9/5     http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14673701
        http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/04/poll.election/index.html
        Alright guys. November's coming. Bad news for the Republican.
        \_ If there's only one Republican, I can see where there is a problem.
        \_ All politics are local and current.  Never cry for joy or for pain
           based on random polls months ahead of an election.

9/5     http://tinyurl.com/hzkaq (nypost) "HOPING ISRAEL CAN BE DEFEATED"
        Some choice quotes from Muslim "moderates" in the region.
        \_ it's so sad that it's kind of funny.  the sad part is that
           1. Hezbollah won the hearts and mind of Arabs not by defeating
           Israel, but just by put up with a fight and not disintegrate into
           pieces.  2. This armed group, not even a national army, is probably
           the strongest military unit in the Arab world.  If I am an Arab,
           I will be so ashamed of myself.
           \_ I thought this too until I heard a commentator say "Hizbullah
              fighters are the heroes of the Arab world now. They're the only
              ones who have stood up to Israel and 'won.'" (my quotes)
              We need a way for Arabs to save face in order to have peace.
              \_ The only face saving they want is the kind of peace brought
                 about by the aftermath of a second Holocaust.  Did you not
                 read the linked article?  The only thing they respect is
                 pure force.  Muslim culture never left the 8th century.

9/5     Republicans decide to lose the Nov elections
        http://csua.org/u/gu3
        \_ good ... bad ... I'm the guy with the gun^H^H^Hvoting equipment
           corporations.
           \_ when the consequences of Dubya losing control is a mushroom cloud
              over one or several major American cities, can you let the good
              but misguided masses decide the future?
              \_ As a former R and conservative I, I think we're not going to
                 take the whole thing seriously until there is a mushroom cloud
                 over a city.  And I hope if the D's take control they impeach
                 Bush for his refusal to defend our borders. -emarkp
                 \_ Regardless of your party affiliation, do you still
                    believe the Iraq War is a good thing?
                 \_ Honestly, had you been surrounded by conservatives who
                    still worship Bush, would you switch? Probably not. My
                    point is you switched mostly because the people around
                    you disagree with you, and you're sick and tired of
                    defending yourself, right?
                 \_ Why are you a former R and conservative?  I can see leaving
                    the party if you feel the party has left you.  I don't see
                    why you'd be a former conservative unless you've undergone
                    a shift in personal philosophy which doesn't seem to match
                    your last statement about defending our borders.
                    \_ I think you're parsing his post wrong.
                       \_ Maybe so.  I re-read it a few times and still don't
                          see another reading.  Help me out.
                          \_ I think he's a former Republican, and a
                             conservative (still).  In fact, I believe
                             he left the Republican party because they
                             weren't controlling immigration well enough.
                          \_ conservative I = conservative Independent
                 \_ So if they impeach Bush for breaking the law, will you see
                    that as a happy compromise?
                    \_ Hi troll!
                       \_ I do not think it means what you think it means.
                    \_ A happy compromise with what? Rs losing the election?
                       Mushroom cloud over a US city?
               \_ All of this Republicans == making country safer rhetoric
                  would be great if it actually coincided at all with, you know,
                  their actions.
                  would be great if it actually coincided at all with, you
                  know, their actions.
                  \_ Do you think nothing has happened inside the US borders
                     since 9/11 because of a) luck, b) lack of effort or
                     preparation on the part of terrorists, or c) various
                     government agencies successfully keeping citizens safe?
                     \_ a), combined with shift in Al Queda strategy.
                        \_ I don't believe this.  I think it's all three, but
                           I think the Dems can maintain status quo on (c) and
                           do a better job on Iraq, winning the war on terror,
                           and not fucking up the economy.

9/5     "Entrant"?  What's that supposed to mean?
        http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/145198.php
        \_ I don't think I'm going out on a limb here: entrant, n.,
           one who enters.
        \_ This is actually kind of interesting, as my uncle's wife's mother
           recently got permission to enter the US from Mexico to visit her
           daughters (naturalized US citizens). They had to prove that she
           would have significant financial support if she somehow decided to
           stay, and they also had to show that she owned her own house in
           Mexico and thus had a strong incentive to return. And then, even
           though she had only applied to visit, they went ahead and offered
           her permission to work anyway. So Entrant-rights might be somewhat
           different from immigrant-rights... or perhaps not. --erikred
           \_ what? she applied for a B-2 visa and they offered to give her
              a green card?
              \_ She had filled out the forms for the visit. There was a check
                 box that she could check if she intended to work. The consular
                 agent suggested that she go ahead and check that box, just in
                 case she wanted to work.
                 \_ did the checkbox lead to anything else besides a B-2 visa?
           \_ this is why I am so pissed at the immigtration policy.  we put
              so much constraint to those who trying to enter/leave US via
              the legal means, while we don't punish those who cross the
              border illegally.

9/5     http://www.whitehouse.org/tours/index.asp
        Dang, I didn't know the White House tour was so expensive
        \_ nice try
        \_ http://www.whitehouse.com was cheaper and more enjoyable.

