random off-topic thread

[BigRapidsJackass]

IR, you're right about the similarity of Rand/Hayek/Friedman. Rand, being, well, a brash loudmouth, kind of lost credibility real fast. For her, laissez-faire capitalism took on a kind of messianic fervor that was more than a little disturbing. And I'm virtually certain that you, too, will find much, much more to like about Hayek. He was just a fascinating thinker.

No offense intended. As I said when I jumped into this latest fray, I mean this stuff in the best possible way. (No, I'm not being facetious.) I used to teach as a grad student, and I know first-hand that nuance comes with age -- something I see in retrospect in myself, and saw at the time in my just slightly younger than me college students.

As a middle aged fogey, I'm glad to see representatives of the next generation care about things such as political theory.

[BigRapidsJackass]

Oh, and of course the most powerful ex-Randian the world has known is none other than that old toad himself, Alan Greenspan ...

[TheIncredibleRox]

I don't take any offense. You've been plenty polite, no worries...

As a middle aged fogey, I'm glad to see representatives of the next generation care about things such as political theory.

HF, also roughly my age, is one of no more than ~4 people my age I know who could even begin to have a discussion on most of these topics. It's very frustrating. It seems the middle aged generation is always convinced that the up-and-coming generation is doomed. I'm afraid that this time they may be right (or close enough).

[Newman]

I agree, Incredible. I have difficulty discussing Kant and Hayek, although I do wonder why Salma broke it off with the father of her baby.

I have new HOPE for the future. Got an email from a pal of mine who is a habitual Peter Boyles talk listener and he's decided to support Barack Obama. I do wonder why. He stated that the country needs a change. McCain will merely stay the course. True enough.

The Republicans have painted themselves in a corner. They describe leaving Iraq as losing the war. Staying in Iraq is the only way to win. Americans want us out of Iraq. Maliki wants us out. Iraqis want us out. The only ones who want us to maintain the foreign occupation of this middle eastern country are the Republicans and big oil.

[indianadrew]

Sabermetric Glossary - Fantasy - Yahoo! Sports

here is a link to a page that i found helpful.

[indianadrew]

Bob Kravitz: Kravitz: I won't be an ugly American | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

[Newman]

Kravitz was my favorite columnist when he lived here in Denver.

I skimmed the column. To me the Olympics is mostly about steroids. Who's on them? Who is not? How do we know? Is Dara Torres, aged 41, really a special athlete, like a Bob Feller, or does she simply have a good pharmacist, a good chemist supplying her with performance enhancers that can't be detected by the current tests?

Bush made a speech in Thailand today, blasting Communist China for it's human rights violations. Then he goes to the opening ceremonies. Why? Why do we trade with Red China, who uses SLAVE LABOR to produce lead painted toys for Walmart? How can Kravitz ignore that Chinese factory workers make 45 cents an hour?

[indianadrew]

newman, kravitz has a sportstalk show. i believe you can get online.

1070 The Fan - Indy's Sportscenter

[Newman]

So is this the October surprise?

Do all presidential candidates have affairs? McCain had one 25 years ago, with Cindy, his current wife, who he was sleeping with while still married to his first wife, who was crippled and disfigured in a terrible car accident while John McCain was a POW in Vietnam. People don't seem to talk about McCain's affair.

I wonder if Obama has been vetted in this area?

I was an Edwards supporter, after Kucinich. You have to wonder about his judgment. Was he thinking this would never come out? Narcissist. Stick a fork in him. His political career is over. Can you imagine if he had won the Democratic nomination?!!! What was Edwards thinking? He says the love child is not his. Like I'm going to believe that one. Maybe they just held hands????

Maybe nobody will notice? He dropped this bombshell as the Olympics open on a Friday. Maybe the right wing almost totally owned Conservative American talk radio won't be talking about this on Monday? Yeah, right...

[indianadrew]

Who has seen the most games?

here is a link to another fanhome thread. it is an interesting trivia question. heltonfan you'll like this one

[Newman]

Listened to college football reporter Kirk Herbstreet this afternoon on espn radio. He was talking about Manny Ramirez, not exactly his area of expertise, but he was eloquent, and courageous. His partner (never heard the man's name, around 12:30pm our time) gave the corporate espn line, defending Manny.

But it's indefensible! Not hustling to first base, constantly. Doing whatever he could so he would have to be traded. Why? So both HE and his agent (Scott Boros) could get the biggest payday possible. Disgusting.

And it worked. What's the lesson to the kids, to the adults for that matter? Manny is above the rules. It's only about the money. Manny will put out effort when and if he wants to. Hall of Famer. Great hitter. Terrible role model.

P.S. Michelle Obama gave a very good speech tonite. See, she's nice and she doesn't hate the United States. I hope white America can relax and vote for Barack now instead of that wrinkly white haired dude who doesn't know how many houses he owns and who would just be four more years of the same neocon Bush policies which simply benefit the wealthiest 2%. Time for a change.

