I don't think my uncle was prepared for CA. He was transfered there and it wasn't a first choice for him. I don't think he had any idea of what the cost of housing would be or what housing would be like. Sunday he kept going on about his first apartment -- how tiny it was, how expensive it was, it was on the fourth floor (and no elevator!) -- this was a place he had to himself. It was after that he had to adjust to the idea of having roommates and sharing housing.

Unfortunatly around here the mentality for sharing housing and public transportation seems to be that it's only for students or poor people. The man who just left as head of the city bus system was rather proud of the fact that there were basically no changes in the 15 yrs he'd been there.

There's plenty more where that came from, Erika. We have a bill to ban nudist youth camps, for instance.

Certainly, bunnies, deer and woodchucks are in interstate danger. Luckily, they breed like -- like bunnies, deer and woodchucks, and are not altogether missed. Unluckily, not missing a deer can be a dangerous proposition for those of us on the interstate.

Unless it was Heather. I'd be ok with that.

Aww. It's sweet that you trust me not to go power mad, naive maybe, but sweet.

It is strange here, the things that they do and think are perfectly normal, and even uber-American that those of us who don't buy into the conservative thing, or not even the conservative thing, but the bat-shit Texas brand of conservatism look at and go, "It's called the constitution, look into it." Unfortunately this can't be a case of YcountryMV

Unluckily, not missing a deer can be a dangerous proposition for those of us on the interstate.

The worst car accident I ever saw involved three cars and two deer. It was messy.

Aww. It's sweet that you trust me not to go power mad, naive maybe, but sweet.

Where'd I say that? I just figure your up-against-the-wall list has a fair degree of overlap with mine.

Do people really do that? I see that, and raise with "Guns in bars"...I shit you not. Because nothing but protection can come from somebody coming heavy to a bar. I don't belong here.

the state with the highest death penalty rate in the US (and one of the highest in the world) doesn't allow juries to consider life without parole as an option for punishment of criminals.

That's kind of insane. I oppose capital punishment, but if the choice was capital punishment or see a child rapist/murderer on the streets in 15 years, I'd flip the switch myself. It puts the Texas death penalty rate in perspective.

The wacky conservative idea that has always baffled me is the right to carry concealed weapons.

Like, okay, you believe weapons are a good thing and you should be able to defend yourself with all the deadly waffle-iron power you can muster. But, like, what benefit is there to carrying the waffle-iron down your pants? Isn't it more of a deterrent if you wear your weapon right out there for everyone to see, and say, "Dude, I got a waffle-iron. Can it with the mischief, now."

There will still be dumbasses who try to rob banks when they can see for themselves all the six-guns assembled on the premises; but I should think fair warning about when not to be a dumbass would be a good thing.

Also, being required to wear your weapon unconcealed would be an excellent fashion statement.

I see that, and raise with "Guns in bars"...I shit you not. Because nothing but protection can come from somebody coming heavy to a bar. I don't belong here.

This was an issue of heavy debate in Virginia last session. I think they left it at, open-carry weapons are okay, concealed-carry weapons are not, but the whole idea of it as an issue was kind of boggling to those of us in (sane) Northern Virginia.