Jenksismyhero

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 3, 2012 -> 06:42 PM) I have no desire to argue about abortion with you. My contention was against your claim that "nothing will change" when it pretty demonstrably will change and you openly support this change. I meant from the standpoint of how people view the issue wouldn't change. You'd have a small minority that would be put into action (or inaction) and everyone else would say "i don't care, this doesn't involve me."

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 3, 2012 -> 06:18 PM) That 10% is doing a great job passing every possible bill they can to defund reproductive health clinics, throw up barriers for abortions and shame those who may seek them. Except in cases of incest, rape or health to the mother, I see no issue with this. Why is it so difficult to be responsible if you don't want a kid?

I enjoyed this:

Lol, you two are becoming Balta - SS2K5 part deux.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ May 3, 2012 -> 01:33 PM) I care much more about preventing a social conservative than a fiscal conservative. At the end of the day Romney has been successful with budgets, etc, so in reality reasonable people can have reasonable differences. Agreed. What is the worst case scenario? The Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade? Im pretty sure if that were to happen every liberal state would immediately pass a law that allowed for abortions, while conservative states would pass laws making it illegal. Im tired of trying to convince people that we are trying to protect them. Im at the point where if some states want to turn themselves into backwards s***holes, why should I care? I mean its just so tiresome to fight with people who dont want your help. And to that end, let them kill the federal govt, Illinois being a donor state will be fine, we actually give more money to the federal govt than we get back. Its all those small conservative states that are going to get railroaded. So if it happens, it happens. Lol, yes because if history has shown us anything, it's that the government/people with authority know best. And how is allowing women to abort babies protecting people? Seems to me it's doing the opposite since X millions of potential lives are not brought into the world because of it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2012 -> 01:20 PM) As long as the court decision exists you're correct. The moment it is overturned, if that ever happens, that will be the stampede. No way. It'll be the same as it is now, just reversed. 80% of the country doesn't give a s***, 10% really wants it to be legal, 10% doesn't (people that would actually talk about it publicly versus just their wish in a perfect world).

That issue is so overblown.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 3, 2012 -> 10:05 AM) +100000000 It's suffering from the exact same problem Parks and Rec has - every episode is the same formula, nothing changes. Kam/Mitchell fight about their roles and make up, Phil/Claire argue about parenting and make up, Jay/Gloria about the importance of showing Gloria off and then they make up. That was fun and new, and now it's just old and it's tough to stay engaged.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 3, 2012 -> 10:11 AM) Not an Adam Sandler fan either then? Because thats the premise of Billy Madison IMO that's actually an excellent analogy - Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore were funny because it was new. Everything else after? Crap.

who is that guy and how did he get her to dance in a bikini in his s***ty looking house?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 2, 2012 -> 05:03 PM) Ok, but whether or not you agree with their policies doesn't mean that it was inaccurate to say Bush didn't give a s***. Dude, read the first sentence of his answer. He's clearly talking about his fear of a threat, not whether Bin Laden was an important get in the war. And why do you guys keep claiming that Obama did so much more? They were provided an opportunity and jumped on it. You have no proof that Bush or Romney or anyone else wouldn't have done the exact same thing. 8 years with nothing and suddenly a name jumps into their lap and the check it out. That's not some genius move that only Obama could make.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 2, 2012 -> 05:06 PM) I think Balta's the only scientist itt. Spouses leave people and take their children in the control population, too. That's the point of trying to isolate variables. What reason do you have to conclude that concussions (read: brain injuries) aren't a significant risk factor for depression?: I thought you were too? And I don't, but millions of people suffer from depression and don't off themselves. To me concussions create a condition. They're not specifically the cause. Something pushed these people over the edge. End of the day I don't really care one way or the other. I think this entire story is sad, but it's not changing my views of football. As i've said before, these guys get paid more money in a couple of years than i'll every make in my lifetime. It's an inherently dangerous game. To sue the NFL over this stuff is dumb.

I love how the scientists often stick together on this site. Anyhoo, I agree with Steve. Are the concussions a factor? Sure. But so is your wife leaving you and taking your kids away.

