random off-topic thread

[BigRapidsJackass]

Must be something they're test marketing in Indiana. Never heard of it here. Although I can't imagine any Miller product is really worth trying ...

[indianadrew]

it really is pretty good. i am not much of a drinker, but i thought i would give it a try.

[wolf213]

Watching the Homerun Durby tonight got me thinking. Remember when not so long ago the Blue Jays were sorta testing the trade Market with Rios? Wonder how good a Holliday Rios Hawpe outfield sounds right now? I know its a far chance in hell, but if he is available come the trade deadline, do you bite, and at what cost.

[indianadrew]

newman there was an article in our local rag. i thought of you. you cant help but feel really bad for the guy.


Runaway mailman charged

[indianadrew]

This is sick (but funny)

First-year students at Texas A&M's Vet School were receiving their first anatomy class, with a real, dead cow. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet.
The professor started the class by telling them, "In vet medicine, it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor:
The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the
animal body. For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the butt of the dead cow, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth.
"Go ahead and do the same thing," he told his students. The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes. But eventually took turns sticking a finger in the anal opening of the dead cow and sucking on it.
When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and told them, "The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention."

[rockieprogress]

Good one Drew.

[TheIncredibleRox]

I'll contribute to the off-color debauchery....


A guy wakes up on a Tuesday morning feeling like hell. Calls into work.. says, "boss, I don't think I can come in today. My stomach hurts, my head hurts.... I feel horrible.' The boss really needs him to come in, so he thinks it over. 'You're married, right?' asks the boss. "Yes." "Well," says the boss.... "whenever I feel bad in the morning, I have sex with my wife, and then I feel much better." The worker takes the advice and says "okay, I'll see what I can do."

An hour later, he shows up at work feeling rejuvinated. "Thanks for the advice, boss," he says. "By the way, you have a really nice house."

(corny, but I still like it ;-) )

While I'm at it, two one-liners from one of my favorite comedians, Mitch Hedburg (R.I.P.)

'I don't have a girlfriend. I just happen to know a girl who would get really mad if she heard me say that.'

and

'The ultimate stocking stuffer has got to be a severed foot.'

[Roxpert]

Sooooo, after the highly charged debate that broke out in the Washington series thread, of all places, a few of my readers may consider me a wild-eyed liberal. Actually, I grew up in the liberal bastion of Northern California, became more moderate as I became an adult and had some career success, and now that we've gone through a 6-year tragedy known as the Bush administration, I have returned somewhat to my liberal roots.

So what does this mean? Here's what I've been thinking is the crux of the problem with the USA:

We are a nation without a moral compass, even less public discourse about it, and a mainstream news media that fails to serve the interest of advancing public discourse or promoting an informed citizenry, opting instead to serve its corporate masters. It just so happens that Al Gore's new book "Assault on Reason" states this situation quite well.

When I say we have no moral compass, I am specifically referring to our nations priorities of "guns versus butter". The military industrial complex is choking off funding for so many other important programs, and we are viewed around the world as a violent, militaristic, arrogant, aggressive and threatening nation. Hardly a force for good, or that "beacon on the hill", as Reagan put it, anymore. Eisenhower warned us about this almost 50 years ago. The government is now "owned" by the defense, oil, and health care industries.

Just look at the few links that follow. They will show you that fully HALF of the nation's discretionary budget goes toward defense spending. It has gone up dramatically since 9/11, as if we can defeat a TACTIC of terrorism and an IDEOLOGY of radical Islam with armies and new weapons systems. It's a crock and a scam that 9/11 was used by corporate/government interests as an excuse to give even more money to the defense industry, but let's face it.....millions of Americans are employed, beholden, or otherwise economically helped by defense spending. Meanwhile, only about 6% of discretionary spending goes toward health care, and Medicare has a long-term funding problem.

Think about it for a minute. WHY do we spend more money on military spending than everyone else? What do we have to fear that other nations don't? We are surrounded by two oceans, and I highly doubt that any nation-states are considering an invasion of our shores. And if we are so concerned about protecting our citizens from invasions of one sort or another, WHY aren't we concerned about another form of "invasion", specifically invasions of the human body by microscopic viruses, germs, and cancer cells, etc? Heath care IS a form of "national defense" or "national security", if you will. Yet we spend a small fraction on our nation's health that we spend on bunker busting bombs and the tools of killing. People fear "socialized medicine", but what is our military machine if not a gigantic socialized endeavor?!

