Oh Shoot

Nah. Trashy retro kitsch is coming back. - OS

It's obvious you could trump something up at Kinko's that would suffice to run for prez. - OS

US Energy Information Administration, as of June, crude oil only OPEC: ~ 130,000,000 bbl per month Canada:~ 73,000,000 bbl per month All non OPEC: ~140,000,000 bbl per month Total import: ~270,000.000 bbl per month http://www.eia.gov/d..._im0_mbbl_m.htm We're still importing around half the crude oil we process. I didn't say "consume" because we actually EXPORT some gasoline, jet fuel, whatever. - OS

Well, you can't register as anything in TN except as a voter. You haven't done that? - OS

Registered where, btw? In TN you are only "registered" as per Rep/Dem, based on last primary vote. - OS

NM, meant to edit previous post not quote a new one.

Pretty accurate analysis, methinks It's difficult to see how the GOP machine has ferreted out a candidate less likely to beat a crippled incumbent. Not that any of the other more polarizing also-rans would have fared better. I do believe McCain would be about in same place now as Romney, and perhaps even well ahead. A "I Told You So Four Years Ago" platform would likely have been plenty. Perhaps all those who long for a viable third party will actually see it come to pass. But if so, it'll likely just be the GOP in disguise. - OS

I don't see how one can absolutely separate a candidate from his religion, or claim that it wouldn't influence his decision making. There are various "laws" that one is to adhere to by professing any of the world's mainstream faiths. Many of those are in conflict with existing or proposed US laws. A man will have to choose which master to best serve in many cases, not to mention his own interpretation of both the laws of man and of his god. The degree with which he's able to do that determines your above criterion. Maybe we're not debating the correct issue. Perhaps I agree with you more than it seems. The difference being that I don't believe certain pols will, or even can, completely separate the best interests of the country from the dictates of their religion. Depends both on the pol and the religion. It's seems to me that BHO isn't a devout anything (no, I don't believe he's a closet Muslim either), and if truth be known, is probably closer to my agnostic preference than any prez in recent history. Of course, his socialistic and rigid statist (to put it mildly) national and world view override any pluses which that might otherwise provide. Folks like Perry, Bachmann, and Santorum made it clear that their religion influences at least some of their political policy, and by your own criteria would not be bigotry to reject them on that basis.. I feel it's safe to say that any devout religious adherent is not immune to the same. And no Mormon is other than devout; by virtue of its outre creed, it allows fewer shades of gray than most. Quite difficult to nibble at Mormonism, it's pretty much an all or none discipline. I'd posit that it approaches Islam in its rigidity of structure and purpose. Of course, it's likely that many if not most in the USA (certainly most here on TGO) would argue that the national and religious ethos are to a great extent one and the same -- as long as the religious part is Christianity. And many don't count Mormons as Christians in the first place, so on that basis measured by your definition, I suppose "bigotry" is well represented indeed. However, one thing's irrefutable -- discrimination on any basis at all in the voting booth is unenforceable. - OS

Applies to national parks but not state parks. No weapons noticies on national park buildings do not have to conform to TN posting statute, since they are there as per federal law. - OS

Few things in real life are completely black or white. The punk grabbing my pink flamingo from front yard probably shouldn't be shot as many times as the punk who takes my pink car. - OS

If he were a Muslim, would it be "bigoted" to feel that way? How about Hare Krishna? Flying Spaghetti Monster? To reject a candidate because of any belief system makes one "close minded" and a "bigot"? Now, (although I have a few other disqualifiers ) my agnosticism alone would keep me from being elected president so far in this country. So all the Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, etc that would not vote for me on that basis are also "bigots"? I myself would prefer that magical thinking influence the POTUS as little as possible, would much prefer an admitted agnostic over all other belief systems. And I see Mormonism as the lunatic fringe, science fiction smeared on top of the existing mainstream fairy tale. All else being equal, I'd vote for the candidate espousing the least supernatural hoodoo. If that's "bigotry", I'm guilty. That said, I'm voting for Mitt. So that makes me not really a bigot, because I overcame my personal prejudice, right? Methinks you have been tainted by the Political Correctness Monster. Be sure you don't vote for the first queer or lesbian that makes it onto the ticket because of their sexual preference, either. Now that would be as blatantly close-minded and bigoted as it gets. Hell, I think it's illegal. - OS

Well, actually, to be a bit more fair and balanced, they have been buds for a long time, going back at least to when Iran couldn't have fought Iraq to a standstill without them, but they seem to have finally been persuaded to cool it some with arms, although they still bought their oil throughout all the sanctions AFAIK. And they (and China!) just got on board with the UN rez to cool it on the nuke stuff, too, dunno what muscled that yet. But I still don't think they'll sell the Israelis anything that could have regional significance. - OS

There's one truly horrifying thought. Thanks. And there might even be worse, we just don't know their names yet. You know, the ones that will make Sotomayor and Kegan look like John Birchers. - OS

Iran is their bud, bud.

