Texsox

I believe fraud is more common than you think. There are a lot of folks that claim Texas as their home state to avoid certain types of income tax, but they have retired and moved away. Since they continue to claim Texas as their residency they vote in Texas even though they don't currently meet the legal requirements. There is a cottage industry helping full time RV owners establish Texas as their "home", again they do not meet the legal requirement in Texas to vote here. Then there are the people who move within the state and forget to change their vote registration but continue to vote in their former district.

My experience is there are plenty of resources but kids don't use them. Every campus I've been on has a full time staff member to help kids with this. I teach two sections of a class that is 100% focused on getting accepted into college, paying for college, being successful in college, and setting yourself up for a career. When I first started teaching the course we had scholarship Fridays where the entire class period was devoted to applying for scholarships. 90% of the kids just sat and talked with their friends. I eventually cut it back to once a month. This year I had about 30 recruiters and application committee folks from universities across the US both private and public Zoom call the classes. Only a couple kids would show up for the calls. Each of the recruiters were great sources not just about their university, but the process in general. But my generation didn't listen either, nor did my parents . . . “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.” Socrates - circa 399 BC

So there were instances of fraud and mistakes but they were caught correctly the first time.

Which is an interesting slippery slope. I made a "mistake" and voted by mail and in person. I made a "mistake" and sent in my dead grandmother's ballot instead of mine. I'm not shocked that it's zero, but I would have expected one or two. But, yeah, in the end they found what most everyone understood, he lost because people didn't like him and his policies.

Agreed. What surprised me was every vote was 100% in compliance. Dates, signatures, every line on every ballot was correct. No one moved out of state but kept voting in Georgia. It's pretty remarkable that 15,000 forms could all be filled out without any errors. Now I wonder if they made a determination of mistakes versus fraud.

I'm slightly surprised that everyone did everything perfectly.

I'm pulling for both underdogs but honestly don't see either one happening.

Nice Alamo Bowl.

Really, over 50%? I'm looking at the 2000 Sox roster and I can't imagine that half of those guys were using steroids. I know Canseco said 80% but it seemed like he was selling books and pushing numbers for publicity. I think what you had was 15 to 20% at the most but they are the players that were setting records and winning awards. I think it's a slap in the face to players like Frank who worked hard and didn't cheat for guys like Sosa and Bonds to even be considered. The Hall of Fame is a museum that celebrates the game of baseball. It's a tourist attraction. I wouldn't mind a display that discusses the steroid era and talks about those players and their achievements. I just don't think a plaque or display equal to the non steroid using players is appropriate in a place that should be about what makes the game great, not the negative. We're planning on returning there this summer, I hope they are open.

Entire game was on steroids? What years do you think Frank Thomas was on steroids? Are you thinking 99% of the players? 95%?

My general recommendation to my seniors is don't borrow for your first two years. Community college or one of the local four year public schools. But then go away for at least two years. It makes the most sense for the most students. I do have those that are prepping for med school or a top law school and it's not as clear cut for the.

Excellent post.

No.

Voting for individuals not the party. While I'm not a fan of either senator from Texas I'd vote for any D over Cruz. It would take a little more, probably not much, in the race versus Cornyn. It could be far more than one percent. That's the net result.

It's one of my go to beers most places here carry it.

It's been just over 100 years since all states offered public education through 12th grade. The population then felt it was in the public interest to use public tax dollars to educate everyone. Much like police and fire services there was a general benefit to everyone as America was the best educated country. The world has changed a lot since the last state Mississippi, added high school in 1917. Back then a high school diploma would increase your value in a job search, now it's a basic requirement. Eventually, we'll make the same decision that was made 100 years ago, add a couple years to a basic education. I see it happening through the community college system with many families still opting for private or bigger public universities at higher prices.

Not to many self employed 18 year old, probably not enough to worry about, but sure, we'll add them in too. I'm not certain why you thought I required people to be employed to go to college. We already pay for 13 years of public education, increasing that to 15 or 17 seems doable. There are people around the world willing to work for a standard of living far below ours. The choice becomes a better educated work force or eventually accepting workers living in dirt floor dwellings accepting sustenance wages for manufacturing consumer goods. The most successful American companies are employing far few employees and for lower wages than previous generations. We're rapidly losing a middle class.

Hi guys, just wanted to take a minute to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy year, most of all good health! These days people don't spend much time or thought on some personal words to their friends and family, they just copy and paste some random message and send it on. So after all we've been though together this year I want to thank you for your friendship and wish you a happy and fulfilling 2018 - you’re the best gymnastics group anyone could ask for. Best wishes, Helen

Weird. Someone spent a lot of time setting that up.

Drinking Modelo Negra, waiting for relatives who are late, watching NBA and a Christmas Story.

What ya got?

@southsider2k5 was so nice in starting a Merry Christmas thread in Pale Hose I think we needed a thread for the restofus.

I lost thirty years of score sheets somewhere along the way. I'm certain they were thrown out by my ex with other "junk" which was defined as stuff she didn't understand of mine. I'd like to go back and see if the loses were as bad as I remember. I only remember Jim because of the dairy collection. There was one other old timer from that club Iirc, may not be that club, who actually was the highest rated, like insane 1900+. I drew him at a US Open, also got my ass kicked. Really nice guy who tried to make me feel better about a couple of huge blunders I made. Anyhow what was interesting about him was he worked on an assembly line for one of my customers. Mind numbing boring work for most people. He said he would compose chess problems, and write songs while working. He said his brain wasn't for rent or sale at any price.

Merry Christmas from the family . . .