You didn't cause me any pain. I was only trying to support your story with another one, because those are the kinds of situations that are very difficult for others to understand if they haven't been through one like it. Any pain I suffered was at that time, and even then we were all very clear that we were doing the right thing.

Still, even if your story had touched a nerve, that would not necessarily be a bad thing. Healing occurs in layers and in stages, and is always ongoing. Sometimes a little stimulus helps it along the way.

I had to go back and re-read Sysprog's comment, because originally I had not read it the same way you did. And it seems to fit with what I wrote above. From other experiences, I know that grief never really ends or goes away, it just refines, and we grow, and we learn compassion. If we're lucky. [Sysprog has been more open and personal lately than in times past. And that probably has nothing to do with you.]

However, you always seem to feel things more deeply (and sooner) than others do in these threads ('ceptin maybe bebop-o), so for me you really are that canary I used to describe you in an earlier thread.

Thank you for posting that... but I'm going to have to read it tomorrow morning. It's too late now for me to retain anything.

That's it for me. It's a night.

Bipolar does not equal shyness.

Three pages still to go before I catch up. So, I don't know if you have settled on a Secretary of Chocolate yet, but if not, I would certainly like to be considered. I am completely qualified. [Green & Black's for me.]

I appreciate that you never (or almost never) say anything really cheesy.

I used to love cheese, but it didn't love me back. So now I avoid it. The so-called substitutes are really not.

* * *

Have we reached 1000 yet?

I'll look out for cheese flavored Heresy chocolate kisses. -- bebop-o

How about "piepulist" as new term for wedge-issue politics? Or piepulism, if you prefer.

...and Glenn has posted a new topic. Upstairs!

Yes, and by cheesy wedge-issues, at that.

What are they quaffing? And while on the job, too!

Kristol debuts with a "fact" that requires correction.

Josh Marshall has the goods:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/2008/01/whoopsie_kristo.php

I had the same reaction to Michael Scherer's article that you did... that he was being ironic.

Of course, I also knew that he had recently left Salon to join Time, and I thought he was drawing a line in the sand (or something like that).

re: bethincary's critique of the 60's; ondelette's question, and Dirigo's wondering about "our" Shakespeare...

It's important to remember that we were founded by Puritans, who were not known for encouraging either experimentation or the arts.

(Of course, there were the Shakers, but that celibacy thing worked against them.)

And I honestly think that there is still a very strong Puritan strain in our work ethic that prohibits that kind of creativity from flourishing. So, when it does, as it did in the 60's, it's quite an achievement. And yet it must be stopped.

Let us know how it goes...

Apparently, quite a few attendees at the Boren forum are also very skeptical of the potential benefits of an independent candidacy...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/us/politics/08bloomberg.html
?ex=1357448400&en=2ad5993c0f5add96&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

No worries!

...maybe the fix is in against McCain. The war being his signature issue...

Some speculation that the BushFamily is quietly promoting Mitt:

http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2008/01/did-bush-just-k.html

41 already hosted him for his Faith in America speech, and now 43 is talking down the economy... an issue that favors Mitt over McCain.

It's beginning to be too much inside baseball... even for me!

I can imagine you working for a Shaker cabinet maker...

Would you believe that I just last night finished making myself a hat?

Perhaps he might have been our Shakespeare... if he hadn't disappeared so mysteriously.

He wrote both poetry and fiction, made films, painted, and wrote and performed music... and he did all of these things well.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/07/04/050704crat_atlarge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weldon_Kees

I still cringe when I hear Janis Joplin's lyrics used to "sell" ...not to mention all of the elevator versions of Beatles classics.

I could go on and on and on, but why bother? I would just be whining. Right?

Seconding Carolyn...

There is no good reason that the networks should not be providing free air time for political commercials. Good Grief! They are using the public's air waves, for which they are licensed (supposedly) and required to offer something in return for the Public Good. I can't think of anything more "good" than that.

There is also the delicate issue of GWB's abuses of our Constitution. I really think they need to be dealt with: the spying, eavesdropping, torture, rendition, ALL of it. Of course, it would probably require an omnibus bill, but if we replace enough Republicans and DINOs in this next election, it may be entirely possible.

Thank you so much for asking!

One more thing... we need to reverse the media consolidation. No good can come of what's already happened, and allowing any more can only make things even worse.

So, I took the test, and Surprise! Surprise! I'm closest to Obama and furthest from Thompson on our electoral landscape.

However, I really resent the fact they they've already removed both Dodd and Biden from the mix. Whether in or out of the race, they are still part of this particular election's landscape.