Cuth, Namm - I too, like the user fee system better than a straight tax. Here, in Oregon, we have a high state tax (9%). To the North in WA they have no state tax, but do have a sales tax. Both states do have good size property taxes also. Having a sales tax to me, from a citizen's point of view, makes more sense bacause if you would like to participate, you can. Go buy stuff. If you don't want to contribute as much, fine, grow more crops, make more stuff, etc. The other point is that sales offers no loopholes. You tax is , for the most part, directly related to you income. If you have m,ore money you're gonna spend more. Therefore it is a more balanced system.

With unions. I think they had a pupose. The industrial revolution was another form of slavery for many people. But now I think that if you are in an industry that is not giving your family enough so that you can have a good life, that is not the fault of the employer, it's your fault. Making $22/hr as a carpenter was not cutting it, so I got out. It didn't make sense to continue doing something that was not a benifit for my family. As for working hard in unions, if you look around the office you're going to see about the same distribution of people who really get things done and people that are just coasting through life.

Cuth - My union exposure is a little different. Both my dad and I were union carpenters and we have a lot of tradesmen in the familia. i'd have to say you didn't see any slacking off on the crews I worked on. It was an eye opener for me. I thought I knew how to work hard but it got taken to a new level. My favorite line from one of my favorite foremen is "The only thing around here we carry ones and twos of is you dick and your balls. Now go grab a stack and get movin'." Classic.

962 - My RG has the real thin wide neack. I just put a Tone Zone and a Fred in it. It's nice to have the humbucker sound in the neck position. I'm thinking of getting a S model. We'll see. It will cost me about $1000, which is what a JS would cost me but the S is a little more versatile. I could also get a floral Jem for $1500 so I'm thinking about that also. Time will tell.

Jazzzzy - I have one of each fretboard, maple and rosewood. The coolest thing about the maple is that it lookes like this after playing on it a while RG 560. People always comment that the giutar has been around a while because of the neck.

The band I'm in is now official. Last night about 1/2 way through rehearsal we had the cops show up!! That is so cool. He said that off the record we sounded pretty good. He had sat outside and listened for a bit. It was only 6:30PM. We've only been practicing at my drummers house for about a year. This was also the first practice of the new year so we had the money from our New Year's gig waiting for us. So what does a music guy get with gig money? Strings and CDs, what else. I'm jammin Vai's Flex-Able right now. Then maybe some Linkin Park, G n R, or some Y & T. I think makes for a good afternoon.

CLimber - I like the site. It didn't take that long at all to load. (broadband) In the Band section there are no names. Not hard to figure who's you at this point, but something to possibly add later. Other than that nice job. You should check out this site. Striktnyne I think you will like them. Plus they are always up for shows. They are fairly popular in the Bay Area.

Chorus:
At the Copa, Copa Cabana
The hottest spot North of Havana
Here at the Copa, Copa Cabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa

They fell in love

Copa, Copa Cabana

His name was Rico, he wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
And when she finished, he called her over
But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew, and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who

{Chorus}
She lost her love

Copa, Copa Cabana
Copa, Copa Cabana
Copa Cabana

Copa, Copa Cabana
Life in Havana
Have a banana
Music and passion, always in fashion

Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl
And that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola
Still in the dress she used to wear, faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she lost her mind

Mikesb - Muskrat Suzie was a tramp. Sam askes her to be his Mrs. and she said yes with her kisses. Lets him tickle her "fancy." If that doesn't say "Trollop" I don't know what does.

Maybe Barry was Humpty from Digital Underground.

"Oh yes, ladies, I'm really bein' sincere
'cause in a 69 my humpty nose will tickle ya rear.
My nose is big, uh-uh I'm not ashamed
Big like a pickle, I'm still gettin' paid"

When I was a little biddy boy
My grandma bought me a cute little toy
Two Silver bells on a string
She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling

My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling
My Ding-A-Ling My Ding-A-Ling won't you play with My Ding-A-Ling

When I was little boy In Grammar school
Always went by the very best rule
But Evertime the bell would ring
You'd catch me playing with my ding-a-ling

Once while climbing the garden wall,
Slipped and fell had a very bad fall
I fell so hard I heard birds sing,
But I held on to My ding-a-ling

Once while swimming cross turtle creek
Man them snappers right at my feet
Sure was hard swimming cross that thing
with both hands holding my dingaling

Big Bunny - Don't take offense at this it is just a question. Why do you seem OK with livestock being used for food but get weird about dogs being used. I'm not a vegatarian by any strech of the imagination and honestly have issues with most vegatarians. I was just curious. Nice factiod about the Capybara. I used to watch a lot of nature shows and I remember these giant S. American guigea pigs. The Anacondas like them too. The big rodent we have up here is the Nutria. It looks like a beaver w/ a rat type tail. UGLY.

Eastcoasters - If it makes you feel any better there is snow in Hawaii also.