- 04:15 AM
- 11/08/09
And fraze, I humbly submit that if you frequently get middle fingers, then you are in fact causing cyclists to feel threatened.
They should feel threatened -- not by me, but by the two-ton missile I'm driving legally and safely.
And I'd humbly submit that you have no idea what you're talking about. As I described, I'm talking about cyclists riding in a pack on a four-lane road with an extra turn lane in the middle, and they are spread out into the passing lane and sometimes riding up the middle in the turn lane.
As Weedy said, it seems as if the cyclists have a hard-on for anyone driving a car, recklessly or not, and are courting confrontation. It's much worse in the GTA than here because it's much more open in my area, but it's still noticeable.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:22 AM on November 05
BikeNut, that was extremely well said.
I'm certainly not advocating the injury of cyclists. I even used to take my big butt on the occasional ride, and I saw my fair share of morons behind the wheel.
But the cyclists I see on the news in Toronto talking about bike/car incidents don't seem to want to shoulder the blame for the number of riders who ignore traffic signals, weave in and out of traffic and generally ignore the laws which they seem to want to protect them from vehicles.
It reminds me of the lawyer joke -- the crooked lawyers are ruining the good names of the 1% who are honest. Until cyclist-rights advocacy groups do more to police the idiots in their own houses, I don't see the issue gaining much traction with those of us behind the wheel.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:59 PM on November 03
Okay, so here's the part where I make people hate me.
Thompson deserves to be punished for this. Given that he told a traffic investigator that he "wanted to them a lesson," there's not much question of intent.
But if you read more of the testimony, you also find that Thompson says bicyclists taking up much of the road he lives on was a frequent occurrence. He also says the three riders in this instance were riding three-wide and when he honked and told them to ride single-file, they flipped him off and said, "Fuck you, asshole."
Of course, you also find Thompson has apparently been involved in other incidents, which leads me to believe this was intentional and deserves punishment.
The four-lane road I drive to get to my store in the morning is a popular one for cyclists, sometimes singles, sometimes large packs of 20 or more. At least half the time they are riding out across the slow lane and into the passing lane, or sometimes even in the turn lane up the middle of the road.
I couldn't count the number of times cyclists have veered into my path, cut in front of me to make a turn or flipped me off as I passed. I've never honked, never swerved my car toward them, never done anything threatening -- and yet I'm the bad guy.
I feel badly for the cyclists hurt in this incident. But I also recognize that they are experienced riders who should know that the law seems to generally be two abreast is the widest you can go. Given that they decided a nice middle finger and insults were the best way to handle someone pointing out that they needed to share the road, it doesn't surprise me in the least this happened.
In fact, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:11 AM on November 03
If there was any purpose to it other than hotdogging, then they would have tried it during a drive and not on an essentially meaningless two-point conversion.
Really? So the other team, if a defensive back had gotten lucky, he could pick it off and run it back for a touchdown? Because high-school rules declare the ball dead on an intercepted conversion attempt, which to me makes it the perfect time to try out a new wrinkle.
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:45 PM on October 31
Given that defensive backs are taught to read the quarterback's eyes and adjust, I think this is a brilliant play. If you watch the video, the entire defense is shifting toward the near side of the field, watching Briscoe obviously telegraphing the play.
That allows the backside receiver to slip out completely uncovered and rather than give the defense to adjust by turning to throw in a conventional motion, you get the "WTF?!?" factor of the behind-the-back pass.
There's an added bonus to this. I'm going to assume by the whupping administered by Baton Rouge Central they are a relatively good team, one that could make the playoffs. Don't you think every team they play from here on out is going to have to gameplan for this? Any time BRCHS is in close to the goalline, the opposing coaches will be yelling, "Watch the behind-the-back pass to the weak side!"
That means not only will they possibly be sending coverage to the area where Briscoe is least likely to throw, but the remainder of the defense will have in the back of its mind, "Got to be ready to go back the other direction, just in case!"
Brilliant, brilliant play.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:52 PM on October 31
I tried it keeping them once, but it was so depressing I was forced to watch old John Madden broadcasts and pretend I was Brett Favre.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:39 PM on October 30
Awww, you found the trick.
