RA1

Don't forget May is national masturbation month. One possible problem with getting testosterone from any source other than your own body is prostate cancer. If it is lurking, adding testosterone can make it worse or speed the process. I definitely would consult my urologist before taking any such shots. Best regards, RA1

One of the questions might be are these folks POW's or not. If they are, I would think their crimes, if any, would be war crimes. If they are to be adjudicated for war crimes then the US civil court system is not the place for that. I believe a logical question is why have they not been brought before a military court. Apparently both the Bush and BO administrations do not care to deal with that question. What is the remedy? Go to The Hague? UN? The media? Apparently the media is the answer, at least at the moment. However, that does not mean we are getting all the facts. We can't even seem to get all the questions, never mind the answers. Unfortunately, as far as I know, no country has faithfully and completely abided by the Geneva Convention, to include the US. It seems to be an ideal, one that is reduced to writing but still an ideal. The Congress could do something about this, if indirectly, but they won't. Regardless of any or all of that, I still say there are more issues than mentioned in the "petition". Don't we want to know all the facts? Best regards, RA1

I understand what you are saying. I suppose I am just trying to point out how one sided the "petition" actually is. I did not think of it as one side of a legal argument as our court system is indeed an adversarial one. I thought of it as an article in some medium or another. Generally I am willing to see more than one side of any situation. I guess I am hoping others might do the same. But, alas. Best regards, RA1

When do you get to the part about the "normal gay guy"? Best regards, RA1

No. You are way too young to give up. I would either consult another doc to see if a different hypertension Rx would alleviate the situation or see if there is another "problem". You should have many years yet to go before "flagging" so to speak. And, without headache producing Rx. Just my opinion, but give it a try. Best regards, RA1

Only if one of the guys wears a burnoose. Best regards, RA1

What is the rest of the story? Why are they there in the first place? Most of those so called inhumane tactics are part and parcel of any US prison, aren't they? Except they use real bullets in the US. If they are indeed POW's are they being treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention treaty? My only point is this article seems to lack any balance. Best regards, RA1

I need a server like that so I can store my billions and billions of aviation memorabilia. I know for sure that the IRS can look into anyone's bank account while talking to you across his or her desk. I have not doubted for a long time that US communications could be recorded but have found solace in the fact that who can listen to all that? Best regards, RA1

Texas isn't bigger that the rest of the country combined so if there is a determined effort to go around their economic clout it will happen. One problem with this country is our inertia. We can elect better pols, change our laws, etc, but we can't be bothered to become informed about what needs to be done and how to go about it. Pity. Best regards, RA1

Thanks for the reply. Likely I was not as clear as I would have liked to have been but my point about previous crimes was the one you made, namely if a person is being investigated for any crime he should be Mirandized, not just last night's possible crime. One of the possible slippery slopes is determining when an interviewee becomes a suspect. I think the PSE could have a very similar slippery slope. When Miranda first became the law of the land I was a bit appalled in that I thought it gave criminals very much the upper hand. Now I tend to view it as a necessary protection from the government which has lost a lot of my respect over the years. Maybe I should say mainly politicians have lost almost all of my respect. Best regards, RA1

It seems to be really difficult to know what historical "facts" are indeed correct. Ever personally observe an automobile accident and then read about it in the local newspaper? Usually it makes one wonder who was actually there and what actually happened because the "news" account is usually so different from what one observed. That sort of thing makes me question a lot of things ordinarily taught as history. Then, to make matters even worse, today's media brings in so called experts who most of the time manage to mangle even further what is being reported. No wonder after being filtered and interpreted a few times it bears no resemblance to what actually happened. I am in no way defending Texas' methodology or teaching products. I would much prefer that a wide and varied view of most any subject be offered. What seems to be going on is politics which seems to effect most every school district. I don't quite see the tie in to capitalism but maybe I am missing something. Best regards, RA1

I suppose I need to immediately go to my ophthalmologist for a check up. Apparently I was so eager to view the pix I disregarded the script. However, in a minor defense, there have been pix and script suggesting that Trey is not the one pictured. I disagree and defer to you, AS. Just don't make a habit of tricking me. Best regards, RA1

Isn't #2 an escort or former escort? I suppose as a Libertarian I have to let folks do whatever cranks their tractor but I don't have to approve, do I? Best regards, RA1

TY- Some of what you write could have been written by me or I could have been accused of same. So, your understanding of the PSE would be the same as testimony elicited previous to a suspect being Mirandized will not be permitted in a court of law and in fact may be grounds for dismissal of the charges as we have seen post Miranda? I realize you didn't quite say that but I think that a logical conclusion. I have never thought of Miranda as allowing authorities to ask anything of a suspect except as pertains to a crime or crimes being investigated. In other words, if a suspect is thought to have broken in last night and attacked a home owner he can be asked about a murder 10 years ago pre-Miranda? That seems to be similar to what is being suggested about PSE. I suppose I would have to know more about what kind of questions and how they would apply to any particular situation before I would buy off on that concept. My thoughts about Miranda are that it is a safeguard in place to make sure that a suspect has access to an attorney so that he can get advice about his legal options. There are a lot of potential slippery slopes out there with Miranda. I don't see PSE as being other than fraught with them also or worse. Best regards, RA1

