Juror#8

Man you're a day late and a dollar short. I've already crossed that bridge. Earlier this afternoon I replied to his thread and I gave him three pieces of sage advice that would have served me well to know prior to my relationship conundrum that I affectionately refer to as "the incident."

Good lookin out. I'm really digging the beat. When I put in the name of the song from your link, it brought up another version of the commercial which is replete with sexually suggestive entendres. I have a sneaking suspicion that they were going for a specific visual reference with the two ladies pouring the milk from right at their lower pelvic region:

I agree. I don't think it's possible. But you have to admit that Vince has a story telling convention that, at least if we take BB as the example, suggests that the world/circumstance that he gave us a glimpse into at the beginning of the season would materialize by the end of that same season. In all the BB seasons, that's how it worked. Now obviously he is not constrained to that formula. I just found it interesting because that was the format that he used so successfully before.

Thanks bro! Finally getting my crap in order and it's very good to be back. I'm on the board every day though. And I'm looking forward to getting back to contributing more.

Not really seeing the issue here. Of course the Washington Post is going to jump all over this and ignore other stories that they don't feel are as salient *now*. There has been a long established tradition of leaving the president's children, especially minor children, out of the mix. They're kids. They didn't ask for this attention. And rightfully anyone who pierces that veil should be rebuked. That's not partisan; that should be the outlook of any good parent - and I imagine that the Post is made up of plenty of them. I remember editorials at the Post rebuking the NY Times for an unflattering piece that they wrote about Jenna Bush and her penchant for frequenting bars and enjoying strong drink - when she was 19. The Clintons, and established media outlets, jumped down the throat of some magazine (I believe it was Vanity Fair) for doing a story on Chelsea Clinton. It wasn't bad; but it affected their ability to try to parent in some sort of traditional sense irrespective of the constraints and attention of their public responsibility. Again, I see this less as a bias issue, and more of an effort to reinforce the precedent that the president's minor children are categorically off limits. And anyone who runs afoul of that tradition will be met with strong rebuke. And think of this also in this "anti-bullying" culture that we live in. it just seems like there is a lot of context here that is missing to make some political point. There may, indeed, be a bias; I'm just not sure that this is the strongest example to make your point. And, incidentally, Jenna agrees: http://www.inquisitr.com/1654822/jenna-bush-defends-sasha-and-malia-obama-history-of-first-daughters-shows-challenges-video/

I get that the guy had a good season last year but he just seems like he is really on the decline (see second half of the season and playoffs). And as much as Denver lobbied to get him, and as high as Elway was on him, you think that they would let him go if they felt that he could close deal? And in Buffalo weather?

Well played!! And your response literally reads like something Hunter S Thompson would have wrote during the early 70s "acid" phase of his creative brilliance (and this not a gratuitous allusion to the Vegas thing - that would be waaaaay to easy). Completely fu?$ing lacking in exposition but a perfect enough mixture of tangent, prurience, and narrative to get the audience wanting a whole lot more.

Great first two episodes. I'm a little surprised by Saul's sense of morality. I guess Breaking Bad left me thinking that he was your stereotypical "do anything for a buck" lawyer. Something has to break him bad. Maybe its this angle with the firm that his brother works/worked at. Interesting foreshadowing, too, at the opening with him working at the Cinnabon spot. If I remember correctly that was alluded to in BB which would mean that scene is post Heisenberg (I believe that in the final season of BB that is where Saul said that he wanted to disappear to). If Vince Gilligan's linear story-telling convention holds true to form, we will see that Cinnabon circumstance materialize by the end of this season. Which would mean subsequent seasons would be post Heisenberg and this season would have to tackle a marathon amount of issues and comprise a few years. Not sure how that will work.

