RA1

Zip- I have commented on the "other" MB about this until I am weary and wary of "whatever". BO is NOT doing a good job of representing the US in this matter and I have to think a theocracy is the likely result of the current "struggle". I would love to be proved wrong but I think it will take many months for any of us to know what is really going on. So far, nothing good. Best regards, RA1

OZ- I appreciate the comments about MEM. IF I had to make a "complete" life here I would think about living else where but it is home to me with BBQ, vegetables and all the other Southern attributes. But, I travel a LOT and experience other cities and places on a regular basis. The RE values are low AND consistent, not a thing to regard lightly in this day and time. Charlie PS- One has to become accustomed to violent weather, if not violent personalities, in this area but it is a matter of perspective which may or may not include "reality". In other words, if you can "tolerate" earthquakes, whatever their frequency, then you can tolerate tornados, etc. It is all what one becomes accustomed to being present. We actually don't have criminals on every street corner or drug addicts between buildings. Do you have any of those in PSP? Best regards, RA1

I HAVE to agree. Best regards, RA1

RH- Is the ONLY way to enjoy one another confrontation? I realize the value of differing points of view but I don't agree that it MUST be so. I enjoy your posts and ideas. Don't let them just flounder. Best regards, RA1

Absolutely foolish. Thanks for the links and insight. Best regards, RA1

I didn't realize hard work and education were two ideas at odds with each other. Even though I don't claim to be walking in such high cotton as to BE a redneck, I do recognize one when I see one. This here sure enough has the makings of a real red neck TV program. Best regards, RA1

I assume those others who made 25 posts last month were already Gold Members, especially those who made 25 posts per day? Thanks for the upgrade, I have already "installed" it; now, all I have to do is learn how to use it. Best regards, RA1

I suppose it partly depends upon what age is meant by child. Our mother read to us many of the "classics" before we were old enough to go to school which my sister and I really enjoyed. However, after starting school, I discovered the Tom Swift series of books which an uncle had. I was fascinated with the adventures and "inventions" mentioned therein. I was very sorry when I discovered that I had read them all. As everyone who posted on this thread very well knows, reading is a passion and life long activity which seems to be denied by many in the current and upcoming generations. Pity. Best regards, RA1

I like GB and PIT as picks. I just wish they weren't the favorites. I prefer at least one underdog. Best regards, RA1

One thing this article does not state that it is taking into consideration is the cost of the car. Does anyone seriously think one can insure a 200,000 car for the same price as a 30,000 one? The cost to repair is pretty much directly connected to the price to buy, so it should be no surprise that a fender bender in a 75,000 car costs more than one in a 15,000 car, should it? Viewed from a slightly different point of view it actually costs more to insure the mini-van per unit of insurance than the MB. 1,000 is roughly 3% of say 30,000 and 3500 is roughly 1.5% of 200,000. The above is not all there is to it either but isn't it amazing how articles such as this can be misleading, to say the least. Best regards, RA1

Someone who lives in the "tox basin" once explained to me it didn't matter how much rain southern CA got because neither the land nor the infrastructure was suitable to handle it. Rain just ran off the ground without soaking in like it does in any desert and the "storage" areas for water in CA were in the north. In other words, they needed lot of snow in the mountains, first to acquire the moisture and spread it out a bit and second so it could melt over time and keep the reservoirs in the north full, more or less. Without the "help" or "interference" of humans I doubt southern CA could sustain 25,000 folks. Just a random thought. Best regards, RA1

Getting inside my quote can be a turn on. You are correct, I "forgot" SAF. I was there twice last summer and was totally impressed, not favorably, both times. Very much too expensive and the folks seem overly impressed by where they are or think they are. It is just a very small town at a high elevation with nothing to support the area other than "tourists". Nothing really wrong with that except perhaps the attitude about same. At the airport, where general aviation does it business, two things struck me, one, the cucumber flavored water they were passing off as something "important" and two, the small statue of a figure with a dove or something at the top (about 14 inches total) which was easily reachable by any small fry lurking about (kids on the loose) which was offered for the "bargain" price of $6,000. No, thanks. Best regards, RA1 PS---I thought the "big" airport was because of either Bob Hope or Frank Sinatra or both.