9/5     http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696014/posts
        http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?153297
        Pakistan signs peace agreement with pro-Taliban tribes in N Waziristan,
        with prisoner release and abandonment of some Pakistani security
        posts; Osama bin Laden not to be taken into custody as long as he does
        not disturb the local peace.
        \_ err... this is not news.  It is well known that Pakistan authorities
           had a truce with pro-taliban tribes.
           \_ well known?  the freepers sure seem surprised, and I haven't
              seen it on Page 1's, especially the part about Osama.
              \_ Also, did anyone tell George? 'Cos he just put Osama at the
                 top of the list again....
                 \_ someone told the Pakistani army spokesman who first
                    mentioned letting Osama go to completely disavow his
                    earlier statement
                    earlier statement.  Actually, I take that back, Brian Ross
                    misreported, see below:
        \_ http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/pakistan_denies.html
           The ABC News Brian Ross blog yesterday distorted what the Pakistani
           general had said.  To its lame credit, the blog today posts the
           exact quote:  "One has to stay like a peaceful citizen and not
           allowed to participate in any kind of terrorist activity."
           Also, it is true that the same spokesman today said that HVTs
           like Osama will be pursued regardless of their current behavior. -op

9/5     On average toilets use approx 40% of your water. Conserve!
        \_ A vegetarian diet produces more methane.  Eat more animals!
        \_ The vast bulk of water use in CA is used on cash crops.  Stop
           eating veggies!
           \_ Way way way more water is used to grow food for animals and to
              give to animals.  It takes up to 5000 gallons of water to
              make one pound of beef (more in arid climates).
              make one pound of beef (most in arid climates).
        \_ And thanks to my "lo flo" toilets I have to flush 3 times when
           I take a dump.
           \_ Good 1.6 gallon toilets do just fine under "heavy load."
              Try Toro.  -tom
               \_ Sorry, but I use lots of toilet paper.  I want to make sure
                  I'm completedly wiped and clean.  Maybe you are different.
                  \_ My new 1.6 gallon toilet flushes better than any
                     water-wasting toilet I've ever had.  -tom
                     \_ Sorry, but if you wipe more than 3 times and use
                        2-ply toilet paper instead of 1-ply, then you will
                        need more than 1.6 gallons to avoid using the plunger
                        regularly.
                        \_ you've done a study?  -tom
        \_ Gee, noting how my water usage more than doubles during the summer,
           I'm betting that the sprinklers are a bigger drain.

9/5     Who is Tawei Liao?
        \_ http://www.csua.berkeley.edu/~tawei
           http://ucsee.eecs.berkeley.edu/~tawei
           \_ Nice fake web sites.
           \_ Uh, aren't these 2 different people named Tawei?
              \_ These two pages above are owned by the same guy who is
                 trying hide his embarrasing past from his clients by
                 creating ficticious characters and displaying pictures
                 that don't resemble him. Google for his full name and
                 you'll see the truth.
                 \_ What's his full name? Googling for "Tawei Liao" is not
                    turning up anything interesting.
                    \_ That's because he's not particularly interesting.
        \_ A fag.
           \_ How do you know?  Have you fucked him?
              have you watched him fuck a man?
              \_ Yeah.  I watched you get buttfucked by him.  Huh huh.
                 Huh huh.  Huh huh.  -beavis & butthead

9/5     How rich do you have to be to have a vacation home and a
        recreational vehicle you don't use full-time in Chili?
        \_ Since those must be a miniature toy vacation home and Hot Wheels
           RV, as I can't imagine a life-size one of either thing fitting
           into a normal Chili's restaurant, you don't have to be that
           rich at all.  Maybe just have about 30 bucks to your name,
           and you can afford that stuff.  Of course, if you want a slab
           of famous Chili's babyback ribs, it'll cost you more.
           \_ "I want my baby back, baby back, baby back...Chili's, baby
              baaaaack riiiiibbbs!"
        \_ You mean Chili's?
        \_ I don't know, that would be one huge bowl of chili to fit a
           house and a recreational vehicle in it.  I admit, I probably
           wouldn't use them one they were there, though.  That's a little
           wierd.
           \_ If I lived in a giant bowl of chili and wanted a recreational
              vehicle, I'd probably get a snow machine.  I think the
              consistency of chili is such that nothing else would work
              without sinking in.  I guess a hovercraft would be an option also,
              but it could make a mess.
        \_ Chile?
        \_ Since I assume you're obliquely trying to troll me, where'd you
           get the "vacation" and "recreational" part?  We live and work
           here... -John

9/5     Dear "War on Terror" supporters, what do you think of this:
        Opium Harvest at Record Level in Afghanistan
        http://tinyurl.com/s6s5o
        \_ Why the "quotes"?
           \_ because you can't have a war on terror
        \_ This whole "War on X" idiom is LBJ's fault. And they've all failed!
        \_ When there's a "War on Opium" let us know.  Of course opium is at
           record levels:  we didn't provide the locals with an alternative to
           make money.  It is no different than the cocoa growers in South
           America, the pot growers in the US, or any other illegal product,
           service or substance that has high returns for high risk of early
           death or imprisonment.  Escobar was doing great, until he got blown
           away on a roof top.  Have you considered your very own meth lab?
           \_ I think everyone with a strong background in the physical
              sceinces has at least considered it.
        \_ Just like in Iraq, we have broken a tyrant's stranglehold on vital
           natural resources and allowed the free market to reign!
        \_ One thing you've got to hand to the Taliban, opium poppy production
           was waaaay down under their iron-fisted rule.  Of course now it is
           one of their tools in their war on the west.

9/5     http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/09/05/cook.charged.ap/index.html
        31-year-old cook living in Maine B&B, for some reason kills 50-year-old
        neighbor from Arkansas, burns dismembered remains 15 miles away.  Two
        days later, kills 65-year-old female owner of inn, probably after she
        inquires about the 50-year-old guy.  Owner's daughter and female friend
        show up unannounced, and they too are killed.  Three dogs shot.  Cook's
        stepmother summons police to inn, and cook leads police to first body.
        \_ It's all Bill Clinton's fault.
           \_ Nahh, it's the fault of his penis.
           \_ It's Maine, so it must be Stephen King's fault.
        \_ Send ... more ... humans
        \_ And so goes the plotline of the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre
           prequel, starring Jordana Brewster.
        \_ Where's the bit about the dogs?
        \_ All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.