stevendedalus

F i r s t C i t y - S t a t e in Art JoeUser Forums

A hundred thousand years of science, mathematics and intra-solar system flight was the trademark of an ancient planet circling a star that hung on the fringe of a galaxy so distant that it actually scraped against the shell of space. Ultimately its inhabitants discovered that the space-time continuum was but an invention fashioned out of the limitations of their own perceptual mechanics. After mega-calculations and tedious conditioning, they were able to jump out of space and time at will

Atlantis Regained in Art JoeUser Forums

There was a mermaid unlike any other. Mermaids are sleek long-haired beauties that like to be together, frolic and swim the seven seas. This one had a round, chubby, happy face, which too often was transfigured to long, sagging and sad by the cruel wagging tongues and flapping fins of her sleek cousins. These lovelies of every sailor's dream called her Walrus because of her overbite and lumpy size. They would have nothing to do with her and would not allow her to accompany them when they follow

Reply to Illegal Immigrants Are Humans, Too in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Illegal immigration began with the agriculture, particularly in California needing its cheap labor. It is a myth that Americans are above demeaning jobs--the booming temp agencies show this. Nevertheless, the talk of illegal applies only to Mexicans. What about the Cuban exile take over of Miami while the Haitian boat people are denied admission. If you're going to be against illegal immigration, be consistent. And by the way wasn't NAFTA supposed to solve this problem?--in jest.

Reply to Whatever Happened to Modesty? in Consumer Issues JoeUser Forums

Right on! My wife used to say in viewing commercials that a woman has no privacy anymore!

Reply to Mortality in Blogging JoeUser Forums

With so many conflicting reports on dieting, it is indeed vexing, but at 75 I'm still drinking coffee and find it stimulating. Of course, you could always switch to de-caf.

Reply to Here's a Spoon: Eat My Ass in Welcome JoeUser Forums

Professors are notorious for sending out negative vibes--so "transcend" his crap.

Reply to A Nosedive into Reality: Part I in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I'm glad to hear you are meeting the challenge. A journal is a great way to know yourself. When I taught high school, I insisted that students keep a journal in order to ferret out on their own how this confusing world relates to them.

Reply to American Transcendentalism: Artistic Sense of Religion in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Transcendentalism is not primarily religiously motivated. It stems more or less from sensorium-driven universe that is beyond but at the same time within the stuff we're made of. In art it was mistaken to mean transcending nature and therefore anything goes.

Reply to You Wanted my Opinion Dear Friend... So there you have it. in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Very witty foreshadowing, still, I wonder why your friend would want help to find a man? Why not accept the challenge to make Phillip a man?

Reply to Class Warfare: or telling it like it is? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Yes, we are heading in the direction where we will no longer be talking about welfare cases and homelessness, but will be commenting about ourselves who can no longer count on upward mobility.

Reply to Class Warfare: or telling it like it is? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Messy: You can't be serious--I simply will not permit you to believe what you say. Though there are homeless by choice in the end, they did not choose that in the beginning and after years of frustration and neglect by society and indeed by themselves, they have given up hope. Welfare is an interim phase to help people makeit on their own; but it cannot be done in a vacuum--jobs are needed even if itmeans revival of the WPA.

Reply to Politics & Religion in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Good point about "watered down" religion. Too many constantly refer to religion on public matters, thus spreading it thin--and indeed becomes tiresome and "worthless."

Haiti: Bicentennial in History JoeUser Forums

Two hundred years after declaring independence and being the first in this hemisphere to end slavery of Africans, Haiti has absolutely nothing to celebrate. Its history has been total chaos — assassinations, military coups, invasion and occupation of Santo Domingo, a long line of leaders as emperors and lifetime dictators, and continuous abject poverty. How can this be? Haitians were indoctrinated by Spanish and most notably the French — let alone memory of their ruthless trib

Whatever Happened to Modesty? in Consumer Issues JoeUser Forums

A strange article in “The Nation” of this week, co-authored by women apparently versed in ’tween and adolescent matters of what’s selling. They cite a stat from a market research firm [NPD] that the sale of thongs climbed to $610 million and $150 million of which from girls ranging in age 13-17. Manufacturers are treating these like T’ shirts with all kinds of naughty and cute inscriptions and logos from Dr. Suess Cat to Muppets, not to mention a puppy thong with the inscription “Wanna Bone

Reply to A Nosedive into Reality: Part I in Blogging JoeUser Forums

You're at the threshold of finding yourself--keep probing and good luck. It's not all fate, if you keep up challenging yourself.

Reply to 2003 Monte Carlo SS in Consumer Issues JoeUser Forums

1939 Ford Coupe with rumble seat 1939 Buick Sedan 1950 Studebaker 1953 Mercury Convertible 1951 Studebaker [second car] 1963 Ford Country Squire 1964 Ford Falcon 1968 Ford Country Squire 1970 Pontiac Firebird 1978 Country Squire 1979 Thunderbird 1981 Mercury Bobcat 1982 Plymouth Champ 1989 Hyundai 1991 Mazda 1990 Mark 7 1994 Accord 2003 Hyundai Sonata How's that for auto history!

Reply to Email Dependent in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Did you at one time inadvertently change your password? -- or sometimes the central computer loses it.

Politics & Religion in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Politics and religion don’t mix — easier said than done. True, there is the separation clause that ostensibly keeps religion — instruction and display — out of schools. The clause also prevents public display of religion on public property. Christmas, however, being the only religious national holiday, gives rise to controversy over religious displays, except for lights and perhaps modest articles of faith. The tradition of a national holiday lends genuineness to the posture that the natio

Reply to Really bad Christmas Songs in Blogging JoeUser Forums

As a kid "White Christmas" was the rage and Bing Crosby's rendition was number one. I guess, I'm an odd ball and prefered Charlie Spivaks rendition with his glorious singing group and sweet trumpet [coronet actually]. To this day, though, I still get chills over Nat's "Christmas Song."

Reply to Women need to look out for each other in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Is it possible, though improbable, that heels help lift the extra weight off the soles and perhaps improve circulation?

Reply to 15 Common Opinions Debated in the United States in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

1. Beta lost out because of Sony's arrogance that precluded their taking the competition seriously. I attributed the same in a blog concerning IBM and Apple.

Reply to Japan Criticized for Honoring War Dead in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I'm with Poi on this one. Honoring those who fought for their country right or wrong. But Mach, honoring the dead by putting up an in-your-face shrine is another story. No, I would not want to see a statue of a Japanese soldier at Pearl Harbor. And what about Poi's comment about Mao and Chiang-Kai-shek's atrocities? I'm sure there are shrines in China for Mao and Chiang's in Taiwan.

Reply to To Atheist & Believers in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Thanks, Dan. I'll try to heed your very brief words of wisdom in face of the fact that you can't teach old dogs new tricks.

Reply to To Atheist & Believers in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Perhaps the Grecian gods were really aliens; and they surely did take sides in the Trojan War, which was a kind of precursor to the Vietnam War--ten years of hell.

Diversity Plus or Minus in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

What do we do about this diversified society that have as many mores as law on the books? Any society which presupposes that mores are necessary to promote the health and stability of a nation is back to the 17th Century bending to the will of the Puritans. Mores and cultural sects have no place in the philosophy of law and morality. As abrasive as it may be to public opinion, respecting the cultural relativity within each society must endure just as parents must grimace over the latest fad