Jenksismyhero

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 28, 2007 -> 10:14 AM) Do any of you have a slingbox? If so, are you satisfied with it? The technology is pretty cool, actually. I just wonder if they will jack up the prices now that Dish Network (EchoStar) has bought them out? I bought it a few months back and returned it the next day. I bought it so I could watch stuff on my pocketpc phone but I couldn't get it to stream more than a frame or two every 5 seconds. It could be my network (the old Cingular...not Edge) though.

i'm so tempted to hit that link but am afraid that it's not safe for work...

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 03:23 PM) imo, getting your as* kicked for hanging nooses is rightfully deserved. Did you not read this? "There was no connection between the September noose incident and December attack, according to Donald Washington, an attorney for the U.S. Justice Department in western Louisiana, who investigated claims that these events might be race-related hate crimes."

lol. It's on PBS. It started Sunday, I think it goes through Thursday and then the second half starts next Sunday. Something like that.

From what I watched it's better than The Civil War (which I loved) only because he uses color video I've never seen before. It adds a whole new sense of realism to WW2 that I haven't really gotten anywhere else. Add that to the way he brings life to pictures and its great stuff.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 01:05 PM) Rice is a pro-choice pro-affirmative action black woman who is not married -- which in the eyes of the voters either means she's a lesbian or has no family values. Liddy Dole pretended that the blood banks weren't contaminated by disease. and she isn't half as good a candidate as her loser husband. (Red Cross, 1980s.) Colin Powell I've been over on this site -- I'll bet Clinton would have beat him and I don't care how many times Powell says, "My wife would kill me if I ran for President," that's not why he didn't run for President. Nobody who ever seriously considers it says No because "my wife said no." Powell knew he'd be annihilated by today's electorate (black, pro-choice, pro-aff. act.) and besides -- generals don't often have a place in politics. Wesley Clark was socially retarded in his campaign (if you recall, he even yelled at some kindergarteners -- not like, "OH, YOU s***HEADS" but raised his voice and forced one into his chair...huge no-nos!) and most generals are. They're military men, not politicians, for a reason. Maybe one day the Republicans will nominate a black man or black woman or both at once but it won't be any of these three. Ike is offended by this post. As is Grant. As is Washington.

I just went to lunch with an auditor I am friends with who used to work at GM. While auditing the books of one of their plants she noticed that over 100 employees were being paid time and a half for 40 hour work weeks, but because of certain restraints on billable time (a demand of the union), those workers only worked 4-5 hours a day. It's a wonder they can't turn a profit. small unions = good big unions = bad

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Sep 25, 2007 -> 12:34 PM) i'm all for giving griese a shot, but honestly i don't really think it is going to make much of a difference. if we had tons of offensive talent that wasn't being tapped because of grossman's issues, maybe i'd feel differently. somehow, though, i expect we're just going to end up with an immobile quarterback who throws a lot of picks, i.e., more of the same. Personally I think Griese is going to be worse. Sure he might not throw as many interceptions, but we'll revert back to the Orton offensive days of having 5 yard passes and lots and lots of punts. At least with Rex there's the chance he'll make a 15+ yard pass. And I looked up the stats of QB rating for the first few years of a lot of pro-bowl qb's (manning, brady, montana, favre, elway, etc) Save for Montana and Brady, just about everyone else had a sub 75 qb rating their first year. Favre went something like 72, 84, 71, 69. If the Bears D was average, this qb situation wouldn't exist. But because the Bears D is good, everyone assumes Rex is to blame. I think the entire offense is to blame.

Anyone else watching this? It's kind of tough to devote 3-3.5 hours a night watching it, but I did manage to watch about half of the first "chapter" on Sunday. So far it's lived up to my expectations. Ken Burns is an incredible documentarian/film maker.

