@kdsdesign said:

...yes cheffey english is my first language, why do you ask?

What is "cheffey english"?

@unknownuser said:

I'm starting to miss him. While I initially thought I'd go easy on him, he's quickly becoming my new favorite punching bag. You're off the hook, Ron! ( )

WHEW....thanks man! I need a new punching bag also. Any suggestions?

I started reading this T...H...R...E...A...D yesterday and couldn't stop until I finished last night around 10:30 MST. If Pete is right, we'll see this character in about 2-3 hours or so. I'll be sure to tune in then.

@sepo said:

@unknownuser said:

I understood the journalist is/was punished/hurt because Maliki was so close to the incident.

How did you arrived on that one,

I heard this on TV (can't remember which channel) the day after it happened. I just did a search and couldn't find anything corroborating. So...forget it.

@double espresso said:

@unknownuser said:

Unless your initial comment was meant to be ironic, and I didn't get that, nothing was 'lost in translation'. I asked whether you're on acid because of your bizarre assumtion the Iraqi journalist wants to overthrow the principles that protect him. Clearly you're assuming far too much.

Unfortunately, you seem to be so consumed by your hatred of Bush that whatever I say will always be related back to him. The principles that I am speaking of are the ones that all of us who live in Western Society embrace. Freedom of speech and religion, equality for women etc. We take these rights for granted and it occurred to me while I was watching how this thread evolved that while the Iraqi reporter obviously hates Bush and all he stands for, he will probably escape punishment for his action because of the Western principles he deplores.
I wonder if he threw a shoe at a member of the Saudi Royal Family he would fare so well.

I understood the journalist is/was punished/hurt because Maliki was so close to the incident. Your point about Western principles is not lost on me, by the way.

Mr. S, I was talking about capitalism and free markets not private or free enterprise. My reference to the gun and auto industry was maybe an inaccurate analogy, but the point is that the system is good, some of the players are bad. When there are failures, we need to blame and punish the players, not the system. Bernie Madoff is a classic example. This guy needs to be in prison with a bunch of nasty guys who don't much care for his type.

The movie "Wall Street" really shows what you and others are talking about: people creating wealth without creating substance; greed run amok.

I do not take any offense whatsoever when capitalism is attacked. I don't see it as an attack on America at all.

@teezer said:

"Rock!"
"Scissors!"
"Uuhh.. Stick?"

So far, this is my favorite. Good one Terry.

"Everyone ready to leave?"
"No, I have to go number 1"
"And I have to go number 2"

Mike, I have said this same thing for years! The mother of our grandkids is constantly cleaning the kids with wipes whenever they touch anything (Edit context) and this is precisely why they get sick as much as they do.

I say let them eat dirt. No cake, just dirt.

@honoluludesktop said:

Come on Ron, you wouldn't advocate no controlls on the distribution of drugs? Somewhere with every situation is a line that represents optimum balance. I personally favor free markets, but in hindsight not at the current pace deregulation was implemented.

I'm saying capitalism and free markets are inherently good. It's the practitioners who can mess it up. Certain governmental regulation is necessary, even desired. Finding the optimum balance, as you put it, is the goal.

Capitalism is not at fault here; those who abuse it are. Blaming the system is like blaming cars for auto accidents or blaming guns for gun deaths.

I do NOT like the new component browser...bring back the back arrow.

@unknownuser said:

I am neither. I'm an aloof and grim-looking flaneur. Former colleagues used to imitate the sound of the wind and rub themselves as if they were cold when I walked in.

Jokers.

Flaneur: a new word for me, thanks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur

@ehaflett said:

I used to be a saunterer but recently have learned to become a strider. In the words of Koncho Shayne, 'the way you do anything is the way you do everything'.

I'm definitely a strider. "The way you do anything is the way you do everything".....I like this saying.

And last, but not least, do NOT make this mistake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-5cEzGclbc

@ehaflett said:

[attachment=0:85irdux1]<!-- ia0 -->image010.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:85irdux1]

LOL, damn that's funny. Are these your kids?

Speaking of piles of money, when my then wife and I vacationed in Mexico a number of years ago, the USD bought about 1000 pesos. When we converted $500 into pesos we had a stack of bills about 3" high. At night when we would go out, the joke became: How much money should we take?. Oh...about 1/2"