Bummer

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Take care (snort!).
DAL357

That'll show 'em!

This is newsworthy?

Wis. man won't buy gas for 31 days, maybe longer
Fri May 16, 3:37 AM ET
Brian LaFave couldn't care less how high gasoline prices climb these days — he's parked his pickup truck and is refusing to buy gas for a month, possibly longer.

"The goal is to not use one drop of gas for 31 days," LaFave said, calling it his personal stand against the oil companies.

Now LaFave, 31, is riding his bicycle or walking everywhere he goes. He won't even let friends pick him up unless they already planned on being in the neighborhood.

"If they're not going out of their way, I can take the ride," he said. "But if they're going out of their way, then ... I'm still consuming gasoline so it kind of defeats the purpose." LaFave started the effort May 11. He bikes to his third-shift job at Aldrich Chemical in Sheboygan Falls, a 9-mile commute.

"I did like a practice run ... two days in a row to make sure I could do it," he said. "I'm not in the greatest shape. The mornings are the worst. It feels like it takes forever. I get like a mile down the road and I want to die."

It's a big change for someone who put 300 miles on his truck the week before he stopped driving it.

LaFave fills out a chart each day listing how many miles he bikes, the destination and the gas price that day, among other things. He plans to compute his savings and donate that amount to a charity that provides food to children in Africa.

"I think just with the gas prices being so high, everybody complains about it but no one ever really does anything about it," LaFave said. "People continue to drive nonstop and not think about it, but I just wanted to take a stand and say, `I'm not gonna pay this much money for gas.'"

I’m not sure what’s more dumb: the guy being reported on or the fact that this story ever saw the light of day.

Look, LaFave, your little stunt, based on incomplete knowledge, aka ignorance, doesn’t amount to anything. The abiotic theory of oil aside, there’s only so much crude oil available and the demand is outstripping supply (worldwide demand is 87 million barrels a day vs. production of 85 million barrels a day). I’m sure you’re well aware, LaFave, as a resource becomes more scarce, its price will increase if its demand doesn’t slacken. That’s part of what’s going on today, along with an inflated dollar, courtesy of the Fed., not the vilifying rhetoric the politicians spew: the greed of oil companies.

And to AP, the press agency that put this story out, was it a slow news day? I know, I know, you had to fill up space and there’s no better way to do it than with a cheap, populist story about one ignoramus’s fight against the system. You really are at one and in touch with the common folk, aren’t you?

Take care.
DAL357

What's good for the goose...

Here's a snippet of a story whose implicit message is how disrespectful and cloddish U.S. troops are to the Muslim religion (authoritarian social system might be a better description).

BAGHDAD - An American soldier used a Quran, the Islamic holy book, for target practice in a predominantly Sunni area west of Baghdad, prompting an apology from the U.S. military, a spokesman said Sunday.

American commanders then launched an inquiry that led to disciplinary action against the soldier, who has been removed from Iraq, Buckner said.

Hmmm. That probably isn't the type of behavior U.S. troops should engage in to win the hearts and minds of the locals (as if that's possible there), and the following is no excuse, but what about this?

While Muslims have responded with deadly outrage to the now-retracted report by Newsweek of alleged Quran desecration by U.S. interrogators, there was little outcry three years ago [2002] when Islamic terrorists holed up in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity reportedly used the Bible as toilet paper. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=30366

I really don't need to make a comment, for I am sure you are intelligent enough to see the hypocrisy here. One thing I will say, though, is that just because some credo happens to be printed upon paper with ink and bound together with glue does not make it holy. Paper and ink are mere materials for the communication of ideas, and nothing more. (I could extend this line of thinking to people who think flag burning should be banned in this country, but I'll let that dog lie for now.)

By the way, I wonder what size groups the soldier was getting.

Take care.
DAL357

Gun magazines (not the gun rag type)

Whew! Have you checked the prices for Glock magazines lately? I hadn't for a while, but I just checked only minutes ago and they look like they're headed for the moon, no doubt in speculation on the outcome of the presidential race (though I'm sure the Fed further cheapening the dollar hasn't helped). If you ever thought of getting another full capacity magazine for your Glock, you'd better do it ASAP.

