Mark2005

I drove across Wyoming last summer. No offense, but it is the biggest bunch of nothing one could imagine. Mile after endless mile. It is Nevada without Las Vegas. Borrrrrrrrr-ing! You must have gone across on I-80? There isn't much to see. I once stopped at this little store in a place call "Point of Rocks," out in the middle of nowhere, and there were wild mountain goats walking around. I was able to pet one of them, though I am not sure it was the smartest thing to do? You would do better to check out northern Wyoming, where the scenery is nicer. Also go across on I-90 and check out that part of Idaho. Much of Idaho is just like Wyoming, but it is nice in the northern part of the state. I personally like Wyoming, because it is so wide open. A large state, with a relatively small population. Thinking about the western states made me think of Montana. People talk about big sky country, but I was surprised at how the sky appears there? It has a look of its own. Basically, every state has its own unique qualities. Being in differen't parts of the U.S. makes you feel like you are in a differen't country, as the people are so differen't from one area to another. Canada is unique from one area to another. I loved British Columbia, but didn't care that much for Ontario. Quebec really feels like another country, as many of the signs are all in French. I still don't get the metric road signs? In this country, you know you need a 13 '6 clearance in a tractor-trailer, but in Canada, it is all metric. Yeah, I drove I-80, west to east. Spent a night in Laramie. I've also driven I-25 north from Denver to Montana, not too much different. Lived in Montana for two years and in northern idaho prior to that. Had some good points, but a little too remote for my tastes. As for metric, I think metric is easier to figure than the English system. But I guess it's what you're used to.

Freedom of religion is where it all went bad?

I don't think the election will bring about drastic changes, unless there are outside factors, such as a war. If there is a war, I sure hope the US stays on the sidelines. Little good ever seems to come from it. I am thankful for slow, gradual changes in matters like health care and social programs that can make life better. I think a lot of businesses are reaping the result of their own greed. I don't understand how Christians can say they are persecuted compared to what is happening in other parts of the world. There are certainly no shortage of churches and everyone is free to practice whatever religion (or no religion) as they choose.

Eastern Washington or Montana, yes. West of the Cascade Mountains, near Seattle, no. Not a chance.

CANADA Common misperception is that everything is frozen and people live in igloos. Truth is that about 85 percent of the population lives within two hours of the US border. So it's not much different than the northern part of the US. Farms, prairies, mountains, coastline. Winters can be cold, summers are gorgeous. Common misperception is that Canadians are uneducated. Canada is actually one of the most educated, advanced societies in the world. Common misperception is that most Canadians speak French. French is rarely spoken west of Quebec, although official government documents are in both English and French.

I drove across Wyoming last summer. No offense, but it is the biggest bunch of nothing one could imagine. Mile after endless mile. It is Nevada without Las Vegas. Borrrrrrrrr-ing!

I guess it depends how many people were involved. When I think of a home Bible study, I think of 10-12 people. If it's more like 200, that's a full blown church and he probably needs to find another location. The area where I live has a community center people can rent out for things like that, parties, wedding receptions, etc.

The sky is falling!

Political correctness run amok. Sadly, nothing that happens in Arizona surprises me anymore.

The original post really hits home. Maybe God answers in his own time. But too often that comes far too late for us as individuals. If my house is on fire and I call the fire department, I expect a response immediately, not a decade from now. How can I put my trust in a God who acts that way?

Why don't they just secede and become their own country if they hate the feds and want to act like their own country? Or volunteer to become part of Mexico?

Pretty simple..... Romney appeals to the big-money crowd, the people who can write out a $10,000 check at the drop of a hat. Obama's strength is more among blue-collar workers who don't have that kind of money. Obama is just trying to keep it remotely close in the fund-raising department.

More people want to keep it than want to repeal it. True, you may find some congressional districts where sentiment to repeal it is strong and someone can get elected on an anti-Obamacare platform, but I suspect those are in the minority.

You can get the same free stuff if you are legal. Just had a visit with a nurse over my mom's condition and was happy to learn that she qualifies for a lot of nursing and medical care stuff paid through medicare. Now, I suspect some will tell me I should turn it down and go pay for it all myself out of pocket. But.... what kind of fool do you take me for?

Pretty much. Bottom line is that it's awfully darn hard to force people to do something they don't want to do.

This is the part of the law that is not going to work and is unenforceable. If you can't afford the insurance premiums, maybe you can't afford a tax either. Lots and lots of people convicted of crimes never pay fines or restitution because they simply do not have the money. Eventually the system will have to be tweaked to where coverage is included as a public service whether one can pay for it or not.

I'm in a similar situation. My mom is 86 and suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. Dad had been her primary caretaker most of the past decade. Then Dad had a heart attack and had to go to a nursing home and eventually died last February. Mom couldn't be alone, so she went with him. I quit my career and moved back to their city in January to oversee their care and estate, which is pretty much a full-time job and then some. Mom improved enough that I took a gamble and brought her back home to live last week. I'm very worried, but willing to give this a try for several reasons. Hired a part-time home health aide to do things I cannot do. It's very stressful. I want the best for her, but am not sure how to best help. She has moments where she is very lucid and pretty normal for an 86-year-old and then has moments where she talks crazy, threatens to kill me, etc. So anyway, I do feel your pain. I've been dealing with this for only six months and just now brought her home to live with me. So I have no idea how this will affect me long-term.

Not much in the grand scheme of things.

Oh dear.

Some amazing photos from The Denver Post. Hearts go out to everyone affected. http://photos.denverpost.com/mediacenter/2012/06/photos-waldo-canyon-fire-near-garden-of-the-gods/38318/#name here

Within a month of the inauguration, perhaps Barack Obama will have a ceremony in the Rose Garden where he tears up a copy of the Constitution and announces the creation of a panel to write a new one.

always been curious where the story originated. All of the gospels were written years after Jesus' death. So did Luke go back and interview Mary to find out how it all went down?

Here it is: 1. Go to the US Archives and get the original copy of the US Constitution. Have a huge burning ceremony. This will just formalize what is already "de facto" anyway. 2. Make all health care providers government employees. Then, our taxes will pay their salaries. 3. Have the gov't takeover all hospitals and clinics. 4. Everyone who shows up to be treated will be treated. First come, first served. Then, everyone can form a circle and sing the praises of Government Run Healthcare. Hail Obama! Blessings! -Ed Honestly, not a bad idea.

You can always go somewhere else to have a procedure, whether it's an abortion or brain surgery. This issue is dealing with the matter here.