On 22 Jan 2009 04:31:18 GMT, Michael "Dog3" wrote:

>>>
>>> My brother is awful. He just sent me a text message saying
>>> "somewhere in Texas a village awaits the return of it's idiot".
>>>
>>> Michael
>>
>> but it won't be crawford. bush is ditching that set, since the cowboy
>> movie is over.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> Those nasty rumors keep swirling around about the "secret" land purchase
> by the Bush family in Paraguay. I think the rumor is 100thousand acres.
> I haven't been able to find anything to substantiate the rumor so it's
> probably not true. Paraguay would be a nice, tidy little place for him.
> No extradition and an oil rich ranch. Lovely set up for someone like
> bush. Now all we have to do is wait until he has a grand brat that wants
> to run. We haven't heard the last of the Bush "legacy". I do believe
> we've managed to rid ourselves of the Dole family for awhile.
>
> Michael

i have heard the same rumors, and haven't been able to confirm them either.
but i sounds to me like a prudent thing to do.

your pal,
blake

On Jan 22, 11:02*am, blake murphy > wrote:

> <http://www.politicalcompass.org/>
>
> frankly, i'm not sure how useful it is, but you are right that the
> single-line 'right' versus 'left' isn't terribly descriptive.

I retook the test. The last time I was at something like -9,45 on the
economic scale, and -4,5 on the social scale.

Now:

Economic Left/Right: -9.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.41

http://www.politicalcompass.org/prin...9.88&soc=-8.41

But the question is: what are they measuring and for who? If their
median is based on US opinions (which tend to be right wing on the
whole), then the inherent bias would naturally make opinions on the
left appear to be extreme.

The one question about Marx (from each according to his ability etc.,
is a fundamentally good idea) did not leave any room for
interpretation. It's quite clear that it would not measure the
opinion that governments should make this their basic statement of
policy. The use of the word "fundamentally" is intended to suggest
that they don't actually take this question seriously much like that
other nostrum: communism is fine in theory but it doesn't work in
practice. How would anyone know that? No political system based on
the work of Marx has ever been established nor is it likely that it
ever will be (and that was not the point anyway).

Anyway, FWIW, I'm even more on the left after eight years of Bush and
three years of Harper than I was before. I'm not one of those who
ascribe to the notion that we become more conservative with age, and
I'm 62. I have made arrangements to have the Internationale sung (the
long French version) at my funeral along with Tom Waits's Sea of Love
and The World is Green and Pauvre Rutebeuf by Léo Ferré, Red Flag by
Billy Talent (so much Eisenstein imagery from Oktyabr in that video)
and others...not about to veer right any time soon.

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> >>> So what will you do if the homeland is ever invaded?
> >>>
> >>> Hide in your basement and pray?
> >>
> >> how many hundred years has it been since this country has been invaded?
> >>
> >> blake
> >
> > Exactly.
> > Thanks for making my point. <g>
>
> dear god.
>
> your pal,
> blake

<snicker>
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:19:07 -0800, Bob Terwilliger wrote:
>
> > blake wrote:
> >
> >> how many hundred years has it been since this country has been invaded?
> >
> > Less than two.
> >
> > Bob
>
> and since then, any invading army would be armed with something other than
> rifles or handguns. or do you have anti-tank weapons and bazookas in your
> basement? rocket-propelled grenades?
>
> blake

Actually, properly placed, a Molatov cocktail loaded with home made
napalm (styrofoam mixed with gasoline) will take out a tank...

I've seen this very discussion on one of the political groups. It was
most educational!

It does not take sophisticated weapons to take out sophisticated
weapons. That's what guerilla warfare is all about.
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:25:19 -0600, Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > "Bob Terwilliger" > wrote:
> >
> >> blake wrote:
> >>
> >>> how many hundred years has it been since this country has been invaded?
> >>
> >> Less than two.
> >>
> >> Bob
> >
> > Actually, it's being invaded on a daily basis.
> > Our borders are like Collanders (keeping it somewhat food related).
>
> yet all you gun-owning pussies are not shooting meskins. for shame.
>
> your pal,
> blake

I don't possess a murderers mentality. Sorry to disappoint.

