UConn James

For people who have no clue what Romney did at Bain, perhaps you ought to read this before you make an ass of yourself. (I realize I'm writing too late for a good many here on PPP.) Romney’s got the upper hand on the Bain story

And even then, it's not like Bain and Romney were the kind of corporate raiders like the Richard Gere character in "Pretty Woman." The WSJ has a more fair assessment here. Their model at the time when they started out was risk, but high reward. Much of the time, they entered at the company's request when it was already struggling. In some businesses, the investment didn't work out and both the company and Bain lost $. Nothing's perfect. But on what they were successful with, they were successful. And they didn't stick around investing good money after bad in situations they couldn't help --- a business sense that either Obama never learned, or isn't styled with his politics. WSJ | Romney at Bain: Big Gains, Some Busts And, as the article states, in many cases, the business experienced trouble years after Bain's relationship with them ended, with many of them happening in the 2000-2001 downturn.

To quote Austin Powers... "Finally those capitalist pigs will pay for their crimes, eh? Eh comrades? Eh?" <Austin, the Cold War is over. We won.> "Oh, smashing! Groovy! Yay capitalism!" Now they're all just grasping at straws. So, he was part of a venture group that forced companies to focus on core competencies, increase profits and cut dead weight in sectors that are unprofitable/not as profitable as they should be... and Romney is supposed to apologize for this? By and large, those people found other jobs (or should have) where they were more productive. Nobody is owed a job if what they're doing doesn't directly create a profit or is of some use/value toward creating a profit. How does anyone think this country's economy recovered in the '80s and boomed in the '90s? Hint: It wasn't because Bill Clinton waved a wand in the air --- no matter how much that man may think his penis has magical properties.

How so? Once a coach teaches what he knows.... The next guy in will teach what he knows and maybe it's something the first didn't really address or emphasize. Anyway, it's not like Messrs. Hixon and Cortez were the heart of the offense. I do wish them well, especially going into the situation at Penn State right now. That program/school needs solid leaders after being betrayed by a coach whose myth turned out to be so much more than the man. I have a ton of respect that Hixon wants to be part of rebuilding the pieces.

As I wrote in the consumer forum thread, tonight I cancelled my service with AT&T because by going with the local cable company's internet service, I'm getting ~5-6 times the speed at less than half the price. I liked having the option to "fire" people too! I should've done it a long time ago. Romney's quote had to do with competitive business practices that makes the US so great. If one company becomes out of touch with its consumers' needs, there is recourse for those consumers. They'll go where the better deal is and the people at the original company had better adapt and offer better services or they'll (justifiably) go out of business. These people are making a mountain out of a crater.

Inspector Morse is rolling over in his grave....

I think he needs to stop with "Stevie" and just go to Steve. Time to grow up.

It's my dog's birthday today. More sense in his nose than most people have in their whole heads.

Some things in it, tho... (white-fonted for spoilers) The guy living in the gypsy wagon in the school parking lot. I don't get how that would be any kind of allowable... even in the '80s... even in England. I get its use as a device. He's required to stay mobile, but he's seriously screwed up. I don't know if I paid as close attention to the Christmas party flashbacks as it demanded. I think I missed something there... especially the late one just before Tailor (Firth) was shot by the gypsy wagon guy. I get why he shot him. I think. Someone gets betrayed and subjected to all that torture and having someone executed in front of you because of your answer.... But in that party scene was there the hint of, how do you say, gay undertones? There was just a look there. Firth's was the character that f--ked everything that moved, as spy plots go. I don't understand why George Smiley took being cuckolded like someone slipped him a sedative. Also need to follow the description of the meeting where his lighter was taken by the Soviet spymaster... and then when they caught Tailor, why this guy wasn't taken too; in fact he was allowed to just walk away. Like I said, this is one I'll have to re-watch to get a better understanding. I also don't quite get why Smiley was in essence above suspicion. Smiley was the Spy of the title, tho he's not mentioned as the possible mole. Even Control had his picture taped to a chess piece... a case of Control distrusting/suspecting everyone but not telling them to their face. It did give a sense of the ultimate paranoia that has to exist at that level and in that circumstance.

