Good to hear from you Sheriff.

I completely agree with you concerning the conduct on the blogs and would also like to see it policed a bit. I also believe that grown ups should be able to "police" their own behavior so that they don't have to be constantly reminded.

I for one (and I know many agree with me) am grateful that you and your family have set up this blog and allowed the freedom of speech that you do. However, this is your "house" and I would remind people to take off their shoes before entering...in other words: speak softly and remember that we are guests; welcome to cruise these cyber carpets with our bare tootsies, but not welcome to run around the place with dog crap on our shoes.

Peace,
Scott.

Dear Gotham,

I don't read everything posted on Intentblog, but I do read some of it. What I see is people being people. And people do like to interact on a personal level, share their views and also voice their anxieties. In a way, that's what you are doing right now- sharing with us what you feel.

As I see it, Intentblog is not at all just a place to share ideas. If you look closely, you will see that it is a place of growth and healing- not only intellectual, but also emotional and spiritual. And a healing process doesn't need to look pretty, most of the times it's actually messy...

With your motto, I don't think it would be hard for you to keep a light heart about it.

Dear Gotham,
Good points. I welcome your outlook.
Like Scott, I appreciate IntentBlog and all the people here.

I have traveled a lot, not to war sites though and to my knowledge I have never met with assassins and similarly dangerous people. You may have more experience of the world in this sense. I have always been able to speak freely and respectfully because of the way I grew up and the poeple I met. I have been very lucky...I know.

I have a decent sense of humor and I have laughed about some poems about me on this site. I told the author that those poems were funny. I am not offended by people's choice of words (including explicit ones) if they are not used to insult anyone. This last point is about the basic rules of coexistence and dialogue.

Keep up the good work.
Love,
Donatella

Great post Gotham!

I have, and probably will again, 'bring my personal problems here,' and all I can say is that, well, actually, whether I was feeling sorry for myself, searching out myself in a blog, or just trying to make intentblog my own personal AA meeting, I don't know . . .

I have certainly said some things I should not have, and I know I have revelaed things about myself here in this cyber world that made me say to myself, 'ah shoot, whoops!'; but I did, and I probably will again . . .

Not out of disrespect for anybody here, but, well, honestly I have nothing to hide anymore. Being so honest about oneself can certainly leave one open for unabashed assaults from virtually, literally, anybody, but should one expect any less than that since they have revealed themselves thusly?

I have gotten atop my soapbox and cried, "O, woe is me . . .," and some people said 'get a grip,' others expressed sincere compassion, and even others offered their ridicule; and I have learned, and I have grown.

Alas, we can all pontificate, talk about sports, or even talk about the finer aspects of ugly words, as we can all also talk about the injustice in the world, our children, or what it means to be passively detached; yet we all bring our individual baggage, even your father does, as great of a man as he is,

and perhaps even we can bring a good poem out too that awesomely empowers all of us here as Arsenio Rodriguez so vividly exemplifies!

I am not really going anywhere with this, other than to thank our intentblog family, and the Chopras' personally, for having gracefully endured my less than finer moments. Truthfully though, I believe this very website has transformed a forlorn misanthrope into a forgiving philanthropist: REALLY!

Many may think that I am a wretched cur for doing cybernetically what I cannot seem to do physically at a local church; ah . . .

but perhaps this is but a glorious example of the mightily mysterious ways of the Lord.

Anyway . . .

I know you and Mallika are 'between a rock and a hard place' in trying to keep intentblog a free-flowing format, and I do not envy your position.

Keep up the great work, hopefully one day our collective greater intent shall prevail, but . . .

you 'guys' are doing great!

Thanks Gotham, and if you do actually read this, please, do tell your father that Craig Jones has for him much respect and much love, really! His words have sunk deep into my heart, psyche, and soul.

Thank you.