Then again, maybe it won't be that bad. Part of me keeps thinking this is just marketing hype to raise prices. I keep hoping that the pending SCOTUS decision on the Heller case will throw a monkey wrench into the plans of the gun/magazine grabbers and it won't matter who gets into the White House because they'll be hamstrung by the high court's ruling. But only time will tell if that's mere wishful/fanciful thinking.

To paraphrase/co-opt a saying, real Americans already have their magazines. Of course, a few more couldn't hurt, could it? If you really are in need of more full-cap. magazines, be they for a Glock or any other type of firearm, you might want to at least consider springing for them soon. It's better to err on the side of caution than to cry later.

Take care.
DAL357

Free advice!

Let’s revisit some basic driving techniques for getting the best MPG from the ever-more expensive gasoline you buy.


1. Take advantage of gravity by using every hill you crest, whenever practical, to shift into neutral and coast. This assumes, of course, you have a manual transmission--it might work with an automatic, but I’m not sure.

2. Drive no faster than 60 on the highway, at least for trips of less than an hour. I know the road gets monotonous when tooling along at 60 for hours on end, but for relatively short commutes, it really helps mileage.

3. Try to keep your vehicle moving, even if it’s only a couple miles an hour, rather than coming to a complete stop at red lights. This takes a bit of practice, and it’s not always doable, but it is worth your time.

4. Slightly over inflate your tires. I keep my tires inflated to three pounds over the recommended pressure, and I check them every two weeks, although weekly wouldn’t be overkill, especially in cold weather.

5. Accelerate at a moderate pace. If you have a tachometer (I do not), I have heard it should not rise above 2000 RPM when you accelerate to get the best mileage.

6. Get a tune-up. I’ll have to admit this is one I need to do ASAP. I bought some high-performance spark plugs to be installed when I do get the tune-up; we’ll see if they were worth the extra cost.

7. Use synthetic oil, which is supposed to make for slipperier engine-part surfaces and, hence, less internal resistance. According to experts, this will translate into better mileage. I haven’t tried this one yet.

8. Change your air filter regularly. I did notice a tiny bump up in mileage when I changed my air filter.


That’s about all I can think of. If you have anything constructive to add to this list, please post it in the comments section.

Take care.
DAL357

These are the good old days

I’ll get right to the point: I’m officially going on record as saying that the overall trend to life in the future in America for the average citizen will be one of increasing difficulty. Sure, there will be periods of (false) hope where it seems as if things have stabilized and/or improved, but those times won’t last. Discretionary income will become an ever-shrinking part of the average budget as Americans strive to take care of the basics.

What can be done to prepare for this calamity? Probably the best thing is to keep an open mind and not to believe that a certain standard of living is your birthright. Be as flexible and self-reliant as possible and don’t look to government for answers, at least not correct answers. America will survive what’s coming, but she will be forever changed by it. Whether that’s good or bad in the long run will be for historians to ponder.

One more thing: I don’t believe this will be a sudden paradigm shift. Rather, it will be a gradual one occurring over a period of years, maybe decades. Come to think of it, it’s really been going on for quite a few decades already, we’ve just been able to cover it up via adding a second income to households, spending every penny of savings, and finally willingly accepting massive amounts of debt. But we have come to the end of our financial rope and there is no more room to maneuver. The piper is at the door demanding payment and he will not be denied.

Take care.
DAL357

P.S. The photo above has absolutely nothing to do with the text of this post, I just thought it would be nice to look at while contemplating the comments contained herein.

P.P.S. Hey, cheer up, it's not the end of the world. Those with at least a passing acquaintance to history know that things change and nothing good--or bad--lasts forever. It's just the way it is. Clinging to the memories of good times will only poison your outlook on the future and blind you to new opportunities.

You know, less really IS more.

I’ve been in the simplifying mode for a while now and I’ve been able to pare down my belongings to a manageable level; I still have a ways to go, but I’m making decent progress. Things I’ve parted with include, although not in toto, books (some gun books, old college textbooks, etc., but not any of the classics--God forbid!), exercise equipment, clothes, mementos, many pounds of old gun magazines, a bunch of scrounged range brass I never would have used anyway, some old Lee reloading equipment, and a few--GASP!--guns.

Why am I doing this? As I get older, I have begun to see the futility of chasing after fulfillment and happiness through the acquisition of stuff. Having a very few quality things that I really need/use and blowing off what the marketers tout as the latest and best brings a lot of contentment. What a (seeming) paradox that I get more peace of mind from fewer possessions than I do from many.

