Okay, Duke, I understand your perspective. And yes, I read every word. Frankly, the fact that you took the time to compose such a lengthy post with actual content (despite a few dramatic elements) means that you really have not dismissed me. You’re simply angry, and I don’t mind that. In fact, I don’t blame you. I probably would have reacted the same way. You were kind enough to explain thoroughly your opinions and circumstance, and so I will do the same.
First, the circumstance. We just moved this past weekend. I am an out-of-shape 49-year-old man with two large bruises that I call “feet”. This was the first morning since Sunday that I could walk on them when I got out of bed. I am sitting on a patio chair, awaiting delivery of our living room furniture, which is two days late already. We are dealing with credit card fraud, change of address problems, and many other sad stories worthy of a Stradivarius. In short, I don’t have time to fight a gang of fire-breathing dragons (not to include you) who let pass that the people in the OP are “right-wing automatons who value Bush more than the Bill of Rights” and are “lots of moronic right-wingers who’d have a shit-fit if confronted by a picture of our fearwess weader portrayed so pornographically”, but choose to single me out and ignore those.
It has already been established that the entire story from the OP is without corroboration, and is possibly a publicity hoax. Not one of the people who attacked me and demanded a cite attacked the OP or GaWd for the exact same sort of claims. Which of the hyenas asked Bup for a cite with respect to his claim about the people in the OP? Which one asked GaWd for a cite? Maybe Lion/Lamb wasn’t the best cite, but frankly I didn’t look very hard because, you see, I think that anyone who believes an anti-gun leftist weenie would not be horrified by an image of a child playing with a firearm is either too disingenuous or too stupid to bother with. I wasn’t making any claim any more absurd than the two I’ve repeatedly mentioned, and yet no one asked them for a cite. In my opinion, asking me for a cite about the opinion I expressed is the dumbest fucking thing I’ve seen in a while.
Finally, I’ve long ago given up trying to convert anyone to libertarianism. I am satistifed with the philosophy, and if you are not, that’s your business. Framing an argument in such a way to stab me with a declaration that because of people like me, you changed your mind is a waste of your time. I really don’t care. But I do understand. Frankly, with the likes of these two-faced leftists who won’t produce what they demand, it is tempting to vote for Bush just to spite them. But then, that would make me as stupid as they.
Lib, I don’t understand the outrage(again). Lemme break it down for ya, dog:
Lemme explain a few things to you. I(personally, anecdotally), know(as in, personally), several moronic right-wingers(as in loves to use and abuse the constitution when it suits them, makes claims of god and country, and denigrates democrats at every twist and turn. Oh, and it always comes back to Clinton and the Swiftboaters, BTW). These types while praising god and country, war with savages in the middle east and thwarting terror, would salute a picture of Bush on the wall if it were there.
Now, I am of the opinion(sarcasm, anecdote, watch out!), that if I were to replace an image of Bush with one showing him and Jessie Helms engaging in sodomy, they’d ask me to remove it from my property, my home, physically attempt to remove it or harm me for not complying, Etc. Etc. It doesn’t require cites or proof. It’s my opinion based on my limited interaction with people in my everyday life. That’s probably why I said that based on the behavior of the people I knew, it wasn’t unbelieveable-whether it’s a crap story or not. The people I know would seriously freak out.
As to why you are having a hard time coming up with examples of “leftists” who trample all over people’s freedon of expression concerning political satire and art-frequently, those on the left are the ones who are more likely to engage their second amendment and express themselves and their dissatisfaction publicly. You can find loads of stories about flag art being interpretted wrong and forced to be removed from a gallery because some “god-fearing” Merikan decided it was “obscene” or something equally as over the top, but I don’t see Democrat art or specifically left-leaning groups decrying certain pieces of art as unpatriotic and “demonic”.
Lib: I’ll stand by the validity of my post. I know it was your opinion, but you used the opinion as a point in this debate, and offered a cite to bolster said opinion. When I made my post, it had been the first time I’d opened this thread, and I did not believe said cite, so I challenged it. If you saw that as unfair and “piling on,” well, so be it–I can’t convince you otherwise.
As for your conditions regarding moving–I’ve been there myself, and if the job application I’ve put in for a place three states away is successful, I’ll be there again soon. To be totally honest, I can’t imagine, what with all you’re going through and the effect it seems to be having on you, why you’re posting here and involving yourself in this argument. I understand that this place might be a kind of release for you, but at the same time I’d have to believe that your time might be better spent taking care of other things–number one, your own health. There is no regulation or accepted code of conduct that says we must involve ourselves in threads on this board, even if we have strong opinions about what is said in them.
I’ve taken substantial time away from this place at times when I was not physically, mentally or emotionally able to post, and I know you have too. I don’t presume to make a decision like that for you. But from what you’ve said above, I’d urge you to consider it.
Look, I’m not going to pretend I like you, or your posts. You are free to not like me, and that’s OK. But that doesn’t mean I want to see a fellow human in pain. Take care of business down in NC, and leave the bickering to us for a while. Be well.
