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1. Not every Republican is an Inhofe on the issue. Besides, our Congress is filled with certified big mouths - remember it was Boxer who went all "I got this black group that contradicts what you as a black man say" on Henry Alford at the EPW hearing.
Guys, let's be perfectly honest here, there isn't one single thing they could have put forward that the Democrats would have accepted, outside of a letter-for-letter approval of the Democrat-authored bill. There is no need for debate, or bipartisan shaping of the bill, or for including the opposition. I'm okay with that, you won the elections and have a big enough majority to not have to compromise. What I can't abide is whining about the reaction from the opposition. That takes a hell of a lot of cheek.
David, your characterization of the nature of the Democrats can't be more flawed, it really can't. How about the House rushing a bill through before anyone could read it? How about Waxman dropping a 300 page amendment in the dead of night? How about Democrats turning off lights and locking people out of rooms? How about Democrats more or less telling 50% of America FUCK YOUR REPRESENTATION? That's just a taste, I've got a dossier on them a mile long.
Too many lefties don't think the Republicans offer anything concerning Energy because A) They don't bother to look into it, and B) They don't particularly care to know, they just want to bitch that the opposition isn't bending over and begging to be fisted.
I'm not going to say that Republicans aren't partisan. They are. I won't defend that. That's the nature of our politicians. They chiefly want to consolidate power. But to say the Democrats have been non-partisan, and fair?!? They are partisan to a fault. And fair to who? They haven't even been fair to you and me with their bullshit, particularly in the House. The problem is that people think that by default their partisan position is the only one that could be non-partisan. I can't talk someone out of that, I only can say it needs to be re-thought.
And...again...who cares if not one single Republican votes on things? I don't. You can do what you want with nobody else's approval.
2. Hmmm, I thought (e:dcoffee) was suggesting that "one of the things I hate about politics is when people put loyalty to their political party over loyalty to the country and its citizens." I agree with that.
3. I have been in my house about 3 years as well. I have had projects take less time and when I was done I thought the same exact thing. Are those water filters under there? Do they work well?
4. (e:Bridgette), thanks for sharing your experience here. I agree that the problem is far more complex than what is suggested by the "activist" tone of my post.
For instance, your discomfort with what the abortion clinic staff told you over phone is a result of insensitive and untrained communication. I would say that this is true of many medical establishments - not just abortion clinics.
In the past, I have frequently been on ward rounds where consultants and residents have had "intellectual" discussions about complications and survival chances right in the front of the patient - whose life they discussed in a detached way.
Examples such as the one you wrote about and this one are a symptom of a loss of empathy in the medical field. Quite unfortunately, this "insentization" process is almost inevitable - and to insiders in the field, it is actually a sign of just how much experience they have doing what they do. But for patients it is terrifying and disturbing or both.
The lady from the pro-life camp had what the abortion clinic staff didn't have - determination to win you over. The abortion clinic staff were probably just doing their jobs and didn't view this as some kind of a personal mission.
A parallel establishment that does better at counseling and privacy issues is the HIV clinic. The disease has so much (totally unnecessary, in my opinion) social stigma attached to it that many patients who contact the clinic are invited over for personal counselling.
One other issue that I wanted to address after reading your comment is that of dragging a whole body of religion into this. Personally, I don't associate the concept of Christianity with lunacy and backwardness. I think every religion has a bunch of nut-job extremists who misinterpret their "religion" to the extent of generating hate towards the entire religion. In this sense, "Mother" The evil crone Teresa and Osama Bin Laden are on the same dinky little raft.
5. We just went camping with an Olympus Tough 6000, and it really is that durable. We dropped it in mud and hosed it off while it was . A couple months ago, somebody else dropped the same camera over a waterfall in Jamaica & they had to hire a diver to get it.
6. Clinton was a disappointment as a president, no doubt. could've done so much more if he had only kept his dick in his pants. seriously, he'd have free reign of any low class pussy he wanted all over the world if he had just waited 8 years til he was done doing the "country's business".
that being said, I think he has perfectly found his nitch. it's said about him that his presence and charm do not go unnoticed by any, nor is it ineffective on many. constraints of office and public opinion are enough to make anyone look like a jack ass. So diplomacy, here he comes! let 'im, he's evidently good at it. star power does have its perks.
from my understanding, the N Koreans requested bill clinton personally after rejecting several other suggestions. everyone loves a little hollywood and glam, including communists.
and are you really surprised the WH denied involvement? after all, we're not supposed to negotiate with terrorists. (which I find interesting in itself...didn't we just negotiate?). Evidently the exchange would not have occurred if not for an apology to North Korea. Whatever...
this country is responsible for its citizens, (as well as its citizens for their country) and if my child (or spouse, or daughter, or friend) was being held by anyone, and all it took was an damn apology, i'd give it, regardless of if I meant it.
And agreed with James, what about those americans in Iran?...well, now, their sisters aren't journalists, are they? sad but true.
you want to wear the uniform, you gotta play the game.
oh, and re: hillary, of course anyone is more likable once they cease to be a politician...inherently, cause they're not a poly-trickster anymore.
9. I'm rebutting but I had to ask this first. Here's a question - nobody seems to know Sotomayor's opinion on abortion and gay marriage. Does that make you nervous, being that she is in fact a devout Catholic latina? I don't mean devout in the Pelosi "I went to Rome so the Pope could take me to school" kind of way.
(e:jim) - 3 reversals from 150 opinions is in fact 2%, but it is nebulous because it disassociates itself from the reality of the number of cases that were actually reviewed. To say otherwise would be a clever slight of hand statistically. It would be more meaningful to say "3 of 5 doesn't mean crap, because it's only 5 reviews over the course of 15 years on the 2nd circuit." We're talking about the number of cases reviewed and reversed by the SC, not the number of reversals out of the total number of opinions, are we not?
I did see the SCOTUSblog stats, which are interesting for a single term. (A really nice site, I have to say, although like anything else I'm deeply suspicious of political bias and the fact that they aren't a statistical organization - do you know if they hired an outside firm?).
Let's take it all at face value. What about a career, though? After all, that's how we're judging Sotomayor. A single term's worth of stats aren't going to mean much; I'd love to see an aggregate over the course of 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, etc.
This is what I want to know - this is what is relevant - how out of whack is she in comparison to the court where she will sit, or the previous candidates? A sample of one term's reversals isn't going to give us a statistically reliable indication of that, although it does give us an indication of how the SC feels about deference to the lower court.
I'm waiting for one of you guys to flip Alito's 2/2 reversal rate to me and suggest again that the number of reviews aren't statistically significant! Not only that but the makeup of the court is not changing so conservatives shouldn't complain too loudly. If I read my own blog today I'd probably debate myself from that angle.
10. Jay and I went down twice. I tried so many things that I think I'm not going to eat properly for a week. Surriously I feel like I have lingering digestive issues that need a remedy.
My favorites were the ribs from Donnie's, the bracciole from Amici, the pork slider from Dinosaur and the cannoli chambord from Carmine's. I tasted the veggie biryani from Palace of Dosas and had a mango lassi - both I thought were very good. Hmm, what else. I tried the Junkyard Dog from Ms. Goodies(probably best value I found), cuban smoked pork from Torches, the pulled pork sandwich from Fat Bob's and gelato (banana chip, chai) from Sweet Melody's, cheesecake w/pineapple from Chrusciki, arroz con pollo from Niagara Cafe (everything (e:james) said about the grease seemed true). Oh... and I got the souvenir sized sangria slush.
11. (e:tinypliny) - the fireworks were nice but not awesome. They look really good in the photos because the shutter was open long enough to capture 2+ separate bursts.
13. Wal*Mart is Fucking Evil. I really don't care how many trailers of bottled water they send down the the Gulf Coat after the next hurricane hits.
The whole B.S."Myth" that they help millions of struggling families "achieve a higher standard of living" is just them stealing the vocabulary of the AFL-CIO. What you miss is that the low wages and modest benefits at best that they provide has spread across the entire US economy like a virus squeezing the living standards of the "working families" that Wal-Mart has embraced. It hasn't saved jobs only shipped more overseas and forced the ones that remained to drastically cut what compensation they did have originally. You can just look at how many companies they actually bullied into bringing their employee compensation down to their level just to do business with them. Every labor contact now always mentions Wal Mart in the need to slash pay and benefits to stay competitive with them, as Wal-Martization has spread like a virus. Basically it's a race to the bottom.
As they said once on CNBC, "Once you get a Wal-Mart supplier you don't know if you want to celebrate or cry!"
For me when they work people like dogs, denying them breaks, lunches and locking them in at night. Yea you have to love that American protestant work ethic in working 10 straight hours without a break as it so frequently happens there. If it is purposely keeping people below hours to qualify for benefits or fraudulently altering people's time sheets to take off any overtime they may have worked is another great example. I think that they purposely run their operation in paying their employees so low that they do it just to take advantage of the food stamp and medicade programs.
SO yea if you want to endorse people being forced to choose between their shit job that forces them to work without breaks and off the clock and their family while taking advantage of subsistence programs go right ahead. I'll shop at Target and pay $1 more for an item. Plus it will be much cleaner and uncluttered without the dirt and boxes littered all of the isles.
To me it's just amazing that American's take this shit and support it. I seriously hope that if in the next congress they do pass a card check rule that almost happened until Specter shot it down. Companies like this need to get their asses handed to them and people need someone to fight for them so they get paid for the correct amount of hours worked, not what is in the district managers budget.
14. (e:tiny) this may be one of the most perceptive comments you've ever written. I've changed my mind about not commenting.
People have this perception about Wal-Mart being this monolithic brut with the people that they buy from, but by and large it is absolutely ridiculous. Almost without exception, the criticisms come from union organizations or NGOs with a similar axe to grind. I'm puzzled at how the article presents certain business practices as if they are unusual or unethical; for example, telling a supplier what they're willing to pay for their product, or being picky about the packaging, etc. That stuff isn't unusual to ANY degree.
Some of the items in this article are utter fabrications (such as Wal-Mart examining private financial records of suppliers to scrutinize margins being "not unheard of" - NOT TRUE). Quoting academic studies they won't name is pretty flimsy as well - I can tell you from personal experience that these large, monolithic companies also keep scores of American small to mid-size businesses afloat. "Damaging concessions" is union speak.
