From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

CryingShame58 - Thankyou. Sometimes after I've written a poem, it's like I've unlocked the floodgates and more come along. Sometimes I'm just dammed shut. <BR>
<BR>
Chances
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

If someone cracks Dylan's pointless sidebar, please tell me the answer. Not a cryptologist. (And I HATE not knowing!)
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=74">Echolocation</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Kase -- the song was probably Kris Kristofferson, "The Silver Tongued Devil and I."<BR>
<BR>
Chances -- who's Dylan and what sidebar?<BR>
<BR>
Sushi -- nice to see some Poe here (<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.02.01.18.33.4811">ALONE</a>).  He can be a bit Victorian in his rhyme schemes, but some of his work is quite lyrical and his use of evocative words is top-notch.  My personal favorite is "The Bells."  I'm also intrigued by the Leasch posting (<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.02.02.08.36.4984">The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations </a>) -- reminiscent of Neal Postman and a few other commentators on 21st century life but it has a more antique flavor in the phrasing.  What's Leasch's background (sociologist? essayist? ...?) and from what/when was this excerpted?<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Echolocation - On Kisrael, down the RHS. He does a semi-regular post and this time it's in code... As for who's Dylan - a mystery?<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=2">scqueen</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Echolocation ~ Thank you, means a lot coming from you.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=13">B.K.</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

For anyone who does not know, ha, this site is not for SISSIES and the blender boards from years back will show that as well. There have been major fights over MUCH less. <BR>
<BR>
If there is a SCAB here we pull off the crust and pick it till it bleeds. <BR>
<BR>
Kirk lets us discuss most anything relevant and stops the parts that get out of hand. Since we are all quite different, I somehow don't see this as something to get your panties in a wad over. It's going to happen regardless.<BR>
<BR>
bk <BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=911">Inflatable Sushi</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

I hope all you Saddam Husseinfeld supports watched and listened to Colin Powell's complete address to the U.N. today.<BR>
<BR>
I now have absolutely no qualms in going to war in Iraq...and I like many of you, have enormous issues with why it wasn't finished the first time, the issue for war for oil, blah blah blah...that country if full of poisons and weapons of evil.  The entire region and the world will forever sing the praises of the U.S. after this is all over, mark my words.  And this will send an enormous signal to North Korea...and the world.  This war will likely only last 100 hours, with an entensive U.N. occupation for the remainder of human history, cleaning and accounting for all this horror that awaits humanity in Iraq (and elsewhere).<BR>
<BR>
"Extreme-ism in defense of your country and the free world is no vice."  --Rube Goldberg (paraphrasing the sublime Barry Goldwater)<BR>
<BR>
My guess is we go in THIS Saturday, with or without the "so called" United Nations support.  At some point soon, the surprise of war must take over...as it clearly isn't going to be announced and previewed on TV for Husseinfeld to cover his ass.  He WILL die this time.<BR>
<BR>
People who protest the war now, after today's presentation, are either totally co-opted and controlled by liberal media or protesting simply for empty POLITICAL (or emotional "I Hate Bush") reasons.<BR>
<BR>
Today's U.N. address was amazing.  And by the way, I would never give allegiance to EITHER Democrats or Republicans (i.e. "being one").  THOSE two words best sum up the source of America's core problems.<BR>
<BR>
This is simply the ongoing retribution the world must pay for what happened to the United States on September 11<BR>
<BR>
Now YOU go do the unthinkable and ACT like you have some small degree of patriotism and love for your country.  If I have to listen to my friends neighbors lecture me again on "Why America Is Hated," I think I'm gonna puke all over them.<BR>
<BR>
Just call me a romantic...<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1128">lovestruk</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Lulu...I know exactly how you feel! I am going through the same thing. Since you KNOW who I am....just come and talk to me whenever you need someone to talk to. You know I will be here for you. Well, I am in school, and the bell is about to ring to go to lunch. I will talk to you later. Bye Bye!!
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=10">Galadrial</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Amen Bk My sister...<BR>
<BR>
Hey Misti...you never told me...how was the lemon pez popcorn? I thought it more for laughs than actual eating...
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=205">Violet</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Sushi~ your rants are getting very boring and are taking up too much space on the board.  you're off topic and you're insulting to those who use the site constructively.  why not work more on poetry and less on bashing us left-wing folks?  ~Violet<BR>
<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=13">B.K.</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Sushi; Just go enlist now and let's see how far your mouth will take you. You can send us first hand reports of how great War really is.<BR>
<BR>
Only as a last resort and then with the rest of the worlds help...I think our Armed Forces deserve that much at least and I believe Colin Powell believes that as well.<BR>
 <BR>
bk
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1050">Kase</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Sushi,<BR>
I bet your romantic candle lit dinners consists of road kill and the glow of short fused dynamite.  Yes, war is a part of our life and we need to let our president call the shots and support him, I'll agree with that, even though I don't necessarily agree with a lot you rant about.  Please get off of it.  It's getting old.  Some of us are trying to focus on writing and less argumentavive conversations.  It's not that we aren't concerned for our country or that we don't see the news, too.  We just like to talk about other things, too.  I've noticed that you avoid any questions and subjects anyone else tries to talk about.  Stop and breathe sometimes.  You alone can't change the world, and it doesn't stop turning if you stop talking about politics.  I mean that respectively.....<BR>
If you keep on worrying so much, you're going to go bald before Bush makes a decision about whether we go to war or not.  Just chill... Are you into anything else?  Girlfriend, family, pets, WRITING?
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1050">Kase</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Echo, Thank you for the song title.  I do believe you're right.  Now maybe it'll stop churning through my head.  My little boy is tired of me making him dance with me.  Actually, he doesn't mind the dancing as my off-key singing.<BR>
When he points the remote control for the CD player at me and tries to turn me off, it's time to shut up or take singing lessons!!<BR>
<BR>
Whitney-- How are you liking the part-time parenthood? I'm glad you get to see what fun and frustration it can be.  There's nothing like it when they're all yours, though.  Plus they share their Valentine's chocolate with you!!  Good luck and have fun!!  (You get used to the poopy diapers<BR>
and be glad she's a girl... little boys can aim at you!)
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=911">Inflatable Sushi</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

