Do your own homework wrote on Jun 6, 2007 11:14 PM:I've done mine. You are being led down a garden path. There is nothing in a charter for a city the size of Oceanside but trouble and more grief. Oceanside voters may sometimes be late to get it but they always do get it eventually. They have turned down the chance to join the Lemings more than once and even more than twice. Go to Vista and don't let the city limits sign hit you in the rear on the way out.

The sky is falling wrote on Jun 7, 2007 5:12 AM:NCT letter page and this web page are continually filled with emotional diatribes without much basis. This morning's best example is Nancy Moon's letter on the dangers of the Sprinter. She laments, "I would hate to be waiting somewhere in Vista for an ambulance or firetruck while they are waiting for a Sprinter to pass by, unless the emergency equipment has the ability to fly over the train to get to their call." Get a grip Nancy, you may have experienced long delays waiting for a 100 car freight train to go by, but the 6 or 7 car Sprinter will clear an intersection much quicker than getting cars to yield to emergency vehicles at other intersections. Then she continues with the ominous warning, "Lawyers, get ready! Vista, get out your checkbooks." In the unlikely event of a lawsuit over a delay of emergency response because of a train, the city of Vista would not be the party named in a suit, so Vista taxpayers can relax on 2 counts, (1) there will be no suits, and (2) if there are, Vista will not be the target of such suits. If you don't like the Sprinter idea, that's one thing, but to spread fear mongering with willful exaggerations of doom and gloom is another. Nancy Moon

Vista Granny wrote on Jun 7, 2007 7:51 AM:A short note to Nancy Moon. The Sprinter will not be a 200 car freight train blocking intersections for 15 minutes or more. Your worries about emergency vehicles getting to Highway 78 seem a bit "out there", especially since not all roads to the freeway must cross the Sprinter tracks.

ACE wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:10 AM:Hey Ron Griesse...Yeah, Republicans bad and Democrats good. We get it. Pretty groundbreaking stuff. I found it interesting that of all these rights that the administration is supposedly taking away, you failed to mention exactly which ones.

FOCAL POINT wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:14 AM:Bettie Heldrin: I read your letter. President Clinton and President Carter should be tried for treason. YOU ARE A FASCIST. You would stifle Freedom of Speech because you do not like the message. You would silence former Presidents of the United States. In my opinion, you are the traitor.

Yep wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:23 AM:Carlos Cornejo, I agree with your letter. But you have to understand. The enviro-Nazis will never, I repeat Never, allow the US to tap our own natural resources here at home. These are often the same people who complain that we are too dependent on foriegn oil.

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:29 AM:Will the Vista City Council need to get a work permit now in order to hire the illegals to build the new city hall, or will they be exempt from their own law?

poor Pete Hay wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:31 AM:He can't understand "liberal logic"? I think any kind of logic would probably put too big a strain on Pete and his head would explode.

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:33 AM:Nancy Moon, the "Stinker" will be a traffic disaster in Vista. SANDAG, the State, the County, Cal-Trans, the Sheriff, or the CHP needs to stop this from happening or the lawsuits will be stunning. I can't describe this as anything but a gross insult to the citizens of North County.

Absurd wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:34 AM:The release of Paris Hilton from jail after serving only 3 days of her sentence due to an unspecified medical condition could mark the beginning of the end of the rule of law in the U.S.

Venezuela wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:43 AM:Reg L'abbe complains that there is no news about Chavez and Venezuela. He should read one of the bigger papers or news magazines or check it out online. That "shutting down the press" that L'abbe claims was to allow a station's license to expire - a station that helped the coup that tried to topple a democratically elected President. And there is no doubt Mr. L'abbe, Chavez was elected by the majority of Venezuelans, the poor.

FOCAL POINT wrote on Jun 7, 2007 8:49 AM:Liberal logic hard to understand Regarding Peter Hay reply to Milton Saier letter on the topic of population control for planet, Earth. Mr. Hay castigates Mr. Saier as tree hugging liberal. I read the letter and quite frankly there is nothing in the content that indicates the author is a liberal but only a concerned citizen. Mr. Hay uses his assumption to simply criticise liberals. Liberal logic was difficult for him to understand as no liberal logic was present. Sounds to me that Mr. Hay was just a bored neocon who wanted to rant.

