Rex Kickass

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 11:01 AM) I'll say one thing for sure.... you gotta be f***ing crazy to ride around on a bike in the streets of Chicago. You got idiots, people without licenses, people driving cars that should not be on the streets, etc. It's a death trap. I would wager its safer to ride around in a city than in a suburb. Average speed tends to be slower, and with so much going around you, drivers tend to be more aware of what's happening around them.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 07:06 AM) So what should I do if it's a no passing area? If you want the same rights as cars that means eyerone behind the cyclist has to go 15 in a 45 for half a mile. That's ridiculous. The cyclist should be ticketed for going too slow. Actually, most states have laws governing this. In New York state, its legal to pass a bicycle at any time, provided that it can be done safely. And the truth is, if you can't pass a bicycle riding on the right of the traffic lane because of opposite travel because there isn't enough clearance, 45 probably isn't a safe speed regardless.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 07:46 PM) Yes, bikes on a sidewalk is a bad idea. Now trails, where there aren't people coming in and out of doors, fancy trees and grates, and bad sightlines, is another story. If they put a trail along the river for example (which is partially there now), I'd take that downtown instead of Elston/Milwaukee in a heartbeat. Also, to the question of why we can't use bike lanes, I'd like to know why so many cars DO use the bike lanes. I use them whenever they are there, but, sometimes they are not, and other times some jackass is wandering into it so they can try to squeeze by traffic. Or double parking in it. Or idling in it.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 06:38 PM) That's what I do, and that's the main problem. Cyclists shouldn't be allowed on the street if there is only one lane in each direction. Or drivers should learn that waiting a few extra seconds to pass someone on a bike doing 15mph isn't going to make them an hour late for something.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 05:59 PM) So bikes aren't safe on sidewalks because they are problematic for walkers, but they are safer on roads where they are problematic for big vehicles that can kill people? There have been very few studies on it, but the ones that have been done say that biking on a sidewalk is at least twice as dangerous as on the street. http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Library/riskfactors.htm

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 03:14 PM) I'll always remember him for 3 things: His celebration of Pods' walk-off in Game 2 of the WS. His dominance of Felix Hernandez in Seattle. His catch in 163. Don't forget the fight with the Cubs.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 05:45 PM) No. I was too rattled. I'll know next time. When I lived in Kansas, I was waiting for a light to change, and was in a dedicated turn lane with a red light. Some mom in a minivan took out the back end of my bike, stopping half an inch from actually hitting me. Yelled at me for "scaring her" and drove off without offering me so much as a ride home. Bike was totalled. I was too rattled to get her license plate number. Never rode without a helmet since.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 05:25 PM) I was "doored" about a month ago for the 1st time. Very painful. Luckily the person getting out of the car was nice enough to completely walk away with complete disregard and didn't bother to ask if I was okay. Did you call the cops and report him?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 04:35 PM) Don't cyclists have the same rights on the road as cars? Just move over into the right lane and stay out of my way and we're good. Don't make it difficult for me to pass you. I totally get that riding the sidewalk isn't the greatest idea. On the other hand, motorcyclists who whip around me when I'm doing 75 on the highway... yeah. I'm visualizing you crashing into the back of a truck. I have taken to rush hour bike rides in NYC on busy streets, because it seems a safer time than most to ride believe it or not. I can't believe how many drivers will floor past a cyclist just to cut him off turning into a driveway or worse yet, to make a U turn. On an average Saturday, I get dangerously cut off four or five times in a 20 mile ride, and narrowly avoid getting car doored every weekend. (It's actually worse in the suburbs in my opinion.) I will say this, cyclists generally have no respect for traffic laws and I wish the NYPD would actively ticket idiot cyclists. It's one thing to turn right on red in a bike, or sometimes using the walk/don't walk lights for guidance when crossing a street, but its another to go the wrong way in a one way, to blow every red light, to not wear a helmet or use a headlight at night. Cyclists do have the same rights on the road as cars and are to be treated as such. I hate when I'm being passed in 5mph traffic so a car can go the same speed as me directly in front of me. I don't get road rage in cars, but I have gotten it on my bicycle in lower Manhattan.

I wouldn't have put any tax cuts in the stimulus. Tax cuts don't stimulate quickly enough. I think the most innovative thing in the stimulus package was the additional $25 a week in UI benefits, the 65% COBRA subsidy and the additional food stamps distribution in the bill. Why? Because the extra UI benefits and food stamps gets spent almost 100% of the time.

QUOTE (SuperSteve @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 12:45 PM) To me this has been a very boring TDF this year. I haven't been a big fan of the stage design so far and when something finally happen, the tour was probably won on that stage. I agree. Although, frankly, TDF organizers were probably hoping for a boring tour. It seems like every year since Lance left, its been doping allegation after doping allegation. Now that the race is over, AC and Lance don't have to be nice to each other in public - but I will say Lance wasn't doing a very good job of it during the tour anyway. Yesterday, he twitters that AC shouldn't crap all over his teammates etc... when he couldn't even keep his feelings private during the tour - even going so far as to let his new team announce during this year's tour, and bailing on the team dinner the night before the finale, to go eat with the new team organizers. Lance has proven himself on the road time and time again, and the last five years he rode on the Tour he was without peer. This year, he was bested and he didn't handle it well. Contador is arguably a better all around rider than Lance ever was, doing something that Lance never did, winning 4 consecutive grand tours.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 27, 2009 -> 05:02 PM) That sentence should be drug out into the street and shot. Like a wolf. From a helicopter.

