DanJoaqinOz wrote: 'My dad was an American officer posted in France (I was born in Chateuroux, we lived for several years in Bordeaux)'

My dad was stationed at Chateauroux AFB in early 60s (First Sergeant in an MP unit). My younger sister was born at the base hospital. I was there too (only 3 or 4 though).

I think we lived in a trailer park on the base, over near some wharehouses.

Small world, isn't it!

who asked (me, I'm assuming) 'Did you get a edunation at Berea College?'

No sir, I went to the University of Kentucky. I was poor enough also to attend, but I wanted to go to law school at the time & Berea did not have an undergraduate major that I thought would prepare me for law school (ended up not going to law school, though).

Haven't said so before, but I sure honor your service in Vietnam. Served with many people who were in it, none of them had a good time.

who posted the above screed: What the fuck does this libel suit have to do with Sen. Clinton & the 'glass ceiling'?!

Go over to Alt.Losers.Who.Hate.Women & post it for some of your fellow dints to gnash their teeth about.

When I was in college, I took an English literature course where the first work my teacher (the great Dr. Gardener) had us read Beowulf in old English.

Sheesh, that wasn't any fun. In that form it is basically a prose-poem, sort of like the Kalevala (though, thank God, not near as long).

Old English doesn't have many, how should I say this, 'modern' English words in it. IMO, if one of us was sent back 1000 years to England, I don't think we could make ourselves understood (as they got ready to burn us for being a witch/demon).

As for this 'All-CGI' movie, I don't like it. It looks like a video game.

Anonymous coward at around 0830 Eastern time said: 'Frodo destroys the ring.'.

Hate to break it to you dude/dudette, but Frodo doesn't destroy the Ring. It is Gollum who accidently falls into the pit while he is capering about after regaining the Ring from Frodo.

Frodo had finally succumbed & was about 15 minutes from Sauron showing up when Gollum interceded.

Oh. and he doesn't 'live' either. Frodo went to Aman, but since he is not Elven, he lived there for an undetermined amount of time & then died as all men do.

karrsic asked: 'can any of the obsessive, frothing, haters at the table here provide *any* evidence that ties Bond's incredible skill to steroids?'

Steroids make you stronger & allow you to train much more intensely, which also will make you stronger. A home run is when the ball leaves the playing field (in fair territory). Generally, it takes more strength to hit one that far, vice hitting one on the playing field somewhere.

A home run is automatically 1 run scored (plus more for whoever is on base). If you take steroids & turn doubles (or long outs) into homers, then you are scoring runs that shouldn't have been scored (IMO).

If Mr. Bonds had never taken steroids, maybe he would have set the career doubles record (an hoary record held by Mr. Speaker, I believe). Instead, he cheated the sport & teams who opposed him & for that, all his records post 1998 should be stricken from the books.

Mr. McGwire, Mr. Sosa, Mr. Palmiero, Mr. Camminetti, Mr. Giambi, etc. etc. should also all have their records stricken as well. Any player who it can be proved used steroids should be disciplined (fined and/or banned).

Mr. Rose (who only bet on his team says apologist Mikes Pace) gave his mafia gambling buddies excellent info when he declined to bet on his team. Wish I had that info, maybe Mikes did & made alot of money.

karrsic said: 'But one makes an extraordinary leap to go from "steroids make you stonger" to "steroids are the reason Bonds hit homeruns rather than doubles."'

One would have to have the crazy idea that it takes more strength to jack a ball out of the playing area rather than hit it 280' between fielders to support such a freaky concept as you outlined above.

if Tom Bachtell does the drawings of the Salon staff that appear next to their columns? Look sorta the same.

a quick link on the page to the first installment of drivel that I brain-dumped last week.

I've already forgotten what Camenbert, oops, Kansas was up to last week.

In talking about the upset winners who made the Grey Cup, you said: 'That sound you heard and couldn't recognize Sunday was CBC executives going, "Dang. Dang!" I didn't know what it was either, but it made me drool for some reason.'

Shouldn't that quote have been "Dang. Le Dang!"?

Obama/Edwards 08!

Edwards/Obama 08 would be fine too.

I tore my ACL/MCL about 23 years ago & my knee has never been right from that day on. I hope the Vikings look at the big picture & ensure he is 100% before he returns.

The player will always say he is OK (as King outlined in article). This is a decision best made by the owners (let him play or hold him out).

I'm hoping both WVU & Missouri win their games next week & end up in the championship game. I'm afraid one of them will stumble (probably Missouri) & then we'll get OSU in there (with another 60 day layoff to get them out of football shape).

FWIW, my Heisman top 3: 1) D. McFadden, 2) T. Tebow, 3) P. White

If Elephantman (Homo loxodonta dippus) thinks Edwards is 'loathsome', then I like him!