Terry Tate

That's the way to go right there. Excellent link, thank you.

Not even close. But I'm still fast enough to catch my wife. Uh, after that, watching the clock is not permitted.

Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying, and no, I didn't mean that at all. That's not that much clearer, is it? Perhaps this article from the BBC will help you understand my point: US 'whittling away at death penalty' It is also important to understand your statements about IQ measurements assume they are a standard that is unassailable. They are not. They are a useful tool in many ways, but in judging competancy, they have many shortcomings that can be exploited, and aspects of compentancy they do not address at all. The US court system has ruled the death penalty is constitutional and justified for two reasons: retribution and deterrence. Keeping people who are a threat to society off the streets can be accomplished by locking them up; executing them is not necessary. I am not for executing those determined to be incompetent, which is already available for counselors pre-trial, during the trial, during sentencing, and during the appeal process. If you create a standard that if a criminal fails to achieve a certain number on an IQ test, or has not reached a specific age, he is not subject to the death penalty, you are not taking into account other important aspects of compentancy, and weakening the ability to enforce the death penalty for the most heinous crimes. I believe the pursuit of introducing these standards and others like them that will follow are an attempt by death penalty opponents to weaken enforcement of the death penalty during the period of time that the public is not willing to ban it entirely.

Of course it does. I wasn't equating maturity level with mental retardation, but yes, if you determine a criminal who has committed a capital offense should not be subject to the death penalty because of mental capacity, of course it weakens it. You may believe it to be proper, just as there are those who feel it is proper that a criminal under the age of 18 who has committed a capital offense should not be subject to the death penalty. But it obviously weakens capital punishment by making exceptions to the rule, in lieu of banning it, which is not possible at this point in time. Which was the point I was trying to make. Were I a defense lawyer, I couldn't argue my adult client was actually a minor, but I sure as hell could argue he had the mental capacity or maturity level of one, and therefore should not be subject to the death penalty. Also see: Ban on partial-birth abortions, in lieu of overturning Roe V Wade, or California's medical marijuana initiative, in lieu of blanket legalization of marijuana.

Furthers the point that it is not minors that are the concern, it is the inability to eliminate capital punishment, therefore the effort is to selectively weaken it's enforcement to the point that it is impossible to implement.

The only problem I see with capital punishment is that it is not used often or swiftly enough. If criminals commit capital offenses (we're not talking about a theft here), and they're found guilty, they should be executed. If they happen to be minors, I guess a lengthier review before sentencing would be in order, but to quote Jules in Pulp Fiction "Well we'd have to be talkin' about one charmin' mfin' pig. I mean he'd have to be ten times more charmin' than that Arnold on Green Acres, you know what I'm sayin'?" Next step: Joe Criminal was convicted of a capital offense. Your Honor, since Joe has the mental maturity level of a minor, he should not receive the death penalty.

RFA's tendered a contract and signing with another team is also covered in the article I linked to. Give it a read, it's very comprehensive. http://www.gotitans.com/artman/publish/article_00619.shtml

Compensatory draft picks always come at the end of a round, but no higher than the end of round 3. Teams may receive a maximum of 4 compensatory picks in any given year.

$5 mil against the cap, I would've cut him too. Unless he wanted to take a pay cut to 3rd WR/KR/backup CB money. They're running a team, not a charity.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3110

From the NFL's site: Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula. A good article on free agency here that mentions compensatory picks at the bottom. Doesn't sound like there's a formula, more like a guideline.

You have bad taste in music. 1. Don't go to this concert. 2. Stop listening to bad music. 3. Turn off your radio and TV. Some pretty funny clips.

Just a bit.

That's the impression I have of him from reading his articles.

? Why would Jerry Sullivan send you a personal email filled with expletives ?? I'm curious to hear more about that exchange.

Uh oh, sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

Feb 2005, Hollywood: the term 'whistleblower' takes on a different connotation.

I can only suggest a review of ballot initiatives in states that have them. That's one of the best examples of direct democracy we have on display. Most voters do not educate themselves properly on these initiatives, let alone running the rest of government. You may not think well of some or all of our politicians, but direct democracy advocates putting decisions in the hands of people who regularly make asses out of themselves on Jay Leno's 'man on the street' interviews. I think it would end poorly.

Fans of American Idol and Survivor will like the new direct democracy, they can text message in their votes deciding our foreign policy.

Not a small difference, I considered making the same comment. But I've read enough of their posts to assume they're aware of the differences, and just use 'democracy' as a generic overall description.

'Merit', of course, would be defined by those in power. No cause for alarm.

I can't understand why they continue to hold the combine at a facility that players think has one of the worst playing surfaces in the league. I read a article the other day that mentioned the turf is scheduled to be replaced soon. Brings to mind the Philly preseason game that got cancelled because the turf was too dangerous.

There are 'big mouths' campaigning to throw the baby out with the bath water?

Caddyshack is realistic if you imagine a combination of several TSW posters out for a round of golf.

I think I'd want to know why a player has been getting worse every year for the last few years before I took a chance on him. He went from the ProBowl to being deactivated for several games last year. Either the Viking's D coaches blew it bad, or this guy is/was a major head case, but the coaches' story was he was deactivated because he wouldn't listen to their instructions. Those 2003 numbers don't look too hot, either. Year GS Tackles Assists Sacks 2000 16 41.0 5 2 2001 16 29.0 14 6 2002 16 38.0 14 5.5 2003 16 19.0 8 2 2004 13 11.0 9 1.5