sonnymax

If it's something good, have fun. If it's something risky, good luck. If it's something bad, take care. Regardless...

Didn't this guy play clarinet?

Have you read any statements by Cosby saying that he openly offered these women Quaaludes for the purpose of having sex, and that they took them voluntarily?

You seem to be characterizing these many encounters in a certain way. Are you familiar with the actual circumstances in which these assaults took place? First, not every situation involved the use of incapacitating drugs. Some, for instance, allegedly involved the simple use of physical force. Not every incident resulted in vaginal intercourse. Some of the accusations involve him grabbing the victim's breasts, for example. The hotel room scenario is not the most common one, either. The attacks also reportedly took place at Cosby's home, TV and movie sets, a golf tournament, etc. One could argue that if the victim was a waitress, model or showgirl, then she must have been "starstruck". Also, among Cosby's accusers are a comedy writer working on one of his sitcoms, a comedy club manager, the companion of an actor, etc. Even a woman who admitted to having a consensual sexual relationship with Cosby has accused him of drugging and raping her. And then there are the drugs. If they were just an "aphrodisiac", why didn't Cosby ever take them? The different incidents involving drugs show a familiar pattern, with Cosby offering the victims a pill to relieve a headache, flu symptoms, "cheer them up"; or providing them with a cocktail or some other beverage that left them "woozy" or unconscious. Is any of this definitive? No. But, you'd hardly expect a serial rapist to engage in activities where proof of guilt would be easily obtained, would you? In the end, it's the pattern of alleged behaviors that speak most convincingly to Cosby's guilt or innocence. Scott, I ask that you take the time to review the specifics of many accusations, then form your own opinion.

This is the scariest thread ever!

The King is dead. Long live the King! Matt Stonie beats Joey Chestnut and wins the yellow mustard belt in the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest in Coney Island on July 4, 2015. Stonie, a 23-year-old competitive eater from San Jose, Ca. beat Chestnut by two dogs, downing 62 wieners in 10 minutes. daily news

I wouldn't call you spoiled. Indignant is more like it.

Why do you assume this individual is a sociopath? Is it because of the heinous nature of his actions? Here again is the notion that someone must be "out of their mind" to do such a thing. I'm not saying he is "well-adjusted"or that his faculties are fully intact. What I am saying is that there need not be a "break" or uncontrollable impulse for someone to behave in hateful ways that most people cannot comprehend. Because of this, we as a society bear some responsibility when such tragedies occur. 25 years of clinical experience, including work with actual sociopaths, has made me realize that ordinary people have the capacity to create breathtaking beauty as well as unspeakable horror.

"Insanity" means that the person either could not control their behavior, or they could not distinguish right from wrong due to mental illness. From all accounts, this individual was focused, determined and in full control of his actions. We tend to identify such people and their actions as "insane", "monstrous" or "pure evil" in order to protect and distance ourselves from the harsh reality that tragedies like this are the result of the fear, ignorance and hatred of those who believe they are losing their ability to exert power and control in our society. I can't follow you down that road. Besides, you kind contradicted yourself when you said being able to discern between right and wrong. Not sure in what reality murder is right, but it isn't in this one. And if he didn't realize it... If my perceptions of reality and capacity for judgment are severely impaired to the point where I cannot identify what is real and what is fantasy, and hence what is right and what is wrong in a rational world, then I meet the criteria for the legal definition of "insane". If these conditions are absent, however, and if I choose to kill an individual even though I know that to do so is wrong, I cannot plead insanity. As erwbol pointed out, most mass murders are not committed by people with severe mental impairments, nor are those with psychiatric diagnoses more likely to commit acts of violence like these. The point of my previous post is that society would like to think that "only a madman could do such a thing." It makes people feel safer and free of responsibility when such tragedies occur. I believe that what happened in Charleston is the result of the fear, anger and ignorance that is willfully spread by those who wield political, financial and cultural power in our society and are afraid of losing it. Horrible events like this will continue to occur on a regular basis until this dynamic changes.

"Insanity" means that the person either could not control their behavior, or they could not distinguish right from wrong due to mental illness. From all accounts, this individual was focused, determined and in full control of his actions. We tend to identify such people and their actions as "insane", "monstrous" or "pure evil" in order to protect and distance ourselves from the harsh reality that tragedies like this are the result of the fear, ignorance and hatred of those who believe they are losing their ability to exert power and control in our society.

I might be wrong, but I think you'll find that insanity played no part in this tragedy. Fear, anger and ignorance are all that is necessary for this kind of human behavior.

But it does count. The music is available to download or stream at various major sites through the legal distributor. What people here and elsewhere are bemoaning is that it's not readily obtainable in the particular medium they prefer. How is this any different from the complaints that arose when the availability of vinyl began to decline in the late 80's/early 90's as compact discs gained popularity? I would love for such music to be offered in every media with the best sound possible at a reasonable price. These days, it's easy to download the music and burn a physical copy that sounds identical to the source, something that's not been possible before. For sure, there are some obscure titles that are seemingly unavailable in any form. I think something along the lines of what Jim proposed might be undertaken to guarantee that such music isn't lost forever. But I'm guessing that there are more titles available in one form or another than ever before. I just wish some folks would loosen their grip a little on their music delivery system of yore so they don't miss out on what's being offered right now.

This is a beautiful recording! For those of you not married to physical media, it is readily available from iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, etc. for less than $10. And there's no shipping fee.

From what I've read, most, but not all of the iTunes catalog will be available for streaming. The Beatles, for example, is one notable exception. But don't blame Apple. Some artists and labels continue to oppose even paid streaming. They believe they will make more money if their music is only available for download.

Not sure why you'd place any credence in this or any of the many absurd comments that were posted. Although it's customary to trash so-called Apple fanboys, you'll never see more rabid, myopic opinions than those expressed by the iHaters.

Of course, the original version of the joke might have used another word for breasts. "Bubs", for instance, was popular in the 1920's. I don't think it's that bad for an off-color joke. My 95-year-old dad chuckled at it, adding that he could imagine it happening in a vaudeville house. Word has it that Judy Garland "adored" the joke when it circulated in the early 50s. To appreciate this rumor, you have to be familiar with a certain scene from Garland's 1954 movie A Star Is Born.

A female singer asks her audience, "Does anyone have a request?" A drunk in the crowd yells, "Sing Melancholy Baby!" "I'm sorry, I don't know that one," the singer apologizes, "Do you have another request?" The drunk responds, "Yeah. Show us your tits!"

It's up to 286. C'mon folks, this is a no-brainer!

Oh Scott, there you go again.

At $15,000, it's a steal!

I agree. It reminds of when the class would rack its brains trying to figure out the answer, only to discover that the teacher had given the problem incorrectly.

You were debating masturbating? Now that could make you go blind.