Texsox

There already is a mostly volunteer program in place called Exploring, a coed Boy Scout program for youth 14-20, which allows interested youth to work with various civil service departments. We have Posts here attached to police, fire, Border Patrol, FBI, and other agencies. So far no sign of communism being spread and it does not cost the government one penny. They do ride alongs, help with traffic and crowd control and various other tasks that free up the officers to perform more meaningful work that requires higher skills. Along the way they learn a lot and hopefully have a little fun.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 06:53 AM) It's still advertisement. The Jesus fish is a pretty tame example, but plenty of church message boards, billboards, and bumper stickers tell me that I'm going to suffer for eternity if I don't believe what those people believe. I wouldn't support or endorse what this group did, but I still don't see what is so offensive about it. It doesn't seem insulting or demeaning to me. Einstein did not believe in God in the Christian sense, ie a personal God. I don't think Hawking does, either. When they speak of "God", they're talking about the "beauty of the universe" or something along those lines. Some Einstein quotes (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/albert-einstein-god-religion-theology.htm): A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious attitude; in this sense, and in this alone, I am a deeply religious man. (Albert Einstein) I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it. (Albert Einstein, 1954) I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fates and actions of human beings. (Albert Einstein) If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed. (Albert Einstein) Two things. First, the Big Bang and the creation of life from non-life are not part of evolution. Big Bang is in the field of cosmology and the creation of life is the field of abiogenesis. Evolution is its own separate field. Second, saying evolution takes faith is incorrect. Faith means belief in something in spite of an absence of evidence. Evolution, both theory and fact, is one of the most well-evidenced and well-supported fields of science that we have. It takes no more 'faith' to believe in evolution than any other part of science, and it is certainly not upheld without evidence. Usually for something to be considered a scientific fact, it involves being able to repeat the process. So far we have not been able to repeat a primordial soup where material magically comes together and create billions of different and successful life forms. Perhaps evolution is also a higher being's process and we are discovering that. You have faith in a process no one could have seen, no one has reproduced, and with no direct evidence, only indirect. And as you mentioned, just because the majority believes it, it doesn't make it true. Perhaps I misunderstood the scientific process of making hypothesis and testing it and of peer review before something becomes fact.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 06:58 AM) Once this program gets established in whatever final configuration it does, how long until it gets somehow transformed into Obama's National Civilian Security Force that he has previously talked about? You would have a structure in place of people registered with the government for their community service, and this could just be another one of those things to meet those obligations. http://bulletin.aarp.org/states/il/article...al_service.html programs like this exist all over the place. in more Marist type regimes like Cuba. Basically, what Obama is talking about is creating a Committee for the Defense of Liberal Ideology and Political correctness funded by a half trillion taxpayer dollars. National Security for this crowd is not about stopping terrorists from killing our children. National Security means to teach our children to understand the terrorists and their motivations so that our children can learn how to live their lives submissively so as not to offend the sensitivities of the very sensitive America haters. Their version of National Security is to force you to act for the common good of society and not in your own best interest. Since this goes against human nature, the half trillion dollar "Civilian National Security Force" will have to force Americans to change their nature and create a new citizen that is self sacrificing and collective in nature-an ant-like new man, like Che's and Fidel's new man. Much like Bush's Faith Based Initiatives did for Republicans and Christianity. But I can see where you believe Obama will be able to do this so much more effectively, and for the detriment of the US. We are powerless to stop him. STOP GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY OR OBAMA WILL WIN! Alpha, PUT THAT STRAY DOG DOWN OR YOU WILL CATCH COMMUNISM.

Colon is one of the ballsiest pitchers that has played for the Sox. He is the anti-Javy. Big game guy. I'd be fine with him in the rotation.

Ouch. I smell a two part episode of Phil or Oprah. There has to be a way to make some serious cash at this.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 10:28 PM) so? Couldn't it be his girlfriends myspace page? Since most of his buddies on the forum started calling hoax, I'm guessing it was a hoax, but real photos. I am starting to feel bad for that girl. As big as that got, I'm willing to bet she eventually saw the thread, and that is sad. Funny as hell, but sad.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 10:21 PM) My boss hates pizza so that's out. That explains so much. What's the budget? How far do you want to travel? For a taste of Chicago, and since pizza is out, I'd be thinking either ribs or a steak.But that leave syou out so we need vegetarian as well.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 10:12 PM) Well we certainly have set the bar embarasingly low. That is the important lesson learned for 4 grand? This program just gets worse in my eyes the more reasons I get for it's implementation. What if they show up late, slack and get the grant, what does that teach them? Maybe that they need to join a government union. HEYO! Maybe working for $40 an hour to do government approved charity work is teaching them valuable life lessons they'll need as a Democrat. I withdraw my concerns. (now I am just messing with you) Not requiring anything sets the lowest bar possible and is one nice step on the path to government dependence. And yes, you are probably correct, volunteering and giving back to the community is probably a Democrat ideal and wanting to get paid fits more the GOP. And for that I am proud to be called a Dem. I've volunteered in sports leagues, PTAs, PTOs, raised a lot of money for different charities, cleaned up miles of beaches, lakes, and roadways, I've protested for human rights and worked in community pantries feeding the hungry and now work for a charity. I see how these efforts have helped communities and helped those that volunteered much more than those that sat on their ass and accepted their government check like they were entitled.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:56 PM) A majority belief doesnt make the minority wrong. Nor does it make the minority right. It's a matter of faith. And actually, since we cannot recreate the big bang or create life from a primordial soup in a laboratory, a belief in evolution also takes faith.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:58 PM) What are we teaching them? Scholastics sure aren't it. Get that down then go with your cutesy explanation for adding this extra service. Since when have you ever been against a handout? this a first for you on the board. Not a first. I have always been in favor of community service. I've been in favor of some job training to get public assistance. And many more ideas like that. The simple skill of showing up when you are suppose to, completing a task, keeping track of the time you helped, are all excellent job skills that believe it or not, are lacking in many entry level employees. Responsibility and work are great lessons. I've championed balanced budgets and the cut backs it would take to get there for years.

