UConn James

The administration's abject refusal to consider this option is, in my view, the reason why Iraq is in the current mess it's in. A diverse, multicultural Iraq would be a great thing, in theory. But in reality, it has just fomented the civil war. What needed to happen was an initial separation into ethnic provinces, followed by a long period of cooperation and either a buildup of collective nationalism (i.e. through sports, a united Olympic team, media, etc.) or, if it's unfeasible, a permanent separation. One of the biggest reasons why this wasn't done was the challenge of how to divvy up the oil monies, i.e. which province gets how much, access, pipeline issues. In fact, tho, a de facto seperation is happening, as families are seperating into ethnic regions by themselves.

When is Bruuuuuce eligible? Next year? Rest assured his will be a first-ballot election.

Wash. Post link Well, it certainly doesn't help his campaign among people with the mindset that people who have ever used drugs are not fit for public office. But, I would say that ideal has changed immeasurably in just the last 10 years. It's no longer a deal-breaker as long as said politician has turned their lives around. Look at Bush --- while he hasn't out-and-out said 'cocaine' (except in his sister-in-law's book) but the common perception that he hasn't disputed is he did heavy drugs. Remember that Obama decided to run knowing full well what he wrote in the memoir and that it would become an issue. I think his credentials and actions since that time speak for themselves, as Marv's famous quote goes. It also shows his full honesty of having made a mistake and freely admitting it to any and all. (Also bear in mind that cocaine when he went to high school was prevalent/reputed akin to marijuana today, and that it was nowhere near as strong). It would have been a problem for him if it had not been in the open and it seemed like he tried to hide it, especially if it came out later. He can address it and get it out of the way a year before the primaries. Americans tend to be very forgiving people b/c many of us have made bad decisions our ownselves such that we realize that you can't change the distant past, only the ongoing present. The only people who will use this against him are his political haters and FOX News (redundant). I look forward to hearing what he (and all of the other candidates, Dem, Repub, Libertarian, etc.) have to say and what ideas he brings to the table to make this a better nation.

He would be going for a head coaching job, not OC or DC. One of his conditions for re-signing with the Bills last year was the title (and duties) of Assistant HC. It gives him a little more marketability for owners who might think ST is a small part of the game or that such a job isn't good enough for a promotion to HC. I hope he stays here for a long time, but the day will likely come where he gets interviews and a shot at HC --- hell, it might be this year --- and I'd wish him good luck (except against us).

We don't ask for much, tho I do think the requests for which particular helmet design is a waste of time. It'd be really simple to announce a change to the throwback unis and create a white away version and blue pants. Ralph's already paid for them; no more marketing concept teams, TV tests, etc. Just announce it, repaint the 50-yard-line logo and be done. For those of us who "root for the laundry" in this era of player-swapping, it'd be nice to have laundry that looks like old-school traditional football unis instead of circus tightrope performers. The football dept. of the Front Office would have nothing to do with a uni switch. As I understand it based on Marv's comments when he arrived, this is Russ Brandon's area. The team has had these Bronco/Titan/Patriot/Lion hybrids for the required 5 seasons b/w major changes, and can now petition/inform the league that they're changing. It would take all of about 2 hours, most of it for printing and faxing.

Aren't roofing nails galvanized?

I can predict boners. One for every time the BOTD thread is viewed.

Anyone take Advanced Cryogenics classes? Hey, Focker (ajzepp), get up there and gerentolo-gate!!

No sh--. Supermarket chains are rolling around screaming for joy at 1 percent net profits.

As I remember, during the American Bowl we played in Germany (Berlin?) against the Vikings, there were lots of Bills fans in the stands. Lots of Vikings fans, too, but you'll get that with over 100K capacity. I'd hate like hell to lose a home game, but then again, if it's against a team that will not draw a sell-out at the Ralph, I could see the wisdom in it. First, it would definitely be a prime time game. It would get the Bills brand name in Europe; increase support, sales, etc... (could get the league executives to further value the Bills and Buffalo with increased international fans). Bills would get 50% of the gate of 100K+ tickets. Several ways it could be a big positive and a small negative.

