Texas.

I was in grade school when my maternal grandmother, after several unsuccessful attempts and several interventions (including several stays in state institutions), finally committed suicide.  Around the same time my paternal grandfather, wrought with polio, tried and failed to overdose, and eventually overcame his disease and depression and retired. 

Even when the signs are there, when clues are clearly left, we see nothing.  After the suicide attempt everything seems so obvious.  Depression disorder leaves us with so many false trails.  Even interventions fail to help.  So the process we all go through after the shock is simply part of the healing process.  In the end, we all find that we cannot protect a person from himself.  So take heart.  A troubled soul is at rest.  Help others having trouble with this passing.  Leave the guilt and hand wringing behind. 

I don't see these views as opposed.  Paul and Rubio are expressing diffferent things in different ways.  Rubio is correct in his general statement and he is not saying that we must accept the status quo.  Rand is more specific in his response and I agree with him as well.  In the end, it comes down to whether or not this generic data mining is prohibited under the Patriot Act.  The Act's primary author and sponsor says it is not allowed.  The act only allows collection of electronic or telecommunications related data from foreign nationals and only as part of an "authorized terror investigation."  So carte blanche data mining of citizen calls and personal comuter communications is verboten.  This single, limited electronic surveillance exception closes in 2015 but I expect it will come up sooner and Congress will shut the program down.

I agree.  All it needs is a bad senorita and a gold pan and you have a movie.

You are so right, Dave.  Our government has forgotten its place.  Politicians believe that they have an unlimited right to authority and encumbancy, and to use power to retain both.  The bureaucracy knows no limits, derives its power from those politicians and corporate interests who support and nurture it, which it in turn supports and nurtures.  Those who seek to limit the State are its enemy, to be defeated and diminished.  Cronies seek a place at the trough and fall in line for favors, seeking bureaucratic burdens that they can bear but which crush their competition.  And in the mix, liberty is forgotten, stare decisis is allowed to turn our constitution on its head and suddenly, we are upside down.  Success is illegitimate, taxes are charity, takings are undispuatable, faith is crazy, bastardy is laudable, prayer is banned, profit is theft, rich is poor and up is down  Man...

Do mini-series count?  The theme from "Lonesome Dove" is very sad and soulful.  The same goes for the themes from "Band of Bros." and "The Pacific."  These are great original works, all.  There is some really compelling stuff from "A Clockwork Orange," not all original, but amazing.  Randy Newman has done some really good work on many films.  The best is Williams, of course, who is by far the most loved composer of our time.  Elfman has done some cool stuff as well.

Change your surname to Cisneros.  The year before your first goes to college, take a cut in pay deferred for four years.  Apply for welfare and foodstamps. Make sure your son writes essays about persistent hunger - his.  He might mention that he is questioning his sexuality, loves theater and has a collection of Kachinas.

It's not the unloading that kills you.  It's the days after unloading.  Hope everything is OK and not too sore.

We are sympatico on this.  Good luck to the boys!

There is more to life than a gubmint check.  Get back to the Southwest where a sidearm is not treated like a loaded pressure cooker.   Besides, you can always head to the gulf for some sun and sea. 

You guys marry early down south.  Can the filly fillet (as in the bass)?  Or did you throw it back?

As a former public company CFO, I watched as "Personnel" went from benefits administration to an internal US Labor Deprtment outreach.  Human Resources so often becomes executive gripe/rumor control as opposed to an effective recruitment, training and career tracking arm of an organization.  Most companies don't need HR at all.  Accounting types are better at benefits administration generally and any good payroll clerk knows the difference between exempt and non exempt; straight- and over-time; and can make required public postings. 

I like this and I hope it's contagious.  Regarding preventative care (routine health services) I'm sure do NOT want my insurer to be concerned with this.  As other's have stated here, insurance should be used for catastrophic medical events.  The best way to deal with routine care is with something like medical savings accounts, that is pretax savings earmarked for medical expenses - routine costs, scripts, copays and deductibles.  Visit the doctor?  Pay with cash from your MSA.  MSA vouchers could be provided for the very poor.  Insurance, on the other hand, would pay for all care above some reasonable out of pocket maximum, say $5k anually for an individual and $10k for a family.  The insurer would have to negotiate with the health care providers beyond the total out of pocket exposure.

If you look at the picture above closely, you will notice that the IRS logo, an eagle, has only one wing.  It's the left wing.

I have my favorites, Dave, Prawn, EJ, DOC, 10, Flown, Mama, James, Mend, Si, CJ, tab... too many to note here.  I hope to see many of you in Vegas Baby in October.  Details to come.

James, James, Morrison, Morrison...  I was having fun with Amy, intended of course with great affection and humor.  Pathetic is a fairly weak adjective in any case and I stand by it.