If I loan you my AR-15, will you go to the border and shoot invaders?
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:41:45 -0600, Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Gloria P > wrote:
> >
> >> Omelet wrote:
> >>> In article >,
> >>> Gloria P > wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> The greatest domestic danger our country can face is to have more
> >>>> millions of wingnuts running around with guns thinking they are
> >>>> "defending" the country.
> >>>>
> >>>> An Uzi in every hand is not the "well regulated militia" the country's
> >>>> founders anticipated.
> >>>>
> >>>> Want a gun? Join the National Guard.
> >>>>
> >>>> gloria p
> >>>
> >>> So what will you do if the homeland is ever invaded?
> >>>
> >>> Hide in your basement and pray?
> >>
> >> What will you do, play Rambo?
> >
> > Better than dieing a coward.
> > I'd rather die trying to defend myself and my family than humbly submit
> > like many other Sheeople will.
> >
> >>
> >> If they get as far as Colorado, all our asses are grass.
> >>
> >> gloria p
> >
> > So you'd rather live thru that?
> > There are worse fates than death...
>
> yeah, whatever you say, rambette.
>
> actually the u.s. has a pretty extensive armed military force to take care
> of that eventuality.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Except that a lot of them are in Iraq. :-(

The military cannot be everywhere at once. I, for one, would like to be
able to defend myself in an emergency.

I carry a gun because I cannot carry a cop.
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away...

I'm not paranoid. I don't have to be. <g>
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:46:41 -0600, Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > Horry > wrote:
> >
> >> On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:24:42 -0700, Gloria P wrote:
> >>
> >>> Omelet wrote:
> >>>> In article >,
> >>>> Gloria P > wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The greatest domestic danger our country can face is to have more
> >>>>> millions of wingnuts running around with guns thinking they are
> >>>>> "defending" the country.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> An Uzi in every hand is not the "well regulated militia" the country's
> >>>>> founders anticipated.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Want a gun? Join the National Guard.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> gloria p
> >>>>
> >>>> So what will you do if the homeland is ever invaded?
> >>>>
> >>>> Hide in your basement and pray?
> >>>
> >>> What will you do, play Rambo?
> >>
> >> The possibility of 300-million armed American insurgents playing Rambo
> >> would likely cause the Chinese to hesitate before invading in the first
> >> place.
> >
> > Very true. "There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass".
> > A quote by a Japanese General as to why they never tried a ground
> > invasion here.
> >
> > Our allowance of private firearm ownership is probably the one item
> > that's saved our asses thru the years.
>
> you gotta be shitting me.
>
> your pal,
> blake

Oh Blake... <shakes head> You are so naive.

:-)

But I like you anyway!
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
Kathleen > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
>
>
> >
> > So you'd rather live thru that?
> > There are worse fates than death...
>
> Nope. Not really. Death is quite likely permanent and once you're dead
> you're of no use to anyone. Anything that can be survived can be gotten
> over, especially with help, or, possibly, with the hope of justice and
> retribution (to say nothing of revenge).
>
> "Death before dishonor"? Plbbthhh... Dishonor me if you want (or
> rather, if you can). But you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of
> your life looking over your shoulder.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger? ;-)
I, for one, am a bit leery of being tortured, thanks.
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article > ,
"Gregory Morrow" > wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>
> ...
> > On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:41:45 -0600, Omelet wrote:
> >
> > > In article >,
> > > Gloria P > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Omelet wrote:
> > >>> In article >,
> > >>> Gloria P > wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The greatest domestic danger our country can face is to have more
> > >>>> millions of wingnuts running around with guns thinking they are
> > >>>> "defending" the country.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> An Uzi in every hand is not the "well regulated militia" the
> country's
> > >>>> founders anticipated.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Want a gun? Join the National Guard.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> gloria p
> > >>>
> > >>> So what will you do if the homeland is ever invaded?
> > >>>
> > >>> Hide in your basement and pray?
> > >>
> > >> What will you do, play Rambo?
> > >
> > > Better than dieing a coward.
> > > I'd rather die trying to defend myself and my family than humbly submit
> > > like many other Sheeople will.
> > >
> > >>
> > >> If they get as far as Colorado, all our asses are grass.
> > >>
> > >> gloria p
> > >
> > > So you'd rather live thru that?
> > > There are worse fates than death...
> >
> > yeah, whatever you say, rambette.
> >
> > actually the u.s. has a pretty extensive armed military force to take care
> > of that eventuality.
>
>
> Om's favorite flick must be _Red Dawn_...one of the more laughably
> implausible Cold War "Red Scare" flix...kinda the Reagan era equivalent of
> those early 50's comedy films _My Son John_ or _Invasion USA_.