On a lighter note...<BR>

<font color="red">Offtopic list of "Confusious Say" jokes deleted.<br>
If you're that interested you can see them at 
<a href="http://www.bcpl.net/~peeples/confusious.html">this page</a>
</font>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1135">Trout Almondine</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

"In comments rarely heard from a sitting U.S. poet laureate, Billy Collins has publicly declared his opposition to war and says he finds it increasingly difficult to keep politics out of his official job as literary advocate."<BR>
<a href="http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap02-05-114831.asp?t=apent&vts=2520031347">http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap02-05-114831.asp?t=apent&vts=2520031347</a><BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=911">Inflatable Sushi</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Never heard of him.  And I post politico-poetic rants here as a part of MY official job as a lierary rabble-rouser.  Welcome again to the Blending Board.  Your poem was sad.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=911">Inflatable Sushi</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Yep, THAT is what I thought a "Billy Collins" would look like.  Thanks for the link.  Opinions are like a-holes... everybody's got 'em.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1139">jwb71913</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Thanks for letting me in, I'll be posting poems from tuime to time, perhaps chapters of the novel I'm working on.  Any comments or crticisms will be happily accepted.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1103">ladyinwaiting</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Welcome aboard jwb~your recent submission touches deeply...thank you for sharing<BR>
<BR>
Chances~I enjoy your thoughts...I live your moments...thank you for sharing<BR>
<BR>
Jon~oh my dearest jon...how I love your writtings...thank you for sharing<BR>
<BR>
Lovestruk~I feel your pain through your words...how beautiful you write...keep up the work...thank you for sharing<BR>
<BR>
Sushi~I find you offensive...do you not think that life beats us up enough without your taking a site such as this and turning it into your own personal chat room...Sushi's political view!!...this is a place where I wish to escape reality...somewhere I can find peace and serenity...why do you continue???....get your own chat room and invite those who share your debates...Is this your way of controlling??<BR>
Is this the only thing you have control over???  I wish for you to stop sharing....thank you
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=4">tj holland</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

 Just a small caution, to be heeded or ignored, it matters not...<BR>
<BR>
If you plan to publish your work, don't post it to the 'net until you are fully aware of copyright (or lack thereof) laws.<BR>
<BR>
-Teej
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1135">Trout Almondine</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Thank you TJ Holland, I was wondering about such things.  It seems that when you post your words, you are giving them away to potentially anyone who wished to take them as their own.  I agree with the LadyinWaiting, although I do not know the person she is chastising.  But is this not simply a romance poetry website?
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=962">Lulu</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Trout Almondine-<BR>
I loved "reality bite my ass". I really understand(or at least i think i do) what your saying. i look forward to your next poem.<BR>
*~LuLu*~<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1103">ladyinwaiting</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Trout Almondine~I love 'I Admire and Wait'...speaks of such love...so unconditional as you await the right moment for it to bloom naturally....ummm gracefully said...thank you for sharing
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=12">Tanqueray Cowboy</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Dearest Lady Galadrial,<BR>
<BR>
What a surprise and honor! &lt;bows&gt;<BR>
I was right... you DO seem to like my stuff unpolished.<BR>
<BR>
Thank you for the (very wicked) challenge...  kudos to ANYONE who made an attempt.  There were a lot of cool entries (some I liked rather more than my own.)<BR>
<BR>
Great Ramble, BTW.  I never read the book but I did see movie.  Sentimental, unrealistic rubbish.  In all fairness, the idealized fiction of perfect young predates Love Story.  It was, though, a modern pop-culture phenomenon and perhaps, as such, every bit as vile as you suggest.  Is it a cause... or a symptom, I wonder?<BR>
<BR>
Contemporary American culture floods our senses with youth, sex, and convenient drive-through relationships...  yet continues to suggest that somehow -- through it all -- True Love is not only possible but mandatory for all.<BR>
<BR>
I can't help but puzzle over what love should be in the dawn of the twenty-first century.<BR>
<BR>
~tc<BR>
<BR>
(Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.  Maybe we can get back to discussions of Love, not politics.)  <BR>
<BR>
<BR>
  <BR>
<BR>
  <BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=911">Inflatable Sushi</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

"We should consider ourselves as spirits having a human experience, rather than humans having an occasional spiritual experience." - anon
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 5 February 2003<P>

Ummm...Lisa? I actually "re-gifted"! I knew it was for a joke. But my brother is very skinny and I give him all the stuff I don't eat. So I included the PEZ popcorn in the gift bag I gave him for Christmas! He was a bit perplexed, I could tell! But I'm sure he ate it. Ha! I'm going to write a racy little blog tonight. I don't think it's appropriate to share here. Thanks for all the gifts, chica. I owe you and Desi a big surprise package!!!
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