bills_fan

Huge differences, IMHO. I went to Mt. St. Joseph for Grammar and Canisius for HS. I really could not have asked for a better education. When I went to college, it was like I was so far ahead of everyone else it made any academic adjustment very easy. Better teachers, better curriculum, more well-rounded education...I can go on and on. I fully plan to put my children in private schools, and we live in an area that has very good public schools. To answer the original poster's question (given my NYC frame of reference), 400-500k, minimum. Here that buys you a decent house (no mansion), private school tuition, car payments, saving for college, saving for retirement, and a couple of vacations.

Yes, I think jerking off counts.

Based upon the threat the DA received, Joe Horn may have to keep a loaded gun ready for quite a while. Anyone arguing against what Horn did should really first read the link you posted. Horrible, horrible story. How simple "property theft" can very quickly turn deadly...a man lost his whole family to a couple of scumbags because they happened to be home during the burglary. Guess what...shoot first and ask questions later. EDIT: Here is the article to which KD was referring. Read it, and then tell me you don't agree with Mr. Horn. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/nyregion/07slay.html

Actually, decriminalizing and possibly legalizing drugs (at least some of them) will wipe out the black market for them and immediately help improve urban ghettos. No black market for drugs = gotta find something else to do to earn a living.

Or buy it from the guy on the street corner outside my office for 10 bucks.

Are you gonna take me home tonight Ah down beside that red firelight Are you gonna let it all hang out Fat bottomed girls You make the rockin world go round Hey I was just a skinny lad Never knew no good from bad But I knew life before I left my nursery Left alone with big fat fanny She was such a naughty nanny Heap big woman you made a bad boy out of me Hey hey! Ive been singing with my band Across the wire across the land I seen evry blue eyed floozy on the way But their beauty and their style Went kind of smooth after a while Take me to them dirty ladies every time Oh wont you take me home tonight? Oh down beside your red firelight Oh and you give it all you got Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin world go round Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin world go round Hey listen here Now your mortgages and homes I got stiffness in the bones Aint no beauty queens in this locality (I tell you) Oh but I still get my pleasure Still got my greatest treasure Heap big woman you gonna make a big man out of me Now get this Oh you gonna take me home tonight (please) Oh down beside your red firelight Oh you gonna let it all hang out Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin world go round Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin world go round Get on your bikes and ride Oooh yeah them fat bottomed girls Fat bottomed girls Yeah yeah yeah Fat bottomed girls Yes yes

Too bad about Orpik...I thought he would have been a great fit. Maybe we could package some of our excess RWs for a D and sign Morrison as a C.

You also pay $2.00 each time you refill your card.

Well, you realize that marijuana was legal in this country from its inception through the end of the 1930s right? And the people who supported Prohibition of alcohol and lost, then turned their efforts to marijuana. Thats the only reason it became illegal here in the first place.

Except it looks like a golf cart with windows.

The only thing I have linked to Paypal is my Amex card. I never linked a checking account. Of course, I rarely use Paypal. Also, it is a good practice to separate your accounts...checking at one bank and savings at another. My saving is ING Direct and checking is still with M&T.

Van Halen - 1984

What an awesome flash website!!

A Freudian slip from Goodell to the Buffalo News???? Me likey a commish who is a Bills fan and refers to the team as WE... Note he did not do this throughout the rest of the article. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/379971.html

Excellent post and great find. Thanks for sharing.

He stole your girl didn't he?

Most judges will not allow that type of questioning from a defense attorney of a child witness. This point actually makes a whole lot of sense and may be the reason the court decided the way they did.

It is net worth. Problem is defining "income" with your flat tax. Take the painting example, when do you realize "income" ? At the sale? What if you don't sell? Under the wealth tax idea, the government realizes revenues annually from the value of the underlying insurance policy. The wealth tax idea may not be perfect, but it would be plenty enough to fund the government and then some. It would alos accelerate the economy into overdrive...pretty much indefinately.

If you really want to learn something and discuss a "fair" tax, then we can discuss the 2% wealth tax idea. The basic premise is to eliminate ALL governmental taxes and fees (State, Federal, Local etc.), and levy a 2% tax on "wealth" on every person, no deductions. Of course, wealth can be a slightly subjective measure, but taxing you on the value of the insurance policies you hold could even the playing field (e.g., you may hide a Picasso painting in your house, but you sure as hell will insure it).

Excellent use of a movie quote!

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking the best way to survive the apocalypse involves a suite at the Palms in Vegas, as much booze as I can drink and a few hookers.

When I was spending that kind of cash, I wanted to make sure I didn't get ripped off. I went to stores near my office at lunch, at the mall, in other cities (you'd be amazed how many jewlery stores are near hotels in major cities), met with jewlers via private appointment and walked through the diamond district.

LMAO!!!

I was having a discussion about possible McCain running mates and the best choice I could come up with was Mike Bloomberg. I am no fan of Bloomberg but here's why I think he could be a great chocie for McCain... 1- The economy - Bloomberg, but virtue of his business success and his success, fiscally as mayor of NYC, would be perceived as very strong on economic issues, which, IMHO, will be the single deciding issue this fall as the economy further tanks. 2- New York - McCain currently polls pretty strong upstate and in the suburbs, he is atrocious in the city. If he could pull 30% in the city, the state is in play. Then McCain could be the aggressor, taking the fight to Obama in traditional Dem strongholds and not play strictly defense in VA, GA and NC. 3- Fundraising - McCain lags behind Obama in fundraising and with Obama opting out of public funding, McCain could get massively outspent. Enter multi-billionaire who has stated in the past he will spend whatever it takes to win an election. Advantage: McCain. 4- The Jewish vote - Bloomberg would be instrumental in bringing in the Jewish vote for McCain, significant in CT, NY, NJ and FL. The Jewish vote, IMHO, is itching for a reason to ditch Obama, Bloomberg could be it. 5- The Religious Right - The conversation I had was with a member of the religious right who said that their base was totally demoralized that they did not get a pro-life candidate and have to settle for McCain. He was adamant that the VP choice wouldn't matter and many of the traditional religious right plans to stay home for this election. If so, the GOP is in some trouble...why not carve out some new ground. These are just my thoughts, feel free to jump in and discuss/criticize, but I think Bloomberg would be a very inspired choice for VP and go a long way toward helping McCain win in November.

On the other hand...in NYC, you would be barely above the poverty line.