UConn James

- That ain't a phenomenon exclusive to "liberal states," junior. But you go ahead and pretend there's a difference. Remember the guy who led the girl away on videotape in Florida? What was only his most recent crime before that was committed with a handgun. Mandatory 5-year sentence for that charge alone, yet he was out in 3. Congress this week passed legislation that creates a national database and harsher fed punishments for child sexual assault including the death penalty when the victim is murdered. This, b/c some states fail to do more than catch and release. - As for "human dignity"... I wouldn't really cite this as a reason for the death penalty, but the rest of the statement I can agree with. For those who think it's somehow more civilized to keep someone in an 8x8 for the duration of their life, I call BS. The only difference is how fast it happens, and that when someone dies of a heart attack 30 years later, we don't have to read about it in the newspaper and have our weak sensibilities shocked --- shocked I say! As Darin said upthread about locking people up with nothing left to lose... Case in point is Esteban Carpio in Providence. Killed a cop in the interrogation room and there've been many incidents in holding, one that sent two guards to the hospital. These people do not become choir boys in prison and spend their free time feeling remorse just because society wants them to. I believe this methodology is also called, "Swatting at flies."

Well, you have the royal blue, scarlet red, and the silver. But you forgot the white, the navy blue, the slightly metallicized red on the helmet, and black (for the shoes). Is that all the colors in the Bills scheme or am I missing one... or twenty? Looks good. I'm a reductionist by nature so I'm waiting for the pro-shop site to have a throwback red standing buffalo on one of those small white oval bumper stickers. Might be waiting for a while....

I'd imagine they're pretty loose in determining that. Remember that this is the Gavin Newsom admin. Maybe through homeless shelters or the social services. The Massachussetts statewide health care plan looks like it'll work, but there's a long list of reasons why it's feasible, when trying the same thing in SF or Nebraska or anywhere else would not be. I think Romney & the Dem sponsors really got sick of how the insurance companies operate -- they've had to switch govt-employee providers a few times -- to the point where a Tylenol pill in the hospital costs $10. I could go on about how the insurance companies utterly $%^& the health care situation in this country, but I'm not FFS/Pyrite Gal. I am of the opinion that health care needs to be more accessible than it is. One person or a small group not seeking treatment b/c they can't afford it can result in epidemics where everyone in the community gets sick. You can see this on a small scale with one inconsiderate person who comes to work with the flu, all the way up to how AIDS spread through, how avian flu could potentially become airborne.... etc. But there also can't be an incentive to be a free rider.

Maybe she wanted him to build her some shelves.

Olivier, In quite a dichotomy; it's home to the largest number of millionaires in the US per capita. But SF also has a sizable homeless population. My brother was walking with his fiance there and they were approached by a really raggy-looking woman, who asked said fiance, "Where did you find such a handsome man? .... Can I borrow him for 30 minutes?"

Yet, one could understand the the tie-in of a fisherman to a team called the Islanders. That wasn't a bad logo in and of itself. Fans wanted tradition, tho. The prudent question is, has anyone ever seen a bright yellow horizontally vivified buffalo? Then again, maybe that's how the sabre was used, and Quinn et al. had to take it off the jersey to go wipe the blade.

In other news, UConn James predicts that the burr up Bruce "Just Happy To Be Here" Arena's ass will stay there until Jan. 16, 2024. See? I can pull dates out of thin air, too!

I remember in my local press that the Patriots OL 'sucked' until Brady stepped in and showed that the problem wasn't the OL, it was the combination of that OL + Bledsoe. Changes have been made to the 3 weakest spots. DL hasn't gotten any better? You mean, the DL featuring one veteran DT who refused to execute his assignment? The DL that added Tripplett and McCargo? Let's see how it works out, Joe. The fact that you're so very pessimistic leads me to unvarnished optimism. I don't want Brady Quinn unless Charlie Weiss comes with him.

Romney ain't a RINO. He's had to do battle with a lot of Dems at times (e.g. the gay marriage stuff; he's trying to get it in a constitutional ballot rather than legislated thru the court), worked with them to get things done at others when a program was sensible (e.g. the state-wide health coverage that wouldn't cost very much and helps streamline; over time I think it might save them money). Takes charge when things go wrong. Last week he took control of the DOT after a woman was killed by a falling concrete slab in the Big Dig; since learned that all similar construction is at risk. Closed the tunnels. I like him as a leader b/c at least he's practical when a problem comes up where 95 percent of politicans would hide under their desks. Don't like his stance on the wind power turbines, but nobody's perfect. I wouldn't say he pandered to liberals. Western MA gave him solid turnout. As I explained there, the NE is a weird place where people elect a liberal legislature and a conservative governor and hope b/w the struggle that it balances out. There's a lot they'd do but their hands are tied.

