It is poignantly ironic to me that I might be holding some institutional memory. Military brat that I was, I didn't know until my mid to late twenties that it takes me about three years to get used to living in a place. And now, here I am going on about a 350-yr-old tree, and my memory of certain threads here. I once thought it exotic if someone still lived in the place they were from.

btw, more than once, I've wanted to walk away, head in hands, too, but there was one thread quite awhile ago, where I was drawing the fire, and just about to give up, but the tide finally turned. I had hung in there and returned with links to support my points, and some of the regulars (I was still a newbie) were appreciative. So, whenever I feel that way now, I just remember then. (Except for the L-wars; I can't abide those. ;~) [Note: Different screen name then, not in these archives.]

I have had a similar reaction to LWM lately. Whatever verbal wars he was off fighting seem to have had an effect on the tone that he brought back with him to UT. And what might sometimes seem combative to others (given the nature of cyber-space) really is a kind of patience that he has for setting the record straight and trying to maintain it. I can't do what he does, but I can appreciate the effort.

As always you are a revelation!

Thank you for that post of the poem by Yeats, and especially for his reaction to its being published.

Me, too. Thank you very kindly for the Thich Nhat Hanh poem that you posted so early this morning.

I wouldn't have known to describe it that way, but it certainly fits.

I am not a buddhist, but I appreciate your being one.

I'd like to recommend a book to you, too.

The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd by Mary Rose O'Reilley

You may have already read it, but if not, I think you'd find it interesting. She's very engaging.

...those who wish to benefit from the practical applications of Science, will also sign a "pledge" that they are benefiting from the study of evolution.

Just think of the decreased costs of health insurance in congress alone!

;~)

FYI... Glenn did post short update on the previous thread, with a link to this:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Y2E4ZWI2YWZkYjMzNzljMmU4N2ZmNTRiNTM2MjhhZGQ=

Yep. And, it's a good thing, too, that he has enough loyal readers to keep him on the straight and narrow... fact-wise. ;~)

...the timing and your contacts with UMass may all come to something in the end, anyway. We'll just have to let it play out. But, I agree with RMP; don't sweat it.

re: that Blackwater training ground being considered by a small California town? (I mentioned it in a previous thread, wondering why such a thing shouldn't be an obvious no-brainer... i.e., Hell, no!)

Well... Egregious at FDL has an update: all five of the pro-Blackwater members of the planning board were booted out by the voters!

more here: http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/13/voters-boot-out-pro-blackwater-board/

Senators like Dodd and Feingold have known Reid for decades, and must have known what choosing him as their leader would mean. So why did they agree to it?

My understanding is that Dodd was also up for the Senate's Democratic leadership role, so I'm not sure that he "agreed" to Reid in that role.

Am I mistaken?