Peace

Bravo Gotham, well said! Perhaps you are more spiritual than you think. To me, to be spiritual is to go towards the light, to become enlightened, to lighten up. At the same time, be sensitive to others feelings, culture, etc. And there will be times when people will be offended by someone's remarks. It is inevitable in a public forum. Even though we may not intend to offend anyone, sometimes it just happens. When that happens, it is a good time to ask ourselves why we are offended. It is a good time to go within and see what we can learn about ourselves. I often find it enlightening. I hope that doesn't put me in the "righteous group"!! :)
M:)

Dear Craig,
What a beautiful post.
Much love,
Donatella

Hi Gotham,

Can you please be more specific about what you mean by not wanting people to "voice their own anxieties?" The reason I ask is that, although I think it's appropriate to set limits and expect a certain standard of behavior, I don't think you can separate honest, meaningful discussion from feelings, including personal anxieties and fears.

Love, Kristin

Oh, and I also wanted to say that I'm all for lightening up. My take on it is that - frankly, we're all a bit crazy in one way or another. Why else would we spend our time posting here! We've all got our share of personal issues. Welcome to life. But the thing is - let's all be clear that our personal problems are just that: OUR personal problems. My problems aren't anyone else's fault. If we can all try and remember that, we'll save ourselves a lot of bickering, anxiety and the headaches that come from pointing fingers.

Have you seen the movie "Little Miss Sunshine"? It's fucking (adj for you gotham) funny!

Love, Kristin

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree,
Sheriff, ;)
Even in a virtual county..;),
Thx for the laws, and application, from that family of yours though, I don't take the non-virtual ones, or myself for that matter, too serious myself too, I've seen way to much poverty, of all different kinds, in this incarnation for that,

I'm out for happy hour, (I need a princess ;),

Laterz,
love, Passion!

Cheers to "not taking things too seriously"

Hi Gotham,
I haven't been here too often lately, however, your good intentions rings through clearly.
Hope we all strive towards your suggestions.

Cinda:)

Aye Aye Sir.. I will keep that in mind :).

Gotham: Like some of your dad's more recent posts, I really love this one, their from the "you that is You:" I love to imagine what it looked like, and felt like, to be GC in places, and the people that you've traveled to as a journalist, or just a person, as shown in that one early photo you posted at the back of that truck--with some boys in uniform, and Kali......oh "%$@! it," you know, the Russian AK-47's---where you weren't Gotham Chopra-in-America,--but a guy who's nevertheless attracted the distinct attention of those who surround you--and in "their home."

It is because you are GC that you can even go into the presence of some of the company you've kept; with both Kings and Paupers, the rabel, the criminals, the illicit and moral (I noticed, in other words, you've been hanging out with some of my relatives, and their friends!), well.....it's because of you nature, and not your name (although that usually doesn't hurt, when in a jam!), that you can even be with those in a seemingly perpetual state of struggle, or outright war--like it's been in the terrain-of-my-mind, for more years than not.

I very much like your "battleground paragraph"--and, for all the emotional graves I've put here too, and all the running of red-lights I've added, and with excessive "confessional loitering" (as evidenced by a glove-box full of psychic traffic violations in this arena), it makes me think of the things I could have said right, or better, without needing to be right....., rather than apoloigize again-and-again......

I'll just say Thank You--for everything to date, with "this place" that is ever-still: "Too Cool for School!"

I'm now mid-way into the third of a fast that will go.......and that contentious emotional reactiveness is already starting to lose it's grip--it feels really good already, but this one is easy; this fast is coming on slow and steady, like the summer giving way to the fall, and in an easy and gentle way.

There are soooo....many things I would say about what this Home in cyber-space gives me; It's a living energy.

All of us go through many many days where we don't even want to get up just to support the day with endless busi-ness: but most do, anyway.

No matter what these days bring for me, and what I may bring to them, for good or for ill, fasting or not; getting on the Intentblog to see what you guys are talking about, is enough; even if I get nothing else accomplished--I did not waste the day!

