StrangeSox

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 02:15 PM) No, its the fact that Incognito was specifically brought up as an example and has the same profession as Sherman, and he was called a "thug" by the Washington Times. Big Ben was also specifically mentioned, Ben Roethlisberger Is a Thug, in this thread. Those are a lot more comparable considering Big Ben and Incognito are both in the NFL. Its unfortunate that peoples first reaction to certain things is to immediately assume racism. Dont get me wrong, I realize there is racism and I have read some of the things said to Sherman via social media and I find it repulsive. However, I dont think its fair to immediately point fingers at someone on this message board and imply theyre racist because they used the term thug. I personally dont have any real issues with Sherman but I certainly can see how people could be annoyed by his antics after the NFC Championship game. I think people have been talking more about the general reaction, especially in the media, versus a specific poster here. Look at that report from deadspin about how "thug" was used 625 times on TV on Monday, more than any other day in at least three years. That includes a day when the Secretary of State called a foreign leader a "thug" during the middle of pretty heavy media coverage of the Syrian civil war. And then look at the three people compared in your post. Sherman was obnoxious in a post-game interview and insulting to an opponent. Incognito intimidated a teammate and hurled racial slurs at him for months. Roethlisberger has very likely raped at least one person. One of those things is not like the other.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 02:08 PM) .08 is by definition two beers. Two. As in 2. 1 + 1. There's no "by definition" as it varies from person to person and day to day. Sounds like you're making excuses for not being able to stop yourself from drinking more than legally allowed.

You don't know for certain, which is why you have a universal law without exception. It's not like DUI laws and increased enforcement haven't had substantial impacts. http://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFa...et.aspx?csid=24 If you can't control yourself and not be over 0.08 before driving, you have a problem.

yeah understanding how language works is a convenient thing edit: for an obvious example, "boy" doesn't universally have a racial context, but it sure as hell does when used in certain ways and directed at certain people.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) The thug named Richie Incognito needs to be out of the NFL for a long time, maybe even permanently. John Kerry also called Syrian dictator Assad a "thug." Something often having a racial context doesn't mean it always and exclusively has a racial context.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) Oh no it is f***ing not. Drunk driving is drunk driving. Since when are people so gullible when it comes to this s***? You all drink, right? You know. Why is it not enough to just say "it's up to you if you had too much but if you kill someone it's your ass"? uh, that bolded part?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 01:40 PM) Thanks, that's a good start. I know Minnesota is zero tolerance, and with the increased awareness for drunk driving, I think .08 BAC laws as of even 2008 are going to be extremely outdated. This is a bit how I expected it to turn out too. some quick googling shows that MN is "zero tolerance" for people under 21 but 0.08 like just about everywhere else (at least at the state level, some cities might be more strict). http://dui.drivinglaws.org/minnesota.php You can go state-by-state here, for example ND is 0.00 under 21, 0.08 over 21, and 0.04 commercial driver

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) Also, even as a conservative, it's not surprising to see that red states have the higher death rates, likely due to more lenient drunk driving laws. In North Dakota, rather than lowering the limit, they increased the fines. I don't believe there's been much of an effect other than the state of North Dakota increasing their budget due to DUI arrests. There's probably a pretty good correlation there between population density as well. Millions of people live in chicago, new york, LA, etc. and can easily take public transportation or a taxi or just walk a mile or so to the bar.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 01:39 PM) It is bad for both teams, and maybe not this year an issue, one team might be used to the cold, the other team not so much, and why have a championship be possibly determined by a wet ball or a gust of wind, slipping on a snowy field? Unless you play indoors, you obviously can't eliminate it entirely, but IMO, the last thing you want to be a factor if not the determining factor when it's a one game winner take all for best in your sport, is weather. They made it this far playing in domes and warm weather cities. The old don't fix what isn't broken comes into play here. Wasn't there a pretty good rain coming down in the 2006 SB?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 01:34 PM) It's probably been done, but I'd love to see per capita studies of DUI arrests for no tolerance states (1 drink = DUI) versus .08 states. I honestly wonder how much of an effect that has. Here's alcohol-related driving fatalities per vehicle miles, using 2008 data: Could compare that to DUI laws by states circa 2008. edit: Progressive Insurance lists the BAC limit as 0.08 in every state as of 2004. http://www.progressive.com/vehicle-resourc...hol-calculator/