sdraoul wrote on Jun 7, 2007 9:02 AM:Poor Gary Walker, he just can't regulate the hate and bile he expounds about Mexicans. He calls the Congress and the President insane for trying to fix the immigration mess and he does so by whining and not suggesting anything positive to solve the problem of illegal immigration. What else can we expect from a man who has never served his country like illegal Mexican immigrants do in the U.S. military? He doesn't produce the food we all eat like illegal Mexican immigrants do, or build the houses we live in, or pave the streets we drive on, or take care of our children so our wives can work and help produce our high standrad of living. He does none of this, he only [appears to] hate Mexicans because of the color of their skin. Otherwise he would be suggesting positive solutions to the prtoblem, not jsut whining about them. As for safety, perhaps he hasn't heard that as the percentage of Mexicans in Escondido has gone up, crime has gone down. Enjoy Escondido, Mr. Walker, even though you have nothing to do with its plunging crime rate, that we can attribute to more Mexicans.

Laughing at Creationists wrote on Jun 7, 2007 9:17 AM:The reason some people don't believe evolution is because they aren't equipped to understand it. The big elf in the sky is a much more comforting thing to believe in. Besides, what religious wackos think about evolution is irrelevant. It won't change the science one bit.

Why? wrote on Jun 7, 2007 10:04 AM:Once again we get a letter to the editor that belongs in Faith & Values. Oh, well. Pederson should read a book or two about biology, the kind used in any college intro course. He might notice that there are hundreds of pages of evidence and reasons for thinking that evolution (and the age of the earth) are good ideas. He might realize that it's not about the caudal bone. And thank God our scientific knowledge is not based on a popularity contest!

To "Chris Pedersen" wrote on Jun 7, 2007 10:18 AM:Kudos! I found her "commentary" rather amusing actually. It's becoming very typical of the "educated" these days to think that they somehow know better than God what God did or didn't do.

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 10:48 AM:To Sky is falling: The city may be liable if it is found that the traffic studies done 3-4 years ago were flawed or manipulated. Vista's represetative to the NCTD owned land just a few hundred yards from the Vista Village train stop. Hmmmm...

Creationism? wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:01 AM:I have sent letters to the editor addressing current issues in local government which affect the citizens of Encinitas, which letters were polite and informative, but were not printed. Yet, day after day, I read the rantings of Creationism proponents in the letters to the editor. Why is this paper becoming a mouthpiece for a tired old religious fundamentalist myth -- the space would be better used to address citizen's concerns about government.

To Nancy Moon wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:04 AM:I totally agree with you. We have more than 8 crossings in Oceanside that basically split out town in two. I pity the people in need who 'are on the wrong side of the tracks' when the emergency vehicles are trying to get to them. Can any of you say you'd agree to 2 or 3 or even 5 minutes delay for treatment of a child, a heart attack, any emergency up to and including a fire? Not me. This Sprinter line is going to be a disaster.

Corruption At Every Level wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:23 AM:Just another indignity to add to the pile... Paris Hilton gets to complete her sentence among her druggie friends at her mansion while wearing a designer ankle bracelet. What exactly is it we are fighting for to preserve, anyways? The United States is a laughing stock to the rest of the world and we can only blame ourselves. Talk about the dumbing down of America.

ty wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:35 AM:To Pete Hay...Liberal logic? Is there even such a thing? Sounds like a contradiction to me.

Evolution? wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:45 AM:You gotta love how some of those who blog here broadly brush as creationists those who disagree with them about the origins of life. It seems if one points to the numerous holes that have been punched in Darwinism over the decades, then one is instantly labeled a creationist. To them, there is no middle ground. The same can be said of the Iraq War. If one wants to see it through and thinks it important we don't turn our back on Iraq, they are instantly labeled a neocon or a Bushite. Never mind that many of us who want to succeed in Iraq are horrified at Bush's open border / amnesty push and his disgraceful spending, and generally believe he is not doing a good job. Nope. Support Iraq, you are a Bushie. Again, no middle ground for these people. Whatever happened to liberals being tolerent, inclusive, and understanding of other points of view, but more importantly, understanding that the world is not black and white, but there is a lot of gray, and that people may have different opinions on a different array of issues? Incredible.

for Bettie Heldring wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:51 AM:I was protesting the Vietnam war when we lost 50,000 soldiers and 3 million Vietnamese lives. We got rid of LBJ but it was years and many bombings of Hanoi and thousands more lives before that fiasco was ended. I met many of those left over from those "50,000 of our finest" who lived lonely miserable lives on the streets these last decades, abandoned by their nation and government. And I am not in the least bit proud of a country that goes to war over oil and power on the basis of bald-faced lies and in the face of international outrage, killing thousands of innocent civilians in a bogus "war on terror".

