Texsox

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Jul 6, 2010 -> 04:46 PM) That's an inconvenient observation. LOL

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 5, 2010 -> 10:46 PM) We could compare stories... My dad is on our version of socialized medicine in the USA as a veteran. Even after the national stories broke about how bad their care was, nothing has changed. As a matter of a fact I could detail the last month of run arounds he has had as he tries to find someone to do an operation that would usually be considered an emergency surgery. At the VA, he got sent home. This is the version of health care that was supposed to be what we should all aspire to... I would hope that the VA will also benefit as we overhaul our medical system here. For my entire lifetime there have been complaints. I am optimistic this will be an area that will see some nice strides. But, I'm always optimistic about Americans tackling tough problems. We are much better that that than other countries.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 5, 2010 -> 06:36 PM) If he were here, he'd be better. Oh wait, he'd be dead, because he would never get seen, pre-existing conditions, no insurance, etc. ... ... ... because you know, it's Amerikkka, home of the suckiest health system on earth ™. Amongst the kaperbole is the truth. IF he had insurance, he may have been better off. If he did not have insurance, no doubt he would have been much worse off.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 5, 2010 -> 06:36 PM) If he were here, he'd be better. Oh wait, he'd be dead, because he would never get seen, pre-existing conditions, no insurance, etc. ... ... ... because you know, it's Amerikkka, home of the suckiest health system on earth ™. Amongst the kaperbole is the truth. IF he had insurance, he may have been better off. If he did not have insurance, no doubt he would have been much worse off.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 2, 2010 -> 10:35 PM) Most conservatives here do call out Republicans when they mess up. That pretty much makes that a moot point True. Except both sides start differing as to what is, and what is not, a "screw up".

Look at guys who are fired a year or two after being named manager of the year. The modern manager has to blend to the players he has. What may work with one set of players is an epic failure with a different set. The days of a manager with a my way or the highway approach has been gone since Curt Flood.

It is hard to say. Ozzie and Gardenhire are shortstops and Leyland is a catcher. And at their ages I just don't see them making much of a contribution. Actually to really answer the question you have to know the personality of the players and if they are charging or being charged. I'd be happy and unhappy with any of the three. Based on history, I'd take Ozzie with a lead and any of the three doing the chasing.

Happy Birthday!!

Congrats to Matt. One more game in a 162 regular game season, plus spring training, plus post season, isn't much of a deal to me. Just off the top of my head I can't think of the All-Star game causing anyone any serious problems for the second half. I actually think home run derbies do more damage for some guys.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 4, 2010 -> 10:06 PM) Well, unless you earn about $250k per year. Then you're set. That's the way the Republicans like it. Come on, that is grossly inaccurate, misleading, and wrong even for you. The $250,000 threshold only applies to minorities, WASPs are admitted at a much lower income level. I kid because I care™

Right eye dominant and am R/R in baseball. I screwed around with batting lefty and was a decent drag bunter from the left side until teams caught on. I did attempt to improve my putting by trying left handed. I stuck with it for about a year and was better from 6' in but sucked at anything over 20'. I couldn't lag to save my butt. I am also goofy foot on a skateboard or surfboard.

I am not certain where I stand on this http://newsblaze.com/story/20100629112611z...b/topstory.html basically, without hard evidence several groups have sued BP to stop burning the oil until it can be determined that sea turtles (endangered) are safe. I spend some time ewach summer volunteering at Sea Turtle Inc and am sympathetic to their mission and the plight of sea turtles, but I'm not certain if stopping the burning isn't ultimately better than not burning.

QUOTE (Special K @ Jul 1, 2010 -> 09:42 AM) I don't know, I think he had some potential..... To be the worst left-handed reliever in Sox history nicely played sir

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 1, 2010 -> 08:33 PM) Do you understand what insurance is (or, what it's supposed to be?) Tell me what any risk based anything "for profits" helps anything, anywhere? That's pretty much the lib mindset now. Kap, slow down, let's toss aside the predictable path and see where this leads. I do understand risk based insurance, are you understanding the difference between having your car repaired after an accident, replacing your home after a fire, and trying to figure out why you are fatigued, or why you are getting those headaches? Health insurance doesn't function like other types of risk. You insure your home for $X and if it is destroyed you receive $X. Health insurance is very different. The insurance company doesn't have to authorize tests to determine if your car's door was smashed in? They can see it. Not so with some health problems. That leads to a natural conflict between authorizing what is necessary to properly diagnose the problem versus profits. I don't think it is a lib mindset to see the conflict. They lose when you require treatment. The less treatment they can get you to accept, the better for them. That seems at odds to you receiving the best health care.

Interesting night. Water was rising in my backyard and about the time I would be cursing myself for not getting a few sandbags it would drain. I am at the top of a slight rise and water flowed nicely down my street and away from my garage and front door. I will probably make a landscapping change or two before the next storm.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 07:52 AM) For the last two years, of course, considering that he's done everything wrong that he could have. Just like you predicted when he was elected!

It would be interesting to know where the largest volume neighborhood stores are. Forget the ones at major tourist destinations, but the neighborhood "my McDs".

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jun 30, 2010 -> 07:01 PM) That's not how it works, but ok. Tell me how your insurance company's requirement for profits helps your health care?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2010 -> 08:52 AM) Also worth noting...California's budgetary state right now is an epic disaster, and as such, the textbook purchases of its schools have been drastically curtailed since the housing bubble burst Making Texas Republicans even bigger customers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 1, 2010 -> 08:53 AM) With a McDonalds though, it's a decent proxy. They take steps to make sure their franchises don't overgrow demand, like occasionally shuttering stores. There's also a ridiculously high startup franchise fee in the way also (5+ years ago it was >$1 million per store franchise fee). Wouldn't most people with a million dollars think twice before committing those resources in a poor neighborhood? It seems like a risk reward formula. Higher risk with higher potential rewards has a store in a poor neighborhood without competition. Lower risk, with lower rewards, operating in a middle class neighborhood.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jun 30, 2010 -> 07:05 PM) When, 10 years ago when the last set of books were written? 20 years ago? Now? The answer is yes to all, unfortunately. Like in most businesses the largest customers influence the product the most. So the history books, for example, that will be used nationwide will be heavily influenced by Texas and California standards. On a sidenote to the sidenote, my district just receivedthe highest award from the state for financial responsibility. I'm not certain how valid of an award it is, but it does seem kind of cool. We are regarded as one of the best districts in the area, maybe this kind of confirms it.

And the fast food is a result of economics. People with a couple dollars versus people with ten dollars at meal time.

We missed the obvious, it's the lack of Walmart Superstores and fresh produce . . .

The stereotypes of granola eating, bicycle riding liberal versus fat cat, cigar smoking, Hummer driving, conservative may be loosly grounded in some small bit of reality.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 30, 2010 -> 09:42 AM) There's also the definition of an "assault weapon". Typically, it's a gun that looks scary but has the same or less lethal force than a rifle used for hunting. That, and they're rarely used in crimes, anyway. Labels are dangerous.