The article mentions price vs. cost - only people that can afford to shop elsewhere have the luxury of considering these things, which is an astute point that (e:tiny) made. For all of the ridiculous loony talk about Wal-Mart being an evil corporation, I think the millions of people who rely on W-M would disagree about the necessity for a cost leader in the market. People refuse, REFUSE! to accept that W-M actually has done a lot of good for poor people in our country because of their opposition to globalization, which in my own personal opinion is really weak. It's as if the fact that W-M facilities a better lifestyle for the more destitute among us, at some point, will become irrelevant because in some eyes the "costs" eventually outweigh the gains. Tell that to single parents or seniors on a fixed income - this is why people opposed to W-M constantly make counterintuitive arguments that are ultimately ineffective.
Now, the effects of globalization are real and people should consider them. One of the regular criticisms about W-M (or really, multinational corporations) that is absolutely true is that at some point the cost competition gets so severe that American companies can no longer compete. I've been to American factories where literally the machines were being boxed up to be sent to China as I was there. It's sad and not pretty too see.
To a degree I'm with the libs on the globalization front, but for me the most important thing is to be realistic about what can ultimately be done about it. The cat is out of the bag, so to speak, with respect to globalization. The article quotes a manufacturer who suggests that people want this or that but don't want to pay for it - exactly. I'd suggest that the average person who frets about globalization and making that criticism also don't want to pay for it. I don't see anyone up for paying $60 for a 5-pack of plain white t-shirts, etc. regardless of ideology.
15. Thanks (e:hodown) - it was from the heart! Housewives of Buffalo would be pathetic... it would evoke comparisons to some sad mixture of John & Kate Plus 8 and Cops.
16. A lot of people who do know their Bible inside and out would vehemently disagree with the notion that there is no Biblical basis for the opposition of homosexuality. (e:drew) put it in a fairly diplomatic way. I hate the idea that it would be up to interpretation - I would simply say that the Bible is contradictory on the subject and ultimately it is true that people selectively use the Bible to make both arguments.
Personally I follow the Golden Rule - I don't really care what the Bible says or doesn't say about homosexuality.
17. I liked it - a former co-worker of mine is Puerto Rican and for her the roast pork was major comfort food, grandma-style, so I had to try it.
I just pinched a piece of leftovers that has been in the fridge for 4 hours or so - still pretty tender. This pork was much better than the roast rack of lamb I had at Lario's in Miami, which was a lot more expensive. I'll be curious to see what you think of it - I hope you enjoy it too. My only possible point of criticism is that for some it may be the slightest shade too salty, but personally it wasn't much of a surprise.
By the way I didn't notice any oil issues with the food, really - the fried plantains weren't overly greasy. (Obvious issue with the pastelillo). Loved the tacos w/the salsa - guac is extra but good.
18. Yes we know Jessica, I pointed that out in the journal, in the paragraph at the bottom. God!
(I'm being facetious, it's really faux-bitchiness... pinch my arm later, I won't complain but I might writhe in agony for a bit, which you might enjoy)
The thing that amazes me the most is that Eminem actually agreed to this ruse. You would think Eminem would be the last guy to have a bare-assed man straddling his head backwards, even for a laugh.
19. Interesting perspective. Personally I wouldn't characterize GM opposing universal healthcare as a violation of a fiduciary duty. The same could be said for the ridiculous contracts they signed with the UAW over the years, practically at the barrel of a gun ("we'll strike!"). You have to consider, it's been politically impossible for decades. It's never really mattered what GM thought about healthcare because there has never been political interest to begin with. The closest they've got is Hillarycare in the early '90s, and that proposal was a disaster. What they are suggesting now is another debate for another day.
As for the "privately run and profitable" intracity train lines. Look - mass transit has killed mass transit. Systems that are actually financially feasible are few and far between. Our best examples of mass transit in this country (SF Muni, BART, Amtrak, the MTA system in NYC, etc.) have never been self-sufficient. Amtrak is an annual black hole for money (I don't believe they have ever been profitable), and what did Barack Obama do? Amtrack got 10% more federal cash this year than the last. It is absolute lunacy!
The idea of a self-sustaining mass transit system is a fallacy because in practice we already can see that it isn't true - it costs an arm and a leg to ride BART, and they still are not self-sustaining; BART receives $300 million in subsidies and they are still hiking fares and reducing service. They actually increased one-way fares this year from SFO to the city from $1.50 to $4.00 - ON TOP of the regular fare. "But hey, it's still cheaper than taking a taxi!" Fuck it then, if that's apparently cool, then why not raise it from $1.50 to $10?
The MTA in New York - the system that everybody (including me) loves? Last year, they received $850 million in subsidies from the state and the city - same result, higher fares, slashed service. DC Metro is subsidized by three states to the tune of $500 million.
When the debate over mass transit occurs, nobody ever seems to want to discuss the reality of the financials with mass transit systems. Why? Because the ethos and altruistic ideas surrounding mass transit can't be trumped by the realities of paying for it? Bollocks.
Here is a Cato Institute report on the subject that is 18 years old. Literally every point made in this article has changed little or not at all. They predicted that as subsidies increased, ultimately so would the transit costs, because the transit costs have generally exceeded the rate of inflation. Um, bullseye.
20. Interesting, (e:jim). I forgot that many of the recipients are children only.
I wouldn't be opposed to giving them "government chores", though.
On that note (e:paul),as part of the welfare process, if an individual is physically capable of working,then they have to look for work and/or be expected to work an assigned amount of hours per month as part of being in the system, at a location predetermined for them. It could be shoveling public sidewalks, picking up garbage, clerical duties, farming, etc. So there is a workfare program in place. At first consideration, I do like your idea about childcare- choosing some qualified individuals from the mix to look over the others children (and that may already be in place?)
The amount "paid" to those in the workfare program is the absolute minimum. There are two things I am unsure on:
1. what the rate of pay actually is. It used to be much less than "minimum wage", with the idea that the individual would be better off finding independent employment that would likely pay much better. That "pay rate" may have changed to provide a minimum monetary expectation now. Anyone have data? and,
2. There has/had been much debate as to whether these people are considered "employees" of anyone, and if they have employee rights etc. Again, I haven't checked recent data to what, if anything has changed over the years. If they are still not classified as "employees" then their "wages" as per criteria would not be published based on this.
On a related note, to what degree would/does having low wage "workfare participants" benefit the state (and some private companies) more than if they hired out right workers? We may have people abusing the system, but that would also include the state and businesses that hire them- an initiative to keep people in the system, perhaps? Just thoughts..
21. Those spuds are sitting on a bed of green leaf lettuce yellow peppers and red onion with red wine vinagar and a touch of olive oil. The salsa is a peach salsa. And thats a red d'anjou pear sliced up as garnish.
22. Facebook does give me those moments of awkwardness when it comes to those people that you really don't like but at the same time you know that the feeling of slight that they will experience by your denial of their friend request will cause a problem or two. I keep my profile lid on tight & use a pic that isn't of me. I do like the interface but I use it for people I know form way back, really like now in the present or family.
24. Hey, at least someone in Buffalo is optimistic. With all due respect to the one you were advocating, our leadership pool in the area is impossibly poor. It doesn't matter who we elect - we've got decades of evidence that lays this fact bare! :( I don't think we'll ever put together a competent set of School Board members who don't eventually act, walk and talk like the ones we've already had.
Maybe your guy or gal will prove me wrong. What in particular do you think I as a citizen of the city should be excited about regarding the changes? (e:james) - you seem jazzed about these events, so maybe you would articulate some of these positives for me. I feel like in a year's time we'll be having the same conversations, just as before.
I think the criticism of Chris Jacobs is a bit petty and predictable, though. What I've read is a laundry list of left-wing cliches, pejoratives and childish badmouthing about people they disagree with. Are we to suggest that moneyed people who spend far more than they would earn to win the seat have never served on school boards in large cities? Chris Jacobs wasn't the first and he won't be the last. We live in NYS, where there will never NOT be uber-rich public servants who got there on the back of their own money. I love the fact that your victory was more 'honest,' for a lack of a better word, but it doesn't change the fact that in most places the people that serve on these boards are usually either rich, privileged, connected, or combination of the three.
Also, are we to suggest that there's never been chronic overachieving do-gooders that revel in suckling the public udders as a means of self-fulfillment? Christ, this area alone is full of them - people who thrive on the fact that they are powerful public servants. I mean really... honest to God, I'm as skeptical of Chris Jacobs as those of you who care are, but the verbal sniper fire at him has been a bit precious. He's no different than A LOT of public servants and the critics should be honest about it.
26. The rich don't pay most of the taxes. I think part of the problem of any discussion surrounding taxes and class is an outdated sense of rich/poor. Bill Clinton made this mistake when talking about the middle class. The average salary is around $35k, and his tax policy greatly benefited those who made under that amount while still talking about the middle class. The middle class, making between $60k and $200k puts in the most both numerically and proportionally, leaving the upper 10% of earners and particularly that top 1%. Why the rich/poor dichotomy is so useless is that the spectrum of wealth is so much more diverse than that. The tax burden is disproportional on the bottom 50% of earners in particular but is carried by and large by those middle class families. A greater burden is a subsidization of the upper 10% no matter how you slice it.
But, you are correct on the deficit outlook. If things do not improve, further stimulus will be needed and that needs to be considered. However, if we use FDR's response to the great depression and Japan's response during the bubble burst becoming an hatchet wielding accountant after a stimulus is a great way to prolong economic depression. We have been dealt a difficult set of circumstances and getting out of them might mean not meeting cutting down out debt as fast as we would like.
27. "Subsidizing the rich" - James, they pay most of the taxes. The "poor" couldn't possibly ever subsidize the rich - it is a financial impossibility. That point aside, what do you mean by "equitable" when the rich pay a vast portion of the taxes, and always have? I'm begging though - please don't tow the economic justice line... it is not and never has been evil or wrong to be rich, and generally speaking this is the default attitude towards the affluent amongst the left. Another tax that will remain - the death tax. This is one of the most immoral taxes in human history.
The Iraq money still won't cover the debt, James. Even if things go swimmingly and perfectly well, current budget estimates are praying to Lord Jeebus for 'only' a $533B deficit by 2013. The budget is essentially banking on a swift recovery, and if there is none, those deficit estimates will be way, way off.
I will at least give Obama credit for including the Iraq money in the budget finally. Take a look at the chart on the top of Drudge today, which indicates what the budget deficit will be, and where it may be revised to. Realistically this is a skewed chart because the deficits prior did not include the Iraq money... it is better and more honest the way Obama is doing it.
