sox4lifeinPA

QUOTE (Texsox @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 01:32 PM) .So what does it mean when a species is not able to pass on any copies of their genes? uh oh... I don't like where this is going.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 01:28 PM) Nope, evolution doesn't require cutthroat domination of everyone else. It's about survival of the species, and we work best when working together. I don't know too much about "secular humanism," but evolutionary theory doesn't say anything about charity or compassion. Fair enough. I was unnecessarily poking fun. In the end, my beef is with the wording of the message. Ironically...check out the color the "why believe in God?" is written in. Coincidental, huh? I think not.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 01:10 PM) "Why believe in God" is there message. I think this is exactly the type of message put out by some religious people that the ad was responding to -- human compassion/ morality/ ethics only matter if their is a God. mprhrpmp *removing tongue from cheek* I'm just unclear on how evolution (which I'm not necessarily opposed to from a speciation stand point) which is more or less a long term experiment in seeing which genetic codes can out last the others, can coexist with humanism. I'd not be a very good evolutionist if I helped other people out, right?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 01:10 PM) "Why believe in God" is there message. I don't think secular humanism and evolution conflict. Check out Dawkin's The Selfish Gene. It talks about evolution and how organisms are programmed to pass on as many copies of their genes as possible globally and not necessarily individually. Admittedly, I should read more. My comments are more out of lack of deep knowledge and a simple understanding of the subject, but found myself thinking about it the other day. I just think that no matter what side or belief you take, there'll always be some amount of conclusions you must jump to or faith you must take. I personally believe that there's one way given, but I don't need to push that on others and I don't think Christ calls us to do so. The movie "Jesus Camp" drives me crazy for that very reason. so, Is that why so many rednecks have like 20 kids?

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 10:48 PM) Eh, if you're willing to allow ads promoting a religion, you should be willing to allow ads promoting atheism. That's just my simple thought. Completely agree. I think billboards and ads like that are bad stewardship anyway and a waste of money. So, you and me both wouldn't mind seeing the pro-religion ads go away.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 10:18 PM) Interesting. I asked that question to see if you followed the same line of thinking and you did. I like the consistency. I'm going to go slap my Darwin fish back on my Civic. hehe. excellent, so when nature chooses to eliminate your gene pool, I don't have to shed tears, right? I mean, who can argue with nature?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:43 PM) I see nothing wrong with their message. It's a little abrasive, but I've been told plenty of times by religious people that you cannot possibly be a moral or good person without religion. "Be good for the sake of being good" isn't anywhere near equivalent to "chicks are hot." Then again, being good for "goodness sake" isn't mutually exclusive of religious belief. Anyone can be an idiot, religious people often have a higher propensity for it sometimes. I think anyone can be a moral or good person, but perfection is out of our reach..but that's another conversation. I wasn't equating "being good" with "chicks are hot", I was simply saying that the message of "being good" and "chicks are hot" are commonplace in our society from "The more you know..." to "hooters ads" those kinds of messages are normal. My problem is that for the sake of getting their name out there, this group chose to be provocative and (I won't use the word "offensive" anymore...) distasteful. and I wouldn't necessarily agree that "goodness sake" is a Christian principle anyway. but, whatevs.

QUOTE (The Bones @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:24 PM) Ah yes...I see we can have God and Jesus shoved down our throats every block of every town in the nation but 1 ad campaign asking why people believe in an invisible man in the clouds is just taking it way too far. wrong, I'm questioning the motives of this group. I have no problem with the act of doing good things, I just have a problem with being abrasive in order to grab headlines... just like I have a serious problem with the God Hates f**s people. Same thing. I reiterate my point: without the "why believe in god?" part, this is a non-issue and no one cares. It was intentionally done to cause a problem and attract attention to their organization and NOT their message.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:15 PM) Gay people do not consider being gay a choice, so why would anyone ask them that question? I'm in the camp (a figurative camp, mind you) that people arrive at their gayness by many different routes, and since there is no definitive answer, I don't think you should assume one way or another. Certainly I don't think a person wakes up and says, man, I'd like to get with Larry. I do believe that saying it is completely genetic, is incorrect. A significant portion of the lesbian community have been documented to be sexual assaulted at some point in their live, unless you're willing to tell me that that abuse triggered some genetic response, I'm sticking with that people are shaped intrinsically and externally by all sorts of stimuli to make them into what they are today. and the transformative things I've experienced in my life are clear signs to me that God exists, so why would you ask me a question like "why believe in god?" I don't consider believing in God to be a choice, as much as willing to accept how you relate to him...that's the only choice. Lastly, I don't understand how secular humanism jives with Darwinian evolution. Your genes make you weaker, and nature is selecting your gene pool for elimination. Why would I help you? With nothing grander to have faith in, what's the point?

