Thanks, Joan, for the birthday wish. I look forward to life in my seventies, hopefully with nothing more than arthritis to contend with!

Just got up this AM and rewatched The Best of Charlie Skinner, just for fun ... and found the attached in the related videos.  It's a different side of Charlie Skinner, a part of him that is as necessary as the amiable drunk.  Indeed, I think it's the part that makes the amiable drunk work BETTER, never mind that it at least partially rounds out what is a wonderful character.

Please enjoy.

I hope you especially enjoy "The Best of Charlie Skinner."  Sam Waterson is wonderful in that role, and I suspect he's having a tremendous amount of fun in it.

Joan thank you for your comment.  It's mutual.  Even though I don't comment on all of your posts, I love reading them.  You have taught me a lot.  So glad you are here.

Well, if I didn't rewrite it more aimed at Francis I, it's because I don't know much about him, though there is some new dirt coming out more recently.  It may be that when I learn more about ol' Jorge that I will be inspired to put something down which is more steered toward him, but for now, I think I'd like to leave my "Habemus Papem" piece as it is.

If you come up with something of your own about Francis, do let me know.

Hey, Joan!

You might be interested in knowing that Sherrod Brown wrote me back!  To wit:

Dear Loren:

Thank you for getting in touch with my office regarding religion in the military. I appreciate your bringing this issue to my attention.

I have passed your concerns along to the legislative assistant in my office who monitors defense issues. I will keep your thoughts in mind should this issue come before the Senate.

If you require any other assistance, please call my office at 202-224-2315. Thank you again for being in touch with me.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

Thought you'd like to know.

Some virtual flowers for you lovely Joan!

Joan, please feel free to use my comments about RICO.

In fifth grade in Guardian Angels Catholic School in Cincinnati, I was the only boy of the 20 or so in the class who refused to "enlist" for altar boy training.

My reason? I was pathologically shy and feared doing all the very public stuff that altar boys had to do. I don't know if I escaped what many other boys, and girls, didn't escape.

For years before the pedophilia news broke, I told all who would listen that the stuff that happens in Catholic schools will someday be seen as child abuse.

I hope a few A/N folk will visit the SNAP website and look around.

Hey, Joan.

Found a video based on the words of Sam Harris and posted it here.  I thought it was pretty profound, but I'm hardly getting any views on it ... and I wasn't sure you had seen it so ... have a look, please!

Hi Joan, hope you are well and enjoying life.

Finally gained some time to look at your profile.

Nice pics , looks like you have had a very interesting life.  Far more adventurous than my own.

Might have to gain some lessons from you.

Most of my knowledge comes from books, you appear to have enhanced it with a lot of experience.

Cheers

:-D-

So ... how did you like the sampling of scenes I posted here of The Newsroom?

I've got three really good clips for you of The Newsroom, Joan:

1. We Meet Will McAvoy - Will McAvoy is the anchor for a CNN-like cable news network.  He's been letting things slide for the sake of ratings lately, but the reappearance of an old associate/friend/??? at a roundtable discussion at a college stirs the pot ... more than a little!
2. McAvoy Lays It Out - With a new and young staff, Will McAvoy lays out for his audience that there's been a change in how things are done at their network.
3. We Interrupt This Program - It's an average day in the newsroom when something out of the everyday happens, and the newsroom goes to work on a breaking news story.  It's worth noting, that the primary set for The Newsroom is FULLY FUNCTIONAL

And a bonus - The Best of Charlie Skinner, the president of the news department, played wonderfully by Sam Waterson.

There's LOTS more on YouTube where the above came from - enjoy, please!

Joan, if you like the West Wing (obviously), and you dig Aaron Sorkin's work (and you have HBO!), you should check out his new series, The Newsroom.  It's excellent stuff.  If you DON'T have HBO, I can steer you to some YouTube videos to give you a taste.

Thanks Joan, I know I can come here for worthwhile responses. 

Haven't crossed paths too often with you the last couple of weeks - maybe we're reading different forums consistently? Haha

Joan, as always, you are more than welcome to reprint that last piece on Facebook.

Dumb question: since I don't have a Facebook account and I can't have a look myself, has their been much (if any) response to any of my pieces that you've put up?

Hi, again!

The muse seemed to like Obama's 2nd inaugural address ... 'cuz he came up with this.  I wondered if you had seen it and/or had a reaction.

Joan, you asked me about K.    He ? (the name sounded female to me ?) had joined Epicurean Atheists a few days ago and then just disappeared again only a short time later.