Steve Schacher

You're going to love this one. I couldn't believe it was a random generation, so I saved it and generated it again, and then once more. The others were all different, so there isn't any hard-coding here. quote: My complaint about Pres. Bill J Clinton Some of my colleagues recommended that I write a letter about how a stockpile of Pres. Bill J Clinton quotes favoring conformism could fill a junkyard. This is that letter. Read on, gentle reader, and hear what I have to say. Pres. Bill J Clinton keeps trying to turn back the clock and repeal all the civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation now on the books. And if we don't remain eternally vigilant, he will certainly succeed. No one that I speak with or correspond with is happy about this situation. Of course, I don't speak or correspond with hate-filled savages, Pres. Clinton's acolytes, or anyone else who fails to realize that I'm sticking out my neck a bit in talking about Pres. Clinton's personal attacks. It's quite likely he will try to retaliate against me for my telling you that if you can go more than a minute without hearing him talk about vandalism, you're either deaf, dumb, or in a serious case of denial. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that many people are incredulous when I tell them that Pres. Clinton intends to use our weaknesses to his advantage. "How could Pres. Clinton be so uncivilized?", they ask me. "It doesn't seem possible." Well, it is surely possible, and now I'll explain exactly how Pres. Clinton plans to do it. But first, you need to realize that he has two imperatives. The first is to reap a whirlwind of destroyed marriages, damaged children, and, quite possibly, a globe-wide expression of incurable sexually transmitted diseases. The second imperative is to cause pain and injury to those who don't deserve it. When I first heard about his objectives, I dismissed them as merely manipulative. But when I later learned that Pres. Clinton wants me to play right into the hands of directionless, execrable fastidious-types, I realized that Pres. Clinton should judge not, lest he be judged. (Actually, what I take much more seriously than mawkish proponents of jujuism are the worst types of irritating, crafty dolts there are, but that's not important now.) I predict that any day now, people will generally agree that there will be public outrage if he tries to permit condescending utopians to rise to positions of leadership and authority. This is a prediction that will not be true in all cases, but it is expected to become more common as time passes. While this country still has far to go before people are truly judged on the content of their character, his reasoning is circular and therefore invalid. In other words, he always begins an argument with his conclusion (e.g., that mediocrity and normalcy are ideal virtues) and therefore -- not surprisingly -- he always arrives at that very conclusion. I'm sure you get my point here. Pres. Clinton is bad enough when he's alone, but he is even worse when he's joined by appalling, vapid smut peddlers. Maybe he has a reason for acting the way he does, but I doubt it. He needs to internalize the external truth that we are in trouble when hitherto reputable people teach indecent concepts to children. We can therefore extrapolate that his subliminal psywar campaigns are not an abstract problem. They have very concrete, immediate, and unpleasant consequences. For instance, he wants to silence critical debate and squelch creative brainstorming. Who does he think he is? I mean, his slurs are attributable to an ignorance born of fear. And let me tell you, he might destroy all tradition, all morality, and the entire democratic system when you least expect it. What are we to do then? Place blinders over our eyes and hope we don't see the horrible outcome? As everyone knows, Pres. Clinton neglects the impact that selfishness has on the soul. What you might not know, however, is that he thinks that he understands the difference between civilization and savagery. However, I will renew my resolve to replace today's chaos and lack of vision with order and a supreme sense of purpose. All in all, he is laughing up his sleeve at us. That said, let me continue. This letter has gone on far too long, in my opinion, and probably yours as well. So let me end it by saying merely that Pres. Bill J Clinton is unequivocally possessed by the devil.

So far, it seems to be targeting the media. If other cases occur, I wonder if the pattern will continue.

Welcome back, Rattler!

There's no place like home... There's no place like home... There's no place like home... [ 10-11-2001: Message edited by: Steve Schacher ]

quote:Shall I restore it? Uhhhh... Yes Yes Yes Yes. Seriously, Yours is the first site I signed up on when I got Internet. I was moving off of my Apple 2 to the PC, mostly so that I could play BC3K but also to get current. I've since learned about internet anonymity, and used that vanity email as the basis for other vanity emails that reference back to each other so I can have an email trace that infinitely loops back to obsolete ISPs. If it doesn't really protect me, then at least I sleep better at night.

quote:But then again, a good mole is a good mole. I'm gonna need some serious convincing, though. How about BCM: The Mole, the first on-line, interactive, reality-based game about a game. Think of it!! Who's really whom? We all interact all week long, and then on Sunday night at 8:00pm (7:00pm Central), we VOTE somebody off. Who will it be? Was that person Jag Uar or Jagu Ar? Menchise or mEnChIsE? It was so long ago... And what about me? Can you really trust someone who knows how to use the word "whom?" Yes. BCM: The Mole. How deep can the internet go? Register at an ISP near you.

