I use the word sheeple, but it's not because I lack empathy nor am I unable to think critically. I use the term to describe those who refuse to think for themselves, those who would prefer to go through life with blinders on believing that everyone around them has their best interests at heart. I'm quite happy to agree to disagree with those whose opinions and viewpoints differ from my own; I'm quite happy to discuss with them and review my own opinions and viewpoints to see if I should adjust accordingly using any newly acquired information or perspectives.

You are correct; Critical thinking is the key ... and if you (general) are unable to do that then you (general) deserve the label of 'sheeple'.

I'm curious as to what state in which you live? I thought there was a federal law that required a 3-day wait to actually receive the firearm ... I know that I had to wait 3 days before I could complete the purchase (i.e. pick up my gun) even though I already had my FOID card in hand. I know that the laws with respect to gun shows are different, but I also thought that you had to wait the 3 days with a private seller as well, that if you didn't the private seller was the one who was outside of the law by not enforcing the waiting period.

And to provide input to the topic: Moved cities but not county a few months ago, hadn't updated DL yet. Drove to old town, no wait, fill-in-the-bubble paper ballot, attendant not allowed to touch my ballot I had to feed it into the scanner myself, received my "I Voted" sticker and off I went back to work.

Okay, so let's get this straight ... you'll not be offering up anything resembling criticism or opinions of a political nature in the next 4 years. GREAT!

Thanks for playing; people like you are part of the reason this system doesn't work as well as it could.

FTFY

You sound bitter; you should do something about that ... that said FTFY.

Considering that I paid into the Social Security system my entire life, you're damn right I expect something back. And I get very offended when anyone suggests that I'm asking for a hand out; what I expect is that a system that I supported be sorted out so that I'm going to get back what I was 'promised' in the end.

Believe me if I could save for my retirement I would, but right now I'm too concerned with keeping a (now rented rather than owned) roof over myself and my child's head and food on our table. I'm struggling to survive, and all 'trickle-down' is doing for me is raining poo on my head, weighing me down further.

Again, FTFY.

Serious question: if you are registered as Independent you have the opportunity to vote in either (or both) primary elections, correct?

Yes, it is a common deflection seen in any number of addictions. The difference, as I see it, is that the GGGP didn't want to quit permanently; he only intended to test himself, which he did. Addicts say "Never again" believing that they can achieve it and then go back again and again. That inability to stay away when the person really wants to do so is the very definition of addiction.

And your argument may be true for yourself but not true at all for the poster to which you replied.

Please stop projecting your addiction onto others; for some it may be accurate, for others it is most certainly not.

BTW: I quit smoking almost 3 years ago using an electronic cigarette. I've cut my nicotine intake by 75% in that 3 years, but I still would be ineligible for hire under the law at topic. The minimal amount of nicotine that I still consume will likely be the lowest my intake will ever be because I am one of those who has cognitive focal issues for which nicotine is proven to be effective at combating. And no, I'm not interested in subsidizing Big-Pharm and switching to the more socially-accepted "Here take this pill and you'll be all better" approach.

Am I addicted to nicotine? Yes, Sir, I am. Do I care? No, Sir, I don't, and it's none of your damn business.

Making logical inferences from the, granted minimal, information available from this particular case and adding in the base knowledge available via psychology of sociopaths is not utter stupidity ... ignoring the signs and allowing the potential for further harm to additional individuals would be.

"Messed up kid"s who send ashes and make references to relatives from Auschwitz are far more than "messed up" ... I have to agree with the posit that this a potential-sociopath and worthy of watching _within_ the system, so that he can be further constrained should he devolve. All the better if he's not a sociopath and has really only made a very, very stupid mistake.

Me too.

If I remember correctly, there is scientific basis for it based on the fact that a hot shower will cause your body to pull more blood volume to the core (and therefore the brain) generating higher levels of activity. I've solved some of my most challenging code/logic problems in the shower.

When I was young, we raised day-old calves to approximately a year-old before selling them at auction. Part of their feed mix was stale/malformed gummy candies from the local candy factory. Dad doesn't that any more (most likely from risk of CJD), but during that time period CJD wasn't a concern here in the US. And yes, he did it was because it was more cost effective. You've nailed it on the head ... they would be discarded otherwise, and they're made from the same corn sugars that the cows would get from corn.

If only I had mod points ...

Don't forget the drought's effect on the availability of hay for cattle feed as well. My father told me that prices have tripled and he's having to go farther and farther away to get what he needs to feed his livestock (which are given neither antibiotics nor hormones and are _darn_ tasty ... I usually don't buy meat from the store; it comes from a farm I know and love.)

tx is a medical abbreviation for treatment; just as rx is an abbreviation for a prescription medication. Although I will agree that I want my doctor held to strict medical standards, if I am in a terminal situation and there's an experimental tx out there, I want my doctor to be able to go through the pros and cons with me so that _we_ are able to make as informed a decision as to my care as is possible. The FDA has too much history of protecting the pharma companies rather than their actual customers, the patients (drug) and consumers (food). As someone who hasn't smoked for more than 2.5 years thanks to electronic cigarettes that the FDA fought tooth and nail to ban, my sentiments toward the FDA are that they can get the frack off my lawn!!