...and it seems that the most inarguable position is the plight of the poor person who has to relinquish a portion of their already under-sized space to their morbidly obese neighbor who cannot even come close to fitting in their seat.

As I, and others have mentioned, I pay for a unit of space. I am entitled to all of it, to do with as I please within the limits of basic consideration towards others. I bitterly resent any attempt by anyone to take any part of what I paid for away from me, especially when it interferes with my comfort and safety.

It would be one thing if there were always enough empty seats on every flight so that a large person could sit there if they wish. I don't have any problem with letting them, or anyone else - for any reason, do that. Strictly speaking, is that fair, based on a sum total of resources used? No, but few things in life are. I can live with that part of it.

But what I refuse to accept is being forced, against my will, to get less than what I rightly paid for- especially in light of what I paid for is barely adequate to begin with.

This has nothing to do with compassion for fat people, nor should it be an excuse to show fat people unkindness or cruelty.

At 6' and 230# I still fit in my seat, but am far from skinny. On smaller craft, carelss movements of me an/or my baggage have the potential to injure or cause great discomfort to others- especially small children. I do the best I can to be considerate of my neighbors in every way. That idea never leaves my conciousness- on a plane, or anywhere else.

How the airlines should manage this problem is an entirely different discussion- and a very complicated one at that. It is good to see dialog on this issue. I hope someone comes up with an equitable solution soon.

The new Obama defense budget will actually rise about 4 percent.

Now where's my damned pitchfork?

...our nation's nauseating, wall-to-wall public piety is strictly pro forma. It's a kind of ideological window dressing for a social and economic system based on the ruthless exploitation of human beings and natural resources, which is about as far from the teachings of that radical Jewish carpenter from Nazareth as you can possibly get.

I wonder how that sentiment, as true and important as it is, would go over in my little corner of Eastern Tennessee? LOL!

(Mental note to self- call Lamar and get current billboard rates)

Really, I expected him to weigh in by now... could be, of course, that he's busy planning the next meeting of his local L5 Society.

Oh yeah, all of this talk about "99% of all Christians" being superstitious fundamentalist religious fanatics? Show me the stats. I contend that the sort of philosophical Christianity I practice is a lot more common than those outside of the tradition think. Especially those with agendas depending on believing otherwise.

From your mouth to God's ears!

I really dig your take on spiritual practice, and share your disgust of ego-based Christianist conceits.

Having recently moved to East Tennessee, I expected a lot more "church ladies" coming to my door to tell me that I'm going to hell. So far, that has not been the case. (Hmm... wonder if the UU sticker on my car scared them off! tee-hee)

Certainly, the Southern Baptist thing is very much alive and well here, but folks here seem so much more... shall I say, "accessible" than I dared hope... so far!

Having said that, perhaps you can tell us a little about where you grew up and/or where you live now, and how that has shaped your worldview and how you get by in your particular social climate.

Thanks!

Let's see...

Sharp, corrosion-resistant stake. Check!

Looking for a convenient, and large, cross-road. Check!

Programming portable signs, "Road Closed, Excavation Ahead" Check!

Got it!

Thanks.

Comic Relief would be a more apt term.

I wonder if those evangelicals would realize just how far from the christian ideals their view on torture is if it was pointed out to them?

Not likely, given that a frightenly large number of Christianists have a world view that has been shaped more by Tim LaHaye than by the Gospels.

Lest we forget, the ideological shift hasn't been confined only to politics. If Jesus were to suddenly materialize today, he'd be promptly whisked away by the DHS.

...The same is true with accidents or abductions. You're either 0% or 100%. You're either gonna fall, or you're not; you're gonna drown, or you're not; you're gonna be abducted, or you're not. And all you have to know is, can I live with what happens at 100%? If the answer is, "no," then don't do it, and don't let your kid do it.

Um, no. There is no certainty. That's not how LIFE WORKS!

If the answer to your question is, in fact, no, then DON'T have kids, EVER.

Then go and blow your brains out before something bad happens to you.