... that I'm completely captivated by. Nice avant garde retro-60s Bond chick vibe that there is just not enough of. I completely dig the minimalist quality of it. Nice juxtaposition of a contemporary hip hop Mos Def jam too. Was already thinking about a quick weekend getaway and it will be Vegas and I will stay at the Cosmopolitan. And the querky thing about it is that the commercial doesn't have $/%! to do with the product/service being advertised. But I'm in. That chick just does it for me. The Matrix has me. I'm Cypher - give me the filet with the alcohol and the harp for good measure. More than anything I'm thinking aloud gents. But for those who care: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c97O2_FXCGE

I appreciate the "well wishes" and "welcome backs." Thank you. Damn folks, nothing untowardly happened to me or any one of my family members. But with that said, what was the "over-under" on absconding to Scotland to avoid child support? Prison for trying to create a new identity? In all seriousness, I had to take a break from the site though I was a "guest" here every day. I just wasn't logged in. It's just that I was spending my day arguing for a paycheck, then I was typically on PPP arguing, and then arguing with the fiancé, and then the pregnancy situation ... I just needed a break and to slow things down. GG, Jboyst, I'm already back in the fold over on PPP. I had to ease my way back into it though. I haven't entertained a good debate in some time so I'm a tad rusty. KD, do you have twins yourself? Doc, yep, having a conspicuously absent father growing up is definitely in the back of my mind ... especially as I'm trying to learn how to be a dad. I don't really have a template to follow from experience but many others don't and are successful parents so I'm entirely optimistic that I will be a successful parent too.

I'm not intimately familiar with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but I do know enough to know that LBJ was working behind the scenes to assuage the GOP's concern about the impact that the proposed legislation would have on private business. From the start, private patronage mandates were a deal breaker for republicans. The problem with the southern democrats (many of whom are now aligned with the current GOP), was never going to be bridged or assuaged. Johnson conceded that vote. That problem wasn't an ideological or political issue as much as it was a cultural and regional one. Because to the best of my recollection, the southern republicans weren't voting for the legislation either. My point was that Johnson was able to wrangle a reluctant GOP to support the bill. Obama hasn't been able to wrangle a obstinate GOP to do anything. There has been little to no communication. He has allowed them to message with impunity and there has been non-existent effort on either side towards any conciliation.

This is a thread without a lot of explanation or background. Those who know, know. Those who don't, won't. But after 13 months I figure that some follow up is in order. I'm a father. I never had a paternity test done but everyone, including my own mother, tells me that my daughter looks just like me - by the way she has dark skin, curly hair, brown eyes (I'm black so ...). It's my son who has very light skin, straight black hair, green eyes, and looks nothing like me - indeed he looks nothing like his fraternal twin sister and exactly like their mother's father (they're white so ...). Yep I had twins. By the way, it was a bit of a shock when the nice young lady at Howard County General Hospital said "well hold on a moment..." as I sat and stared at what looked like nothing more than two black circles on a TV screen. Now I have almost 8 month old twins (born 5 weeks premature). Being a father is the coolest thing in the world. They both stare at each other an blow spit bubbles. It is literally the most entertaining thing in the world. In my professional world of very consequential decisions, it's the trifles and novelties of spit bubbles that mean more. Me and their mother have a complicated relationship. I'll leave it at that. My former fiance couldn't deal with my infidelity. She rightfully moved on from the situation emotionally. So 10 things I learned this past year: 1. Being a dad is categorically the coolest thing ever. And there is something philosophically sweet about the idea of "posterity." 2. If you need a getaway or three (as was my case), give Seychelles a try. If you go, send me a PM. I'll tell you a chill spot with strong drink and good conversation. 3. Speaking of strong drink - no matter how many times whiskey makes you fall asleep on your couch and forget things that are going on in your life, its not worth it. Eventually you're drinking to forget that you're drinking to forget things that are going on in your life. Springbank Single Malt nearly undid 37 years of fairly decent accomplishments. 4. "Gripe Water." That **** is amazing. 5. If you can justify spending big dollars on a watch, go with the GMT BLNR. It's worth every penny. And the GMT complication is great for travel. 6. Yes, "prologos." Despite this being the follow up to the story, it's still the beginning. And an exciting one at that. 7. Watched more indie movies than I thought were possible. I lot of good **** with subtitles. I'm still a big fan of "Primer." **** is weird and it takes a flow chart to understand. But it's worth 100 minutes of your time if you want to watch something a little different. 8. Kona Blue is still better than Deep Impact Blue. 9. A lot of good people on this site. I was surprised at how many people PMd me over the last year. Thank you all. You're good folks. 10. And despite what Chef Jim and LABillzFan and some others had to say, I am so blessed and thankful to have had my twins. All the emotions and the frustrations and the difficult and cathartic conversations that attended that process was so worth it. Their smile and their laugh and the way they stare at everything so inquisitively is completely worth all the emotional uncertainty that I went through. I wouldn't change any of it.

