StrangeSox

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 08:29 PM) There's something about that that I'm not fully comfortable with. I just mean: if the game doesn't consider it cheating to use these drugs and so doesn't ban them, then using them becomes a legal matter for the player but not one at his workplace. Why does the game need to spell out that anything banned by the law is also against the rules? Isn't it implicit by the fact that a country's legal system trumps a game's rulebook?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 08:09 PM) It's a question posed to me by someone I've spoken with. "Bonds may go to prison and I'm sure he broke the Law several times, but whether or not he cheated, as in breaking baseball's rules, is what I'm more interested in." I laughed, but I know exactly what it means and it's an interesting discussion. I've come to the belief that if it isn't against Major League Baseball's rules, then it isn't cheating in Major League Baseball to do such a thing. Certainly, the fact that it was illegal is a consideration to be given, but that makes him a criminal rather than a "cheater" if we take "cheating" to be "breaking the game's rules". And another Q, for those of you who know the rulebook: is it a formal rule that you couldn't, or shouldn't, steal signs? It's somewhat a tangent but I'm curious. Why should baseball, or any sport for that matter, have to make rules explicitly banning illegal substances? By running their operations in countries that list steroids as controlled substances, there is a de facto rule.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 01:22 PM) The video from PBS's episode of NOVA on the Dover, PA Intelligent Design decision is now available online. I'm about half-way through, and its been excellent so far.

QUOTE(NUKE @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) One way to stop drug smuggling quickly is to simply execute anyone caught smuggling narcotics on the spot. If they know they will be killed for their trouble if caught they will abandon their efforts in a big hurry. It's a multi-billion dollar industry, it isn't going away that easily. The low-level runners will just be told "Go, or we will shoot you ourselves."

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 12:35 PM) Then why publish a rules book? Nice ethics. I suppose you follow that creed in your own life? Cheat any chance you get? That is so sad. Hey now, lawyers are known to be the most ethical people around!

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 16, 2007 -> 12:01 PM) And if they don't cave, some people will see the Dems as monsters or cowards, even though this was of course a BushCo-caused disaster. "Give us exactly what we want, or we'll label you as traitors and cowards."

Great episode, and pretty funny. They definitely had to "humanize" Michael again. It seems like they do that every once in a while to make the character believable still.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Nov 15, 2007 -> 12:25 AM) What if he had also had 10 blocks in that game, what would you call it then? Just a "five-double"? lol. Why not just "quintuple-double"?

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Nov 14, 2007 -> 09:02 AM) Rudy vs Hillary wold be a tough one for me to go to as well. I dunno, Romney v Hillary might be even worse IMO.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Nov 14, 2007 -> 07:03 AM) I would love to slit your cat and dog's throat in front of you and your family and eat them as you watch. Damn good eats! Those are delicacies where I was raised. Domesticated pets =/= livestock. If you want to raise a dog for consumption, that's your perogative. If you want a family cow, I'm not going to come beating down your door to butcher it. Want to try another terrible analogy?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 05:16 PM) Do we have fans of the book here? Not particularly, but I think the movie looks really cheesy. I generally dislike any movie that goes way over the top with CGI, though.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 03:54 PM) O no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... No. No. Just, no. Have to agree with that 100%.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 07:37 AM) Didn't Hilter say the same about Jews? Did you seriosuly just compare a statement about livestock to the Holocaust?

QUOTE(Mplssoxfan @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 11:34 AM) Catch-22. Great book, great film. I couldn't disagree more. C22 is my favorite book. I saw the movie recently after looking for it for years. It was ok, and got the basic plot out, but it was missing so, so much of what made the book so great.