The article was right on the money. Because you pay attention and keep an even keel on this stuff, you certainly understand that everyones taxes would be going up, but Obama told you and everyone else that the middle class would not get a tax increase. Given what Obama wants to do, that is an impossibility and he's telling people lies by stating that the middle class is safe. Another issue that nobody is talking about - $56 TRILLION in unfunded liabilities. That is going to be impossible to deal with without extraordinarily oppressive taxation, severe cuts in benefits, or some combo of the two. The truth is that not only will taxes be going up for the middle class, but in fact consumption will be more expensive as a result of cap and trade legislation. Energy prices affect everything in our economy.
Also, a lot of this money being spent by the stimulus won't be temporary as they claim it will be. Do you really think that the Democrats will double education spending 'temporarily,' or expand unemployment benefits and welfare 'temporarily,' or raise taxes 'temporarily?' More fuel for the middle class tax fire.
Nobody is talking about monetization of the debt, which is another strategy that will may occur to a great extent anyway, and will cause severe inflation.
28. Ahh, hahah... I have way too much to say about this. So I'll *try* to keep it short.
This woman is a thought experiment come to life. It brings up the question of what exactly society "should" value and what we really feel is fair play. And how much we truly respect wealth in this society, over pretty much any other aspect of life.
If "genetic survival", if the family line, is meant to be important in one's life, then how could you fault what this woman has done? From where she was, there is no possible way she could obtain the resources necessary to gain an edge in that survival game. When you're born poor, when you live in poor environments, it is INCREDIBLY difficult to pull yourself out of that.
So... She found a way to out-maneuver society's rules and, perhaps coincidentally, actually recieved a "survival edge". I can only laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Though I can't help but pity the children.
But then...that's just because I can only see smaller families as preferable, somewhat due to personal experience.
As to the question of reproductive rights... This woman is a fringe case. With any question of rights, there will always be fringe cases. Especially ones which you find disgusting or are offended by.
For those that find the one-child per family law within China despicable, well... Legislation will always have its peril. You attempt to curtail something like this and someone WILL suffer. And, almost certainly, that will be the children, whether or not the progenitor(s) suffer any harm as well.
If that's ok with you just to take out some vengeance on people like her, and by extension people NOT like her but who end up in similar situations despite it, then I suppose making some nice restrictive laws will be your next logical step.
*looks down* The hell...who put a soapbox here? Crap. Sorry guys.
29. Interesting perspective. The reason why she is getting so much attention, aside from her obvious mental issues, is her utterly egregious abuse of the welfare state in California. She used a disability payment, given to her by the state, to pay for in vitro fertilization procedure (which I think all agree shouldn't have been legal anyway.. even Europe has stricter IVF standards than we do). Now taxpayers in CA are paying huge dollars to support this woman's decision making. You bring up other examples, but they actually have the resources to raise a large family, despite how chaotic it is.
Wealth only matters with respect to your ability to care for the kids. Race is irrelevant here - our nation is filled with minority parents with large families, who do have the means to care for their kids. One would simply have to be in denial to brush aside the fact that she and her parents don't have the resources to responsibly take care of the six kids she already had, let alone eight more. She was utterly, utterly irresponsible. No job, parents in bankruptcy and no jobs as well, a few months removed from likely losing their home (over $23k behind in mortgage payments), no rational ability to care for 14 kids around the clock, etc.
Sorry to say it, but she has serially abused the welfare system and there's no doubt that these kids are being abused as a means of income. That is a far cry from the Dungars. This IS where it starts and ends, and it IS that simple - the basic wrongs in what she has done are self-evident. Bringing up race is a diversionary tactic, and cheapens what might otherwise be a better argument.
What should we expect - for this woman to be glorified because she exercised her reproductive rights via IVF as a single mother, despite her utter inability to take care of the kids, taxpayers be damned? Do you seriously think that she shouldn't be blamed for her actions? I can't think of a more irresponsible way to approach parenting. The glorification of irresponsible behavior in our country has to stop.
34. Posting online from phone: You can post from your phone at
Login, then hit publish. You can upload photos and write journals there.
Posting from email: If that doesn't work you can try posting from your phone via email. Once you log in on the mobile site, choose the prefs button at the top. Type in an email address you will be sending from under mobile email posts. and then add a security code.
Then send an email to mobl AT estrip.org. The subject becomes the title, the body becomes the journal text and attached pictures should be embedded. Just make sure to include the security code you added in the prefs in the body of the email.
35. Dear Lord! Bravo! Complaint #1 was my favorite and I certainly would understand and forgive you. Tar zhay is an ironic phrase now, as if you've been to the one behind Tops lately you know the place is becoming nearly as ghetto as the Wal-Mart by the Galleria. The word "guesstimate" is redundant.
Answer to #2 is HELL YES. I don't think it is ever going to end, though. It is biblical in nature and there is no solution to the problem that all parties will find acceptable.
#3 - Overall I like Barack Obama (the guy, not his politics). My only problem with his rock star status, and it is a big one, is that there is no evidence that there will be objective coverage of him in the media. The media is has been demonstrably smitten with Barack Obama and that should make any objective observer uncomfortable.
#4 - Actually you raised a point that I wish I would have regarding the reading of the poem. It's true that any nuggets of appreciation that other people may have had for the poem were obscured by the poor reading. I'm just saying -
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
etc.
Maya Angelou - legend legend legend. If I could hug this woman and kiss her on the cheek I would. Anyone could read this (ok.. maybe not everyone!) and the listeners would gain deep appreciation out of it.
#5 - Why were people picking on the Simple Gifts arrangement that John Williams did? I thought it was beautiful. Yo-Yo Ma, no you can't fuck with that!
i don't have an opinion on the matter one way or the other, because i can't decide who is more wrong. i've been trying to teach faben about jews and why they've been hated for so long for so many hundreds, thousands rather...of years for a while now.
being from poland, hearing anti-semitic comments was common place, but no one really explained to me why they didn't like jews, back then. they just didn't. i read a pretty good history on how this all began in one of my anthro classes, called "the devil and the jews" it traced anti- semitisim from medieval times to the modern and gave pretty reasonable explanations how and why people's dislike and ultimately, hatred of jews, originated. it discussed the many factors that contributed to the universal dislike of jews through out europe. it basically all came down to money.
37. The building was condemned after several drug busts at the building. The building itself is very charming and would be a shame if the neighborhood were to lose it. The same goes with the buildings next to it.
I would also like to point out that there used to be a very nice building on the corner of Main and Allen next to miss kittys or whatever it's called now that met the same fate and was torn down a very long time ago.
The tall orange building that houses apartments that is in between Q and the corner parking was almost torn down by save our streets because it also housed a lot of drug dealers. People in the neighborhood saved that one by going out to williamsville and let the owner know they weren't happy with what was going on at his property. They used leaflets to inform everyone in his neighborhood that he was a slumlord. The guy that owned the property sued for liable but lost because... well he was a slumlord. Then when save our streets really started to get involved he sold and the building was bought by some korean guy who takes care of it.
If I were to guess I would say that with half a million in work and you could have something great there. But I am no expert by any means.
The good news is that a lot of people have taken an interest to it. The bad news is no one can get credit and market uncertainty.
This neighborhood was very different 10 years ago and people that have lived here that long can attest to that.
Maybe it looks "so freakin ghetto" to you but I would rather have a boarded up building for 5 years rather than have drug dealers forever or another parking lot.
38. I grow uncomfortable with this constant splitting of hairs when Barack Obama gives an opinion on a controversial issue. This is the bottom line - Barack Obama does not support gay marriage but supports civil unions. By the way, in the state of California you can still obtain legal rights as a gay couple that any married couple would be legally entitled to as well.
(e:drew) is right - they do hold the exact same position on gay marriage. And (e:james) is right that the difference between the two men is that Barack Obama wouldn't support codifying his position on gay marriage because it would be prejudicial. What BO is doing is wishy washy, however, which is I think one of the points (e:drew) is making. Ultimately the question is this - how credible is it to support a prejudicial concept in theory but not in practice? This, I think, is the fundamental problem Barack Obama has on this issue.
(e:matt) - c'mon man! (e:drew) is making a completely and totally valid point, there's no need to be snarky about it. Barry is trying to play both sides and it is right to at the very least point it out and debate it.
BTW, anyone that would attend this inauguration then turn their back on Rick Warren isn't just dissing Rick Warren, they are disrespecting Barack Obama as well. You guys damn well know how I feel about this issue, but the gay people storming church services, assaulting people and property, etc. are creating devastating harm for the cause and are wrong for doing so. Turning their back on Rick Warren is relatively benign by comparison but to see that on TV would do more harm than good.
39. Um Ok for the record is was more of a gentle "oh you like that vest" more than a straight out WTF. And for the record of all the dudes I've seen wearing puffy vests- you pull it off the best.. Just sayin'
42. Mormons do not believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity - they consider them separate, not one. This is a major, if not one of the most major, reasons why what you are talking about is true with respect to Christians. The The rest of the stuff (such as the garments, limited caffeine intake, etc.) is not Biblically derived as far as I can tell, or at least is justified very flimsily. This is obviously an exaggerated example of how religion tries to maintain personal control of people's lives within their own religion. My uncle is a Mormon so I know better than most how it is that they live their lives. They always say "hate the sin, not the sinner" but that is a cop out. It is a way to detach yourself from the bigotry that their religion proliferates, which in turn affects real people. That is an uncomfortable fact they'd rather avoid, because, well... they see themselves as good, reasonable people that wouldn't dream of screwing a good citizen over.
After my grandfather died he visited both Jason and I in our dreams, but my uncle said "Awww, no, he's busy getting instruction" or some other such statement. I was utterly enraged - Mormons make absolute decisions on how Heaven works based on what they call spontaneous inspiration. In other words, God has told them about how Heaven works, but not the rest of Christianity. Plausible? I think not. Organized religion is extremely frustrating to people like me because of this. I'd rather be in the woods alone praying to God, keeping the relationship ultrapersonal. They can argue about who is right - I'll take it up with God directly and love my neighbors despite their flaws, sexual orientation and political orientation. =D
Anyway, with respect to the gay movement being enraged by the participation of religion in the process (and rightfully so) - it seems to be that gay people are utterly ignoring the problem they have with minorities because it isn't politically correct to speak out against them, and it is much easier and safer to beat up on religion. I've even read people suggesting that black people didn't know what they were voting for. WHAT?! Generally speaking, African Americans and Latinos are culturally conservative on many issues. If blacks had voted 50/50 rather than 70/30, I wonder how much of a difference it would have made in that 4% deciding gap.