Thanks bro. Glad to be back. Things were never that bad though there were times where I felt completely lost. Sometimes it just takes an agonizing reappraisal of where you're going and where you want to be.

My overall financial portfolio was contorted during the last few years of the Bush debacle. Then there was the Iraq thing where he was either too stupid or too careless to appraise successfully. And I don't want to hear about "Zee Germans," and "the Brits," and their intelligence agencies. Either ya believe in American exceptionalism or ya don't Dubya. But I don't care to hear your displacing and equalizing blame or otherwise trying to ameliorate your screw ups based on the ineptitude of others in the international community. But then there is Obama ... Who is every day screwing up the good will that was handed to him. Who hasn't figured out how to "president" or inspire confidence in the face of even mediocre crises. Who speaks when he shouldn't and doesn't speak when he should. Who still hasn't figured out how to leverage Obama Care in a way that people understand the net benefit to them and their immediate family. I used to think that it was better messaging by the GOP. But when considering what LBJ was able to do when dealing with Civil Rights against an unwilling GOP and in the midst of Vietnam ... I can't give Obama that easy pass. So yea, I'm not sure. They're both just bad. I guess it's like asking would you rather drink piss or gasoline. For what it's worth though ... I still think that Obama is a sincerely good person. He is just in so far over his head.

That was categorically the worst half of football that I've seen in 5 years. I wish that I could make an excuse that explains that crap that I just saw ... Preseason? Yea, well, that doesn't seem to justify an anemic offense and a defense that gives up big plays at the wrong time. Truncated playbook? Presumably, so is the other team's available playbook so why then are the Bills getting their @$$ kicked? It's only (insert Buffalo player name here) fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth game. See the bolded point above and extrapolate accordingly.

She serves in an 'of counsel' capacity in certain legal matters for which she has a significant breadth of experience. The situation is complicated. Girlfriend/Fiance is not aware that that is the connection. She doesn't think that there will be any more communication. If a man was really being a man, and a 'stand up' person, they wouldn't have put themselves in that situation in the first place. There is no excuse for infidelity. It's pathetic and classless. And you were being too easy with the "cheating bastard." You are 100% correct. It seems counter-intuitive, cause you want to be honest and tell everything about the unfaithful experience to start anew and move forward in the relationship - but at the same time it seems counter-productive to do that.

I appreciate the opinion. In reality, the 'unfaithful fling' woman is not all that. She's ok. Maybe a 7.5/10. GIrlfriend/Fiance would have every right to leave. She hasn't yet. But she is struggling with the reality of the infidelity.

I'm in the "seen Primer 5 times" club and I'm just now understanding all the layers of it. I'm not sure that I've ever seen a movie that takes reality and bends it to the point where the original narrative, is completely impacted by the actual and later narrated events - to the point that you're not exactly sure who the characters when the end credits run. I watched "Moon" from a recommendation last year. Great movie and heavily Kubrick influenced IMO. Has any one seen "Last Year at Marienbad"? Just watched it recently. It is a very, very unique flick. Would love to get some other opinions on it.

No Bills players...unfortunately. Chris Webber and Rod Strickland were in a parking lot in front of a Hallmark Store off Lottsford Rd. in Mitchellville, MD jumping an older lady's car battery (actually, Rod Strickland stayed in the passenger seat, Chris Webber was standing outside helping the woman). I was going to the bank that was right there and noticed him and a small crowd forming. The lady asked Chris, in response to the autograph seekers, "what is it that you do?" He responded that he "plays a mean guitar." Played pool at the pool table next to where Lavar Arrington and Jeremiah Trotter were playing pool at the Dave and Busters in White Flint mall. It was him and a few of his friends and there were probably 3 or 4 women at the table. Lavar kept telling his friends "go see what's up with that girl" as he would point in the direction of some random female. Was at a light in Ashburn and Jason Campbell was directly next to me in a 6 series BMW with the "superman" sign replacing all the BMW logos. It looked really stupid. Around 2004 or so I talked to Champ Bailey at a gas station. He was in a nasty red Hennessy Viper. I was in my slow Comptech supercharged S2000. I *tried to* keep up with him for about 5 miles north on 95 having a blast as me and the lady were on the way to the Inner Harbor. It occurred to me that he probably thought I was following him because he was going in excess of 120 miles an hour and, for a while, I tried to keep up.

