Texsox

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2010 -> 08:52 AM) Because I don't want to drive down a snowy, hilly road just yet, I wasted some time trying to check into Kap's assertion that Kennedy teamed tax cuts with simultaneous spending cuts to grow the economy. So far, every index or graph I can find simply fails to show any meaningful decrease in total government spending at the time. The answer is in How to Speak Like a Politician, Chapter 2. "We slowed the rate of increases in spending, which is cutting spending" This resulted in cuts totalling 160 Bbbbillion dollars over the next 100 years (projected).

yawn. That's the norm down here. I'd love me an authentic Jewish deli with a crabby old staff behind the counter that I could torment with requests for mayo and white bread. I want to fill my belly at Ruben's Deli.

Actually Blackwater does it for the one reason that GOPerheads always like, to make some money! So if conservatives like it, it must be bad. Just give us a few minutes to figure out why. I kid because I care™

QUOTE (earthshiner @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 01:44 PM) Its sad to see the HOF turn more into a joke each year. Its turning into the Hall of Really Good I do hate the unofficial "First Ballot" honor that has come into vogue the past decade or so. I looked up some definitions of fame and did not find any that mentioned stats. Fame does not, and never has, meant to be the greatest at something. Some people want to change it to the Hall of Greatest Stats (as long as you didn't take too long to accumulate those stats) I believe overall contribution to the game, character, etc. should also be included. And how does keeping an elite player out make it the hall of really good? It would seem that including a marginal player does that, not leaving out Raines. Having said that, wtf?? . No Bly or Raines? They would have my vote. Why? I have a theory. It seems that the writers are trying to preserve the "First Ballot Honor" and keep it from being a "First Ballot of Really Good". They seem to be trying to hold that honor for the elite players. So next year, without stealing another base, or winning another game, they will become "second ballot" Hall of Fame players. I see us getting to the point were every few years a player will come on the ballot that will achieve the necessary votes on the first ballot. The rest will go through the silly process of getting almost enough, but needing a second or third trip to the ballot.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 7, 2010 -> 10:26 AM) We're supposed to have the longest period of below freezing tempratures in 25 years. 72 hours. That's actually crazy for Dallas. Thanks for sharing the cold asshole Seriously, this one could turn deadly for here. Most of our poorer residents do not have any heaters, and not much in the way of winter clothes. Sadly, it is a safe bet that a few trailer homes will catch on fire tonight when people try crazy ways to warm them up. A senior or two will freeze to death. I wish there was a way to find them all first.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 7, 2010 -> 02:34 PM) American terrorists working for Blackwater were charged with murder today. I would not call them terrorists. Criminals possible, even murderers, but not terrorists.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 7, 2010 -> 08:08 AM) Also, just to cause problems... RC>Coke>Pepsi. Just within the past couple months I have become more of a RC fan. I am drinking a Dr. Pepper right now, and would probably place it ahead of those three.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:19 PM) Imminent threat of harm or death, and/or reasonable expectation of that harm barring reaction. Other factors come into play as well. Rocks? Maybe, depends on the circumstances. And as always in American justice, who is involved makes a difference.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 7, 2010 -> 09:01 AM) Not sure why everyone is dismissing the idea that the gov't hasn't been able to prevent some things. Clearly they have. The combination of intelligence, military and law enforcement work dedicated to these sorts of things has, on numerous occasions we know of (and probably more we don't), prevented such acts. That said, its not like they have a magic wand and can fix it all. Eventually, it will happen. Credit should also be given that they are targeting the terrorists, not what the terrorists are trying to do. Kind of adding to what 2K5 said earlier, and adding a twist, perhaps if a terrorist is planning on blowing up a train, that would get law enforcement's attention, because it seems possible and "real". Hearing that they want to crash four planes into the WTC, Pentagon, and ??, might sound too crazy to be "real". Finally, We can shuffle the list of reasons for why and where they target. Either way, y'all are correct. And there are different groups, each with different ideas. 2K5 might have to rethink his position, I find myself agreeing with most of what he's writing.

Given a choice, I buy the made in Mexico cola product made with cane sugar. I just prefer the taste. There are a number of stores down here that carry it. Cool that Pepsi is giving it a try here in the USA

idk, I found this funny and ironic

Tecate Journal by Keith Bowden

I put on sweater this morning. Sometimes I may put on a light windbreaker. btw, I like the Peruvian style caps. I like warm ears.

