UConn James

Chicks dig the long balls. Too bad it won't win you many games after December.

That was like a meta-wink. Her team likely decided to have her wink so it would be used on SNL. At times in the debate, Sarah Palin was playing Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin.

Who could've guessed this would happen? Ah-nold Has His Hand Out to Hank: Brother, Can You Spare $7B? Same deal with all the crap mail we get. Gave to the USO one time b/c I thought they did a good service for our troops... and ever since, we get 1000 times the sh-- from Arbor Day, Doctors Without Borders, ACLU, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans of America, MDA, The Second Amendment Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, the Christian children fund that on teevee all the time, Make-a-Wish, Salvation Army.... this could probably go on ad nauseum if I remembered more of the groups. (I will never give money to any of these f--kers again.) Point is, give money to one, and then EVERYONE comes looking for a dollar b/c it's like having the word 'SUCKER' in neon lights above your head.

As I wrote in the other thread, how are tax breaks considered "pork"? These add-ons are not Congress directly spending money that'll need to be raised by taxes. This is Congress giving some companies some tax breaks so they can shore up their businesses and encourage growth in American production... which at the end of the day will actually probably be good for the govt, when you follow the proven point that when tax rates are lowered, total tax revenues actually increase. Nice job by CNN to try to make people think that tax cuts, even if they're targeted, are bad, with their "... would cost taxpayers $X" lines. NEWS FLASH! Tax cuts are not payments and don't cost taxpayers money. It only makes it sure that govt doesn't have their hands in a business' pockets in the first place... which can be the difference in companies surviving and people staying employed.

I'm just questioning why everyone's calling some of these tax-breaks for American companies 'pork'? 'Pork' in the common parlance is direct Congressional spending for various and sundry projects of dubious nature. I haven't read in breadth or depth all of what's contained in the bill and frankly, I don't want to. But since all sources are describing this $110M add-in as "tax breaks," I'm not having that hard a time over it. Tax breaks are something that actually help businesses grow. For all of you here on PPP who regularly ride on Congress' breasts for TAXES=BAD, I can't say I'm surprised that now some people have gotten tax breaks, you're vocal against them b/c it might not be a break that you personally benefit from. Screw Joe who owns the wool company and now might not have to lay off workers, huh? Now, if you want to call these items the grease that allowed the real $700B pork package to fit through the door (getting some 'yes' votes from Repubs, who usually only say they want to cut taxes...), well, you can go ahead. I'm not contesting that point. These tax cuts also seem to be targeted to American production companies. I've been saying on these forums for a long time that it portended of bad things that we don't really produce tangible things in America anymore, our economy is basically just a circle-jerk of service, American Idol wannabes, and retail (selling other countries wares on credit adding up to a truly staggering trade deficit) jobs along with some financial jobs (which other countries were increasingly learning and doing themselves rather than giving their money to America to control and hoping for some return). So the financial sector took a hit. Wow. Imagine that. Didn't see that one coming! Financial sectors hitting the skids and now Congress thinks it's a good time to throw a bone to some production industries where we might be able to produce and sell some crap to other countries. Wool industry. Toy arrows (I don't get this, but, what the hell do I know about their business?), Alaska fisheries (big market in Asia for seafood), etc.

If JMac loses, she's set to be a gov. --- or senator to gain/maintain DC experience and national visibility --- for as long as terms limits allow until, and if, she decides to make her own run.

Just a theory, but I think he's too busy munching on burnt umbers and turquoise blues. Ever wonder about one's less frequent posting on this forum as the other started kicking it up a notch, especially after Ken got some lip about the feasibility of his runs (vice running for state office) and how he'd possibly expect to be an effective commander-in-chief? Add in that this particular poster, despite all the stalking (for awhile, he posted the same fill-in-the-blank response to every one of my posts, and after this I fully expect it to start again) and crap he pulls, goes un-moderated. Wonder why.

