Texsox

I asked if the rods were hollow and she said they were solid, which seemed weird to me. If I understand her description they are about 4-5 inches long, blunt on both ends, and solid. I confirmed he's smoking pot, which really didn't upset the mom, but there are some other circumstances which would make things nasty if he ever got caught. Sometimes it isn't what you do, but who you are.

I just had a long conversation with the parents of a young man I know. They found a few things in his room and are wondering what they mean. First off, they found rolling papers and tobacco, He claims he is smoking custom cigarettes. Is that reasonable? Second off, and more strange. Round, pencil shaped, metal rods. A bunch of them. I can't think of any reason. For reasons I can't get into, their son is not available to explain what they are, but may help this kid. Any ideas soxtalkers

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 07:09 PM) For those who consider, you know, the icky party, I wouldn't rule him out yet. But at least from my perspective I'd say he's running a really sloppy campaign so far. He does not look ready for prime time yet. That could well change before January. I really want to pull for a guy in both leagues.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 04:44 PM) Yep. All these BigSqwert and Balta stories are converting me away from Fred Thompson. I was trying to like him, I really was.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 01:51 PM) ^^^^ And it's because they are not putting America in front, only themselves. In some cases. I'd think less for those not facing elections, more for those that are.

The ACLU and others have taken "the government shall not establish one religion" and perverted that into the government shall allow no religion. Wrong in my book.

Kap, I agree with everything you said. I've said all along that conservatives and liberals should clean up their own houses. When some elected official becomes an assbag, dump him fast and make him an example. Instead, we start thge spin machine and protect "our guy". Not all the time, but way to often. As far as messages getting hijacked by people you don't want, it can't be helped. Skinheads vote GOP, that doesn't make GOP wrong. We shouldn't want peace because they want peace!? Look at Israel and their neighbors, we see how far that gets. And aren't terrorists using the "America wants war"? as a rallying cry? So the GOP is being used as well.

I agree with most of your post, but is it possible for someone to not give Israel 100% and not be antisemitic? It seems that somehow there are two groups of people, those that agree with Israel 100% and will give them everything, and antisemitic. As soon as someone thinks that Israel is wrong, they get branded. Perhaps that is one small problem that needs to be resolved before progress can be made in that corner of the world? Of course, the problems are so huge, I don't think any of us will be alive to see a true and lasting peace.

Of course you are correct, and I am usually a big advocate of our system, but this is the second time in my lifetime was are stuck in a war that we seemingly are at a stalemate. I blame some of this on the lack of cooperation between the three groups.

I like his expanded NATO plan.

While the explaination is simple, there are huge budget implications. Side bar, who should be fighting this or any war? The White House, Congress, or the Pentagon? We seem to have all three, which if they were all pulling in the same direction would be unbeatable, but it seems as if we have three different directions.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 11:36 AM) Update: Fired. Interesting note in the article is the last sentence in it. I hadn't noticed this before - the cop apparently had a camera in his squad already, but had it turned off during the encounter. That would be enough for me to push my decision over that line. So, good result. The turned off camera was a red flag to me as well. It looks like a citizen-vigilante has a well deserved scalp for his mantle. QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 11:55 AM) I saw this and was hoping Sting got arrested somehow. That was funny, but don't stand so close to me . . .

BTW, there seems to be some disagreement among tax experts about the IRS coming a calling. While it appears there is provisions in the IRS code to tax the ball, there is also evidence that the tax man doesn't come a calling until you sell it. Because the ball isn't exactly a liquid asset, they may wait. Let's also remember there was as split involved with this call. The guy that caught it had agreed to split any proceeds with the guy who went with him. Perhaps the second guy is pushing for a sale? The IRS refuses, as matter of policy, to comment on a specific citizens tax situation or to engage in hypotheticals. I'm thinking Urban Legend.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 10:03 AM) I do know that there is an exemption for gift money, which says up to something like $10,000 in value can be given as a gift without being taxed. Here is a possible go-around - sell it to a family member for $1, then keep it in the house. You have now established the value at $1. Which brings up problem number one with this tax scheme - how do you establish value for tax purposes? IIRC the IRS can establish a fair market value, just like your home for real estate taxes. Here in Texas they will use "blue book" value to establish the tax on a car that is sold between family members. Now I wonder if there would be capital gains on that baseball if the original price was $X and it sold for $5X? Clearly this ball was valued over any exemption mark. It just sucks that the guy could not keep ownership and, for example, loan the ball to Cooperstown or Balco to put on display.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 10:35 AM) Thanks for the link. That is very interesting. So its definitely a public school, and supposedly it will be emphasizing Muslim curricula? No way that should be funded by taxpayer dollars. If they want to go have that school that is fine, but you cannot choose a specific religion to emphasize or put in a pole position like that if its public. I am not OK with that. Aren't conservatives in favor of school choice (vouchers)? I guess when the voucher is used at the local Protestant School it's ok. And I believe being ignorant of Jihad is a mistake. I would hope that everyone is taught about Jihad since it is shaping events around the world. How does one teach current events and ignore the concept of Jihad? NSS said it better in his first post. I'll shut up. This crap isn't worth defending.

We demand partisanship from our elected leaders. It's like sports. If it's "our team" we defend them and try to get the other side. So they band together in support of the party. The officials also need the party backing (money, experts) to get elected.

I'm puzzled by the not enough troops. Haven't we run out of Troops as it is?

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Sep 21, 2007 -> 08:48 AM) Why the defeatist attitude? We wanted to put a man on the moon and we did. Now we can't match the ingenuity of Iceland? And I think we have more resources . . .

I just watched a Discovery Channel show on this. A big factor was all the volcanoes that are in the country. But they are a great example of what can be done.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Sep 20, 2007 -> 06:04 PM) How long until Chris Hansen came out of the kitchen and told you that you were on To Catch A Predator?

I'm uneasy about State Department employees being protected by a private security firm. In fact the whole private security firm thing leaves me worried.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Sep 20, 2007 -> 05:39 PM) Oh, duck the question, typical racism technique. for shame

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Sep 20, 2007 -> 05:21 PM) you're a racist. racist racist racist. see, you just accuse others of being racist to cover up your deep hatred for black people. it's very obvious, texsox. you are from texas (most racist state) and use the racist term 'texas' (tex is short for texas) in your sign on name. don't try to defend yourself, you are guilty of hate. guilty, my racist friend, guilty. I did? Where did I accuse anyone of being a racist? And Texas as the most racist state

Guide to meeting someone from soxtalk* raise your foot slowly up and down, moving it closer to the other person . . . *not recommended if you are a Republican Senator

BTW, I just noticed I made up a new word. illigrants. I like it.