Life sure is funny sometimes, especially when you take the time to view it from another perspective.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some more stuff to set free.

Take care.
DAL357

Say it loud, "I'm tasteless and proud!"

These so-called humorous items, known as "Truck Nuts" or "Bumper Balls," have been around for a while and I've actually seen a few indviduals adorn their vehicles with them, no doubt thinking they are making a statement. Well, they are making a statement, but it's probably not the one they think they are making. When a person puts something like this on their vehicle, they are truly showing the world not only what tasteless morons they are, but also that they feel they have no obligation as adults to allow children to stay children for as long as possible. The sexualization of children begins far too early anymore and products like this are one of the reasons why.

Of course, if you were to confront a person who uses this product with this idea they would likely become indignant and rant about free speech and their rights, and if we were talking about government intervention, they'd have a point. But I am not talking about governmental repression of speech, thought, or action. I am talking about common decency, something becoming more and more uncommon all the time. I am talking about self-censorship and the wisdom to not only know the boundaries between good and bad behavior, but why those boundaries are essential for a civilized society.

We truly are living in the age of the common man, as Jeff Cooper called it, where slobs in both dress and action are looked upon as examples to emulate and folks with a bit of self restraint and manners are looked at as dupes, fogeys, prudes, and hopelessly out of date.

Take care.

DAL357

Intelligent boobs

Study shows breast-fed children are smarter.

Here's a headline that's popped up before on a subject that's been out there for a few years now. My wife and I happened to believe in the benefits of breast-feeding before our son was born and said wife undertook that labor of love for 18 months. We are both glad she did. Our son is now smarter than his parents (just ask him), even though he is a mere 7 years old. Seriously, though, he is doing really well in (charter) school and his observations on some of the absurdities of life surprise me for a child of his age. (Don't ask me to recount one because I can't remember one off of the top of my head; I wasn't breast-fed, obviously.)

Of course, this doesn't mean that a child without the potential for intelligence in the first place can become a genius if he's attached to a teat for the first year or so of his life, but every little bit helps. The story goes on to point out that mothers who do breast-feed their babies tend to be more involved in their children's upbringing, so that might explain at least part of the disparity between breast-fed and non-breast-fed babies.

But I have a feeling that the main reason is the perfect nutrition human breast milk provides for a human baby. It gives everything in precise amounts a growing infant needs and nothing he doesn't (assuming, of course, the mother eats a balanced diet and doesn't use drugs/alcohol while nursing). Cow's milk is for calves, and it doesn't fit the human baby nearly as well as mother's milk. Only a bunch of over-educated fools (those educated beyond their intelligence) could believe otherwise. And don't even get me started on that chemist's concoction known as formula.

One other benefit I've read about over the years is the lower incidence of breast cancer among women who have breast-fed their children. This only makes sense, as that's what they're there for, contrary to the popular notion that breasts exists for men to salivate over and rate. Speaking anecdotally, my own mother did not breast-feed any of her three children--although she wanted to try it my father forbade it, mainly because he thought it was low-class(!)--and she ended up dying of breast cancer at the relatively young age of 64. Whether or not this was related to eschewing nursing, no one can say definitively.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't see any downside at all to breast-feeding, with the possible exception of the convenience factor, which a good breast pump and a little planning can alleviate. Let's hope more women take up this vital part of child care; we sure as hell could use all the smart people we can get in this world. Lord knows there are more than enough dumb ones around, and they seem to be multiplying exponentially, to the detriment of the species.

Take care.

DAL357

Just another commodity

After ruminating on the subject for quite some time, I've finally reached the point of publicly disseminating my thoughts. And just what subject might that be, DAL357? The employment of illegal aliens/immigrants.

Labor is a commodity, nothing more or less. As with all commodities, its price will--or at least should--fluctuate with the supply of it and the demand for it, and in a free market, it would. A person should be free to sell or proffer his labor to any employer he likes, just as an employer should be able to accept or decline his offer. For example, perhaps an employer is offering a wage too low, in which case the prospective employee decides to look elsewhere. Perhaps the wage the job seeker wants is too high, in which case the prospective employer says no. If no one is coming to work for a company, the employer will eventually figure out that the price he is offering is too low and raise it enough to attract labor. If a job seeker can't find work at the price he demands, it may dawn upon him that the price he demands is too high and adjust it accordingly. Eventually, over time, both prospective employer/employee will reach a wage point on which they can both agree and the deal will be consummated.