The gay community has a significant outreach effort on their hands if they ever expect to win over the black community and other minority groups that should be inclined to see things their way, but do not.
It's in the self interest of the citizens to have a government. That government is better able to protect the property and well being of its citizens. If we all tried to do these things as individuals, it would be much more expensive and time consuming. What's to stop the workers from killing the factory owner and taking it over? The police cost less than a private security force. Same for Fire protection. We accept taxes as part of our social contract because it is in our self-interest. Actually the government allows us more freedom by providing and regulating basic services, thereby enabling us to go out and live our lives, innovate, and make money without worrying about some of the dire necessities of life.
Point 2, after accepting the idea that banding together in some sort of nation is a good thing. It is in the national self-interest to have an educated secure and healthy public. Because this makes our citizens better able to outperform other nations and create more wealth for ourselves. We need to get talented people out of the ghetto and help them be productive citizens instead of panhandlers and thieves.
The market has never been free of government regulation, and that's a good thing because it's competition that breeds innovation, and a 'free market' does not encourage innovation, it encourages monopoly and the concentration of power.
Collective action has many benefits, though it does necessitate sacrifice and things like taxes. I understand the slippery slope of dependence on government, but I do think there is a middle ground between expecting someone else to fix your problems, and a go-it-alone 'state of nature' in society. Looking at the forest instead of the trees, it's not stealing so much as banding together and contributing something unique based on your own talents and abilities.
44. I'm not a member of any party, at least not as of November 5th. In fact, I'll break out something that I haven't spoken of yet. Josh is going to slit my throat (not really) - but I until the past month or two I leaned towards Obama.
His unity message, his talking about making government more efficient and cutting spending, among other things appealed to me. Now I don't think that either candidate is acceptable. I can't vote for either so I am voting Green. I can be bought, by the way.
Thank you for clarifying on the fascist thing, and I apologize for misunderstanding. Ok? Even though I broke your balls about the Sheehan thing, I do give you credit for not just being a Pelosi fan due to her status and tenure. I know you're pissed they haven't kept their promises.
Now onto the quotes. I gave a mish mash. I just wanted to get your opinion on all of them and how they relate to Obama being the home of traditional Conservatives. I wasn't thinking of comparing both candidates, but why not? I realize I probably gave a little too much there, so I'll just respond by topic:
Gay Rights (In General): Obama is for civil unions, not marriage. McCain can't make up his mind, or can't say what he really thinks and still be the party's nominee. By default Obama is closer to Goldwater in my opinion. I think Goldwater would have shit on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Limited Government (Taxes): I don't think either candidate is even close to Goldwater here. Neither of them can credibly say they will make government smaller, although they both claim they will cut out inefficiencies and remove programs and departments that do not work. Heh, sure, and my ex girlfriend loved me like she said she did. To Goldwater, the income tax was a sin.
Religious Right: Obama is, I would guess, pretty much cheek-to-cheek with Goldwater when it comes to the religious right. I don't have anything to add to what your sentiments are regarding McCain.
Welfare State: This is the "America's Promise" referred to in the 2008 Democratic Party Platform. You can bet your ass a President Obama and a Democratic Congress are going to attempt to expand this - health care for all, unemployment insurance bumps, wealth redistribution - all of this has been promised already. To me McCain is much more trustworthy, although neither is like Goldwater.
Military Power: Goldwater was a straight up hawk. One quote I read one day but can't find now said something to the effect of turning Vietnam into a muddy crater, to not be willy nilly about the fight. Neither candidate is like this, but really the military stuff is just not Obama's strength. The military times had a poll that went 68/23 in McCain's favor. Really though, there is a bit of a disconnect here because traditional Conservatives (like Ron Paul) are isolationists, and neither candidate is an isolationist.
The UN: Traditional conservatives absolutely bristle at the thought of ceding any sovereignty whatsoever, beyond what is in Article 6 of the Constitution (recap: treaties are the law of the land). I don't think either candidate is anything like Goldwater or traditional Conservatives in this respect.
(e:James), I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong (and really, really shocked). This just doesn't compute. I was lazy and thought it was a safe assumption. This is surprising indeed, and I'm currently asking my Libertarian friends just what the hell the deal is. I know there is overlap, but these people don't strike me as the type of people who compromise, especially when it comes to the fiscal stuff.
45. Actually, I'm doing none of the above, (e:Ajay), but you didn't read what I wrote anyway, or even any of the comments I made, so I don't blame you for officially not knowing what the point was in my journal entry.
You've hung out with me, had beers, you know me on a general level, so why ask me such a damned foolish and insulting question? How do YOU think I would respond to racist crap? Next will you ask me if I am a gay hater? Lol!
But just to correct you, yet again....you really need to actually read the stuff you give to me. Don't you ever get tired of misrepresenting the facts? Don't you know that the party's chairman publicly denounced the flyers from this women's group?
And, really (e:Ajay), you're the king of putting words in my mouth, in Josh's mouth, and you did it again right after bitching at me for it. You're the king of generalizing when it comes to your enemies. You never offer any conditionals, and you never even say the obvious thing, that violence and vandalism like is wrong, which is rather curious. The clothes are officially off, my friend, so drop the pretense, it is just silly.
Speaking of LOL, how was that Cindy Sheehan fundraiser? Did you round up, what, 500, 1000 bucks for that nut?
46. I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding women's health care and personal rights. To overtun roe v wade would only serve to punsih poor women and women of very modest means in terms of equal access to safe adequate health care. Affluent women not only have better financial supports available for their families, they also would be able to go to another country, where abortion is legal, and access this procedure safely if they chose to.
It's oppression of the worst kind.
From a personal standpoint, ideally, I certainly would prefer prevention to abortion - that doesn't always work out either. But whatever a woman chooses, who the hell am I, or anyone else to judge (isn't that between her and her god anyway?) - I don't live her life, I don't know her circumstance, and HER body is not my body.
As for the Creationism v evolution - I don't spend a lot of time mulling over this one. I know some people have made a mental compromise on this - like maybe 7 days was actually 7 million or billion years, etc. I guess sometimes it's whatever they need to try to make the opposing pieces fit together somehow.
51. A friend of mine is moving from Toronto to Houston (don't ask me why). He was afraid of being stopped at the border and his ride to the Buffalo bus depot not being admitted to the country because he didn't have a passport, so I volunteered to pick him up from the border should that happen.
I got a call today and freaked out because work was insane and I thought I would have to pick this kid up on the peace bridge... I am really glad there was a misunderstanding and passports are not needed until next year.
52. Reminds me of the great Richard and Linda holler throwdowns awhile back. A thousand years ago, I lived on Bryant. Linda was the name of the woman who lived next door in one of the apt. She and Richard had a fight so she threw his ass out. For the next 45 minutes, he rang the bell and ranted "Linda, it's Richard." She eventually had enough and ran out, hopped in her car. Richard being a moron, started hollering and hopped on the car, only to fall off twirling into the trash up the block. It was startling how fast I went from being pissed to being curious to see how it all worked out.
53. But surely Tiny, you dont actually believe that her skin looks THAT good naturaIly? I think Its safe to say that that picture is photoshopped. i have a wonderful program, well actually its a plug- in for photo- shop, that does the most amazing skin airbrushing ever! it takes photos and transforms your skin into a beautiful, flawless, smooth, canvas. the plug-in was rather pricy, but the 99 dollars was well worth the time and effort I've saved, and skill that I've gained, when editing pictures. It does a great job of removing flaws while preserving tiny details such as eye lashes, hair (except for the ones on my chin), moles, jewlery and make up. you end up with crystal clear, glowing skin that takes only 5 seconds to create. Ahh... if only there were photoshop plug- ins for real life occasions that you could use for the days when you feel and look like shit. actually Tiny, I think we've talked about this before, no?
Anyway, i think I'm rambling. that's because im using my mew phone that lets me write posts, texts, emails, documents etc... in cursive On my screen, incredibly fast with amazing accuracy. I Know i've mentioned this in like a thousand other posts and comments but I just can't get over how fucking great this thing is. I feel like I'm living in the Jetsons age when I'm using it. i cant wait for the chance when I can go to a meeting and whip this thing out and start taking notes while people stare at me while thinking that I'm crazy for playing with my phone while some important PhD is talking. In which case I will say ''Oh please dont mind me. I'm just taking some quick notes just to make sure I don't miss anything"
OK, thats enough for now. I'm going to go and hanD write a word document or something, because this here is getting at Of hand.
and P.S. please excuse the spelling and grammatical mistakes. this thing is good but not perfect.
54. But surely Tiny, you dont actually believe that her skin looks THAT good naturaIly? I think Its safe to say that that picture is photoshopped. i have a wonderful program, well actually its a plug- in for photo- shop, that does the most amazing skin airbrushing ever! it takes photos and transforms your skin into a beautiful, flawless, smooth, canvas. the plug-in was rather pricy, but the 99 dollars was well worth the time and effort I've saved, and skill that I've gained, when editing pictures. It does a great job of removing flaws while preserving tiny details such as eye lashes, hair (except for the ones on my chin), moles, jewlery and make up. you end up with crystal clear, glowing skin that takes only 5 seconds to create. Ahh... if only there were photoshop plug- ins for real life occasions that you could use for the days when you feel and look like shit. actually Tiny, I think we've talked about this before, no?
Anyway, i think I'm rambling. that's because im using my mew phone that lets me write posts, texts, emails, documents etc... in cursive On my screen, incredibly fast with amazing accuracy. I Know i've mentioned this in like a thousand other posts and comments but I just can't get over how fucking great this thing is. I feel like I'm living in the Jetsons age when I'm using it. i cant wait for the chance when I can go to a meeting and whip this thing out and start taking notes while people stare at me while thinking that I'm crazy for playing with my phone while some important PhD is talking. In which case I will say ''Oh please dont mind me. I'm just taking some quick notes just to make sure I don't miss anything"
OK, thats enough for now. I'm going to go and hand write a word document or something, because this here is getting at Of hand.
and P.S. please excuse the spelling and grammatical mistakes. this thing is good but not perfect.
56. I read this journal and I have the same burning question as Carolinian! Why was the direction of the shaft tunnel important? Is it some Vaastu/Feng Shui thing?
59. Here is another strange factoid for you. In Tamil, the sound "ba" doesn't have a corresponding alphabet. You substitute for it with the alphabet "pa". However, if you are familiar with the word, you pronounce it with a "ba" even though it is written with a "pa".