Saw this thing at Linens & Things the other day for $400. You could probably build something similar yourself for a lot cheaper if you've got a little PC and woodworking skills. http://www.amazon.com/Big-Electronic-Games...8876&sr=8-2

QUOTE(SnB @ Nov 7, 2007 -> 03:32 PM) it's just a fun diversion. It's a toy, everyone knows that. At some point in my life, I'm going to learn how to play the guitar. But most people that play guitar hero just think of it as a videogame, it's just a fun little thing, we don't think we could pick up a guitar and play it. I've got a buddy who's been playing guitar for years. He got pissed at the first GH because he could play the songs on a real guitar but not in the game. I'm debating getting an Xbox 360 in a month or so. Are there any used ones going for ~$200? Any more than that and I won't use it enough to justify the cost.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 12, 2007 -> 07:06 AM) With a win, Illinois ties for 2nd in the Big Ten. They're going to the Outback/CO. If OSU wins, wouldn't Illinois end up 3rd? Same record as Michigan, but lost head-to-head.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Nov 10, 2007 -> 10:27 AM) The interesting thing about the AMT vote was that it was 216-93. The thing that should jump out at you is that only 299 reps actually voted. That means 136 reps didn't feel it important enough to show up and vote, or about one third of the whole house. Its embarassing. Probably out campaigning!

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Nov 9, 2007 -> 04:19 PM) The problem with the article is that it is misleading. It talks about 19% raises over 3 years. Sounds like a lot, right. But that 19% represents both COLA increases and year-to-year raises. We constantly see 3.8% CPI numbers, but those numbers dont account for items such as housing or gasoline. (We all know that housing prices up until recently were increasing at a rate of 10-12% per year, and gasoline has risen at 25%+) Teachers are supposed to be paid based upon the area in which they teach in. You teach in Schaumburg, housing prices are more. Thus it costs you more to live in Schaumburg and you get paid accordingly. What other professions b**** and moan and walk off the job because they "only" got 19% raises, though? Everyone gets paid based upon the area the work in. An engineer in Chicago or Southern California makes more than an engineer in Kansas because of higher cost-of-living. If teachers deserve raises of 20%+, why don't other professions?

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Nov 10, 2007 -> 02:31 AM) You cant compare athletes salaries to that of normal people everyday jobs. That business as a whole is just so insane in the amount of money they bring in cant be compared. We all know how outragous the salaries are for these athletes. I know that some teachers in D211 were making over 100 grand, at my school atleast(Conant) and I dont think a teacher deserves that much. On the other end the ones making only 30k deserve more. Back when I was going to Lockport, there were only two teachers making over 100k. One was a soon-to-be retired history teacher. The other was the Driver's Ed "teacher" who also happened to be the baseball and football coach and spent most of his time on the phone with recruiters. So the ridiculous-ness of sports salaries seeps over into education, as well.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Nov 9, 2007 -> 04:53 PM) Yea, the AMT has never been indexed for inflation. They're f***ing idiots, and none of them give a s***. Who's brilliant idea was it to leave that little bit out way back in the late 60's?

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ Nov 9, 2007 -> 12:07 PM) Ahh yes. Let's not pay the people that are teaching kids more money. Makes sense. Nearly every 211 teacher has a Master's Degree. Compare that with an Engineer who has been in their field for 20 years with a Master's Degree. I am sure they all make good money. I find it interesting that when people see what someone makes, they judge it by their own salary. Like how can anyone make more than me. They are just teachers. Imagine someone with knowledge in a specific subject, running an all seminar for adults in calculus, science, etc ...... They would make $100 an hour. Teachers deserve whatever they can get. Their job is far more important than some sales rep or auto worker. JMO. And, no, I am not a teacher. I'd agree with that entirely. Teachers, in general, are poorly compensated and they're one of the most important professions in the country. I still don't support them refusing to educate their students.

