gadgetlady

:speechles:speechles:speechles:speechles:speechles:speechles:speechles I have so much to say, but I'm really just speechless. I have never seen so many judgmental people in one place, all proud of their judgmental-ness. Isn't this the same crowd who proclaimed that no one should have the right to tell gay couples they couldn't marry? Yet now you're proposing that you should be able to tell people how many children they should or shouldn't have? When really what you want to stop is "breeders", "fundies", "idiots", and any other derogatory names you can come up with for Christians? (I guess if we wait long enough and those of you liberals who don't believe in having children don't procreate, we'll just outnumber you. Maybe that's our ultimate goal, anyway).

Hey everyone! We do still have two rooms in inventory, but they close on December 2nd. I'm leaving on a vacation on November 25th (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) and won't return until December 3rd, so those rooms will cancel / be released while I'm out of town. So if you're interested in a room, please let me know ASAP so we can secure one of the rooms at the reduced rate. After Decemer 2nd, we can still add rooms to the group but they'll be at the normal "retail" rate, which is a little higher. Also, so far no one has purchased insurance. If you want to get insurance or was to know more about it, let me know!

I don't think Christ envisioned a government bureaucracy as the most effective way to be generous. In fact, it's clearly not. Bureaucracy is by nature wasteful and inefficient. A lot of wealthy Christians give a lot of money to charity -- in addition to all the money they give to the government. If I didn't have to pay as much in taxes I'd be MORE generous to charity than I already am. IMO, welfare is forced charity. And no one should be forced against their wishes to give.

Well, this is totally not band related, but I thought there might be some good sources of information here. I am allergic to mosquito bites and leaving for a vacation in a place with a lot of mosquitos. I need to bring some good solutions along with me. Tell me what you use that works! Creams, lotions, sprays, candles, Patches, electric gadgets, or anything else that might help me out. I won't be able to buy anything on island, so I have to bring it all with me. The last time we were in a similar resort, I was eaten alive both in our room and walking around the resort, so I need something to combat the pesky buggers in the zone of our hotel room as well as in my personal zone as I'm walking around. Thanks for any help you can provide!

[quote name=Devana;330121The ingredient in catnip' date=' however, has not yet been found to have any dangers, and it's supposed to be 10 times more effective than deet. I have never seen it for sale in a store either, but I have bought it online. How I use it is this: I put some in a small pump spray bottle with some Water and give a good shake and squirt when I need it.[/quote] How does it smell? I found some online that's already in a spray bottle mixed with some peppermint and other seemingly harmless stuff. Along with my various annoying skin allergies, I also get headaches with some smells (like perfumes, basic laundry detergent smells, etc.).

Thanks for the advice, Dr. Hekier. Last year I was at a tropical destination and was miserable; my doctor later recommended taking benadryl, but of course that totally knocks me out. I'll look for some antihistamines that are non-drowsy, because I'm sure no matter what "solution" I find I'm sure to get a few bites here and there.

I really am allergic -- not dangerously so, but bites swell up considerably large and make me absolutely miserable. Cortisone, et al, do nothing for the itch once it's there. I went to the store tonight and found products with DEET from 7% all the way up to 98% (!!!). The 98% stuff said you should wash yourself when you come inside and launder your clothes before wearing them again. Scary stuff! Is it the DEET that smells or the other stuff they put in the product (whatever it is -- Deep Woods Off or the like)?

I looked in a few stores today but couldn't find it. I will check online. How does it smell? I've never known what catnip is; I always associated it with cats, which I don't particularly care much for LOL!

We're going on a vacation in a few weeks to a resort that offers scuba diving. Anyone know whether this is OK to do with a band?

Here's the latest from RCCL on passport requirements. Please take the time now to get your paperwork in order! --------------------------------------- If you are planning travel for 2007 or beyond, please take a minute to review the passport policy below. If you don't already have a valid passport, be sure to avoid the rush and give yourself plenty of time to apply for one. Once you've got a passport in hand, the whole world is yours to explore. U.S. Citizen Passport Requirement Air Travel Effective January 8, 2007, passports will be required to or from all international air travel destinations including the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Cruise Travel As early as January 1, 2008, subject to U.S. Government amendment, passports will be required for cruise travel to or from all international destinations including the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Based on personal need or circumstances that may interrupt your cruise experience, Royal Caribbean International strongly recommends that all guests be in the possession of a valid passport prior to taking their cruise to be able to facilitate onward travel plans and meet U.S. Government entry compliance requirements without concern or delay. For additional passport information visit the State Department's Website. Or if you prefer, contact the passport service of your choice, such as Passport Express Services for applications and assistance or call 1.800. 858.8579. Non-U.S. Citizens You will need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa. If you live in the U.S., you will also need the original copy of your Alien Registration Card (ARC or "Green Card") and any other documentation the countries on your itinerary require due to your alien status. Visa Waiver Program Citizens from the Visa Waiver Program countries of: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunel, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom seeking to enter the United States will be required to have in their possession a machine readable passport valid for the duration of the voyage. A machine readable passport is one having an alpha-numeric code on the bottom of the picture page. Example: P<<UKDOE<<JOHN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<1234567890M1234567890M1234567890<1234567890 Visa Waiver Program travelers arriving in the U.S. on or after October 26, 2005 with passports issued on or after this date must present passports with a digital photograph. Visa Waiver Program travelers arriving in the U.S. on or after October 26, 2006 with passports issued on or after that date must present a biometric passport or obtain a visa for entry into the United States.