Good as their war tech is, they apparently do need our deep bunker busting bombs. Seems we're the only source, cept for maybe Russian and China, who Bibi doesn't have over for tea very often. - OS

OIC. Well, it seems clear (to me) that "authorized to possess or carry a firearm pursuant to § 39-17-1315 or § 39-17-1351†is intended to only include the firearm. Your contention also seems to have less of a leg to stand on since "clubs" have their own separate specific separate defense, so it's very clear no intent is there for the HCP to include impact weapons, which would further suggest the intent of the firearm part is specific to firearms only. Switchblade, of course, has it's own discrete statute; incidentally, I would argue that paramedics are not exempted to carry switchblades under it, contrary to what many say, but only military and LEA. Whether that's by intent or accident in the language I couldn't say. - OS

You can read all kinds of things into Bibi's latest statements. It's clear he feels both pissed and increasingly desperate. - OS

Michael Savage's book: - OS

Again, there are no contemporaries of Jesus listed in that entire article, because there simply have never been any found. I went no further with my contentions. The only thing certain is that the story caught on, and was commented on by future sources. Even "Paul", who likely fomented the lion's share of it, never claimed to have met Jesus and didn't write until some 20 years or more after Jesus' purported death. I won't debate what I see as a culturally biased compilation of references that offer nothing to refute my original simple statement, which I repeat in even simpler words: there are no references ever found regarding Jesus that were written during his widely accepted purported lifetime. That's all. Enough though really, I didn't mean to totally derail the thread. And I'm not trying to de-convert anyone. - OS

Well, they've already botched it so far, jumping in too quickly, and seemingly have gotten wrong who placated whom and when. - OS

"Rifle, shotgun, handgun" are all defined as firearms in TCA. It's illegal to carry a loaded firearm. There is an exception for one type of loaded firearm on person and partial exception for another type in vehicle, both requiring HCP. I don't understand the loophole in the language at which you seem to be grasping? - OS

Yep. Can't disagree with that at all. But there's still a clear cut prime directive, however distasteful. On the third hand, I still think we, and history, may be quite surprised at how well Mitt may handle things. On the fourth hand, I no longer think he can win at this point. Only the debates will give him a chance to pull it out. - OS

Clubs, >4"knives, even switchblades have wiggle room, but it is quite clear that TN considers possessing a loaded firearm in general public as "intent to go armed". It does not require having mayhem in mind to be charged and convicted for it. - OS

So, I've kinda wanted a light on my bedside pistola for some time (actually, under the mattress pistola), but never really wanted an actual separate flashlight sticking on the end, even if some of them are bright enough to fry the cerebral cortex through the retina or strobe one right into epileptic death throes. So finally grabbed the Crimson Trace LightGuard, and it's really aces. Totally intuitive, a firm natural shooting grip turns it on, separate off switch if you don't want it to activate at all. And best part from my point of view, it becomes quite integral with the gun itself. 100 lumen, maybe not enough to vaporize eyes right out of the socket, but pretty disorienting initially head on, and casts a very nice even beam over quite a wider area than you'd expect. It also has enough peripheral light bleed to see sights. Plenty of video reviews out there, so didn't try to illustrate that. Made for full size XD/XDm, mid and full size Glock, M&P full size, and some 1911s. Very pleased with it indeed, best price I found at the time was 114 clams in hand. - OS

Now that Egypt is whatever, Saudi Arabia seems to be our only remaining long term significant "ally" in the entire Muslim world, and certainly in the Middle East. Of course that has always been because we grease the palms of an elite few of the already richest men in the world there, and total autocrats to boot. It's laughable to think that "freedom" has ever been on our list of real reasons we mess with that area of the world at all. - OS