Comments by Gregg Townsend

Comment #262709 by Gregg Townsend on October 9, 2008 at 10:21 am

5731. Comment #262707 by righton

righton,

The same video lists Obama as being related to Brad Pitt... no word on how far removed from Kevin Bacon anyone is.

202. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262689 by Gregg Townsend on October 9, 2008 at 8:52 am

5694. Comment #262660 by al-rawandi

The US is a socialist country. The government is bailing out all these vampires from Wall Street.

Al,

Now I'm wishing I would have bought a 2 million dollar home which I clearly can't afford. I'd be eligible for having the federal government devalue the loan to a level I could afford. Damnit, who could have predicted...

203. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262652 by Gregg Townsend on October 9, 2008 at 7:35 am

Chavez is the type of maverick that McCain can only dream of being.

Ok, that was a completely uncalled for ad hom. I'm smacking my knuckles on the edge of my desk in punishment now.

[edit] epeeist- :-0 [/edit]

204. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262629 by Gregg Townsend on October 9, 2008 at 5:46 am

5665. Comment #262602 by keith

We're currently working on a 'despise-America' meme. Especially if the subject American is part of government, owns a weapon (i.e. war criminal), or doesn't think right. We're particularly worried about American society being the perfect breeding ground for religious fundamentalism which may spread to the 'civilized world' (like Canada). So if your non-American, raise your head with pride and shout it out.

/sarcasm

205. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262515 by Gregg Townsend on October 8, 2008 at 6:43 pm

5602. Comment #262489 by DarwinsPitbull

...when I know its my motherboard and I will make sure to drop the first bomb.

That would be the 'mother-of-all-boards'

I need to give up drinking...

206. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262415 by Gregg Townsend on October 8, 2008 at 1:13 pm

5558. Comment #262400 by al-rawandi

Nah, I don't care about cursing--I've been known to indulge myself. You'd have to say something like, "All government bureaucrats are thieves who are just sponging off average citizens' hard earned money."

Or something similar. ;)

207. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262394 by Gregg Townsend on October 8, 2008 at 12:32 pm

I just read through the last few pages and feel compelled to say;

Ibn al-Rawandi, you sir are in rare form today. Your posts have been particularly on target this afternoon. Thank you for your thoughts!

Though I reserve the right to be offended by something you say later on.

:-)-~

208. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262012 by Gregg Townsend on October 7, 2008 at 7:25 pm

Two Jamison and waters before the debate to kill the pain from my root canal and all I can hear when I watch the debate is, "blah, blah, blah, blah."

Where's Tina Fey when I need her.

ZZZzzz
Sarah Palin
ZZZzzz
ZZZzzz

209. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261098 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 12:25 pm

5011. Comment #261084 by righton

I've been able to find out that McCain went to the US Naval Academy for his education but can't find where he earned any degrees.

210. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260983 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 9:12 am

4989. Comment #260982 by Sciros

Speaking of intimidating mascots, what's up with these?

Stanford Cardinal (the color not the bird)
Oregon Ducks
Oregon State Beavers

211. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260980 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 9:02 am

4984. Comment #260976 by Quetzalcoatl

Quetz,

In autumn, College (American style) football approaches religion. I notice the Utes have risen to #14 in the polls. The Mountain West conference will bust the BCS this year!

Go Utes!

212. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260975 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 8:56 am

On the public University discussion; Fanusi once said some really nice things about the University of Utah. Does that count?

:)

[edit]Al, on the bad teeth thing. I have to go later this afternoon to get my third root canal in 14 months. I have bad teeth but it sure is easy to find an endodontist when you need one.[/edit]

213. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260900 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 6:53 am

4875. Comment #260608 by Frankus1122

Exactly! The strategy is time proven but the timing was off. What does that say for their leadership? How does that inform us about their past leadership? Hmmmm?

214. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260893 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 6:50 am

4871. Comment #260603 by Laurie Fraser

Are you suggesting that the Palin gambit is even too big a lump of horeshit for the moral majority to chew on?

I'm not suggesting anything really. The Palin gamble gave the Repubs a lift and then a significant drop! It's curious to me that it gave them a lift at all -- I'm completely put off by the woman, so the fact that she's admired at all is weird to me. Still, I think (for future reference) it is an interesting puzzle and one that is vital for the Repubs to figure out.

215. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260888 by Gregg Townsend on October 6, 2008 at 6:43 am

4870. Comment #260602 by mordacious1

I predict an unleashing of the Karl Rove nasty, lying-type ads starting soon.

Mord, sorry that the thread has moved on but I typically just pop in on this site from time to time.

Anywho, your statement is right on. The Republicans must bring down the competition because of the traction they are losing while trying to promote their own campaign. This is just reality. This is just politics...it's usually nothing personal.

Now, I'll try and read the two pages of posts between your comment and where this one will show up.

:)

216. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260596 by Gregg Townsend on October 5, 2008 at 6:19 pm

DarwinsPitBull,

I am not to (sic) worried about polls because remember, Kerry was beating Bush in the polls also.

Ah, but if you look under the hood at fivethirtyeight.com you will notice that their charts are so much more than just a poll. Their math models and projections take historical trends into account along with all the polls being taken currently. The poll swings you mentioned are also factored into their projections and trends.

Notice the dates of the current trend swings; a big jump for McCain shortly followed by an even bigger swing for Obama. Match that up with recent history and you will clearly see that the gamble of Palin (while encouraging for their campaign at first) has turned into a huge failure with 29 days left in the campaign.

Again I ask, regardless of your feelings or any of the other poster's opinions, why do you think that is?

217. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260331 by Gregg Townsend on October 5, 2008 at 9:38 am

Frankus1122,

Recently I've been surprised and fascinated by the emotional appeals prevalent on this site. I was raised to look at politics with an analytical mind.

Such as; why do we laugh at Tina Fey's portrayal of Palin? Would it be funny at all if the portrayal was wildly misrepresenting her character?

218. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260326 by Gregg Townsend on October 5, 2008 at 9:17 am

DarwinsPitBull,

In the end, what really matters can be found right here. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

The strategy for Republicans is clearly not working. Why do you think that is?

219. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259264 by Gregg Townsend on October 3, 2008 at 7:46 am

Al and Decius,

I cringed and every mispronunciation too but what really made my stomach do a slow roll was when she would wear her folksyisms and commonness as some kind of badge of honor.

I was reminded of Jeff Foxworthy effecting a horrible southern US accent and pretending to be a brain surgeon, "We're gonna saw the top o' yo' head off an root aroun' with a stick."

220. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #258515 by Gregg Townsend on October 2, 2008 at 6:08 am

79. Comment #258494 by hungarianelephant

Sorry, elephant

I thought you were advocating allowing shariah because it appears the women (oppressed) go along with it. I was trying to say that should not absolve the oppressors from feeling the pain of the law.

I'm told there are mentally ill people with amputation fetishes who are looking for someone to help remove a limb for them. Assuming this actually happens, and the two participants get caught. The person with the saw should be imprisoned.

Let's not pretend that there is a question of discourtesy to the host nation.

I don't see how this matters one bit.

221. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #258488 by Gregg Townsend on October 2, 2008 at 5:27 am

65. Comment #258477 by hungarianelephant

I for one am sick of seeing Muslims treated like children who are incapable of thinking for themselves.

Exactly. So, when they think for themselves that they will break the law of the land they have emigrated to by limiting the women-folk's rights, they shouldn't be protected from prosecution and given a special court to absolve them!

My opinion.

(edited)

222. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #258346 by Gregg Townsend on October 1, 2008 at 9:24 pm

Oh, and say what you will about al-Rawandi but this will go down as a RD.net classic in my book

Lemme guess, you were the kid who showered in his underwear?