My favorite flick depends on my mood. I do own a copy of "Red Dawn",
but right now my favorite movie is "Ironman". :-)

Superhero movies are my favorite genre.
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article >,
Omelet > wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:

> > and since then, any invading army would be armed with something other than
> > rifles or handguns. or do you have anti-tank weapons and bazookas in your
> > basement? rocket-propelled grenades?

> Actually, properly placed, a Molatov cocktail loaded with home made
> napalm (styrofoam mixed with gasoline) will take out a tank...
>
> I've seen this very discussion on one of the political groups. It was
> most educational!
>
> It does not take sophisticated weapons to take out sophisticated
> weapons. That's what guerilla warfare is all about.

It is well known in military circles that in a battle between tanks and
foot soldiers, the foot soldiers will win. That's why tanks are never
deployed into battle without accompanying infantry.

That one paragraph has completely depleted my knowledge of military
strategy and tactics, so don't ask me how or why.

:-)

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

In article
>,
Dan Abel > wrote:

> In article >,
> Omelet > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > blake murphy > wrote:
>
> > > and since then, any invading army would be armed with something other than
> > > rifles or handguns. or do you have anti-tank weapons and bazookas in your
> > > basement? rocket-propelled grenades?
>
> > Actually, properly placed, a Molatov cocktail loaded with home made
> > napalm (styrofoam mixed with gasoline) will take out a tank...
> >
> > I've seen this very discussion on one of the political groups. It was
> > most educational!
> >
> > It does not take sophisticated weapons to take out sophisticated
> > weapons. That's what guerilla warfare is all about.
>
> It is well known in military circles that in a battle between tanks and
> foot soldiers, the foot soldiers will win. That's why tanks are never
> deployed into battle without accompanying infantry.
>
> That one paragraph has completely depleted my knowledge of military
> strategy and tactics, so don't ask me how or why.
>
> :-)

Think about Urban Warfare Dan... Restricted quarters!
I'm no tactician either, but that's what the internet is for, among many
other things. <g>
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

sf wrote:
> On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:31:49 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:10:50 GMT, Michael "Dog3" wrote:
>>
>>> My brother is awful. He just sent me a text message saying "somewhere in
>>> Texas a village awaits the return of it's idiot".
>>>
>>> Michael
>> but it won't be crawford. bush is ditching that set, since the cowboy
>> movie is over.
>>
> I thought Bush or his wife have already stated where they're moving.
> It's more urban/suburban than Crawford. I remember he said his dogs
> will need a doggy psychologist after having been able to play freely
> over huge the White House lawn (signifying a return of the Bush
> everyone wanted to sit down and have a beer with and got us eight long
> years).

From what I heard, they bought a house in a suburb of Dallas. Bush
should be careful; I heard the Iraqi's are developing a long range
loafer. ;-)

Becca

On Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:58:23 -0800 (PST), wrote:

> On Jan 22, 11:02*am, blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> <http://www.politicalcompass.org/>
>>
>> frankly, i'm not sure how useful it is, but you are right that the
>> single-line 'right' versus 'left' isn't terribly descriptive.
>
> I retook the test. The last time I was at something like -9,45 on the
> economic scale, and -4,5 on the social scale.
>
> Now:
>
> Economic Left/Right: -9.88
> Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.41
>
> http://www.politicalcompass.org/prin...9.88&soc=-8.41
>
> But the question is: what are they measuring and for who? If their
> median is based on US opinions (which tend to be right wing on the
> whole), then the inherent bias would naturally make opinions on the
> left appear to be extreme.
>

i can't really answer that, but here's a snippet from the
comments/complaints the

*Some of the propositions are culturally biased*

Right. That's why the Compass is being promoted in western democracies. We
don't pretend that, for example, the responses of a citizen of a rural
region of China can undergo the same evaluation process.

from a complaint about spelling, it becomes obvious that the authors are in
the u.k. somewhere. they do have pointers to some charts for candidates in
recent canada, new zealand, australia, and u.s. elections, and some general
charts for the e.u. national governments on their f.a.q. page:

<http://www.politicalcompass.org/faq#faq1>

your pal,
blake

On Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:05:29 -0600, Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:19:07 -0800, Bob Terwilliger wrote:
>>
>>> blake wrote:
>>>
>>>> how many hundred years has it been since this country has been invaded?
>>>
>>> Less than two.
>>>
>>> Bob
>>
>> and since then, any invading army would be armed with something other than
>> rifles or handguns. or do you have anti-tank weapons and bazookas in your
>> basement? rocket-propelled grenades?
>>
>> blake
>
> Actually, properly placed, a Molatov cocktail loaded with home made
> napalm (styrofoam mixed with gasoline) will take out a tank...
>
> I've seen this very discussion on one of the political groups. It was
> most educational!
>
> It does not take sophisticated weapons to take out sophisticated
> weapons. That's what guerilla warfare is all about.

knock yourself out, honey. after all, the branch davidians had no trouble
contending with the u.s. government.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy > wrote in
:

> *Some of the propositions are culturally biased*
>
> Right. That's why the Compass is being promoted in western
> democracies. We don't pretend that, for example, the responses of a
> citizen of a rural region of China can undergo the same evaluation
> process.

That's quite obvious, but their personal biases may also be preventing them
from collecting significant information on where the limits are.

For example, their evaluation of public figures is quite subjective (yes, I
know they say so) which implies that they have not yet achieved an
objective way of measuring opinion because those who measure opinion
measure it through their own opinion.

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:05:29 -0600, Omelet wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > blake murphy > wrote:
> >
> >> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:19:07 -0800, Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> >>
> >>> blake wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> how many hundred years has it been since this country has been invaded?
> >>>
> >>> Less than two.
> >>>
> >>> Bob
> >>
> >> and since then, any invading army would be armed with something other than
> >> rifles or handguns. or do you have anti-tank weapons and bazookas in your
> >> basement? rocket-propelled grenades?
> >>
> >> blake
> >
> > Actually, properly placed, a Molatov cocktail loaded with home made
> > napalm (styrofoam mixed with gasoline) will take out a tank...
> >
> > I've seen this very discussion on one of the political groups. It was
> > most educational!
> >
> > It does not take sophisticated weapons to take out sophisticated
> > weapons. That's what guerilla warfare is all about.
>
> knock yourself out, honey. after all, the branch davidians had no trouble
> contending with the u.s. government.
>
> your pal,
> blake

That does not apply at ALL to my comment...
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:56:00 -0600, Michel Boucher wrote:

> blake murphy > wrote in
> :
>
>> *Some of the propositions are culturally biased*
>>
>> Right. That's why the Compass is being promoted in western
>> democracies. We don't pretend that, for example, the responses of a
>> citizen of a rural region of China can undergo the same evaluation
>> process.
>
> That's quite obvious, but their personal biases may also be preventing them
> from collecting significant information on where the limits are.
>
> For example, their evaluation of public figures is quite subjective (yes, I
> know they say so) which implies that they have not yet achieved an
> objective way of measuring opinion because those who measure opinion
> measure it through their own opinion.

sure, but any enterprise of that kind will be subject to that. originally,
i was just pointing out that there do exist representations other than a
one-dimensional straight line. i'm pretty sure there is also at least one
other grid system out there.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy > wrote in
:

> sure, but any enterprise of that kind will be subject to that.
> originally, i was just pointing out that there do exist
> representations other than a one-dimensional straight line. i'm
> pretty sure there is also at least one other grid system out there.

I was aware of the Political Compass as I did take it (now that I see the
date on the old one, it says 2004-04-26), but it isn't a coherent model,
interesting, yes, but not useful.

When the French government decided they wanted anthropological studies of
French society, they didn't ask the French to do it. They hired Asian
anthropologists who had never been to France.