This argument never flies. There have always been exceptions to this freedom and there always will be, for good reason. And what do you mean probable cause and innocent until proven guilty? Last I checked he's on record stating he wants to wipe Jews off the Earth and that the Holocaust never happened. I guess we can squabble over what "is" means, but he said what he said. There's no lost in translation issue here. I'm not opposed to the government not stopping this guy from speaking, per say, I'm upset that more Americans aren't outraged by this. I want to see protests at the school. I want this country to actually care enough to voice their opinion about a man who wants to destroy the west. This is exactly what I was talking about in another post about liberals being so neutral. It's a wonderful thing that we are a civil society and don't resort to violence to oppose his views. But it also shows how backwards we are merely thinking his views are "radically different." You can't say the f'n "n-word" in this country out of context without people all up in arms about it, but this guy calls for the murder of millions and its fine and dandy. And I know that no one believes what he believes or thinks its right for him to do it. That's not the point.

It cracks me up that people are so OK with this. I guess it shows how great this country is and what great principles we have, allowing this piece of garbage into the country, let alone the opportunity to speak in public. Can you imagine if Bush repeatedly stated that all Muslims should die (ALL of them) or something like the genocides in Rawanda/Darfur didn't happen, all right before taking a trip either to a heavily Muslim populated country or to Africa? An entire army division couldn't protect Bush from the people who would try to kill him. And what do we do? We show our extreme apathetic nature and invite this guy to speak as a guest in a major university in the country. He's mocking us by showing up here. He's trying to be "the good guy" when behind the scenes he's working towards the destruction of the West. I HOPE the dean/president of the school asks him the tough questions, but I won't hold my breath.

Here's what a wrote in an email to a group of friends this morning: Meh, typical s***ty Bears loss. I pretty much expected this to happen. However I do think that Rex gets too much of the blame. 1. IMO he threw one bad interception - the one returned for a touchdown. The first one he let go of the ball before the receiver broke. It was similiar to his pick in the Chargers game where the receiver didn't run to the spot he was supposed to run too. The last one wasn't a surprise, he was just throwing it up hoping to get something going. 2. Too many dropped passes. Rex threw some good balls but the receivers failed to bring them in. 3. Bensons "fumble" was costly - I think the last replay they showed proved it was not a fumble and that his knee was down. Terrible call. At least say the play stands because there is not conclusive visual evidence to overturn it. Apparently he saw the ball come out before the knee was down which is BS. 4. Defense - so much for that vaunted Bears D. You can't expect them to go a whole game against a good (if not great) offense, but the complete lack of changing defensive schemes really got to me. From the 2nd through the 4th quarter I think Dallas ran the ball a total of 4 times. They hit Owens and the TE on crossing routes about 25 times. How does that happen? Why did they just let them march down the field without changing up some plays? And where was the D-Line? Obviously the injuries (especially to Briggs) hurt, but come on. 5. Offensive play calling. Everyone knows Rex is not a Brett Favre who can make a play every down. Ok we get that - so why are we running the ball on first and second down, getting stuffed, and then being forced into a long 3rd down attempt? I think about 5 drives ended because the play calling was atrocious. It's clear that Rex has horrible mechanics when he's getting pressured. He's also really small compared to the two lines in front of him, which causes him to throw off his backfoot and hope the ball lands where it's supposed to land. When he had clear passing lanes the Bears O had some good success. So why not try to move him out of the pocket more? Why not more play action rollouts? 6. The running game. I was a big Benson believer at the end of last year. But man, if he doesn't crank it up then this team is screwed. 7. Romo - Five seasons, Grossman - 1.3 seasons Look, I'm not a Rex apologosit. I don't think he's a long-term answer and he's definitely not a franchise quarterback. But I do think he's good enough to help a superbowl caliber Bears D in winning a championship or two. I find it hilarious people want Griese in. No one remembers that guy took a two time superbowl champ team and had one decent year out of what, five seasons? Then he heads to Tampa Bay and Miami and gets cut. The rest of the NFL knows what Chicago fans apparently don't - he's not good enough to be a starter. I also like to remind you what it was like 2 years ago with Orton. Remember how terrible the offense was? Remember how great it felt when Rex came into the game? Remember the 100+ qb rating games he's had? The skills are obviously there. The rest of the team is to blame as much as Rex is to blame, especially with this loss. /rant