WHY can't people see this? As I wrote above, we have no true moral compass. We like to THINK we do. We like to think the USA is #1 in everything we do. It's part of our arrogance as a culture. Americans think we are the BEST at almost everything, and we are not. Our so-called "democracy" is a joke at the federal level as none of us could ever have a prayer of being elected to a national office, and money rules in Washington, NOT the people. So we have the "trappings" of democracy, an ill-informed citizenry, and it all seems OK because 90% of us believe in God. Give me a break, but God (if he exists) would be ashamed of the hypocricy and moral degradation of our nation over the past couple decades.

Our country is truly messed up, guys and gals. Now for those websites that show our defense spending....

DEFENSE SPENDING, MILITARY BUDGET

Military budget of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

United States Military Spending

World Military Spending - Global Issues

[Newman]

Well said, Roxpert.

I'm gonna have to check out that Washington thread today.

My older son just left, with his Marine unit, to Iraq last night. Imagine my angst. He's 31. Old enough to know better. Needless to say we don't talk about the "war" (the occupation) or politics or current events or baseball for that matter. Life is hard.

I'm going to reread your post. I saw Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" a few weeks ago. He's such a magnet for knee jerk reaction, much like Hillary. People have an immediate opinion about him and won't go see the movie or even give it a chance.

What is wrong with socialized medicine? FDR was one of our better presidents and he brought in the new deal, social security, and so forth. The Bush Admin is trying to undo all of that. What is wrong with Medicare and Medicaid, except that they are underfunded? Shouldn't we take care of our old people? Aren't we all in this together?

Why should our nation be #37 in medical care for our people? Just so giant multinational corporations can make unbridled profits? Why is that such a good system????

[Heltonfan]

Roxpert, I agree with almost everything you said there, except I don't see why you're calling it a moral issue rather than a common-sense economic/social issue. You don't need to resort to the inherently flimsy rhetorical ground of "morals" to say that it's in the country's best interest for its citizenry to be healthy, well-informed rational thinkers.

My take on this: Americans think that they're the best at everything because a) that's what they're taught and b) they're not presented with any reasonable alternatives. Most Americans have no idea that, for example, the Scandinavian countries have a better educated general public and far less poverty than we do (hell, now that I think about it, most Americans probably couldn't even name two Scandinavian countries). We don't teach geography, we don't teach foreign languages, and we don't teach comparative government to any meaningful degree (that is, we learn historical examples of democracy, communism, and totalitarianism, but we learn nothing of modern foreign governments or economic systems). The net result of all this is that Americans, as a people, are painfully oblivious to everything that goes on beyond our borders. And because ignorance is bliss, we're incapable of recognizing this as a problem.

This attitude is the main reason why I don't plan on living in this country much longer.

[rockieprogress]

First off, General, tell your Son thank you for serving. I'm sure everyone here hopes he returns safely.

Roxpert, it would be hard to argue with your post. I agree with all of it.

HF, If I was to answer your post, I would respond with the reason it seems to be a Moral Issue is because we the people haven't risen up and told the Govt that the course they've selected, under the current administration, is NOT what the people want conveyed to the rest of the world. We've chosen to smite others, that are different than we choose to see ourselves as, and that never should've been allowed to develop as a national conscience.

IMO, the last election did more to help the perception around the world, that the American People are not crazy, and that our President is abusing his office.

Also, having lived in another Country for 27 months, I think you'll find that returning to the U.S. is a comforting experience.

[Roxpert]

Originally Posted by Heltonfan

Roxpert, I agree with almost everything you said there, except I don't see why you're calling it a moral issue rather than a common-sense economic/social issue. You don't need to resort to the inherently flimsy rhetorical ground of "morals" to say that it's in the country's best interest for its citizenry to be healthy, well-informed rational thinkers.

Well, of course, it's only rational and makes economic sense for America to stop spending over $1,600 per year for every man, woman and child on the military machine when A) there is no "cold war" or military threat from other nation-states, and B) the current problem of radical Islam and the threat of terror cannot be squelched via military means. In fact, military action, and our occupation of Iraq, only makes matters worse when it comes to the growing threat of radical Islam. This week's NIE said we are LESS safe than any time since 9/11 from Al Quaida. Hmm, I wonder if our MIS-adventure into Iraq had anything to do with it.

