LowerCaseRepublican

QUOTE(NUKE @ Oct 8, 2007 -> 02:34 AM) You're grasping at straws here Rex. Seriously, any organization that is solely focused on one ideology for its scorn checked any hint of objectivity at the door. See: Fox News Channel.

QUOTE(MHizzle85 @ Oct 7, 2007 -> 01:15 AM) ROH SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nigel McGuinness is your new ROH Champion. I'm actually surprised by this. ROH fans, where would you rank Morishima's reign? Glad to see them finally pull the trigger on Nigel. He's ridiculously over. As for 'Shima, he seemed like a transitional champ when he got the belt off Homicide. I didn't really like him at the start but he really got to grow on me in the style of dominant matches a la Samoa Joe.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 10:18 AM) Free speach is for adults who can handle the responsibilty. Are you serious? Let's punish a kid who's trying to be active in his country. I'm pretty sure the Bill of Rights dosen't say "18 and over only". Even though he's not 18, the person that get's elected president is gonna effect his life too. School's need to stop telling kid's what to wear and focus on teaching. Kids in the schoolhouse have a slightly different set of Constitutional rights while there. 4th Amendment rights are curbed with no need for a warrant and a lessened suspicion (see TLO vs New Jersey) to search a locker. 1st Amendment rights are routinely found in Tinker vs Des Moines. The Supremes ruled that the armbands etc. could be worn since it was silent activity that did not directly disrupt the educational process or substantially disrupt school discipline. In this case, unless the school can show substantial disruption from the student wearing the Edwards shirt (and their dress code policy), the district will likely have some problems if the dictates of Tinker are taken to heart. And being in a classroom as a teacher -- what the kids wear does affect what is going on in a classroom. Inappropriate dress from girls -- cleavage hanging out, short skirts to huge baggy pants that the kids have to constantly worry about pulling up -- takes away from the educational process as a distraction and (especially in the case of baggy pants) can be a security risk for stashing weapons. That's why I'm glad the district I'm at banned sagging pants this year. You can still wear big pants but they have to be buckled so they have no chance of being loose and falling down.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7023706.stm Cuban doctors working in Bolivia have saved the sight of the man who executed revolutionary leader Che Guevara in 1967, Cuban official media report. Mario Teran, a Bolivian army sergeant, shot dead Che Guevara after he was captured in Bolivia's eastern lowlands. Cuban media reported news of the surgery ahead of the 40th anniversary of Che's death on 9 October. Mr Teran had cataracts removed under a Cuban programme to offer free eye treatment across Latin America. The operation on Mr Teran took place last year and was first revealed when his son wrote to a Bolivian newspaper to thank the Cuban doctors for restoring his father's sight.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 09:55 PM) The fact that, at age 83, the guy is in a very dangerous place trying to do some good for the world, deserves my respect. Maybe his argument wasn't the smartest move, but do admire Jimmy's attempts to do some positive things in dark places. Everybody knows badasses that deserve to be lauded only go into a green zone of highly protected and militarized zones under such covert guard and secrecy that the initial meeting and appointment are only announced to the general public when the public figure/leader is already back into the United States.

Punk vs Big Daddy V at NM.

Doods! London with a running shooting star press off the apron to the outside on Shelton/Butch Reed. But the SSP is banned/!?!?! ELEVENTY! Anybody go to the TPI this past weekend?

Chuck Taylor showing how he's an awesome heel, hahahaha THAT'S TWO! At the start of a match... At the end of that match...

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 12:57 PM) Sounds like once the government took control of the monasteries and the monks were no longer out in the streets igniting protest the citizenry quieted up. Do you really want to use the words 'monks' and 'igniting' so closely together? That may start a 'flame war' of protests.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Sep 29, 2007 -> 08:12 AM) do they know that you're into wrestling? Yes they do. We chat about that before class starts, during homeroom or during the last minute or two of class after we're done with everything for the day.

US sanctions tighten which will keep 30 members of the Burmese military junta from entering the US. The US is also going to freeze any assets for 14 members of the junta. Meanwhile, Japan has said it will review its aid programs after a Japanese journalist was shot dead during the demonstrations in Rangoon. Video footage of Kenji Nagai apparently being shot by a Burmese soldier was broadcast around the world on Friday. I've been reading the BBC with my students for the last few minutes of study hall via my LCD so they are hearing about this Burma issue.