So now that she's resigning today, can we go back to not knowing about Sarah Palin?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 14, 2009 -> 03:22 PM) Michael Steele is a f***ing dope. But, it doesn't matter one iota. I was commenting on AHB's point, and it would absolutely be less of an issue if a Democrat (or affiliation) said something racist. Witness this week's SCOTUS circus. Are you talking about the incident when Jeff Sessions asked Sotomayor why she didn't vote with her fellow Puerto Rican on a court case?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 14, 2009 -> 12:08 PM) That's part of what me and Rex were saying, that judicial activism is an overused and pointless label. Exactly, every decision regarding the validity of laws is by definition activist.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 13, 2009 -> 11:09 AM) My 1st post in the Buster in months ... but if my family had been raked over the coals like Palin's has I'd bail out too. She has her priorities right. Family first, career a distant second. If you don't want your family raked over the coals, don't use them as political props.

QUOTE (SuperSteve @ Jul 12, 2009 -> 11:17 PM) Haha I come on Soxtalk probably everyday but I typically don't log in. I'm a huge TDF fan since Lance's first few wins so thought I'd chime in. The problem with other teams trying to team up on Astana is Astana has three of the six best riders in the world. Lance, AC and Levi versus Cadel, Sastre and Andy Schleck. Even if they team up, I think those three Astana riders would be fine, then add Kloden, Popovych and everyone else in the mix. I'd like to see Contrador go to Eskatel. It's a Spanish team with some talent (Egoi Martinez especially). I'm not sure where else he would fit now. Lance will take Brunyel and take the team back to a US backed sponsor/team. My biggest wonder is what will Levi do. He was the leader of Discovery in 2007 and gave way to AC. Would he stay with Lance, stay with Contrador or go show what he can do as the true leader of a team. I think Popovych (a valuable asset) would stay with Lance too FWIW. I think AC is a better cyclist but Lance with Levi and Popo would beat AC IMHO. So did anyone have the problem I had going into this tour? For years I cheered for Lance to win. Then he retired and I cheered for Floyd Landis (everyone knows how that turned out). Then I was back on Discovery for AC and Levi in 2007. Then Astana isn't allowed in last year and I take up Garmin-Chipolte and Vandevelde. The problem has solved itself and I am 100% backing Vandevelde but its so weird to not cheer for Lance, AC or Levi (althought I still like them all a lot). It was almost a surreal experience. I miss having Ullrich, Pantani, Venichouv (sp?), Basso, Rassmussen and all the other "bad guys" being the ones I'm pulling against and not people I've put a lot of joy into. Sorry if I babbled on a little haha. I think that Landis got a raw deal to be honest. Lance Armstrong won't stop whining though. Today, there's a story about how Contador wasn't a team player for attacking late and overtaking Armstrong in the overall standings - according to Lance. The rumor is Lance is going to start his own team next year.

QUOTE (SuperSteve @ Jul 12, 2009 -> 12:34 AM) I truely don't think Lance will be a problem for Alberto. All the talk is about these mountain stages not being super difficult. Once the true mountain stages begin, I think Alberto will show why he is the best GC rider in the world. Remember, Alberto has won a Giro and Vuelta since he won the TDF in 2007. I would have bet on him winning the TDF last year had Astana been allowed to race. I still think it was a mistake and took a lot away from last years tour. Contador deserves better than Astana. They hired him to be team leader and have treated him pretty poorly from what I've read. Every mistake hyperanalyzed. Then they go hire Lance this year? Contador belongs on a team he can dominate - something he's rightly earned.

QUOTE (dbaho @ Jul 12, 2009 -> 05:15 AM) Today's a big day in the overall stock of things as they head back into the Pyroneise. Really looking forward to it. Somehow hoping Evans can get back into the hunt but I think his chances are gone now being just under 3 mins behind. I think Cadel and Schlecht are waiting for Stage 15. This has been a bit of a frustrating start to the tour, no real movement in the top part of the standings at all, and today could have been a stage to shake someone out. The reason my dislike for Lance? Yesterday, on Twitter, he whined about being singled out for doping control again after the stage. Dude is coming back from retirement and riding over his head, and riding on a team that was kicked off the tour in 2008 for doping. Everyone on Astana should get a pee test every day. And he should shut his face about it.

If conservatives don't want to be seen as being "stupid or not intellectual," maybe they should stop running with such an anti-intellectual bent when it comes to the way they play politics.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 10, 2009 -> 11:22 AM) It'd be something if he pulled it off. I never really understood all the hate. The hate is an American dominating the Tour. It's one thing if another European does it - because cycling is big there... American dominance is pretty deflating in the sport. The worst thing is that I think Floyd Landis got the shaft with his doping charge which I don't believe for a second. Armstrong is in third after today's stage behind Nocentini and Contador, Armstrong's teammate. Armstrong will assume a supporting role for Astana by the end of next week, I think this race is Contador's.

This stage is one of the crucial ones. I don't think Astana is a great fit for Lance. It's an all star team and difficult for a breakout to emerge. Today's stage is one of the best to watch because its a moutaintop finish and those are always some of the most dramatic finishes. Unfortunately for the tour, its also the only mountaintop finish of the Tour.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jul 9, 2009 -> 09:52 PM) At what point can they start for the next cycle? Exploring reelection chances seems like a campaign debt. The day after the old cycle ends.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jul 9, 2009 -> 06:05 PM) I can summarize my feelings about this. Vote the guy out and it's over. Besides comedic opportunities, I just cannot work up any outrage or indignation over some dude getting caught having an affair. What about if he pursues the affair beginning when he invites the married couple to stay with his family while the mistress and her husband have their home repaired from a burglary and all six kids from the two families are in the house at the time?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 9, 2009 -> 06:47 PM) How do you get over $100,000 in campaign debt, while never having run for the office? I guess that means he won't have to return the over 800 dollars he raised. He hired a political staff, I'd wager.