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:01 PM:Paris Hilton: Let's have some fun with this; my guess is that she was released early due to an attack of hyper-tension from being confined 23 hours a day and her life was "in danger" if she had to do this for 23 days. Princesses are not used to this type of treatment. What say you??!!??

To "to Nancy Moon" wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:04 PM:I didn't realize that they only had emergency personell on one side of the tracks! I am shocked, I would have thought that fire/paramedics had stations all over the city, and I was unaware that our Police Officers were all at the police station prior to getting a call. Could you tell me which side of the tracks emergency help is available on? I may need to relocate to ensure my family has these services available.

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:04 PM:We have illegal Mexican immigrants IN OUR ARMED FORCES!!??!! The United States is beginning to look more and more like the Roman Empire did just before it collapsed. A "volunteer" army composed of illegals...to protect us.

Duncan Hunter wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:23 PM:If you are easy with using nuclear weapons, then Duncan is your guy. Republican debate shows that Duncan is strong on pre-emptive nuclear war... A second-tier candidate, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, was more direct, saying the United States reserved the right to dissuade Iran militarily. "I would authorize the use of tactical nuclear weapons if there was no other way to preempt those particular centrifuges," he said, while noting it could probably be done with conventional weapons." I don't know about you, but this guy scares the heck out of me!

To GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:26 PM:Occasionally I agree with you. Your comparision today regarding the Roman Empire is very apt. This is what I mean about the status quo... things are changing and the United States is getting ready for a big come-uppance. Two hundred years and counting... My guess is China will be the next major superpower in charge after the fall of the United States.

To GFN at 12:04 PM wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:28 PM:Golly, we are already accepting legal citizens with a criminal record in the armed forces, what makes you think they defend us any better than the illegals would?

gordon wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:29 PM:on being oil independent: Brazil will have a (sugar) ethanol SURPLUS, but Bush won't allow it in imposing a big tariff.Sugar ethanol is cheaper than corn, it produces more energy.Bush's corn mandate has fueled food inflation, but more than that, it takes tons of NAT GAS to distill corn. Corn uses more fertilizer than any crop, that takes tons of NAT GAS to produce fertilizer.Add up the energy savings= NEGATIVE. Buy natural gas stocks!:~)

Mike America to sdraoul wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:31 PM:Here's a few constructive ideas to solve the illegal alien problem...let me know what you think. #1, to: the U.S. Senate and GWB....STOP!!!! We do not need immigration reform. #2 Build a WALL on the southern border, high, wide, and long. #3 Start the process for re-writting or re-amending the 14th amendment; regardless of how long and onerous a process it might be. #4 Start enforcing the laws already on the books; clamp down on employers using illegal slave labor, stop all benefits to people here illegally, eliminate the "INCENTIVES" and they'll self deport. Now how hard was that?? BTW; Gary Walker; you rock!

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:40 PM:Looks like I was right about Princess Paris. What a joke on our justice system! What a disgrace for all involved who made this decision. Is it any wonder that the respect for our American system is eroding. This really sucks; jail is supposed to be tough.

OBSERVATION wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:41 PM:sdraoul wrote on Jun 7, 2007 9:02 AM: Sounds like you seem to know extensive information about Gary Walker. Or, do you? Are you just making assumptions culminating in ridiculous ranting. That seems to be your trade mark for this blog. That is why nobody really pays attention except to say good bye. Good Bye!

GFN wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:44 PM:Mike America: 12:31 post; that's all we need to do and it will save the current administration and Congress from going through the lies and deception they had to go through in 1986 to convince the American public that it was really "reform".