Only to be out done by his-most-righteous-reverend Shayne Dark's description of a deity with a prehensile clitoris.

223. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #258295 by Gregg Townsend on October 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm

371. Comment #258287 by Sciros

Being an atheist has no bearing on your aptitude with regard to logic.

Exactly. I have no (detectable) aptitude with logic, yet still I can't suspend my disbelief high enough to be superstitious. I guess that makes me an atheist. As I've told Frankus1122 before, I'm the most despised type of atheist because I've not come to my worldview through superior intellect, reasoning and education... I just know bullshit when I hear it and guilt has no power over me.

I even think I've acquired a little acceptance from my fellow skeptics if not their admiration (with the possible exception of Spinoza [edit] and Tera of course [/edit] ).

:)

224. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #258163 by Gregg Townsend on October 1, 2008 at 1:44 pm

335. Comment #258151 by al-rawandi

Uh, what's wrong with a Mercedes? I have a CLK320 Cabriolet. It get's 28 miles to the gallon and is quite safe.

Steve,

Nice pictures. We finally know the answer to WWSZWD... he'd take an excellent photo! [edit]As a photography enthusiast, I think you should make a gift to him of a nice portable tripod so his photos don't have to have his arm extended at the lens all the time.[edit]

225. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254403 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 4:11 pm

502. Comment #254400 by Sciros

Sciros,

My brothers and I used to have contests thinking up painful situations. My older brother once had us imagine punching a hole in our eyelids with a paper-hole-punch. That one never fails to make me cringe.

226. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254401 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Mitchell,

My wife has had three children and has passed two kidney stones. I suspect you may be right in your assessment. She birthed all three children without pain meds but insisted on morphine for the kidney stones.

I'll ask her.

227. More atheists are sharing their views

Comment #254396 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 4:02 pm

67. Comment #254319 by ARomanticRationalist

Having to constantly fight the urge to choke the shit out of (I mean that mostly figuratively) the religious morons in the same gardening club who want to pray for rain or thank their personal sky-fairy for a bounty of tomatoes this season, tends to negate the benefits of the healthy social interactions such groups should afford. In most of the US, peoples religious nonsense can pop up anywhere unless one can start/join a group that "by design" excludes it.

*sigh* Tell it brother!

In polite conversation I can simply ask a new acquaintance, "How are you today?" and get the blood boiling response of, "I'm blessed!" (spoken with a far away dreamy tone of a Care Bear contemplating cookies)When I respond with, "Ah, I see you're 'born-again'. A simple I'm-doing-well would have sufficed." They tend to look at me like I'm the social-retard. I resent the automatic assumption that their religious fervor is acceptable. Sheesh

228. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254383 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 3:44 pm

496. Comment #254381 by secondsoprano

Doh! I think your right. Maybe it was Bill Cosby defending Carroll's sentiment. I forget.

229. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254380 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm

490. Comment #254345 by hawt4dawk

I subscribe to the Carroll Burnett school of thought, (I paraphrase) "Until a man can shove a basketball through his mouth he's not allowed an opinion on the relative pain level of child birth."

Thanks for sharing!

230. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254164 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 12:18 pm

475. Comment #254151 by Steve Zara

Truly! My first wife dislocated the thumb on my left hand during delivery of my eldest daughter and called me some rather choice names (all of which I probably deserved).

231. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254145 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 12:05 pm

473. Comment #254141 by Steve Zara

I know what you mean about the guilt (although I'm probably coming from a different angle). I've lived through three pregnancies of which I was directly involved (there may be other unknown ones as well). I had to witness what women go through and I can tell you unequivocally, I'm not qualified to pass judgment on who should go through it and who shouldn't.

232. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254135 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 11:56 am

I do consider the views of the woman involved to be of primary importance.

Ever notice that men are the primary combatants in the "right to life" movement? I vote that we men shut the hell up and let the women folk have the debate and see what comes out of their discussions.