The above is the way things should work in an unfettered economic market. It is a beautiful system that works extremely well, but it is wholly dependent upon both parties being free to pick and choose. Problems arise when outside (coercive) forces give either party a bit more weight than the other. The delicate dance of wages offered/accepted between employers/employees is upset when a third party dictates who must dance with whom.

That is the situation faced today by both employers and employees. Why would an employer choose to hire a person who is not in this land legally? Cost, plain and simple. Labor is one component in the production of a given product/service and if an employer can get that component at a lower cost, why would he spend more if he didn't need to? Do you routinely spend more for a product than you need to? If not, why then demand that an employer do so?

American workers, as productive as they may be, carry with them a lot of hidden costs that employers must bear (FICA/income taxes, medical benefits, the attendant bureaucracy needed to administer all of this, etc.). This is true of all labor, be it repetitive/menial or white collar. When we track it back to what is responsible for the high price of American labor, we find government mandates and regulations, of course. But that's too easy an answer to leave it there. Who is responsible for putting the government we have in place? We, the American people, are, via our insistence on wearing economic blinders, living as if life has no limits, and generally eschewing reality. (By the way, unions have done their fair share of elevating the cost of some American labor to ridiculous heights, but they have steadily lost influence over the years and are much less of a factor today, although the inflated-wage damage they've left in their wake is still with us.)

Those with a thorough understanding of libertarian principles (notice the small 'l') should not only understand, but be actually cheering the innovative ways some employers are circumventing the high cost of labor. Just like safe tax shelters/dodges, hiring off-the-book labor is another way of weakening the massive, liberty-consuming, beast government has become.

"But," you ask, "how will I make a living if there are folks willing to work for a lower wage than I?" as if it is an employer's obligation to pay you a wage that meets your needs. Perhaps you will have to adjust your spending to meet your wage. I realize that's anathema to a lot of people conditioned to believe that they're entitled to a certain level of prosperity, but that's the way it is. Who promised you a rose garden? Things change in life and you have to deal with the vagaries life throws in your path. If you want to make more money, make yourself more valuable to an employer than Jose Gonzalez by learning a skill/trade in demand and not relying on the government forcing an employer to hire you at an inflated rate merely because you were born here. Forcing an employer to hire available labor at the highest cost rather than the lowest cost is un-American.

Take care.
DAL357

Are YOU part of the problem?

If you think that candidate X, Y, or Z is going to make everything okay, you are a major part of the problem with this country.

If I have to explain what I mean, you are most likely a unwitting fifth-columnist fool.

Take care.

DAL357

Are they yankin' my chain?

The following news story sings the health-worthy praises of self-gratification. Actually, if this research is true, from a purely mechanical view of the subject, it just makes good sense; that stuff was meant to leave the body shortly after production, one way or another.


Masturbation may prevent prostate cancer Mon Apr 21, 7:32 PM ET

SUMMARY: Researchers find that men who masturbate frequently are at a reduced risk of cancer.

Frequent masturbation may help men cut their risk of contracting prostate cancer, Australian researchers have found. It is believed that carcinogens may build up in the prostate if men do not ejaculate regularly, BBC News reported on Wednesday. The researchers surveyed more than 1,000 men who had developed prostate cancer, and 1,250 men who had not. They found that men who had ejaculated the most between the ages of 20 and 50 were the least likely to get cancer. Men who ejaculated more than five times each week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Sexual intercourse may not have the same effect because of the higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, which could in turn raise the risk of cancer. "Had we been able to remove ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse, there should have been an even stronger protective effect of ejaculations," Graham Giles of the Cancer Council Victoria, who led the researchers, said in the article.

The prostate produces a fluid that is incorporated into ejaculation, which activates sperm and prevents them from sticking together. Studies on animals have shown that carcinogens like 3-methylchloranthrene can be harbored in the prostate. Frequent ejaculation encourages the cancer-inducing fluids to "flush out." (The Advocate) If you'd like to know more, you can find stories related to Masturbation may prevent prostate cancer .


Now THAT'S a load off my mind. Remember: use it or ooze it.

Take care.
DAL357

In case you were wondering...

