You really need both! The charcoal grill is the way to go if you have time, but it's often really tough to fire it up after work for a quick dinner. With *only* charcoal, you may forego a lot of grilling because of the time req'ts (as missbossy well-noted). So, save the charcoal grill for days off and lazy weekends and get a cheap gas grill for the rest of the time. I don't see the need for these wacky Hummer-sized stainless gas grills that are the rage now... just get a decent one without all the doodads.
Polx--- Hmmm. Odd that they released the Brady Bunch movies in the UK if the show never aired there. The films were done very tongue-in-cheek, essentially parodies of all the clichés present in the original show. It was a hoot for 30 and 40somethings raised on the TV series, but a lot of the gags and subtle allusions would be lost on those not familiar with it. Dopes.
For the States, this is nothing new actually. Many years ago (1970s), Pringles U.S. ads carried the tagline "New Fangled Potato Chip", but competitors whined and the Federal Government ruled they couldn't call them potato chips. If you look on the can, they are currently labelled "potato crisps".
I'm aghast that someone like you living in a country with such a rich past can consider 60 or 70 years ago ancient history -- that is VERY short term, and most pertinent to our lives today! You should consider a little better historical perspective on European politics; as an example the ongoing problems in the Balkans have their roots in the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire and the dissolution of the tenuous peace that they maintained over the many factions within that empire. If we don't understand things like this (and remember the crimes of Laval, et al) we are doomed to relearn some very hard lessons.
That said, I wasn't saying that the reason for WWII itself was that the French citizenry wasn't armed. By the mid-1930s, the war was unavoidable and clearly a result of Nazi aggression (although it's not difficult to make a case that the National Socialism itself was enabled by a very flawed Treaty of Versailles, but I digress).
The point I was attempting to make is that an unarmed populace lets despotic or collaborationist governments (as Vichy was) take power. Laval eventually got what he deserved of course, but how many innocents (including French) died first? A well-armed general population keeps the government honest and enables the weak to defend themselves against scoundrels within and without. A well-armed citizenry is *essential* to maintaining liberty. To provide a good French example, Charlotte Corday was courageous enough to rid France of the butcher Marat during your Revolution. Nowadays, though, despots don't frequently open themselves up to knife attacks in their bathtubs, so firearms in the hands of the public are essential.
Finally, whether or not you disagree with the policies of our current administration, I'm not sure how you can compare it to "totalitarianism" as you do. Pres. Bush was legally elected per the Constitution via the electoral college and terms completed, is stepping down shortly, per law. When in office, the other 2 branches of government maintained their authority -- there was no power grab by the Executive branch and certainly a lot of things (inlcuding Supreme Court decisions) did not always go the way Bush may have wished. Further, Bush is not becoming "Prime Minister" so as to wiggle the strings of a new puppet "president" as is the case in Russia right now. He's moving to the sideline, as did Clinton, Reagan, and many retiring presidents before them. What is the problem? Where's the totalitarianism? I didn't like Clinton, but he was legitimately elected twice and left when his term expired. Same deal here.
Well, for starters, one of the parties lied about his name on a legal document and the other knowingly abetted it. They should be in trouble for that in its own right -- no need to turn it into some homosexual rights case.
The US government was constructed with the the *consent* of its citizens and one of the things that has kept us on our first republic (I think France is now on its Fifth Republic, no?) has been the right of the public to bear arms to protect ourselves against repressive régimes.
When France was rolled over in weeks to a smaller German Army, Americans were building their then-tiny army for the coming struggle. Your gun-controlled country allowed traitors like Pierre Laval & Marshall Petain to assume power and deport Jews and other "undesireables" to Nazi death camps. Such an oppressive government won't ever gain power here because individuals are self-armed to prevent it. Yes, a kook can go nuts once in a while and kill innocents, but that is the price of liberty. France may hold dear its égalité & fraternité, but they have forsaken liberté...
I've visited Korea a couple times and found it an interesting place. I didn't realize the fan legend, though ... that is good to know. It's surprising that a people who are (generally) a lot more technically astute than many Westeners can delude itself by such nonsensical pseudo-science. Interesting.
I forgot to mention that bean is ill-informed. The "well-regulated militia" lingo does not refer to some sort of National Guard. Organized state militias did not exist at the time the document was written. The language refers to individual firearms ownership being ensured as a means of the public protecting itself against a repressive government. Note, I said a *repressive government*, not even just protection form a criminal element. Likewise "well-regulated" doesn't mean "controlled by regulations". "regulated" at that time referred to "properly functioning" as in a clock.
That's the problem when important documents are written in a language that changes over time. The majority of the common masses don't understand this and expect the document to change with time as well. The Vatican continues to write its documents in Latin for a reason and it ain't just nostalgia.
Awesome decision. It's hard to imagine that they would rule otherwise, but I was worried after the ghastly Kelo decision of few years ago.
The Constitution protects individual liberties for a reason, and the arbitrary and petty decisions of tyrant politicians shouldn't interfere -- kudos for the judicial branch for protecting our right to bear arms. It's a pity that the ACLU doesn't defend ALL civil liberties. Why aren't they at the forefront of the battle to protect the 2nd Ammendment?