Sir Gotham, and the dearest-of-women, Lady Mallika, and the rest of you treasures; including, if not especially, for those who teach me to look where I don't want to, at the lense of my own my own minds aberrated prejudices--because they show me what I don't want to be like to this world; as much as the Chopras, and you guys show me what I do want to be like--"I indeed bid you a good good day!"--as the "Spirit Guide" of a once world-reknowned spiritualist medium used to say, One who was/is a friend of mine.

I've never figured out how to be of direct assistance to the Intentblog, but one thing's for sure; I don't ever want to be a part of hurting It's life-force. Dave

....and, while I'm up and moving about, Gotham, this one usually stops people in their tracks regarding how it is you got to be involuntarily dubbed a real "Son-of-a-Guru: Are you a human being having a spiritual experience, or a spiritual being having a human experience?"

Leave "them" with that one to chew on, whether "they" really want to know or not, and it lessens the separating of the pedestal effect.

The superior effort you and your Intentblog partners have enacterd in order to hold a truly clean line with regard to "Freedom of Speech," also carries with it the obligation-of-responsibility that is the razor's edge of the double-edged Sword of Truth, Justice, and Power: Excalibur (maybe the measure, or power, of exacting a calibur-of-distance regarding what we "Ex"-clude from our selves might be considered?).....

.....but with the freedoms-of-speech that are one wing of the twin responsibilities of this Great Eagle comes the other wing, "Freedom of Press;" ideally ever-vigilantly applied to work in harmony with protecting it's twin, and vice-versa.

When one is weakened, it puts the burden on the other wing to sustain harmony and balance; and we have placed this excess burden on the Intentblog administrators, requiring them to continue to pour more time, money, and human drain into what was Intended to be a forum of grand expression--"free of charge."

When the balance is achieved, then the Dove-of-Harmony, and the peace-that-passeth-understanding, that bird then takes over; an even more powerful bird than the mightly eagle: the contents held in the two sets of claws, as seen on US currency, then alchemizes to produce the "One" fruit--the power of E Pluribus Unum: Many from One; and One for the Many. Bon Jour--Mon Amies (not, "my armies!) Dave

When you don't take things seriously, does that mean you are affraid of somethings and you dont want to think about it or you are scared with everyday problems...

Dear Gotham,

Great post. Incidentally (after your blog yesterday), I was talking to my friend and he said, after listening to that audio purportedly from Osho, "that's not the image I had of Osho". That set off a long discussion over spirituality.

To me to be spiritual means to be connected to humanity and the universe. But being spiritual and being "right" (or moral) are not the same. Morality is a human invention and spirituality is certainly not a human invention. I suppose those who are offended by your transgressions (coke, f-word, steak etc) are confused between spirituality and morality. Once that confusion is gone so is the righteousness.

Regards,

Ravi Kulkarni

Dear Gotham,

First, let me thank you and Mallika, for providing this wonderful forum. It is a real privilege to be able to read posts from contributors like your Father, and see first hand how he explores issues, and spiritual ideas, which later may become part of one of his books. To be able to comment on these thoughts and ideas, and know that he might even read it, is an even greater privilege that I very much respect.
I spent many years writing on the early blogs of CNN debating the Iraq war, and trying to get the sanctions lifted. When you feel something passionately, it is sometimes easy to be carried away and take offence at a counter opinion. I had to learn to debate issues and not people. I wasn’t always successful, but I learned a lot during those years and have tried my best here, not to attack anyone personally. If there is anyone who might take issue with me on this, I apologize.
Relative to personal problems, I have shared some of mine here, and received some very helpful support from other posters, and even commentors. I have also been happy to give support to those who I heard requesting it. I think it may be nearly impossible in a free and open forum like this, to never to reveal a problematic side of yourself. Perhaps a better admonition would be “Moderation in all things” wallowing in your personal problems and making them a constant part of your posts should be stopped, but to “Never” talk about them, I think may be too strict, but that is just my opinion.

Lastly, I would really like to thank ALL of the posters here on this blog. Your diverse comments have sometimes been even more inspiring to me than the underlying topic being commented on. Without you this place would be no more than a good book store.

