>>>>>>>>>>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/ap_on_re_us/death_penalty_deterrence
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I read that this evening. It's interesting, but to me, it's not really relevant. I look upon the death penalty as the best means of upholding justice.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I look upon the death penalty as possibly the most barbaric act that a supposedly civilised society can perform.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Just out of curiosity, what do you think of abortion, particularly partial birth type?
>>>>>>>>I don't want to argue, I'm just curious..... :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I'm of two minds about abortion. I don't believe in the idea that a one celled creature inside a womb is a viable human being. There comes a point at which abortion may be tantamount to murder, but I disagree with those who feel that the time is from conception. Unfortunately, I'm not versed well enough in human biology to make that determination. So, for the time being, I believe it should be up to the keeper of the womb, with reasonable advice to make that choice. I won't condemn it. As I understand it too, the term 'partial birth abortion' is a phrase made up by the pro-life people, as a more emotionally evocative way of saying 'late term abortion'?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Bottom line, I'm not anti-abortion.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I don't know of any clinical abortion that is perform at conception (unless you consider the M.A.P. pill). It's usually done well past the first month. Do you know what a fetus looks like after the first month. It certainly is'nt a single cell "creature" anymore. Your definition of "late term" abortion is just half the story.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I started to reply and then decided, no, I'm not getting involved in an abortion thread. Sopranos threads are bad enough <g>.
>>>>
>>>>I hear that fandom is in an uproar over the ending. People are threatening to boycott the network because of it. These people seriously need to get lives. Maybe they can dress up as Soprano characters and start a joint lobby with the Trekkies.
>>>
>>>
>>>There are some dissatisfied fans. As someone who used to participate in the Sopranos chat board on hbo.com after every new episode, I can tell you there always have been. If nobody got whacked or there weren't enough breasts shown, they were up on stumps beating their chests about the show not being what it used to be. When I first started going there the site was an unbelievably good discussion group, full of sharp observations and analysis. There were several practicing psychologists/psychiatrists and even a New Jersey judge who posted as Johnny the Gavel. Inevitably, the lunkheads drove away the people who had something to say. The cyberspace version of Gresham's Law (bad money drives out good).
>>
>>Maybe it's just me, but somehow, the idea of sitting around analysing the lives and foibles of fictional TV characters doesn't do much for me. I suppose it brings back too many horrible memories of how the perpetrators of our school systems did their best to destroy literature for me (they didn't succeed thankfully).
>>
>>I get a bit taken aback though by how seriously people seem to take their favourite TV shows. I watch the odd TV show too, but I can't ever recall treating it as though it's more real than my own life. I'm forced too often to listen to people on the commuter train discussing their favourite shows, and honestly, sometimes I'd just like to whap them upside the head.
>
>
>This was not just another TV show, hence the impassioned reaction. I don't sit around watching TV, either -- most of what little I watch is ballgames and movies -- but "The Sopranos" was something special. It's worth getting passionate about.
>
>Since you're such a good guy (not being flippant or sarcastic) I've got a deal for you. I will mail you the first season on DVD. I predict they will be enough to hook you. Deal? All you have to lose is the return postage.
>
>PS -- I now follow the Brewers box scores on a daily basis. The kid continues to hit. He got three more hits in Texas in their last game and is still batting over .300, with four homers in just over two weeks in the majors. This feels like being present at the debuts of Mantle, Clemente, Clemens. Sometimes -- most of the time, I suppose -- they crash and burn, but the thrill of anticipation never goes away. Hit, kid, hit.
>
>Let me know about the first season. I think you'll like it.

I don't mean to sound unappreciative because this is a very nice gesture, but if you sent them to me it would be wasted money.

I watched a couple of the original episodes of the series way back when, but it did nothing for me. Overall, I guess it came across to me as another evening soap opera. There are and have been lots of them on the tube these days and in the past, and I haven't been able to work up any interest in any of them either.

There are a couple of shows that I do like, but even in those cases, if I miss episodes, it simply doesn't matter to me.

Again, I appreciate the gesture, but I just don't have the interest to watch them. If I actually did watch the entire first season, it would probably take me 5 or 6 years to do it.

I bought the first season of Monk on DVD a couple of years ago - it's on a station I don't get, but my mother raved about it. Turns out I think it's a great show. Even there though, I still haven't finished watching that first season. Much as I like it, it's still just TV, and there are other things to do.