I liked Russert a lot for his genuine enthusiasm and open love for his job... Watching his giddyness over the tightness of the 2000 race (save his whiteboard for the Smithsonian!) was wonderful. He didn't toss softball questions to candidates from either party and would actually followup when some weasel politican tried to dodge an answer. Bummer.
My heart is out to all the residents of the city... floods suck. Something tells me though, that the folks in Iowa are a little more resilient and self-reliant than those of New Orleans. 2 years from now, we aren't going to see people in Iowa complaining about their "overly spartan" FEMA trailers or moaning about how Uncle Sugar hasn't yet rebuilt their city for them.
Best wishes Iowans and please do us all a favor and just shoot the looters.
Rhyne is almost right on everything concerning the destruction of BMW Design at the hands of Chris Bangle. His only mistake is that he blames Bangle for the Z3. While Bangle was responsible for the Z4 (the successor to the Z3), I believe the Z3 predated him. In any event, while the Z4 is ugly as sin, the Z3 was quite a good looking roadster.
Hmmm. Odd that they released the Brady Bunch movies in the UK if the show never aired there. The films were done very tongue-in-cheek, essentially parodies of all the clichés present in the original show. It was a hoot for 30 and 40somethings raised on the TV series, but a lot of the gags and subtle allusions would be lost on those not familiar with it. Dopes.
Oh! My nose!
I'm aghast that someone like you living in a country with such a rich past can consider 60 or 70 years ago ancient history -- that is VERY short term, and most pertinent to our lives today! You should consider a little better historical perspective on European politics; as an example the ongoing problems in the Balkans have their roots in the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire and the dissolution of the tenuous peace that they maintained over the many factions within that empire. If we don't understand things like this (and remember the crimes of Laval, et al) we are doomed to relearn some very hard lessons.
That said, I wasn't saying that the reason for WWII itself was that the French citizenry wasn't armed. By the mid-1930s, the war was unavoidable and clearly a result of Nazi aggression (although it's not difficult to make a case that the National Socialism itself was enabled by a very flawed Treaty of Versailles, but I digress).
The point I was attempting to make is that an unarmed populace lets despotic or collaborationist governments (as Vichy was) take power. Laval eventually got what he deserved of course, but how many innocents (including French) died first? A well-armed general population keeps the government honest and enables the weak to defend themselves against scoundrels within and without. A well-armed citizenry is *essential* to maintaining liberty. To provide a good French example, Charlotte Corday was courageous enough to rid France of the butcher Marat during your Revolution. Nowadays, though, despots don't frequently open themselves up to knife attacks in their bathtubs, so firearms in the hands of the public are essential.
Finally, whether or not you disagree with the policies of our current administration, I'm not sure how you can compare it to "totalitarianism" as you do. Pres. Bush was legally elected per the Constitution via the electoral college and terms completed, is stepping down shortly, per law. When in office, the other 2 branches of government maintained their authority -- there was no power grab by the Executive branch and certainly a lot of things (inlcuding Supreme Court decisions) did not always go the way Bush may have wished. Further, Bush is not becoming "Prime Minister" so as to wiggle the strings of a new puppet "president" as is the case in Russia right now. He's moving to the sideline, as did Clinton, Reagan, and many retiring presidents before them. What is the problem? Where's the totalitarianism? I didn't like Clinton, but he was legitimately elected twice and left when his term expired. Same deal here.
Straight talk from Sid.
The US government was constructed with the the *consent* of its citizens and one of the things that has kept us on our first republic (I think France is now on its Fifth Republic, no?) has been the right of the public to bear arms to protect ourselves against repressive régimes.
When France was rolled over in weeks to a smaller German Army, Americans were building their then-tiny army for the coming struggle. Your gun-controlled country allowed traitors like Pierre Laval & Marshall Petain to assume power and deport Jews and other "undesireables" to Nazi death camps. Such an oppressive government won't ever gain power here because individuals are self-armed to prevent it. Yes, a kook can go nuts once in a while and kill innocents, but that is the price of liberty. France may hold dear its égalité & fraternité, but they have forsaken liberté...
Straight talk from Sid.
That's the problem when important documents are written in a language that changes over time. The majority of the common masses don't understand this and expect the document to change with time as well. The Vatican continues to write its documents in Latin for a reason and it ain't just nostalgia.
The Constitution protects individual liberties for a reason, and the arbitrary and petty decisions of tyrant politicians shouldn't interfere -- kudos for the judicial branch for protecting our right to bear arms. It's a pity that the ACLU doesn't defend ALL civil liberties. Why aren't they at the forefront of the battle to protect the 2nd Ammendment?
Mrs: "Oh yeah! I loved Strawberry Shortcake. I had a strawberry shortcake comforter!"
Me: "Well, take a gander at what they did to her..."
Mrs: (Looking at the pic in the posting posting) Wow, they turned her into a little ho-bag tramp, didn't they?
Straight Talk from Mrs. Sid...
Best wishes Iowans and please do us all a favor and just shoot the looters.