hogan873

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 01:38 PM) BTW, I'm stunned that this thread is still in Pale Hose Talk. Me too. Back to my question...do you really think that Vick has paid dues and should be forgiven?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 12:53 PM) He's no longer fighting dogs. And isn't he doing a lot of animal related charity work now? When can he be forgiven? I assume you are being sarcastic. I don't know if he can ever truly be forgiven. There are plenty of people out there that won't.

QUOTE (SEALgep @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 12:02 PM) You are welcome to your opinion, and this may not change it by any means, but it is important to at the very least recognize the value hunting has. Although the act may seem cruel, if it is not done, especially in certain areas, deer and elk alike will starve to death. Just like with humans, resources become scarce... In over populated areas, they become very disruptive. Not only with eating farm crops but creating danger on road ways. You can argue they were in these areas first, but be that as it may, the result is not convenient to society when their numbers become out of whack. Again, you may not care for the act, but in many cases it is necessary. I, for one, have never been hunting, I love animals. But if they are utilized, and not wasted simply for sport, I am in favor of it. This is my stance on the issue, although I have hunted in the past. This is not an argument that gets anywhere usually, however. I grew up in western Pennsylvania where deer populations (especially does) are very high. If the deer were not hunted, many would either starve to death or get hit by cars. And when they starve to death or get hit by cars, the meat often goes to waste. Like I said, though, many animal rights activists don't want to hear this.

Caught up with Shameless last night. Good episode. And I know it's been said already, but I will say it again: Emmy Rossum.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 09:54 AM) No more Guitar Hero. I remember when it was the "must have" thing for everyone. We got GH3 on Black Friday one year and waited in the checkout line for like 5 hours. The stores registers had crashed. I got my kids the GH World Tour a couple of years ago for Christmas. They still play it every so often when they have friends over but it sits in the box more often than not. We've had the GH World Tour for a couple years as well. We don't play it much, but when we do I wonder why we don't more often. I can see why they are discontinuing it, though. I haven't had a desire to buy a newer version...I have the guitars, drums, and mic.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 09:59 AM) I apologize to those I may have offended with my last avatar. The truffle shuffle is a capital offense.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 09:08 AM) I guess that's where my mindset is different than yours. I see absolutely no necessity to kill the animal in the first place. The entire premise is unnecessary and irresponsible in my eyes. Agree to disagree. By the way, the avatar...really?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 08:51 AM) What about the perspective of the helpless animal they set out to kill? I know as a sentient being I wouldn't enjoy someone going out and putting an arrow through my gut or getting a rifle's bullet through me as I limp away to bleed out. This is where the irresponsible hunters differ from the responsible ones. I would imagine most hunters have wounded an animal without killing it. Most would track the animal and, for lack of a better term, finish it off. Those that don't and have no remorse about it are the irresponsible ones.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 08:29 AM) I'm sure if you spent some time at a factory farm, you would be able to make the connection pretty quick. I don't know. I understand that the way animals are processed for food is not something most people would want to witness. But I still cannot see the comparison of taking a blowtorch to a DOG and the processing of a COW for food. Cows, pigs, etc. are raised for food. Dogs are raised to be pets and companions.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 07:27 AM) Just a warning to everyone, only click this link if you're willing to read an article written from someone on a morally superior soapbox and would like to see a hideous picture of a maimed dog at the top. I know i'm really glad I got to see that this morning. Like a fool, I went ahead and read the article. How can one even begin to compare the torturing of dogs and the eating of beef, pork, or fish? That was a complete waste of my time.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 05:47 AM) The bolded is the key here. Domesticated dogs have been bred for thousands of years to be a natural companion of human beings. We have bred them to see human beings as members of their pack, using their natural tendencies to take a place in the hierarchy of that pack and see the human being as the alpha member of that pack. Therefore, dogs will seek to follow the desires of the alpha member of the pack, even if it may be being ordered to take part in an act which is against its own instinct, because that instinct has been overridden by the command of the alpha pack member. While there may be nothing wrong with that dynamic, from some perspective, as you say, Vick was not putting the dogs to this task for any reasonable or even defendable purpose, but instead, for bloodsport. While this may have been acceptable in some previous time, it no longer is, and he was well aware of this. Hunting, whether something you can stomach when considering the methods undertaken by human predators or not, is part of the natural order of things. Predators target prey for sustenance, and if that is the reason for Mark's hunting, than I find that difficult to be critical of. Hunting for pure sport, whether it is explained away in some attempt to justify it by achieving some ecological or modern logistical objective, is another debate altogether. Simply put, if we are to assume the hunting Mark does is for sustenance purposes, the two situations are clearly distinct and not analogous. Excellent post. I agree. Being a relatively new dog owner, I've heard the explanation about dogs seeing their owners as part of their pack. And when you have a dog that strives to please you and essentially becomes part of the family, it's hard to fathom what Vick did.

