Y2HH

Speaking of atheists, BS claims to be an atheist (I think) but he was reading passages from the book of John to me at the bar when we had a SoxTalk meet up, so I think he's full of $H!T. Talk about gay.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 09:59 AM) Then where do you draw the line? If they have a bunch of tattoos? If they are huge nerds? If they are loners? Are all of those worthy of disowning? It has nothing to do with disowning or hating...it's just different context when you look at someone as normal as an individual vs looking at the them in regard to the societal norm.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 09:58 AM) People define "normal" based on their surroundings and what they are used to. Go to some country where they eat dogs and the people there think it's perfectly normal. Yet in this country I'd assume most people would think it's really weird. That's what I mean. It's easy to take things out of context in this regard when we talk about individuals vs society. I don't think gays/lesbians aren't normal as individuals, but in relation to society, they're not the norm, even if they're accepted. What he said could be read into one of two ways, the way I explained above, or the way others did...

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 09:45 AM) This says more about you than any other post you've made here. I think he means normal in this case in the typical view of society at large via majority acceptance. My point is this -- if I can even put this into words effectively -- it's not only him that thinks a "normal kid" isn't gay/lesbian, because this is a social norm by majority as accepted by society at large. In this regard, people tend to relate societal "norms" as what the majority happen to be, and in this case, that's straight. Which would make non-straights fall in the non-normal category, BUT, that's not to say they're not normal people as individuals, but in relation to society they aren't. ^^ I hope that comes off as I intended it and can be understood. I don't think the bulk of society is anti-gay or anti-lesbian because they regard straight as the norm, and gay/lesbian as something else...it is what it is.

Oh, and if I ever played baseball with BS, I'd leave him a similar message...and I wouldn't apologize, either. No matter how many of you saw it, or if the Hubble telescope itself took a picture of it from space and the image went viral, I'd still not apologize for telling the truth.

This is being overblown. He doesn't even have to apologize for this IMO...but like all of you, it's just an opinion. Yet another example of a thin skinned society that loves making everything their own personl business, and small stories into big stories. This is simply stupid.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 08:20 AM) Wait until Jason gets his first product endorsement deal... It's gonna be like that scene from Wayne's World : Selling Out!

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:58 PM) I didn't even know there were ads on this site. There is a small banner that pops up below the banner logo once in a while with a few links on it. I run adblock and noscript, but these aren't intrusive ads anyway.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:51 PM) how does one argue that they ARE patriotic if the definition they are classifying for being patriotic are mostly just things that are identified with being republican? I think this it the problem with any/all "I'm a patriot" arguments...it all depends on how it's defined. IMO, patriotism is anyone that loves the country they live in/are a citizen of, and wish for an even better future, etc, even if they see said future in a different way than I do. That's the open minded side of me talking. Now, the devils advocate side would probably say something more along the lines of, one argues they are a patriot because you are a socialist that wishes for more handouts.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:48 PM) I really enjoy having these offers presented to me - clicking on them from time to time has allowed me to explore offers and services that are relevant to me. It has behooved me to check out things every other day - as it only takes a couple minutes and the benefits are there for all involved. No green here. Just thinking that others may enjoy the benefits of exploring. No. I understand why they would do it...but I don't like ads...ever.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:47 PM) Exactly. Just shows you that liberals are smarter. Touche. I will chop block tackle you below the knees next time we meet, Sasquatch.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:44 PM) George H.Bush Perot George W Bush John Kerry Barack Obama EDIT: In your face! I'm sorry, but knowing how Liberal you are -- I just can't buy that...however, anythings possible...so I'll take your word for it. That said, back when you voted for the republicans -- you were what, 18 and knew next to nothing? Now that your ideology is set in, I'd love to see you cross over...which won't happen again.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:38 PM) Ok. You're the only person in the country with a mind of their own who can vote whichever party tickles your fancy at any given election. If we only had your strong will. No, I don't believe that at all...people absolutely have minds of their own, they just don't' use them. But I do believe if we were able to examine your voting record, it would read as pure party line votes. IE, you've never crossed the line and voted for a single republican candidate, and you never will. That goes for 99.9% of the people I know that vote, and 99% of the people on this board.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 11, 2011 -> 02:13 PM) LOL, yeah, me and BS, Democrat Party shills! It wasn't like we spent pages arguing with Balta on why we won't be voting for Obama or anything. But you will. And if, come election time, you don't...please accept my pre-apology. That said, I don't believe you won't vote for him again, only you will justify going back on your word to not vote for him with something like, "Well...if didn't run against him, I wouldn't have voted for him", or "He was the lesser of two evils and I'd rather the lesser one win". Just my opinion...but I'd venture to guess that *most* people on this board have a history of voting along party lines, and rarely -- if ever -- having crossed over.

QUOTE (lord chas @ Jul 10, 2011 -> 10:02 PM) looking to start a roth 401k any broker sites out there better than others? Go with whatever "stable" company gives you the best trading rates, because no...they're basically all the same at this point. Be it E*Trade, Ameritrade, Schwab, etc...

