hogan873

Thanks for the feedback. I'm torn between staying at one of the big waterparks and staying at a hotel that offers discounted or free tickets to Noah's Ark or Chula Vista or Mt Olympus. I could save money by staying at a basic hotel, but then I lose the convienence of being able to just run down to the waterpark for an hour or so at night. Has anyone stayed at any of the big waterparks? How was the cleanliness?

We're thinking of a family vacation in the Dells this summer. I've never been there, and I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions for the better places to stay up there. Looking for a water park resort that would be good for a family with 3 kids between ages 6 and 9. Thanks!

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Mar 1, 2011 -> 03:14 PM) I'll agree on onions, you can add mushrooms as well to my list. I agree there. Most of my family likes mushrooms, so when we order pizza we'll get 1/2 without mushrooms for me. Then everyone eats that pizza first before eating the one with mushrooms. Pisses me off.

American Idol Twilight 5 Hour Energy Survivor

If you look at his skill set, he's not worth $14 million a year. But if you take into account everything he means to the White Sox, I have no problem with him getting that type of money now. If he extends for a couple/few years, I could see $8 to $10 million per...and I'd be fine with that.

Last year we were all quite worried about the DH situation. Turned out we had a reason to be. This year...not so worried.

93-69 First in AL Central Rios, Dunn, and Konerko combine for 109 HRs and 307 RBIs Pierre steals 50 bases Quentin gets hurt early and Milledge steps in Sale struggles early as the closer but finishes strong with 31 saves Morel has a good year, batting .265 with 19 HRs...and of course great defense Peavy starts his first game in early May, goes 12-8 with an ERA of 3.96

Strong second episode of The Chicago Code last night.

Congratulations!

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 07:22 PM) Yep. Me too. Me too.

This has been a great thread to read and be involved with. I doubt anyone expected over 225 responses, nor the fact that it stayed in Pale Hose Talk the entire time. For the most part, I think there was some great discussions and only a few inflammatory jabs. I can say that no one is going to make me stop eating meat or keep me from going hunting every couple of years. And I'm not going to make any vegans decide it's okay to chow down on a hamburger tonight. One thing I can admit to is that BigSqwert at least doesn't seem hypocritical...and maybe that's true with many vegans. I have met people that claim to be vegans or strict vegetarians, only to have them admit that they occasionally "cheat" with some bacon or some eggs. Mark Buehrle spoke his mind, and I can admire his dedication to the cause he and his wife work towards. Being a public figure (and a hunter), maybe he shouldn't have said he wished Vick got hurt. But how many people have thought the same thing?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 02:14 PM) Your saying that there is no way to compare a murderer who is a torture murderer versus some one who is just a murderer. You can justify murder however you want, I killed that person/animal for food, I killed that person/animal economic gain. Murder in the most simple sense is the killing intentionally with premeditation (I am taking out legal definition of murder because laws are defined by humans and therefore should be irrelevant when discussing animal rights as animals have no representation or say in the laws that are being created.). So its completely comparable, it just is a different way of doing the same action. Furthermore, the actual act of hunting an animal, if done to a human, would be considered the equivalent of mental torture (depending on if you could prove the animal/human knew that it was being hunted). The end result is an animal is killed. I cant speak with dead animals, I cant speak with dead humans, how do I know whether instant death is painless? What if instant death is the most painful experience in the world? What if some how by being tortured endorphins are released to make the moment of death much less painful? We can pretend that there is such thing as a less painful death, but there is no person or animal alive who can tell us what death feels like. We as humans like to believe that we are some how humane if we kill something quickly, but that just may not be true. There are people out there who believe that I as some one who just consumes meat products can be compared to Vick and I dont even actively kill animals. So if you cant see the connection, its just because innocence is bliss. I can't even respond to this. Well, obviously I can since I am. But you're saying an animal is the same as a human. No way.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 01:59 PM) Well unfortunately if you hunt and kill defenseless animals there is really no good argument for why you shouldnt be compared to Michael Vick. Unless of course you are employed as animal conservationist and are killing animals for conservation purposes only, taking no pleasure in the act. As soon as you enjoy the hunt, you are killing for fun. After that it is up to each individual to come up with their own rationalization for why its okay. I dont hunt, probably never will. When I was younger I really wanted to big game hunt. As I grew older I realized that killing a lion or whatever would do nothing but take away something that I truly felt was special. Since that point in time I have tried to be more judicious with how I interact with animals. I eat meat, and I rationalize that as okay because the animal would have been killed whether I bought the food or not. Horrible reasoning, but how else do I rationalize my complete hypocrisy on the issue. I still don't see how anyone could make this connection. Michael Vick participated in (and organized) the torture of dogs. A person going out into the woods, hunting, and taking the animal home to eat the meat is absolutely nothing like what Vick did. And it's not just because he did it to dogs. The torture of any living creature is wrong. Hunting is not torture.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 01:45 PM) According to the law, yes. Although I would have preferred a much more severe penalty than the one he was given. I agree that according to the law he has paid his dues. I'm not an animal rights activist by any means, so I can't speak for them, but I would have thought he'd never be forgiven.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 12:51 PM) The best line was at the resturant where they are talking about being at dinner at 6:30 and Phil says, "this place is on fire" and it was all old folks. Claire and Phil make that show. The storylines for Cam and Mitchell are usually pretty bad. I think sometimes they try to hard to involve a storyline with them. There have been a few good ones, but when they stay on them too long it gets a bit trying. You're right about Claire and Phil being best part of the show. Them and their kids.

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.