What am I supposed to do now? What claim do I have to support further than the link in the OP?
Jeez, can’t anybody else ever have the freaking burden of proof on them? Isn’t it more fair to require a cite of somebody who claims it “sounds suspicious” than somebody who posted a credible cite, and when somebody else has linked to a (college) newspaper article?
I believe it without further research because a good friend of mine works at a museum in DC, and is a professional colleague of Aaron’s. I don’t expect others to believe it for that reason, but even without that, I think the preponderance of the evidence is on my side.
Call the damned Arlington police, Lib. Ask them if they’ll give you the names of the complainants. That probably wouldn’t be good enough for you, would it? Then call the Washington Post and Washington Times, and hell, the USA Today’s right there too. Ask them all why they didn’t cover it. Was it because they investigated, and found out it was a publicity stunt, or was it because they thought it didn’t merit coverage?
Or tell us all what proof what suffice for you, when no other internet cites exist, and then somebody else do the damned work, and don’t feel too used when that still doesn’t pass Lib’s muster.
Absence of cites does not imply cites of ab-…you know what I mean. This not making news doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Can you explain to me why private citizens need the right to order bacteria from a nonprofit agency specifically set up to aid research?
From said nonprofit’s website:
I’m sad Mr. Kurtz lost his wife, but I’m familiar with this guy from my days at Pitt. He’s kind of a loon, and not someone you want playing around with bacteria in a home lab.
Actually, I did the vast majority of packing, and I’m doing the vast majority of unpacking. I work from here, and she works out of town, so it’s the least I can do.
I have no problem with your opinion or with your not providing a cite. The problem I have is with people demanding that I provide one for my opinion while not demanding that you provide one for yours. After all, recall that I said the leftist weenies could have a fit; I didn’t say they have had a fit.
All I did was express my opinion. I suppose I could have ignored Homebrew and Gobear. As for my health, our new house might be good for it. It has a basement, an upstairs, and 1-1/2 acres of walkable land. And it came with a cat who follows me around wherever I go. I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire.
Although it may not seem like it, if you examine my posts closely, you’ll see that I’m on your side (and GaWd’s). People should be able to express opinions based on their life experience without having to cite a web page that may or may not be authoritative anyway. When I asked why they demanded a cite of me but not you, I meant that their demanding a cite at all was jejune and Neanderthal in its conception.
Maybe it’s because we said two totally different things. You claimed that an entire group of people would(could) react in a specific way and I said that based on some of the rabid republicans I know, that I didn’t find the reaction hard to believe.
Maybe if I had said something like “The rightist dickwads could have a fit by passing around pictures of Regan in his tighty-whiteys chasing around a carrot on a stick”. Instead, mine was based specifically on assholes I interact with regularly-a very specific generalization…right? :eek:
Either way, chill the fuck out, and stop hijacking peoples threads-especially generally light-hearted ones like this.
Sam
*- I know the feeling, it’s my job to pack and unpack, too.
The bugs they’re trying to bust him for are Serratia marcescens and Bacillus atrophaeus (Formerly known as Bacillus Subtilus). These are bacteria they let you play with in 300 level introductory bacteriology labs. I probably grow nastier things on my basement steps when I ferment honest to God pickles each summer. He probably only got samples from the type culture lab because he wasn’t certain the department’s standard stocks were clean- a bit of standard public safety paranoia, and now they want to put him away for twenty years?
If you think that’s a reasonable response to a minor infraction, you’re more than slightly loony yourself.
I’ve Jaywalked myself, and never faced a twenty year sentence for it. Lots of people work with these organisms without a certified lab, or any ‘legitimate research to do’.
Neither Serratia marcescens or Bacillus atrophaeus are on the CDC’s Select Agents List (50K pdf). (Here’s the FAQ on the program).
If you look at the one known case where a potential evildoer got the ATCC to send them bioweapons material:
You’ll see that the perpetrator eventually got convicted for mail fraud, and served 18 months probation. They couldn’t bust him for buying Yersinia pestis, because it wasn’t illegal at the time. Partially as a result of that, congress and the CDC set up the select agents program, where they do keep a close watch on dangerous things. However, as I said before, the organisms Kurtz was working with aren’t on the select agents list. That being the case, Mr. Kurtz surely deserves more lenient treatment than Mr. Harris, say a slap on the wrist, and a warning not to get caught again?
Not so. I used no article, definite or indefinite.
Bullshit. I can express my opinion just like anyone else. If the left-wing weenies want to challenge that opinion and make the whole thread about it, it ain’t because I told them to. Stop accusing me of hijacking, and start accusing those who actually do.
I heartily agree. In fact, I’ve considered making a sign with “dissent is democratic” or something and taping it in my car window, but I’m worried about attracting bricks.
I really liked that painting, although I’m not sure whether it’s the subject matter or just the great execution (no pun intended). Here’s a link to a larger picture of it (check out the details) at the artist’s website. (May not be work-safe, depending on whether your boss is an art-hating Philistine or not.)
I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire.