Such quotes from history leave me cold. Our population is now 20 plus times as large. We live so close to each other that we need very different rules to survive along side each other. I'm not suggesting that is good - I'm suggesting that laws and rules change to meet new social demands.
Leash laws have not stopped children dying in the Jaws of Dogs. A problem that needs a positive answer. I provided a logical and thoroughly humane answer. You have rejected it. Please therefore provide your alternative answer.

What makes you think unbelievers use the term? It is used by most retailers - most of whom are Christian. It is used because the X in Greek is the letter for Chi and it fits well into a headline for a small ad.

It seems to me that Xmas should be changed to the season for retail and that would solve your problem. I can hear the song now: Tis the season to be buying fa la la!

If your religion of belief is so weak that it cannot withstand an abbreviated word, I do feel sorry for you.

All this nonsense about the war on Xmas is a contrivance of Faux News and you seem to be part of that nonsensical audience.

Okay, I know that for many Christmas is just another holiday and I'd have to admit that for a large percentage of people it is probably just a secular holiday only. And I know there are a lot of Jews and Muslims and atheists that get in the 'spirit of the season'...but, really, folks, can you show a little respect and write 'Christmas' and not 'Xmas'?

To those who do this, do y'all go about saying "Merry Xmas" to people you meet? I doubt it.

I've yet to see an Xmas card in the stores. I've yet to see anyone writing Xnukkah or Xmadan.

And yeah, I've heard the so-called 'historic' reasons why some think it is perfectly acceptable to X out the name of Christ from the holiday. Baloney.

I'm not asking non-believers to believe...just to show some respect to a celebration that is more than just a spend-fest, drink-fest, get-a-day-off-of-work-fest to a whole lot of people in the world.

Rant over.

I wish everyone a very happy Christmas! :thumbup:

Reminds me of the time I left El Paso Texas at noon (mountain time) and had to conduct a pre-bid meeting on the Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg, MS at 8:30 AM Central time the next day. I was tooling the interstate skirting the Mexican Border. I set my cruise control for 125 and was doing that for 45 minutes when I saw red lights ahead. I slowed down and all traffic was being diverted through a large barn-type structure just off the interstate. Border Patrol checkpoint. I finally pulled in and they asked me where I was coming from & where I was going.
I told them I was a roofing consultant and was coming from doing 5 roof inspections in El Paso. I showed them my digital photos on my camera. I told them that I had to conduct a pre-bid meeting in Hattiesburg, MS at 8:30 AM the next day. They were nice and asked if they could look in my trunk. I told them no problem but added that they should look themselves and not have drug dogs sniffing any of the roofing chemicals that were in there. I gave them the MSDS sheets on the chemicals and explained that the dogs would suffer irreparable damage to their noses and may have to be put down. I allowed them to open the cans & they didn't get within 3 feet of them before they began to cough from the toxic fumes. We closed the cans immediately and closed the trunk.
I asked them if they wanted to see my passport as well as my drivers license. They said sure so I gave them my passport, they scanned it and I was all set to go. As I cranked up my car the supervisor came up to me and said, we were wondering what was hauling butt down the road and now we know. He said that it was OK to go 125 in the daytime but the Texas Rangers patrolled at night in the medians so to do the 75 mph speed limit. I told them thanks and was off. The trip was 1056 miles and I did it with 35 minutes to spare. By the way, that was in my 1989 BMW 535i, big 3.5 liter six with a 5-speed. What a beast.

I can beat that one.
Back in 1969, I was driving to my final duty station in Brunswick, GA. It was a warm Sunday afternoon and I was returning from my Father's funeral in Chicago. I had the top down on my 1964 GTO convertible and I was sipping a cold beer that I had just bought. This was legal at the time since I was cold sober. I never listened to good ole shit-kikkin country music but I had the radio tuned to WYNR country radio. Well, my foot got a bit heavy and I was exceeding the 60 mph speed limit a bit too much and soon the not so sweet sound of a police siren got to me. That and the pretty blue bubble-gum machine shining brightly on top of that big Ford Interceptor.
I pulled over like a good Marine and a BIG Georgia State Trooper came up to the car and asked me where the fire was. He had his ticket book in his hand and a pen. He was a Sergeant and I asked him if there was any way I could talk myself out of this ticket. He looked down at me and said "Boy, I've been a Georgia State Trooper for 25 plus years and I've heard pretty much every BS story there is but, If you gan give me a good one, I'll probably let you go.

I started off, "Well Sir, this is no s**t", to which he replied, "they all start off like that". I told him about returning to my duty station and that I was an ATC instructor. I also told him about attending my Father's funeral in Chicago and just getting back from 3+ years overseas in Japan & Vietnam. I explained about the country music and the cold beer I had just opened and taken a sip of. I finally said, " well officer, you know on a warm July day, driving with the top down, sipping a cold beer and listening to some good s**t-kikkin country music, your right foot just gets a little heavier on the gas pedal".

He looked at me, took off his Smokey Bear, wiped out the inside brim sweat band and said, "Damn if you ain't right son". As he walked back to his cruiser he added, slow down a bit son. He was laughing and said wait til I tell the other troopers that a Yankee got the best of me and he waved goodbye.

I slowed down.

Maybe, but I was pretty happy with these shots.
I'll take a few shots later of the bowl after I turn it some more. I filled the big hole with Rosewood last night and hope to have photos later today.

I like Pits and think they for the most part have gotten a bad rap. A lot depends on how they are brought up and yes there are some bad apples, but cats turn on their owners causing serious injuries all the time but are not vilified. My Daughter has a beautiful brindle pit that's a big goofy mush pot.