Texsox

great link on Chicago Halloween weather http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=chi_halloween

QUOTE (Heartattack19 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) Guys, thanks for your help! Tex, what is ELA? I should hear next week, pretty excited about a new beginning! I am sorry you were turned down for the program.... I am a little nervous about teaching, but think it will be a good fit! English Language Arts, use to be just plain old English class. The new title is meant, I believe, to better describe reading, writing, etc.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) we just came off an election where Nate Silver used polls to nail, almost to a tee, what the election would look like. This argument is ridiculously stupid. Anyone that took a basic level stats class can learn to understand an effective poll. The assumption here is they are meant to be unbiased, effective polls. The people funding these polls generally have an agenda. There are not too many organizations willing to fund a poll that is just wondering, in an unbiased way, about something.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:48 AM) we just came off an election where Nate Silver used polls to nail, almost to a tee, what the election would look like. This argument is ridiculously stupid. Anyone that took a basic level stats class can learn to understand an effective poll. Agreed.And you also learn how to write the poll questions to affect the results.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:45 AM) You know, it's funny you mentioned this because it's something I didn't even consider. I guess I don't quite understand why a person would waste their time lying about something...it's time you will never get back for something most people don't care about. When you get the phone call you will understand why it is so tempting to lie.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 10:37 AM) Have you ever seen the people who take polls or the people who answer them?! I have to say, I haven't. I'll be honest, I have NEVER once been polled for ANYTHING, but I see polls all the time that were supposedly "taken in my area". Not only that, but I don't know anyone else that has taken these polls "in my area", who just happen to also live "in my area", and they don't know anyone either. I'll venture to say most of you have never been polled, either. So who exactly are these people who are being "polled"?! I hate polls, I hate when people cite polls, on either side of the bulls*** separation fence (that's the fence that seperates democrats from republicans), because anyone on either side of it are full of it. There are also those people that like to just f*** with the pollsters.

can anyone remember a Halloween in the snow?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 08:46 AM) You'll get money from people who try to influence you. Right. So is it better to get money from causes you naturally support or ones you naturally oppose?

I would hope more are being investigated. That should be a standard operating procedure and just keep looking at lawmakers at random. I just wonder if there are enough (D)s in the report to satisfy Alphadog* *I kid because I care™

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 26, 2009 -> 03:17 PM) who cares? exactly.

and also rain here. Cold front moving in for a couple days. Feels like Halloween.

yesterday was hot, today it is very cool. Nice weather change here in SOuth Texas

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 05:47 PM) In other words, tex would have no problems funneling government money into a private business you own through gov't contracts...k. You are missing the point. If you were Senator, who will you get campaign money from, people you agree with, or people you disagree with? To turn around later and say they are voting a certain way because of the contribution is unfair.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 30, 2009 -> 12:35 AM) The hiring of McGwire by St. Louis proves how meaningless hitting coaches are. McRae has a good hitting philosophy and they let him go. What is McGwire going to teach?? Uppercut, try to hit every pitch out of the park. And of course take enhancers? McGwire, like many (most) sluggers, tried to hit every pitch a mile. That was his hitting philosophy. All or nothing for Mark. LaRussa better hope the millionaire has a good work ethic, cause it seems to me hitting coaches are grunt boys: Make sure the players have their tapes ready, schedule extra BP, etc. What the heck is McGwire going to teach any hitter?? Why would you assume that a player can only teach the way they did it?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 05:23 PM) In these specific examples there seems to be a major conflict of interest. They shouldn't be able to vote on a bill that will help their personal pocketbooks by opposing the proposed reform. Everything they do should affect them. I do not want them isolated from what they vote on. Hell, I'd favor a draft of all their kids if they vote for war. Imagine this. Senator XYZ "I think guns have become too easy to get, we need more regulation and higher taxes on guns. Get me the NRA on the phone, I need some campaign money to get re-elected" NRA. "Well we can't give money to Senators who support our positions, we need to donate to Senators who oppose us!" Again, wouldn't you look to companies you agree with for campaign financing? Isn't that far better than going to companies you disagree with? That looks a hell of a lot dirtier to me. If a Senator ever said "I invested in these companies that I believe are harming Americans and will support legislation that will hurt that industry". Why the hell did they invest in those companies in the first place?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 05:16 PM) But if a majority of your constituents are for something and you're against it because you or your spouse will benefit from the status quo then I have a problem with that. That is a classic debate. Do we elect someone so they can follow their conscious and vote what they believe is right, or do we elect someone to do what is popular? IMNSHO we elect someone to represent us. You elect the person based on their positions that they express during the campaign. I rarely hear a candidate claim that their position doesn't matter, that they will just poll the voters and do what they want. And again, they will benefit, but if it is what they believe is right, that would be a natural outgrowth. Put another way, what would you say if he took all those contributions, his wife was on those boards, and they thought those companies were bad for America?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 12:05 PM) Brad Pitt, wife is going as Angelina. QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 12:38 PM) I'm going as Squince Paladores and my girlfriend is going as Wendy Peppercorn, from the Sandlot. Please confirm my theory, your wife/girlfriend picked out these costumes, or at least wanted the couples theme.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 04:22 PM) LINK The issue I always have with this is it presumes that elected officials should only take money from causes and groups they oppose and that these same groups should only donate to candidates that disagree with them. That seems like an even worse message. Put another way, if NSS was our Senator, I know he would support alternative energy plans. His family may also share his outlook on alternative energy and want to be on those boards. Also, I would expect those companies to donate to his campaign. Later, when he votes in favor of legislation that helps the alternative energy companies, is he doing it because he will benefit, or because that is what he believes is correct? I have read and heard some excellent, well reasoned, opinions on both sides of this debate and prefer to think the best if our elected officials.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) Thems are some WAY non-Texan names. Mark those guys off the list right away. IDK, Sanchez won the Dem primary. There is a guy Hall up in Dallas I'd like to see run.

useless security guards at my old campus.

useless security guards at my old campus.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 29, 2009 -> 04:04 PM) I'm pretty sure the marriage gig didn't contractually obligate $331-$448k per MONTH for the rest of her life. Not unreasonable based on prior earnings, etc. As SS mentioned, she is entitled to maintain her current lifestyle. Basically the laws are written so that no human is held economically captive by another.

should get a government grant to explore the cancer fighting ability of stat metal

lucky for me I paid attention in stats class

I think we have taken nerding to a new high