LowerCaseRepublican

So, Spring 2007. I am looking to get a new Apple MacBook for my new computer since my Dell is on its last legs. As a result, I want to get a Mac to avoid a lot of malware, etc. However, I want to wait for Leopard to come out as the OS. Anybody have any knowledge as to approximately when in spring Apple is going to release their machines with Leopard on it? Hooray Mac.

Hey gang, I am trying to put on 20-25 lbs. of lean mass by the end of August. I work out for about an hour each morning (mostly light weights/resistance, crunches, etc.) and then again after work (more heavy weight training with the gym provided at the school -- despite it being a bit limited) So, I am eating a lot of protein already and carbs, staying away from soda and crap foods except for one treat per grocery shopping (i.e. a bag of chips or a bag of cookies) time out to the store about every two weeks. However, no matter how many calories I am packing away, I am sticking at the 145-148 lb. level. I can't seem to get a lot of mass to stick on the frame but there is a very noticeable difference from before I started my workouts and now with lean tissue etc. What would people suggest as a non-budget busting way to gain more muscle mass on the frame? After all, remember that I have a limited income being a first year teacher, haha. Thanks in advance.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 30, 2007 -> 02:54 PM) I guess I prefer the oppresive and unfair capitialist system, versus penalizing the smart, talented, hardworkers, go getters, etc. There is a big difference between helping your neighbor and having the government just take it anyways. I like the freedom aspect, but I guess that is just me. Again, there's a middle ground between hyper-capitalism and hyper-statism. Criticism of one style of economics does not a hyper-socialist make.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Mar 30, 2007 -> 10:29 AM) She's majoring in history/ education. It doesn't sound like socialism? Did you read the whole article closely? Here's some quotes: "To make sense of the sting of this disenfranchisement, most of the children cast Liam and Kyla as "mean," trying to "make people feel bad." They were unable or unwilling to see that the rules of the game — which mirrored the rules of our capitalist meritocracy — were a setup for winning and losing. Playing by the rules led to a few folks winning big and most folks falling further and further behind. The game created a classic case of cognitive disequilibrium: Either the system is skewed and unfair, or the winners played unfairly." " * Collectivity is a good thing: "You get to build and you have a lot of fun and people get to build onto your structure with you, and it doesn't have to be the same way as when you left it.... A house is good because it is a community house." " "From this framework, the children made a number of specific proposals for rules about Legos, engaged in some collegial debate about those proposals, and worked through their differing suggestions until they reached consensus about three core agreements: * All structures are public structures. Everyone can use all the Lego structures. But only the builder or people who have her or his permission are allowed to change a structure. " "Into their coffee shops and houses, the children were building their assumptions about ownership and the social power it conveys — assumptions that mirrored those of a class-based, capitalist society — a society that we teachers believe to be unjust and oppressive. As we watched the children build, we became increasingly concerned." That doesn't sound like these teachers are socialist and have an agenda they're pushing on these kids? Hooray history education. Then I can really suggest two books (there are two volumes of it) called "Reasoning with Democratic Values". It is a lot of discussion based critical thinking stuff that has proven very successful when it gets used for me. Again, look towards the information I asked about the school. Often times, in a school that is primarily poor, the kids will be the ones asking these kinds of questions and critiquing society. Examples of this are seen throughout scholars like Kozol's work. The reality is that there is a high percentage of what can very feasibly be called apartheid schools right here in America (again, read Kozol's book "Shame of the Nation" if you're interested in details) And let's not kid ourselves about the amount of socialism that has done good things for this country (i.e. the numerous government jobs that got us out of the Depression doing public works projects, etc.) Socialism as practiced by despots (Fidel, Soviets etc.) do a disservice to the theory of it. A balanced, informed form in moderation can be quite effective. There is a middle ground that these teachers are trying to get them to see between hyper-individualism and hyper-statism dictating all the rules.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Mar 29, 2007 -> 07:43 PM) Do you agree with preaching the "evils" of capitalism to 8 year olds? I would hope that isn't taught in any methods class. I just had a brief discussion with one of my friends who is an education major (a senior) and she doesn't agree with their methods either -- specifically, they were using the Legos not as a teaching tool in order to promote critical thinking but as a tool in order to promote their agenda of socialism. Which is basically what I said. Teaching social skills and the such (i.e. the benefit of assisting one's community rather than voracious self-centeredness) is what schools engage in every day. Every week, we teach appropriate behavior lessons for PBIS. It teaches them how to behave in a society in general not only for their own appropriate actions but for the indirect benefit of the school and later, the public when they graduate. I'd hardly call that socialism. I'd personally love to see the demographics of the school, the mobility rate, the poverty rate and other such indictators that can adequately describe the community in which this school is currently placed. Read some Jonathan Kozol for ideas/reasons that these things are important for behavioral work and choice of lessons (most notably "Shame of the Nation") And being an education major without having your own classroom is one thing (with the co-op, no real responsibility or accountability unless you royally screw up) but it is entirely different having a classroom day in and day out, specifically seeing the realities that some teachers see. BTW, what subject matter does your friend teach? If it is social studies, perhaps she'd like to check out the Harvard Social Studies project and/or issues centered/problem based social studies education theory.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6505967.stm That picture of Karl is comedy gold.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 06:15 PM) Well, they took them away and wouldn't give them back to the students until they "learned" to use the Legos on the teachers' terms -- i.e. form a perfect, Utopian socialist society out of Legos. Spoken like a person who has yet to step foot in a methods class, let alone an actual classroom as the instructor for a year with a group of kids.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Mar 28, 2007 -> 09:29 AM) It would be cool for people to post their top 15 or so favorite wrestlers of all time. In no particular order and real fast without a ton of reflection... Piper, Warrior (I marked hard as a little kid), Hogan (again as a young mark), Sabu, The Franchise in ECW, Rick Rude, American Dragon Bryan Danielson, Taker, Mr. Fuji, Honky Tonk Man, Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Mr. Perfect, Bam Bam Bigelow in his ECW tenure (pretty much the whole Triple Threat), Lance Storm as a good mat wrestler and in ring talent. More current is JBL and Mr. Kennedy. I can't get enough of those guys. They seem to have 'it' with their character. While Kennedy still needs some more polishing, you can tell that he'll likely be great.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Mar 27, 2007 -> 02:35 PM) I know I am biased here, but I can't believe nobody's responded to this ^ Intermittant internet. Hennig = teh awesome. /end

