I've been BookMooching for a month or two now and have managed to place a bunch of good books to loving homes (and get a couple that I want for my own). Plus you can give away Mooch points for charity, like reading projects and so on....
Let him do his thing, and then you get him out. No messing with him for laughs.
Mal ,'Ariel'
Natter Area 51: The Truthiness Is in Here
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Theodosia - May 30, 2007 6:01:15 am PDT #9856 of 10001
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"
shrift - May 30, 2007 6:04:23 am PDT #9857 of 10001
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty
I would like to exchange this week for a new week. This week is faulty and horrible and wrong.
tommyrot - May 30, 2007 6:05:36 am PDT #9858 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
IOWarCrimeN,
One of Those Rare Instances in Which the Nazi Analogy is Unavoidable
Andrew Sullivan describes the uncanny and chilling correspondence between the Gestapo's "enhanced" (or "sharpened") interrogation techniques, and those that have been officially authorized and used by the United States over the past few years. Not only are the techniques, and the nomenclature, of a piece -- but so are the legal and ethical justifications offered in their defense.
In general, I'm a big believer in Godwin's Law. And the fact that what we're doing is eerily reminiscent of the Gestapo -- and of conduct that the United States has readily and uncontroversially deemed "torture" and war crimes when employed by repressive regimes (and U.S. forces) in the past -- should not be the final word, cutting off all further discussion. Of course, the fact that the Gestapo did something -- even something that was treated as a war crime -- does not necessarily mean that it is wrong or that we should condemn it.
But surely it ought to give one pause. And make one wonder about a major political party debate in which the candidates eagerly brag of their willingness to emulate the Gestapo -- and in which the audience lustily cheers them along.
Andrew Sullivan:
Critics will no doubt say I am accusing the Bush administration of being Hitler. I'm not. There is no comparison between the political system in Germany in 1937 and the U.S. in 2007. What I am reporting is a simple empirical fact: the interrogation methods approved and defended by this president are not new. Many have been used in the past. The very phrase used by the president to describe torture-that-isn't-somehow-torture - "enhanced interrogation techniques" - is a term originally coined by the Nazis. The techniques are indistinguishable. The methods were clearly understood in 1948 as war-crimes. The punishment for them was death.
Dana - May 30, 2007 6:07:10 am PDT #9859 of 10001
"I'm useless alone." // "We're all useless alone. It's a good thing you're not alone."
I would like to exchange this week for a new week. This week is faulty and horrible and wrong.
According to Fry and Laurie, you can always take things back to Marks and Spencer.
Matt the Bruins fan - May 30, 2007 6:08:22 am PDT #9860 of 10001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
The only question I have is will it be too much in Memphis summer weather?
I don't think so heat-wise. I'm keeping it trimmed to about 7 day length (like the goatee) since I don't like the feel of facial hair once it gets long enough to start bending. But I'm not used to the feel yet—it shocks me every time I rest my chin on my hand.
-t - May 30, 2007 6:10:35 am PDT #9861 of 10001
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration
Looks like the scruffiness is working for you to me, Matt.
shrift - May 30, 2007 6:13:57 am PDT #9862 of 10001
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty
According to Fry and Laurie, you can always take things back to Marks and Spencer.
We should fly to London and return this week to Marks & Sparks, because DO NOT WANT.
Dana - May 30, 2007 6:16:32 am PDT #9863 of 10001
"I'm useless alone." // "We're all useless alone. It's a good thing you're not alone."
We should fly to London
Sold! Let's go.
shrift - May 30, 2007 6:34:40 am PDT #9864 of 10001
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty
Sold! Let's go.
We'll have tea and biscuits, and discuss Terrence Mann dancing in tight pants.
Fred Pete - May 30, 2007 6:35:34 am PDT #9865 of 10001
Ann, that's a ferret.
Matt -- it works.