Ensign?.?.? Shucks!.!.! Busted... [ 10-08-2001: Message edited by: Steve Schacher ]

I've never had a problem with Sprint, and I've been using them since 1984. One time, I got a bill with $1,600 worth of calls to China. Somebody got my wife's card number when she called me from JFK during a trip, but Sprint removed the charges.

Try Empire. It's a WWII-like game with infantry, armor, transports, destroyers, bombers, fighters, subs, carriers, and battleships on a planet where the land masses are hidden until you explore them. You can decide how many computer opponents there are and how large the world is. You conquer cities that add to your production of ships. Automated player aids include patrol routes, free exploration, and transfer routes to move newly produced units automatically to the front.

Try some of the white pages. Do a national search on the name and see what comes up. Try www.classmates.com. It's a high-school reunion type of site (maybe college too). Find his school (if you know it is) and year and see if he signed up. If not, post a message to his graduating class and see if other school friends know where he is.

My aunt worked in the WTC (not the towers), but she was expecting a computer delivery that day so she went to her Jersey office instead.

Nova, You are indeed more aware than I was at your age. I share your sentiments about the Afghan people, but I'm concerned that the world looks to the USA to solve their problems, and then bites the hand that feeds them. Why is it the USA's obligation to help the people of Afghanistan when there are so many other prosperous countries around the world, some in Afghanistan's back yard? Many people rightly claim that we have our own starving, homeless, jobless people right here, yet they also say that we have to help the suffering people of other countries as well. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't, while the other countries sit back and bank the money that they should be spending instead of us. And then they bomb us and call us decadent, and then they say that we had it coming and that it was our own fault. It's enough to make my brain hurt, trying to keep it all straight.

Yes.

Replied.

I'm not worthy... Menchise, I think he was referring to Akuma's post: quote:Sorry, I don't really find this funny at all. I don't mean to be a kill joy but it's very violent in thought don't you think? I always find your posts reasonable for the points of view expressed. I don't necessarily agree with them, but then where's the fun in that? [ 09-22-2001: Message edited by: Steve Schacher ]

quote:Mr President, don't do this. Humanity has already lost over 5,000 lives to bloodlust. Don't let that number become 500,000... Thomas Paine wrote about society's obligation to antiquity and posterity. This is an action that we owe to posterity. If we don't stop terrorism now, then the 500,000 will still occur by the terrorists. Would you rather have the innocent killed or the soldiers who are trying to stop it? quote:The cause of this conflict is not religion, not even a twisted interpretation of it. Religion is just the coincidental source of unity which has been adopted by the people in their own campaign. They want non-interference from America in the affairs of the Middle East, including an end to the selling of arms to Israel. President Bush made it clear that religion was not the issue. What people don't realize is that Bin Laden is trying to destroy the world market. The peoples of 60 countries were in the World Trade Center, not just Americans. If he wanted to attack America, he could have hit the Statue Of Libery or Mt. Rushmore and hurt the American psyche, but he wanted to 1) kill Americans, and 2) disrupt the world economy. As you said, religion was the means to coerce his operatives, but his mission is clear. Also, it is interesting to note that Bin Laden is a multi-millionaire in his own right -- he comes from a rich family. If the people of Afghanistan are suffering, why isn't he helping them with his own vast resources? Also not widely considered, is the fact that American military action in the past 10 years was to defend Muslims: the Gulf War was to save the Kuwaiti's who are Muslim, intervention in the Balkans to save Bosnia, again Muslims, and then defending Kosovo from Serbia, more Muslims. And then there were the starving people of Somalia, also Muslims. Where's the credit for that? We are not against Islam, only the terrorist who are using Islam as a shield to coerce people into supporting them and the people who are using the religion card to divert reaction and cause turmoil and confusion among the diversity-constrained democracies who might stop them. [ 09-21-2001: Message edited by: Steve Schacher ]

Common Sense was earlier. Paine must have ended his pamphlet with the phrase anyway. Common Sense was written in February of 1776 to argue that the time to declare independence was now, not 20 years ago and not 20 years hence. These are the times... was written in December of the same year to appeal to people to join Washington's army because the cause was just and the alternative was intolerable. Here is one of many links to this pamphlet (I edited out the specific Revolutionary War references). Here is a link to Common Sense, written in February of 1776. If you like that one, then here is a link to The Rights Of Man, an even deeper paper by Paine. [ 09-21-2001: Message edited by: Steve Schacher ]