This story very much "fits" into the general attitude of SW and their employees. Things like this do not and cannot happen each and every time but isn't this what used to be called a typical American attitude and I don't mean AA but the American people as a whole? During most of my career, I am happy to say, the aviation industry generally has been very supportive and helpful to these and other kinds of "public service" responses. The general aviation community carries cancer patients on empty seats at no cost to the patient or family. We carry military folks to and from their families when no other means is available. Personally I have carried family members using St. Jude and, sorry to say, one little girl who inhaled kitchen chemicals and needed a double lung transplant, who I took to STL for evaluation but who afterwards did not survive. Very sad. However, the increased emphasis on the "bottom line" has decreased the reasonable and humanistic efforts of most companies to "help". So negative and unfortunate. I used to advise that anyone who is having difficulties around the world to go to the airport because at least they will speak English there and likely will try to help. Now, I don't know. You might only meet a TSA agent or the like and get nothing but grief. Best regards, RA1

I have only been to the PSP airport on biz so what I know about it is only from reading. It sounds quite the attractive place for any number of reasons even regardless of the "gay" impact. However, the only really small "city" on this list still had over 3 times the population of PSP. The others were very much larger. What does that mean? Well, let's do one of those "we are the fastest growing whatevers" remarks. If the population of town A is 50 people and 10 move in, it had a growth rate of 20% during that interval which likely would put it into the "fastest growing community in (whatever) state or country". But they still only added 10 people. I readily concede this to be an extreme example and I am not suggesting PSP is not wonderfully gay. But, no doubt, you see my point. As the disclaimer pointed out, it wasn't scientific but had some validity from known or unknown sources. Bottom line: If I were looking to move, this kind of information would either be the #1 consideration or very far down the list of considerations. Best regards, RA1

Thanks to both TY and CharliePS for answering. TY- I agree it is a difficult problem and with constitutional rights in place we cannot ever completely eliminate the "problem". I don't wish it to be otherwise. As the saying goes, I would rather release 100 guilty persons rather than execute one innocent one. However, that does not make it "easy" when things hit very close to home. If we "allow" mental defectives to roam about on their own, how can we limit and control legal gun owners, for instance? I am afraid we will always have "knuckle draggers" and, in certain instances, they can be very useful. Charlie- At first what you describe reminds me very much of how colleges and universities were 50 years ago. The gals were "protected", no frosh could have a car on campus, etc., etc. The education "authorities" were the "new" de facto parents, as you suggest. That method of doing things seems to be long gone now, much to my chagrin. Parents and their surrogates can be a very good thing. From what you are reporting and/or suggesting, it seems to me that something akin to the "good samaritan" law would be good for learning institutions, whether upper or lower. There certainly should be a "way" to deal with students such as the one you describe. Thanks again. Best regards, RA1

Ono. Best regards, RA1

DP has always been one of my favorites. Shall we meet at the Algonquin Hotel? Best regards, RA1

I always like bologna, leaning or otherwise. Best regards, RA1

Does that mean you are a "bottom" poster? Best regards, RA1

Charlie PS- Are you able to ascribe any political reasons for not being able to adequately cope with these "deranged" individuals? I am not trying to be right or left in this question, but merely political, if you can understand the difference. What should have been done with them? I am not advocating one thing or another but SOMETHING should have been done, no? The right wing says mental defectives cannot be imprisoned because left wing advocates will not allow it. If this has any basis in truth or not, what should we do? Thanks. Best regards, RA1

A nutjob is a nutjob from whatever idealogy. Certainly some teabaggers expouse the right wing conservative approach. If you have noticed, I don't particulary like any pols; they all are after their own agenda, which is not necessarily yours or mine. Best regards, RA1

I see some are giddy with the thought that a nut case might be a right wing conservative. Also, if inflammatory remarks would lead to murder, we all would be dead, wouldn't we? Why not have a little forbearance by waiting a bit to see what can be discovered. Of course, the whole thing is a terrible tragedy. Best regards, RA1

At this time in my life I regard BBQ about the same as sex with an SO and that is so long as you know it is there, you don't have to have it 3 times a day. I probably eat BBQ less often that once a month but I could still get some tonight. Fortunately, I DO require sex more than once a month. Best regards, RA1

My point was did the pol really have an opinion in the first place or was he or she just following the latest opinion polls? I think it easy to make a case either way. Best regards, RA1

Let's do the same with pols. They are more in the public eye and should suffer more of the consequences than the military. Best regards, RA1