Very strange. I say this as someone who used to have a short fuse. I never felt this way.

I know I'd be tempted to do my best Miss Manners impression: "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had plans to have dinner with cousin. I'd hate to pre-empt that, so lets plan dinner for a time when you aren't occupied."

There's no evidence to that fact, though it's a common misconception. Most allergies are grass allergies and bees don't make their honey from that anyway. Furthermore, the nectar doesn't have pollen in it. So feel free to ignore that advice! :)

To be most effective, I'd suggest you pick verses that have a special meaning to you. Then you can talk about the verse in addition to memorizing it.

Have you read "The Gift of Fear"? Often, the restraining order doesn't solve anything, just ratchets it up a notch. For your own safety, you should read that book, then stop responding in any way to this psycho. Figure out how to take care of your own security, then don't let this psycho get the satisfaction of any kind of reaction.

I seem to recall God being pretty specific about the temple. The Apostles continued in the temple after Jesus (Acts 3, Acts 21, etc.). Can you point to where it says the temple wasn't needed?

AFAIK they've never been challenged on constitutional grounds. They're not part of the enumerated powers, and would likely be ruled unconstitutional if challenged IMO. Just as Roe v. Wade was an abhorrent decision from a legal perspective (regardless on where you stand on abortion) and should be overturned. If the words of our founding documents don't mean anything, and written law can be ignored at will, then the only reason the government remains is because it has the arms and is doing everything at the point of a gun. I hope that's not the case, and that words still have meaning. If it's not, God help us all, because another civil war will be inevitable.

As has been noted, the term "general welfare" doesn't mean "give people money". It meant laws applied to ensure the freedoms of the public generally, not to enrich or empower select individuals. That's the idea behind an Originalist philosophy of constitutional and statutory interpretation. To understand what the authors of written law and constitution meant and apply it that way. If you just make the written word mean whatever you want it to mean, there's no point in having written law, and we have anarchy.

And I believe there is no greater evil in this world than to take away our moral choices. I think the people who have risked their lives to come to freedom bolster that point.

Seriously, take the birth certificate talk to a s/o thread. Also, keep in mind Obama is a community organizer. He doesn't calm controversy, he uses it to his advantage.

You're misusing the term "partisan". The board rules limit links to federal or state gov't resources, but don't talk about links in terms of partisanship. The definition of "partisan" in those rules is: "1. The discussion must remain nonpartisan. You may discuss specific issues, policies, and politicians. Sweeping statements about Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, etc. will be deleted."

Wow. How many doctors have you talked with who've dropped or don't take Medicare patients? You might find out differently. See, the reason doctors are dropping Medicare is because Medicare drastically cuts pay tables for procedures, etc. irrespective of costs (this is how it keeps costs down). Doctors are finding they can't afford to treat medicare patients, because it isn't covering their own costs. How is this a failure of the medical profession?

I believe the incivility from constituents is a response to the incivility of the government. It was Specter who told a different group "we have to make decisions very fast", etc. If health insurance reform is so important, it should be deliberative instead of being rammed through. And we citizens often feel ignored when we make polite comments, and when gov't officials lie about what's in the bill. If they would slow down, I think things would be more civil, but no less resolute.

Not that long ago, it was over-the-top to say that the US gov't would nationalize banks or car companies. It's certainly not over-the-top to consider the intimidation tactics that can be brought to bear against political foes. Especially since it's been done in the past.

The shower should peak tonight, with about 60 meteors / hour. The Bad Astronomer has some info and tips on viewing. Jupiter is also up tonight and it's been beautiful lately.

If you forward email, do you think that might include the names of people?

According to 5 U.S.C. § 552a, United States agencies, including the Executive Office of the President shall, “maintain no record describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity.”

Do you realize how loaded this question is? I'm for health care reform. But I'm against this health care reform. It's called an agenda because it's part of what the president wants to get done. The word "agenda" is judgement-neutral. Your scare quotes around the word are oddly placed.

The president has openly lied about supporting a single-payer system in the past. Linda Douglass (from the WH) contributed to that lie, telling people to submit arguments they found "fishy" to the WH (thus violating the law). The WH is pro-Obama's agenda. It is not non-partisan any more than the president is.

The WH has nothing to do with the bill yet. Only HR3200 exists.

Heh, dangermom & I can sing the 3-2-1 contact theme, as well as the theme to "The Bloodhound Gang" (today's episode, part 4 of 14...).

Lately, our fave has been "How It's Made".

Is 12 million. Took a while for me to find, but that's how many are currently on their program. So, how much should a person running such an organization make? And how would it affect premiums? BTW, the last time gov't got involved in CEO compensation, they created the current situation. Search for "How Bill Clinton Helped Boost CEO Pay".

The present them (preferably in a s/o thread). You might just convince me.

Any belief system that includes telling other people (not in your employ) what they should make is based on some degree of irrationality. If not envy, then what? Pride? You know better? That's silly. If my views were based on greed, I'd want to take your stuff. Freedom means keeping my own stuff and using it how I see fit.