Have you ever stopped to think that maybe everyone approaches science with a presupposition? What's the difference between an atheist scientist vs a believing scientist? Do you truly believe the atheist would be objective if he/she came across evidence supporting a creationist worldview? I for one do not believe so. We are all human. As such, we tend to see everything based on our own internal template of the world (whether it's science, history, current events, global warming, etc....).

When I was younger I collected a lot of different things. Most were silly, like: brochures (mostly tourist ones), roach clips (decorative only), penpals from all over the world (not a silly one, actually), earrings, concert ticket stubs, posters, Detroit Tiger memorabilia, and baseball cards. The collection I invested the most money into, however, centered around my biggest obsession: U2. I had an extremely large and valuable U2 collection, complete with some rarities. I had special edition records, the original official fan club mags, bootleg albums, every magazine cover, etc... However, when my husband and I were newlyweds and short of cash, you guessed it, I had to sell some of the stuff to make ends meet. Luckily, I still have quite a bit left, but I don't add to it much anymore (my money goes elsewhere with 4 kids). Other current (less costly) collections that I have: old cameras (from rummage sales), books, sayings and favorite poems (that I write down in one of those blank books), and Russell Crowe movies via TiVo.

I cry at nearly everything. I can't sit through a single episode of Little House on the Prairie (ask my poor dh) without cying. Perhaps one could say I'm a conniosseur of the tear-jearker genre (which seems to be one of my favories). But, to keep it short, I'm going to list the ones that made me cry the HARDEST. Movies: The Color Purple (when her sister leaves and also at the very end.) The Shawshank Redemption The Joy Luck Club (again, at the end) It's a Wonderful Life Life is Beautiful (saw in the theatre and cried all the way home) Titanic (again, at the very end -- must be a theme here with sad endings) Gallipoli (beautiful and tragic movie) The English Patient Hotel Rwanda (cried the whole way through) Lorenzo's Oil (hysterical crying, like everyone else here has said already) Cool Hand Luke Children of Men Books: Angela's Ashes (throughout the entire book) Sign of the Beaver (at the end) Island of the Blue Dolphins (I read this and the above book aloud to my sons--at times they could barely understand what I was saying because I was crying so hard) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe To Kill a Mockingbird East of Eden The Pianist Old Yellar Love Story (never saw the movie, but the book is very, very sad)

I once had dinner with poet Allen Ginsburg. I've also met members of the 80's bands The Alarm and Rhythm Corp, and I've gotten autographs from several former Tiger baseball players (Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammel, Lou Whitaker, and hall-of-famer Al Kaline, plus others). Also, when my Mom was young Billy Graham came to sing (not speak--he was in a men's quartet) at her church. And when he was running for president, Richard Nixon came to her place of work and she shook his hand. Here's an interesting one: my uncle served in WWII and was in Paris immediately after the war. He and his men were ordered to guard some boxes out on the sidewalk. They got curious and he opened one of the boxes. Inside was the Mona Lisa.

toasted bagel with cream cheese

I want to thank everyone for responding and keeping this a civil conversation. If I could've done this poll over I'd have added Independent/3rd Party to each line to make this more inclusive. I've also voted a 3rd party in the past (and, in fact, lean more toward a party that is not Democrat or Republican), but for the most part I vote for one of the main candidates just to prevent certain candidates from getting in (lesser of two evils sort of thing). It's unfortunate what a stranglehold the two parties have on the system and how impossible they've made it for others to get ahead.

I find them fascinating also. I once attended a 2-day seminar for a previous job on the differences in brain development between boys/girls. Besides fine motor skills, boys are also generally behind girls in things such as hearing and sight. The presenter explained that teachers who made the boys sit up front in the classroom had far fewer behavior problems simply because the boys were now able to see and hear what was going on. I always try to remember this when I'm screaming my kids names down the hallway and they claim they never heard me. ;)

I want to encourage you when it comes to the "I want to die" statements he is making. My oldest, non-LD ds (who is now 12) went through a stage at around your son's age when he would say the same thing (for the same reason). At the time I was horrified. The things I tried were to sit him down every time he said those words and explain his need to never say such words again (almost as if he'd said the "f" word). I may have gotten emotional too (crying and praying aloud, you get the drift), which left no mistake in ds mind that saying those words was not a minor thing. Anyway, something must have sank in and he stopped. Looking back, I believe it was some sort of phase (a manipulative one, on his part), but it did end.