60. Drew was brought on as the minister to build up the church. There is a larger vision of church growth; becoming a commuity church; and being welcoming to people in the neighborhood (including the GLBT community). I see it as his job to protect and promote that vision. Living out a vision is a process and you have to lay a foundation to build on. For this church, there needs to be a foundation of trust and a sense of oneness in the faith. If you approach a controversial topic before the foundation is laid and the congregation breaks down, it becomes a setback. You'd have to heal that break before you can work towards the vision again.
I think some people are glossing over Drew's statement that the topic will be addressed, it will just be addressed in due time, in my mind, when a foundation is laid. So, no, not addressing it in a class right now is not a cop out, IMO.
65. apparently the girl who's car the drunk girl was making out on, was not very happy. she kind of yelled at her, saying that people in civilized countries don't do that. go figure. I was under the impression that people in civilized countries do much, much, more than that.
66. apparently the girl who's car the drunk girl was making out on, was not very happy. she kind of yelled at her, saying that people in civilized countries don't do that. go figure. I was under the impression that people in civilized countries do much, much, more than that.
67. I work with a big majority of women and all I can say is most of your points are spot on. The one that stands out to me is the manipulative trait :-/
As Henery Rollins once said: "All women are EVIL, but all men are MORONS!"
69. I just canceled my WOW account. I have been doing endgame stuff for several months now and I just don't feel like giving up six hours at a time to raid and do other endgame stuff. If I play for more than an hour I get super cranky and am intolerable to live with. So, I will have to find some other activity to do while fueled with vodka (or gin preferably)
72. Petey is super cute. Confession time for me -- i have a teddybear i have slept with since i was a toddler. His name is Petey. He looks a little worse for wear...
But as the poor bastard who maintains the software that sits on the other site of (e:uncutsaniflush) 's scanner, I'm all to familiar with the irregularities of inventory management (albeit in a factory). Quantities of our products (and we are a single manufacturer) depend on what particular product we're making and who we're selling it, and we might have two different names for what is in essence the same product because some of our customers like to give their own special name to product we sell to many customers. At least some of the time, except on thursday when there's a 50% forcast chance of rain and Eliot spitzer is hopping on one foot. And some parts we have are "virtual parts", in that they don't actually exist and they're always supposed to be in zero quantities because they denote some special relationship between one product and another. And some parts are identical to one another except for the fact that they're painted, yet they qualify as different parts, but kinda not.
74. i myself can stand comfortably outside for a bit of time from about 13 - 15 degrees and up, but this morning i checked and it was 8 when i left...and i most certianly noticed the differance.
80. yeah,they are turning us into a nation of zombies...there wasn't add when I was in hs or atleast it was just begining...i's like they invent the diseases because they have some new fangled drug to test out
81. Yah, that was reeeeally long. I agree with your view on critical thinking. So much of our existence has become a multiple-choice exam that we don’t think for ourselves. There is no free will in multiple-choice, the answers have already been given to you and you robotically fill in the little dot. Life is an essay man; take your topic, create your own hypothesis and back it up.
82. Fuck you. What do you know about depression or Paxil or anything having to do with it? And why talk about people that way? I'm at 750 any time you feel like you're superior to me.
83. My guess is that most of the (e:women) will relate to your thoughts in one way or another. (Not that the (e:men) won't but I bet most of the wouldn't admit it.) Anyway, I have been working on acknowledging my emotions for a while. I still dislike crying but there's not much point in trying to hold back if I'm making room for the feelings. We should celebrate our ability to be affected by what we experience.
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Guys, let's be perfectly honest here, there isn't one single thing they could have put forward that the Democrats would have accepted, outside of a letter-for-letter approval of the Democrat-authored bill. There is no need for debate, or bipartisan shaping of the bill, or for including the opposition. I'm okay with that, you won the elections and have a big enough majority to not have to compromise. What I can't abide is whining about the reaction from the opposition. That takes a hell of a lot of cheek.
David, your characterization of the nature of the Democrats can't be more flawed, it really can't. How about the House rushing a bill through before anyone could read it? How about Waxman dropping a 300 page amendment in the dead of night? How about Democrats turning off lights and locking people out of rooms? How about Democrats more or less telling 50% of America FUCK YOUR REPRESENTATION? That's just a taste, I've got a dossier on them a mile long.
Too many lefties don't think the Republicans offer anything concerning Energy because A) They don't bother to look into it, and B) They don't particularly care to know, they just want to bitch that the opposition isn't bending over and begging to be fisted.
I'm not going to say that Republicans aren't partisan. They are. I won't defend that. That's the nature of our politicians. They chiefly want to consolidate power. But to say the Democrats have been non-partisan, and fair?!? They are partisan to a fault. And fair to who? They haven't even been fair to you and me with their bullshit, particularly in the House. The problem is that people think that by default their partisan position is the only one that could be non-partisan. I can't talk someone out of that, I only can say it needs to be re-thought.
And...again...who cares if not one single Republican votes on things? I don't. You can do what you want with nobody else's approval.
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Date: 2009-11-06 08:53:01
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Date: 2009-10-02 21:34:46
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For instance, your discomfort with what the abortion clinic staff told you over phone is a result of insensitive and untrained communication. I would say that this is true of many medical establishments - not just abortion clinics.
In the past, I have frequently been on ward rounds where consultants and residents have had "intellectual" discussions about complications and survival chances right in the front of the patient - whose life they discussed in a detached way.
Examples such as the one you wrote about and this one are a symptom of a loss of empathy in the medical field. Quite unfortunately, this "insentization" process is almost inevitable - and to insiders in the field, it is actually a sign of just how much experience they have doing what they do. But for patients it is terrifying and disturbing or both.
The lady from the pro-life camp had what the abortion clinic staff didn't have - determination to win you over. The abortion clinic staff were probably just doing their jobs and didn't view this as some kind of a personal mission.
A parallel establishment that does better at counseling and privacy issues is the HIV clinic. The disease has so much (totally unnecessary, in my opinion) social stigma attached to it that many patients who contact the clinic are invited over for personal counselling.
One other issue that I wanted to address after reading your comment is that of dragging a whole body of religion into this. Personally, I don't associate the concept of Christianity with lunacy and backwardness. I think every religion has a bunch of nut-job extremists who misinterpret their "religion" to the extent of generating hate towards the entire religion. In this sense, "Mother" The evil crone Teresa and Osama Bin Laden are on the same dinky little raft.
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Date: 2009-08-14 22:07:24
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that being said, I think he has perfectly found his nitch. it's said about him that his presence and charm do not go unnoticed by any, nor is it ineffective on many. constraints of office and public opinion are enough to make anyone look like a jack ass. So diplomacy, here he comes! let 'im, he's evidently good at it. star power does have its perks.
from my understanding, the N Koreans requested bill clinton personally after rejecting several other suggestions. everyone loves a little hollywood and glam, including communists.
and are you really surprised the WH denied involvement? after all, we're not supposed to negotiate with terrorists. (which I find interesting in itself...didn't we just negotiate?). Evidently the exchange would not have occurred if not for an apology to North Korea. Whatever...
this country is responsible for its citizens, (as well as its citizens for their country) and if my child (or spouse, or daughter, or friend) was being held by anyone, and all it took was an damn apology, i'd give it, regardless of if I meant it.
And agreed with James, what about those americans in Iran?...well, now, their sisters aren't journalists, are they? sad but true.
you want to wear the uniform, you gotta play the game.
oh, and re: hillary, of course anyone is more likable once they cease to be a politician...inherently, cause they're not a poly-trickster anymore.
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(e:jim) - 3 reversals from 150 opinions is in fact 2%, but it is nebulous because it disassociates itself from the reality of the number of cases that were actually reviewed. To say otherwise would be a clever slight of hand statistically. It would be more meaningful to say "3 of 5 doesn't mean crap, because it's only 5 reviews over the course of 15 years on the 2nd circuit." We're talking about the number of cases reviewed and reversed by the SC, not the number of reversals out of the total number of opinions, are we not?
I did see the SCOTUSblog stats, which are interesting for a single term. (A really nice site, I have to say, although like anything else I'm deeply suspicious of political bias and the fact that they aren't a statistical organization - do you know if they hired an outside firm?).
Let's take it all at face value. What about a career, though? After all, that's how we're judging Sotomayor. A single term's worth of stats aren't going to mean much; I'd love to see an aggregate over the course of 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, etc.
This is what I want to know - this is what is relevant - how out of whack is she in comparison to the court where she will sit, or the previous candidates? A sample of one term's reversals isn't going to give us a statistically reliable indication of that, although it does give us an indication of how the SC feels about deference to the lower court.
I'm waiting for one of you guys to flip Alito's 2/2 reversal rate to me and suggest again that the number of reviews aren't statistically significant! Not only that but the makeup of the court is not changing so conservatives shouldn't complain too loudly. If I read my own blog today I'd probably debate myself from that angle.
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My favorites were the ribs from Donnie's, the bracciole from Amici, the pork slider from Dinosaur and the cannoli chambord from Carmine's. I tasted the veggie biryani from Palace of Dosas and had a mango lassi - both I thought were very good. Hmm, what else. I tried the Junkyard Dog from Ms. Goodies(probably best value I found), cuban smoked pork from Torches, the pulled pork sandwich from Fat Bob's and gelato (banana chip, chai) from Sweet Melody's, cheesecake w/pineapple from Chrusciki, arroz con pollo from Niagara Cafe (everything (e:james) said about the grease seemed true). Oh... and I got the souvenir sized sangria slush.
PS - I'm never doing that again.
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The whole B.S."Myth" that they help millions of struggling families "achieve a higher standard of living" is just them stealing the vocabulary of the AFL-CIO. What you miss is that the low wages and modest benefits at best that they provide has spread across the entire US economy like a virus squeezing the living standards of the "working families" that Wal-Mart has embraced. It hasn't saved jobs only shipped more overseas and forced the ones that remained to drastically cut what compensation they did have originally. You can just look at how many companies they actually bullied into bringing their employee compensation down to their level just to do business with them. Every labor contact now always mentions Wal Mart in the need to slash pay and benefits to stay competitive with them, as Wal-Martization has spread like a virus. Basically it's a race to the bottom.
As they said once on CNBC, "Once you get a Wal-Mart supplier you don't know if you want to celebrate or cry!"
