leahcim

And honestly, I think I would have a really difficult time forgiving someone who brought such harm to my family or friends. I would hope I could forgive, but I hope to never have to find out...

Who said anything about forgetting? I will remember 9/11 as long as I live. And I also remember the videos of people celebrating in the streets of AMERICAN CITIES. I cannot speak as one who lost someone close in 9/11, but every American lost something that day. I do not think forgiveness is incompatible with continued vigilance. I do not think you have to let your guard down to forgive. In fact I believe that even under attack you can forgive the people attacking and at the same time employing deadly force--to repel or neutralize those same attackers you forgive--to prevent them from bringing harm to yourself or others.

I have a visceral reaction of Anger and hate whenever I think about it, see the video, walk by the memorial or freedom tower. That's just my natural reaction and I can't imagine that ever changing, but I believe I can also make the conscious choice to love and forgive. And, as Alex said, the hate and anger really doesn't do me any good. I remember, many years ago, hearing Darrell Scott speaking about losing his daughter Rachel to the Columbine killers. I was amazed at his ability to love and forgive. I can't even begin to understand his loss, yet he was able to forgive, by God's grace and power.

My Christian faith tells me I should forgive everyone, even those who hate me. It is difficult, unnatural, but necessary. Just as Jesus forgave those who killed him, Paul was forgiven by the Lord even after he murdered Christians, Dietrich Bohnhoffer forgave the Nazis who tortured and killed him (although he also helped in a few failed plots to assassinate Hitler). Darrell Scott (whose daughter was killed in Columbine) forgave his daughter's killers. True Christianity is a religion of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. Hate the evil, but forgive the misguided perpetrators.

Really? If you are attacked while engaged in a legal (but stupid) activity, and not antagonizing or instigating, you would not be justified in defending yourself? I think I understand the point you are making, but it seems like a slippery slope. What if I am just well dressed and walking through Newark, perp assumes I have $$ and attacks me? Did I create that situation? What if my house looks like I must be loaded (large house, lots of cars, boats, and other toys on display). Perp decides my house is the best target and invades. Did I create that situation? I try to be maintain a low key appearance for just this reason. Not trying to be an ass, just devil's advocate trying to determine where is the line of appearance that makes the victim responsible for creating the situation.

Was he able to make a claim to the surge suppressor MFR? Every one I have ever bought says they provide tens of thousands in coverage. I have never really read the actual contract of coverage, but wondering if they are worth anything or are lightning strikes explicitly excluded? I do have everything behind SS strips, washer and fridge are on plug-in suppressors and also a whole house SS on my breaker box, and another one on my AC compressor. But obviously a direct hit will likely blow right through those.

I have two outdoor Foscams, and they were great. I really liked the interface and ease of setup and use. Very nice UI (although I have been getting emails and seeing things online about major security issues with the web-based UI on most Chinese sourced cams). My problem has been reliability. One died within one year and was replaced under warranty. The other died after two years (out of warranty) and the warranty replacement died about a year after that (again, out of warranty). They are cheap enough and I am due for an upgrade, but it is a pain to climb up there and replace them. And to be fair, most of my outdoor motion-sense lights also exhibit some failure mode after 4-5 years (although they remain partial-mission capable); but they also came with 10 year warranty.

"Critics argue the changes will never take effect as European Union directives overrule the proposed legislation." 1) How is the EU going to enforce anything like this in the Czech Republic? 2) Czechxit!

I had net talk and it was fine tolerable until it wasn't and there is absolutely no way to talk to a human. I dropped NT and switched to ooma. About the same price, but much better QoS and is very reliable so far and when I needed help I got a human on the phone in about five minutes. You get what you pay for, but ooma is great for home service to replace POTS. They also have business options at higher price point. One thing to watch for is limits on call volume. NT limited to 1500 outbound minutes per month! I believe Ooma is 5000, but they say they do not generally enforce it, and it may not apply to their business plans.

IANAL, but how can you commit a criminal act when, by not getting rid of your magazines, you have not done anything? You have literally done nothing. What is the criminal act?

Police in Cancun wanted $20 "propina." Then my wife started talking in her much better Spanish. He was so impressed with her Spanish that he let us go!

How much is the fine. The MD violations I have heard of are all only $40. I'd recommend paying. I got a ticket in Yakima WA in the early 90s, living in FL at the time so I ignored it until I applied for a mortgage. It came up on their search so I had to pay up, plus extra fines.