But, also, I see it as a MORAL issue that this country, in a post cold-war era, chooses to NOT reallocate away from "guns" and toward "butter". We have a growing under-educated and unhealthy underclass in this country. A major reason, besides demographic mix changes, is that our system is choking off valuable resources that could be used to educate and lift the underclass into the mainstream. And not ensuring health for all while spending obscene amounts on the tools of killing is immoral, in my view. We are the wealthiest nation, and choose to spend our collective wealth badly.

Our country's loss of "moral compass" may be an imperfect description, but if anyone here is unsure of their POLITICAL compass, I found this great website that is fun to try out. Learn how you lean by taking the test....

The Political Compass

[Roxpert]

Newman, I am very sorry to read that your son has to go to Iraq. Hope he stays safe.

Of course, I saw Sicko too. It is sad that Michael Moore generates such hatred and emotions in some people. I have a good friend who just hates him so much and won't go see Sicko because of this prejudice. It's weird that he causes that reaction; after all, Fahrenheit 911's message turned out to be largely correct. Moore and the Dixie Chicks were called unpatriotic, but I think time has vindicated them, and those of us who were against the Iraq war from the beginning. It's people like Moore who are the greatest patriots. They speak truth to power.

RP, what this country LACKS is "critical thinking" skills amongst the public. Mostly it's an education problem, as HF pointed out. Also, it's largely a cultural issue.....too many Americans think that if they are church-going, God fearing citizens, then they are living life the right way and they won't question their governmnet leaders if they perceive them as "good Christians". This is the height of anti-intellectualism and an abdication of the critical thinking needed for an informed electorate to make the right choices.

And as long as their bellies are full, America won't change. It's sad.

[BigRapidsJackass]

A note on health care: perhaps the most infuriating thing I've heard out of the incumbent President is his recent comment to the effect of "we already have a health care safety net; people can go to the emergency room."

So he's not opposed to a form of socialized medicine. The free rider without health insurance can (and, according to the President) should receive socialized medicine, but only in a really ****ty and economically inefficient manner. I am quite strongly libertarian in my political beliefs, but comments like this make me realize that: (1) we will never have a free market in medical care; (2) therefore, we will always have a very large socialized sector in medical care (Medicare/Medicaid/"emergency room" health care delivery); (3) that this semi-socialized medical care delivery system is actually worse than the Canadian/Scandinavian/French [you name it] delivery systems. So I must compromise my ideals on this issue. Just copy Sweden.

Other than that, the bloat of the federal government just sickens me. Not just "defense" [read: military] spending; also transportation pork, agricultural subsidies, the whole Department of Education, you name it.

Heltonfan, don't forget Iceland, or even (depending on the definition) Finland.
"Nordic countries," not merely "Scandinavian!" Other than that, I agree with you and with rockieprogress: American educational performance is bad, many things are better in other countries, but they've also got things that infuriate me more than the USA ... and I too say this after having spent significant time abroad. Watching a Swedish-Dutch colleague spend the equivalent of a month or worktime every year trying to devise tax avoidance schemes will teach you a valuable lesson about taxation and efficiency ....

[Heltonfan]

Heltonfan, don't forget Iceland, or even (depending on the definition) Finland. "Nordic countries," not merely "Scandinavian!"

Sure. I meant Scandinavian in the cultural sense, not the geographic sense.

Many things are better in other countries, but they've also got things that infuriate me more than the USA ...

Well, for a libertarian, that goes without saying. I don't disagree, though. I'd support copying Sweden in more ways than just the healthcare system, but I have to admit that their bureaucracy is not easy to deal with.

Also, it's largely a cultural issue.....too many Americans think that if they are church-going, God fearing citizens, then they are living life the right way and they won't question their government leaders if they perceive them as "good Christians".

Absolutely right, Roxpert. And I think that's connected to the health care issue in another way. There's an unmistakable negative correlation between religiosity and quality of life. If you take two identical people and give health insurance to one of them, the uninsured guy is more likely to turn to religion than the insured guy.