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 12:57 PM) Didn't know where to put this, but I figure it's "investment" related. So has anyone else been screwed by an escrow fund review? My wife and I bought a place last year. For some unknown reason (which i'm investigating) our property taxes went up by $500/installment (2nd of last year, and first of this year), and our house insurance went up by $500. My bank sees this and "projecting" into the future tells me that the escrow fund is gonna be like 800 bucks short next year. Thus, they're asking me for that plus an amount near double that so they can set up a "reserve" account. So at the end of the day my monthly payments are going up about $300 a month. For you long time home owners out there - do property taxes and insurance go up like that every year? I mean, i figured they'd go up some, but that seems a bit excessive. What happens is this...in IL, the first year you buy your house, it's tax is assessed on the value of the house BEFORE the sale. So if, for example, the people living there bought that house for 125,000$ years ago, and say 10 years later it's worth 200,000$, the taxes on that house is based on that 200,000$ assessment. The first year you buy the house from them, your taxes are based on that older 200k assessment. Now, if you buy that house from them for say 270,000$...the city/township is nice enough to automatically readjust the assessed value of that house at 270,000$ for your following years taxes...hence the huge bump in tax. Normally, them raising income taxes won't hit that hard...but it tends to hit especially hard when people first buy because of this reassessed purchase value. A lot of houses for sale were houses people bought 15-20 years ago for really low values, and were lucky that the city (or township) never bothered to really "reassess" what the house would actually sell for. And whats really REALLY awesome, is say there is a huge downturn in the housing market (ahem), and your house would actually sell for less than you paid for it...they won't be so quick to "reassess" you downward and lower your tax payment, in IL, that can take YEARS...if ever. My friend bought his house new for 270,000...two years later you could buy that EXACT house, on his exact block (with free additions) for 235,000. They're still sending him tax bills for a 270,000 assessment...despite the fact that that house is provably worth less than 235,000. He's been putting up a fuss about it legally, but nothing has come of it...he's still getting taxed at 270k. Politicians are awesome.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 01:44 PM) Well Android has been a gigantic success, they just haven't been able to build phones, which Im not surprised at. Google isn't a manufacturing company, and to diversify into such a different area would be tough for any company. We'll see how Google + works out, they failed pretty bad with their first attempt in Google Buzz, but they are so interconnected with email, smartphone OS, etc that they could do some pretty cool things with those combinations. Android has been successful in garnering a huge user base, mostly because it's free and available on hundreds of devices, even if many of them are downright bad...but it hasn't been very successful in generating profits. Apple, with just 18% of the entire smartphone market (lagging behind Google, Nokia, etc.) generated over 51% of the profits from said market. One of the big problems is Microsoft owns some important patents in Android, so every Android manufacturer has to pay Microsoft 5$ (or more) for every handset they sell. Yes, that's right...Microsoft is making more money on Android devices than it does on it's own mobile devices.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jul 7, 2011 -> 11:57 AM) you don't like a good ol' fashion Sausage Fest? No, I just have no need for an invite only service with 1% of the population of Facebook that does nothing but mirror the functionality of Facebook. The only advantage it had was video chat, which Facebook just added...which I wouldn't really call an advantage. People don't use these social networks for video chats or group chats...that's what AIM was for...heh.

Google Plus is merely Facebook without the people -- oh, and the people it does have are all male. No thx.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 10:43 AM) Further left than BigSqwert and you're also in anarchist territory. Y2HH has the same distrust of corporate money and special interests that the left does. Possibly on some issues...I just have a wide range of opinions on various subjects...some coincide with things republicans say, others coincide with the democrats...it really depends on the specific subject. That and I tend to play devils advocate more than I should.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 10:20 AM) That seems kinda draconian but I don't think it is... considering you probably make significantly more in one day than you ever would on a jury. I'd hope so, since a full day of Jury Duty pays you like, what, 17$?

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 10:35 AM) Wasn't lostfan's quote that you were so far right you met bigsqwert on the other side? I don't believe so, I think he said I'm more of an anarchist.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 10:30 AM) The difference is I'm not going into the Republican thread trolling calling you guys biased. I know I'm biased. I also try to back up my arguments, as do many of the posters in this thread. You guys might disagree with us, but as trying to back up our claims is a sign of respect. I expect the same. Oh, and you may not know it but I do respect you and your opinion even if I don't agree with it sometimes.

Oh, and also, for the record here...I don't think GW is as good as far right Republicans claim he was...and I don't think he was as bad as the far left Liberals say he was... That said, my voting record makes a pretty clear statement IMO: Clinton Bush Kerry I could not vote for McCain because of his choice of VP, nor did I like what Obama was selling...which was a dream. To say I agree with republicans more than democrats is stretching reality, at best...since I've voted for less Republicans in my life than Democrats. As Lostfan has said, after meeting me, he realized I'm less of a republican than most think...but I hate you democrats most of the time, too.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 6, 2011 -> 09:59 AM) also, selective innocence. i was listening to a podcast and that word came out. Memory. but, whichever you'd prefer. I prefer either, since you apply universally valid statements only to me, but not yourself...so I say you too, have selective innocence, and since it would be impossible for you to refute such a generalized/global statement, I guess we both win.