Actually the trick was I didn't want to have to pick that game. It's now fixed.
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:21 AM on October 30
Would you give up a World Series ticket for sex with this woman?
Hugh Grant would.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:09 AM on October 28
Hugh Grant's career as a romantic leading man in movies easily could have been over if he didn't handle his skeevy hooker incident well.
My point was that Grant had to come out and say something or his career might have been over. His livelihood is directly dependent on his acceptance by the public. Of course, as I pointed out, Hollywood avoided him like Grant avoided attractive prostitutes for three or four years after that.
McGwire had no such pressing need. His career was done, and he is apparently a private man. I think it unfair to club him over the head with this because he wasn't willing to be the sacrificial lamb.
You also seem to think McGwire is hated. He's not, at least not among the people I know who were fans of his before. They seem to see the whole Congressional fiasco as unfortunate but understandable, and think, as I do, that maybe we would have treated it the same way.
I think there is a group of people who now have an intense dislike for McGwire which thinks he should have thrown himself on the steroids hand grenade for the good of baseball, no matter his own inclination or well-being. It's nice to assign that sort of bravery and selflessness to someone else, but I also think it's a little unfair to expect it -- unless you're absolutely certain you would have taken the bullet when everyone else around you (including a guy who outright lied to Congress) was ducking and dodging like crazy.
Again, do I believe he took steroids? Yes, I do. Do I think he was under institutional pressure to do so? Yes, I do. Do I think baseball knew exactly what was going on and gave its tacit approval until it became clear the public was unhappy about it? Yes, I do.
Do I fault the guy for not bowing to the pressure of a ridiculous Congressional circus and fearing being the only guy out there (aside from our grandstanding friend Jose Canseco) making himself available to be the punching bag for the press and public?
Not one bit.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:52 AM on October 28
Sorry for my absence -- I'm trying to help set up the flow of NASCAR products into Canada for next year.
David Letterman played his audience like a fiddle when revealing his affairs. It became a blackmail story, not a smarmy boss story. The ones who seem to be hiding something are like chum for sharks.
If McGwire was smart, he could've put on a whole show before the Congressional hearing, complete with a sympathetic 60 Minutes interview and the like.
You've used David Letterman and Hugh Grant as models for what McGwire should have done. However, both of them -- as would be true for all "celebrity" examples -- were:
a) In the middle of lucrative careers, not done with them; b) Dependent on the public and media to provide them with fame and attention to continue those careers.
McGwire was finished in baseball and didn't need the publicity or the money. In face, as has been pointed out, he is a very private man who didn't seek the spotlight when he was playing the game.
If he was smart, he would have laid his soul bare to the American public? I don't see that as necessarily smart given how stupid and vindictive much of that public is, and (perhaps the bigger issue) perhaps he just doesn't give a fuck what everyone else thinks.
I don't know why you would make that connection, which falsely assumes that I don't think he was worth the money. I can't recall ever expressing such a thought on SportsFilter over an athlete's compensation.
I mentioned his salary because he profited handsomely in a career that put him in the spotlight. Turning the spotlight off now -- the "none of your business" notion -- is a little late in the game. He made it our business by becoming a multimillionaire pro athlete.
I wasn't saying I thought that. I was saying that I could see someone thinking that if this was his or her first time reading your thoughts, and that you were giving a very specific number to say, "Look exactly how much money this ungrateful jerk made!"
As for making it our business, you make it sound as if you didn't know at the time. Did you ignore baseball during this stretch? Did you shut off games where McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, et al, were playing? If you didn't, why do you need McGwire to put himself on the cross? It sounds like you need someone to die for our baseball sins.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:31 PM on October 27
Hello, Monster Week.