A lot of people are going to find a lot of things offensive over the next few years. I hope that some of you found the destruction of four airliners, two office buildings, and all the occupants and rescuers offensive as well. The youth of the world have been coddled in the last 25 years to believe that feelings and self esteem are more important than thinking and accomplishment. Reality is hitting like a slap in the face. The world is not always a happy, peaceful place, and wanting it to be so does not make it so. How many times will you let yourself be slapped in the face before you raise your hand to stop the next blow, as offensive as that action may be? Look at the words of Thomas Paine, written in December of 1776. You may have heard of the phrase These are the times that try men's souls.... Here are some excerpts from that writing: quote: THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he. 'Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat-bottomed boats; and in the fourteenth [fifteenth] century the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc. Would that heaven might inspire some Jersey maid to spirit up her countrymen, and save her fair fellow sufferers from ravage and ravishment! Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world. I once felt all that kind of anger, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, "Well! give me peace in my day." Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;" and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty. There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both. By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils- a ravaged country- a depopulated city- habitations without safety, and slavery without hope- our homes turned into barracks and bawdy-houses for Hessians, and a future race to provide for, whose fathers we shall doubt of. Look on this picture and weep over it! and if there yet remains one thoughtless wretch who believes it not, let him suffer it unlamented. COMMON SENSE. December 23, 1776.

quote:Aramike, I disagree with your view that governments are people's responsibility. A government can be sustained in the power by means of opression, if they can overpower the civil population with their military, and also by propaganda, misinforming and distorting the reality. Sadly, history is full of such examples. I think you would have to distinguish between governments that are based on a constitution vs. governments that were formed by force. Constitutional governments tend to not do as you described. Furthermore, capitalist governments tend not to attack other capitalist governments because they would prefer to do business with them.

quote:we'll get these guys all worked up and the thread will get pulled again!! I don't mean to have an itchy finger, but the profanity was over the line. First, there are reports that the Taliban leaders fled to the mountains after the attack. They say that that is what they did when the Soviets went in. Then they said that they'd attack any nation that supports the USA. I'm wondering how they're going to do that from their mountain hideouts. Now they say that they are massing at the borders. If there are enough of them to hide in the mountains, amass at the border, and attack all their neighbors, then they are the people of Afghanistan. If they are really frightened old men hiding in the mountains, then the people should stand up to them like the passengers from United 93 did, knowing that they would die but doing the right thing anyway. Afghanistan is the size of Texas. How many people does it take to make a country, and how many people can you exclude from "country" and still have a country? Also, Ronn Owens of liberal KGO is from the San Francisco Bay Area. This is the area where Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) was the only NO vote in both houses on the resolution to give the president the power to take "all means necessary." This area is also home to teens who expressed this interest from the Alameda Times Star. Unfortunately, this is also the same area where the school-children who were taken on a field trip to see the Spielberg movie Shindler's List starting cheering as the Nazi's were slaughtering the Jews. The teachers were horrified, and they quickly followed up with some more education. Spielberg even came out to talk to the kids during an assembly. [ 09-19-2001: Message edited by: Steve Schacher ]

My wife.

quote:We've all watched Sci-fi movies that started like this. A lot of them ended with world war. A war we cannot afford to begin. A world war will only begin if others respond to aggression. In this case, I wish to take the other world leaders at their word when they express sympathy and disgust. If America takes swift, decisive action, I would expect the rest of the world to see the justness of it and not escalate it to worldwide conflict.

Crude prices are more a result of OPEC price setting and the spot market. American oil companies mostly deal in refined product (i.e. gasoline). The prices that are being reported are crude prices. There were some reports of local gas stations increasing prices at the pump, but there were also reports that those prices were reduced several hours later. Again, uncertainty is driving the spike in prices, but they should revert back to normal once the markets are back online. Another thing to consider: with the FAA shutting down all airports, this created a huge backlog in aviation fuel supply. Consider the amount of flights that take off each day. There is a continuous supply of aviation fuel from oil companies (from the same crude that gasoline comes from), since the airports are continuously refueling airplanes all day long. If you shut down all the airports nationwide, the oil companies have to stop the supply chain to the airports before the airport's storage capacity overflows. Think of the gasoline trucks on the highways -- where do they go? This has nothing to do with the price of crude or the price at the pump, but how many of you considered just what it takes to be an oil company? A disaster like this has ripple effects, and the market uncertainty (will OPEC retaliate and shut down production and sales to the West?) reacts by assuming the worst and jacking up prices. Once the situation stabilizes, prices will return to normal. Chalk it up to the commodities markets being closed today.

I saw reports that the oil companies (in the USA) will freeze prices -- you are seeing crude price increases due to the markets closing down and uncertainty. p.s. I'll be watching this thread tonight.

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