I entered this stretch of the thread disagreeing with 2k5 and now I'm agreeing. Nice posts SS. You must practice.

http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_t...able_01_37.html Some interesting facts and figures. I would need some time to sort through. Miles is probably a poor comparison. Grocery shopping would be the most terrific IMHO. We all eat. Start setting bombs in grocery stores and soon we'll be calling for metal detectors at every Piggly Wiggly

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 05:52 PM) VISA charges the merchant receiving the funds between 1 and 4% of the cost of the transaction. Instead of using VISA, you can use a number of other credit and debit card systems. Or write a check, or use cash for the transaction. Ticketmaster and LiveNation charges the consumer a surcharge of up to 30% in order to provide a transaction of a ticket owned by the venue/artist and deliver it to you, by you using your own ink and paper to print the ticket. Instead of using Ticketmaster or Livenation, you can either not make the transaction or try to illegally sneak into the show. So, please tell me why Ticketmaster - providing what is essentially the same service as VISA (but for concert tickets and less competition) is fairly priced again? How often do you speak to a VISA rep? Every time you use your card? How many VISA transactions versus TM are done each year? When you have a problem with a transaction, do you speak to VISA or the issuing bank and store? Is the software needs the same? Seems like tracking every venue and their different seating arrangements for each show is more labor intensive. Does VISA have to compete for anybody's business? It seems that venues have a bigger choice in how to sell tickets than stores and banks that want to accept/issue credit cards. I'm not saying TM is or isn't overcharging, I'm not an expert in their industry. I don't think VISA is a fair comparison. And I don't think that they can survive on 3 or 4%.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:21 PM) That new Taco Bell commercial where the dude asks to order from "Denise" to get the inside deal for 89 cents is ridiculous. No Taco Bell on earth employs two girls remotely that attractive. That one creeps me out. The dude is too old, it seems like he is trying to hit on her. Which is cool and entirely justifiable, if he was 10 years younger.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:21 PM) But a vital airline industry is important for the economy of the country, including the poor. Tourism, business travel, etc depend on airlines. Hurt thoe, you hurt all businesses, not just airline trevellers. Is that an argument for longer delays and higher prices with the extra security, or against?

Is there a minimum standard before self defense can be used? It is easy to say the suspect had a gun so I shot him. It is easy to say the suspect was driving his car at me and I shot him. Obviously it can't be the suspect was waving a newspaper at me and I shot him. I wonder where the courts draw the line?

QUOTE (The Gooch @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 07:05 PM) At least your school seems to be starting to get it right. I feel that the only subject we covered in proper depth from high school was the Holocaust. Everything else was just the who, what, and when. I have also taken to reading non-fiction history books lately including Blood and Thunder (my favorite as well), and I have learned more about our history then I ever have in class. Understanding the past is more important to our future than most people know, and unfortunately names and dates don't cut it. Being able to sequence dates is important, and I have yet to figure out how to grasp that without discussing dates. But I agree, the sanitized who, what, when, were, approach to history is ZZZZzzzz.

At the fountain, a splash of red flash, the vanilla flavor button, and Coke™ makes for a nice drink. And .99 for 48 oz at my local Stripes C-store.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 06:41 PM) No, Visa does not. The issuing bank charges the interest, not visa. They're just a clearinghouse. GP, but the cost of the transaction, above and beyond the cost of the item, are about the same.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 02:01 PM) Hell, why lock your car, if someone wants to steal it or what's in it bad enough, they gonna do it anyway. Save the money for the alarm and locks and spend it on something else. Why lock your front door either. If theives want your big screen, they gonna get it anyway. The point is to spend enough to stop the casual assholes, and hopefully most of the committed ones, without breaking the bank. Somewhere there is a 'it costs too much' point, but I don't know where that is. New technology is always gonna cost more at first. So should we stop looking for new ways to stop terrorism? Basically we all agree on this note. But we each clutch something slightly different. I bolded the part where the rubber meets the road. Dems I suspect will be less willing to spend on this, Reps, more willing. And for airport security, isn't this taking from the poor who fly less and giving to the rich who fly more?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 04:08 PM) LOLerrific. Poor guy. Do you think if they water boarded him they could have discovered the "truth" that he really worked for a terrorist cell? After a couple hours of torture, what would he have said?

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 12:24 PM) The difference is retail stores purchase the items, TM is not purchasing the tickets. And cost of inventory is important, but even deducting for that, there is a cost of being in business. Employees have to be paid, computers maintained, new customers gained. What margin do you think they can work on? QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 12:35 PM) Think about it this way, do you think VISA deserves a 30% surcharge for the privilege of transmitting payment confirmations back and forth and providing proof of payment? Thank you for a great example of why TM may not be quite so overpriced. VISA charges interest from the consumers, as high as 20+% *AND* charges the stores a fee. TM gets less than that.