BalthasarTheRat

@BalthasarTheRat (656)

United States • Age 54

Joined myLot 14 years ago

I don't give a rat's a$$, and I can say that, 'cuz I've got one.

Discussions (49)

BalthasarTheRat's Discussions

How would you announce your return to MyLot?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 26 Apr 12

I'm baaaaack! Who cares, right? Well I posted this question to annonce my return in case some friends wanted to know and really don't see a better way of doing so. I don't think MyLot will appreciate this tactic, but I am...

mylot

return from break

taking a break

9 responses •

2 people

Tea Party: Puppets of the Republican Party?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 26 Aug 11

Patricia Murphy of the Daily Beast (whatever that is) has a story picked up by Yahoo News entitled "Tea Party Rage Dies". Its focus is merely that the Tea Party seems to be less vocal and adamant now that a Republican House is in...

8 responses •

1 person

Rick Perry and the "I don't listen to myself" movement

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 21 Aug 11

Perry is emerging as a legitimate Republican candidate. Many of his ideas are gaining support but not all of them for the right reasons. We need look no farther than his own logic. Supposition number 1: the Federal government...

republican nomination

rick perry

4 responses •

2 people

Politics' strange involvement in University of North Dakota knickname

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 19 Aug 11

The Univ of North Dakota is finally going to change its mascot and knickname away from the Fighting Sioux. This is the epitome of assinine political correctness (I would think the Sioux might be proud to have their name still...

political correctness

politics

state legislation

2 responses

Half Mast on 8/17: Did I miss something?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 19 Aug 11

I was away from my computer 2 days ago and do not usually go out of my way to get new news when I'm "unplugged", so I was surprised to see flags at half mast at and around the Ohio Historical Society (which was my hidout for the...

2 responses

Where is the Rational Party?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 18 Aug 11

We have a two party system in America with small wanna-be parties hovering around like gnats, trying to influence the bigger picture. Among these, most are extremist. The Communists are still lurking somewhere. The Libertarians...

3 responses

Ron Paul and the Republican Party: Why he can't be ignored

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 17 Aug 11

We seem to be heading toward a showdown in the Republican Party between the more moderate elements favoring Bachmann and Perry and a Right side and Tea Party groups favoring Ron Paul. If this plays out as predictably as I think,...

presidential nominations

republicans

ron paul

7 responses •

1 person

2012: Can Obama hold the Lake States and Florida?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 16 Aug 11

In 2008, the major political climate change affecting the electoral votes was in the all-important state of Florida and the tasty morsels of the Midwest Great Lake border states. Specifically, Indiana and Ohio both went Democrat...

republican candidates

4 responses

Keystrokes not all hitting: Do I have a keystroke collecting virus?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 11 Aug 11

Even as I type this, one out of every 12 or so keystrikes are not coming up. It is becoming very annoying, especially since I edit as I go, instead of at the end of a run like some people. It is also affecting my touchpad mouse...

2 responses

Decaffeinated is not the same as caffeine-free and neither are free of caffeine?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 11 Aug 11

This was the news I got from my doctor. I think she may have been exaggerating about the caffeine-free not being free of caffeine, but I guess what she was talking about was the regulated level of caffeine in somethings allows...

caffeine

decaffeinated

food labels

problems with caffeine

regulations

6 responses •

1 person

No incentive for businesses to pull us out of slow economy?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 11 Aug 11

I'm not talking about economic incentives. Let's set that aside for a minute. Here's the basis for my question: With a Democrat in the White House and a Democratically controlled Senate, there is heavy pressure to eliminate big...

religion in government

republicans

unions

7 responses

What do you consider a dead discussion here?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 7 Aug 11

Some categories have so many posts that any one posting is several pages deep after an hour or two. Do you ever look back to previous page discussions? At what point should we consider the discussion too far back to respond...

staying busy on mylot

8 responses •

1 person

You interviewed whom on your talk show?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 6 Aug 11

Watching the news today has been an excercise in frustration. S&P's lowering of America's credit rating is important enough apparently to be on every news dedicated network, but who the heck found these idiots they are talking...

5 responses •

2 people

America the Corporatocracy?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 6 Aug 11

While everyone ponders the Constitutionality of my last question, here's a fun discussion. S&P's credit rating and subsequent "hints" of how to repair it represent a company dictating policy to Congress. Actually it is a simple...

6 responses •

1 person

S&P credit rating reduction: Is it Unconstitutional?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 6 Aug 11

A person well-versed in American Politics will reply that the Constitution really doesn't apply to a private entity decision like this one: but hear me out, please, anyway. When the US Constitution was written, it was designed...

7 responses

Free travel? Do they still have tramp steamers? And where to find real deals?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 5 Aug 11

I used to hear alot about programs that provided free trips for volunteer work, teaching and exchange programs, etc. Now that there is an internet to instantly look up such things I'm learning it is just a bunch of smoke I...

1 response

The Pirate craze. Do people really know what they're supporting?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 5 Aug 11

I am using the recent interest in all things "pirate" to make this point but feel free to comment on any similar situation. I recently went to a music store and saw a huge banner welcoming Pirates. It was a generic banner...

encouraging bad behavior

pirates

1 response

The Book of Mormon: fears, questions and what can I use?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 3 Aug 11

I just started reading The Book of Mormon, not with faith, only as a student of religion. Truthfully, I'm just skimming, but I think I'm doing okay. If you are not familiar with it, what does your limited knowledge lead you to...

jesus in north america

4 responses •

1 person

Volunteering: Ideas to get teenagers involved?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 3 Aug 11

This household has a 14 and a 16 year old and most places do not like non-adult volunteers. Other than church groups, anyone have any good ideas for teenage volunteers? Thanks beforehand, THE Ever-lovin' Rat

3 responses •

1 person

Promises, promises. Are you sick of Congress yet?

BalthasarTheRat @BalthasarTheRat (656) • United States 3 Aug 11

The debt battle is over for now, but the work is still ahead, most of the true tough decision were set aside to be fought later. A recent Gallup poll showed a 18% disatisfaction with the US Congress. That seems a bit high...

4 responses •

1 person