My dh and I were discussing how many of our friends/family are favoring a particular candidate who is not in their "declared" party and would vote the candidate in as president if given the opportunity. I wonder how pervasive this is across the country so have decided to post this poll. Please, I do not want to start any controversial posts, but am genuinely curious as to how many cross-over voters there are. If you want to jot a reason why, I challenge you to do so without naming names or giving away any discernible hints as to who you are talking about (quite the challenge, but should be fun). Also, I've only listed the top two candidates in each party due to space constraints (and reasonable probability of these being true outcomes). Also, I apologize to all who consider themselves third party people (Libertarian, Green Party, etc...), but, again space prevents including all. (Board Admin: If this breaks down into arguements, please remove this poll, and I apologize in advance) The reason I would cross over and vote for my particular alternative party candidate, is mostly because I'm not excited about my own party's candidates, plus I'm pretty inspired by this other candidate.

I'm ashamed to say that it was due to my 10yos defiant/head-butting behavior that lead to me putting all the kids back into ps. Now, my dh says no hs again ever. My ds is doing great in ps and is adored by all his teachers, but I always wonder if God was testing me and I failed. Ya' know what I mean? I'm thinking that it's always darkest before the dawn, and maybe if I'd held out for the long haul (not caved to the stress) a wonderful blessing was waiting around the corner (of course what parent doesn't worry as their child reaches adolescence?) My advice: Don't give up!

Actually here's a much better link for more info on the Franklin Library: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Library

I'm not sure if this helps but my dream has always been to collect the entire Franklin Library, which was a division of The Franklin Mint. They produced fine collector edition books over three decades ending in 2000. They took the 100 greatest novels of all time and re-printed into the most beautiful leather-bound, gold-edged books. I own one (Pride and Prejudice), that I found at a rummage sale. They are out-of-print, but not that expensive to purchase used (well, sometimes they get pricey). If I had extra money (keyword here is "extra") I'd buy them all. Here's a link at abebooks that has pics: http://www.abebooks.com/docs/Community/Featured/franklin.shtml?nsa=1 Anyway, I am also a former English major finding it impossible to pitch books. My dh built one whole wall of shelves (ceiling to floor) and it's already filled. I still have my college-day anthologies (on the shelf), but prefer to read the individual novels.

I bet Heath was named after the Healthcliff as portrayed in the 1939 Wuthering Heights MOVIE (not the book). Sir Laurence Olivier in that film played one of the most heart-wrenching and hauntingly romantic characters on screen ever (imho). I've never read the book.

Me too! Those two are great at that aren't they?

Movie (tie): The Matrix 12 Monkeys TV: Antiques Roadshow

My favs: Alive: Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Norton, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Chris Cooper, Will Ferrell, Bruce Willis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Drew Barrymore, Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro. Deceased: Sir Laurence Olivier, William Holden, Bette Davis and Cary Grant

There are hundreds of videos at http://www.vh1classic.com

My brother runs a plumbing/heating company and if customers had the extra $ to pay their overdue bills my brother might not have to weekly consider laying off workers just to make ends meet. I'm sure his company is not alone.

Everyone I know says I make the best fudge they have ever tasted (it's the only culinary skill I can brag about, actually). The key is to make sure you boil it long enough (if you want to double the recipe, make sure you double the boiling time). Here it is: Festive Fudge 2 cups sugar 1 stick butter 3/4 cups evaporated skim milk 12 marshmallows dash of salt 6 oz semi-sweet choc chips 1 tsp vanilla Bring first 5 ingrediants to a boil over medium-high heat stirring constantly. Once to a very rapid boil, set timer and boil for 5 minutes (keep stirring constantly). Then, turn off heat and add semi-sweet choc. chips and vanilla. Stir until chips are completely melted. Pour into pan and cool.

How far back do you keep tax returns? Maybe they'd have clues for you. Instead of exact months, just use the years (ie. 2001-2002). For the schools, can you locate your diplomas? If not, it shouldn't be too difficult to get the dates on the phone from the institutions.

I could continue on counting until I got to the subsequent levels, but would not want y'all to throw me off the boards sorry, but also thanks for your patience

Whoopeee! I just found out!!

so, how many licks does it take

my just visiting status

to get out of