Of course, if it turns out "wrong" we may have to offer an opinion from the peanut gallery. [laugh]

233. Catholic maternity wards 'face closure' if abortion law passes

Comment #254125 by Gregg Townsend on September 25, 2008 at 11:47 am

468. Comment #254122 by Corylus

I have been making a decision to avoid Jesus

Me too!

Listen to the mouse. She is as wise as she is adorable.

234. Without God

Comment #252818 by Gregg Townsend on September 23, 2008 at 4:15 pm

But I assure you that I am not high or drunk.

Your recent posts are a good facsimile of "cocaine speak". If those are your normal thoughts, you don't need drugs or alcohol!

:)

235. Without God

Comment #252779 by Gregg Townsend on September 23, 2008 at 3:21 pm

5. Comment #252769 by Eshto

I liked it as well.

Atheism makes me less scared, but not completely fearless.

I feel that being an atheist has validated my rejection of guilt and fear when I was young. I don't fear death but find I'm intensely jealous of the living that will see the wonders of this world after I'm gone. Of course, by then, I won't care. :)

236. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #249889 by Gregg Townsend on September 18, 2008 at 3:50 pm

http://www.richarddawkins.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

237. Letter from Sir Richard Roberts asking Reiss to step down

Comment #248690 by Gregg Townsend on September 16, 2008 at 4:01 pm

228. Comment #248689 by Brian English

:)

238. Letter from Sir Richard Roberts asking Reiss to step down

Comment #248688 by Gregg Townsend on September 16, 2008 at 3:56 pm

219. Comment #248677 by Goldy

Anyway, I stay here and some dour oriental will come and piss on my sunny day with his ramblings

Yikes, how utterly un-PC. Things are oriental, people are Asian!

239. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Clive James

Comment #248511 by Gregg Townsend on September 16, 2008 at 10:58 am

I enjoyed this interview immensely. The amiable give and take was refreshing in contrast to the contentious conversations that usually feature Richard.

Thank you.

240. Letter from Sir Richard Roberts asking Reiss to step down

Comment #248458 by Gregg Townsend on September 16, 2008 at 9:16 am

131. Comment #248453 by Richard Dawkins

Thank you. I saw it and appreciated reading it again.

241. Letter from Sir Richard Roberts asking Reiss to step down

Comment #248441 by Gregg Townsend on September 16, 2008 at 8:37 am

128. Comment #248438 by Richard Dawkins

Richard,

I enjoyed your post and was pleased with both the evenhandedness of your comments and the witty closing. Please repost it!

-edit- I also think it was relevant to DR's comments as that it made him look sillier (if that's a word).

242. YouTube Removes Viral Video on Palin's Churches For Inappropriate Content

Comment #248423 by Gregg Townsend on September 16, 2008 at 7:48 am

67. Comment #248416 by rejohnsonil

Ah, a skeptical voice of reason. Thank you rejohnsonil! In my mind there are many reasons to not vote for McCain or Obama... and certainly Palin's relationship with Pentecostalism should be a weight around McCain's neck but is hardly the worst of it.

For me the election boils down to; who are the likely cabinet appointees of the candidates? The President can set a vision and direction for his administration but the day to day decisions and power rest with political appointees. I personally would like candidates to provide a wish list of there cabinet appointments so voters would know in advance the quality of administrators the candidate is likely to hire.

I suggest the Americans who visit this site stop getting caught up in the hysteria of self-hate as promoted on RD.net and start using your mind. Which of the candidates that have a chance at the presidency will run the best administration... or at the very least, the least damaging. Do the research yourself and make up your own mind. Lamenting the situation along with our European brothers and sisters doesn't help.

243. Religion in America: Why Many Democrats and Europeans Don't Get It

Comment #248091 by Gregg Townsend on September 15, 2008 at 2:47 pm

1. Comment #248007 by Ex~

Exactly! I read that book a few months ago and it has opened my eyes to a great deal of the behaviors that I see happening around me. You can even watch it happen in the posts on this site!