It would be cost-prohibitive to put a franchise tag on Samuel (or most any player) two years in a row. In the second year, they go from being paid the avg of the top-5 at their position, to being paid the avg of the top-5 salary among all players (which, by next year, I wouldn't be surprised at ~15M/year). As for the bolded part.... We're talking about the NFL, no? There's no shortage of teams who will pay top dollar for a malcontent, as long as they think he'll put up big numbers.

Pardon my interruption, but $250M is a hell of a financial bath. And you also say this as if 2/3 of 31 other owners do not have to approve the sale. They are interested in preserving and increasing the value of their own franchises as well; allowing the sale of any franchise for less than market value hurts every franchise. DO NOT expect Buffalo to get a sympathy !@#$.

You mean we can't do that? Damn. We're billsfanone next season. ----- Hope you're healing well, Bill.

And even then, the Paytoilets have historically shown that they don't deal well with holdout threats, which I think AS may try if he doesn't get a long-term offer. Someone may have to forfeit a #1, but I think he's gone. And what gets me is, they'll draft someone, plug him in and won't skip a fuggin' beat.

I'd have to go with the leafy greens. Kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts. I've grown the first two in my Victory Garden for the past several years and I'm going to try the last one this year. The nutrician propaganda recently said that leafy greens are excellent for the most important organ above the collarbone. My grandfather eats lots of kale (retired Dutch immigrant dairy farmer in WNY). He is 95 and tho his body started to go at about 85, he's still sharp as a tack.... and he'll kick your ass at checkers.

Leinart's arm is better than Chadwick's.... not that that's saying much. He doesn't have a cannon either. He can be very successful in the right situation. But more important, ML doesn't get rattled and turn into a little girl when he gets hit a couple of times.

I'd have the same hope, but there's several kids in the candy store with money burning holes in their pockets. And I just don't think Ralph is among them. And if I just mixed a metaphor, then so be it.

Eleven INTs, solid pass coverage, coming from someone who's had to watch the Pats every week since forever .... He is a great 'nose-for-the-ball' CB and while he certainly benefits from the cast around him, that becomes something of a moot point in FA. I'd love to have him on my team. But his price tag is going to be more than Clements'. Deservedly so. While a lot of Nate's worth is in his own mind, AS's is on film and in the numbers.

All right, everybody! Start reading "Silas Marner" in five... four... three....

Link What happened in Mosul was what's happened in war since time out of mind. While you're there in large numbers, you can control a lot of what happens; when most of your forces leave, what would have happened if you were never there will happen anyway. This admin thinks if they just bang their heads against the wall one more time, a door will magically appear there. They didn't get the message from the voters. But as I predicted before the election, this is all posturing so all of the polticial sides can go to their comfortable corners. Repubs threw the election so they can blame the Dems for 'cutting funding and not supporting our troops' and leaving Iraq 'before the job was done,' but at the end of the day, the real power brokers charged with keeping things status quo will meet in the back rooms and clink scotch glasses. The mess is cleaned up and either side can blame the other. Nothing changes.

They may take our lives, but they'll never take.... OUR FREEDOM!!!!

Don't give them any ideas. They have a woman president, you know.

So now they want to take away the one thing we have left that they can't do? How is this an issue in public, i.e. men's room | women's room? Put toilets in the men's room and we'll still piss standing up. How is that more sanitary? At least w/ urinals, the duties of the chamberpots are kept relatively seperate (apart from the 'Who dookied in the urinal!?'). Also, this is an anotomical question --- sitting scrunches up the tubing, no? Any guy who actually does this should turn in his Man Card. They should just be grateful we don't piss in the sink, like at the Ralph. The only thing I give a to while in the restroom is guys who brace themselves with one hand placed high on the wall. What is that?

See, he could do everything right, but my point through this whole thing has been, if the other party involved doesn't do #3 also....

Our civil liberties will not go in one fell swoop. They will go piece by little piece.