opportunity even when they agree with his comments on a given topic. I think once the novelty wears off and the cotroversy over its potential unfairness fades, most readers will settle into a practice of scoring a post only occassionally. I already have. I find myself clicking the + or - only when I feel the writer has done a particularly good or bad job of expressing himself. I grade a well-reasoned or thought-provoking comment positively even if I disagree with the argument set forth. I would encourage everyone to consider a similar approach. When you do, you will have more respect for the system and for your fellow members.

1. Clever 3-word selection from an entire post. 2. The eruption is still underway.

Seems you had a good time, Ash. I think you are wise to develop the friendship first. The two of you appear to be on the same wavelength - that's good. Best wishes.

I liked him when he had dark hair. Guess he looks more Swedish now.

I live in Tennessee and I am very familiar with gumbo. It's great! I guess Lacey is still a Yankee at heart. He should learn to live a little. Some of life's greatest adventures are at the dinner table. Speaking of dinner, when do we eat?

One reason the gay movement lacks leadership is the lack of a common purpose. An HIV cure is only one of the issues that is of interest to the gay community. In seeking resolution of these issues, the gay movement has become politicized. Obviously, we aren't unanimous on our politics, yet politics is a necessary tool to use in reaching our goals. If the various organizations involved in the issues would unite and agree on a single agenda, strong leadership might result. I have a personal interest in new medical technology, particularly those breakthroughs which can fight disease by strengthening the immune system. I have high hopes for genetic medicine and am thankful that the new administration has relaxed some of the guidelines which hampered research. I apologize for being political, but I feel that this is one of the most significant things President Obama has done.

@*~% goat! Where are the matches?

Cliff James has released Ragnorök, Chapter 45 of Changing Lanes. Old Norse: Brœðr muno beriaz ok at bǫnom verða[z] muno systrungar sifiom spilla. Hart er í heimi, hórdómr mikill —skeggǫld, skálmǫld —skildir ro klofnir— vindǫld, vargǫld— áðr verǫld steypiz. Mun engi maðr ǫðrom þyrma ~ From Völuspá, Poetic Edda poem English: Brothers will fight and kill each other, sisters' children will defile kinship. It is harsh in the world, whoredom rife —an axe age, a sword age —shields are riven— a wind age, a wolf age— before the world goes headlong. No man will have mercy on another. Loki breaks free at the onset of Ragnarök, illustration by Ernst H. Walther (1897).

What yachtsman wants goat barf on his deck?

Are goats subject to mal di mare?

Very interesting article, Jack. Thanks. I was also impressed with the15-year old's article which Smarties linked. BTW, I am "older folk" and I do not Tweet.

Great playlist, Matty...at least the ones I've heard. Have you ever hear Ottmar Liebert's acoustic cover of "Kashmir"? Sample

GM also built Pontiacs for young people. I owned three of them along the way, including the first car I ever bought. Now they have dropped Pontiac. Where is the product that will build loyalty as younger drivers age? Where will new Buick customers come from? Worse yet, what sort of cars will GM offer when Congress finishes designing them. Politicians are already trying to call the shots, insisting that GM build more electric cars...which no one wants. For the record, I have never owned a Buick and never will. I've moved away from GM products toward Chrysler products in recent years (which have been excellent cars). We recently bought the first foreign car we have bought in 32 years.

Carl, why don't we old guys all buy Buicks and move to Drewbieville?

I found Borat both boring and offensive. Worry not, Jack...I'm saving my money.

On which point, Drew?

I started out reading this thinking you were dissing Buicks. Was I ever wrong! Buick has spent tons of money trying to position their product as a young person's car, even paying Tiger Wood millions to be their spokesman. It appears you are not easily swayed by advertising. That's not a bad thing. I wonder what old folks could do to change your opinion of them. Perhaps they could appeal to your love for your parents or grandparents. No, I guess that won't work on you. Hmmm...I'll give it more thought after my nap.

I'll try to stay on topic. Everyone has something from the past to reminisce about. Even young adults in their twenties and thirties, slaving away in an office or on an assembly line five days a week, remember their youth when they were in school (or at least recess). There are some who are old enough can remember a less complicated, less materialistic time. If you were poor, you didn't know it because the Jones' had not yet gotten into conspicuous consumption. IMHO, everyone, even those who have been subject to discrimination, have their good ole days. Is it trite to refer to the good ole days? Perhaps, but it can relieve some stress and, on rare occassion, may be enlightening for the hearers. Fair warning: If you don't want to hear reminiscences about the 1940s, don't read the following. Cokes 5¢ (the cola, not the white powder), Hershey bars 5¢, Saturday afternoon movies 12¢ (six cartoons, newsreel, serial adventure, and two main feature movies; if you liked the show, you could stay and see it again; our parents used the time to conceive our little siblings). Now, those were the times. Of course, our parents had grown up during the Great Depression; they may have not had any good ole days. Their frugal habits didn't register with us kids until years later when we began to accumulate stuff.

Approaching forty years now...still working on making it better. See: The Loving Relationship.

Don't think Scar would have to drop it in. Just detonate it nearby to trigger an earthquake which would cause the volcano to collapse. Is the airport far enough away from any possible ground zero to permit an escape by air?

If you are man enough, bring it on.

Old Norse: Fylliz fiǫrvi feigra manna, rýðr ragna siǫt rauðom dreyra. Svǫrt verða sólskin of sumor eptir, veðr ǫll válynd Vitoð ér enn, eða hvat? ~ Völuspá, Poetic Edda poem, stanza 44 English: It sates itself on the life-blood of fated men, paints red the powers' homes with crimson gore. Black become the sun's beams in the summers that follow, weathers all treacherous. Do you still seek to know? And what? Jerry Clump is a dastardly devil and a pusillanimous polecat. That said, I was impressed that he had the foresight to buckle his seat belt. So, the clock is ticking; we know Scar's plan of escape. How will it all end? Do you still seek to know?