californiainfidel

As a registered Independent, I have no dog in the fight. I need all sides of an issue to make valid choices. I watch CNN, HLN, MSNBC, and Fox switching when the commercials come on. I do not watch the opinions or commentators such as Oberman, Ed, Beck, or any of the others. I form my own opinions. Fox provides information not available on the other stations. They don't cover for the white house. Don't you think it is valuable for your own benefit to have as much information as possible? It seems that most people want to watch media that agrees with them. How can you learn anything from only one point of view?

Is there a difference between happiness and pleasure? if so, what is it?

If we define "useful" as being able to achieve middle-class economic status, should a person spend four years in college or two years learning a trade, such as auto mechanics, plumbing, machinest, surveyor, draftsman, etc.? The studies I've found to determine the value of a college degree compare college to high school or associate degrees, none compare college education to trade school education. From just comparing the want ads in various newspapers around the country, there is a shortage of trade professionals and a surfeit of college graduates. I just hired a tile setter and he can't come to my house for four weeks. A hardwood floor installer is booked until December. The girl pouring coffee at a local bar and the guy clerking a 7-11 have college degrees. Is this an example of a larger picture? Anyone know of any studies on this issue?

I am an Independent and didn't vote in the last election, but the controversy over Sarah Palin is becoming interesting. I've read many, many articles attacking her, but other than her initial lack of knowledge of international politics, everything seems to be vitriol. I've also read her speeches and she appears to be a gutsy, intelligent woman who understands "the common man" better than almost anyone in political office. So, are the attacks simply some sort of "gut fear" of a potentially powerful adversary or is there something substantial to explain them? I'm starting to like the woman, so I'm curious to hear from people who have a bona-fide reason to think she is not as capable to run for political office as Carter, Robert Byrd, or Strom Thurmond.

"Described as the most evil and powerful being in history, with the death of the Republic credited to him, Palpatine certainly made an impression in the galaxy. Yet his origins were humble, and he set out as an unassuming senator with no apparent aspirations for anything else...much less ruler of the galaxy. He took on the alias of Darth Sidious, and began working on a master plan to change the galaxy and bring about a New Order."

Sound familiar?

The universe contains everything - matter, energy, time, thoughts, hopes, dreams - everything. Nothing exists outside of it. If we die and there is an after-existence, where would that be? An alternative universe? A different dimension? Is it possible, as some philosophies suggest, that each of us creates his/her own afterlife through belief or lack of it? As an atheist myself, I have a curiosity about other belief systems. If heaven is eternal and the universe is not, what happens to heaven when the universe collapses and disappears?

Someone in a coffee shop was talking about "Kate & Jon". Apparently they have a t.v. show about living with 8 kids. There is no story and no plot, they just live. 8 million people watch this show. Does anyone else think this is creepy? Like The Truman Show? What is the attraction? I don't watch t.v. so this is a new one on me. Should we be concerned about 8 million peeping Toms? Clue me in on the reason someone would waste an hour of their life watching another family simply going through their day. Sounds weird.

Anyone know how much coal is used to charge an electric car?

New chips in passports allow the govt. to access your passport data wirelessly. These chips can be read dozens of feet away with cheap, easily available readers that can be bought on ebay. There is a lot of concern that the govt. will be able to track people anywhere on earth once these chips are used in more applications. So what? What concrete negatives will happen if this is implemented? What positives?

Any information obtained in any way from an enemy combatant or a criminal is subjected to a wide variety of validations. No one accepts a freely given confession any more than they would one obtained through torture. All information obtained is checked, cross-checked, cross/cross checked, and checked again as many times as necessary to validate it. So, torture is effective unless it is used to extract false confessions. So, why do people repeat the stupidity that torture isn't effective? Is it just a political thing or do they really believe we get information and act on it without validation? The Germans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Italians, Muslims, Russians and ancient civilizations were/are very successful in ripping useful information out of reluctant prisoners. Arguments against it for humane reasons are valid. Arguing against it for effectiveness is not. O.k. let's hear the insults for asking this question and making these statements, then try to come up with an answer to the question.

Is there any evidence of any kind that shows terrorist recruitment increasing because of Guantanamo Bay? I've googled and can't find anything factual. Guantanamo Bay was opened after 9/11 and after the attacks on American assets while Clinton was Pres. No interrogations went on there. Every international organization has gone through Gitmo and approved of it. The conditions there are a country club compared to American prisons. So, how does Obama get off saying it increases terrorist recruitment? Facts, facts, facts. No Obama rantings please.

Why or why not? Who thinks she is doing a decent job? Under her leadership, Congress was in the 14% range last year and 39% this year. Why? What did they do differently? Is the reason for the uptick due to something Pelosi's done? There must be something going on that no one seems to know about.

For the last two day, I've noticed that a large percentage of crimes reported in the U.S. were committed by people with hispanic last names. Hispanics make up 12% of the population (35,000,000) yet commit 37% of crimes. What's up?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/race_relations/jan-...

Obama is reversing himself on issues he campaigned on. Now that he is president and has access to secret information only the president is allowed to see, is he going to be forced by circumstances to follow Bush policies to a large extent? Pelosi and the other crooks are being "outed". Is Obama going to let them control his agenda or is going to "man up"? What do you think?

What goes through your mind when you hear that Obama is proposing a 3 trillion dollar budget for next year. If you laid one dollar bills end to end, you could make a chain that stretches from earth to the moon and back again 200 times before you ran out of dollar bills! One trillion dollars would stretch nearly from the earth to the sun. It would take a military jet flying at the speed of sound, reeling out a roll of dollar bills behind it, 14 years before it reeled out one trillion dollar bills. Multiply that by 3! So, do you think Obama understands what he is proposing?

I've googled Obama's 1st 100 days to find out what he's accomplished. Except for a lot of talk, this is all I've found:

-Signed the economic recovery act (the stimulus bill)

-Signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act

-Signed a bill for the State Children's Health Insurance Program

-Fired a CEO

-Demoralized the CIA

Give me more if you have anything. Don't bother telling me what he plans to do.

According to the National Institute of Health, 36,000 people die from the flu in the U.S. annually and 500,000 around the world. Only a couple hundred have died from Swine Flu worldwide. There are many kinds of flu and they are always mutating. Swine Flu is just one of hundreds. So, why the big deal? Why is the White House trying to divert our attention? Is this another "wag the dog"?

Do you think Barry would allow torture if his wife was in danger of being killed? How about being injured?

I've dated 72 women since my divorce - from 24 year olds to 45. Businesswomen, poker dealers, dance teachers, lawyers, a pole dancer, and many others. It seems that, after the initial mating ritual, they begin wanting to be spanked, slapped, tied up, etc. I never initiate anything like this or bring it up in conversation. I'm not against it and the sex is great, but it makes me wonder how far they want to go and if I might wind up castrated in my sleep. I think, once they determine that I'm not a crazy, they feel safe in proposing this stuff. Does anyone else have similar experiences? Do most women fantasize about rough sex?