The Golden Rule wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:50 PM:Remember that thing our mothers taught us? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It’s the Golden Rule, and for most of us, learning the Golden Rule was a vital part of our childhood. But as adults we often just want this nagging little principle to go away. We often act as if the Golden Rule is little more than an annoying restriction on getting ahead. Global warming threatens the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren. The Golden Rule is about avoiding hypocrisy: we can’t expect other people to behave in a certain way if we’re not prepared to behave the same way ourselves. If we want other people to cut their carbon dioxide output, then the first step is to reduce our own. Many of our leaders and public commentators argue that we should ignore the Golden Rule. They say it doesn’t make sense for us to limit our greenhouse gas emissions, because we contribute only a tiny fraction of the global total. Yet the very people who make this argument would never tell their children: “It doesn’t matter if you shoplift, because your stealing will be only a small part of the total shoplifting problem.” Or “It doesn’t matter if you dump your garbage in the ravine, because the stuff you dump will be only a small part of the total littering problem.” We all know such behavior is wrong because it violates the Golden Rule, and because a world in which everyone behaved the same way would be intolerable. Climate change is just one of several challenges humankind is facing. Whether we succeed in creating a humane and prosperous world for our children and grandchildren will depend largely on the moral principles we all use to guide our lives.

Moving On wrote on Jun 7, 2007 12:55 PM:We will be oil independent when we dump the gasoline engine for electric and hydrogen power ... and that will happen when we go to nuclear power to generate our electrical energy needs ... and that won’t happen until a lot of people are re-educated, and a lot of politicians are run out of office. BTW, ethanol is nothing but one more big political scam.

Moving On wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:04 PM:Paris, who?

To "The Golden Rule" wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:12 PM:That thing our mothers taught us comes from the Bible, so, of course, it doesn't apply any more. Sad isn't it?

Laughing at Creationists wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:19 PM:Go get a PHD in biology from a real university, write some accepted peer reviewed papers, and then maybe you'll be worthy of simply being disagreed with. As it is, you are simply being blown off as an idiot. There is no doubt in the biological sciences that evolution occurs - the work now is on the details.

Equal Treatment? wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:20 PM:I wonder who was bought off to get poor Paris out of her jam. This needs to be looked into as soon as possible - the public needs to demand answers.

Pinky wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:25 PM:Paris Hilton. The final nail in the coffin for the integrity of the United States. RIP beloved country.

To Golden Rule wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:26 PM:Nicely said. A version of the Golden Rule exists in every culture, every faith. Why have we forgotten?

To Sprinter Nancy wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:29 PM:The Sprinter costs hundreds of millions of dollars and goes now where. Other Cities have light rail and ambulance or firetruck are not significantly effected, as its not a long freight train. The disaster is they didnt put a stop at interstate 15 or push the train to san diego.

USA wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:32 PM:A country who's guiding principles are determined by who has the most money is doomed. History will show it wasn't the war in Iraq that brought us down - it was the overriding disrespect for the law. Paris Hilton herself is insignificant, but what her release represents is monumental. We have become a country who's principles can be sold to the highest bidder. RIP-US.

to The Golden Rule wrote on Jun 7, 2007 1:59 PM:I agree with your post. You say "The Golden Rule is about avoiding hypocricy..." I agree. And walking the walk is far and away the best way to being a true leader, and ultimately to bring about real change. Why then are there so many out there who seem so concerned about global warming who are so quick to give the eco-Elite like Al Gore, DiCapprio, Will Ferrell, Cameron Diaz, a quick pass? They always tell us: "It would be nice if they cut back like they preach to the rest of us, but being a hypocrite doesn't take away from the larger problem." That is giving someone a huge pass, plain and simple. And it does their movement no favors. Further, it only winds up diluting the message. The best way to make change and have citizens truly believe in you and follow you is to lead by example. Yet we don't see it in this respect. We only see shams like carbon credits and carbon-neutral claims. As if these eco-Elites think that the regular public are a bunch of morons who wouldn't see it for what it is. Worse, we see their supporters tell the rest of us not to pay attention to the leader's behavior; just shut up and do what they say. How does this behavior fit into the Golden Rule?

Paris Hilton wrote on Jun 7, 2007 2:00 PM:This flagrant travesty of the American Justice System just emboldens the enemy. I am sure this will be plastered all over Al-Jazeera tonight. Truth, honor and the American Way? Up for sale, cheap.

Alf wrote on Jun 7, 2007 2:39 PM:Ah, "The Golden Rule" returns to help people think. Let's apply the Golden Rule to the debate between evolution(ism) and creation(ism). First, they both have their adherents and detractors. Second, they are both belief systems and nothing more. Third, neither can be proven because of missing information and leaps of, you got it, faith. Fourth, since both sometimes require quantum leaps of FAITH and neither is complete without FAITH, they are equally valid TO their respective followers. Come on, this "my faith is better than your faith" rhetoric and posturing is damaging each your own FAITH. What of people such as me, who believe elements of both as well as find fault with elements of both? Does that make me a heretic to both belief systems? The Golden Rule would seem to require that each person respects the other person's belief, even if that means agreeing to disagree. Still an unabashed Libertarian, Alf.