Sounds like something that might exist in jolly old.......... at least as a theory. There are exes and there are exes; let's go for NEXT. Best regards, RA1

Where can one go to make that kind of deal? It should be over whelmed with business. Best regards, RA1

Of course I have been following the news about this but did not realize this thread was about the 747 crash until just now. It is correct to not make too many assumptions until the FDR and CVR are read and interpreted (the so called black boxes which are really orange). Some things are known. One, it is common for civilian (and military) aircraft to use max effort take-offs when departing hostile territory. That provides the most vertical distance between the ground and the aircraft. However, it also provides the minimum airspeed above the stall, so if any thing goes wrong there is less margin for recovery. Two, indeed a large vehicle may have broken loose and caused a radical shift in the balance of the aircraft. Low and slow are of course the worst times for this to happen. However, blame should not be pointed towards the ground crew for any such. It is the ultimate responsibility of the captain to make sure the aircraft is ready for flight. He or she should have a loadmaster or flight engineer on board who should be an expert on loading the aircraft properly. At the very least he or she should supervise the loading and securing of any and all cargo. Virtually any aircraft that stalls and "smacks" the ground will burn unless it has already exhausted its' fuel. There really isn't that much difference between 40,000 gallons of JetA on fire or 78,000 gallons, at least concerning the observed fire ball. There is a weight difference which would affect all the performance parameters of the aircraft. But, why use a long range aircraft for a short range mission? One would not, therefore lots of fuel on board. My cousin who was a flight engineer/load master in the Air National Guard was on a flight to get a fire engine at another AF base. The truck weight was about 10,000 pounds and he loaded it properly. It was not a big load for the cargo aircraft being used. They also did not need much fuel as the flight to home base was only about 1 hour. However the aircraft ran down the runway and would not fly when the calculation for the flight said it would. There was not enough runway left to stop so they continued, hoping to get enough speed in the remaining runway to get airborne. They did but just barely. What went wrong? The fire engine was full of water and its' weight went from 10,000 pounds to 60,000 pounds. Silly mistake but it happens. He is still alive and retired. Best regards, RA1

Of course I know that and personally I don't care for the appellation at all but what I wrote was accurate, he calls himself that. A pretty unusual guy (as are most we know, aren't they?). He played football for Ole Miss, ran a very successful business, ran for a local political office recently and certainly knew where the locals went in the MSY area for good food. He also is fond of saying he is queer for girls, whatever that might mean. Best regards, RA1

I surrender. Of course, I have eaten a lot of LA food while visiting there. However, a spectacular meal cooked locally by a friend of mine who calls himself a "coon ass" was boiled crawfish with potatoes and corn on the cob + his secret seasonings all in the boil + Po' Boy sandwiches made from fresh small loaves of bread and shrimp very slowly cooked entirely in butter. Eating shrimp with the butter still dripping on fresh hot bread was fun as was biting the heads off the crawfish before eating them. A few drinks made it all go down very smoothly. Best regards, RA1

I would say that is an irreverent anecdote but still funny. Gumbo or jambalaya both good, just put enough good stuff in. Best regards, RA1

Sorry. From the picture I could not tell the exact texture of the roux which likely is the main difference. Both are famous in song and "gourmet" legend. Best regards, RA1

Hooray for you lookin thinking that children should be taught and exposed to "the world" first at home and later, at school. No doubt that you think being in charge of their upbringing is paramount rather than just let schools babysit or worse. In other words, children without parental involvement are in serious trouble and society as a whole suffers, as well as the individual kids. I hope the dish depicted is gumbo, something the folks in LA, that is Louisiana, not Los Angeles, are superior in making. Nazi Germany had too many political motives extant to worry about losing a few politically unacceptable scientists just because they could create a weapon of mass destruction. Hooray for our side. One of the most prominent, Einstein, has had his star rise and fall over the years but he continues to hang in there. There is no reason not to study every theory expounded, is there? Then one can try to decide the best fit for oneself. Best regards, RA1

One of those things mentioned seems "more" wrong than the other. I am afraid that I think it is the former rather than the latter. More regulation of criminals seems to be the ticket. Best regards, RA1

However, I do believe that we know he had some chronic illness but exactly what and how severe is unknown by me. It is all too easy to conjecture that he either succumbed to his "problem" or became severely disabled by it or something else. I don't know what we could do about any of it but I am willing to add one more "worry" to my list. Best regards, RA1

I have been to Guernsey and Jersey and never noticed any like this guy. Best regards, RA1