blzrul

Simon, you mean the b-school at the U of R, the same university that caused a furor back in the 80's when they wanted to change their name (Eastman University was one of the options I recall) because "Rochester" evoked images of a "cold, distant outpost" in potential students' minds (which is not a good image apparently). And isn't Simon the same school that caved in when Kodak raised a stink about their admitting someone from Fuji-Xerox (at the time) into an executive program....so Simon withdrew his acceptance, whereupon Simon threatened to withdraw his name and patronage from the school...whereupon Simon got the guy a spot at Wharton, which is a better school anyway... Rochester is a small town, with a narrow, parochial view of the world. It's not the only town like it of course, but it's not a coincidence that such in insulated community is mired in an "inversion" of stagnancy. It's with good reason that the late Curt Gerling (yes I knew him how about that) referred to Rochester as "Smugtown, USA". It's a good place to raise kids, then they leave. And it's a good place to be old. In fact it seems like there are an inordinate number of old people there and when they all die who knows what will be left. I enjoyed living there, I lived in the city and did all the business I could in the city to support it, I volunteered etc and then realized there was much more opportunity to experience life where people embraced change and sought ways to meet challenges and reinvent their communities. Unfortunately Rochester just isn't in that league and I don't see anything changing.

It is a sad, sad day when you and I agree about something.

Oh yeah it's booming when 400 people stand in line for hours to get junior or entry-level jobs at Coopervision. Puh-lease. I am still VERY well connected in the Rochester area and was just able to help a friend with advance degree and 4 years of underemployment get hired into my company...beneath her I might add but it's a job that has health care, dental, and a pension. And she no longer has to drive to Geneva and back daily for $10 an hour and no benefits, as she has for the past year. So now she can keep her daughter in college at least. And I don't care to mention the resumes that I still receive from people there who are working cruddy jobs, nor from those whose mantra is "work like a dog and keep your head down" so they don't get fired. I still participate in the "networking" group established by people who got laid off in 2002...many of whom are still looking. So don't tell me how great the economy is, because that's not true. It sounds like the effects of too much Kool Aid. I have many family members still there, like a mother, brother, sister, aunts, cousins etc. All bemoan the situation there, it's really a shame. For people with a job who don't mind that the city closes at 5:30, the roads are full of potholes and the politicians throw money away on bull sh-- like fast ferries and worry that Rochester is a prime target for evildoers (like they'd care) ....it's a great place. And if your idea of a robust social life is meeting up with your pals at Wegmans (try having a conversation without Wegmans somehow creeping into it) or daring to sneak down to the Eastman .... in the heart of the big bad city.....then it's a great place. I lived there for over 30 years and haven't been gone that long. I always thought I might go back, but right now there's nothing to go back to. It's sad, but true.

Actually Roch is crummy too. Just saw an article they lost more people last year than any time in the past 15, the second to Erie county. It's a wasteland.

My son was austic and also the manager of his school basketball team the year before he died at age 14. It would have been funny to see Nick with GWB had he had the chance...but perhaps not. He was not a fan of GWB. That said I'm sure he would have at least experienced shock and awe.

Agreed. So now they may have to take the death penalty off the table or....whatever. Hard to believe that this guy could ultimately get off but you never know. OJ walks amongst us doesn't he...

No, the prosecution is dumb for coaching the witnesses. The judge is correct to declare a mistrial. I have been a witness in criminal proceedings. There's a big difference in REVIEWING TESTIMONY and being COACHED.

An angry federal judge abruptly adjourned the sentencing trial of al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui today and is considering whether to declare a mistrial or drop the death penalty as an option. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema will hear testimony Tuesday from witnesses whose testimony was coached in violation of court rules This is on the CNN home page. What a bunch of incompetents we have working for us.

Wrong thread.

Sorry, only ignorant narrow-minded arrogant windbags allowed on Fox. I saw RIO there the other day.

Didn't Bush nominate this guy for a judicial position a couple of times too?