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 11:36 AM) Yeah, it was a good natured ribbing, but I was very curious. Your saying you are not a R&B fan explains a lot though. I know you have said you kind of like Sanjaya, but it has to be more for the underdog role, as even out of the ones you mention, he is a FAR cry from being the best, in any way shape or form. He'll make the perfect pop idol. They package him the right way with the limited stuff he can do right and he'll be a sensation. Go Sanjaya! w00t!

Chalk up a vote I sent for Sonjaya last night. Sonjaya for Idol!

QUOTE(Shadows @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 12:10 AM) At least he fairly beat Flair AND Carlito to gain entry into the Money in the Bank match.. I was shocked to see that, hasn't happened in some time It's just to play up Edge vs Orton since Edge set up the match.

QUOTE(longshot7 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 02:03 PM) Destination X was pretty good. The stupidity was kept to a minimum for a change. Christian/Joe was terrific, and Sabin/Lynn was great despite the crowd. Senshi/Starr was great too. A couple others but I can't think right now. What happened to MNM last night? Why aren't they on the WM23 card? Cuz Vince doesn't want them as a tag team.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 03:14 PM) 800+ years and Eve was still pushing them out. That's some longevity. Jeez, it's not a clown car! That docu-drama was so craptastic yesterday -- such a non-event that it was so hilarious to me that it produced so much faux outrage on both sides of the aisle. I watched it and at every turn was laughing with a friend of mine at how crappy their research/assertions were + also the chasms in logic on all sides. But you know who did steal all the rest of the bones from the assuaries so they couldn't get DNA? Opus Dei and the albino villain who wants to preserve the bloodline of Christ from the population. Someone get Tom Hanks on this now!

QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 05:47 PM) ....Ring Of Honor?.... Probably CZW.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 09:52 AM) Wrestling Society R.I.P. "PWInsider.com is citing a MTV network source in reporting that Wrestling Society X was pulled from the network's lineup. The network reportedly made the call to pull the show Wednesday; the most recent airing of the show posted a low 0.6 rating. Wrestling Society X, which combined fast-paced wrestling action with music, was promoted as an alternative to WWE and TNA programming. After showing some ratings promise in its debut, its numbers quickly declined, bottoming out at a 0.5 for the penultimate airing. MTV will definitely not renew the series, but it could potentially air the remaining episodes at a later date. No details have been announced regarding any such plans." Not surprised at all - that show was a clusterf***. I won't miss it. Aw, what will screaming running around the ring announcer guy do now?

QUOTE(longshot7 @ Feb 26, 2007 -> 05:08 AM) ROH in Chicago over the weekend got really good reviews on some of the sites I've seen. Joe & Homicide lost in the main event to Morishima & McGuinness. The Briscoes (who rule when motivated) won the tag belts over Chris Daniels & Matt Sydal. Love to see htem with a long title reign. Did anyone go? RAW tonight. Lashley unveiling. Will there be a MNM/Hardys match at WM? Who will be added to the Money in the Bank match? Shelton Benjamin? Randy Orton? ROH was great. The Windy City Fieldhouse was small, cramped and sucked as a venue (watch for "This place sucks" and "Frontier Fieldhouse!" chants on the DVD) but the matches were good. Sweeney has a hit out on CC. The Windy City Deathmatch was AMAZING. Colt and Jacobs are either some of the best blademen in the biz or really trust each other. Cabana had scissors and kept cutting Jacobs open. The senton off the ladder through a table was an awesome spot. Matt Cross really impressed me too in both of his matches. The Briscoes botched the finish but went over great. The hilarious part was dueling "Let's go Briscoes!" and "Fallen Angel" chants with three guys screaming "MATT SYDAL!" in between. And holy sweet merciful god is Morishima a large, large, large, large man. Just wow. He could eat three of me for breakfast. The sendoff for Joe was amazing and very cool as well. And as for MITB: One name. Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiister Kennedy! Kennedy!

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Feb 23, 2007 -> 04:25 PM) I'm going to ask LCR this, since he went to U of I and made these comments; How is it racist for a University to use a mascot dressed up like an old tribesman and half him dnace to cheer up the crowd with the intent of cheering up the crowd (lord knows the football teams need it) and not mocking the actual members of the Illiniwek tribe? Now how isn't it racist for Michael Richards to call a bunch of black people "n*****s" repeatedly with the intent of hurting or insulting the individuals? Using a gimmick based off an old tribe with the motive to cheer up people and NOT insult native Americans = RACIST!!!! Using a slur with the motive to insult people of color = not racist. go figure. I personally felt that it was an inaccurate portrayal of a Native American chief and was meant to be in a serious vein. Richards actions were on a comedy stage and thus set in a different setting. In the vein of sports which is much more mainstream and represents an academic institution, academic institutions are held to a much higher degree of conduct than a comic with a mic in his or her hand. The comic answers to just their own conscience. They're apples and oranges when trying to compare them. That said, there's bound to be better mascots (i.e. Youppi! or Drinkin' Lincoln) for the UIUC.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 07:24 PM) yea, the Chief had to go. i don't see why people are so upset about it. i went to U of I and always thought the chief was lame and offensive. /stops the presses We agree!

QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:28 PM) For the rest of you guys that go here, watch it again, I've been here for less than a year, but I got chills every halftime. Because that means, when the Chief is out there, the people you sing the Alma Mater with are basically like your family. You are one with them, You are the Illini Nation. I got a bit choked up yesterday, being on the floor for the last Chief performance, and you know what, I get choked up watching it. I grew up watching Illinois sports, and I came here excited to know that we had one of the most storied half times of all time, and now it's being taken away from us. Oh well, all I can say to the people who claim to be offended by Chief, get off your soap box. To those that are here and understand, don't let anyone forget that we at the University of Illinois, were robbed of one of the coolest things in collegiate athletics. There have been plenty of things that have recently left the U of I. Sadly, the Chief is like 2734798274893479824347th on that list. For starters: -Dignity: A scandal involving at least 7 players, assistant coaches and may stem all the way up to the coach for a severe underage DUI and attempted coverup when they thought a fellow player was dead. -Respect: Classrooms south of Green, anyone? They're reprehensible and not even up to fire code sometimes. -Honor: Using a no-compete contract with a soda manufacturer that uses death squads in Colombia to bust up unions. -Harassment: Harassment of minority students on campus and the campus crime rate. -The disappearance of mid-size lectures -The problems with the graduate union and the institution -The sheer delapidation of the academic integrity of some departments by not getting the best and brightest professors to establish UIUC as a major, respected research university. That's just to name a few. And it was a tradition. Just because it was a tradition and "gave me chills" does not mean that it is a tradition worth keeping. I chuckle at Chico Marx's over the top accent in the Marx Bros. films. Does that mean that every Italian then must keep an over the top accent in order to be funny as a character? Nope. It was a film stereotype and a tradition -- but one that people moved on from because it ended up being not only stupid but discriminatory. Just like the Chief.

Man, Carlwell must seem really wanted on that team. He's hurt and they don't even bother to get him help. What a bunch of idiots putting yet another black eye on my alma mater.

QUOTE(longshot7 @ Feb 21, 2007 -> 12:40 PM) s***, you're right - missed it. I think no one predicted Homicide to have a long title reign, so it's fine. Morishima gives the ROH belt some credibility in Japan, where aupposedly it will be defended soon. ROH is building up Japan as a major market for them. Smart. Edge v Punk v ??? so far in MITB. Punk used a new finisher on ECW last night - a fireman's throw into a knee to the face. Guess the agents talked him out of the Anaconda Vice. Also, Booker & Kane had a Falls Count Anywhere MITB qualifier on SD. I won't spoil it unless people want it. Punk is using the Go2Sleep now? Somewhere KENTA cries.

QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ Feb 20, 2007 -> 02:31 PM) Can someone please explain to me how Chief Illiniwek is offensive to an extinct tribe of Native Americans? If he went out hammered and dealt blackjack at center court, wouldn't that be more stereotypical and offensive? Illinois is not the Redskins, Indians, Savages, Braves. They are the Illini, the same as the Seminoles, and the like. Hell, just to prove a point, the Irish Illini in favor of the Chief should start b****ing about Fighting Irish. Maybe get that changed, I'm not of Irish decent, but if White Americans can b**** and pull weight in how offensive the Chief is to Native Americans, shouldn't I, a non-Irish American be able to say how offensive that damn Leprechaun is? Or the fact that the Irish are portrayed as green wearing, fighting drunks? Political Correctness to the extreme like this is ruining America. Um, the outfit isn't authentic. The dance isn't authentic. The person portraying the Chief isn't even authentic. So it is all the honesty and genuine respect of complete sham imitation. The difference between the Seminoles and the Illini is that FSU pays the Seminoles and the Seminoles agree with the school's usage of the mascot. All ethnic school mascots should be changed. There's bound to be more creativity and fun in these institutions of higher learning to create some hilarious and forebodingly awesome mascots. It isn't a PC vs un-PC battle. It is a racist and insensitive symbol from yesteryear that has long outgrown its usefulness and effectiveness as an entity bringing the student body together in pride and school spirit.

QUOTE(T R U @ Feb 20, 2007 -> 11:04 PM) Lashley?? why!! Probably to push him as more of an unstoppable face hoss. It seems to be the formula for all three E shows currently.

QUOTE(longshot7 @ Feb 20, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) talk Punk goes over tonite and possibly gets moved to Raw to feud w/ Nitro. We'll see........ btw, no mention of the ROH Title Change this weekend. Homicide lost the belt to Takeshi Morishima of Pro Wrestling NOAH (Japan). Hey now, I mentioned it. /smarky.mcsmarkington