[BigRapidsJackass]

Nice enough speech, I guess, but these things are weird.

I watched it, and I felt kind of sorry for her. Seemed kind of wooden, stiff, uncomfortable. She's not a politician (never has been), and this didn't seem to be her game.

Mostly I just have a problem with this now-obligatory Candidate for First Lady speech. I simply don't care what they have to say. I think it started for real with Elizabeth Dole walking up and down the aisle pimping for Bob in 1996. I hated it then, I hate it now.

Then I watched all the news shows and they all said Michelle Obama was great! Wonderful! What were they expecting? A Harvard lawyer who would fold up like a cheap lawn chair when called to speak in front of a crowd? She'd competent! Now leave her alone. And don't make me watch that freakoid Cindy McCain talk next week.

[Newman]

If you want to see botox wooden, wait for Cindy McCain next week.

I don't understand why the Dems don't unleash the dogs, and really go after Bush. Afterall we think he was the worst president in recent history, took us to war for no reason, torture, bad economy, outsourced jobs, destroyed our middle class, tripled gas prices, an oil man, yada yada yada. Why not say it? Blast him? What's with the kid gloves?

Mark Warner, VA, gave a boring keynote speech. Hillary was good or ok. I hope Biden does the hatchet job tonite that VPs traditionally do. Bill better be good too.

They need to tie in McCain to Bush, like Hillary did last night: "No way - No how - No McCain!"

Good bumpersticker slogan.

[Roxpert]

OK, I'll make one post regarding politics (not Rockies) and hope that hecklers restrain themselves.

On the Palin pick, I think it is a cynical political ploy by a hypocrite who claims to put "country first". If the war on terror and Islamic extremism is the transcendent issue of our times, as McCain has so often claimed, then why would he pick a total neophyte to be a 72 year-old heartbeat away from Commander in Chief? This means that McCain is either disingenuous when he makes that claim, or he's beginning to suffer from dementia.

I know that GOPers will make the false comparison of Palin to Obama. The facts will show that Obama is far more qualified to be in the White House. Columbia grad and former president of the Harvard Law Review versus a woman with a BA in journalism from U. of Idaho. 8 years in state government for Illinois, a state of 13 million, versus a former mayor of a town of 6,000 and governor for 20 months of a state smaller in population than Fort Worth, Texas. A man who has inspired millions and is a natural leader versus a former beauty queen. A candidate who has been through the rigors of a winning campaign against the most powerful political family in his party, versus a woman who ran against a corrupt Republican establishment in Alaska.

In addition, Obama was not selected by a politician. He won the nomination by earning people's votes. To do that he had to travel to many states, meet with people, ask questions, answer questions, develop plans and policies and convince people to vote for him. He did that.

There is more to experience than years on a job. Obama has the depth, the knowledge, the gravitas to be president, and he has demonstrated that time and time again.

This pick by McCain is a joke and insult to all thinking Americans. The country is up a creek with no paddle if McCain/Palin wins in November.

[indianadrew]

Originally Posted by Roxpert

OK, I'll make one post regarding politics (not Rockies) and hope that hecklers restrain themselves.

On the Palin pick, I think it is a cynical political ploy by a hypocrite who claims to put "country first". If the war on terror and Islamic extremism is the transcendent issue of our times, as McCain has so often claimed, then why would he pick a total neophyte to be a 72 year-old heartbeat away from Commander in Chief? This means that McCain is either disingenuous when he makes that claim, or he's beginning to suffer from dementia.

I know that GOPers will make the false comparison of Palin to Obama. The facts will show that Obama is far more qualified to be in the White House. Columbia grad and former president of the Harvard Law Review versus a woman with a BA in journalism from U. of Idaho. 8 years in state government for Illinois, a state of 13 million, versus a former mayor of a town of 6,000 and governor for 20 months of a state smaller in population than Fort Worth, Texas. A man who has inspired millions and is a natural leader versus a former beauty queen. A candidate who has been through the rigors of a winning campaign against the most powerful political family in his party, versus a woman who ran against a corrupt Republican establishment in Alaska.

In addition, Obama was not selected by a politician. He won the nomination by earning people's votes. To do that he had to travel to many states, meet with people, ask questions, answer questions, develop plans and policies and convince people to vote for him. He did that.

There is more to experience than years on a job. Obama has the depth, the knowledge, the gravitas to be president, and he has demonstrated that time and time again.

This pick by McCain is a joke and insult to all thinking Americans. The country is up a creek with no paddle if McCain/Palin wins in November.

well said roxpert, and WELCOME BACK! i know i for one have missed reading your posts. my wife agrees with your every word. hope that you continue to post on a regular basis. i think it is going to end up being really close, and i wont even try to predict who will win. i only know that i will not be voting for the winner.

oh yeah i hope the emergence of roxpert brings others out from under what ever they are under.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html


alaska has a population under 650,000, which would place it behind indianapolis.
she served as gov. for just under 2 years.

it is definately CHANGE.