Yeah, I thought about buying 10 years in December or so, when the rates were in the 2.5s--but I decided to wait until it moved closer to 3%. And I am still waiting. As far as TIPS, I know the deflationary scenario is possible, I just think that inflationary is more likely. Inflation has been very low for awhile, and I always think--reversion to the mean--inflation is going to come back sooner or later. Problems with that line of thought is (1) it is conventional wisdom (which is often wrong) and (2) it may be much later rather than sooner. I am not a Keynesian, but his quote is appropriate: "In the long run we are all dead."

Stripes

UHF!! Weird Al, Michael Richards, Victoria Jackson, Fran Drescher! Stop Making Sense

I am keeping my bond duration's short (2 years and less, mostly way less). I keep thinking rates will go up and I am afraid to be long duration when that happens. But so far (other than the post-election bump) that has now happened. I am starting to consider TIPS via Treasury Direct now also... What do you think of TIPS???

Inflation is supposed to encourage people to buy more stuff, presumably this keeps the economy going. It makes sense to buy something today if you think it will cost more tomorrow. Deflation has the opposite effect and tends to dampen economic activity: You will not buy something today if it will be cheaper tomorrow. However, many free-market economists argue that inflation is artificial government-created phenomenon and that we can have growth with little inflation: "Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced only by a more rapid increase in the quantity of money than in output. … A steady rate of monetary growth at a moderate level can provide a framework under which a country can have little inflation and much growth. It will not produce perfect stability; it will not produce heaven on earth; but it can make an important contribution to a stable economic society." Milton Friedman Really, inflation serves as a hidden tax, as 45Doll found with his $100 bill.

I like Jim Rogers, liked his book Investment Biker. He has traveled the world and seen a lot and I think he has a good mind for finance and investing. However, I do not generally give much credence to this kind of prediction. Everyone is biased and no one, NO ONE, understands the complex and ever changing global financial system. NO one. I am actually surprised that we don't see more crashes and domino effect type incidents--where one seemingly minor event causes another minor event, causes something else, and eventually it is a huge problem. but we don't. Rogers is predicting something that he is hedged against--the fall of the west and rise of China. Just like in the 1980s when Japan took over the world economy, except that never happened. I think that what Rogers says is certainly plausible, sounds reasonable, and could happen. But a lot of things could happen--some rogue mathematician could solve P/NP and then it is game over (or not). If I hedge against everything I think I will end up with nothing.

I don't like those long frame pumps. They make decent, high pressure pumps now that fit in your Jersey pocket. I just outrun the dogs. Clipless is a bit of a misnomer, the term came about because the old style straps back in the 70s were called toe clips. What's a prostate? ;-/ And yes I do love the clickety clack of my shoes. Makes me want to start tap dancing.

Most roads have plenty of room for automobile, motorcycles and bicycles--even in NJ. Generally, for training, I try to find roads with less traffic for cycling. It is just more enjoyable that way. But I also use it all the time for errands--grocery store, gun range, visiting people, getting to work. Sometimes you can't avoid roads with traffic

Illegal in most places, sidewalks are for pedestrians, not vehicles.

It is a great way to travel.

I do not think it is illegal to pass, but most states have laws that you must give a safe passing distance. Usually it is three feet. I generally ride as far to the right as is safely possible. However, if there is no shoulder--such as crossing the route 37 bridge to Seaside--I will take the entire right lane. In that case there are three traffic lanes but no designated bike lane. The lanes are very narrow, and if I stay to the right some idiot will try to pass me within the lane and likely kill me. If I take the entire right lane it forces drivers to change lanes and pass safely.

Bicycle is treated as a vehicle, vehicles should be using the vehicular traffic lanes not sidewalks. "39:4-14.1 Rights and Duties of Persons on Bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway is granted all the rights and subject to all of the duties of the motor vehicle driver." I ride bicycles all the time and nothing bothers me like seeing other cyclists ignoring the rules of the road. Well, getting hit or harassed by idiots in cars--when I am legally operating a bicycle in accordance with NJ law--that bothers me more.

Yes, in my experience, New Yorkers are quite friendly and direct. It is the New Jersey people who are A holes ;-) Present company excluded of course I grew up in Washington (north of Seattle) and I do understand what you are saying--people have a faux politeness, try to avoid confrontation and be agreeable vs. the directness on the east coast. But I moved the east about 25 years ago, and things have changed quite a bit in the PNW. We got the influx of Californians in the late 1980s--paying cash for houses and driving the market way way up. So I still blame those transplants for all the bad things that happen in Washington.