UConn James

Stop-loss is a big reason why my brother got out of active duty right after they took him out of it. (An a-hole, dumbschitt commander was another.) Still does Reserves, tho. Opposite effect is right. A lot of people will leave just for spite. This is being shown in the current recruiting and retention rates.

I'm in.

So, y'all are saying they should change the name to the International Guard? I liked the conservatives better (and considered myself one) before they flip-flopped on this....

This is an honest question, where are the unnecessary layers? What are the job titles that get eliminated? And how do you fill the holes they leave? I'm sure there are in the higher reaches of state govts of boards, etc. But this doesn't break the bank or provide much relief in a budget. Who takes the place of whatever work they do? It's kind of hard to get qualified people to just volunteer for a full-time job. On the town/city level, most boards of ed are comprised of volunteers or they get a nominal sum, to give a broad direction and oversight of expenses. Are there too many principals? Secretaries? Nurses? PhysEd teachers....?

Wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. That was a general comment. Then again, what's the alternative to public education? Private education, where the results will be the same. But it'll be private industry, so that'll make it great. The point is not about "throwing money at" a problem. That's not the solution. The point being made was that the system in place takes money away b/c of a situation that is out of the control of teachers. In the face of that, the incentive is high to cheat and tweak numbers. Do you actually know what the "bureaucracy" does? Or are you just railing b/c they earn a salary for doing the foundation work that no one sees? It's like people who complain about CEOs and VPs. Only you don't usually go into education to get rich.... Maybe we should just give the $4K each directly to the students so they can conduct their own education. No administrative waste then. I'm sure it won't be spent on video games and Bugles.

It's amazing how people think that every govt program is a waste of money while industry runs such a tight ship. It's funny when you're looking for help in the store or going to fill an order how the person behind the desk looks to be busy. Then s/he stands up, and the mirror behind them reveals that they play solitare very stupidly too. Gov't, military, industry, consumer spending, whatever. When human beings are involved, there will be a roughly equal level of (in)efficiency. Govt is a convenient whipping boy tho.

That is initially what I thought. Until I saw Darius' follow-through from the opposite angle. Not only was there no attempt to pull back, he followed through on the clothesline as the guy was almost to the ground. He didn't even kneel/hover over Fergeson to see if he was OK. It was deliberate.

Trust your scouting dept. Develop the talent we have rather than sign an expensive FA at a spot that doesn't need it.

Or the Christie of today. He hit a 53-yarder for the Gints several weeks ago.... The fact that there aren't many really good, consistent kickers left anymore makes a Mike Nugent that much more valuable.

That's going to be the day I shoot my TV.

When a flag is fully flying, that means at least 30 mph winds. Hope you've got the wood stove going.

A great idea that will never see fruition. They need to push the NFL brand and player's names and faces. $ $ $.

I love that sentence. Peerless is the ultimate Leon. Maybe his experience will influence the next #2 who thinks he's worth #1 money. He probably would have earned more money over the course of a career in Buffalo at a lesser contract, than his 1-June-salary-cap-cut arse will ever get elsewhere.

PPP. FYI, Time doesn't select POTY by who they like the most or think is the greatest guy. It's whoever made the most impact on the world stage in the past year, regardless of the good or evil they might have done to earn that distinction. As testament, they selected Komehni(?) several years ago, and Zarqawi was in the running this year.

How many cold weather games did bayou-boy Brett Favre play in before Green Bay? Willis carries the rock much better than Travis. No offense, but it's going from Top 10 to Top 3. I'll take that upgrade. Weather isn't an excuse. The other team isn't playing in a plastic cocoon, don't you know.

"Illegally Linked Site" is what I get.... Scott, you above anyone else should know the rules.

No, I didn't. Dobies are nice too, tho.

It's all in good fun when you've heard all the stories I have as a quasi-chronicler (maybe I should start a blog). If you don't laugh, you effin' cry.

If that's true, it explains a lot about the Marines' use of the bulldog as a mascot.... Back to the original question, tho. Realize that any dog has the potential to bite if they've been raised by people who just don't care. But also, don't assume the worst. I would recommend you go there with your kids and introduce them to the dog by putting out a clenched fist, in a nonthreatening manner, to let the dog sniff it and get acclimated to them. A lot of problems arise when dogs are just too overexcited to meet and sniff new things. If it jumps, raise your knee to block it out of the way or give it a chest thump and say Down! Don't let it get the idea that it can do that to you, b/c the first impression is big. Get it out of the way in a calm, confident and stern but friendly manner. Continue to watch them closely, tho.

Let's nip this in the bud. A. No matter what kind of pull you think the Clintons have in the party, no way does Hillary get the nod even if she does run. I'm thinking it will probably come down to Bill Richardson, the gov in Arizona and Wes Clark part Deux, after we've gotten a chance to get used to him, and if he stays in the political mix, which I hope he does. If he was the nominee, he would've won by about 50 in the e.c. B. Jeb Bush won't be running, unless he's aching to be a pinata. His five-time loser daughter's ongoing coke habit and the preferential treatment she's gotten in Florida will crush him in a national election. Nevermind what other skeletons he's got in the closet that will be dragged out. On second thought, go ahead and run Jeb in '08!

I think you should send this to TMQ on the NFL.com site. He loves to make comment on this kind of inane crap that shows the NFL's minute bungles. Possible haiku: Browns amass seventeen 'Aborted play' describes effort Take the nine yards Or maybe someone can come up with something like 'Nine yards into the ether'....

No way Nigent lasts until round 3. Maybe not even to round 2. I'd be willing to spend a #1 on him, if needed, if we had it.... You can't pass up the opportunity to get a Vinatieri-type accuracy AND power kicker. Maybe we could then put away the rosary beads when trying a figgie.

(Psst. That last one was me.)

On the beach, Hurley was bloodied.... But I did notice that Locke was sitting right behind the black lady in the scene where Jack was taking drink. He looked pretty active going after the O2 mask for a guy supposed to be in a wheelchair.... and don't they have special seating for disabled persons? Something doesn't jive with his story. And notice how everyone gets a weird feeling around him?

Let's amend that to a cold, rainy day. "Oh dear. We'll have to get you out of those clothes and over by the fire...."