Texsox

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:23 AM) Well, if we're not playing this year, then Abe Vigoda can live another 1,000 years for all I care. And he can marry Betty White along the way . . .

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 11:31 AM) Some Texas companies lauched out during the Civil War to try to take New Mexico and Colorado for the Confederates. With them were a lot of people from the southeast, not used to the dry climate and real mountains. It didn't go terribly well. But there are some fascinating stories about that campaign and its battles. I hated history when I was growing up, because all they taught was dry, surface level stuff. Who was the XXth President? That kind of stuff. Its not useful. I'd rather they covered less topics, but with more depth, to give people the real feel of why things were important, and what it was like to be there. When I read historical books published now (Blood and Thunder is a fave, speaking of Texas and the Civil War), they are just so much more interesting. I really wish they'd teach from books like that in high school, instead of the nearly useless textbooks. You will be happy to know we/I use textbooks as a resource, our curriculum is independent of any one book. And I'm trying to teach by telling stories whenever possible. I wish I had more time each day. We also use a lot more independently produced videos, etc. not just "education" ones. Plus, how many history teachers would play Hendrix?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 05:29 PM) Not.a.chance. He'll kill whoever he runs against, unless he is indicted in the meantime... Even then, he will most likely still win. ^^^^ I've been away a long time, but I will agree with SS.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 11:35 AM) That would make your argument that liberals get to decide and conservatives don't. I would argue that your definition of rights is very different than mine. You seem to believe that people have the right to take things that people have from other people as often as possible. I feel is should be done as little as possible. I think they have to have those rights first. You do have me rethinking the tax system and how some contribute more than others. However, I do not see a system working where everyone pays the same amount working.

Isn't spending money on something that is going to happen smarter than spending money on something that may never happen again?

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 11:16 AM) It depends, some bands who have the means handle that stuff themselves to keep their fans from having to pay the added fees. TM adds outrageous fees to the tickets they sell and the bands & venues do not receive much if any of that money. About 30% of the ticket price (which tm does not receive anything from). I'm not certain how outrageous a 30% mark up is. I imagine most retail items we buy carry at least that or more. How else can stores offer a 50% sale? The difference, as I see it, is there is no incentive for another service to come in that reduces the fee. The venues will still go with the vendor that offers *them* the most, not who will offer the ticket buyer a better deal. It has been awhile since I paid any attention, but I thought bands who tried that ran afoul of TM and the venue's exclusive agreements?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 11:05 AM) The funny part, besides it being Al-Jazeera, is that the argument would be pretty vilified if health care were substituted for security in that article. That sounds like a Tex stretch between two points

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 11:00 AM) Yeah, but those "convenience" fees don't go to the bands and the venues. I thought the venues select how and who will offer tickets to the public.The anti-trust inquiry that the justice department undertook back when Clinton was president and Pearl Jam was relevant, basically said the real customer is the venues, not the people buying the ticket. Once the venues lined up in favor of Ticketmaster, the justice department backed down. Ticketmaster kicks back part of their fees to the venues, and supposedly, some back to some bands. I probably shgould not have mentioned bands, since the overwhelming majority do not benefit.

For the lazy people here

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:29 AM) Is your grade the one that gets to teach Texas History? No, that is 7th grade. I have US History; Beginning to Reconstruction. I start with the War of 1812 when we return. I have three national anthems to play, a traditional quiet, respectful one, one from the NHL All-Star game at the old Stadium , and Hendrix at Woodstock. I thought it would be a good lesson on nationalism. Plus I get to wear some Blackhawk stuff and talk trash with the Dallas Stars fans.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:14 AM) you know what's also a rally killer? Having no one on base.

Too bad competition doesn't work in this case. The competition is which group can generate more dollars for the bands and venues, not who can sell to the public for less.

This is of course the great game of conservatism; picking which groups get to have their rights and money preserved. This is of course the great game of liberalism; picking which groups get to have their rights for the first time and money taken. Helping ya both . . .

