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Apr 10 betsio commented on Attacked By an Owl!.

Around this time of year, crows are nesting and being very protective of their babies. I've been dive-bombed and sometimes hit by crazy crows at least once every spring for several years. A mailman witnessed it once, and told me that's why he wore a pith helmet.
I've talked to a couple of people who've been struck by owls down at Green Lake.

Apr 1 betsio commented on David Shields on American Guns.

Myths shmyths. Common factor in violence, be it American, African, Asian, or European: Males battling for dominance.

Feb 21 betsio commented on China Mieville Selects 50 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels That Socialists Must Read.

I've been reading all kinds of fiction for decades, and think Mieville is wonderful. His intelligence and humor are a delight, and his philosophy in support of economic underdogs is thought provoking.

Jan 25 betsio commented on Re: "American Buffalo" at Seattle Rep, the Greeks, and Conservative Playwrights.

I sat through this play a couple of weeks ago. Many people did not, as the exodus at intermission demonstrated. The set was fine, but the audience can' t get by on props alone. This was not brilliant writing; Mamet was slumming in lower class bathos. A waste of time and talented actors. Left me wondering why so much energy was spent on it.

Dec 12, 2012 betsio commented on How Did We Miss 12:12:12 on 12/12/12?.

Having a great time at Vertical World climbing gym, scaling the walls with a friend.

May 23, 2012 betsio commented on Settlers in History, Settlers Today, Settlers from Space.

Charles, have you ever read Octavia Butler's "Lilith's Brood"?
It has one of the most original and richly developed ideas of why aliens would come to Earth; I won't spoil it, but basically it's, uh, just business...
Some of Ms. Butler's novels aren't as amazing as Lilith, but I think she was a wonderful writer.

May 15, 2012 betsio commented on The Catholic Church: That Was Then....

The Catholic church is a big business, has been since the Dark Ages, when it really took root and spread. While reading a book about that time, titled "A World Lit by Fire", by William Manchester, I was struck by the similarity of the Catholic church to some big corporation like Microsoft - only the church has its own breeding program to maintain a consumer base. Imagine if the corporations these days had such a stranglehold on their customers that they could make them have big families...
So the heads of the Catholic church are running scared, trying to keep their clients reproducing and buying their products.

Mar 7, 2012 betsio commented on Racist European Commission?.

They used some whistlin' Western sounding music in the background, very USA cowboy style. What a bizarre mish mash, and definitely bigoted. I'll bet some libertarian policy group advised them.

Feb 10, 2012 betsio commented on It's Time for Oatmeal.

When I was a kid, I liked to put semi sweet chocolate chips, brown sugar, butter and milk on my oatmeal, making it kind of like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. These days I like Bob's Stone ground Scottish Oatmeal, still with butter, brown sugar or maple sugar, and a bit of milk.