2009 Week Seven Hoser Results
Straight Up: 10-3
2009 Season Hoser Picks
2009 Week Seven Money Spent: $20
Against The Spread: 9-3-1
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 1-0
Money: $1,670
Straight Up: 75-28
Against The Spread: 56-46-1
Lock of the Week: 3-4
Trifecta: 2-5
Money: $490
2009 Week Seven Money Made: $50
2009 Season Money Spent: $135
2009 Season Money Made: $150
2009 Total: $15
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:47 AM on October 27
I still say the Stefan thing was because the puck hit some ice shavings in front of the net. If he'd tried to flip it in from farther out and missed, he would have been an even bigger goat.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:37 PM on October 26
Hugh Grant cheats on one of the most beautiful actresses in the world to get a $60 blowjob from a scary street hooker. One act of honest contrition on Jay Leno later, and he's still got a career as a leading man in romantic films.
You are aware Hugh Grant didn't make a movie for three or four years after that came out?
Look, I'm not arguing about the "manning up" part. I wish he'd blasted the pants off baseball also. But I agree more with what the good Doc just said -- I don't think, given the climate and all the faux outrage at the time, that I would have wanted to have been the one to jump out and take the bullet for baseball.
And to say this ...
If McGwire had manned up and said exactly what drugs he took and why, he'd be an adored public figure and media darling.
You have no proof of that whatsoever. You think that -- and I think he would have been plastered on every front page from here to Scranton under the headline, "HE CHEATED!" How's that better than people thinking what they do now?
Maybe he will come out and say something now -- now that he's had timet o reflect, now that he can drive the message (and not a bunch of asshat politicians trying to divert attention from their own failings), now that the country seems less likely to pick up their pitchforks.
But if he doesn't, I'm still fine with him.
This "none of your business" stuff is silly. He was the single-season home run king, the holder of one of the most revered records in American sports. He was paid $74 million dollars in his career. His conduct in the game is hardly a private matter.
The guy didn't break any rules, he didn't break any laws and was generally well-liked by his teammates (this from a teammate of his I know). Maybe you can make a case for knowing because of the sanctity of the game, but what he was paid? That sounds like you'd wish the hate on him out of jealousy.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:17 PM on October 26
Your deference to star athletes is breathtaking sometimes.
Really? In my eyes it tends to be about just this subject.
While I wish steroid use had never happened, it did, and it did so under the watchful eye of the baseball establishment and the fans. The amount of hypocritical and ridiculous horseshit spread by people who were more than willing to pony up their dollars and look the other way while it was happening is a little sickening.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:35 PM on October 26
Let's pretend you're Mark McGwire.
You're being singled out on national television by the government of the United Fucking States of America as Public Enemy No. 1 for something that wasn't illegal and even against the rules in your own sport. And, the sport you helped lift back up after its own stupid greed and pig-headedness nearly sank it, they have no interest in coming clean themselves, right?
So you should be the guy to shoulder all of that? Why? What possible good does it do you when in your heart, you're most likely thinking you did what you needed to succeed, what the baseball establishment was telling you do and what the fans wanted?
If an athlete like McGwire had admitted everything and challenged the league and the fans to own up to the role they played in it, who knows what would have happened?
I'm sure as soon as he admitted to everything, baseball's owners and management would have come rushing into the halls of Congress to embrace him. They're all stand-up guys, right?
And all the others hundreds or thousands of guys who cheated, they would have all come out of the woodwork to support him. They would have all said, "By golly, that Mark McGwire has shamed us -- we should get up there ourselves."
And fans would have immediately forgiven him, because we all know how rational and understanding fans are. They wouldn't have turned on him even after being the ones cheering him on to break the record.
Nope, he wouldn't have been hung out in the wind, not a chance.
Let me ask you -- do you think Mark McGwire is better off being disliked by you for not answering questions from Congress, or better off taking the chance (at the time) being known as the one guy from his era who absolutely and unequivocally juiced? Where's the benefit of that?
A Rod certainly seems to have neutralized the issue by coming clean. Or at least clean enough for people to believe him.
Of course ARod came clean -- it certainly appears he can't stand not having the approval and attention of everyone around him. Maybe McGwire doesn't need the blessing of you, I or the Congress to get on with his life.
Or maybe he just thinks it's none of your business.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:32 PM on October 26
Maybe he just didn't see the point in answering questions from self-serving, grandstanding assholes?
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:00 PM on October 26
I still fail to see why McGuire is pilloried for not spilling his guts to a bunch of Congressmen. What business was it of theirs?