I've gotta admit that I'm far from an action-movie junkie, but "Haywire" --- from the spots at least --- looks interesting. Gina Carano. I wouldn't have expected such a supporting cast to be around someone who's not an established star. Surprisingly, she doesn't appear to be out of her league in what I've seen. Saw Tinker Tailor Solider Spy last night. As I wrote, I'm far from an action-movie junkie. If that's what you go in to TTSS, you're going to be seriously disappointed. But this is the spy world much closer to what it actually was/is. I'm a huge fan of PBS Masterpiece and so, many of these actors are familiar and so is the level of drama as the means to propel the story. Gotta say that it was hard to follow in spots. Definitely a movie I'm going to have to see again when it comes out on release. Oldman was really good in this.

Is it wrong to say that I much prefer the National Geographic map that the writer is using as a point of comparison? There are just huge blocks of gray forced by the only-horizontal type in Mr. Imus's map --- how the hell can you find anything? The national scale map is not where Grant Park, the Sears Tower and Wrigley field should have a listing. People know those are in Chicago so what's the function? The level of detail for "points of interest" spots that have always and should be reserved for state-level and city-level maps, rather than in the sweeping view of the entire country one should get from a 3'x4' map. It's just not useful, for the same reason a picture of a tree from 500 feet away should not be the focus level where the stomata and chlorophyll are pointed out. I get the impression that this guy is receiving praise because of the amount of time he invested in this. As for myself, I don't feel the impulse to congratulate someone for wasting their time. To anyone who is unsatisfied with a National Geographic map, all I'll say is this is like a Dansani drinker who turns up his nose at Aquafina. In the comments section below the article, it is evidently the mapmaker himself who wrote this: Yeah, I'm sure that's it.

Well, now Santorum has to face a debate while he's only the latest Not-Romney that people have latched onto without knowing much about them and he has to try to build a national campaign pretty much from scratch. He made hay in a sanctuary for his Anti-Abortion Presidency bid and holding the hands of Iowans for the last 6 months. But now the campaign starts to shift gears. What other views does this man have besides abortion that he is both learned and vocal about? Does he have any idea what to do about the economy? How can anyone be confident that he can step in and be effective at administering the federal gov't with his ZERO executive experience? Santorum, too, would be lost when he actually has to provide leadership and direction for this country and respond to the everyday things that happen with more than just prayer and Senate-style bluster. Obama has proved that you can't govern on soundbytes. Santorum also would have a much tougher row to hoe in the general when he'd have to court Independents who are not mad-rabidly anti-abortion (which Americans support the legality of by 70-30, last I saw. Like myself, not that they personally approve of abortion, only that it is and should be legal). If this election becomes about anything but the economy, Obama's chances increase by enough to eke a win. As far as this following the narrative of the Carter-Reagan election with Obama out-Jimmy-Cartering Jimmy Carter and Romney with the Reagan Hair, it's still just about spot-on.

Well, now Santorum has to face a debate while he's only the latest Not-Romney that people have latched onto without knowing much about them and he has to try to build a national campaign pretty much from scratch. He made hay in a sanctuary for his Anti-Abortion Presidency bid and holding the hands of Iowans for the last 6 months. But now the campaign starts to shift gears. What other views does this man have besides abortion that he is both learned and vocal about? Does he have any idea what to do about the economy? How can anyone be confident that he can step in and be effective at administering the federal gov't with his ZERO executive experience? Santorum, too, would be lost when he actually has to provide leadership and direction for this country and respond to the everyday things that happen with more than just prayer and Senate-style bluster. Obama has proved that you can't govern on soundbytes. Santorum also would have a much tougher row to hoe in the general when he'd have to court Independents who are not mad-rabidly anti-abortion (which Americans support the legality of by 70-30, last I saw. Like myself, not that they personally approve of abortion, only that it is and should be legal). If this election becomes about anything but the economy, Obama's chances increase by enough to eke a win. As far as this following the narrative of the Carter-Reagan election with Obama out-Jimmy-Cartering Jimmy Carter and Romney with the Reagan Hair, it's still just about spot-on.

IIRC, they had to scramble to make the salary cap last year. Not sure how they could fit Manning's $14M+.