For me when they work people like dogs, denying them breaks, lunches and locking them in at night. Yea you have to love that American protestant work ethic in working 10 straight hours without a break as it so frequently happens there. If it is purposely keeping people below hours to qualify for benefits or fraudulently altering people's time sheets to take off any overtime they may have worked is another great example. I think that they purposely run their operation in paying their employees so low that they do it just to take advantage of the food stamp and medicade programs.
SO yea if you want to endorse people being forced to choose between their shit job that forces them to work without breaks and off the clock and their family while taking advantage of subsistence programs go right ahead. I'll shop at Target and pay $1 more for an item. Plus it will be much cleaner and uncluttered without the dirt and boxes littered all of the isles.
To me it's just amazing that American's take this shit and support it. I seriously hope that if in the next congress they do pass a card check rule that almost happened until Specter shot it down. Companies like this need to get their asses handed to them and people need someone to fight for them so they get paid for the correct amount of hours worked, not what is in the district managers budget.
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Date: 2009-06-30 00:01:22
Comment ID: 49506
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People have this perception about Wal-Mart being this monolithic brut with the people that they buy from, but by and large it is absolutely ridiculous. Almost without exception, the criticisms come from union organizations or NGOs with a similar axe to grind. I'm puzzled at how the article presents certain business practices as if they are unusual or unethical; for example, telling a supplier what they're willing to pay for their product, or being picky about the packaging, etc. That stuff isn't unusual to ANY degree.
Some of the items in this article are utter fabrications (such as Wal-Mart examining private financial records of suppliers to scrutinize margins being "not unheard of" - NOT TRUE). Quoting academic studies they won't name is pretty flimsy as well - I can tell you from personal experience that these large, monolithic companies also keep scores of American small to mid-size businesses afloat. "Damaging concessions" is union speak.
The article mentions price vs. cost - only people that can afford to shop elsewhere have the luxury of considering these things, which is an astute point that (e:tiny) made. For all of the ridiculous loony talk about Wal-Mart being an evil corporation, I think the millions of people who rely on W-M would disagree about the necessity for a cost leader in the market. People refuse, REFUSE! to accept that W-M actually has done a lot of good for poor people in our country because of their opposition to globalization, which in my own personal opinion is really weak. It's as if the fact that W-M facilities a better lifestyle for the more destitute among us, at some point, will become irrelevant because in some eyes the "costs" eventually outweigh the gains. Tell that to single parents or seniors on a fixed income - this is why people opposed to W-M constantly make counterintuitive arguments that are ultimately ineffective.
Now, the effects of globalization are real and people should consider them. One of the regular criticisms about W-M (or really, multinational corporations) that is absolutely true is that at some point the cost competition gets so severe that American companies can no longer compete. I've been to American factories where literally the machines were being boxed up to be sent to China as I was there. It's sad and not pretty too see.
To a degree I'm with the libs on the globalization front, but for me the most important thing is to be realistic about what can ultimately be done about it. The cat is out of the bag, so to speak, with respect to globalization. The article quotes a manufacturer who suggests that people want this or that but don't want to pay for it - exactly. I'd suggest that the average person who frets about globalization and making that criticism also don't want to pay for it. I don't see anyone up for paying $60 for a 5-pack of plain white t-shirts, etc. regardless of ideology.
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Date: 2009-06-29 11:47:09
Comment ID: 49487
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Date: 2009-06-18 13:25:55
Comment ID: 49197
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Personally I follow the Golden Rule - I don't really care what the Bible says or doesn't say about homosexuality.
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Date: 2009-06-17 14:14:08
Comment ID: 49181
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I just pinched a piece of leftovers that has been in the fridge for 4 hours or so - still pretty tender. This pork was much better than the roast rack of lamb I had at Lario's in Miami, which was a lot more expensive. I'll be curious to see what you think of it - I hope you enjoy it too. My only possible point of criticism is that for some it may be the slightest shade too salty, but personally it wasn't much of a surprise.
By the way I didn't notice any oil issues with the food, really - the fried plantains weren't overly greasy. (Obvious issue with the pastelillo). Loved the tacos w/the salsa - guac is extra but good.
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Date: 2009-06-03 23:41:01
Comment ID: 48920
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(I'm being facetious, it's really faux-bitchiness... pinch my arm later, I won't complain but I might writhe in agony for a bit, which you might enjoy)
The thing that amazes me the most is that Eminem actually agreed to this ruse. You would think Eminem would be the last guy to have a bare-assed man straddling his head backwards, even for a laugh.
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Date: 2009-06-02 11:54:34
Comment ID: 48881
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As for the "privately run and profitable" intracity train lines. Look - mass transit has killed mass transit. Systems that are actually financially feasible are few and far between. Our best examples of mass transit in this country (SF Muni, BART, Amtrak, the MTA system in NYC, etc.) have never been self-sufficient. Amtrak is an annual black hole for money (I don't believe they have ever been profitable), and what did Barack Obama do? Amtrack got 10% more federal cash this year than the last. It is absolute lunacy!
The idea of a self-sustaining mass transit system is a fallacy because in practice we already can see that it isn't true - it costs an arm and a leg to ride BART, and they still are not self-sustaining; BART receives $300 million in subsidies and they are still hiking fares and reducing service. They actually increased one-way fares this year from SFO to the city from $1.50 to $4.00 - ON TOP of the regular fare. "But hey, it's still cheaper than taking a taxi!" Fuck it then, if that's apparently cool, then why not raise it from $1.50 to $10?
The MTA in New York - the system that everybody (including me) loves? Last year, they received $850 million in subsidies from the state and the city - same result, higher fares, slashed service. DC Metro is subsidized by three states to the tune of $500 million.
When the debate over mass transit occurs, nobody ever seems to want to discuss the reality of the financials with mass transit systems. Why? Because the ethos and altruistic ideas surrounding mass transit can't be trumped by the realities of paying for it? Bollocks.
Here is a Cato Institute report on the subject that is 18 years old.
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Date: 2009-06-01 16:50:27
Comment ID: 48853
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I wouldn't be opposed to giving them "government chores", though.
On that note (e:paul),as part of the welfare process, if an individual is physically capable of working,then they have to look for work and/or be expected to work an assigned amount of hours per month as part of being in the system, at a location predetermined for them. It could be shoveling public sidewalks, picking up garbage, clerical duties, farming, etc. So there is a workfare program in place. At first consideration, I do like your idea about childcare- choosing some qualified individuals from the mix to look over the others children (and that may already be in place?)
The amount "paid" to those in the workfare program is the absolute minimum. There are two things I am unsure on:
1. what the rate of pay actually is. It used to be much less than "minimum wage", with the idea that the individual would be better off finding independent employment that would likely pay much better. That "pay rate" may have changed to provide a minimum monetary expectation now. Anyone have data? and,
2. There has/had been much debate as to whether these people are considered "employees" of anyone, and if they have employee rights etc. Again, I haven't checked recent data to what, if anything has changed over the years. If they are still not classified as "employees" then their "wages" as per criteria would not be published based on this.
On a related note, to what degree would/does having low wage "workfare participants" benefit the state (and some private companies) more than if they hired out right workers? We may have people abusing the system, but that would also include the state and businesses that hire them- an initiative to keep people in the system, perhaps? Just thoughts..
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Date: 2009-06-01 16:21:05
Comment ID: 48849
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Date: 2009-05-15 20:43:17
Comment ID: 48442
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Date: 2009-05-13 22:43:10
Comment ID: 48363
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Date: 2009-05-07 23:44:00
Comment ID: 48252
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Maybe your guy or gal will prove me wrong. What in particular do you think I as a citizen of the city should be excited about regarding the changes? (e:james) - you seem jazzed about these events, so maybe you would articulate some of these positives for me. I feel like in a year's time we'll be having the same conversations, just as before.
I think the criticism of Chris Jacobs is a bit petty and predictable, though. What I've read is a laundry list of left-wing cliches, pejoratives and childish badmouthing about people they disagree with. Are we to suggest that moneyed people who spend far more than they would earn to win the seat have never served on school boards in large cities? Chris Jacobs wasn't the first and he won't be the last. We live in NYS, where there will never NOT be uber-rich public servants who got there on the back of their own money. I love the fact that your victory was more 'honest,' for a lack of a better word, but it doesn't change the fact that in most places the people that serve on these boards are usually either rich, privileged, connected, or combination of the three.
Also, are we to suggest that there's never been chronic overachieving do-gooders that revel in suckling the public udders as a means of self-fulfillment? Christ, this area alone is full of them - people who thrive on the fact that they are powerful public servants. I mean really... honest to God, I'm as skeptical of Chris Jacobs as those of you who care are, but the verbal sniper fire at him has been a bit precious. He's no different than A LOT of public servants and the critics should be honest about it.
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Date: 2009-05-07 11:56:07
Comment ID: 48215
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I wish I was out there in Vegas. Have fun enjoying your winnings.
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Date: 2009-05-05 21:22:45
Comment ID: 48159
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But, you are correct on the deficit outlook. If things do not improve, further stimulus will be needed and that needs to be considered. However, if we use FDR's response to the great depression and Japan's response during the bubble burst becoming an hatchet wielding accountant after a stimulus is a great way to prolong economic depression. We have been dealt a difficult set of circumstances and getting out of them might mean not meeting cutting down out debt as fast as we would like.
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Date: 2009-02-27 12:05:52
Comment ID: 45975
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The Iraq money still won't cover the debt, James. Even if things go swimmingly and perfectly well, current budget estimates are praying to Lord Jeebus for 'only' a $533B deficit by 2013. The budget is essentially banking on a swift recovery, and if there is none, those deficit estimates will be way, way off.
I will at least give Obama credit for including the Iraq money in the budget finally. Take a look at the chart on the top of Drudge today, which indicates what the budget deficit will be, and where it may be revised to. Realistically this is a skewed chart because the deficits prior did not include the Iraq money... it is better and more honest the way Obama is doing it.
The article was right on the money. Because you pay attention and keep an even keel on this stuff, you certainly understand that everyones taxes would be going up, but Obama told you and everyone else that the middle class would not get a tax increase. Given what Obama wants to do, that is an impossibility and he's telling people lies by stating that the middle class is safe. Another issue that nobody is talking about - $56 TRILLION in unfunded liabilities. That is going to be impossible to deal with without extraordinarily oppressive taxation, severe cuts in benefits, or some combo of the two. The truth is that not only will taxes be going up for the middle class, but in fact consumption will be more expensive as a result of cap and trade legislation. Energy prices affect everything in our economy.
