Balta1701

But even if I give you those examples which I'm not quite sure I do...given that the U.S. typically scores well behind dozens of other countries on tests/international rankings, you'd have to convince me that it's a general philosophy of the rest of the world and that's why the U.S. has fallen behind. Can you do that?

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QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 03:39 PM) He stunk in Texas and isn't doing much of anything here but making outs. As I noted above, the 17 home runs he's hit and all of his numbers this year fundamentally disagree with you.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 03:37 PM) This is part of the reason why the US will never compete against certain countries when it comes to test scores. We give kids and people a choice on their profession and life. (I dont believe this is a bad thing btw, and agree that kids should have more freedom). Its hard to tell when the right time to let kids branch out is. The safest system is to have them all take most of the core classes until college, but for some that is a waste of a year or so. US is just never going to compete against certain countries because we dont create a system where we force kids to do what they are best at. Can you explain for us how other countries do this different? I haven't had the experience of the countries that kick our tails forcing students to go into certain subjects, and I think I've met at least my fair share of international students.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 03:06 PM) With this pitcher's lefty/righty splits, I thought for sure Kotsay would play tonight. I'm surprised and actually slightly disappointed that he isn't. Is it wrong? Teahen hits RHP better than Kotsay based on their splits. There's no one in this lineup that Kotsay outhits against RHP except AJ.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 02:31 PM) Kotsay has only batted in only 2 of the last 7 Sox games. Interesting. He was on deck last night at the end of the game, with Teahen sitting on the bench.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 02:56 PM) To be clear, I am not defending this particular guy, or saying I'd do this. Just saying that no decision to be part of any political party requires that you agree with every single tenet they have. What % of Catholics do you think agree with, and follow to the letter, every element of the dogma? The question isn't whether you agree with it or not...the question is whether you're willing to accept a belief system that personally demonizes you as the other, the enemy, the threat to their children. Disagreements on tax policy seem to pale in comparison to "we need to protect our children from you".

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 02:00 PM) So the earliest we can learn that it's officially between us and the Dodgers is???? Tomorrow. (Assuming someone leaks that info. We will know nothing official until he's officially on our roster).

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 01:59 PM) I've read that too. The ACC did the same thing with Miami/FSU, they still play each other, but can play in the championship game too. After 5 years, FSU has been once, UM never. But I think everyone might feel like it'll lose something if it's not late-November. Even in crappy seasons, the Oaken bucket game in Late November was something to look forwards to for the school I care about.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 01:55 PM) That is the product of all of the ridiculous left wing hyperbole anytime fixing social security is mentioned in anyway that doesn't include tax increases. Can you give a counter-example of the same intellectual heft?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 01:51 PM) I'm not quite sure why he is apologizing for it honestly. It is crazy that we have gotten to the point with social security that you can't talk about the program, at all, in a negative light without people going ballistic. Its like trying to have an intelligent conversation about race in this country. A milk cow with 310 million tits = intelligent conversation?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 01:40 PM) EBH? Every-Body Hates? I'd bet there will be more than 3 of those in the game thread alone. Extra Base Hits.

By the way, wanted to post this when other conversations died out. This guy is the Republican Chair of Mr. Obama's long-term debt commission. He's offered up some other ranting emails at other people who dared criticize his opinions about Social Security, but this one was the worst. Mr. Krugman replies: The White House, of course, accepted his apology...despite the fact that he didn't apologize to the white house, and didn't really apologize anyway (he did the ol' I apologize if you were offended).

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 01:03 PM) she just isn't a good public speaker or particularly bright. as far as the 'evil tea party' and their positions, i don't think there are any. it's not really an official organization. just people that are abstractly against massive deficits and spending without positive return. I'd agree on the first 2 points but that wasn't my question. Some of her major gaffes have been saying that Social Security and Medicare need to be phased out, that "Second amendment remedies" ought to be used as a check against government tyranny, that the $20 billion BP fund was a "Slush fund" and that the administration had "extorted" it out of BP. Those are, frankly, things we've heard all the bleeping time lately.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 12:56 PM) I think her views are tea party positions taken to some extremes. And to me...I'd equate taken to some extremes to "said out loud".

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 12:46 PM) Maybe, but I think a lot of voters are against the typical GOP candidate. I don't think they can win if they just take "I'm not a Democrat, vote for me" approach. But that doesn't mean having a gaffe machine like Angle in the general election is an advantage. There needs to be balance. Well...I'm afraid i have to ask...which of Angle's supposed "Gaffes" aren't basically explicit tea party positions?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 12:42 PM) Not a single NL team put a claim in for Laroche who's having a very good 2nd half once again and is healthy but they will put in a claim for a guy who can;t field and has been on the DL 3 times this year? Jose Guillen says hi.

Prove me wrong, Edwin. I'm now convinced you can't throw 20 pitches in an outing.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 10:05 AM) I don't know how many options there really are out there that can help as much as Manny. I would have like Adam LaRoche, but it doesn't seem like the D-Backs wanna trade him, and it would probably take more than Hudson to get him, which the Sox dont really have. Huh? Adam Laroche got through waivers unclaimed. There's no way it takes more than Hudson to get him. That one was the Sox not wanting him, not the D-Backs not wanting to get rid of him.

From this week's list of things that really don't cost money because every cost of climate change is free;

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 09:52 AM) No I don't agree with the Dems on a whole set of issues but if they looked at me as some type of second class citizen and wanted rights taken away from me or make it impossible for me to live as an equal human being then I'd tell them to f*** off. There's also a difference between voting for a candidate actively running on a gay-bashing platform and being one of the architects of that gay-bashing platform. I think homosexuals have a right to be furious at that man. I also think he deserves some level of sympathy in addition to the well deserved criticism...because he's very likely a guy who simply couldn't come to terms with who he was, and the rest of society plays a big role in that.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 09:51 AM) The lineup is definitely solid. Their rotation is better, but I still wouldn't feel that confident heading into a playoff series with them. The end of the bullpen would be a major concern to me as well. Then again, the more I look at NYY/TB/TEX, I do see some major flaws as well, but I just personally don't think the Twins stack up to them overall. Here's a fun stat. AL team bullpen ERA's this year: 1. Minnesota 2. Tampa Bay 3. Texas 4. NY Yankees 5. Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 09:23 AM) And the Twins are not looking like a team that will scare any other playoff teams this season either. No matter who wins the Central, I see a quick exit for the division champ Really? That's a lineup that can hang with anyone, and their starting pitching looks to at least be a step up from last season. It'll hurt them not to have Morneau, but having a guy like Thome who can step in can help as well.

QUOTE (smalls2598 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 09:31 AM) I never understood this, either. I do believe his contract is up after this year, but why wouldn't the Yankees resign him? Unless the Cubs want to give him more money, but i still don't see how he'd walk away from the star-studded roster of the Yankees to coach a failure franchise. It's always possible that there may be issues between the Yankees and him that we don't know about as well. The Marlins did not seem fans. If I were the Cubs and he didn't sign a contract until November, I'd at least ask, and there might be a 1% chance of it happening. Can't hurt. I'll still have my mind blown if it's not Sandberg.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 26, 2010 -> 09:07 AM) Which tells me, if the NV GOP had put up a candidate who wasn't nuts, they probably take Reid's seat with ease. There are probably more than 5 races where you can say the exact same thing; the Dem shouldn't have a shot, but the Republicans went with the tea party candidate rather than the more mainstream candidate. Alaska's Senate Race may suddenly be on that list.