^^ bump ^^

I haven't read any of the responses to your original post because I'm pressed for time right now, but one thing that stuck out to me was that she's at home all day basically doing nothing (not your fault) while you're at work and/or on business trips. It sounds like she's not a self-motivater, feeling sorry for herself, and resenting you because she has nothing to do. Is there any way you can include her in your business? Is it possible for you to take her on some business trips with you so at least you two could get some alone time together and make her feel like she's either contributing or she's important to your business success? I personally don't think it's good/healthy for anyone to be idle from work, whether that work is keeping a home, raising children or working in a business. It sounds like she doesn't have much to do to keep the home, the kids are off at school, and she has nothing to occupy her mind. In that situation, a lot of people turn to unhealthy outlets. My suggestion would be to start by asking for her help with stuff. I don't know what you do, but, "Honey, I'm overloaded at work and I really could use help with [insert task here -- even if it's coming into the office for an hour a day to help with filing]. Could you give me a few hours a week?" Or "I'm going on a business trip for 3 days to [interesting destination] and I'd like to take you with me. Can your [mom, sister, friend] watch the kids while we get some time away together?" It's good of you to be seeking solutions. I hope something someone has posted will help!

Oh, I LOVE her!!! I heard her talk once when I was in college and I was in awe.

She's stated she has no interest in running. The only thing I don't like about her is that she's not pro-life.

I have absolutely no problem with a black or female (or both!) president. If a qualified, conservative, Republican candidate runs, I'll be the first to vote for her!

That's the norm in the US. It's very unfortunate, because people just don't realize that it's their money in the first place. They think it's a gift from Uncle Sam.

Are you kidding? Most people I know go to a tax prep company to get it filled out and then they're all excited when they're getting a refund -- like it isn't their money in the first place and they've won the lotto! (Personally, I think when you're owed a refund from the IRS, they should pay interest on it as well, as they've been "holding onto it" for you for a while.) I employ a number of people, and one year I decided to include a little note in their pay stubs that said, "So far this year you've made $_______ of which you've taken home $_________ and the government has taken $__________." You couldn't imagine the SHOCK I heard from the employees. They had NO IDEA! "I could have bought a car for that amount of money", etc. It was truly amazing. And for those who DO know how much they're paying, it would still hit home a little harder if they were actually writing the check and watching that money get sucked out of their personal bank account, rather than never "touching" it in the first place.

Hell, no! It's plenty enough that they pay more money. I think the tax system (besides being patently unconstitutional) is wholly unfair. I also believe that it was a major coup for the government to institute having taxes taken out of paychecks, instead of people actually having to write a CHECK to the IRS or the State every week, month, year, etc. Most people have NO IDEA how much they pay in taxes and if they saw that money before they had to fork it over to the goverment, we'd likely have another Boston tea party on our hands. :angry

DING DING DING! I think we have a winner!!!!! I feel the standard of marriage should be maintained as one man and one woman. I am making my decision based on my opinion. Others feel the standard of marriage should be extended to one man with one man, or one woman with one woman. They are making that decision based on their opinions. Yet others feel the standard of marriage should be extended to one man with multiple women, as well as inter-familial relations (so long as they're adult and consensual) and other odd pairings. They are making that decision based on their opinions. You cannot logically argue that gay marriage should be legalized without also holding that every other type of adult, consensual union should also be legalized. To believe anything else is arbitrary, presumptous, and judgmental. I think my work is done here.

"Another sick turn?" How very judgmental of you. How can you possibly stand in judgment of what others choose to do of their own free will? If a woman falls in love with her brother and they're both consenting adults -- and I'll take out the knee-jerk reaction and stipulate that she's post-menopausal so there's no chance of having children -- why shouldn't they be allowed to marry? Why is saying that they're sick OK? Who are you to define the high road?

I did read your post, and I don't see a problem with the marriage at all. How do you feel about sibling or other relational marriage with the situation of there being shared DNA but no intention or ability to have children? i.e. sterile, sterilized, or post-menopausal? Shoud the government ban that, too?

Oh, and to clarify yet again, my argument is not that gay marriage is morally equal to people marrying animals or under-aged kids. And I am not equating those acts in any shape or form. I am simply trying to determine where everyone draws the line about how they would define marriage.

I'm sorry; I thought you did. But if you didn't, what are your criteria? Barring the woman who married a dolphin (I didn't make that up for theoretical purposes, BTW) and under-aged kids, what other than consenting adults would be objectionable?

So everyone agrees, then? Gay, yes. Polygamy, yes. Brothers and sisters, so long as they're adults, yes. Fathers and daughters or mothers and sons, so long as they're adults, yes. Did I get everything right? Any objections?

Oh, goodness no Sue! If it's in Hebrew and Aramaic and you understand those languages, more power to you! I don't read either of those (or Shakespeare LOL) so I needed something written in English that I could actually comprehend. KJ and NKJ (and many others) are almost as unintelligible to me as Hebrew and Aramaic. There are a lot of things I totally missed or misunderstood in the Bible, even though I attempted to study them, until I started reading the NIV. I would love to go back to original text if I had the linguistic ability.