Lol. Yea she's hot...smokin! Things are going better. The old lady is calming down. She asks to see the phone a lot. She said that she won't make any promises about the future but she'll take it day by day. She's starting to ask a lot of specific questions about the experience - was it enjoyable? What does she look like? Those are awkward questions that are difficult to answer candidly. So generalizing to the point of avoidance seems to work. She also wore a sundress and did her makeup to go out with friends last night. She was out with friends cause she called numerous times from her friend's phone because her battery cut out. But she is a jeans and t-shirt woman - so the sundress was a bit confusing. A good friend insists that now *someone* is going to be scrutinizing her - expecting her to try to be similarly unfaithful and therefore analyzing every change in her habits. Not sure that that's what's going on...but it's difficult to move past her wearing a sundress that she hasn't worn in 3 years. Thanks again for your advice and all the advice that folks have seen fit to dispense. More pointedly, thanks to those who have been through this is some form or fashion and were willing to share. It's reassuring to know that others have gone through that level of emotional frustration, learned from it, and are now better people as a result.

Very, very true. This will be done right. I'm just a little lost right now. And I'm unaccustomed to that. Very true and good point. The child will be raised and loved by both parents. He/She is not going to feel situationally wanted.

Just wanted to say "thanks" to those who have been offering advice. I try to say thanks individually and to every post because you folks could be doing a mountain of other things besides responding to a sad sap narrative of someone that you only know through messages about sports and politics. So thank you. I have a client conference now. But I'll be checking this thread and responding to everyone who was kind enough to opine. And please feel free to be as candid and brutally lucid as you can be. That's what's missing from friends and family right now. And folks here have no reason to sugar coat ****. Thanks a third time.

Thanks Taro. yep, grew up in a single parent household. My mom reminded me of that. And told me how difficult it was on her. And reminded me that we told her "Happy Mother's Day" and "Happy Father's Day." And reminded me that there is only one picture with my father - as a newborn - until I was in college. Don't want that same thing for baby. !@#$, this is hard. The brutally lucid comments are appreciated. And you are absolutely correct with respect to the appropriate response. But to be fair, the child of two attorneys wouldn't be a residual burden on the taxpayer.

Child will be white and black - black dad, white mom. But your point is well taken and a fatherless child won't be happening in this scenario. The fiance is the choice - if she continues to be ok given the circumstances.The fear is if she falls out of love because of this, and then the mom would have moved on emotionally as well. That is such a disquieting thought. A friend recently said the same thing - there is always worse and you can see that every day, just turn on the tv. I keep contextualizing this issue - and it makes it much easier to put in perspective.

Ok...this is gonna sound REALLY !@#$ed up. And it feels ****ty typing it.... Someone strongly considered offering her $20,000 to keep the name off the birth certificate and just making up a name for the certifcation of paternity. That should tell you the level of discomfort over ruining a perfect little world. When that seemed like a seethy option, it was time to tell the fiance - who proceeded to ask whether or not she would take money to anonomize the father? She is an attorney with her own practice so $20,000 probably wouldn't budge her. Sadly, that was the most compelling reason for not making that offer. Cause more can't be offered, comfortably, right now. The future mom says that she doesn't just want support, she wants to be a family. She ABSOLUTELY wants to be in a relationship. And texts it often - along with ultrasound pics and little baby Buffalo Bills clothes and play toy pics. She is a Redskins fan but says she will change for the sake of a family. lol. She is unmarried in her early 30s. Her clock is out of control. That sucks. But sadly, "someone" thought about just paying support and not acknowledging the child. Financial responsibilities MUST be met. But a relationship is not necessary - was someone's rationale. But that's horrible. And every child deserves two parents. But those cowardly thoughts were there. Selfish more than anything - because it !@#$s up an otherwise comfy lifestyle, relationship, and existence.