Again.... Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers. 6-10 last season with Singletary. Inside of a year. No communication with players. No mini-camps. Shortened training camp. Alex Smith at starting QB. Now it looks like they're going toe to toe with the Packers for the NFC. "Development takes time" whining? BULLSTEVESTOJAN!!!!

The article said that the staff at OBD was informed of the change this week (probably yesterday, the day after the last game of the season). It would be quite a scoop. It'll be either confirmed or denied by tomorrow morning, I guess. You know, some people talk about it like building a team that can be really competitive actually takes 3 years and UFA signings up the yin-yang, etc. And if that's the attitude that people --- (ahem) Ralph Wilson (ahem) --- accept, then that's what you'll get. Look at what Jim Harbaugh has done in SF inside of a year, without minicamps, without much prep time... with a QB that everybody else thought was a bust. Anyone who says it can't be done is a loser. All it takes is the proper motivation, resources and a little luck. +1. Anyone who thinks this organization's attitude does not stem directly from RW's depression-era miserly behavior and Old Man Syndrome is delusional. I hope that a shot of youth in the FO with Whaley might help bring the franchise into this decade. (I mean, Whaley actually uses email!) Whether his voice is going to be counted ahead of Littman and Overdorf in RW's estimation is the most important question.

Four. Hayden Christiansen, James Earl Jones, Prowse, and Anderson.

I took a big step back as a fan of the team several years ago. Maybe you could just try that for a season.

Unless the rest of the Green Bay Packers and Mike McCarthy come with him, what would be the use?

But you know, after a game like that, I wouldn't be especially saddened if the whole staff went. If the Red Sox fired Terry Francona after the epic slide in September, the 8/10 game slide for Gailey and the 49-points unanswered and the maddening 5-WR sets when CJ was getting 6-8 yards a clip on running plays is more than enough to can Chan. It's just... what could we get as a replacement that's any better, as any candidate knows he has to contend with Ralph's bag-men before he can get anybody worth getting. This team is so far away it's depressing.

Not quite the point. Scoring has increased markedly.

If Edwards is going, it'll probably be a week or two from now after when they've done a season review. If Buddy Nix is retiring, which is based on a rumor of a FO shake-up per a national writer (there was thread on this last week), I'd expect that within the next few weeks as they prepare to either interview for GMs or promote Whaley, which is speculated (and follows Ralph's MO of bringing in someone at a lesser title, letting them look around for a little while and then promoting them). What follows will probably tell us more about whether Ralph's bean-counters Littman and Overdorf run this show rather than the football people. I'm not going to be surprised because I know the answer. And I would say it has a lot to do with influencing Nix's decision; I wouldn't want to work with handcuffs on at age 70+.

And yet, our government is spending our money trying to figure out why marriage rates have dropped precipitously in the last 30-40 years. It's because only a man who is clinically insane would want to enter into a binding legal contract whereby the B word gets half of his earnings for the rest of her life. And if there's kids, he might as well have his company deliver his paycheck to his ex so he can save the 44 cents. (Because he's going to need that 44 cents to eat that week.)

This article argues that Boehner did the right thing for American businesses that have to live in the real world, rather than the politically-expedient thing, in passing the 2-month extension. Link Instead, the House passed an extension of the current system, which would purportedly provide time for software makers and users to prepare for a two-tier SS tax system. It would also be nice if there were some kind of understanding of whether this two-tier would be permanent-like or if this is just another case of the gov't !@#$ing with everyone and causing a lot of $ and effort to be expended on the part of American businesses and then a little down the road Obama & Reid say, "Oh, you know what? Nevermind that. We're just going to bump everyone up to __% for the full taxable income." But, you guys keep up with your Boehner-this, Republicans-that, and give no chiding to a Democrat Senate that tried to pass what they did. Weren't they supposed to be the "deliberative" branch of the legislature, what with their 6-year terms? All the deliberation I see is cramming this down our throats, seeing if businesses can swallow it, and hoping to collect on tax penalties because they were trying to force a change that few/none could be ready for.

Guys, the game doesn't need to become Calvinball. It just has to stop bending backwards so far in favor of offense. If people wanted to watch the Arena League and scores like 80-68, that league wouldn't have gone bankrupt. 'Cause I'll tell you one thing. The moment when the physicality of the NFL is gone and it essentially becomes flag football, so am I. And we're almost there.