Daddydavek

Fun but don't think for a minute that it's not a product of special effects. It didn't actually happen. http://redalertpolitics.com/2013/12/19/watch-and-now-we-cut-to-chuck-norris-doing-the-splits-between-two-airplanes/

In line with what Zombie wrote here's something from the US POV: "With respect to India, for the fiscal year 2014, the State Department request is $91 million. This represents a 16 per cent decrease from the fiscal levels 2012 (the previous actual spending)," said a senior State Department official. This is in continuation of the trend that has emerged over the past few years. In 2010, the United States aid to India was $126.7 million, which dropped to $121.6 million in 2011 and $108 million in 2012. The proposed aid is $98.3 million in the current fiscal of 2013, which ends on September 30.

The following image/link shows something I found a little profound. It is a map of the world with a small circle around the part that is home to more than half of the earth's human inhabitants. It was on the Washington Post website today:

Now that was just the sweetest chapter. And for Mikeal's sake I'm glad that Adam is mature enough to tell him the truth. Great job.

Will wants Tony to get over Rick, but somehow I don't see that happening. Brad is able to distract himself with work which is a good thing. Mendoza...... as usual!

I was raised in a family where all kinds of music was appreciated. My mom loves "Make the world go away".

It looks like George may be in jolly old England for a while.... An interesting chapter with another storm delaying his return and giving him time to parse the words and actions of Calvert. Well done. The story is still "in process" so I am wishing for perhaps another chapter during Christmas week and perhaps an epilogue for New Years. Just my wishes!

I eat meat. However, I haven't hunted in more than forty years. Somehow after my tour in the military, hunting lost it's appeal. I don't have any qualms about eating meat slaughtered by others. Life is messy and you must learn to live with ambiguity. If this is the most morally pressing question, anyone faces, then they have had it easy.

Darius and Austin--hadn't exactly crossed by mind. Now Austin and Marie (this gens Claire) I see some possible sparks there.....

Happy Birthday! & Many, many, more!

I agree with Rustle. Peter O'Toole was a charismatic actor and his performances in both 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Becket' were great. Richard Burton also stars in 'Becket' and both gave stellar performances. He did star in the 'Lion in Winter' but that movies' greatest actor was Kate Hepburn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Respect is given to a judge in their courtroom. But does anyone respect the judge that bought the argument of 'affluenza'? Respect is given to parents as the one who nourished and took care of you when you could not take care of yourself. However, parents can lose the respect of their children and often do. Courts too, do not defer to parental rights when parents have been negligent or abusive. While no one is claiming Clara and Wally were unfit, it is entirely possible that they were less than ideal parents and unduly influenced by Gathan regarding Zach. After all we do not have the entire back story there, just tidbits. While I believe that a lack of respect for other people and other peoples' property is a problem, I also believe that respect is a two-way street and that too often the people who complain most about a lack of respect often fail to respect others.

Here's a working link to the original post: http://wallstreetinsanity.com/14-vintage-advertisements-that-would-definitely-be-banned-today/ I'm sure some of the ads we see today will be considered gauche in years to come as well.

The judge should be officially censured and voted off the bench. I hope the families of those he killed and maimed sue him and his 'affluent' parents for every cent they have.

Claire and Austin? Seems like a natural fit. Will catching that Tony only got it when Will pointed out that his buddy messed with Tony's mom was noted. Tony is sexy in Will's opinion but how long is Will going to be satisfied with having to 'splain everything? Brad's entry at Triton was something. I was more than surprised that he was willing to let the CEO handle it. Lot's of companies made billions on the war on terror. Can everyone say Halliburton?

Not just a 20th Century staple. Mail has been around for centuries and I for one would hate to see the USPS follow suit into oblivion and not just for Christmas cards. I foresee that eventually Saturday delivery will finally be abolished. I also see that cluster mailboxes rather than one on every driveway or front of the house will happen as is already being implemented in newer developments. Other economies will be imagined and implemented I am sure. One thing I can see is that bulk mail rates for ads or flyers need to go up.

Hopefully the kids that bully him won't see the video and give him problems in his last place of refuge.....

There are some people who treat their family like dirt and assume their family has to put up with them because they are "family". My own daughter seems to be under that misapprehension and still hasn't figured out why I made her move out and barely tolerate being around her. She can be smarmy nice to complete strangers, but treats family and close friends like doormats figuring that since they are close she doesn't have to be nice. I've explained in great detail many times the error of her treating people this way but so far to no avail. She is just thirty-one and living with her fourth live-in and is rude, crude and thinks arguing means shouting, throwing things and being an asshole bitch. All I can say is I have no idea why any of them ever stay for any length of time. So I can certainly see that while you can't choose your family, you certainly don't have to take their abuse. And it is not your responsibility to try to change an adult who resists any attempts to get them to modify their unacceptable behavior. Sometimes for your own peace of mind and well-being you have to cut your losses and terminate all contact. The courts are clogged in this country with people seeking orders of protection. For a sample of some available just in one jurisdiction see the web site that follows: http://www.fccourts.org/drj/protectionorders.html

Happy Birthday Benji!

I'm one of seven. I have four brothers and two sisters. We all get along fairly well but I am only close with two of my brothers and not particularly close to either of my sisters. One brother is married to a control freak which he seems to not know. Another thinks he is an expert on politics and wants to tell everyone what to think. One sister was an elementary school teacher and teacher knows best. So I can take them in small doses but am glad I don't have to live with them! Fortunately, I enjoy the nieces and nephews and the grand nieces and grand nephews and I've got two more on the way next year.

The meeting of the Santa Clarita by Grangers ship is certainly serendipitous for the reasons Sandrewn mentioned above and because when all is said and done, Calvert is special to George as is Gatling. My hope is that they get to fill George in on everything that happened. My question is how close are they to the mouth of the Thames?

What a wonderful chapter and a great ending. Coming upon the Santa Clarita means Calvert and company. George is still in the dark about so much and hopefully Calvert has time to fill him in on all that has happened while he was loitering in Paris..... I was hoping we would get our Granger fix today! Thanks!

The chapter is set in Hawaii and the thread is still caught up on an ordinary make-do breakfast. Regarding food--I was hoping that Will or Steff or someone had arranged for one of the catering agencies on the island to do a full beach style luau with a small pig roast and all the seafood and accompanying treats and fresh fruit.... However, it was about characters and we are left to wonder just how important Scott a/k/a Lark will be to Brad. He has to keep a low profile otherwise his past will come back and bite them. Then too, Austin could play some larger role later too. Endless possibilities for our resident wordsmith.

Don't have our hero go to school unless he knows what he want to do and has some reasonable expectation of accomplishing it. It seems a lot of the current generation got degrees and then advanced degrees and still ended up in entry level jobs or retail. Work experience counts more these days especially for those under age 40. I ditto some of the other concerns about moving in with his sister's family. Being close is one thing. Living in their house is another, especially after he has already been on his own.