Some of the phrases he uttered were pretty damn amusing. Then, I sit back and wonder how insulated he is from a regular middle class community, let alone a minority middle class community in a stereotypically very minority part of NY. It's just like the kids who use 'gay' as an insult in my class -- after I set the record straight that they are 1) using a word improperly and 2) people are born that way so it makes about as much sense for me to insult you for having because it is something that a person can't control. Doing it nicely seems to work and I've even had other kids correcting people about it in the halls. Bill O often times plays fast and loose with the facts and rightfully gets flak for that. I don't want to give him too much flak for trying to get a better understanding of a community of which he seems to have little knowledge. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt that given his job, etc., he is likely very unfamiliar and isolated from the African American community in general so it's a bit of a new learning experience for him. He's used to the battle against Ludacris/ pimp-ho-domestic violence promotion/ taking gangsta rap as literal when it is (perhaps was is a better word) a means for the community that uses it to discuss social ills like drugs, violence, racism, etc. stereotype of the black community. When one holds a certain belief, of course it is bound to be a shock when one sees something that flies in the face of the preconceived notions. While it was a "funny" comment with the verbiage he used, I am cutting him a little slack because at least he seems to be making an attempt to reach out into a community with which he is very unfamiliar and that is admirable. Hopefully, further exploits into this nature will lead to a lessening of his ludicrous (pun intended) stereotypic prattle as he gains a more familiar understanding.

The discussion went awesomely. A good third of the class was believing that Columbus should be honored with a day and about 2/3 of the classes were ready to get rid of the federal holiday. Most of the time I didn't even have to say a word -- it was them playing off of each other's comments which led to a really great discussion. Probably one of the best comments was: "It's good to see these people as human. Everybody does some good stuff that we should be remembered for but we also do a whole lot of crap that we'd probably be embarrassed by."

QUOTE(longshot7 @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 04:00 PM) God, I hope so. don't know about that cd thing - that seems a stretch. but Y2J is definitely what the WWE needs - and BAD. either that or it's Judas Mesias. WHITE EYES! HE HAS WHITE EYES!

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Sep 24, 2007 -> 08:52 PM) Your question is being phrased in a way which suggests what response you would like to hear. You might want to change "to make money from" to "move to and settle". Also, your question of "what if everyone did this" is not a legit question. Everyone has done it. Native Americans are also Europeans according to science. They traveled across from what is now considered Russia. Cultures from around the world have been moving and fighting since written history (and certainly even before). So your suggestion that this is only something only happens with the United States is misguided at best. And, for disclosure, I don't think we should celebrate Columbus day. The mass slaughter and seizure of the "Indians" land was tragic. In Columbus's own journals, it states that the goals of the journeys were made for mining and production of gold for Spanish coffers. Subsequent activities de las Casas and others who were there in their primary sources discussed the pursuit of gold being a primary factor -- hence the wording of the question. The global consequences question is more for the way that the Spaniards treated the Natives (i.e. cutting the hands off the people who did not get them gold, etc.) De las Casas does an excellent job of discussing the offenses. It is more of 'if the ends justify the means in that situation, what happens if all use those means to get a positive end?'

Going to spend the next two days discussing Christopher Columbus and the controversy surrounding Columbus Day. I've got a "Myths vs Facts" piece from the pro-Columbus Order of the Sons of Italy. I've also got a piece from Howard Zinn's "Young Peoples' History of the United States" and a 4 minute video clip about de las Casas and what the Spanish did in the Americas. The whole thread of the class so far is the idea that we can't be neutral on a moving train -- so all history from textbooks to the supplements take sides on an issue. We talk about controversy because it is interesting and they seem interested in it rather than just recitation of facts. We're going to start reading through those together and then listing all the good things that came from Columbus's actions, all the bad things that came from Columbus's actions and then have each of them figure out if what Columbus did was right or wrong. I may throw the question that there is little controversy over the accuracy of what Columbus did to the Taino/Arawaks, so why is it not included in textbooks? Then Wednesday I'll be throwing questions at them using role reversals (if it was right, what if you were a Native or if it was wrong, what if you were a European who was making money from the activity), global consequences (what if everybody acted in that way) and then I force them to think outside the box -- given the situation and our school's 3 Be's -- Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Considerate -- to come up with alternate solutions to the situation that use the school's 3 Be's. I may also throw out there -- Given the perspectives we discussed, how do the students think we should celebrate Columbus Day?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 24, 2007 -> 06:09 PM) Then he has no idea what the education system is supposed to be. I suppose he prefers indoctrination to open discourse. Well, conservative indoctrination. I just laughed that everybody was wringing their hands that Ahmed... got to speak to 2,000 people. To show their outrage, these same hand wringers then allowed video footage of Admed..'s commentary to be aired to countless millions of people.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 10:22 PM) I just had a long conversation with the parents of a young man I know. They found a few things in his room and are wondering what they mean. First off, they found rolling papers and tobacco, He claims he is smoking custom cigarettes. Is that reasonable? Second off, and more strange. Round, pencil shaped, metal rods. A bunch of them. I can't think of any reason. For reasons I can't get into, their son is not available to explain what they are, but may help this kid. Any ideas soxtalkers Are the metal rods hollow? If so, they could be hitters which are pretty much used for smoking the MJ.