I had prepared a rather long piece about the 5.56x45mm (M16/M4) versus the 7.62x39mm (AK47) round, complete with history, but I decided to shelve it in the interest of brevity and just say that when it comes to which cartridge I'd rather stake my life on between the two, I'd MUCH rather go with the 7.62x39mm. Call me crazy, but I think it's a much better thumper out to its designed practical range of 250-300 yards than the 5.56x45mm. Yeah, it's less controllable in full-auto fire (or so I've read) than the M16/M4 round (I have some U.S. army experience here), but I believe one round of 7.62x39mm will do the work of two (okay, maybe 1.5) 5.56x45mm rounds.

Anecdotal battlefield evidence suggests that the 5.56x45mm has a spotty record of decisively stopping enemy combatants. This is simply unacceptable, but the U.S. military has too much invested in the 5.56x45mm now to switch to another round with better terminal ballistics. The new 6.8 SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) round is a major step in the right direction, but I don't think it will see much use outside of the U.S. Special Forces. More's the pity for the regular U.S. soldier.

Take care.
DAL357

P.S. The photo above shows a ".223 Rem" round, which is, for all practical purposes, the same round as the 5.56x45mm.

Clinton outlines anti-crime plan

I saw the above headline this morning and I instantly wondered if this meant she'd put Bill behind bars, closely followed by herself. (Yeah, I know it's a cheap shot. Sue me.)

Take care.
DAL357

What our forefathers fought for?

Oh, come on now! I can understand a few extra pounds on some people, but this is over achievement on a grand scale.

When I was a kid, back in the '60s, I honestly don't remember seeing anywhere near the amount of obese people I see today; they were the exception rather than the rule. Seems today you can't throw a Big Mac in any direction without hitting one, and then having them become indignant because you didn't toss a Biggie Size order of fries too.

Perhaps the idea is to expand their girth so as to have more canvas for more hideous "body art," aka tattoos? Naw, that can't be it, that's just an unexpected bonus.

I really only have one other thing to say about this: Stop it, people, just stop it, okay? Like it or not, life does have some limits.

Take care (not to get like this).
DAL357

Texas, and a tangent

Whew! Did we ever need that!

Our recent whirlwind tour of San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas, were welcome diversions to an otherwise dreary Colorado winter (I’ll be 49 this year, so EVERY winter seems dreary, not to mention longer than the last). The wife and I, along with our son, took the opportunity afforded by Spring Break (formerly known as Easter Break pre PC) and headed south for warmer weather and old friends. After the short respite from cold weather we had in the Lone Star state, I now understand why older folks move to warmer climes after retirement: because warm weather opens up so many options, an especially important consideration when you begin to realize you won’t be around forever.

One thing that dawned upon me after I returned to Colorado’s second-largest city was how much I actually missed my old pal, Gary. You know, in the area of friends, women have it much easier than men as they age. A woman can maintain lifelong friendships because all she needs to keep them going is conversation. Men, on the other hand, relate to each other by doing things together: watching/playing sports, fishing, hunting, etc. As they age and take on familial/financial responsibilities/obligations, the time just doesn’t seem to be there anymore for these friendship-enhancing activities. It doesn’t help when distance separates the parties either. A woman need only pick up the phone and call her friend in another city or state and her friendship is refreshed. When the same amount of distance stands between men, however, it’s usually the beginning of the end. Activities are difficult to plan and execute regularly at long range. Plus, after a certain age, it seems most men’s capacity for making close friends diminishes. Such is life.

Getting back to the mini-vacation, we had a wonderful time and did all of the touristy things: the San Antonio river walk, the Alamo (hey, I know it’s a shrine to Texas' independence from Mexico, but what a needless, wasteful battle), the caverns tour, the botanical gardens, and the beach in Corpus Christi.

I think one of the reasons this getaway was so nice was our loose agenda. We’ve been on vacations before that were too stacked with activities to enjoy them. Another reason was our hosts’ hospitality; they were simply wonderful. A big thanks to you both!

Take care.
DAL357

The conservative function of price

With the price for a gallon of gasoline now over $3, and likely headed towards $4/gallon before too long (of course, nothing is ever for certain with commodities, at least in the short term), no doubt people who own--usually in partnership with their bank--SUVs and large pickup trucks are getting nervous. Who can blame them? There's nothing like filling up with $70+ worth of gasoline every week or two to make one start rethinking his transportation needs.