I'm in the west loop and our building is requiring everyone for the entire week to use their ID badges to use the elevators (otherwise the floors are locked). That, and if they don't recognize you, they'll ask for an ID before they let you up. So dumb.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 2, 2012 -> 04:07 PM) "I don't know where he is. [...] I truly am not that concerned about him." How is that substantially different from saying he didn't give a s*** where he was? He said he didn't know and wasn't concerned. I read that as he's not concerned about his activities (not fearful of another attack), not that he's done looking for him.

the desire to click that link at work is very strong...

He sent out texts to his family telling everyone that he loved them. That's probably why she came over.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 2, 2012 -> 03:44 PM) http://articles.latimes.com/2004/oct/14/nation/na-osama14 Q: But don't you believe that the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead or alive? W: Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. Lol, wow. That is not at all

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 2, 2012 -> 03:40 PM) Actually, no it isn't again, there was a total shift in orders back to "Find this specific target", and the intelligence agencies said it was about a 50/50 shot when the order was given, and there was substantial disagreement in the room, including by the secretary of defense who favored a drone strike (because then if it hit the wrong target, it was just more collateral damage). There was an effort to revamp the search for Bin Laden and it started in the Pentagon, not the White House.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 2, 2012 -> 03:37 PM) Bush, at one point, said he didn't give a s*** where Osama was. I think Obama was talking about this specific operation which was far from a guaranteed thing. He could have decided to hold and wait for more information and an increased likelihood of success but chose to proceed. I find that incredibly hard to believe.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 2, 2012 -> 03:33 PM) I totally disagree with the idea that this is somehow politically dumb. The whole reason why the Republicans, including both Romney and 2 posts above, are annoyed, is that this is an effective attack that can literally use the current candidate's own words. Except that (and here we go 'round the political merry go round) Romney didn't say he wouldn't have given the go ahead. His comment was something like I would have focused my efforts elsewhere. Which, by the way, is exactly what Obama did until they got a solid lead with Osama's courier. Edit: and let's face it, the President isn't involved with any of this until the Pentagon needs a yes/no answer on a mission. Was he briefed? Yes. But it's not like he's providing the Pentagon with a strategy to best utilize the courier or the best tactical plan to get Bin Laden. He was presented with the first chance in 7-8 years of finding out where Bin Laden was and he said "absolutely, go for it." Do you really doubt that Romney would have said "nah f*** it, who needs Bin Laden?"

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 2, 2012 -> 03:29 PM) The decision to go ahead with a high-risk operation in a foreign country without their knowledge and approval is not an open-and-shut case. edit: "even Carter would have done it" with that implication that Carter was weak is a pretty dumb thing to say, too, since Carter, you know, approved that rescue operation into Iran that ended tragically. Bush and Obama said they would do that years before Osama's whereabouts were known. It really wasn't all that shocking.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 2, 2012 -> 03:26 PM) I think the Afghanistan trip/speech is crap, but this is one case where the President has every right to take a victory lap on this issue. He got called Naive and inexperienced/unready in 2008 by these same opponents when he said he would violate Pakistani sovereignty if it allowed for "Getting" Bin Laden. He was intimately involved in the decision making that led up to the strike by multiple accounts. He would have taken enormous amounts of blame if things went wrong (Desert One). This was a major success for this Adminstration. It was clearly a partisan issue as early as 2002, when we refocused away from Al Qaeda onto Iraq. So for once let's have a President be above all that petty s***. He could have gotten his due (as if he hasn't already) by simply remembering the accomplishment, not starting a "see! i've got balls! Romney wouldn't have given the go ahead like I did!"

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 1, 2012 -> 04:13 PM) who wouldn't? At least he isn't dressing up in a flight suit, that would be ridiculous! No, the accomplishment is fine, the crap about Romney not making the same decision is crap. Of all things, finding and killing Bin Laden should have been a non-partisan issue. It should have been a collective, celebratory anniversary. Instead Obama crapped all over that and used it to try and score political points.

This is about the best example of "overreaction" that I can think of. What a waste of time/energy/resources.