sarahiki

How on earth would I know that? I'm not sure how much it matters to me. I don't blame US soldiers. I blame the conflict at large, which we started. I'm not trying to evade the question, I simply don't have the specific information about how the 100,000 Iraqis died. I would assume they died in a variety of ways: shooting, bombs.... I am lucky enough never to have been in a war zone. Why does this matter so much to you? Is it because of the "partisan violence," i.e, civil war? If that's what you're driving at, then yes, I'm sure they are to blame for a good part of the civilian death toll. But that violence has all begun since the war started, so it's still an effect of the war. I can't believe I'm getting into this with you again.

I don't think you're doing lurkers or anyone else a service by accusing me of being a Idi Amin supporter because I don't support the gulf wars. I can take the heat just fine, but this is no longer a productive dialogue, so what's the point.

Love your post. Love your avatar picture even more. TJones, please don't start with me again. Your last post to me was trashy and insulting.

Thanks for the newsflash, I am actually aware that this is a war. I agreed 100% with the following statement: " (webdude @ Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 @ 12:33am) Jeebus and also Ummm, mr not getting it, First, don't try and lie again saying that their job is for protecting me from my enemies, that's what they sign up to do, but definitely not deployed to do. And sure, they are creating a product, but for an artificial demand, made possible by wars, created courtesy of the government so they can have jobs. Still, welfare, just special blend. And how sick is this. To continue the war so folks have jobs. Especially the bolded words of Jeebus." I didn't say anything about why we are there in the first place, though I certainly have opinions about that. I don't know where you are getting your stats, but I've heard far more than 1 or 2 stories in the news about accidental deaths to civilians, and those are only the ones I've heard about. 1 or 2 accidental deaths in 5 years? Are you kidding me? Approximately 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died. Were they all pointing a gun at a soldier? I know our military aren't there to purposely kill civilians. I know this. I never suggested anything like this. But like you said, it's a war, and there are casualties. I'm just not okay with those casualties, as you seem to be. I have been opposed to this war since before it began. I actively protested both Gulf Wars. You will never convince me that the deaths have been worth it, or are "acceptable casualties." Every Iraqi, and every American, killed is one too many. (edited to try to correct formatting)

I'm in the same boat, and can give you my thoughts, for what they are worth. I think the big problem is not your house, the pricing, or the Realtor (though I don't know much or anything about those factors, so they could be more at play than I think), but the market. We've gotten some extremely positive feedback but no offers. I think there are too many "bargains" out there due to foreclosures, so unless you're in a hot or at least strong neighborhood, it's tough to sell. I would have though North Norhill was a strong neighborhood, but maybe there's something that's making people hesitate--an unsavory business establishment nearby? a busy street? My recommendation, and this is from a novice not a professional of course, is to hang in there a couple more months. Then if it still doens't sell, take it off the market for the winter, try a different exterior paint color, and put it back up for sale in March. You are lucky that you don't NEED to sell, so that's a good thing. What a bummer, you have my sympathy. Personally, I'd like to give some bankers a good hard kick in the tookas for getting us into this real estate mess.

I never said that I believe that is all our military is doing over there. I believe our service men and women are valiantly doing their jobs, trying to protect people, rebuild infrastructure, etc. I admire them extremely. However, in the process, people are getting killed. Including innocent people. And if you truly believe that only bad men setting explosives are getting killed, you are the deluded one. I'm glad Saddam is gone, he was a terrible dictator. But I don't believe that the deaths that have ensued are worth his removal. And that hypothetical little girl would agree with me.

100% with you on that. I bet some little Iraqi kid who just watched her family get blown up would agree, too.

Of course she can! She does, and she will. That's what's killing me about this. She opposes sex education other than abstinence, and she certainly opposes birth control. And you know that that doesn't mean she opposes it just for her family. It means she will work hard to make those the rules as far as her power allows her to. Which is why I will not accept that her daughter's situation is a private matter. She won't allow others the privacy to make personal decisions with their bodies, so why should we respect her family's privacy? Sorry, I am really having trouble getting off this particular soapbox today.

