I was talking to an old friend and mentioned my suprise at spotting one of those "DUCK TOURS" motoring around Honolulu. These are the converted DUKWs, amphibious transport vehicles put into service during WWII for shuttling men and ammo ashore. Now they shuttle passengers around the cityscape and take a dip in the local harbor for while.
I've been on them numerous times in Philly, but was not expecting to spot them at Waikiki. Having lived in Boston for a while, my friend mentioned they had them there as well. Upon further investigation, I discovered they also paddle around Baltimore and more recently, Memphis.

The tour in Philidelphia is great. It usually includes a nice glimpse of the poor old forgotten liner S.S. United States and a barnacle-eye view of the battleship USS New Jersey(which, with Camden being awarded 'most dangerous city' status, the battleships mooring in its harbor seems eerily appropriate!).

Anyway, in talking with my friend, I had one of those moments where you suddenly realize the poetic depth of something you hadn't really thought deeply about. There was something re-affirming about those ducks! I knew their history. I knew their value to the local small business economies...

...but then I realized that they were one of the better examples of the concept "beating swords into plowshares" (Yes, I am mindful of the old army version of that which warns "Those that beat their swords into plowshares will end up plowing for those who still have swords!") Instead of aiding fighting and destruction, they're now aiding exploring and fostering a little learning, too. A bit romantic for a little sight-seeing bus, I know, but it felt like a little ray of light.

In a daily molasses flood(sorry Boston!)of downer news stories that tell of fat-cat backscratching, reveal science under the gun, list more historic sites paved flat for malls and remind us that there are still plenty of people out there who just hate(...and they're armed...well!), I needed that ray of light.

Just sharing. Does anyone else have a story about a re-affirming epiphany?


my last few posts, here and there, around the forum have had a rather bitter taste and for that I apologise. My mid-winter blues fell earlier than usual on this years calendar.

Wouldn't this be an anti-cynicism pill?

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

The first response my post gets and it's semantics hair-splitting.

Frankly I felt "anti-cynicism pill" didn't roll off the tongue (no pun intended) with the same cacaphonic oomph that the "...cal" gives ya'.

My doctor prescribed an Anti-Cynical Pill, but I just have a lot of doubts it would work, I mean none of that kind of stuff ever does.

Actually, that was a nice posting soylentgreen (and I understood the molasses reference), but I don't have anything handy.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

Just my luck, it'll be a suppository...

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

I don't like to take mood altering drugs without a perscription, or a cocktail olive.

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"The plan does not involve mayonaise."
"... I knew there was a catch."

You can't take the sky from me.

I dunno......I'm kind a......what's that word????

Not my own, but I read about a guy who visited Trinity site and initially was disappointed that there was nothing to see.
After a bit of reflection he realised that that's a very good thing.

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An emperor without enemies, a king without a kingdom, supported in life by the willing tribute of a free people.

uhhhh.....
Happy?
Sad?
Pointy?
Hungry?
Tired?
Busy?
Energetic?
Creative?
Wet?
Dry?
Confused?
Focused?

I don't know BBP, you'll have to give us a clue.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

Personally, I'd be very skeptical concerning an anti-cynical pill.

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A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

That's why I figure it'll really be a suppository. Getting right to the heart of the matter from the word "D'OH!"

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

Right, considering the nature of HB/CT/etc. beliefs.

You should teach a course on this, in Latin perhaps, called the "Conspiritus Correctum".

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A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

They don't pay teachers enough to put up with normal students...

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

Someone I know said a very similar thing about Antietam.


Jeez, if I'd known the thread title would get so much unwarranted attention I would have just labeled the sucker "Read This"!

How many Poindexters does it take to miss the point of a post?
So far, four!

Me thinks we've found another in need of a prescription...

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

Nah...my jest was quite apropos. Get out your old FELIX THE CAT videos, it'll make sense.

Besides, with this, you continue to focus on everything but the point of my post....aww forget it. You just don't get it, do you.

...what's funnier(though, not really!) is that it comes from the you, the chap who was responsible for this bon mot on the mentally handicapped...
My post was supposed to be an antidote to that cro-mag fascist garbage. You should take a little time off from windexing your diplomas, 'coz dem dar social skills 'a yours are rottin' away, bucko!

Aphasic?

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

amnesiac?

I don't think I've ever had an epiphany as you describe... but that may be owing to my basic nature. I'm what, for now, I'll call an optomistic cynic. In other words, I expect bad things of people, but in the long run, I think things will be better.

Except in the politcal field...

As for Doodles, at least he's not watching the world though rose tinted spectacles. From what I've seen of his posts, he seems to see the world as it is, rather than as he might want it to be. While his choice of word may be... impolitic, his assessment is usually without wishful thinking.

This is true in the post you quoted, and in the one he made in this thread. In this thread specifically, it seemed an appropriate response to what seemed a bit of a tantrum.

And I'll note he said nothing overtly antagonistic either to you or about you on this thread

I've got specific issues when it comes to "diminished capacity" which lead me to believe its complete bunk when it comes to the incapacity to know right from wrong. So when someone cries "mental illness", or "retardation", or some of the other psychobabble tripe out there, as a pardoning condition for culpability, I get real unapologetically furious.

I will be happy to explain in detail my personal anger on this matter, but not here. Its not exactly family friendly, even if I were to use delicate language.

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I'm not completely heartless, the doctor who removed it told me he'd never be able to get it all.

Lead to the Dark Side anger does.

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An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it.