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Psychics (and the idiots that use them)
Well anti...those people that offer the million bucks, I can almost guarantee, that you wouldn't have to do it THEIR way (ie name the person or thing they are thinking of). The people throwing that cool mil on the table, the psychic could say "bring in 5 of your friends, that you are certain I've never met before...and we'll see if I can name some things about them." And, that doesn't mean "someone you are close to starts with the letter 'j'." But, if they say stuff like "you will be going to Japan for work." And there was no way of them knowing that, I believe that would convince those people. And yet, no psychic has ever wanted to do that. It's always friends of friends and stuff like that. I'm calling BS. And...answer the question about my friends kid, saying the plane would crash. Don't you agree, had the plane crashed, that you'd be ONE OF THOSE BELIEVERS, when there was really nothing to believe.— February 13, 2009 12:49 a.m.
Valentine's Day Coming Up (the perfect VD story)
UPDATE: just saw a story in the USA Today, about former Padre Roberto Alomar, being sued by an ex-girlfriend that says she was forced to have sex with him for 4 years, when he didn't wear condoms even though he had AIDS. She's suing for $15 million.— February 11, 2009 6:39 p.m.
Psychics (and the idiots that use them)
Oh, I forgot...another story I wanted to add. My friend Alice, who is in Mensa, doesn't believe any of this. And she gives great reasons as to why people do. She gives two examples. One was from a friend who had a 2 year old baby playing in the other room. As she was cooking dinner, she "sensed" the child was now in the kitchen with her. She turned around, and...walla! There was the child. This woman INSISTED that was because a mom has a bond with a child, that is a form of "sixth sense ability." Yet, Alice explains it this way: You are cooking dinner, and you have a young baby. You want to make sure he doesn't stick his finger in a light socket, or swallow a Lego, so whether you know it or not, you are listening for background noise. The child laughing, his toys shuffling around the toy box, or whatever. There can be a split second, where the mom hears nothing. She immediately wonders why, is her child safe? Or, maybe the child has left the living room, and is now in the kitchen. Walla! There is the child, because the mom "magically" sensed it. Instead, in one second, she used all the normal channels of reasoning -- hearing, etc. Her other example is a lot more fun. Her brother is a scientist, and the wife and him were taking the 3 year old to the airport. IT was the first time daddy was flying out of town since the baby was born. The child said "You know you aren't coming back, don't you?" The parents were shocked, and the child continues with "This plane is going to crash, and we'll never see you again." The mom went nuts, telling him NOT to board that plane. He said it was all hogwash, and it's not some Twilight Zone episode (after all...he's a scientist, he doesn't believe this sort of stuff). So, what do you think happened anti? Nothing. I believe the plane did run out of peanuts or something, but not even the slightest bit of turbelence. Alice then says, "But guess what? Had this plan crashed, I'll bet 9 out of 10 people would INSIST that 3-year-old possessed some power or sense. You wouldn't be able to talk them out of it. You couldn't even say the child had a lucky guess. They would say 'Why would a kid say that? No kids say that.' Instead, the plane landed safely, and the story falls thru the cracks as one of those "kids say the darndest things."— February 11, 2009 5:27 p.m.
Psychics (and the idiots that use them)
I have a great way of explaining how crazy all this stuff is. I once argued with a woman from Ireland. She believed all this crap, and it stemmed from a child in Russia that can tell when someone has cancer and where. Even before doctors. I said, "This story would be all over the news, and I read lots of papers, watch lots of news." I Googled and found it, in some small little write-up somewhere, but still. And, I found out this woman believed all kinds of stuff, including HER ability to do some of these things (not discovering cancer, but having a sixth sense about "certain things"). I asked her for an example, and here is what she gave me: She was 18 once, and walking home from a pub at 1 a.m. (what else would you be doing in Ireland at 1 a.m.?) Some guy was on a wall looking at her as she walked past. She knew, absolutely knew, from some "sixth sense" that he would harm her. He said something to her, but she didn't listen, and instead ran home. I replied with, "Well, did he attack you?" She said, "no, he didn't. but there was evil in him, and I could sense that." I said, "Well, doesn't that show you that your sense is wrong? After all, HE DID NOT attack you!" Yet, had he attacked her, she would be sure she was right, and sensed before hand, that he was bad. I tried to explain, that maybe it was her common sense, that said a guy sitting on a wall, outside, at 1 a.m....could turn ugly. As she's an attractive woman, that has probably had lots of guys (during the day and at night), say things to her unwarranted and unwelcomed.— February 11, 2009 5:21 p.m.
Yet Another Dog Blog
I got your email with address. I put a check for $50 in the mail.— February 11, 2009 1:05 a.m.
Psychics (and the idiots that use them)
anti...two questions on this topic. Why don't all these people help cops, and all these unsolved crimes become solved? Also, why aren't many of them rich? Surely you could make millions with such a skill. And, give me some examples about how you know from personal experience, these things to be true. (I do like you admitting there are fakes, and in all professions you do get that)— February 11, 2009 1:04 a.m.
Yet Another Dog Blog
Okay. I wrote it on my calendar to call in. But let me ask you this. Can I just send you a check directly? That way, if I drop the ball, you guys still get the cash? And the Humane Society will give you credit for bringing in some dough. If that works, contact me, and give me an address. I'll gladly donate. My girlfriend was going to volunteer there, because we were both so happy with how the experience went. But she gets allergies really bad from dander and stuff at there place, so that didn't work out.— February 10, 2009 9:07 a.m.
Detour for Desserts (I hate cupcakes)
Well, TFB...you bring up a good point. They are small, but maybe "cup" should refer to that shape as well as size. They are like miniature cakes.— February 10, 2009 12:44 a.m.
Yet Another Dog Blog
rickeysays...women don't use dogs the way you described. Cats, maybe. It sounds like you need a big dog to protect your house, which is really nonsense. All big dogs do is go into that mode, and bark non-stop, annoying neighbors for houses and houses down the street. I just met an old friend for lunch, that talked about his big dog chasing the mailman around years ago. He said he finally had to put it down, because they stopped delivering mail to his house. He thought the whole thing was funny, saying his dog just chased, and didn't want to bite. Those are famous last words for big dog owners, as my stepfather, a lettercarrier that was bit in his 25 years of carrying mail, at least 5 times from people that swore "my dog never bites". And you say I should grow a pair. Well, speaking of "pairs", that's another thing that's gross about big dogs. I hate seeing them walk around with those things dangling all over...or when they hump a couch, or your leg, etc.— February 9, 2009 2:40 p.m.
Michael Phelps Revisited -- And a Poker Game Bust
I once talked to Rob Schneider, and told him I loved that "put your weed in it," character from SNL. He said they didn't think it was funny and that's why they only did a few bits with it. I saw a comic in the paper a few days ago that said "Weedies" with Phelps on the cover.— February 9, 2009 2:17 p.m.