Re: No Amnesty! wrote on Jun 7, 2007 2:40 PM:I consider myself to be a moderate, maybe even with some liberal leaning. BUT, I’m totally in agreement with Gary Walker’s position on immigration reform: Secure our borders; grant no amnesty; enforce existing law. Actions still speak louder than words--I want to see our borders fully secured before even considering possible changes to immigration law. Also, Bush harps on how we have to fight the terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight them here. If our borders were secure, the terrorists couldn’t get in here.

With Apologies to Country Joe wrote on Jun 7, 2007 2:42 PM:Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again. His need for oil has not ceased, over there in the Middle East. So put down your books and pick up a gun, we're gonna have a whole lotta fun. And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for? No one knows, so give a hail, Paris Hilton’s out of jail. And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates. Well there ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee! we're all gonna die. Well, come on generals, let's move fast. Your big chance has come at last. Gotta go out and get those ‘gents The only good ‘surgent is the one who's dead. And you know that peace can only be won, when we've blown 'em all to Kingdom Come. Well, come on Wall Street, don't move slow. Why man, this is war a-go-go. There's plenty good money to be made, by supplying the Army with the tools of the trade. Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, this time around they aren't so wrong. And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for? No one knows, so give a hail, Paris Hilton’s out of jail. And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates. Well there ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee! we're all gonna die.

VERDAD wrote on Jun 7, 2007 2:46 PM:To: Bettie Heldring We should be proud of our country Firstly, you should be more exact in announcing the number of killed in the Vietnam War. Just stating a rounded number is disrespectful. 58,148 men were killed in Vietnam. Secondly, it was in our interest to rebuild Europe and Japan after World War II to hinder the spread of Communism, to develop trading partners and to rebuild our national economy. Thirdly, the USA has not done enough to fight AIDS in Africa. It was just recently that one drug company agreed to reduce the price for the RX. But it and others for years made the availability of the RX prohibitive in Africa due to the outrageous price. Lastly, your blanket statement about President Clinton and President Carter lacks evidence. What treasonous offense did they commit? In conclusion, I am very proud of my country because it affords us freedom under the Constitution and until recently always stood for the defense of democracy and western civilization. What we stand for now has yet to be determined. I do know that when Americans examine their country’s history it should be objectively realistic and not though the prism of rose tinted glasses.

OBSERVATION wrote on Jun 7, 2007 3:02 PM:Corruption At Every Level wrote on Jun 7, 2007 11:23 AM: From Observation: You are right on the money. I sugges that all the people incarcerated in the county jail for the same offense be released to home arrest but have to bunk at Paris Hilton's house with her.

to Laughing wrote on Jun 7, 2007 3:20 PM:Your pre-requisites for one to be taken seriously are suspect. A "real" university? "Peer reviewed"? "Then 'maybe' you'll be worthy"? Sounds to me like any thinking individual should be very concerned and rather skeptical of the findings that are produced among this elite group.

Paris Hilton wrote on Jun 7, 2007 3:32 PM:Jail was hot. I hope others have learned from my mistakes.

Don't worry "Laughing" wrote on Jun 7, 2007 3:40 PM:"to Laughing" criticizes the elitism of smart people who work hard in the sciences, but s/he doesn't mean it. As was pointed out recently, and as applies here, "to Laughing" probably prefers physicians, dentists, and nurses who went to real university. And whose textbooks were filled with information that came only from peer reviewed journals. Only these professionals, I'd guess, are "worthy" to tend to "to Laughing's" medical needs. It's no different than wanting someone well trained in electronics to fix your wiring, or in plumbing or carpentry to do those jobs...yes, professionals in those fields are equally the "elite" and I prefer them to the random people "to Laughing" pretends are his preference. There are many things that are just really complex, and so it takes years of study and of the most careful research to understand. "to Laughing" knows this perfectly well, but s/he enjoys pretending s/he doesn't just to feel superior in the debate. It's bunk.

To Paris Hilton at 3:32 PM wrote on Jun 7, 2007 3:42 PM:Priceless.