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 11:00 AM) Actually, that's not the case at all. In fact, throughout many phases in history, even in this century, it was the Republicans that favored a more isolationist view. The Democrats were more likely to want to get involved elsewhere. Perhaps you and I have different ideas of what the word "neutrality" means, though. I mean neutrality in everything, not just war. Being politically correct, the ACLU and it's ridiculous arguments/causes about discrimination and fairness, a big push for everyone to be cookie-cutter americans who all think and act alike, etc. Maybe 'neutral' wasn't the right word. I think in the context of this guys article it's the liberals who want to keep an open mind about other religions and their teachings, even if the teachings could ultimately hurt us. Obviously this guy takes it to the extreme though.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 10:56 AM) There are a bunch of these so called public islamic schools around the US. I get a kick out of how they get around the whole religion in the school bit. Well duh, it's not Christian. I don't think the country, nor the courts, are aware that there are other religions besides christianity in the constitutional context.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 10:31 AM) I agree, by the way, that this or any other school pushing a religious agenda should not be getting public funding. But I don't see any evidence in the article about that. As for neutrality, I think calling the "liberal" view as neutrality is a vast over-simplification, just as it would be if I said that "conservatives" are all interested in another crusade in the Middle East. Neither are accurate. How is that not an accurate statement? I'm not saying every last individual who is liberal thinks that way, but in terms of ideology that sort of thinking is definitely on the left and not the right.

This sorta points out what others were talking about in another thread. In our culture today muslim=terrorist. It's sad that he's so anti-Muslim, but at the same time I'm in complete agreement that the government should stop funding schools that teach jihad and employ administrators with ties to terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. And I also agree that, in general, the liberal push for complete neutrality in anything and everything is leading us down a path that we don't want to go down.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 20, 2007 -> 08:51 AM) I have a large problem with the punishments that were given to the kids. On paper, and the details that I have read, they do not look equal at all. That being said, I also have a large problem with someone getting up in a public forum and using the very same stereotypes that reinforce racism, as a derogatory term. What would the reaction have been if David Duke had gotten up and accused the district attorney of the area of "acting like he's black" because he didn't go far enough in prosecuting the black kids in this case? We all know what the reaction would have been. In both cases, the real and the hypothetical, it is wrong. You cannot use racism to stop racism. All that does is reenforce artificial differences between people. If Jesse Jackson is saying that there is a different set of expecations for a black politician and a white one, then he is actually justifying different treatment of people of different races. He is pretty much telling us that there is a separate, but equal, unwritten rule set for different races of politicians. How does that solve the problem at hand? It doesnt'. In my eyes he should be blasting everyone attached to this case, not just a race. I don't care who you are, justice should be serving the people blind, and getting up and using a race as a derogatory term helps to do nothing of the sort. The only way you are going to get justice for all people is if race is forgotten about, and all people are treated the same, regardless of their differences. Bingo

http://www.thestate.com/local/v-print/story/177514.html So Jackson calls Obama out for "acting like he's white" because he hasn't come out strong against this "Jena 6" situation. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-06-jena_N.htm Apparently 6 black kids went after a white kid and beat the crap out of him. They were charged with attempted murder, which according to Jackson, Sharpton, et al, is too severe. (funny note - from what I could read the kids weren't charged with a hate crime, how is that not a hate crime?). Regardless of whether they were charged too strongly, I find it hilarious that Jackson is calling out Obama for not coming to these kids aid. Reminds me a lot of the situation a few years back in Decatur (or Springfield? I can't remember) where a bunch of black kids attacked a bunch of white kids at a football game and were all expelled - a punishment Jackson spent weeks and weeks protesting as too severe.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 18, 2007 -> 07:29 AM) I would agree that the forged documents thing was almost as bad. But the frequency with which such things happen, even among the clumsy MSM networks, is still much lower than it is with Fox. Thing is, I don't think its unreasonable to expect news sources to be... news sources. Not editorials. It just seems like journalism, particularly with major network television, has become too subjective and punchy. Seems like most of the solid journalism left is in the newspapers. And its not just about political bias - its all kinds of bias, and further, its just low quality. Agreed, and you know why? Because it only comes out once a day. I think that's the point that's being missed in this discussion, although NorthSide you mention it: cable news isn't news, it's entertainment. They have to fill 18-20 hours of the day with something so that peopel can watch it. Because of this they effectively create news - what I call the Lacy Peterson effect. Do I believe that there's a 'media bias?' Meh, maybe a little. What someone may call bias I call pandering to a core audience that makes you money. Fox News came out of no where a decade or so ago and became the news-of-choice for 'middle america,' whereas CNN as always been the uppity, New York style news network. The major networks are no different - it's all about getting viewership. I think it's silly to discuss who is more biased because ulitimately the answer is both.

