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I don't consider horse racing to be abuse in and of itself. I love animals of all sorts, particularly dogs and horses. I have since I was a wee tyke and I don't expect it will change in my lifetime. I don't anthropomorphise them, I admire them as they are. My family has a dear friend; a woman who's been like a second mother to my brothers and me. Her family has been involved in Thoroughbred Horseracing for 3 generations. I assure you, they're not rich. From my experience with horseracin...

'Twas the night before something, when all thru DU Not a post-whore was Lounging, no flame wars did brew. Dear Peggy was snockered, on a bit too much ‘nog Rabrrrrrr was a-ranting, whilst elves he did flog. Midlo was napping, O.D’d on pot pie But Lara’s still shopping, for boots to her thigh. DS1 up to mischief, Matcom dishing crap, Had decked out their manbox, With sparkly gift wrap. When out in GD there arose such a fuss, I put down my brewski and let out a cuss Oh what could it be?! Was i...

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I wish it were even a matter of only the lazy and indolent having trouble obtaining assistance with the health related issues, but there are greater problems with the health care system in America than whether some ride the coattails. ( -And why does being lazy rate a death sentence anyway? ) A close friend of mine works his ass off, and his wife works her ass off too. He works in an office with a major software company and she works with a veterinarian. They have health insurance and they ha...

He is 26 years old and he speaks very softly. He is a short brown man. He shaves his head. One of his ears is not shaped the same as the other as if a notch had been cut in it. He was born in Thailand. His parents were refugees there. They were farmers in Cambodia until La Khmer Rouge came to their farm. They killed and ate his brother's dog in front of the boy, they killed and ate the family's cow. They were told to leave the farm and if they refused they would be killed. They left with the clo...

Pasta E Fagioli Makes about 4 Quarts 1 Tablespoon really good extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 3 ounces pancetta (you can use bacon), chopped fine 1 medium onion, fine dice (about 1 cup) 1 celery rib, find dice (about 2/3 cup) 4 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 3 anchovy filets, minced to a paste 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with liquid 1 piece of Parmesan cheese rind, about 5" x 2" 2 lbs rinsed and soaked cannellini beans (you can used canned, if you mus...

Religion is part of the rich tapestry that is humanity and it’s history. Like politics, like wars, like diversity of country and culture it enriches us as Beings even while it rots and corrupts. I know it’s popular to blame religion for all manner of ills. I feel that blame foolishly misplaced. At the base of every struggle, even those involving religion, are human emotions. The negative emotions of greed and fear and lust for power motivate manipulating vast numbers of a populous. Religio...

(Reprinted as thread topic by special request) In the middle of the last century, progressive people stood up for the oppressed and were an important factor in elevating the cause of civil rights in this country. When we hear someone use the 'N' word, or behave in abusive ways to a person of African descent only because of the colour of their skin, we're not merely offended, correct thinking individuals find that situation intolerable. In gender discrimination the line gets clouded by sexuali...

but it's decidedly possible that an exceptional woman can see more in that man than you do; and/or she has a different scale of what's relevant to her personal happiness. Love isn't a reward for excellent performance in some sort of talent contest. Sometimes what's most important is that he make her laugh, feel secure, needed and cared for. Thank goodness people don't have to be exceptional to deserve to be loved. I worry most of us wouldn't qualify.

flamewars where simple disagreement is at play, there are 3 or 4 posters (on this and many other fora) who are unable to simply disagree without equating that which they do not like to all that is evil, bad and wrong in the world. It's fine with me if one doesn't like Barry Manilow, I don't care much for him myself. But claiming that he is the incarnation of evil and single-handedly responsible for the decay of real tastes in North America and anyone who likes him probably voted for Bush is a ...

Matins We leave the bed where your fingers are a long, thin surprise, where your tongue tells me slow stories. I watch you, In the daylight, bring your hand to my face, to my mouth. I tuck pieces of myself behind in the tangle of our bodies. We make our way onto buses, we pass old women who sit rocking and tapping their feet, we blow our noses, clear our throats. It's just life picking us up, moving us from one place to the next. We fumble for our keys, tie our shoes, greet people we care n...

At the age of 3 my mother told me that if I continued to bite my nails and swallow them they'd turn into a big ball in my tummy. When next we were at the grocery, I spotted a pregnant woman, made the connection, pointed a finger and shouted "I know what you've been doing!!!" Mum's humiliation was complete. And because I'm dubious that little gem deserves an entire post of it's own, don't lie to your siblings either: The Fine Art of Torment People who know me well have, from time to time...

takes me beyond the rattle of the clock and the confines of the room. Beyond cumbersome egos and the constant pressure of earthly concerns. Into an ancient rhythmical dance, a duet of quickening passions, breathless friction, breathful sighs. Your joy beckoned mine, and mine yours. Steadily rocking, rolling through cannonball bursts and delicate pulsations. We came cheek to cheek, sharing a sweet throaty song of I love you.

we Christians will stand in judgement and be asked to account for our beliefs and our actions according to those beliefs. The leadership, the stewards of our church during the second World War took a chilling position with regard to the plight of the Jews. Given all I've come to know about Christ and his compassion that was a very wrong thing. If as a result of the perspective of the church at that time, a person had acted uncharitably toward a Jewish family, no part of me believes that the G...

