Sounds like everyone's doing great!

St. Francis will bless you for the rescue.

I never would've thought of adding Tums to a food mixture. Doves once built a nest on my porch and a neighbor's free range cat wiped out the entire family except for one little hatchling. There were no rescue groups within reach, so I did what I could. Dug worms and put them in a blender, etc. Also fed a little bit of canned cat food. But I never would've thought of Tums.

Yes, I'm sure the little bird was a gift from Buddy.

Baby Thomas, the 1/4 bobcat, used to bring me gifts like big dead wood rats and leave them on the front steps. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't the Mob!) The Chows caught things too and would leave them at the door if they had leftovers. That was all when we lived way out in the boonies, of course.

That's so terrible.

I can understand the despair of people where this sort of tragedy seems all too common, especially among our precious young.

TP and TP : Tea Party and Toilet Paper. They just belong together somehow.

Call it a strong opinion (to which I'm entitled) or 'judging', whichever you please

I'm simply welcoming him to go his own way but declining to predict a rosy outcome. And I seriously doubt he's extending the same, so I don't feel too naughty. Sorry. And at least I'm standing by an open door (not pretending to be a gatekeeper) instead of slamming it shut in his face. Or yours. Or anyone's.

Please explain how my deportment fails to meet your standards.

On second thought, maybe don't. I've heard it all before. This entire thread is, uh... getting threadbare.

Let's see....

You kick me in the shins, it's highly honorable; I kick back, that makes me 'a little overly touchy'? You're not even being the least bit fair here. What's fair for the gander...

Yes, yes, I know... I'm not supposed to respond in kind, according to some people. But I've always thought a good sharp rap across an aggressor's knuckles is actually doing him a service.

And now since you show signs of wearing this subject out, I'm going to do as promised earlier and go on to greener pastures. You've just about dug this one out. Chasing each other around the tree gets boring after awhile.

Well, keep nudging HIM, then

Just don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

I have an idea, or at least strong hope, that when medical science continues to pile proof upon proof of just how much we're hardwired during fetal development, and more people begin to realize this notion of sexual orientation being a choice is ludicrous, then perhaps society in general will begin to expand its acceptance of differences. What, begin? It's already in motion. This matter has a long way to go, true; but it's begun.

That said, especially if you are young, don't be surprised by what you might see even in your lifetime. I've already seen a lot in mine, and I'm far from young. When I'm gone, remember what the old lady said. Be the change you want to see.

And don't remind me how often I fail to take my own (unoriginal) advice meanwhile. Just because the choir veers offkey at times doesn't make the song wrong.

Don't worry; nothing can spoil our fun, neither here nor there

Jesus kept kosher out of respect for the culture into which he was sent to minister. Your logic is flawed. Jesus came to fulfill the law. Kosher is no longer necessary, though it does have much to recommend it healthwise and otherwise to this very day. As for what goes on in heaven, why worry about it since you prefer other climes? When you tire of trying to run on your own your own universe which you didn't make and can't fully understand, feel free to join us. We'll leave the light on.

How is it offensive not to wish a place on someone who'd be unhappy there?

You're welcome to go your own way, pal. Just don't stand in my way. I'll send you a card.

Then good sir, I trust we shall meet and greet on the other side

to continue this conversation so long as it suits us both. I have an idea you'll be good company.

Well, I'm right here, so it's hardly hit-and-run although eventually I might wander off.

I didn't even say you shouldn't criticize ANY heirarchy anywhere. My facetious reaction to what seems to me somewhat overblown criticism (if not downright belliegerence, perhaps) is at least as reasonable as your behavior. Or so it seems to me. Obviously not to you. But you'd might as well expect criticism from someone else when you feel free to offer it yourself.

Put another way, I fail to see where you have room to squawk and then question my right to squawk back. If that's not productive enough for you, too bad. Or can I only be productive by agreeing with you?????????????