John Adams

I will run my bike over any kitty I see on the ride. Does that count?

That's a specific belief in whatever *your* faith is. I'll tell you that when my (then 79 year old) grandmother, a life-long Catholic who was married to the same man for more than 50 years, went in for the operation that sent her into a PVS, she made it very clear that we were not to let her live machine-assisted. Her husband, my grandfather, and the love of her life, had died years before, and she missed him dearly. Anyway, her operation went awry, and she was left in a PVS. I refuse to believe that when we acted according to her very specific wishes, and turned off the machines, that we sent her to hell. But that's what you believe. Faith is strange.

You don't know which is the side of caution. Tortorous imprisonment for the remainder of her heartbeats, or releasing her to death.

So every year I do a 60 mile bikeathon from Philadelphia to the Jersey shore for the American Cancer Society. My buddy and I do it together. So my buddy decides to set up a challenge this year- he will shave his wavy thick head of hair if he raises $2,000.00. He hopes he raises that much, but doesn't for one second believe he will, so he thinks his overly full head of hair is safe from the shears. Just a shout out to all of you, if you are interested: please help me help him lose his hair. If he makes it to 2K, I will also shave my head, and post pictures of both of us before and after. (I will not be a pretty sight bald.) Thanks in advance if you donate to a worthy cause. American Cancer Society Bikeathon

Exactly. What if you're prolonging her imprisonment in this body, rather than sending her to her better reward? Again, the people closest to her know best what she would have wanted, and unfortuately, they are on opposite sides. One thing is certain: you have no idea what she wanted.

Being trapped in a non-functioning body and brain sounds like the worst suffering I can imagine, especially for someone who believes in an afterlife.

I saw that interview last night. I'm not sure if you did. He was pretty clear several times that he beleived that Terri would have chosen to die in this situation, based on a few conversations. That quote was either out of context, or he misspoke. Unlike JSP, I do not think this is about the money for either side. I think this is about two groups who love her very much (husband visited her all the time/parents who love their daughter), and are at odds over what she would have wanted. It's terribly sad. No matter what side you are on, this case should make one thing clear: MAKE OUT A LIVING WILL. Direct people to keep you alive at all costs, or make your other wishes equally clear. Either way, it's a simple thing to do, and you can save people that love you a lot of heartache.

How do you know it's a money issue? I stand to benefit financially if my wife dies, but I know that she wants to die- not be held captive by machines- if she's ever in a PVS. And if her parents opposed that, I would fight with them to a bitter end, like Michael Schiavo. And it wouldn't be because I wanted the life insurance payout. It would be because I know her wishes. For those who don't want to be kept alive in a PVS, make VERY sure to execute a living will.

Or at least charge them for the benefit of our protection. Sheesh.

What eats at me is that for her to "get to a better place" as you say, the only legal avenue is to starve her to death.

The idea of free trade with Mexico and Canada still makes sense. Mexico is a source cheap labor. Canada has enormous natural resouorces, and we share a lot of border. The US still has unparalleled brainpower and money. We each bring something of value. I'm no fan of a UN supergovernment, but I'd like to see more free trade everywhere. Realistically, that won't happen without some UN-like free-trade treaty. I think such a treaty is a long way from a one world government. NAFTA and the EU and many of these treaties were better than the tarriff-laden systems that they replaced. Free(er) trade is good. NAFTA was an imperfect step in the right direction. The EU is an enourmous trading block that WILL surpass the economic GDP of the US in the next few years, probably because it's such a diverse trading block. [Plus, it's nice for them that they don't have to defend themselves- we do it for them. (Darin... still got those numbers?) How much do we give to NATO... to help the 8 Trillion dollar/year EU economy defend itself? Some absurd amount. ]

He is e.e. [cummings?], after all.

25% of people agree with you? That's good news. I thought there were more people who would agree with you. If it's only 25%, I'm heartened. Yeah. A penny is nothing. Except for the fact that even MORE people will go out of county to make purchases, and in the long run, that MUST be good for Erie County. Will the last one out of Buffalo please turn out the lights?

What, clinically, is wrong with people who use more than one "smiley" in a post?

(Dude- that is one limp-wristed avatar.) These prosecutors are going to lose this case huge. The witnesses are professional exotrtionists who can't get their lies staraight. And the best porn the prosecutors can find is text porn. BFD. Don't get me wrong. The guy is almost assuredly a pedophile, but this case is a joke. He's getting off on this, and he should.

You don't pay my salary, and have no say in what I make. I, on the other hand, pay yours. Now, tell me where I complained about what you get paid. I didn't. And yet, you gripe and grouse about your salary and job. What kind of example is that for your students? Think they can't sense your apathy? Every teacher who bitches about their job, and that's most of them, passes that resentment and bitterness on to the students. The ones who truly enjoy teaching shine through.

You should take this on the road with Chris Rock. Your material is hilarious!

Kumbuyah and all that crap.* Of course it's not personal. *except for AIDS babies

Everything you write about is part of your job. Of course there are some parts of it that are hard. If it was all fun and games, they wouldn't have to pay you to do it. I hear your rant from teachers, in particular, all the time. It goes something like, "I'd like to see you do my job." That's so childish. I didn't choose your job; you did. Stop whining about all of the things that go into doing your job, and just do it. In answer to lots of your other complaints, see JSP's post. (Good god... did I just use JSP as a source? <Washes mouth out with soap.>)

Nice grandstanding. "Look at me, look at me." This week's nomination for post that most wasted my time.

I can't imagine buying American. I owned a 1986 Caprice Classic, once upon a time, and it was actually pretty awesome (paid 250$ for it!). But that was a sole good American car experience amidst disasters. I'm all for Japanese cars. Had a few German, but I think the Japanese ride and finish is superior, as is the gas mileage. Right now, my wife drives the crazy mail wagon Honda Element, and I have to admit, it's a pretty damn fun car to drive. Has a direct line input for MP3/Satellite. Back seats can fold up agaiunst the sidewalls for more cargo room. The way the doors open is fantastic for loading in kids. And, a big deal for me, there's loads of headroom. Downside: road noise. I never drive, but when I do "my" car is a 1994 Accord, which at the rate I'm putting miles on it (2K/year), will last forever. Next car will probably be an Acura, to avoid the road noise issue... or maybe a Lexus (low end). Even interested in checking out a Prius, although I don't want to draw a crowd of PETA people every time I park.

I'm an adjunct professor, which means a couple universities pay me poorly to do the job of the highly paid professors who barely work. I'm a long way from a "teacher" like the people in the article. I'm probably an average teacher, but I bring some real work experience to the class, and we have fun. The goal of night school teaching is to keep the students awake.

It's a great job, and a very important one. And you only work nine months of the year...with loads of vacation... and done at 3 pm most days. Sign me up. 100K for 7 months work in Buffalo goes a long ways.

You.

Signing bonuses can be deferred, so they don't count against the immediate cap. They only count against the year they are paid to the player. Burgess got 6 mil signing bonus. That may not count against the cap until 2009.