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 12:45 PM) Because the stadium full of millionaires want to have a pleasant experience. Yeah but the big sponsors are going to be in their heated boxes anyway

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 12:03 PM) You pretty much have to get another job or join. Even if you don't "have" to join, there will be ugly pressure to join anyway. Would depend on how strong support for unionizing was (just cleared at 51%? passed easily with 90%) but yeah then that would become part of the office politics.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 12:25 PM) Oh yeah man I love driving in snow. Ice covered roads obviously not, but like last weekend when we got 6-8 inches of powder snow? Hell yes. That was awesome barreling through my neighborhood's unplowed streets. I have a 4WD suv though, so I don't have to worry about getting stuck. You see plenty of people with AWD SUV's plowed into snow banks, in ditches, etc.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 11:43 AM) We have an electrolux and love it. they're reasonably priced, usually cheaper than Dyson, but Miele vacuums can be close to $1000

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 11:38 AM) Probably not to the advertisers who shelled out millions for commercials that they are expecting to air on Sunday. They're expecting them to air during the Superbowl, but there probably would be a ratings drop if there was a last-minute change because people might say "screw it" instead of rescheduling parties.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 11:33 AM) I just find it so hard to understand why the NFL thought putting the Super Bowl in an open air stadium at the beginning of February was a good idea. QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 11:35 AM) because New York(New Jersey) yup, corporate sponsors.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 11:36 AM) Unfortunately due to your reckless behavior you could potentially kill/harm someone so terribly that money cant fix the problem. Thus we cant just "wait for the result and punish accordingly". In many cases I agree though, we should only punish those who cause harm to another. If Bieber was on his own property and he was acting like a stupid idiot, Id have no problem. If the property is access-controlled (e.g. fenced off), it's not illegal depending on jurisdiction.

I've heard that Dysons are ok but are over-priced, might not last all that long and can have repair problems. OTOH if you go nuts and buy something like a Miele or an Electrolux, it really is supposed to be substantially better and last forever. But who the hell wants to pay that much for a vacuum? there was a reddit "AMA" by a vacuum repair technician a few months ago, http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1pe2...i_cant_believe/

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 10:57 AM) That's so messed up. I dont have to be a part of it, but i still have to pay. what a joke. You are still benefiting from their negotiations and they still have to represent you in disputes. In a Right-To-Work state, you get those benefits but you aren't required to join a union or pay dues, which would make you a free rider. I am not in a union, I'm not a labor lawyer etc. etc. so your best bet would probably be to just call the Illinois Dept. of Labor and ask them about it. edit: this might be a decent summary, though the language seems pretty pro-union: http://www.canmybossdothat.com/category.ph...27&state=IL

was going to make a "duke'll be by soon to defend drunk driving" joke post but thought it was over the top.

I don't think you have to join the union, but you have to pay the union dues because they'll still be representing you in negotiations and legally required to represent you in any other labor disputes, at least that's my layman's understanding of it. Some states, maybe all, allow you to opt-out of some portion of the union dues if the unions engage in politicking, basically you'd just be paying for the representation.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 09:59 AM) Paying execs absurd amounts of money relative to their skill sounds exactly like a NFP to me. lol

who cares

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 09:03 AM) I thought all leagues were NFP's? None of the leagues themselves make money, the teams do. Yeah, the teams themselves aren't NFP, but the league is. Gotta question why, though, because the NFL certainly seems to make itself a ton of money, at least enough to pay Goddell close to $30M.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-2...ia-drug-patents