I encourage all who are interested to read the online book at the link provided by Ex~

244. Saudi OKs Killing 'Immoral' TV Execs

Comment #246613 by Gregg Townsend on September 12, 2008 at 2:50 pm

92. Comment #246590 by Frankus1122

After a good long life, she died earlier this year.

Frankus,

I'm so sorry... and the coincidences keep getting spookier. My twelve year old yellow lab/golden retriever (Murphy) died 6 weeks ago. I just got his ashes back from the crematorium the weekend before last.

I keep finding myself looking around for him to follow me around the yard. My cat is completely pissed that her dog hasn't come back.

Anyway, condolences.

245. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #246335 by Gregg Townsend on September 12, 2008 at 7:40 am

2253. Comment #246333 by Sciros

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/09/11/palin_on_the_bush_doctrine.html

Yikes.

246. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #246326 by Gregg Townsend on September 12, 2008 at 7:26 am

I know the conversation has moved on, but I'm fascinated by the amount of interest in the U.S. Presidential Campaign by folks outside the U.S. and thought I'd offer up this resource.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

This site uses statistical analysis and mathematics to track the campaigns and even though it lacks the emotional appeals that seem so popular on this thread I thought it might be interesting to RD.net all the same. :)

Enjoy.

247. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245990 by Gregg Townsend on September 11, 2008 at 4:05 pm

2075. Comment #245982 by Sciros

kaiserkiss, I think it depends entirely on the individual. From my experience, young parents are more adventurous and are more prone to take risks for the sake of their family, which can make all the difference in the world -- a good difference I mean.

I think this is an accurate description of why I (and my daughter who is raising children in her 20's) have been successful.

-edit- Spelling

248. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245988 by Gregg Townsend on September 11, 2008 at 4:01 pm

2056. Comment #245949 by Mitchell Gilks

You don't need to go to a church, or go through any organization to get married. You can just fill out the paper work, and see a judge.

Here in Utah you don't even need a judge. You can have anyone you like deputized for a day and they can perform it. My Father married April and me in a completely secular ceremony that she and I wrote.

2067. Comment #245967 by Bonzai

What about someone who is a grandmother at 40?

*raises hand*

Well, I'm not a grandmother but I'm 46 and have an 8 year old granddaughter.

2072. Comment #245976 by kaiserkriss

It has been my experience that more mature parents, i.e. those that have their kids in their 30ies make better parents. They are less likely to "fly off the handle" at the smallest incident, tend to be more mature, settled in out look and financially, so it is my opinion your statement is misleading.

Depends on the person. I was raised in an environment of extreme violence and was in constant fear of my step-dad; yet I was married (for the first time) at age 19 and wound up raising 5 children (2 biological and 3 adopted) and have never raised a hand against any of them in violence.

I guess I'm an exeption.

-edit- Had my age wrong on first marraige.

249. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245666 by Gregg Townsend on September 11, 2008 at 9:15 am

1878. Comment #245662 by Roger Stanyard

You lot voted in Bush twice, not the rest of the world.

You lot? I didn't vote for Bush once. I don't think any American who visits this site did. I personally only know a few who did compared with hundreds I know who didn't. Do you have any idea how disappointing that is from here?

The only choice an average voter here can do is vote their conscience and try to promote better choice among our fellows.

Go wag your finger elsewhere, please.

250. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245661 by Gregg Townsend on September 11, 2008 at 9:02 am

1865. Comment #245645 by Bonzai

How can we not be grateful for not living in a country where being a "hockey mom" is seriously considered an achievement worthy of highlighting in running for vice president? And that after 8 years of Bush! This is not a satire

But... but...

Oh, nevermind. You got me there.

-edit- Quetz,

What makes you think the Mexicans would want Republicans? Ick