What this thread has become is a hot topic for a lot of people. As far as what Mark said, I can't begrudge him for feeling that way, but he probably shouldn't have said he wished Vick would get hurt. I personally think dogfighting is terrible, and Vick deserved to go to jail for it. The question of course is whether or not he's paid his dues. According to the law, yes. But if you ask a lot people, no. I'm on the fence, honestly. I think he's actually remorseful for what he did, but there's still the idea of what he did...and all for money. In regards to the other argument that has sprung up, I don't see a connection between being a dog lover and being an avid hunter. One can be both. Dogs are raised as pets, and they are usually trusting, loyal parts of families. When an animal like that is abused it's a terrible thing. Hunters, for the most part, consume the meat of the animals they shoot. They don't go out in the woods to torture an animal or pit two animals against each other and watch them fight. I know there are those idiots who go out and shoot animals just to shoot them, and they leave them to die. But people like that are vastly outnumbered by responsible hunters.

This news is quite encouraging. I'd be very surprised if he's ready for opening day, but it definitely sounds like he'll be on the mound well before June.

Dogs do like their alone time as much as their play time with the family. Our puppy (1 year old now) loves it when the kids are around, and he seems to have boundless energy at times. But, when we're all at work and school, he knows that it's his downtime. I've taken a day off here and there, and the dog basically ignores me and sleeps most of the day...obviously what he likes to do when no one is around. I think dogs are creatures of habit, and they get into routines based on when the owners are around and when they're not. So, leaving a dog alone for extended periods of time isn't necessarily bad, but a dog definitely needs the human interaction. I've always thought that it's not really fair to a dog to leave it alone most of the time and then expect it to interact well with people.

Strong debut for The Chicago Code. Definitely worth watching.

I pretty much need my coffee in the morning, or I'm a real crabass...well, more so than normal. However, on the weekends when I can sleep in I don't feel I need it as much. Probably something psychological going on there. Like beer, I like good coffee. Starbucks to me is decent, but there are better coffees out there. I worked in a coffee shop for a few years, and when I opened the store I would brew lesser known types of coffee (Sumatra, Ethiopian, Mocha Java). A lot of customers were wary until I explained that it's where the coffee is grown. When I have a cold, tea is my drink of choice. There's not much better to soothe a sore throat than a cup of hot tea.

I think most of my pet peeves were touched on here. Bad grammar bothers me more than bad spelling, but I dislike the grammar police posts, too. It's a message board, and I think if the point gets across, the point gets across. So, the pet peeve that bothers me the most where I don't feel bad complaining about are the posts that are obviously made to pick fights.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 10:32 AM) The reason the Packers are in the Super Bowl is because they have a great D and a great QB. Yep. Their D beat the Bears, and their QB had a big hand in destroying the Falcons. I believe the QBs of both teams will be scrambling quite a bit, and both of them have the ability to extend the play. I'd expect both of them to have games that don't look great on paper but are actually quite good because of the sacks they'll avoid.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 10:29 AM) He didnt carry his team past the Bears whatsoever, their defense did. I agree. Granted, he's a very good quarterback, and much of the Packers success this year was because of him. But to say he carried the team to the Superbowl isn't accurate. The Packers defense beat the Bears (and the Bears helped by trying to beat themselves). I think the Superbowl is going to be a good one. Two great quarterbacks who can get away from tackles and extend plays, two good running games, and two great defenses. Should be low-scoring, but a combined 45 points or so isn't out of the question.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 08:56 AM) "We found Steve Carell when he was nothing but a movie star and we turned him into a television star," said executive producer Paul Lieberstein, who also plays put-upon HR rep Toby. "We are proud to continue The Office's tradition of discovering famous talent, and we hope that once America gets a good look at Will, they'll see what we see: tremendous raw sexuality." --- oh, and those 4 episodes are going to be epic. I've been telling everyone who will listen about how good The Office has been this year. I was laughing my ass off during the roller skating of Andy, Darrell, and Dwight. I was, too. I like that Darrell is getting more involved with the storyline.

Will Farrell to guest star on The Office. Could be pure awesomeness. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with...=rss_topstories

Caight up with The Office and Modern Family last night. The Office is very good this season. They're doing a decent job of developing the other characters, which will be important with Michael leaving. Modern Family is one of the funniest shows on TV.

Today's Mix: I Love You - Barenaked Ladies Never Gonna Stop - Rob Zombie Crazy - Gnarls Barkley Bang and Blame - REM Dancing Nancies - Dave Matthews Band No Mercy for Swine - Cherry Poppin' Daddies Corduroy - Pearl Jam Kick Out The Jams - Presidents of the United States of America Baro - Nil Lara Where The River Flows - Collective Soul

Watched the first two episodes of Lights Out. Another winner for FX. Like Terriers, though, I think it was not marketed well. Most of the previews I saw showed bits of boxing matches. I imagine there will be some boxing as the season goes along, but the show is really about the main character's struggles after leaving the sport.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jan 25, 2011 -> 10:39 PM) In Bloom - Nirvana For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica Running Down A Dream - Tom Petty Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - Journey Princes Of The Universe - Queen Lick It Up - Kiss Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull Crazy - Nazareth My Sharona - The Knack Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd Nice shuffle. Obviously a fan of 70s and 80s tunes?