Yeah, cuz Bush really pissed off those extremists so much that only NOW are the plotting attacks on us. Oh wait, they've been attacking us for the last thirty years. Try to see through your Bush hatred just a tad. I would agree he's probably worsened the perception of the US in the world, but to say he's worsened the hatred of exteremists is just plain silly. They've reached the boiling point already - they've come to the conclusion that they're lives should be devoted to taking us down. How can anyone make that worse? There is no worse - they're already there. And really it sounds like you're almost justifying their hatred. No doubt the US and European allies have really messed that region up over the last 50 years, but that doesn't warrant murder and the destruction of the country.

QUOTE(Cknolls @ Sep 13, 2007 -> 10:51 AM) I remember reading a statistic that said over 50% of the state budget will go towards paying state pensions by 2050. IIRC.. This system is flawed. Do not expect lawmakers to change the gravy train.. Why isn't there one pension system? Why can Beavers get a pension from CPD, then become an alderman, and get a city pension, then become a Cook Co. Board Member, and get a pension from the county. INSANE. How about George Ryan, he retired with four different pensions. Does anyone here think Cook County is efficient with 26000 employees? I remeber going to the county building to get a marriage license. There was a serpentine line with ropes. Nobody but me and my then fiancee in line. I walked up to the window to apply for the license and the woman told me I had to wait in line.( I was the only one there). After taking my application she told me to procede to another window to pay for the license. When i got to that window I had to wait for the woman to finish eating her food. As Beavers said, "The payroll is already cut to the bone". LMAO. I see this inefficient process just about everyday at the courthouse. Public employees + public process = disaster.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 13, 2007 -> 09:32 AM) That is why I said the front line forms. How many government forms have you looked at this year? Certainly not millions, I doubt even dozens. Why not have those in Spanish? Say the top 250? Currently the clerk and the customer couldn't answer the questions, so now we have a fighting chance that at least the customer could figure it out. A hurdle, all answers would have to be in English. But name, address, etc are the same in any language. It's not a matter of simply providing forms in spanish. For such a system to be effective you'd need to create a spanish speaking support system, which adds more to the budget. I'm willing to bet if you don't know english you won't know a thing about the different processes the government requires you go through, like using the post office, going to the DMV, etc. I think in theory you have a good idea, but in reality it's not cost effective. And I'll be the evil-Republican here and say: is it that bad to involuntarily "force" people to learn the language that 90% of the country speaks? I know it's horrible to think that people who come to the country should become American and assimiliate at least partly to the American culture, but I guess I don't see a big problem with it.

I think the timing of their actions is a little odd too. Everything is over in 5 seconds.

QUOTE(Cknolls @ Sep 12, 2007 -> 10:50 AM) Real reform would include reforming the cushy union contracts and pensions that are not only ruining the CTA but also the state budget and county budget. These people should have to pay for their healthcare like everyone else. Retired CTA workers get 100% healthcare for their entire families for life. Major problem. How dare you! Free healthcare is a right, not a privelege! Oops, wrong thread.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Sep 11, 2007 -> 07:02 PM) My solution: No extra money. I would force them to become more efficient. Let mayor Daley and the city council shut down the trains, call his bluff. He won't do it, he'll be forced to cut some waste. Agree completely.