There was a time when it seemed like practically every second vehicle on the road was large and held a big engine. In my area, it still seems that way, but I think it's just due to past momentum. If what I've noticed at a small, local used car lot is any is any indication (see photo), I think the message may finally be filtering through to folks that the overall trend in gas prices is ever upward and vehicles with cavernous interiors and thirsty power plants drain too much discretionary capital. The idea of the low-mileage big vehicle was supported for years by cheap, abundant (those two words go well together in a [relatively] free market) oil, but it can now no longer support itself, at least by those without deep pockets.

What we are beginning to see today is the first manifestation of a principle in economics known as the conservative function of price. Gas prices are rising, so this catches the public's attention and more effort is made to use gas wisely. People, eventually, tend to act rationally when faced with economic choices which they cannot evade and change their behavior.

This change won't happen overnight, and my small sample of one local, independent car lot does not a national trend make, but for the purposes of this blog post, I am going to extrapolate what little information I have anyway. The photo above does not show very well all of the vehicles on the lot, but I can tell you that about 90% of them are full-size trucks and SUVs. I can also tell you that in the past the ratio was 40% large to 60% small/medium vehicles on that lot. The fact that so many large vehicles with robust energy appetites are available tells me that they are less popular than they used to be. Slowly, the smaller, fuel-efficient car is looking better and better to the average American, especially when faced with the equally distasteful choice of paying a large fuel bill or walking.

Take care.

DAL357

The cutie and comeuppance

The 'Net's been filled with stories over the last few days about now-former New York governor Eliot Spitzer's imbroglio with a top-dollar call girl (pictured) and his subsequent resignation. I don't really have much to add except that it's really sweet watching this poster boy for hypocrisy, one who has put so many people behind bars as a prosecutor for breaking what are often unconstitutional laws in the first place, twist in the wind. I can only hope that if it is proven that he used public monies for his trysts, he will spend time in prison with some of those same folks he helped put there. I won't go so far as to say that if this comes to pass that I hope he is violated sexually while in the pokey, no doubt as some of his victims have been, but that would be poetic justice.

This is the type of behavior and arrogance you get, folks, when government is peopled with career bureacrats/politicians.

Take care.
DAL357

Now, let's get back to digging that hole we're in.

As you may have heard, Ron Paul is now officially out of the 2008 presidential race, although some would say he was out before he even started. But those same people who might say that are also the same who will vote for either the Republican or Democrat party candidate and expect things to be miraculously different. The only person I'm aware of who actually offered substantive change to the American people, as opposed to just mouthing the word, was Ron Paul. Now that he is out, we can really get down to the business of business as usual.

Not that this surprises me. Americans are fated to follow their present course to its inevitable conclusion: a totalitarian state that mandates and directs practically all facets of life. Heck, we're already well on the way there as it is.

But what happens once we get there, be it in one generation or three? Somewhere down the line, people will realize that the government is made up of nothing more than people, people who can no more circumvent the laws of reality than any individual can. Those who are naive enough to believe a politician's/bureaucrat's promises/lies in exchange for ever-more helpings of their liberty/sovereignty will be bitterly disappointed when they find they have nothing left to give and they are getting a whole lot less than they bargained for. Unfortunately, I think this is the depth the American people will need to sink to before they start looking for true alternatives, not the same old pig with a new makeover.

If it comes to pass, perhaps the financial superstorm that appears to be looming just over the horizon will finally disgust Americans enough to jettison the two main parties (who are looking more and more the same to me every passing year), and embrace, however tentatively, a new approach. This is probably a wildly optimistic hope, but it's one which I still cling to.

Given their past history of behavior, though, I believe the more likely reaction to an economic catastrophe by American voters will be to clamor for more of the same poison that got them into the situation in the first place--government intervention in the economy. This is akin to a junky trying to kick his habit by taking more dope. Sure, they'll feel better for a bit, but when the temporary high is over they'll find the pit they're in has only grown deeper. Eventually, the junky will have to wise up, grow a backbone, realize that life encompasses both pleasure and pain and that it's not one long laugh-fest, and knock the monkey off of his back or he will die. Ditto the American public.

It takes a lot of moral character and courage (and a dollop of intelligence) for an epochal event like that to happen with a people, and I'm not so sure the aggregate of the American population is up to the task. You have no idea how wrong I hope I am.

Take care.
DAL357