UConn James

The obsession-gene appears to be recessive, tho. So, I'm safe. (I don't even have a cellphone.)

These are conclusions that many average Americans could see long ago. And yet, she's among a few who'll actually say this and actually sound like, if it were up to only them, we might have a chance for change vis-a-vis things like term limits, cutting wasteful federal spending, balanced budget amendment, etc. D.C. is there to keep big business and Wall Street running. And that's okay, there's not too much overly wrong with it --- indeed there's a feeling in me that the macrocosm should mostly deal with the macrocosm level of the country. But where the political class fails is in trying to make Main Street businesses think D.C. gives a rat crap about them. They don't, they really don't. They're there to ensure a steady stream of income to the federal govt and small businesses just don't show up on their radar. To a large degree, D.C. believes that governors and states are there for that, and for smoothing out the bumps left in the road by the feds. And again, that's not entirely wrong-headed, states and cities/towns should focus on state business. Where D.C. goes wrong is in trying to mandate outside of their focus. and without a clear sense of what conditions "on the ground" are where they're making these mandates. Case in point is Obamacare. They may try to pass off that the Massachusetts plan was their model. And yet, the Massachusetts plan only has a chance of working in Massachusetts because it was tailored for that state/commonwealth, their demographics (4% uninsured), their medical system infrastructure (extensive and accessible geographically) and within their own means (affluent) such that the changes have a good chance of success and being absorbed. As Romney has said, in the good old "states' rights" way, what the legislature came up with and he tweaked to bring some fiscal sense to for the Mass. plan will not work for the whole country with such different conditions among states. I still think, whether by design or just how she is, she comes across as an unsavvy, tactless moron. And that's not something people usually want to have for the demeanor of the POTUS, given an alternative.

But no matter who wins, I hope they use some Lysol on it. For a Brooklyn/Queens district, this is a shocker. And perhaps only a harbinger for what Democrats can expect for 2012. You can chalk up some percentage of this to Weiner's conduct, but really, how much does that explain for perhaps the most urban of urban (read: Democrat) districts? Link

Speaking as a half-Dutchie heritage-wise, this is entirely believable. Their rate for (diagnosed and undiagnosed) serious obsessive disorders is probably tops in the world, per capita. Obsessiveness has benefits in things like engineering and construction, but there is a dark side.

And yet, the league can mandate that they have flags on the helmets and this 9/11 tribute ribbon on every jersey.

Funny how in the LOST threads we RARELY --- if ever --- had this problem. I don't give a sh-- about people who DVR. If they DVR and come here and see discussion about an already-aired episode, that's their own fault. The problem is the strange case of putting SPOILER tags on BOTH regular discussion of something that's already been shown on AMC and on posts that reveal something, say, that you read on SpoilerTV about something that's going to happen later in the season. As things stand here, how can one tell the difference? The spoiler tags are being grossly misapplied here. If that's the way everyone's going to do it, then I'm out of here.

OK. I've just been spoiled on a MAJOR plot development because most everyone here has been using the spoiler tags for regular discussion post-episode (for some reason that escapes me) as well as for future actual spoiler information. This sh-- has to stop or I'm not participating in this thread any more. (Note: Hops, this isn't your fault and I'm not blaming you.)

Uhmm..... Soccer.

Hmm. I thought the monoliths were "full of stars!" That is a wicked entrance. We're ten years into D-I and there's nothing even close to that. Used to ban all tailgating that had a heating device of any type in the parking lots, no tossing footballs, no fun. Game-day really suffered from what used to be when the stadium was on-campus in Storrs. (They're evidently going to be tearing down Memorial Stadium to build a basketball-only practice facility). Seems to be getting better in East Hartford, as they've apparently loosened up the rigid regulations judging from pictures in the Hartford Courant. USCarolina has really great programs, especially baseball.

It is a neutered society. They put their trust in government and CCTV and have become the very thing Orwell tried to warn his countrymen about. Same as Greece invited all sorts of immigrants in because the Greeks don't want to lift a finger, these places eventually rot at their core because of laziness and mortgaging every asset they have to continue a way of life that is unsustainable. Because not only do the citizens not want to be productive (and have no incentive to be productive because of the taxes), the immigrant workers also don't want to work and discovered how to become parasites on the extensive social welfare system. Then, when Cameron threatened to take their ice cream away with austerity measures because they're going broke, these people started looting and burning ****. And a lot of citizens there still don't see the problem because they're so close to it, nor still do they want to/have an incentive to lift a finger.

Then again, the case could well be made that brain damage ain't a disqualifier for congress --- it's a requirement! What's wrong is that it's very disrespectful. If she decides not to run, there will be plenty of time to find an alternate candidate and stage a campaign.