When you think you know something in the ME, just goes to show that you don't know anything. Assad has the impression of Ethelred the Unready, but when he gets cornered it might force his hand. What has to be considered, tho, is a greenish Assad is far preferable to the Muslim Brotherhood or whoever else would take over. Now that you mention it, he does look like an Arab John Cleese....

No sh--. When's the last time a Republican used a conjunction in a sentence? It's like reading Hemingway. Only not.

IIRC, Marv doesn't touch the dollars and cents part.

Uhm... survival? About 40 seconds after Iran launches a nuke, we'll be speculating about the half-life of Tehran.

Ed, I'm glad there are saner people than the likes of you in charge of our government and military. I don't know how much saner, but.... Attacking Iran would all but guarantee a major strike on the homeland and 9/11 will look like a carnival ride. The administration is taking the proper course.

Wouldn't be surprised if this was an 'intentional accident.'

For those people who argue that we must either have to give Dr. Evil the $100 Billion or let him blow up Washington D.C. with giant FRICKIN' laser beams.... who don't have the time or the inclination to think about the situation.... and say the only solution to our problems is to blow Iran, NK, Syria, Lebanon, France and DPW off the map.... b/c this whole rational forethought thing is a real drag.... I would say 'STFU.'

You know, they used to shoot horse thieves....

I would amend it to: "Most wars, bloodshed, and misery occured over the course of human history due to politics, economics and good-old resource-grabbing in the name of religion so the leaders could simultaneously a) collectively rally their people in a medium where the craziness grows exponentially the further it gets down the line and... 2) claim the supremacy of their own ideas as being divinely intended."

He outdid BF in the Retatta thread? Due diligence, tho, BF was the creator of both the topic and the culinary disaster. He at least gave the impression he'd know something about it.

I'm not trying to be a Richard here, but.... You know that saying that sarcasm doesn't come across well on the Internet? (Especially sarcasm that is this poorly organized and argued.) Yeah. This thread is an example of that.

Condolences. There was an article in Field&Stream a long time ago by their Gun Dog columnist, I forget his name, titled "Just a Dog." That's what some of his family and friends told him when he was still depressed over it awhile later. The article was his answer to them and it was beautiful. I've been unsuccessful in getting a transcript. Took our 12-y.o., a German Shorthaired Pointer, to the vet yesterday b/c his hind legs just weren't working. He wanted to move, but he could just drag them a couple of inches. Arthritis combined with a chronic case of Lyme. And then, just as suddenly as that came on, today he was back lolling around outside. It's going to be tough when the time comes and I don't think we're going to get another, at least not right away. I did a short shadow thing at an animal hospital in high school. There was a goldie there and looking at the X-rays, he had cancer throughout the hind legs. The owners ordered him put down, over the phone. At the time I was angry at them for that, for not being there. After the injection I rubbed his ears and pet his head until he passed. Then and there found out that I could never be a vet.

Not necessarily. The grass behind him, and in front of the tank, suggests he's standing on a small hill. It's not like both man and tank are in focus. But I will say that being in front of the turret probably isn't the best place to be hanging out....

There's a really good article on the upcoming Zidane-Materazzi hearing and the provoker-retailator dynamic. What does it mean for soccer if precedent is set that a provoker of an incident like the head-butting can be punished? King Kaufman's Sports Daily. (There is a simple click-through ad to read the full article)

I was providing info going through the rumor mill. Maybe it's just a little pressure coming from the top that the S. Africa group needs to get their buns moving on construction. No different than the IOC pressing Greece when it looked like some of the event venues weren't going to be ready b/c of largely bureaucratic delays. I also would like the WC held on the African continent and see them get it right. Asking a lot --- even from S. Africa, probably the most advanced country there --- where corruption and highly unsophisticated political systems flourish. Maybe it might spur some development and put some attention to a spot that the rest of the world only hears about when Bono goes there. Much like how the US Interstate System and the Marshall Plan proved, they need transportation as the first step. That will lead to improved commerce, education, medical treatment. As it stands, when people can't get around easily, nothing happens. Sad to see that the leaders there want it to stay that way. Perhaps the WC will bring some hope and a starting place.