South Street is a good time. It's November, so it's miserable outside. Where are you seeing Kings of Leon?

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 08:58 PM) Why is that offensive? It's an honest question. I'm sure a poster that read "why be gay? chicks are hot" would be embraced by the gay community.

Link I get it, anyone can spread their message... but "why believe in god? be good for goodness sake" is just offensive for the sake of grabbing headlines. if these signs just said "be good for goodness sake" no one would care = no one would bother to be interested with this organization. This is the same thing as the "God Hates f**s" people.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 12:12 PM) PA's voting Obama. I am certain of it. Ding Ding Ding. I'm not in love with either candidate, but the Republican party needs a wake up call. I think 2010 will be the new 1994. I think economically and environmentally Obama is better for us, right now. And that's pretty much the summation of my opinion: right now. If he fails to unite congress, and therefore the U.S., by trying to pass far left agenda, then he'll lose the cross over votes and Democrats will pay the price in the mid-term elections. McCain failed to show any sense of dynamics during the campaign and I just think rather than moving on, too many people will see his presidency as a continuation (which its not in almost every way). I'm truly a purple republican that believes that life should be preserved at every stage: no abortions and no death penalty, but I'm a realist and I know that people need their coping mechanism. I think reproductive responsibilities should be pressed more and more and while I favor abstinence, I'm in the vast minority in people who actually waited to have sex before marriage. I think making adoptions more accessible, counseling for pregnant mothers, and prevention shoud be major priorities. I'm sick of hearing Christians talk about "moral" issues and yet having not action themselves in the prevention of these problems. It is way too convenient to say the government should step into our lives and tell us what to do, even though on other issues: taxes, guns, religion, we say GET OUT OF OUR BUSINESS! I'm against the concept of a church marrying two people of the same sex, but if your church wants to do that, then great. I've read the bible and I know what it says on the matter, but there's certainly a lot of room under the Gospel for all of us. I will respect your decision, disagree with it, but we can still go out to Dennys and enjoy a big slam. I do believe that the benefits alloted to married couples discriminates against those who aren't a heterosexual couple. That means homosexuals, but that also means my unmarried great aunt mary and her sister. They've lived together for years and love each other and would benefit greatly from a "civil union". Again, I break with the Republicans on the death penalty. I don't believe it fits within the structure of what Christ teaches. Yes, God did punish by death those who were wicked, but do I trust God in his perfection as a judge and jury? completely. Do I trust a proven broken system of average broken people like me? yes and no. Yes I think convictions are 99% just, but no I do not think it in our best interest to kill people. The Gospel of Christ is about redemption and restoration of all things. All things including the murderer. A murderer who gives his life to God and spends the rest of his life in prison may have a greater effect on people in the name of God than i will ever. Yes their crime was abhorable, that is why we send them to prison. Alternatively, I believe we should be charging room and board to anyone in jail. Prison is the only place where you don't have to pay rent, why? I think by charging prisoners for their stay in jail and requiring them to work of their bills would be a great way to prevent individuals who just want to stay there because it's easier than the outside world. I believe the responsibility of paying rent and working on a consistent basis will encourage prisoners to better adapt when released. So all of this goes to show that I'm a weird quasi-conservative: a purple republican. I believe that the private sector gets it right more often than the government, but I know without quality oversight and governance, the corruption through money and power will distort the intended purpose of the organization. I know some of you don't care, but I just thought I'd share.

I'd love to read who you think I'm voting for.

yeah, my walls won't hold much more than a 32" I'm hoping for a 32" at 400 or less.

http://www.theblackfriday.com/ so far only Sears has published their ad Sears Samsung 32" LN32A300 LCD HDTV $499.99

QUOTE (Brian @ Oct 29, 2008 -> 06:13 PM) We got our 52 incher for $999 at Circuit City last year. Got up at 2am to wait in line. Store only had like 3 in stock. Booyah! That's my plan. I'm hoping for some great deals this year.