My bonus alone this year is 1/3 of my husband's full year salary and I outearned him by 30k last year so I can shop whenever I damn well please AND all he can do is snap-to and say "ma'am yes MA'AM!" :-) And restless leg syndrome is indeed a boatload of crap. Now let's talk about the entire generation of zoned-out kids we created by labeling them "ADD" and putting them on Ritalin just for being kids.

Well it's all water over or under the dam now anyway. oh that was bad. The point being that dissecting the statement now and looking for some way to weasel out of responsibility is about as meaningful as discussing what the definition of "is" is. Fact is the governmental agencies responsible failed from the local all the way to the top. It'll be the same thing here when the Alaska Way Viaduct finally collapses. The freaking thing is founded in sand and compacted trash and was damaged by earthquake...yet there it stands. I won't drive on it, or if I do I'll only go on the top. I don't want to end up like those people in the San Francisco quake. Yuck.

Yeah but either way FEMA still screwed up. I don't think the people who drowned gave a rat's ass whether the water came at the OVER the levee or THRU it.

But how would you know to drive over to get them? Perhaps reacting to their phone call or text message that they wanted to visit you?

I wonder how many people who would support the government's acting proactively outside the US take the time and trouble to do so in their own communities? As in, for example, working on planning boards etc. instead of merely reacting when stuff they don't like gets pushed through. Not trolling, just wondering.

I happen to work with companies who provide container security: tracking, monitoring, surveillance etc. Containers entering this country from around the world are probably one of, if not THE, weakest link in the chain. Yeah, marine surveyors can inspect and "seal" the containers at the port of origination, but that's one data point. When they get here, the authorities simply can't inspect them all. Marine surveyors do, but they are retained by the companies who are receiving the goods (I have done marine surveying). They only inspect the ones they're retained to check. Working with these companies I have a pretty good idea of what comes in, what's inspected, and what can be accounted for at any given time. Letting the Arabs manage our port security is ludicrous untill and unless the carriers all equip their containers with equipment that will monitor and transmit data over both terrestrial and satellite networks (so coverage is constant). That's so far the best way to be safe... I have several DHS projects underway doing this, as well as tracking many of the public transportation vehicles you ride daily. The technology is good and the cost is coming down. DHS ought to put their money there not with Dubya's Arab buddies.

So who cares? If that means Condoleezza Rice doesn't get more memos about impending attacks to ignore, what difference does it make?

Speaking of lemmings, did you see Russ Feingold on Bill Maher? Maher made a statement about the Patriot Act and asked why Feingold was the only guy to vote against it...Feingold response = "I read it". Priceless.

For anyone who's never visited a port, or hasn't done so recently- you can just waltz right out there without question. Newark NJ? No problem. Seattle, one of the busiest last year? Sure 'nuff. So UAE - go for it. How could you be worse? Is there any reason to suppose that Bush Inc would be any more competent here, than they have been so far? Or will this be yet another in a long line of Bush failures that enrich his friends and family to the detriment of the rest of us? Why even bother to dissect and discuss it? Bush is making threats about what he'll do if he doesn't get his way. So it must be REALLY important to spread the wealth. Hmm maybe Dubai is going to hand OBL over in return for the contract? Uh huh. Something about "being sold down the river" comes to mind in a sort of ironic way...

Traveling a whole lot. Miami, Dallas, Atlanta. I know, you feel my pain.

I'm not sure she's running. I think she's a decoy. Get them all to gear up and arm for her, then spring a dark horse on 'em. I am in Dallas this week. Lucky me.

McCain won't change parties. Nice to see you're back.

That would be my point. Particularly as it seems like they're trying to minimize the heart attack which probably would NOT have happened otherwise. Why is it that this guy's heart attack is minor? Seem insensitive at best.

Well let's see, guns don't kill people, people do. So let's see some person take responsibility instead of dodging it. Good thing Uncle Dick never travels without an entourage of physicians to restart is cold mechanical heart and, of course, an ambulance on standby. It IS nice that someone else's heart attack is "minor". Cripes.