Rocky

Tap, Tap... is THIS thing ON?

Is this a group therapy session? Whatever other reason could there be for such a discussion, if NOT for group therapy? All these "hypothetical" scenarios are incredibly troubling. What possible good can come from just discussing "nebulous intellectual concepts" (if these are NOT things people have in their lives to evaluate and/or resolve)? The person who started this thread wondered (out loud, at least "loud" enough that I could read it) about how related criminal laws are made. I answered that question and I don't believe ANYONE even acknowledged that post. Is this just some mental exercise completely divorced from anyone's real life experiences? Y'all ought to take a deep breath, stop and reflect on whatever the heck you think you're doing with this topic. What good could possibly come from trying to prove someone else -- and their idea of what does or does not constitute rape -- wrong? I wish there was an emoticon for shrugging one's shoulders and/or scratching one's head in bewilderment.

Thank God for the S-CHIP program! I WISH! Oh that we had politicians with enough balls to get THAT done! That's PART of the reason why the repugnicans lost control of Congress this year AND why voters in several states (including AZ, and I voted FOR it) enacted higher minimum wage laws than federal law now provides.

That's likely the case, but there's STILL nothing Notawayfer can do about it...

You mean no women (or few anyway) think in terms of manipulation and control using sex as leverage? I SERIOUSLY doubt that... obviously, my research has been limited, but I'd bet there are few who do NOT think in those terms, at least some of the time. I know, how cynical of me. I do agree however, that's still no justification for rape. Perhaps the understatement of the year... but not necessarily related to a discussion of rape, which is an act of violence.

Ah...it was sooooooooo long ago! :P

I hope you get recharged too! :D Now, I understand your situation. I spent 8.5 years as an accountant for the State of Arizona (you're in AZ, right?). It costs money to maintain civil society. THAT is WHY we pay taxes. Granted, hating taxes and our government is probably right at the top of everyone's list of favorite sports/pasttimes. But that doesn't change the economic realities. It costs money to maintain a police department (as imperfect as they invariably are), a fire department, to maintain roads, county health inspectors, etc. etc. If people have a hard time paying their taxes, about all I would be able to tell them is "I understand. Please, you're welcome to talk to state lawmakers, city councils and country supervisors, because THEY made the rules. And if you get them to change the rules, I'll be at the front of the line to help you out... In the meantime, I have to do what I'm told. Sorry." Of course, how you say things to irate citizens matters... and compassion probably goes a lot farther than aloofness in getting the job done without causing a ruckus... Anyway, I understand and hope you feel better, ready and rare-ing to go by Monday. :)

Excie... you know I never correct your grammar! (or need to guess at what you mean) ;)

No problem, Krys... I know we all commit typos (I know I do), so all I'm doing in a situation like that is to verify that my understanding of the post is what the poster intended to mean. :)

Well, I don't go insane, BUT I DO get irritated. Enough so that I ask the cashier to wait... wait until the person prior to me (who is invariably the person with whom the cashier is conversing, in my experience) clears out before starting to scan my merchandise. Usually, the cashier knows better than to even do this (start scanning my stuff before ending the previous conversation). I was at a grocery store the other day and the cashier's name tag said she was a trainer. I believed it too, because she paused while the previous customer put her stuff in her wallet and then purse before taking her groceries and heading out. BUT a couple of weeks ago, I was in TARGET. When I was in the checkout line, the cashier was engaged in light hearted banter with the previous customer. When that customer was done paying/getting change/picking up her merchandise bag, the conversation continued. The cashier began to scan my stuff. I asked her to wait. The conversation stopped. As I explained that I could wait until they were done, they both gave me the evil eye. Meaning that they looked at me with scowls on their faces. Well, I generally don't give a hoot what strangers (except for Tom Strange ;) ) think about me, and therefore am not intimidated simply by a nasty expression. As I tried to explain, I got a few more people looking disapprovingly at me... those others, of course, didn't have the background understanding of how the whole thing started... this, of course, irritates me more. So, I go find a manager at the customer service counter... and one of the lookie lou's follows me and tells the manager that I "ruined that poor woman's day." That poor woman being the cashier. I think to myself, "gimme a break." and roll my eyes... because by then, I'm clearly the bad guy. But the manager, thankfully, didn't buy into the nonsense that I ruined his employee's day. I suppose there's some quirkiness in there somewhere! :P (my quirkiness, that is).

Green card??? Heck I'm a citizen of the US, I was born here!

Actually, many of those questions are already addressed in federal law. I'll not belabor that discussion, but will suggest that the scope and magnitude of THIS problem PALE in comparison to the scope and magnitude of fraud and waste, aka the fleecing of America, taking place with the rebuilding of Iraq. By that I mean that while there may be many more persons in the US who "scam the system", there are far fewer persons/corporations doing so for FAR more dollars (in each instance AND in the aggregate) with the Iraq reconstruction. If you want to be outraged and do something that really matters, look into how many millions (billions!) of American taxpayer dollars are unaccounted for in Iraq.

So, Hiway... you're predicting they lose a one game playoff?