Love and Kind Regards,
Stan

For a moment you got me confused there GC with your definition of spiritual, I wondered if you're talking about religious types and confusing the two with each other, but sigh, you clarified.

It is futile to expect "something" when you deal with many people. I would repeat what I earlier suggested. You make and arrange spaces for people to be free or restricted based upon your idea of how you wish others to treat you in your own house. If you let others decide how you should live, then you're looking at unnecessary chaos. I agree with Aurora that chaos is necessary, but not the excess and unnecessary portion of it.

I would let the blogger decide if he/she wishes to keep his house's door open or not, ie, moderate/filter comments before releasing or let it come through as is. If a brave one can take the disagreements with objectivity, then all is good, but if someone cannot, then that person ought to be not hosting anything in his house in open. Some people strike negative vibes collectively in some people so it is unwise of you to expect something differently.

You guard the colony and let the households mind their own houses.

Ravi, I agree with you on your definition of spiritual. I think this terminology has been taking a beating lately and it is imparative we keep a very good distinction in our minds. I would like to think that there is no way to define a spiritual person, however, above is very close to the human comprehension.

I think conflict online is okay. Saying things doesn't make them true or not true, but it does make it easier to clear up misunderstandings, recognize mistakes, get feedback from other people and rethink whether we really think what we just said.

I'm on a list serve for a positive thinking type of group and every so often it erupts into a flamewar. It's funny, but it's okay. As long as we're not killing each other and as long as we keep showing up and keep trying, I think it's okay.

Very good intention, gotham! And it is sometimes really shocking the way people react here which tells us that thers in too much negativity & that too in a blog which is for completely differet purpose. Really sad!

I'll again mention : www.activemeditation.com instead of throwing the garbage here. Just occured a good idea in my mind....to organize group meditations in delhi. ; - )

Gotham,

I take it this means you didn't take me seriously

yesterday...good! A few phrases I know from down yonder

were left out and they asked me to display them.

By 'they' I mean the phrases one would hear in a factory.

Btw, girls cuss quite as well as the guys and at least as often.

.

I saw my mother in a dream last night and this morning,

upon waking, I had the distinct taste of soap in my mouth.

So my breath is now pure and my spirituality cleansed.

God bless you and the horse you rode in on!

See?

nice post, Gotham..can relate to ur perspective on spirituality..spirituality is not a set of activities pre-defined behaviour ideals; to me, it is just about being and of awareness..words tend to develop their own associations and mean different things to different people in accordance with their perception filters..to me, spirituality is beyond these realms of judgement and perceptions..

Good points. Thanks. Thought it's sad that sooner or later we had to get here...limiting, defining, policing. I don't know if there could ever be another way. I just wish societies online and off didn't have to get to that point.

And thank Aurora, too. I second that comment.

Did any one die here Gc ?

This blog has been good...lots of good people with good mind talk.

Can i TrUsT mODERn Medicine ?

It's nice to know that you are normal GC, please stay that way, it's refreshing.

Personally I had the most fun duking it out with my fellow posters, it was jolly good fun, now, well the site has morphed into something more serious and I just don't seem inclined to comment like before. I wonder if others feel the same way?

I may be wrong, anyway GC, enjoy the football season, good advice from your dad, don't take things too seriously, laugh and love and good luck with the Virgin thing.

Cheers,

Amba

I'll go with Aurora, Stan and JRH on this one.

So David, now you're looking where you didn't want to, and you're looking into the aberrated prejudice. May you be an Inspiration to others too on this. It's Good David.

Nazo andaz se kehte hain ke marna hoga.
Zeher Bhi dete hain aur kehte hain ke peena hoga.
Marta hoon to kehte hain ke jeete kyon nahi
Aur Jeeta hoon to kehte hain ke marta bhi nahin!

(Delicately she whispers that she would like me dead.
Serving me the poison she insists I drink it.
When I die she complains that I aint alive anymore.
And if I do survive she sighs that I couldn't die despite!)