More on Paris wrote on Jun 7, 2007 3:43 PM:As I understand it, the judge in her trial (who sentenced her) specifically said that things like work furloughs and home-time-with-ankle-bracelet would not be permitted. But she had her psychiatrist visit her on Tuesday and Wednesday and on Thursday, for "unspecified medical reasons" (unspecified because, for the first time in her life, she wants her privacy to be respected) she's out. Outrageous! Can anyone even COUNT the numbers of people in prison who are depressed, anxious, traumatized, and the rest? To them we say "tough luck".

John from USC wrote on Jun 7, 2007 4:03 PM:To Paris Hilton 2:00PM: aljazeera focus' on the more important events of the world--don't think the'll be competing with the National Enquirer any time soon.

top four, wrote on Jun 7, 2007 4:09 PM:reasons to let illegal aliens have amnesty: 4-borders do not have to be secure before the amnesty program starts. 3-gang members, yes I said gang members, are eligible for amnesty if they renounce their gang status. 2-illegal aliens will be given legal status even if there is not a background check completed. 1-taxpayers will pay for the immigration lawyers for illegal aliens.

Laughing at Creationists wrote on Jun 7, 2007 4:15 PM:Those people know what they are talking about. If they are an elite, it is a self-selected elite open to anyone willing to put in the work necessary to get there - just like doctors and lawyers as someone else pointed out. People who try to pawn speciation off on the big elf in the sky don't really know anything. They are certainly not "thinking individuals" but rather are "deluded individuals".

To "Laughing at Creationist" wrote on Jun 7, 2007 4:49 PM:You are calling them deluded? You spew some real insanity yourself at times. It also seems that you are also quite defensive about your position on the matter. Why do you think that is?

Alf wrote on Jun 7, 2007 5:22 PM:Well, "Laughing at Creationists", the entire scientific establishment operates on assumptions, because not one of them was around 100 million years ago. Their speculations are more logical than creationists, but does that make them more valid? Today we can clone sheep and yet those clones die faster than the "original". Many molecular biologists and other scientists can tell you how something works, they can prove that something works by repetition, they can even tell you why some things work, but they can't say why others work or don't work. Some are convinced that there is intelligent design that evolution simply cannot explain. Both evolutionists and creationists are deceiving themselves and being arrogant if they think that mankind is the ultimate "end product". I'm sure that the Argentinean ants who have learned not to war amongst themselves, thus creating super-colonies, may look upon us as rather foolish and, proportionately, weak, if they think at all. Isn't it interesting that the more a creature thinks, the more violent they are or can become? I'm not talking about violence to eat and survive, I'm talking about violence for "beliefs", almost every religion has rationalized unprovoked violence even though they claim that killing is wrong. Scientists creating power that kills thousands or millions at a time. Dr. Oppenheimer, upon seeing how a device he helped create, the atomic bomb, spent the rest of his life detesting himself and the people who used that power violently. Still an unabashed Libertarian, Alf.

Laughing at Creationists wrote on Jun 7, 2007 5:45 PM:Of course science works of assumptions. Of Of course science doesn't know everything yet. That's the strawman of the creationist dimwits - that the shortcomings in current theories add up to the big elf in the sky dunnit. The rest of your post degenerated into a rather bizarre diatribe, Alf....

to Laughing wrote on Jun 7, 2007 5:47 PM:How convenient of you to grab all the wonderful scientific advances in medicine and the various trades from prior centuries and pretend that it is somehow the same evolution and Darwinism. Sounds similar to today's scientists with the global warming racket: The earth is heating; man is the main cause; don't argue with us; there is consensus; it's time to act. This is considered science? Nice try. Problem is, Darwinism has been beaten and battered with numerous questions that Darwinism's evangelists have been unable (and cannot) answer. Medical advances that are accepted and practiced today stood the test of time and the test of science. That is why almost everyone subscribes and is convinced. Quite a difference. But again, nice try juxtaposing evolution science to medical science and their advances. But your argument is bunk because it is, and always has been, on shaky science. Just like the global warming science. Maybe someday. But for now...Sorry.