No, it is NOT weird. It's fundamental civics in America. IF the federal government (Congress) passed (a) law(s) on rape, it would be standardized. However, it's NOT a federal law. However, there are efforts, likely in every state, by state legislatures, to conform to model legislation on various issues/topics. That includes criminal laws. Many state lawmakers are members of groups such as NCSL or ALEC. That would be the National Conference of State Legislatures http://www.ncsl.org which offers a variety of services to help lawmakers tailor policies that will work for their states/constituents; and the American Legislative Exchange Council http://www.alec.org which says it advances the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism and individual liberty among America's state legislators. Most definitely NOT. A "reader's digest" summary of the process goes something like this: A problem presents itself in society, which through perhaps a media outlet causes concern in at least a small group of individuals who either are lawmakers or who communicate with their lawmakers. Someone does research on related state laws and writes a piece of legislation for introduction to the formal lawmaking process. That someone could be an activist (concerned citizen), lobbyist, a lawmaker her/himself, or a staff person/group of the legislature. Or an idea might be subject to interest in other states, made known on a widespread basis to members of NCSL or ALEC. Once a bill is introduced in at least one chamber of the state's lawmaking body, it is (if it is to be seriously considered) assigned to one or more committee for a public hearing. Notice is given publicly (check your state's legislature for specifics), then is presented for discussion and public input in the committee. Discussion entails a Q&A by members of the committee and testimony by experts and concerned citizens to consider what current law exists, how/why it is not addressing the problem, explanation of how the bill WILL address the situation, related ramifications as far as foreseeable (such as the cost to the government and the public), changes (fine tuning perhaps) to the bill are considered, votes taken in the committee and in the COW (committee of the whole), and if passed in one chamber (in all states except Nebraska, which is UNIcameral... having only one chamber of the state legislature) it is sent to the other chamber for a repeat of the process. When a bill passes both chambers (with the exact same wording) it is sent to the governor to sign, veto or just let it become law without the governor's signature. IF the two chambers modify the bill differently, the versions must be conformed (submitted again for a final vote by one or the other or both chambers) before sending it on to the governor. If it becomes law (signed by governor, or no action taken by governor), citizens have, in most cases, a few months to consider whether to force a vote by registered voters on whether or not to accept the bill as passed and signed (referendum). Few bills (only the most controversial) are ever actually subject to a referendum vote. ------------ Bottom line is that lawmaking does NOT start with casual discussions that happen just for kicks. It entails FIRST recognition of a problem, then deliberation in a formal setting, on what the problem is and how to address it with changes to existing state statue and/or session law. And rather than simply asking everyone in the state to ponder some nebulous concept, people with an interest in the issue work to get the attention of lawmakers -- concerned citizens, lobbyists, other lawmakers -- trying to convince enough people about the problem and proposed solution.

I would imagine that most states have applicable laws. Such laws more than likely address many but not all possible scenarios. If I wanted to know what really constitutes rape, I'd start with: Which state? What are the ages of the individuals in the scenario(s). What are the sex(es) of the individuals (it's probably fair to say that this is no longer exclusively a male committing an act (of violence, or whatever else) against a female). What other factors are involved, for example: capacity to grant consent (age and physical and/or mental/emotional disability and other things could be involved) nature of the (if any) prior relationship of the individuals specific communications that may or may not have taken place between the individuals. -------- There's probably more factors, but each possible combination of factors should FIRST be analyzed to determine if any applicable law exists, and if none, what things could influence any potential ambiguities in the situation. As for me, as a male, I know I have to respect all applicable boundaries, including but not necessarily limited to: consent, age, etc. and it's better to keep out of potential trouble than to push the limits of acceptible conduct in hopes not to get in trouble (or caught). Other than that, it occurs to me that the reason for such an inquiry, in the mind/intent of the inquirer WILL significantly influence the structure of any discussion of the topic. And other than helping any person, potential victim or perpetrator, to avoid a dangerous situation, I don't understand the need for such a discussion. There may be a need, but I don't see it.

Is this just a casual discussion or did you have a particular purpose in mind when you started this thread? And what might that purpose be?

Hahahahahhahahahaha!!!!!!!! what a hoot! Of course, we could start a pool... see who guesses closest to when the Yanks get mathematicalllllly eliminated... just a thought.

Sorry... I didn't realize you were a Yankers fan... ;) I only posted ones that I could remember, off the top of my head last night, who had fans here at GS... and Hiway, I knew you were a Dodger fan. Just over 12 days, 22 hours (at the time of this post) till pitchers/catchers report to the NYY camp. and I'd post the NYY clock in this post, but I see that Mstar took care of it.

Official MLB team websites show a countdown to Spring Training 2007: (with a day/hour/minute/second countdown clock for each team to show when pitchers and catchers report) Some are 13days http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tex http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ari http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bos http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=chc http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=stl

VERY! (Just kidding) As do I. But I have a reason (others might also). If I go barefoot around the house, the skin on my left foot will severely dry up and crack.

Awhhh, how CUTE!

At 7pm Mountain Standard Time (about an hour and a half from now), the Discovery HD Theater channel is having a one hour program called Day of the Groundhog. If you have the channel, it'll probably be pretty good. http://dhd.discovery.com/tvlistings/schedu...&date=today

THAT is Classic!

My favorite! :D

I tried chewing tobacco once and was sick... but not for that long. LAE, so, your father's related to Gene Autry.... but you're not? I'm !