You're thinking with your heart, not with your head. I can assure you that Jabari Greer has no intention of "not being a valuable commodity on the FA market." Seriously, who makes a choice to "not be[come] a valuable commodity" besides Edward in "Sense and Sensibility"? Dude hasn't worked his butt off to give Buffalo a dramatic hometown discount in days when big-market teams in need of a CB won't bat an eyelash to throw $10M+ guaranteed at him. Ralph will not do that.

FWIW, in this case, I wouldn't be surprised if the daughter, say, wore a bikini and the guy just filled in the rest on his own, same as he had't've done for the face. When using a model, it's more to get an understanding of the body proportion. Actual nude models are mostly used to show Renaissance concepts... and for horny art teachers and students who aren't getting any to pretend theirs are refined tastes and they're not interested in sex.

Yep. That's the cost of getting your hands on some good players. You might get a couple of years from them on the cheap and then it's time to pay the piper once they've performed... or they go elsewhere. Sadly, that's right about Evans. I don't know if the Bills would use the franchise tag on him. But the fact that he says they're close gives me some hope he'll be here for a while. You've seen this before wrt the Edwards situation. Dude is playing his butt off for us at, what $400K/yr, and should be rewarded with a big contract. That's just how it goes for QBs, and if he's a good QB you don't flinch. Ralph seems to get this, and after the RJ debacle's lesson was learned, Edwards has sufficiently shown, to my eyes at least, that he's a keeper. This is a nice situation b/c the Bills have some leverage and therefore TE would want to get a new deal as security, but then again, you don't want to lowball your starting QB. The longer it goes w/o giving him a big contract, the more it'll take to sign him. Not so sure about Peters. At this point, what he did to himself, and thereby did to the team still doesn't sit right to me. And the fact that he's still not playing overwhelmingly well --- is he tanking it, even unconsciously? --- doesn't bode in his favor. He might get a token raise, but this season needs to play out with him playing better. Else, shifting Walker to LT and signing Chambers looks better and better to me. If Ralph wants to keep this nucleus together in the next few years, cash to cap is probably going to have to be scrapped.

That distinction was not made by the official. It was not a quote. That paragraph was CNN's (this is an unattributed wire story) word choice. Just funny that they feel they have to borrow language typically used to describe Islamic politico-religious factions and use it to classify those in a... for lack of a better word... profession. Why couldn't they just leave as saying there was infighting among the group b/w those who wanted to surrender and those who wanted to fight 'til the death. Just have to further the axiom that Moderate=Good, Radical=Bad, and if they keep repeating it enough, people will believe it's just that simple.

Fixed.

Pretty amusing then, now.

That would require a colossally stupid Greer and agent. He will make far more money in UFA, where dollars flow like cheap beer at a Polish wedding, than what the Bills would offer him (what with our new surfeit of CBs). The only thing Greer would get by re-signing mid-year would be a relatively small cushion in the chance that he gets seriously hurt. In an era where Dre Bly (whose fundamental corner skills were iffy, but managed to have a monster INT year) several years ago got double-digit millions, you don't even consider it a gamble --- you test the market. Greer played solid last year, and if he keeps up this level of play, well, good for him. It's win-win, at least this year. The Bills will get great production from a hungry player that could be a difference-maker come playoff-time, and he'll get a fat contract from someone next year. This won't be the Bills unless something drastic happens injury-wise, and probably not even then. We'll all wish him luck except when he's playing against us. The FO drafted this year similarly to previous years; draft a year ahead to replace guys who you figure will be gone.

They'll defend themselves until the last one of them dies, huh? Reports are, now, that they're killing among themselves. And, get this, CNN is making a distinction b/w "moderate pirates" (those who want to surrender) and the more committed "radical pirates." Are there such things as "moderate terrorists" too? How simplistic / categoristic can they get in dumbing down news? Also a little disconcerting that the USS Howard took photos of the assault last week and evidently, did bupkiss. Then again, I don't suppose they can do anything b/c it's not their ship... not even a U.S. ship. But a second then again, how eeriely similar is that scene to the Cole bombing? And with such cargo on board, there had to be a threat (or should have been) that the pirates (how could they assume it was not AQ at that point?) would use those weapons against the Howard?

