Rob's House

I thought it was 3rdling? No?

I'm not really sure what you're getting at here. This is obviously a global issue, but you describe it as if it were within one geopolitical unit. Speaking in broad generalities (we, them) from a distant level of abstraction can make the absurd seem sensible unless you actually break it down. There is one central question that has to be answered for any of this to make sense: Who is it that should be supplying food to other countries that is not doing so currently?

Never seen Kingpin?

In most, if not all, states, the legislatures found this to be enough of a concern that "buggery" (bestiality) was written into the statutes as grounds for at fault divorce.

I'd just like to go on record as saying I thought Any Given Sunday sucked ass. Al Pacino overacted his part like he has in every movie since [and including] the Devil's advocate, and it went way over the top into the realm of absurdity by trying to get too "real". I remember my then gf's dad telling me "that's how it really is" as though this fat !@#$ has some kind of inside knowledge about life in the NFL. (this is the same ass hole that told me I needed to check out Universal Soldier 2). I also never got the Star Wars thing. I thought they were good movies, but I never got the mystical experience of the trilogy. And I thought the Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Boredomhood was some of the most over-rated, poorly acted, self-satisfied pile of cinematic Lifetimeesque crap I've ever been made to sit through. It made the Notebook seem inspiring by comparison.

B+, so not really. It was a casualty of a time crunch and narrower scope than I'd have liked, but the footnotes reference solid research (which references even more solid research). I'll email it to you if you'd like. I agree to a point, but to his credit I think he's been more open minded than most in that regard.

I don't know how obscure it is, but City of God is an excellent movie. It's a foreign film with subtitles, and I'm almost certain you won't find it on Netflix (not streaming anyway), but it's absolutely worth finding. If you can get your hands on a copy of Suburbia (directed by Richard Linklater, based on the play by Eric Bogosian) I highly recommend it. I don't know if it will have quite the impact it had on me at 19, but it's an interesting movie that relies on complex character analysis rather than plot twists. It's one that gets better with subsequent viewings. For a more twisted experience you should check out Happiness by Todd Solondz. I'd watch it with someone else who appreciates cerebral if somewhat disturbing humor. Watching it alone would be a waste of a good movie.

Of all the players we've lost, Peters is the last one whose departure I would lament. Over the last decade we've seen a lot of guys leave for little or no compensation. Peters is a guy who wanted top $ and we got a 1st and 4th for him - and three years later he blows his achilles. You can debate whether dealing him was the right move, but as far as losses go, this one's pretty minimal.

But when the DOD is hassling anti-war groups that will be different.

People are getting too caught up in the actual case. What is most noteworthy about this case, and the ONLY reason it's being discussed nationally, is because of the shameful way it was depicted in the media and used as a political football. This case was eye opening for me. It illustrated and filled in the details of a theory I've developed over the years about the way people process information. It led me to do a research paper on cognitive bias as it applies to the criminal justice system. It turns out, research on the topic confirmed and clarified my theory (which is a little ironic given the subject). The two types of bias most relevant to this case are selective information processing and belief perseverence. Selective information processing is pretty self explanatory. You weigh evidence consistent with your beliefs greater than equally reliable evidence to the contrary. So if you believe that young black males are regularly shot down by racists who are then given a wink and a pat on the back by racist law enforcement, then that's what you'll see. Similarly, if you believe that such phenomena is overstated, you will weigh the evidence accordingly. We all do this. All of us. It's human nature. To me what is more interesting is the belief perseverence part. Studies have shown that people will cling to beliefs (as well as guns and bibles, but I digress) even after the initial basis of those beliefs has been discredited. We've seen that here as well. Most everyone who assumed Zimmerman was guilty at the outset still holds that belief. When the evidence that clouds the issue started to come out they clung to whatever they could to maintain that belief ("he disobeyed the cop's order" - which is a false statement; "he was stalking Trayvon" - an unfounded statement, etc.) Some have backed off the zealotry with which they initially argued their case, but I can't think of think of any who don't still think Zimmerman should go to prison.

It's sad that people of such limited intellect can be admitted to top universities. You don't have to be Alfred Einstein to understand that if you accept skirting the rules to go after your opposition, you've accepted the ability of others to skirt those same rules to go after you.

To each his own. I don't begrudge you your religious experience, I just don't share it. Perhaps if I mined his old albums I might find something to change my opinion, but from what I've heard, which is most everything he's put out that ever got air play, he doesn't do much for me. Also, he's awfully damn soft for a guy who is supposed to exemplify rock. I really don't too much care for any of his songs, including Born in the USA (although when I was 8 that song was awesome). You should check out Use Your Illusion 2. There are some excellent songs on that album. If I'm in the right mood on a spring day when the sun is shining, I can have a religious experience listening to "Breakdown".

No offense bub, but your analysis of criminal law is kind of like my mom's analysis of a football game; and my mom doesn't know what first and ten means.