Also, a lot of this money being spent by the stimulus won't be temporary as they claim it will be. Do you really think that the Democrats will double education spending 'temporarily,' or expand unemployment benefits and welfare 'temporarily,' or raise taxes 'temporarily?' More fuel for the middle class tax fire.
Nobody is talking about monetization of the debt, which is another strategy that will may occur to a great extent anyway, and will cause severe inflation.
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Date: 2009-02-26 14:32:19
Comment ID: 45958
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This woman is a thought experiment come to life. It brings up the question of what exactly society "should" value and what we really feel is fair play. And how much we truly respect wealth in this society, over pretty much any other aspect of life.
If "genetic survival", if the family line, is meant to be important in one's life, then how could you fault what this woman has done? From where she was, there is no possible way she could obtain the resources necessary to gain an edge in that survival game. When you're born poor, when you live in poor environments, it is INCREDIBLY difficult to pull yourself out of that.
So... She found a way to out-maneuver society's rules and, perhaps coincidentally, actually recieved a "survival edge". I can only laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Though I can't help but pity the children.
But then...that's just because I can only see smaller families as preferable, somewhat due to personal experience.
As to the question of reproductive rights... This woman is a fringe case. With any question of rights, there will always be fringe cases. Especially ones which you find disgusting or are offended by.
For those that find the one-child per family law within China despicable, well... Legislation will always have its peril. You attempt to curtail something like this and someone WILL suffer. And, almost certainly, that will be the children, whether or not the progenitor(s) suffer any harm as well.
If that's ok with you just to take out some vengeance on people like her, and by extension people NOT like her but who end up in similar situations despite it, then I suppose making some nice restrictive laws will be your next logical step.
*looks down* The hell...who put a soapbox here? Crap. Sorry guys.
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Date: 2009-02-25 18:06:04
Comment ID: 45936
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Wealth only matters with respect to your ability to care for the kids. Race is irrelevant here - our nation is filled with minority parents with large families, who do have the means to care for their kids. One would simply have to be in denial to brush aside the fact that she and her parents don't have the resources to responsibly take care of the six kids she already had, let alone eight more. She was utterly, utterly irresponsible. No job, parents in bankruptcy and no jobs as well, a few months removed from likely losing their home (over $23k behind in mortgage payments), no rational ability to care for 14 kids around the clock, etc.
Sorry to say it, but she has serially abused the welfare system and there's no doubt that these kids are being abused as a means of income. That is a far cry from the Dungars. This IS where it starts and ends, and it IS that simple - the basic wrongs in what she has done are self-evident. Bringing up race is a diversionary tactic, and cheapens what might otherwise be a better argument.
What should we expect - for this woman to be glorified because she exercised her reproductive rights via IVF as a single mother, despite her utter inability to take care of the kids, taxpayers be damned? Do you seriously think that she shouldn't be blamed for her actions? I can't think of a more irresponsible way to approach parenting. The glorification of irresponsible behavior in our country has to stop.
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Date: 2009-02-25 12:50:51
Comment ID: 45911
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Date: 2009-02-09 12:12:32
Comment ID: 45383
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Date: 2009-02-07 23:30:02
Comment ID: 45327
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Date: 2009-02-06 23:20:57
Comment ID: 45295
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Date: 2009-02-05 23:31:10
Comment ID: 45232
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Login, then hit publish. You can upload photos and write journals there.
Posting from email: If that doesn't work you can try posting from your phone via email. Once you log in on the mobile site, choose the prefs button at the top. Type in an email address you will be sending from under mobile email posts. and then add a security code.
Then send an email to mobl AT estrip.org. The subject becomes the title, the body becomes the journal text and attached pictures should be embedded. Just make sure to include the security code you added in the prefs in the body of the email.
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Date: 2009-01-27 09:30:47
Comment ID: 44888
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Answer to #2 is HELL YES. I don't think it is ever going to end, though. It is biblical in nature and there is no solution to the problem that all parties will find acceptable.
#3 - Overall I like Barack Obama (the guy, not his politics). My only problem with his rock star status, and it is a big one, is that there is no evidence that there will be objective coverage of him in the media. The media is has been demonstrably smitten with Barack Obama and that should make any objective observer uncomfortable.
#4 - Actually you raised a point that I wish I would have regarding the reading of the poem. It's true that any nuggets of appreciation that other people may have had for the poem were obscured by the poor reading. I'm just saying -
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
etc.
Maya Angelou - legend legend legend. If I could hug this woman and kiss her on the cheek I would. Anyone could read this (ok.. maybe not everyone!) and the listeners would gain deep appreciation out of it.
#5 - Why were people picking on the Simple Gifts arrangement that John Williams did? I thought it was beautiful. Yo-Yo Ma, no you can't fuck with that!
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Date: 2009-01-22 10:20:15
Comment ID: 44725
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i don't have an opinion on the matter one way or the other, because i can't decide who is more wrong. i've been trying to teach faben about jews and why they've been hated for so long for so many hundreds, thousands rather...of years for a while now.
being from poland, hearing anti-semitic comments was common place, but no one really explained to me why they didn't like jews, back then. they just didn't. i read a pretty good history on how this all began in one of my anthro classes, called "the devil and the jews" it traced anti- semitisim from medieval times to the modern and gave pretty reasonable explanations how and why people's dislike and ultimately, hatred of jews, originated. it discussed the many factors that contributed to the universal dislike of jews through out europe. it basically all came down to money.
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Date: 2009-01-07 19:28:56
Comment ID: 44196
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I would also like to point out that there used to be a very nice building on the corner of Main and Allen next to miss kittys or whatever it's called now that met the same fate and was torn down a very long time ago.
The tall orange building that houses apartments that is in between Q and the corner parking was almost torn down by save our streets because it also housed a lot of drug dealers. People in the neighborhood saved that one by going out to williamsville and let the owner know they weren't happy with what was going on at his property. They used leaflets to inform everyone in his neighborhood that he was a slumlord. The guy that owned the property sued for liable but lost because... well he was a slumlord. Then when save our streets really started to get involved he sold and the building was bought by some korean guy who takes care of it.
If I were to guess I would say that with half a million in work and you could have something great there. But I am no expert by any means.
The good news is that a lot of people have taken an interest to it. The bad news is no one can get credit and market uncertainty.
This neighborhood was very different 10 years ago and people that have lived here that long can attest to that.
Maybe it looks "so freakin ghetto" to you but I would rather have a boarded up building for 5 years rather than have drug dealers forever or another parking lot.
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Date: 2008-12-31 18:00:38
Comment ID: 43921
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(e:drew) is right - they do hold the exact same position on gay marriage. And (e:james) is right that the difference between the two men is that Barack Obama wouldn't support codifying his position on gay marriage because it would be prejudicial. What BO is doing is wishy washy, however, which is I think one of the points (e:drew) is making. Ultimately the question is this - how credible is it to support a prejudicial concept in theory but not in practice? This, I think, is the fundamental problem Barack Obama has on this issue.
(e:matt) - c'mon man! (e:drew) is making a completely and totally valid point, there's no need to be snarky about it. Barry is trying to play both sides and it is right to at the very least point it out and debate it.
BTW, anyone that would attend this inauguration then turn their back on Rick Warren isn't just dissing Rick Warren, they are disrespecting Barack Obama as well. You guys damn well know how I feel about this issue, but the gay people storming church services, assaulting people and property, etc. are creating devastating harm for the cause and are wrong for doing so. Turning their back on Rick Warren is relatively benign by comparison but to see that on TV would do more harm than good.
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Date: 2008-12-24 12:01:00
Comment ID: 43719
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Date: 2008-12-22 20:24:59
Comment ID: 43648
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Date: 2008-12-16 10:18:43
Comment ID: 43346
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Also good:
The pronunciation of Ryu annoyed me to no end. (Yeah, I'm picky about SF stuff.) But can't complain too much, songs are pretty good.
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Date: 2008-11-26 15:21:00
Comment ID: 42656
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After my grandfather died he visited both Jason and I in our dreams, but my uncle said "Awww, no, he's busy getting instruction" or some other such statement. I was utterly enraged - Mormons make absolute decisions on how Heaven works based on what they call spontaneous inspiration. In other words, God has told them about how Heaven works, but not the rest of Christianity. Plausible? I think not. Organized religion is extremely frustrating to people like me because of this. I'd rather be in the woods alone praying to God, keeping the relationship ultrapersonal. They can argue about who is right - I'll take it up with God directly and love my neighbors despite their flaws, sexual orientation and political orientation. =D
Anyway, with respect to the gay movement being enraged by the participation of religion in the process (and rightfully so) - it seems to be that gay people are utterly ignoring the problem they have with minorities because it isn't politically correct to speak out against them, and it is much easier and safer to beat up on religion. I've even read people suggesting that black people didn't know what they were voting for. WHAT?! Generally speaking, African Americans and Latinos are culturally conservative on many issues. If blacks had voted 50/50 rather than 70/30, I wonder how much of a difference it would have made in that 4% deciding gap.
The gay community has a significant outreach effort on their hands if they ever expect to win over the black community and other minority groups that should be inclined to see things their way, but do not.
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Date: 2008-11-11 15:49:03
Comment ID: 41988
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It's in the self interest of the citizens to have a government. That government is better able to protect the property and well being of its citizens. If we all tried to do these things as individuals, it would be much more expensive and time consuming. What's to stop the workers from killing the factory owner and taking it over? The police cost less than a private security force. Same for Fire protection. We accept taxes as part of our social contract because it is in our self-interest. Actually the government allows us more freedom by providing and regulating basic services, thereby enabling us to go out and live our lives, innovate, and make money without worrying about some of the dire necessities of life.
Point 2, after accepting the idea that banding together in some sort of nation is a good thing. It is in the national self-interest to have an educated secure and healthy public. Because this makes our citizens better able to outperform other nations and create more wealth for ourselves. We need to get talented people out of the ghetto and help them be productive citizens instead of panhandlers and thieves.
The market has never been free of government regulation, and that's a good thing because it's competition that breeds innovation, and a 'free market' does not encourage innovation, it encourages monopoly and the concentration of power.
Collective action has many benefits, though it does necessitate sacrifice and things like taxes. I understand the slippery slope of dependence on government, but I do think there is a middle ground between expecting someone else to fix your problems, and a go-it-alone 'state of nature' in society. Looking at the forest instead of the trees, it's not stealing so much as banding together and contributing something unique based on your own talents and abilities.
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Date: 2008-10-30 15:49:28
Comment ID: 41324
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His unity message, his talking about making government more efficient and cutting spending, among other things appealed to me. Now I don't think that either candidate is acceptable. I can't vote for either so I am voting Green. I can be bought, by the way.