You came into my life quietly and without invitation, your whiskered little face pressed up against my window eyeing my knitting basket with a wistful expression. One hot summer day you found that window casually left open, you made your way in. I found you there. The basket and the knitting too, became yours so much time later. You looked more like Walter Mathau than any cat should. Old before your time, but scrappy. The women at the PAWS shelter named you ‘Romeo,’ because, they said “h...

1. Prep your ingredients. Have everything ready to roll before you actually start cooking. It will make you more efficient. It will make your cooking more enjoyable. And you won’t have that pesky, last-minute “oh damn, I’m completely out of (insert vital product here)!” which always seems to occur ¾ of the way through the recipe. 2. Use your sense of touch to determine the doneness of cuts of meat. Sticking a thermometer, a fork, a knife, etc. into them just causes all the lovely juices to run...

It's been a long time since I had any serious issues with self-conciousness and body image. I think people of both genders are quite capable of being crude and/or thoughtless. Men who find one attractive sometimes are crude not because of who we are, but because of who they are or how they wish to see us. Sometimes, too, it's just a lack of finess on a fella's part. No matter what you look like, it's possible to have a phase in your life when you're over-concerned about the image you projec...

on homosexuality and contraception. I've read a great deal of popular misconception about it but little real exploration. Ordained priests of the Roman Catholic Church do marry gay couples. In the U.S. they do so without either the overt approval or covert nod of the Council in Rome. In many other countries, they do so with the covert nod of approval from the Council in Rome. These differences with the administration of doctrine are socio-cultural. There are a great many misconceptions ab...

I regret, I've no idea the author. It came as an anonymous attachment from an outspokenly liberal priest. ****** Good Speech, Georgie Dear George: I have heard quite a few State of the Union speeches in my life, and yours was one of them. On a more general note, I'd like to compliment your team of speechwriters and your acting coach and whoever blows you before these big events to keep your fear down (Laura? Nah! She strikes me as the kind of girl who stayed fully clothed on your wedding n...

He is 26 years old and he speaks very softly. He is a short brown man. He shaves his head. One of his ears is not shaped the same as the other as if a notch had been cut in it. He was born in Thailand. His parents were refugees there. They were farmers in Cambodia until La Khmer Rouge came to their farm. They killed and ate his brother's dog in front of the boy, they killed and ate the family's cow. They were told to leave the farm and if they refused they would be killed. They left with the clo...

about grad school, for me a very happy place: Early Lessons It was spring, about 3 a.m. I had chased my roommate, Haley through a field of tall grass, snagged by briars, stumbling on uneven dirt. When I caught her we bent over, panting on the fringe of someone's yard. She suggested that we climb onto the roof. Just as former gang members and recovering alcoholics tell with questionable remorse stories of their unthinking past, so do I remember grad school. Haley and I, along with other border...

Making molé is to immerse oneself in Mexican cooking at its finest and most complex. Anyone who is transfixed, as I am, by the culinary alchemy that transpires when such diverse ingredients as dried chiles, chocolate, and pumpkin seeds are blended cannot help but be lured into at least one molé experience. Cooking a molé requires a long time, so it's an ideal activity to undertake during bleak winter months. Mole Meat & Stock: 1 turkey, 10-12 pounds, or 2 or 3 chickens, to equal 10-12 pound...

Menu Antipasto House-cured olives Spiced Pistachios Marinated goat cheese & handmade parmesan crackers paper-thin sliced prosciutto paper-thin sliced bressola Spicey Stuffed Grape leaves Bagna Cauda Hot Appetizer Miniature Crabcakes in a Thai Sweet-Chili Beurre Blanc Salad Course Warm Pears in a Cognac Vinaigrette with crumbled Gorgonzola, Served on a bed of Sweet Radicchio, Spinach and Frisee. Fish Course Beggars purse with scampi in saffron butter Palate Cleanser Sorbet of Bitter Oranges...

You. I helped you into your underpants. You staggered from the anesthetic and asked me about my visit with ’M’ over and over and over again. Outside, the sky turned an ominous grey and green. Rain soaked my hands as I juggled your purse, the parking pass, a paper bag with two blueberry muffins in it and the handles of your wheelchair. The highway was a black strip of wet ribbon. The next morning, you were puking and puking and puking. I stood over you with a cold wet washcloth and a bottle of Gr...

rather than in American public schools. We were taught both Creationsim and science. I’m not even sure where to begin responding to this post. Nothing I’m reading here describes what we were taught, with the possible limited exception of some brief statements by sirshack. I don’t know any Christian Creationists who believe that God just snapped his fingers and ‘poof’ there was everything. If there are such people, they’re woefully under-educated. The biblical texts tell us that God creat...