GC: Those who dont take themselves seriously at all will rather leave a blank page...

Everyone who utters a word takes himself/herself seriously.

Some more. Some less. Depends on a Topic, mood, situation and time of the month.

I have seen everyone here from those I have verbally dueled with and those I have but praised - wane and wax in their seriousness with which they view themselves.

So.. maybe you are taking this situation a little more seriously than it should be taken.

... even this will pass...

cheers,
-d.
drishtikone.com

We havent forgotten Mr. President:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20060912/cm_thenation/15120539

Awesome speech.

-d.

And let me also clarify that I consider Keith, Stan, Kate, Donatella (I think she's not D. Sonnenberg), David, Craig, Geeta as my good friends if they were ever led to believe otherwise. And this is the last time I'll be speaking on this subject. I've had enough.

There has been an imposter on the loose on IB for sometime who's been trying to sabotage this beautiful website. I am sure s/he will be caught soon.

Cheers!
Navin

Dear Whiteink,
You seem to be a friend and thank you for your concern. But there is no need for an apology from anyone. Let's just forget this subject and move on.

Let us all be thankful to the Chopras & Shekhar for providing this wonderful platform and let us not forget that we are all guests here.

Cheers!
Navin

Abusive and Ad hominem attacks against an individual should not be allowed in this space. I suggest the administration to ban such people permanently from posting anything. They cannot be trusted even if they publicly confess that they wouldn’t touch the subject again. This may be an attempt to save their face and portray a facade to behave well. These people may secretly use aliases to attack other beautiful people in this pristine resort. It is sad to see this going on (at least two known long term members are involved) even after the intervention of Mallika and Gotham who made a praiseworthy attempt to bring some order to the disorder and chaos that enveloped this gloomy land.

Sincerely,

AJ

Adrian, those are not the real guys, it's the spoofer-hacker -- I know both those guys' voices well, neither would write like that, tho there are superficial similarities -- notice Nirav is killing those comments a few minutes after they hit. You, too, may be a spoofed comment, but in case not, I thought I'd tell you the real story.

I agree with Desh, I think you are taking yourself too seriously. This is a virtual medium. A blog, in a public space. Some people find it cathartic to participate here, some use it for personal reasons to promote themselves or their ambitions. The point is, does it really matter what their motivation is? I have never really understood what this blog was set out to achieve. There are articles which I choose to comment on, as per my interest-and others I don't, as do many other commentators. Contributors have posted articles ranging for the inane to intellectually stimulating. However, what is it that intent wants to do? Does it want to stimulate discussion, or provide room for discussion? Or specifically fouc on spirtual discourse? Many people who comment here also comment on other blogs (I presume)-there are other more tailored bogs out there for people too contribute on. However, what I have always like about this blog-is the very fact that you can get personal and actually feel part of a so called community. I'm not sure that this policing is creating the right environment of freedom of expression, or making people feel comofortable in writing what they want. Granted, abusive language and personal attacks are a no no-however, it depends on who's doing the attacking and who's responding-it can be quite entertaining sometimes actually (sorry if that's perverse), particularly when the topics become very turgid, or there are 50 poems on OT. now, that's me trying not to be too serious....:-)

P.s I have missed what has been going on of late-so my comment may be completely out of context. So, apologies if so.

K

You eat steak?!!!

(Fainting, falling down).....

Boss....how...could...you....?

(Voice Over): A-1. It's THAT important!

Especially steak with sauce béarnaise, yummy. May as well go the whole hog ...:-)

Hi Gotham,

I think it’s great that you strive to ‘not to take yourself too seriously’ and I admire all the other people that are great at writing very creatively and are not taking themselves seriously here. It’s great fun.

But I also think, which is also something you discussed the other day in your post entitled “Bad Snuff”, that with freedom of speech there also comes the issue of bad taste. You wrote that you thought that the movie ‘Death of a President’ is “a cheap attention grabbing trick”.