Thank you for clarifying on the fascist thing, and I apologize for misunderstanding. Ok? Even though I broke your balls about the Sheehan thing, I do give you credit for not just being a Pelosi fan due to her status and tenure. I know you're pissed they haven't kept their promises.
Now onto the quotes. I gave a mish mash. I just wanted to get your opinion on all of them and how they relate to Obama being the home of traditional Conservatives. I wasn't thinking of comparing both candidates, but why not? I realize I probably gave a little too much there, so I'll just respond by topic:
Gay Rights (In General): Obama is for civil unions, not marriage. McCain can't make up his mind, or can't say what he really thinks and still be the party's nominee. By default Obama is closer to Goldwater in my opinion. I think Goldwater would have shit on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Limited Government (Taxes): I don't think either candidate is even close to Goldwater here. Neither of them can credibly say they will make government smaller, although they both claim they will cut out inefficiencies and remove programs and departments that do not work. Heh, sure, and my ex girlfriend loved me like she said she did. To Goldwater, the income tax was a sin.
Religious Right: Obama is, I would guess, pretty much cheek-to-cheek with Goldwater when it comes to the religious right. I don't have anything to add to what your sentiments are regarding McCain.
Welfare State: This is the "America's Promise" referred to in the 2008 Democratic Party Platform. You can bet your ass a President Obama and a Democratic Congress are going to attempt to expand this - health care for all, unemployment insurance bumps, wealth redistribution - all of this has been promised already. To me McCain is much more trustworthy, although neither is like Goldwater.
Military Power: Goldwater was a straight up hawk. One quote I read one day but can't find now said something to the effect of turning Vietnam into a muddy crater, to not be willy nilly about the fight. Neither candidate is like this, but really the military stuff is just not Obama's strength. The military times had a poll that went 68/23 in McCain's favor. Really though, there is a bit of a disconnect here because traditional Conservatives (like Ron Paul) are isolationists, and neither candidate is an isolationist.
The UN: Traditional conservatives absolutely bristle at the thought of ceding any sovereignty whatsoever, beyond what is in Article 6 of the Constitution (recap: treaties are the law of the land). I don't think either candidate is anything like Goldwater or traditional Conservatives in this respect.
(e:James), I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong (and really, really shocked). This just doesn't compute. I was lazy and thought it was a safe assumption. This is surprising indeed, and I'm currently asking my Libertarian friends just what the hell the deal is. I know there is overlap, but these people don't strike me as the type of people who compromise, especially when it comes to the fiscal stuff.
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Date: 2008-10-23 16:57:33
Comment ID: 40806
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You've hung out with me, had beers, you know me on a general level, so why ask me such a damned foolish and insulting question? How do YOU think I would respond to racist crap? Next will you ask me if I am a gay hater? Lol!
But just to correct you, yet again....you really need to actually read the stuff you give to me. Don't you ever get tired of misrepresenting the facts? Don't you know that the party's chairman publicly denounced the flyers from this women's group?
And, really (e:Ajay), you're the king of putting words in my mouth, in Josh's mouth, and you did it again right after bitching at me for it. You're the king of generalizing when it comes to your enemies. You never offer any conditionals, and you never even say the obvious thing, that violence and vandalism like is wrong, which is rather curious. The clothes are officially off, my friend, so drop the pretense, it is just silly.
Speaking of LOL, how was that Cindy Sheehan fundraiser? Did you round up, what, 500, 1000 bucks for that nut?
Oops, by your standards, I must be sexist now.
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Date: 2008-10-21 20:15:38
Comment ID: 40674
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It's oppression of the worst kind.
From a personal standpoint, ideally, I certainly would prefer prevention to abortion - that doesn't always work out either. But whatever a woman chooses, who the hell am I, or anyone else to judge (isn't that between her and her god anyway?) - I don't live her life, I don't know her circumstance, and HER body is not my body.
As for the Creationism v evolution - I don't spend a lot of time mulling over this one. I know some people have made a mental compromise on this - like maybe 7 days was actually 7 million or billion years, etc. I guess sometimes it's whatever they need to try to make the opposing pieces fit together somehow.
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Date: 2008-10-09 00:37:51
Comment ID: 39900
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I'm thinking that most of us posters are addicts, but there are so many more visitors than posters.
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Date: 2008-10-05 18:26:36
Comment ID: 39695
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Date: 2008-09-28 12:06:05
Comment ID: 39311
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Date: 2008-09-11 12:56:49
Comment ID: 38800
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Date: 2008-08-25 12:57:17
Comment ID: 38137
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I got a call today and freaked out because work was insane and I thought I would have to pick this kid up on the peace bridge... I am really glad there was a misunderstanding and passports are not needed until next year.
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Date: 2008-05-31 21:11:07
Comment ID: 35606
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Date: 2008-05-12 11:48:59
Comment ID: 35008
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Anyway, i think I'm rambling. that's because im using my mew phone that lets me write posts, texts, emails, documents etc... in cursive On my screen, incredibly fast with amazing accuracy. I Know i've mentioned this in like a thousand other posts and comments but I just can't get over how fucking great this thing is. I feel like I'm living in the Jetsons age when I'm using it. i cant wait for the chance when I can go to a meeting and whip this thing out and start taking notes while people stare at me while thinking that I'm crazy for playing with my phone while some important PhD is talking. In which case I will say ''Oh please dont mind me. I'm just taking some quick notes just to make sure I don't miss anything"
OK, thats enough for now. I'm going to go and hanD write a word document or something, because this here is getting at Of hand.
and P.S. please excuse the spelling and grammatical mistakes. this thing is good but not perfect.
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Date: 2008-05-03 08:06:31
Comment ID: 34670
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Anyway, i think I'm rambling. that's because im using my mew phone that lets me write posts, texts, emails, documents etc... in cursive On my screen, incredibly fast with amazing accuracy. I Know i've mentioned this in like a thousand other posts and comments but I just can't get over how fucking great this thing is. I feel like I'm living in the Jetsons age when I'm using it. i cant wait for the chance when I can go to a meeting and whip this thing out and start taking notes while people stare at me while thinking that I'm crazy for playing with my phone while some important PhD is talking. In which case I will say ''Oh please dont mind me. I'm just taking some quick notes just to make sure I don't miss anything"
OK, thats enough for now. I'm going to go and hand write a word document or something, because this here is getting at Of hand.
and P.S. please excuse the spelling and grammatical mistakes. this thing is good but not perfect.
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Date: 2008-05-03 08:05:29
Comment ID: 34669
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Date: 2007-11-29 21:19:01
Comment ID: 28638
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Date: 2007-11-28 20:12:47
Comment ID: 28580
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Once upon a time, there was a mermaid who was buried in the depths of the Atlantic. Her sighs punctuated the ocean with waves of query...
Who's next??
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Date: 2007-11-16 00:43:17
Comment ID: 28076
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" For all those times I wondered what it would be like to gnaw on my grandmother's thigh, I was about to find out."
Good Grief.
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Date: 2007-11-08 22:53:31
Comment ID: 27737
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Date: 2007-11-06 03:34:07
Comment ID: 27564
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I think some people are glossing over Drew's statement that the topic will be addressed, it will just be addressed in due time, in my mind, when a foundation is laid. So, no, not addressing it in a class right now is not a cop out, IMO.
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Date: 2007-10-11 23:06:03
Comment ID: 26142
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Date: 2007-10-07 19:01:45
Comment ID: 25902
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Prince - Purple Rain & Emancipation (but really anything)
Barbra Streisand - (anything)
Dave Matthews Band - Under The Dreaming Tree (anything)
Jeff Buckley (anything)
George Michael (anything)
Michael Buble (anything)
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Date: 2007-09-23 12:50:52
Comment ID: 25045
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Date: 2007-09-08 20:21:28
Comment ID: 24127
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Ap how fast an iype me STOL bea xcurafe I need practicemartthew-
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Date: 2007-08-08 22:32:01
Comment ID: 21913
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Date: 2007-07-03 14:10:44
Comment ID: 20342
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Date: 2007-07-03 14:10:13
Comment ID: 20341
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As Henery Rollins once said: "All women are EVIL, but all men are MORONS!"
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Date: 2007-06-23 14:00:19
Comment ID: 20047
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I never really liked Radiohead much, although, I don't mind listening to it if someone plays it. Of Montreal is a cool band, though.
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Date: 2007-06-15 22:59:19
Comment ID: 19763
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Date: 2007-05-10 19:16:52
Comment ID: 18340
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Date: 2007-04-17 19:25:34
Comment ID: 17595
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Date: 2007-04-17 19:25:33
Comment ID: 17594
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Your pugs are adorable, too. But i am so biased.
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Date: 2007-02-25 15:35:53
Comment ID: 16012
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But as the poor bastard who maintains the software that sits on the other site of (e:uncutsaniflush) 's scanner, I'm all to familiar with the irregularities of inventory management (albeit in a factory). Quantities of our products (and we are a single manufacturer) depend on what particular product we're making and who we're selling it, and we might have two different names for what is in essence the same product because some of our customers like to give their own special name to product we sell to many customers. At least some of the time, except on thursday when there's a 50% forcast chance of rain and Eliot spitzer is hopping on one foot. And some parts we have are "virtual parts", in that they don't actually exist and they're always supposed to be in zero quantities because they denote some special relationship between one product and another. And some parts are identical to one another except for the fact that they're painted, yet they qualify as different parts, but kinda not.
Behold, the fun that is inventory.
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Date: 2007-02-18 21:41:22
Comment ID: 15832
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Date: 2007-02-13 15:20:14
Comment ID: 15610
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Date: 2007-02-07 14:06:15
Comment ID: 15405
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Date: 2006-04-22 22:03:28
Comment ID: 6785
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Date: 2005-08-04 17:29:42
Comment ID: 444
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Date: 2005-08-04 13:11:57
Comment ID: 428
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Date: 2005-07-10 09:26:51
Comment ID: 156
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Date: 2005-07-08 23:36:10
Comment ID: 142
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Date: 2005-07-08 15:16:55
Comment ID: 137
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Date: 2005-07-06 22:47:34
Comment ID: 131
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Date: 2005-07-02 11:48:29
Comment ID: 109
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Date: 2005-07-01 10:52:40
Comment ID: 106
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p.s. - I'm going to miss you, dammit! :-(
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Date: 2005-06-30 00:11:12
Comment ID: 99
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