It really is unfortunate. And I'd be the first to say it's none of our business, and it's the girl's choice what to do. EXCEPT, Palin wants to limit everybody's choice so that all of us, and our daughters, can only make the limited choice her daughter did. No birth control, no abortion. Choose: abstinence, or being a parent at age 17. So I'd say that what's happening in her family is very much our business. Get outta my bedroom and I'll get outta yours, Palin. Damn, these people make me angry.

anybody see the news today that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant? As if things weren't bad enough on that ticket...

I think you have wildly missed the point. If this hypothetical 11-year-old is forced to carry a baby to term, deliver it, and grow up with the child that is a constant reminder of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of the person meant to protect her, her quality of life would be affected by far more than poverty. Do you not understand what it would do a child to be forced to bear a child???? It is child abuse. And I'm not willing to accept government-inflicted child abuse to save the life of a fetus. There's no "good" outcome in this situation, but ethics demand that we take care of the children who are born before those unborn. And I am done talking about this. We're not going to agree and you're only making me angry.

What about the other child in this question? the 11-year-old child? Are you willing to see her life completely wrecked to bring another child into the same messed up family situation? this is my problem with typical pro-life advocates (and I am an atypical pro-lifer, since I am also pro-choice). It's all about respecting human life, until that life is born. Then nobody seems to care what happens to him or her. That's not respect. And I so cannot believe that you don't see a problem with this scenario. It's nice that you feel good about it, but I think it is a monstrous & sick view to hold.

OMG, thank you for clearing that up. I was really having trouble getting past the fake Vogue cover. I'm so glad it's not real.

I'm not going to judge her for her choices since I'm certain she knows better than me what her family needs. However, I will say from experience that it is very tough to balance work and young children, and would be even tougher with a special needs child. So I agree with you in that sense. But if someone were to start saying that a woman SHOULDN'T have a particular job because of her family situation, that would be discrimination. We don't judge men's fitness to work based on their kids' needs, and we shouldn't for women. At the very least, this choice should start some interesting discussions of issues like this one, and that's a good thing.

I don't see any reason to leave except the possibility of days without AC. Am I right in thinking that even at Cat 5 storm would weaken to Cat 4 at the most by the time it hit Houston, because of moving over a little bit of land? I think our home can withstand a Cat 4 storm. What I saw of the evacuation for Rita makes me think evacuating with small children would be less pleasant and more dangerous than staying.

Just curious... why do you see it that way? Can you elaborate? I don't know anything about her.

sarahiki = Sarah (obvious) + iki (2, in Turkish) I did a project in Turkey and there were three Sarahs on a small team, so we got numbers. I'm Sarah Iki.

Look, I respect your faith, but you're not going to convince anyone with logic that is so, well, illogical. That simply doesn't answer my question. God didn't write the books of the Bible in the first place. A person did.

Advice from the prof: Read the syllabus!!

But the Bible didn't just fall from heaven as a complete and finished document. Who, in your view, is the authority who determined that its current state is the absolute truth? It is a text that has gone through translations, revisions, additions, subtractions.... church leaders over the centuries have made decisions about what to include and what not to include. What makes those mortals different than the Mormons or Jews or anyone else who "picks and chooses," or adds and subtracts? What makes the mortal authorities you agree with more reliable than those whom others agree with?

I adore both lattes and arugula. But I don't think I'm elitist. I had lunch at Jack in the Box yesterday. I don't live in the Heights, but I would LIKE to live in the Heights. But I can't afford it. Maybe if I gave up the lattes and arugula....

No, nothing would change but the name.

Bayou University? Bayou City University?

What do you Westbury residents think of the crime incidents around Bellfort and Fondren... I think there was a gang shooting there the other day? Does that crime happen only on the main streets, and near the apartments, or does it trickle into the neighborhoods?