In the same way, I think that using bad language is a cheap attention grabbing trick. Bad language elicits strong reactions in people which is why some people like to use bad language. But don’t you think that it’s kind of crude and low? I think it’s too easy to use bad language to get attention and entertain people with what you have to say. I would much rather read something which is a bit more intelligently and creatively written.

You can clearly write very creatively and intelligently - I really enjoyed reading one of your posts the other day which contained some words that I don’t hear everyday, it was stimulating and intelligently written. When you use bad language - it puts me off - that’s all I’ve been trying to explain. But if you want to keep using bad language go ahead - you have every right to do so. All I’m saying is that if you keep using bad language I may not feel like reading your posts anymore and maybe other people feel the same way. I don’t see your father using bad language, so I guess he thinks that it’s inappropriate.

So personally, if I would be in charge of this website I would advise people that bad language is not tolerated because we want to keep certain standards and see people express themselves creatively but not in a “cheap” way. But this is just my suggestion. Even though there may be other people that feel the same way I do, it’s obviously for you, Mallika and everyone else that manages this site to decide.

Anyway, thanks for Intent. I try to have a look at this blog everyday and I really enjoy reading it most of the time. So please, keep up the good work!

Peace,

Keith,

You tasted soap b/c you were dreaming about your mother: (un)holy Freud man . . .(humor people humor).

Amba,

Frampton once sang, 'do you feel like I do . . ."; and yes, I do share your same reservations, and what we need are some of our good old intellectual imbroglios.

Desh,

How true, how true.

Navin,

As I likewise consider you a friend also (pretty kewl huh for never having meant face to face; ah, the wonders of the age of the internet)!

peace all

अग्नि

Gotham

you are, like me, a person with much SPIRIT! By the way...I am a bail agent...so its always nice to be friends with the sheriff.

nuf fun!

I wanted to say something about this so called imposter thing.

There was a claim that a post were made by an imposter I checked the type key account on both and they were the same account which led me to believe they were really the same person.

I did not say anything at the time, I don't even remember who it was but it was a male poster.

There is no way to pose as another using typekey.

The fact is in order for an imposter to really pose as another they would need to have the password to the other persons account which is impossible unles you gave the imposter your password.

The Display name or title can be the same as another person but if you click the little person icon with the callout next to it the name it will show the actual account name and these cannot be the same.

In the case I checked it was the same account login name which means it was not imposter.

I would not normally involve myself with it, but I think that it needed to be pointed out, I hope there was not a great injustice done here.

Note that you must look at the URL link in the address bar to see the actual account name when it opens the type key profile.

To recognise beauty we must know ugliness.
We can appreciate goodness when we have seen what being bad brings.
Being emerges from non-being.
Without darkness there would be nothing to be illuminated.
What is behind me compliments what is before me.
That which is high can only be defined by what is low.
The work of the sage is defined by the ignorance before him. He does not disown the fool, but guides him.
So the sage knows to let things be. He achieves his purpose without reward or recognition and moves on.

Think on that as you chew some cow.

Very candid and nicely written. This is a pleasent contrast to some political families in India who seem to think that it is their legacy or business to run the whole country or some states. A son can carry on his father's legacy only if he has the requisite talent and passion for the issue which is very often not the case because individuals are different.

It would not be out of place to mention here that the reputation of some of the spiritual leaders suffered becasue their followers tried to perpetuate their legacy in their name when they were themsleves against it.

Gotham: count me in; I could certainly use some 'lightening up', and I think "don't take yourself too seriously" is actually quite profound. As you pointed out, this planet would look rather different if presidents and terrorists would do that.

As for policing this site, I'm of the same mind as Aurora, Kristin, et al - people are people and will bring a certain amount of baggage along. It's probably good for all of us to be tested on our level of tolerance regularly.

