By-Tor.com

ElfDude wrote:

On her Web site, Simpson described herself as someone who loves "crazy ideas" and has been "traveling the world and saving the planet from evil villains with my delivered-just-in-time gadgets."

More like "trying to save the planet while living on another one".

Kinda sounds like a bright, wacky, naive girl who has whimsical fun making friends smile. Definitely from another world. I hope it's less violent on her planet. Must be to think she could strap something to her chest and go into the airport.

Big Blue Owl wrote:

ElfDude wrote:

On her Web site, Simpson described herself as someone who loves "crazy ideas" and has been "traveling the world and saving the planet from evil villains with my delivered-just-in-time gadgets."

More like "trying to save the planet while living on another one".

Kinda sounds like a bright, wacky, naive girl who has whimsical fun making friends smile. Definitely from another world. I hope it's less violent on her planet. Must be to think she could strap something to her chest and go into the airport.

Maybe she's kinda like Luna Lovegood. Great character.

Agreed! I want a friend like that.

Big Blue Owl wrote:Agreed! I want a friend like that.

And like Neville Longbottom. I LOVE the character development of Neville.
As I was reading the book aloud to my kids, during the last couple of chapters I kept choking up when reading the scenes with Neville.

You and I are a lot alike, Elfbud

Wendy wrote:Strange Stuff

I think ZIGZAG would be a great name.

On a more somber note...

A federal judge has ordered Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.) to testify in a defamation case related to the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha in 2005, according to the Associated Press.

Murtha, a former Marine. accused Marines of "cold-blooded murder and war crimes'' during the Haditha incident. Frank Wuterich, a Marine sergeant involved in the incident, has sued Murtha for libel and invasion of privacy over his comments.

According to AP, U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer wants Murtha to explain why he made this statement and any documents he has related to the incident.

From the AP: 'You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?'' Collyer said, adding later, ''How far can a congressman go and still be protected?"

The justice department, who has been representing Murtha, will likely be able to overturn this action by Judge Collyer, if not the entire lawsuit. From my understanding the case is based on unsure legal footing.

But it does make me wonder about the psychological makeup of Rep. Murtha. Generally speaking, Marines are very loyal to the Marines. Yet, when there was nothing more than allegations about the Haditha incident, he was so quick and eager to make the "cold-blooded murder and war crimes'' statement about his younger brothers.

I remember my own blood boiling at the time. From all media reports it looked like this thing really had happened. But if I remember correctly, I think I was still able to say, "IF this is true, these guys need to face the death penalty" or something along those lines. And now,
I'm very happy to hear that the allegations were all false. But why would a former Marine show such animousity and be so quick to judge? You'd think that Murtha would be the first to say, "Let's wait and see what the whole story is... let the investigation run it's course." But no, he immediately proclaimed them all guilty. My only guess would be that Murtha is full of self-hatred, and what we're seeing is Freudian projection. I thank him for his service to our country, both in the Marines and in Congress. But he should probably retire.

Yet ANOTHER snipe at the troops.

Glad that one misfired in their face.

Was this from the 15 year old girl rape and murder, or a different thing?

Walkinghairball wrote:Was this from the 15 year old girl rape and murder, or a different thing?

From the Wiki:

On 19 November 2005, 24 Iraqi noncombatants, including 11 women and children, were reported to have been killed by 12 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. The US military is investigating these claims, and two captains and a lieutenant colonel have been relieved of duty. Some allege the massacre was in retribution for an incident earlier in the day in which US Marine Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas was killed in a roadside bomb attack on Marines from Kilo Company

So that story turns out to not be true? None of it? I mean, the Marines didn't go into the house, kill the family while raping the girl, then kill her? If that is true (that it's not true) then, yeah, Murtha should retire bigtime.

Big Blue Owl wrote:So that story turns out to not be true? None of it? I mean, the Marines didn't go into the house, kill the family while raping the girl, then kill her? If that is true (that it's not true) then, yeah, Murtha should retire bigtime.

I haven't been able to read the details. But we're seeing a series of acquittals in the trials.

ElfDude wrote:

Big Blue Owl wrote:So that story turns out to not be true? None of it? I mean, the Marines didn't go into the house, kill the family while raping the girl, then kill her? If that is true (that it's not true) then, yeah, Murtha should retire bigtime.

I haven't been able to read the details. But we're seeing a series of acquittals in the trials.

**not surprised in the least - but don't think for a second that careers aren't ruined - even if acquitted**

I will wonder if it is still actually, horribly true...even with acquittals.