Can we start this now? I'm trying to find a good deal on TVs. If anyone sees something good put it here. thanks.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 28, 2008 -> 03:26 PM) I hope you're paying in cash. my wife and I both have great credit (which I check on a quarterly basis) and having worked at a bank for nearly 10 years, I have connections. Plus, we have about 5-10% to put down, which my realtor says should be plenty for our situation. A typical 2-3 bed, 2 bath would run 175-200k in our area, with the market the way it is, we should be able to land one of those homes at 150k. Most regional and community banks have avoided problems by simply avoiding bad customers. I know the last bank I worked at their minimum credit score to lend was 680ish. They simply don't have the number of foreclosures, repossessions, etc because their lending practices were stiff to begin with. I understand what you're saying, though.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 28, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) That one you can't blame me for. But the short answer is: 9/11 + wartime + Kerry was an awful candidate and me too, but look at the alternatives: 1) John Kerry 2) We'd be looking for a new VP, because John Edwards would have been out because of the affair scandal 3) The Economic Crisis has little to do with Bush 4) John Kerry oh and... 5) I can't wait to buy my first house next year for a 30-50% discount

QUOTE (Chet Lemon @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 10:59 AM) I'm not trying to campaign for Obama b/c this is not the appropriate thread, but I urge you to re-watch the second debate. When asked by Brokaw to prioritize these three issues: health care, energy, and entitlement programs, Obama clearly stated that energy was going to be the first priority. McCain said he would do those three simulataneously, which I don't see happening with the opposition in charge of Congress. Unless he proposes reforms on those issues further to the left than most Republicans in Congress, which I also don't see happening. I've been seriously considering Obama because of the things I think he'll do with environmental initiatives. I just don't know if I can swallow the other things that will come along with him. small picture, I'm an Obama fan. Big picture, I'd rather have McCain. Again, that's why I've stated I don't really care who wins. I am in the swing state of PA, however

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 11:09 AM) After watching 30 years of elections, there are always surprises. Last minute changes of heart. It looks pretty good for Obama, no doubt about it, but I would not stop campaigning and advertising if I was Obama and stay home preparing victory speeches based on the last polls. I say McCain betters the polls and it may be enough to win. I see a late surge towards McCain. Those that believe the current polls are 100% correct, stay home. Your work is done. But just as we've seen changes in polling numbers from week to week, the biggest poll of all, with 100% of the likely voters, has started and will be running until November 4th. I believe that poll is important. Ask me one day to the next who I would vote for it'll change. Last week I was sold on Obama, this week it's McCain. You might assume I'm a big time republican guy, but I'm not...I'm an issues guy. If I get one of those phone calls about the election, my answer could change at any moment. Phone polls are helpful, but election day is the only thing that counts.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 09:22 PM) Obama wins a squeaker, and John McCain spends the rest of his life regretting the Sarah Palin pick that cost him the presidency. 95% of negative feelings about Sarah Palin are tied to the guilt for having masturbated over a 40+ year old woman.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Oct 23, 2008 -> 11:14 PM) I don't think a lot of Republicans will vote Obama, but there are a lot that are pretty much fed up with the Republican party and will stay home. Obama will get a lot of new voters in his tally. I don't think it's going to be as close as some of the polls are showing. How you been? long time no post. I've been good. I'm back in school now that my wife is working. I don't get the same amount of internet time anymore now that I don't sit at my desk all day. I've been having some good political conversations with friends and family and pretty much in my social circle of christian friends if you're under 30, you're voting Obama. I'm finding that the social justice movement is driving christians more than stereotypical issues like abortion. I think the only chance Republicans have for ever winning another election is changing their stances government programs for education, health and welness, etc., at least if they want the emerging christian vote. Personally, I think the biggest issues we are facing are: need for alternative power(solar panels on every home, wind harvesting fields in the midwest, natural gas conversions for cars) and taking care of our troops coming home from Iraq(GI Bill, top notch health care facilities, long term care and mental health care) Both candidates would be good one of those but not both. There is no candidate for me, so honestly, I don't care who wins. I'll probably vote McCain, so the carnage isn't too bad.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Oct 23, 2008 -> 08:45 PM) I predict a 7% point Obama win of the popular vote, which is about as close to a landslide you can get with the polarization our country has embraced. I also predict a robust electoral college win. I think not as many republicans vote obama as expected but new voter turn out and 18-30 year olds show up for once and make a difference. I could see McCain squeaking, but being realistic Obama wins with 53-55%