It is funny, my gf is GRITS (girl raised in the south) and we joke about "the war of northern aggression" every so often. Also, the south Texas area, especially the border region, was key to some of the Confederate's strategy. There are a couple battlegrounds near here. Including the last battle, which the south won. However it was months after the Rebs surrendered (someone forgot to check their email). So I will wind up teaching some of this from a Reb point of view, which is so foreign to me after being educated in the north.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:10 AM) It seems like that because the last 50 years have been the biggest assault on the individual in the history of this country. Expansion of education benefits Safety net of food, clothing, and shelter Expansion of medical care for the poor and elderly Closer equality for women, minorities The GOP tent seems filled with the white middle class. And since that is still the majority, I guess you are right, the GOP tent is bigger to accomodate all of them. But since that is shelter, they better damn well pay for their share of the tent. The GOP isn't going to allow someone to have a warm dry place to stand if they can't afford it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:02 AM) -At someone else's expense -The marriage thing they are wrong on -and take someone who needs a job here -tell that to the dead babies that are harvested for stem cells -as always the right to swing your arms ends at the end of someone else's nose. Things aren't always popular, that protect the individual. - much like taking from someone else and giving to educate an individual, a healthy population helps us all - agreed (and the Dems have a few of those as well) - I know 8 people now out of work and so far none have takjen positions as bus boys, migrant farm workers, meat packing plant workers, etc. But I agree that having a job in hand or some means of supporting yourself should be a minimum to immigrate here. - There are more ways to harvest the cells - fair enough, but conservatives often times replace morals with nose. ( and I usually agree) And I'll again offer, the 1950s fit in nicely with a conservative point of view.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:00 AM) Its over 500 pages for a three day battle. Which is the challenge I am facing. History is most interesting for most poeple beneath the surface. The real drama and excitement is not a list of names, places, and dates. It's the stuff behind the scenes.

QUOTE (hogan873 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:25 AM) Remember when debit cards came about? Back then it was cool, now it's dangerous. Say you're strolling through Best Buy and you eyeball a 50" LCD. Not enough cash in your pocket, but you got that debit card! The danger was favorite bar + ATM next door = longer, more expensive nights replacing favorite bar + out of cash = time to go home

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:34 AM) I wasn't much of a civil war person until I actually visited Gettysburg a couple of years ago. Just being on the battlefield and hearing the stories told was enough to get me very interested in it. I found this book, which is just an incredible amount of information and detail on the battle. http://books.google.com/books?id=DsxcBNGyP...;q=&f=false I need to get that before I have to teach it I am reading Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen. Great read so far. I am also leaving to pick up Tecate Journal by Keith Bowden. He spent 70 days traveling down the Rio Grande River.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:37 AM) True Conservatism is all about preserving the individual. Taking from people to give what others see fit doesn't seem like a very big tent to me. It seems much against people and their rights. Preserving the individual? Perhaps as long as they do not need medical care . . . Tell that to the gays who are denied marriage Tell that to an immigrant who wants a job and a place to live Tell that to a person whose life may be made better from stem cell research Tell that to a controversial artist pushing his 1st Amendment rights The tent seems to be getting smaller for conservatives

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ud.3ed620b.html

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 09:10 AM) How incredibly narrow-minded of what true Conservatism actually is. But they still let me in the tent . . . Family values -- Give us 1950s with gays in the closet . . . Media -- Give us Leave it to Beaver, no swearing, no nudity, etc Abortion, make it illegal again. Government -- cut back, eliminate social programs added since 1950 Schools -- get prayer back in, focus on RRR So conservatism has nothing to do with conserving?

Great day to be alive

In Washington's farewell address he argued against political parties, and I really believe he was correct. He had Hamilton and Jefferson fighting each other. Both parties place their interest above the country's interests at times. They may convince themselves they are doing to for altruistic reasons, but we know that is crap sometimes. The parties exist for their self interest and those of the members. It would be the rare person whose beliefs actually line up 100% with either party. Although I guess there are some weak willed voters who follow a party 100% because someone tells them it's the thing to do, or what they hear on the radio, television, and newspapers. Parties understand occasionally needing to break from the party's platform to be alinged with voters in a particular district, but on the big stuff, there is tremendous pressure to stay in line. Since conservatives are more about conserving what we have and not about expanding, there would seem to be less diversity of issues. Get us back to 1950s America. Since liberals believe they can make most everything better with a little government action, and there are so many different areas to expand, there would be more diversity. What becomes the issue is when that list is narrowed down to a do-able list. Some people's pet projects get tossed aside. SS can continue to poke fun, but a Dem team photo and a GOP team photo really does reveal which tent is bigger. But you are only welcome in either tent if you play by their rules. You will only want to be in the tent if it helps you. Your constituents and country be damned.

You have to get undressed and shower to swim in a public pool, why not to get on a plane? If it saves just one life . . .