Laughing or Crying? wrote on Jun 7, 2007 6:09 PM:We could fill the entire blogosphere with scientific proofs that were later discarded as bunk. Yet it always seems to be certain hypotheses and theories that have the politicians ear. The "proven" science that is most able to control the masses and swipe their liberty is the one that is most likely to have the money backing and their will forced upon the people. Why are so few scientists' expertise outside of the realm of humans? Easy. The results of said science have little impact on the behavior, and ultimate control, of regular humans.

to Alf wrote on Jun 7, 2007 6:23 PM:Nice concept with the ants. Very interesting. You apparently separate war/military conflict (violence) with the conflict (violence) of eating and surviving. But, can we really separate the two? In our minds, yes we think we can. But in reality when all these other forces come into play, can we? Perhaps the underlying reason is survival (eating and surviving) and that is actually the root cause of all conflict. Eh? Is world peace even possible? If exactly zero nations are at war, and exactly zero "tribes" are at war within a given area, is it possible for there to be zero violence within a local area or on our planet? Is it possible for one human to not have conflict with another in their daily routine? Or with himself? The answer must be a resounding No. So, can we ever really achieve real world peace?

John to to Laughing wrote on Jun 7, 2007 6:50 PM:I'm fairly new to Creationism versus Darwinism. I know there are a few questions still open on evolution, but I wasn't aware that Darwinism had been battered. Would you expand on that please?

Go Paris! wrote on Jun 7, 2007 7:23 PM:Paris lives the American dream, folks. Money is power, period. When you get in dutch, bring in your heavy hitters and let them do the job. You need a shrink? No problemo. Need a medical disorder? You got it, babe. Out and free. Scooter's next. Why is anyone still shocked by this? Has it ever been different? Are you all deluded into thinking that this is some rare and horrible travesty of justice, American style? Please, the laughter hurts! Stop! Stop!! This is a mirror, folks. This is us. Celebrity uber alles! Go Paris! You rock, girl!

Right on, Laughing wrote on Jun 7, 2007 7:28 PM:Those who are criticizing you obviously do not, and maybe will not, understand. Science is NOT, and never will be, about adopting beliefs. The process of science, elite peer reviewed journals being an example, is about improvement of ideas. Period. "Belief" is not the issue. The scientific mindset is: I might believe this, but bring me good, really good, evidence, and I will happily change my beliefs! I change them for good reasons ("good" means with empirical evidence and logic). I actually WANT to change my beliefs for the better...but you have to convince me. This is all the opposite of religious belief, which doesn't want evidence or serious challenge, which doesn't want improvement, least of all.

Alf wrote on Jun 7, 2007 7:40 PM:First, a continuation in my philosophical "diatribe". Whereas science seeks to know the what and the how, religion and philosophers seek to know the why. Second, I am not a "creationist dimwit", rather I look at both "sides" and see their GOOD and BAD points. I am not bound by either, yet I describe myself as a Christian because the teachings of Christ make more sense to me than those of other religions. I need not believe in resurrection to find his principles worthy. If I had a glioblastoma (the fastest, deadliest brain cancer that currently exists), I might turn further to religion because medical science holds absolutely no cure whatsoever, none, nada, zip. My aunt got a headache just before Thanksgiving and did not see the new year, that's how asymptomatic glioblastoma is or can be until it's too late. Third, we will never achieve any prolonged whirled peas. The best we can hope for is to try and keep trying. The claim that "it's testosterone" is bull because, GENERALLY, although men are more directly confrontational, women can be far more treacherous. Third and a Half, although cloaked in religious terms, there is a reason that the "Seven Deadly Sins" are bad, each one inevitably leads to violence and someone's death. As long as we humans have emotions, as long as we "think" with them, vote with them and act upon them without tempering them with intellect (sort of like GWB), violence and conflict both internal and external will always be with us. I accept that while not condoning it. Still a philosophical and unabashed Libertarian, Alf.

Laughing at Creationists wrote on Jun 7, 2007 9:08 PM:It's funny, I've been to many universities and haven't found evolution to be in the slightest "battered". The principle of evolution underlies all of the biological sciences being taught today. There isn't any competing principle for speciation - except at religious ... colleges that nobody pays any attention to anyway.

To "Laughing at Creationsts" wrote on Jun 8, 2007 8:43 AM:If you keep ranting the way you have been, no one will pay any attention to you either.

Response to Ace wrote on Jun 8, 2007 10:04 AM:I only had 200 words, however here is one for ya. The House Judiciary subcommittee on Civil Rights and the Constitution... holding hearings starting on the 7th into civil rights erosion, privacy intrusions from the Patriot Act etcetera this to include if the various congressmen could include, weather the federal government should be tracking every prescription written in this country. Hows that for Big Brother, and Bush Co. Regards: Ron Griesse