Her office has said that the decision will probably be made near the start of the year, about a year on from the attack. Giffords has reportedly participated in discussion and interactive with her staff. But ****, give the woman some time.

You know, I've gotta agree with the former leader quoted at the end. I don't think this a case of a trophy / sick joke (as said, it was planned before Rep. Giffords was shot) but continuing with it is in bad taste. While some can see it as discrete coincidence, there can be every perception of it being a very low blow. With every nuance of action and inaction carrying meaning in politics, this is something they should have just taken a loss on giving it back to the dealer or donor. But also in bad taste is the stuff being spouted by the liberal special education teacher who was thinking about running as a Republican or Greenie for her seat because it was questionable whether he could get 700 signatures to primary as a Democrat (he since has gotten those signatures). I mean, a special education teacher saying that she hadn't been voting in session and because she had a TBI, she might no longer be fit to be a Congresscritter... and he's forcing a primary "just in case" Giffords doesn't run. Tho there's no indication that he'll drop his bid if she does decide to run. (Giffords, who used to be a Republican, is one of the few conservative Democrats who held their seats and had been staunchly pro-gun. I'm sure that crackles their corn flakes.) You stay classy, Anthony!

Not like this topic hasn't been discussed ad nauseum for time out of mind.... But I'll summarize: Beyond worrying. Whatever happens will happen. If they stay, ownership is almost guaranteed to not f--- things up worse than Ralph. If they go, a lot of us here get our Sundays back. Period. Dot it. File it. Stick it in a box marked 'Done.'

All Leaked U.S. Cables Were Made Available Online [unredacted] as WikiLeaks Splintered No ****. Maybe it should have stayed classified in military computers? So much for the left/"progressive"/socialist shrug-off argument that 'It's OK!' The names are blacked out! We all need to know this!' These people who hold Bradley Manning up as their national hero know jack **** about the military, know jack **** about how much the release affected troops on the ground and know jack **** when it comes to seeing anything beyond the nose on their face. Now, the predictable, likely end has come to fruition and the people whose names used to be blacked out might as well have Cut Here hash lines on their throats. Julian Assange is a POS hypocrite dirtbag terrorist facilitator.

Evidence Suggests Cover-Up in ATF Scandal, as More Guns Appear at Crime Scenes Your ATF, ladies and gents! Fully 90% of the guns in Mexico come from their southern border, but the blame goes to the U.S. and the NRA, (as usual) and an anti-gun administration tries to amp up the problem and the left media uses the government's !@#$-up to push for more private owner/dealer regulation. Foreign Policy magazine. Washington comPost. This is the pot calling the Dove soap bar black. How about the ATF stops giving them AK-47s first, and THEN see where we are?

Plus, he lives in Canada.

ATF Director Out of Top Job; Transferred to Justice Dept. Yet, in true D.C. style, he's shuffled to the Justice Department (because interminable fug-ups are the best meters-out of justice, don't you know) and ATF will do a "meet the new boss, same as the old boss." It's not the individual people who are running the agency that are the problem. It is the agency's policy, and size/scope of their influence that leads individual agents/directors to believe they're above the law and can't be touched. Because as it stands, they are, and they can't. When ~2000 taxpayer-bought AK-47s are funneled to the drug cartels, and a Border Patrol agent is killed with one of those weapons, the perpetrators of this deal get promoted or transferred.

Tea Partier Herman Cain, especially, wants blacks to "hang from trees." These congresscritters can make statements like these with ease because they know for sure they'll get re-elected no matter what they say or do. How do they know this? William Jefferson, Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters.... As long as they're black and keep the federal dole rolling in, they can say and do no wrong.

Granted that it initially happened before Pres. Obama had much/any influence.... But he does take some ownership when/if his administration doesn't deport his aunt and now his uncle the same way they've done with other illegal immigrants accused/convicted of crimes. (One of the few things I supported.... which they're now curbing back). Just because it didn't go through Congress doesn't mean it's not administration policy. In June, he directed ICE agents to exercise "prosecutorial discretion" (wink, wink) and gave revised guidelines for who should be detained and deported. So, it is de facto law.

Whup... Not so fast. Texas A&M denies Big 12 decision Well, they denied that the president had sent a letter to the Big 12 on Monday.... Note that they did not say that A&M will not be leaving.

Well, Lori's not here anymore.... Thanks to certain members on the main board who do their lulz and chase away everyone with an iota of knowledge, good sense and decency. *s!

Announcement coming today. Link Watch the dominoes fall.

The plot thickens.... President Obama’s uncle had Social Security ID Next question --- at 67, has he been collecting? Not surprising tho. They run classes on how immigrants can suck the teat dry of every level of government.