QUOTE(NUKE @ Sep 20, 2007 -> 10:35 AM) I have a hard time equating "regime change" with the extermination of a whole nation of people. Um, what about the 1954 coup of Arbenz in Guatemala, the 1973 coup of Allende in Chile or propping up the Shah of Iran and his authoritarian secret police -- which directly helped the success of the fanatical Muslims to take power when they were able to overthrow the Shah -- and a whole lot of others that I'd sit here and type but it is 5:30 in the AM and I need to conserve a little energy. The US does have a history of toppling regimes that they don't like.

If non-UIUC'ers want to donate, they have an option at the site http://www.crisisnursery.net. Unfortunately, the online one doesn't come with Mexican food.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=L3MKZiDO0nI ROH Video Wire up with the AOTF promo.

That many cops and they all couldn't have knocked him on his ass, pinned him and got him cuffed? The spoiled brat crown prince of the douchebags -- "Why am I getting arrested?" Sir, you were getting removed from the event because of your behavior in a private venue that violated the expectations of the event's organizers. You would have won more to your cause if you did not sound so damn condescending in your delivery.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Sep 19, 2007 -> 08:57 PM) I agree that the kids that hung the nooses should be in alot more trouble than what they did. But they DIDN'T kick someone or beat them up and put them in the hospital. YES, they intimidated them, and there HAS to be something that they could have done to them. But they didn't. Apparently the principal tried to do the right thing, telling them they can sit there, and trying to expell the kids, but got overruled by some crackers on the board. That inflamed the racial tensions in the area, as you might expect. I am NOT saying what the white kids did was right, because it wasn't. but what the black kids did was wrong, and the fact that some nooses were hung on a tree and some racist board members gave them a slap on the wrist doesn't make it ok to gang up on someone and put them in the hospital. I think the attempted murder rap is probably harsh, but assult and battery sure wouldn't be. If you realize that the law of the school isn't going to protect you from being victimized, often times kids want to end the victimization and therefore do stuff like this or even worse. It is why our district has had a huge bent in security training but also positive interventions training to curb victimization with extra supports like a social worker, etc. It is good to be proactive as much as possible. And Alpha -- not calling you out. Just others in here and didn't want to double post. On September 10, several dozen black students attempted to address the school board concerning the recent events but were refused because the board was of the opinion that "the noose issue" had been adequately resolved. It seems like there is a separate and unequal justice system here. Nooses as a very obvious threat of violence gets 3 days of ISS and taking home a shotgun a person pulls on them yields three criminal charges. One of the guys was on trial with an all white jury and one of the jurors was a friend of a very involved white kid's father. Even if they did kick this guy's ass, let's not act like it wasn't provoked and that there were numerous proactive measures that the city of Jena and Jena High School simply pissed all over. Assault? Ok. 2nd degree attempted murder? Not so much. I just wonder what the city would do if it was six white kids who beat up a black student. And even though some of these guys may be violent asstunnels, a railroading is still a railroading that I oppose just on principle. (just like I thank the ACLU for their work to stop the vice crap that nailed Sen. Craig -- while I found the Sen. Craig stuff hilarious for his hypocrisy being exposed, it was dubious in the eyes of the Constitutionality of such an endeavor /end.threadjack)

I know there are a bunch of people from CU here, so I wanted to bring this out to everybody. Come support Crisis Nursery the week of September 24 (Monday -Sunday) at El Toro (1805 S. Neil Street, Champaign). El Toro will be donating 100% of their proceeds from lunch and dinner (includes drink and all) from their "Community Table". For those that don't know, the Crisis Nursery is a 24-7-365 care center for young children whose parents may have a crisis, issue or need emergency child care. They have food, toys and tons of workers and volunteers to play with the kids, etc. See http://www.crisisnursery.net for more info. So, if you are in CU and can get to the community table at El Toro, do it. It's good food and also helping a local charity.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Sep 19, 2007 -> 02:48 AM) Paul Heyman is officially gone from The E. (Either his contract or his no-compete clause has expired) It'll be interesting to see where he lands, and how long it takes. I know AWA Lite had either pursued him or pretended to pursue him, but that's a pretty steep drop. TNA would be smart to let Russo go and hire Paul E., but has TNA done anything smart lately? Do you have 9 pay site sources for that information?