I would only say that encouraging F&F and irresponsible home buyers at that time by even hinting that the govt would back bad loans would've made for an even worse situation. Even if the tide was coming in, how could he have said anything else than 'No bailouts!'?

I'll take "Lowering Expectations" for $1,000, Alex. Pre-emptive move that if she does as badly in the debate as in her interviews so far, it's not her fault. It's her preparers! It's the debate team! Sarah isn't responsible for what Sarah says (or, doesn't say) or thinks. And if she holds her own, she's the next Babe Ruth! It's gotten so bad that they sent McCain on with her as a guide and it still managed to be a clusterf--k.

Did someone check under the couch? This is the sh-- that really gets me shaking my head. Friggin' Wall Street is like Monopoly money. One day it's there and then wup! you just lose a trillion dollars. Gone. Just disappeared like a fart in the wind. But, who knows, maybe it'll be back tomorrow. Wall Street is to economics what astrology is to science.

Link This is actually the first I've heard of this here in the state (can't get the CT teevee market, weird as that is, and 'I am less well-read than the average bus driver' ). The article says the so-called "direct initiative" is used in 31 states. So, I'm wondering what the general thoughts on it are. I believe this is the avenue that California used to recall Gray Davis? Per the article, the feeling is that this would force votes on politically charged issues, e.g. same-sex marriage. Incidentally, in the article, supporters of both sides seem in favor of the constitutional convention (reference: CT already allows civil unions), which would add language allowing for and --- one would suppose ---outlining the process for invoking the direct initiative and the other machinations. But like opening a can of worms, there's sure to be other topics. On its face, I think I'd support something that the people could use when they have politicians that fail to address serious issues. One sure sign to read is that it seems many politicians, special interest groups, union groups, etc. are lining up in opposition to the direct initiative, saying that it will clog up the system. The cynic in me thinks it's only natural that they'd oppose anything that might infringe on their cohorts' accumulation of power that's been wrested away from the People over time out of mind. So, I'm asking for those in states with 'direct initiatives' and those with knowledge... What is its worth? What to expect from it? (Probably, not much).

Don't quite get why this hasn't been arranged yet. Maybe it's in the works. Time was these sh--bags' blood would be drying in the sun right now. Don't tell me that they're actually allowing negotiations. They need to be made an example of. But, you know, that's not how big countries have to operate these days --- they need to apologize to the hijackers for making them commandeer the ship... like an "attractive nuisance."

Greer is gonna get a fat UFA contract. Mark my words. Sucks that we'll be losing him, but his stepping up this year --- along with Youboty --- will be a big reason we go as far as I think we're going to go!

More Fey-as-Palin on SNL.

IMing through the first presidential debate. A running commentary that I just had to share. On a serious note, my brother wears two of these for guys in his unit that he served with/commanded. Am I the only one who thought/think this phenomenon --- other than for guys who were true friends/fellow soldiers of the deceased --- is remarkably crass, even for American politics? "Look, I know of a dead soldier! And this is a little piece of metal around my wrist! That means my opinion on military policy is right!"

My old Boy Scout troop leader sold him the land the camp is located on, and ran the camp for some time. It's a pretty competitive process to be a volunteer there.

My father worked security at his HITWGC nearby during the celebrity galas they'd have. He met Mr. Newman several times. One of those times a car came down a blocked-access road, the window rolled down and the driver said, "Officer, I've had a long night and I'd just like to get home." He didn't give some ignominous "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!?!" schpiel as if he was the most important person in the world. (My father said to him, "Ahhh... Well, you're not on the list, but all right, go ahead." with a sh--eating grin). Many times, Mr. Newman would stop in at a local convenience store in town, pick something up and stand in line. Most people wouldn't look twice at him in a baseball cap and sunglasses, but also b/c he was much shorter than anyone would envision from the silver screen. He liked just being an ordinary person that was possible out here in the sticks. His wife Joann Woodward has also been a great benefactor to the town's library. In the end, I think his legacy will be as much his camps as for his acting. And tho I'm an avowed agnostic I truly hope he's meeting some of the kids whose pain he tried to ease. RIP Mr. Newman. You did a lot of good.