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:10:40 -0600, Michel Boucher wrote:

> blake murphy > wrote in
> :
>
>> sure, but any enterprise of that kind will be subject to that.
>> originally, i was just pointing out that there do exist
>> representations other than a one-dimensional straight line. i'm
>> pretty sure there is also at least one other grid system out there.
>
> I was aware of the Political Compass as I did take it (now that I see the
> date on the old one, it says 2004-04-26), but it isn't a coherent model,
> interesting, yes, but not useful.
>
> When the French government decided they wanted anthropological studies of
> French society, they didn't ask the French to do it. They hired Asian
> anthropologists who had never been to France.

probably a good idea. i wonder if they went native?

your pal,
blake

"blake murphy" ha scritto nel messaggio
Michel Boucher wrote:
>> When the French government decided they wanted anthropological studies of
>> French society, they didn't ask the French to do it. They hired Asian >>
>> anthropologists who had never been to France.
>
> probably a good idea. i wonder if they went native?
>
> your pal,
> blake

I always do. France just sucks all the foreigner right out of me. If
Asian, I would pretend to be Vietnamese.

blake murphy wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:10:40 -0600, Michel Boucher wrote:
>
>>
>> When the French government decided they wanted anthropological studies of
>> French society, they didn't ask the French to do it. They hired Asian
>> anthropologists who had never been to France.
>
> probably a good idea. i wonder if they went native?
>
> your pal,
> blake


A friend, a French anthropologist, studied cultures in the
South Pacific Islands and Hawaii. He is now semi-retired,
doing some teaching, and living in suburban Paris.

I strongly doubt he ever went native.

gloria p

On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:16:41 +0100, Giusi wrote:

> "blake murphy" ha scritto nel messaggio
> Michel Boucher wrote:
>>> When the French government decided they wanted anthropological studies of
>>> French society, they didn't ask the French to do it. They hired Asian >>
>>> anthropologists who had never been to France.
>>
>> probably a good idea. i wonder if they went native?
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> I always do. France just sucks all the foreigner right out of me. If
> Asian, I would pretend to be Vietnamese.

france is probably a good place for it.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy > wrote in news:ej21vhzw59oq
:

>> I always do. France just sucks all the foreigner right out of me. If
>> Asian, I would pretend to be Vietnamese.
>
> france is probably a good place for it.

That's where Nguyen Sinh Cung, born Nguyen Tat Thanh went. He was there in
1919, working as a kitchen helper, and he presented a petition to the
leaders of the Versailles conference for recognition of the civil rights of
the Vietnamese people in French Indochina, but was ignored.

You know the rest...1945, 1954, 1963, 1975...

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

On Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:22:40 -0600, Michel Boucher wrote:

> blake murphy > wrote in news:ej21vhzw59oq
> :
>
>>> I always do. France just sucks all the foreigner right out of me. If
>>> Asian, I would pretend to be Vietnamese.
>>
>> france is probably a good place for it.
>
> That's where Nguyen Sinh Cung, born Nguyen Tat Thanh went. He was there in
> 1919, working as a kitchen helper, and he presented a petition to the
> leaders of the Versailles conference for recognition of the civil rights of
> the Vietnamese people in French Indochina, but was ignored.
>
> You know the rest...1945, 1954, 1963, 1975...

at least it gave many young men the chance to travel and removed them from
the pernicious influence of their parents.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy > wrote in
:

>> You know the rest...1945, 1954, 1963, 1975...
>
> at least it gave many young men the chance to travel and removed them
> from the pernicious influence of their parents.

Only in the third decade. The first and second decade were rather poor in
travel opportunities.

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:12:19 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:
>
>at least it gave many young men the chance to travel and removed them from
>the pernicious influence of their parents.
>
You're elevating the language used in rfc these days! My money is on
a new GF looking over your shoulder.

LOL! Hey, anything is better than another PL stalker post.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:53:23 -0800, sf wrote:

> On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:12:19 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>>
>>at least it gave many young men the chance to travel and removed them from
>>the pernicious influence of their parents.
>>
> You're elevating the language used in rfc these days! My money is on
> a new GF looking over your shoulder.
>
> LOL! Hey, anything is better than another PL stalker post.

i stole 'the pernicious influence of their parents' from 'catch-22.' but
thanks anyhow.

your pal,
blake

On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:32:29 +0000, PeterLucas wrote:

> sf > wrote in
> :
<snip>
>> C. Get into your feeble brain that "Send in the Marines" is a joke
>
>
> Try using a smiley next time, if it ever enters your tiny little brain.

You *actually* need to be *told* it's a joke?
Farkin' Hell you're dumb! No wonder you never made it past private, LOL!

> --
> Peter Lucas
> Brisbane
> Australia
>
> I support the Greens, and I hope you do too:
> http://greens.org.au
> www.qld.greens.org.au
> www.greenpeace.org.au