dallas_diner

"Already admitted that one..."

Sorry, I didn't read anywhere in your messages that you admitted your post was a knee-jerk reaction, but only that you were wrong about it not being a homeowners association issue.

"..Captain Obvious, but thanks for playing anyways" - your wit is no more clever than your conclusions, juvenile at best.

"This is just more proof that the "associations" are nothing more than a bunch of snobs and people who want to meddle in the affairs of others."

First of all, this comment is nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction from someone who didn't thoroughly read about and/or and understand the facts of the story.

Furthermore, homeowner's associations exist because these is always an element of irresponsible people who refuse to maintain their property as is typical of the neighborhood to which they were attracted and moved into.

Lastly, those people who necessitate the existence of homeowner's associations are typical of those who have the attitude exhibited by the comments above - that is to say, they need rules.

Flame away...

1. A tree house does not belong in the front yard of any house. That's what a back yard is for.

2. He knew, or should have known, of the code when he bought the house or at least before he built the tree house.

I agree that he's "...probably the one's complaining the loudest, when it is built right next door..."

Believe me, I wanted to pull up next her and say as you did - Hahahahahaha!!

While this incident is obviously troubling, it's amazing to me that it doesn't happen on a daily basis because of the way so many people drive - running red lights, tail-gating you when the cars ahead of you can't go any faster, numerous lane changes when it's obvious you aren't going to save any time.

Just yesterday some idiot was tail-gating me when I couldn't pass the cars ahead of me. Then we got on a two lane road she finally passed me driving well over the posted 35 MPH limit when:

1. It was obvious she would have to stop at the next light down the road.

2. There was motorcycle cop shooting radar ahead of us.

She was so caught-up in her own little world of racing to the next light that she didn't even see the cop until he lit-up his lights.

People, try to remember things are going on OUTSIDE of your car when you're driving. And, when you only drive 10 - 30 miles in town, driving fast like a madman isn't going to save but at most a few minutes of time, or it may take longer when you're pulled over.

"I have seen no activity at the building."

Then you haven't been by there in a week or two or possible longer.

"It was the best bar in it's general vicinity and the community has been going without."

Best bar for what? Other than the simple function of getting a drink and a burger, it was no better than any other bar.

"If this place is 4 star DMN restaurant, then the DMN has officially gone insane in the past 2 months."

Past two months?!

When a DMN critic visits a restaurant, the critic must proclaim to the manager "I'm a DMN restaurant critic, and I'm here for the purpose of publishing a review of this restaurant." Furthermore, throughout the visit the critic wears a prominent name tag that proudly includes his DMN title.

Over the years that I've visited DMN highly rated restaurants I many times left them wondering if I was at the wrong restaurant.

"Fact. Taxes on the wealthy have plummeted in the last few decades."

But according to the WSJ:

"Notably, however, the share of taxes paid by the top 1% has kept climbing this decade -- to 39.4% in 2005, from 37.4% in 2000. The share paid by the top 5% has increased even more rapidly. In other words, despite the tax reductions of 2001 and 2003, the rich saw their share of taxes paid rise at a faster rate than their share of income."

No matter how you look at it, the "rich" pay way more than their fair share of income taxes. Complaints and protests by the poor, lower, and even middle class about their excessive income tax burden are simply laughable.

Back in the "Dallas" days I do recall reading about his mother, but I had forgotten about it until now.

I'm surprised they didn't mention in this article that he played the recurring role of Casey Denault in the TV series "Dallas."

"So go on now about how those pesky Catholics caused the current scramble of/about/for/against Global Warming."

Non Sequitur...

No, in the former post I didn't suggest it. In the latter post I not only suggested it, I proclaimed it. So he didn't hit the nail on the head. Besides, a debate of which human achievements are the greatest is a tangent to the discussion of atheism and faith.

My actual point of contention was that "some of the greatest achievements by our human family were born from religious faith." In reality, some of the greatest injury, murder, injustice, and destruction were born from religious faith - more so than any such achievements.

Jesus (H. Christ) saves! He shoots! He scores!

just laughed at my own joke, btw (?)

"Please don't suggest that science and its related technological progress is the highest form of success humanity has achieved."

I didn't suggest that. I used science as an example by writing "For example...science..."

There have also been many instances of art, literature, etc., destroyed in the name of religion.

That being said, I do think that scientific progress IS the highest form of success humanity has achieved. Oh, and in case you didn't notice, I think that religion is the greatest failure of humanity. The degree of most scientific success pales when compared to the degree of failure of religion.

"some of the greatest achievements by our human family were born from religious faith"

Perhaps you meant in spite of religious faith. For example, it's common knowledge that religion (the Catholic Church) has been at odds with science, and that it actively persecuted scientists.

Were the numerous instances of child molestation by high-ranking Catholics also "born from religious faith?" I suspect your answer is no. And you would be correct. Their actions were not "born from religious faith" anymore than most of those who pursued "art, music, literature, architecture, science, medicine, etc."

"Faith is not for the weak minded, stupid, ignorant, uneducated and "delusional" masses..."

Lisa, you're editorializing to support your position. And none of those attributes you listed are required for delusion - a belief derived from deception.

"Yeah, delusion took us into Iraq!"

Maybe it did, but it wasn't required. But to believe in a god does require delusion.

The point isn't whether or not "the staunchest believer really thinks that god would re-grow my legs." The point is that prayer doesn't work (because there is no god), or god would regenerate amputated limbs because the bible says that god answers prayers.

It's ironic that there are much "lower" life forms that can regenerate lost limbs, but humans cannot. So much for intelligent design.

Apparently, you have to be a Christian, have faith, ad nauseam, to do anything good.

"many, many fine folks have gone into the medical field because they were "called by God" and inspired by faith to treat the injured and ill. Perhaps, just perhaps, the emergency room professional who treated the amputee was a person of faith and the medical devices and surgical techniques were developed by someone inspired by God"

Rationalization #6

Some believers say, "God does help amputees - he inspires scientists and engineers to create artificial limbs for them!" This logic is interesting, especially if we look at other examples. Take the case of smallpox. Millions upon millions of people died of smallpox until the vaccine was invented in the twentieth century. If God is the one who inspired the scientists, why did God wait until the twentieth century to do it? Why would God want to be the source of the massive suffering that smallpox caused prior to the twentieth century? And why do we pay the scientists, given that their work is simply God's inspiration?

"I don't think even the staunchest believer really thinks that god would re-grow my legs."

Correct, because delusion can only go so far.

Perry Mason, aka Clay213, cleverly asked "I wonder how different this story and reaction would be if Moats had run someone over running that red light."

The story and reaction would have been different because the circumstances, crime, and the outcome would have been different - DUH! Gee, I wonder how the story and reaction would have been different if Oswald missed JFK?!

Moats reportedly stopped at the red light, then proceeded through the intersection.

Some cops don't get it. Authority to enforce the law isn't a right to "screw you over."

What I want to know is where are these (kinds of) cops whenever I'm sitting at a traffic light and I see some a$$hole blow through the red light big-time!

Why won't God heal amputees?

Is God real, or is he imaginary?

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

Don't you know there are a large number of white readers who want to express their true thoughts on this subject, but they're afraid their IP will be traced?

Signing a waiver doesn't relieve someone of certain legal liabilities and responsibilities. Ever read a parking lot or valet ticket fine print? Hint - it doesn't mean squat. AFAIK (I'm not a lawyer), common law can't be modified by contract.