It would be nice. It would answer a lot of people's prayers. And a lot of people's

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:26 PM) There's already enough extra stuff students can do, the service requirement is not necessary. I think these schools need to concentrate on education judging from our national test scores. It's a dumb idea to be adding this stuff. Get the basics down first then try to convince me about this extra stuff. There are already plenty of extra curricular activities that students can do to build character. And honestly, I've already stated all this before in the thread. I don't see why this needs to be so circular. What lesson are we teaching that "this financial aid checkis a government assistance program, and we will defend you against anyone who wants you to work for it"? Our government is designed to hand you things and you will not have to work for it. Perhaps the biggest lesson is that there are no free lunches. That you will have to give something back. We all have time, talent, and treasure. Asking for a little service seems like a great lesson in starting to get people to not look for free handouts from the government. I thought I was the bleeding heart liberal around here, this seems surreal. I understand the concern about the government deciding what qualifies. There are some serious traps in how it gets rolled out. Allowing the choice of working at any 401©3 leaves the opening for a LDS Prop 8 type work and that, quite frankly, would piss me off. But then having some government agency approve programs for this also has some dangers.

QUOTE (sox4lifeinPA @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 07:27 PM) Link I get it, anyone can spread their message... but "why believe in god? be good for goodness sake" is just offensive for the sake of grabbing headlines. if these signs just said "be good for goodness sake" no one would care = no one would bother to be interested with this organization. This is the same thing as the "God Hates f**s" people. I honestly do not have a problem with it. At the most basic level it is a step in the right direction, people being good. Currently there is a lot of hypocrites among the good for goodness sake crowd.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 09:15 PM) What do you consider a Darwin fish to be? Darwin fish are anti-creationism.

QUOTE (The Bones @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 08:24 PM) Ah yes...I see we can have God and Jesus shoved down our throats every block of every town in the nation but 1 ad campaign asking why people believe in an invisible man in the clouds is just taking it way too far. I'd never believe in an invisible man in the clouds. That's pretty silly.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 05:16 PM) I think it could've easily gone to Piniella, Manuel, or Torre. I wouldn't have complained with any of those three winning. I'm sure Manuel doesn't give a rat's ass, though. And I'm also sure that this award is little consolation for Piniella. The crazy thing is all three of them are basically one losing season away from being idiots and fans wanting their heads.

We'll give you tax money if you promise to hurt the middle class tax payers (voters) that you employ. That's a tough one to sell especially when the bank bailout resulted in top level executives getting bonuses and nice retreats at posh resorts. I agree the union rules are hurting the auto industry and ultimately workers, but tying it into the bailout is probably the wrong path to change.

I think you could have picked either one and made a case based on when they voted. I also think the playoffs should be considered. Personally, I think a manager doesn't start managing until September and earns his pay in October. It's like awarding an Olympic medal ten yards from the finish line.

QUOTE (MAX @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 03:29 PM) I just think the government should stay out of people's lives. You would be one of the few that truly believe this if by the government staying out you mean no student financial aid. The financial aid is the ruse that the government is using to "get into people's lives". Once someone accepts that $4,000 Pell Grant, the government is asking them to give something in return. So people could keep the government out of their lives by going to a private school and turning down any financial aid. Or they could work a job and earn that $4,000. Plenty of nice options.

QUOTE (LosMediasBlancas @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 01:44 PM) Ok, I'll say it, her body isn't all that bad. Too many adult beverages and a Hefty 2 ply and she just might rope you. sun glasses and not smiling would help as well. But as we all know, it's really her personality that counts

That thick grip will promote a slice.

comic gold. And so many boards jumped in with shout outs.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Nov 11, 2008 -> 11:42 AM) I guess it comes down to your definition of what a conservative is. A neo-con big government, big spender will of course care nothing about a $20 trillion national debt. They will also support earmarks, bribes, wasteful spending, pretty much anything as far a spending. It's way low on their list of concerns. I at least understand and can respect the view point that possibly 1 trillion was neccessary or so was needed to save the financial system (even though I have a series reservations with how the bailout structure was set up). But the neo-con takes it way past that, and not everyone who supports a bank bailout is a neo-con. Endless spending; 1 or 2 or 9 trillion annual deficit is fine with a neo-con, but certainly not anyone whom accurately considers themself a conservative. Perhaps the crux of the debate becomes, if we have to spend that money to keep the economy on track, does it matter what we spend it on. For example, if we buy 3,000,000 uniforms for Troops, helping the textile industry, does it matter if they get worn or not? I keep hearing how the government has to keep spending, in fact they need to increase spending while cutting taxes, but unlike early in the New Deal, I don't see massive public works packages, or something that at least looks like an investment.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Nov 12, 2008 -> 11:23 AM) I didn't say that I would be that way. In fact, I'm on record here as saying I'll give Obama a fair shot. I am, however, saying that the bats*** liberals have no reason to complain when the bats*** conversatives give the next president the type of crap that they gave to the current one. It's amazing how now that the most liberal senator has been elected to POTUS that we should all sing Kumbaya and hold hands. And then when we elect a bats*** conservative then the bats*** conservatives have no reason to complain . . . and around and around the drain we go, neither side willing to be better than the other.

They are so much funnier than us