And last but not least, I thank you and Mallika from the bottom of my heart for this incredible website. Nowhere else in the world is there such a beautiful exchange of ideas and feelings. I have learnt a lot personally; in fact, your refreshing candor in this post acted as a mirror to show me that I have judged you in the past for those very things (steaks, the f-word, etc). And all the new material coming through ATCA has been terrific, so thanks for continuing to make it better.

Gotham,

Not aware of all the facts I find myself in two minds whether to comment or not. I agree with David when he says this is your house and its yours to decide what is against the spirit of this site. To that I would like to add a rider - if this site has any signifigance or is considered worthwhile, credit must also be given to the countless others who have added to its worth by their debate, views and discussions on various topics, generally with dignity and respect.

Dissent is not what is being stifled by applying discipline when things get ugly. In fact it is just not the responsibility of those who own this site but also of all of us to keep things going smoothly. Personally I find it helps to just take a break and cool off, works for me but I guess that depends on one's personality, others may prefer to handle it in their own ways.

In my opinion it is impossible for a friction free discussion sometimes and that is acceptable too, upto a point where it does not degenerate into utter chaos, boorishness and personal mud-slinging. To take stern action then is justified and will have my support as long as the same yardstick is applied uniformly and impartially. Wish you luck, patience and wisdom.

May Longlive Dara!! What a post!

Okay everyone, one thing about the ego is that it can be used to lead someone into a trap. Say the imposter for example,

...and now One knows who it was and who it was not based on dialog, timing and IP activity.

We just put a little Honey in the Pot

A honey pot as they are known.

The idea is to lure hackers into the decoy, like flies to a honey pot, to gain as much information about their hacking techniques and identity as possible. ...

Which is why ego should not be allowed to hold the reigns..

So good advice to follow with your type key accounts and any others.

Use a strong password containing letters numbers and special characters. Avoid dictionary words. Use first letters of a phrase like Jack and Jill Went up The Hill so it would be JAJWUTH. This makes it hard for automated password crackers.

It is actually more secure to write your complex password down on a piece of paper and keep it in your desk then it is to use a weak password you can remember and not write down.

Also with security questions do not use real values that can be obtained for use in social engineering, which is calling to ask for your password. For example your birthplace is quite often easy to find out.

Keep your virus program up to date, your operating system security patches up to date, and be sure to use at least two spyware programs.

1. www.safer-networking.org/ Spybot Search and Destroy is one of the best.
2. Microsoft’s Defender is okay but doesn't seem to be that effective.

This will help keep key loggers etc. off you computer and from it grinding to a halt from a bunch of illegitimate programs.

Don't go to porn sites or sites that look like a gimmick, offer free stuff or the intention is not clear. These sites will also take advantage of ego to get you to give up information.

Hello again, Gotham,
I'm still wondering if you can be more specific regarding not wanting personal anxieties voiced on the blog. I not sure what you mean by that and I'd like to respect your wishes.

I know what you mean by not wanting to see personal attacks and I'm with you all the way there. I'm not sure that we're always "better than that" but we certainly know when the line has been crossed and I think it's important to have and to honor those boundaries.

Love, Kristin

"Whose line is it anyway?" is a very popular line!!!! In a free democratic world(at least that is what we portray ourselves as) who draws the line? A's line could be two inches above than b's. C's could be one below b. Many lines.

Dear SI,
Yes, there are many lines, but where can you go where there are not some limits? Those in charge of the blog have a responsibility to set the limits. Hopefully, with respect, appreciation, flexibility, and mindful of the value of diverse viewpoints - yet also a sense clarity regarding those lines.

Love, Kristin

Kristin: Haven't you heard this n number of times on th blog? Set the limits set the rules. Fine!!
Like Dara said, it has to be uniform and impartial. You cannot have one soft rules for your cronies and the rough ones for the opposition, that's not democracy. You cannot fluctuate. If you set out on deleting, you've to let the respectful bloggers know the rules of the game before deleting their posts.

Now, can you be kind enough to let me go.

Thx!

Hi SI,
I didn't know I was keeping you and you're certainly free to go. Enjoy your day!

Love, Kristin