I've cruised Carnival 3 times, NCL once, and Dolphin once. Had a great time on every one (although one of the Carnvial cruises had an engine room fire and we were stuck at sea for 24 hrs, but it was still a lot of fun). Carnival has slightly better food than NCL - both are decent, but neither are anything special. I've never had trouble smuggling liquor onto Carnival; NCL caught 2 of my 3 bottles and held them til the end of the cruise. If you're a light drinker you may do well just to pay for your drinks, but at $5+ for a Miller light, a heavy drinker will want to smuggle some on. If you put plastic pints of your favorite spirits in your pockets you should be fine. You can always re-up at the ports (just remember to bring it on in your pockets rather than your bags). Most of the entertainment is pretty lame, but that's not what I'm there for. I'm always just stoked I'm on a mother !@#$ing boat.

They also had the beat. That's underrated too.

I gotta go with OP on this one. I hate the way the English language has been degraded, but RBIs is just colloquial baseball talk. I cringe when I hear an announcer say "x had 2 hits and 3 RBI". Of course, I feel the same way about WMD when used as plural - yes I know that "weapons" is the word to be pluralized, but it hurts my ears. Either enunciate the words or throw an s on the end.

I know many will disagree, but I think Bruce Springstein is ridiculously overrated. I hear he does a great live show, and who didn't love "Born in the USA", but when I hear his hit songs like "Born to Run" or "Glory Days" come on the radio I feel like I'm listening to Rick Springfield with a grittier voice. As far as Jewel goes, she was a great artist until 2003 when she abandoned her artistic identity for bubble gum pop. If you don't know what I mean listen to "Meant for me" and follow it with "Intuition". In the first song you hear a talented artist singing a song that means something to her; the second is an empty, meaningless, emotionless canned song that might as well have been given to the latest greatest Mickey Mouse Club graduate or American Idol winner. I also agree that Grateful Dead is underrated, often times even by their fans. Sure, not all of their songs are masterpieces, but they've got a lot of gems.

Sierra Nevada's Torpedo is an excellent IPA. It's about as hoppy as you can get without going overboard, but still has that crisp fresh Sierra Nevada flavor, and it's around 7% alcohol, so it gets you where you want to be without having to pound beers all night. Also, if you have beer snob taste on a PBR budget, Costco sells a 24 pack (4 6-packs: belgian white ale, amber ale, pale ale, & IPA) for around $20. It's not the best beer, but it's pretty damn good.

I live in Richmond, VA & don't know any NC State fans, but I have the Internet & can watch him just like they do & I don't entirely agree w/ that assessment. When protection breaks down you're supposed to check down & NC State had a weak O-line. Glennon made a lot of big plays down the field & a lot of key throws that were dropped by sorry receivers. His lack of mobility is a concern, but there's a lot to like about this kid.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still hit it, but she's starting to get up in age. It wouldn't break my heart if she & the smug cheese-dick she's married to just faded into the background

Personally, I've never been remotely offended by any of his so-called antics. I actually get a kick out of how upset the up-tight, military-style, "get off my lawn" types get over it.

Were you saying this at the time or is your outrage a product of hindsight? Thanks, though, for reminding me that my misanthropy is justified.

I can play the Barney game too. If we had limited magazine capacity and prohibited functionally nondistinct but stylistically warlike guns, all of this could have been avoided...oh wait.

Supposing we roll w/ Kolb/TJax at QB (I'd take Barkley, but go with me here) who would you draft to set up a high output offense going forward? (w/n reason of who might be available) Here's mine: 1. Chance Warmack - OG - AL 2. Terrance Williams - WR - Baylor 3. Da'rick Rogers - WR - Ten Tech 4. Travis Kelce - TE - Cin/Gavin Escobar -TE - SDSU 5. Knile Davis - RB - AK (assuming Lattimore's gone) 6. Lonnie Pryor - FB - FSU Rationale: With Warmack we go from solid to dominant on O-line. Dude's a beast, I've watched a lot of him & he's to O-line what we all hoped Dareus would be to D-line. With Williams, Rogers, & Kelce/Escobar our receiving corps goes from mediocre to elite even if one of them busts. Knile Davis gives us a big fast back to take over when Fred retires & gives us insurance. He may not have it mentally, but it's rare to see that combination of size, speed, & agility in the 5th. Pryor is never going to be a Sam Gash style, knock a LB on his ass kind of back, but he's the kind of FB that could get out in front of CJ to spring him with a key block & he could make some noise running & catching the ball.

I agree with this. If you've got a 1 & 3 on the table for a guy who wants a levitrian contract & doesn't want to be here it's hard to turn your nose up at that. A Byrd in the hand is worth 2 in the bush, and you're getting 2 guys, so that's fair, & their combined salary won't come close to his. I'm just saying, you could do a lot worse.