I hate teachers' strikes and those that participate in them. It just comes off as EXTREMELY selfish and makes it seem like they couldn't care less about those they're supposed to be educating, as long as they get their 20% raises.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 04:50 PM) I'll take a stab - Would you understand if a loved one died in an incident where the US held someone who had the information that could have stopped the event, but couldn't because their hands were tied on how they could get information out of the suspect? - Depending on the "hands were tied." If water-boarding would have gotten the information out, then yes I would have been pissed. If the interrogation would have required the use of bamboo near the finger nails, than no. I think the whole torture issue is hysterical, only because of the context - a major argument is always that are enemies could use it against us. Well guess what, terrorists don't torture, they just chop off heads. I think its a bit naive to think that tortuturing Muhammed Ahkbar is really going to detter Muhammed Aekban from doing something bad to one of our troops. Of course torture is bad and should never be done, but no matter what techniques are used there's always going to be a thin line between acceptable and not acceptable. In the same situation as if the suspect were a non-citizen, should a request for legal representation be allowed, even if it potentially allows an attack to occur? - IMO no, unless the legal representation would be to stop an execution or something as serious. If you had the ability, could you represent that person knowing that your actions could allow that same potential attack to happen? - No. There's not way I could be impartial and represent them to the best of my ability. I've heard stories of guys who represent detainees at Guantanamo. They are torn daily helping people who literally pray for the death of all Americans. Would you protest to protect the speech rights of someone who was saying something that absolutely disgusted you to your core? What is the worst speech you could consciously protect? Sex? Religion? Pornography? Child Pornography? Unfortunately yes, though if I would try to create exceptions. For example the recent funeral protests. Some have argued it's their right to say it. I'm on the side that they're infringing on a private moment, even if they are technically on public land. IMO such a situation could create a limited and narrow exception to the general rule of free speech - at a cemetery, during a funeral. There's no long-term detriment to the right to speak freely. And I don't think its the words that are spoken mostly, it's in what context they are spoken. Would you allow your minor children to be exposed to any of the previous things to protect the freedoms of speech of others? Probably not no - I'm only 25 and don't plan on kids for another couple of years, but I'm already terrified of what my kids will be exposed to. I think this question would be answered solely on the factual setting. If the US had intelligence on where someone like an Osama Bin Laden what level certainty would they need before you would be OK with them launching an attack based on that intel? 50%? 75%? 100% What about if there were civilians around him that would probably die in said attack? How about if one of the civilians was a family member? No civilians - 50%, Civilians - 95%, unless we have firm evidence that he's got the only key to a nuke that's pointed towards Chicago (or any other American city). If my family member is present - I'd defer my decision to some other disinterested person, but obviously my answer would be 100% certain and even then there better not be an alternative. That sounds very reasonable, I and can agree to most of it. However, with regards to the bolded part: It won't stop Muhammed Aekban, who's already a fanatic, but it will tarnish America's image that much more for the millions of other Muhammeds who aren't yet radicalized. It seems like the cost-benefit ratio is way off on techniques like waterboarding, which sound horrible to most people and aren't even very effective at producing reliable intelligence.

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 11:46 AM) Anybody hear Hunter this morning on Silvy and Waddle? Sure it may be a pep rally, especially considering the way Torii tends to run his mouth. Surprised this hadn't been mentioned yet, but he seems like he really wants to come here. He will be meeting with KW on Sunday, and wants to play for a big market like Chicago. He also mentioned that the Dodgers and Nationals seemed to be interested off the bat, but would like to finish his career with this contract. Has always loved to play at the Cell, knows he has hit well there, loves to play D in CF there, and mentioned the grass is true. (thank u Sodfather) Also stated that he has always been fond of Ozzie since he was young playing spring training through minor leagues, he's always made him laugh, and he'd really like to play for him someday... he is now just realizing that this might become a reality and "you never know" Silvy brought up the Jamie Burke incident, and Hunter said he actually got a couple death threats about that, but people joke about that with him all the time in Chicago now. He basically stated it was a gut reaction and a litt'l ghetto came out of him... but a good play nonetheless, just something Sox fans were obviosuly not happy with at the time. He would welcome coming to Chicago, he had a lot of family and freinds here, and is not scared of the way the media and fans treated Jacque Jones on the North Side. "We are two completely different people, I like to be out in the streets and be social." 5 years might be rough... but damnit, I want him. He also said that he cares more about winning and having fun than making the absolute top dollar at this point. He knows he's going to be very wealthy no matter where he goes, so he might as well have fun doing it. And he'll never play somewhere that he can't rob homeruns.