I really wish he had said, "Well, I had to show up since you subpoenaed me, but here's what I think of this travesty," then hopped up on the table, dropped his pants and taken a big dump.
If he was juicing, it wasn't illegal, it wasn't against the rules of baseball and the league played the results up for all they were worth.
Yeah, that's all Mark McGwire's fault, all right.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:41 PM on October 26
Lock and Trifecta hits, 7-3-1 against the spread and 9-2 straight up.
Hell, we might even be back to positive money.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:16 PM on October 25
J, if you don't know what Deadspin is, I'm not sure you've been on the interwub much.
I don't know the veracity of the stuff printed by Deadspin, but if it comes out none of it is true, I hope they get their smug balls nailed to the fucking wall.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:08 PM on October 25
Or maybe Shanahan just has no real desire to work for a tyrannical midget?
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:21 AM on October 20
The Chicago River has a long tradition of catching fire, which sort of makes it the anti-Cub waterway.
Upton Sinclair wrote about it in The Jungle.
How in the world are the Eagles (or every Raiders opponent) not at least in the Trifecta???
Because the spread is two touchdowns, and it's too difficult to guess when coaches are going to pull their starters for the game. Yes, Oakland is awful, but even a 23-0 game at the half can be 30-17 at the end of the game when the Raiders are playing their first team against the opposition's third team.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:48 AM on October 17
Anything little thing I can do to help, KC. :)
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:58 PM on October 16
Three NFL quarterbacks are killed in a plane crash.
God asks Peyton Manning first: "What do you believe?"
Peyton thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye and says, "I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans."
God can't help but see the essential goodness of Manning and offers him a seat to his left.
Then God turns to Aaron Rodgers and says, "What do you believe?"
Aaron says, "I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I've always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields."
God is greatly moved by Aaron's sincere eloquence and offers him a seat to his right.
Finally, God turns to Brett Favre and says, "And you, Brett, what do you believe?"
Brett replies, "I believe you're in my seat."
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:36 PM on October 16
The final in that game was actually 44-7.
Not to make things worse, although in the case of the Raiders, I'm not sure that's possible.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:46 PM on October 16
Demophon, thanks for the post. I'm pretty sure this is going to get edited by the Pantheon to remove the editorializing. Oddly enough, I was going to point you to the SportsFilter guidelines, but I don't see anything about it there. Didn't that used to be there? It's on the Wiki.
I agree about France Jr. Deserves to get in -- just not in front of Pearson.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:07 PM on October 14
Hater, this set will only cover the first three seasons of the show. We're still building the checklist right now, but the base set will have 15 or so main character cards and then a couple cards per episode for the first 28 episodes.
The insert cards will feature locations, children and other stuff we haven't determined yet.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:58 PM on October 14
Final stats for Week Five -- oof:
2009 Week Five Hoser Picks Straight Up: 8-6 Against The Spread: 6-8 Lock of the Week: 0-1 Trifecta: 0-1 Money: $-880
2009 Season Hoser Picks Straight Up: 56-20 Against The Spread: 42-34 Lock of the Week: 1-4 Trifecta: 1-4 Money: $-1,140
2009 Week Five Money Spent: $25 2009 Week Five Money Made: $0 2009 Season Money Spent: $86 2009 Season Money Made: $100 2009 Total: $15
This week may just be picks. I'm in the middle of writing the trading card set for "The Tudors" and I'm a little pressed for time.
Maybe a haiku week is in order?
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:44 AM on October 14
I just didn't see another team I believed in as much as the Pats, although Fred Taylor's injury woes aren't going to help. Good thing Bill has about 58 running backs stockpiled.
And the Broncos? They just aren't that good.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:53 PM on October 10
"You talk about a painful error for Matt Holliday!"
I've never been able to decide if I preferred Scully or Jack Buck. You just can't go wrong with either.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:06 AM on October 10
Tuskers?
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:00 PM on October 09
Exactly, rcade -- and if you read the comments below the linked story about the terrible parenting and bad example being set, what do you think those same parents would have done had their child been put in the same situation? Just said, "Well, kid, you got taken advantage of. Next time maybe you'll be smarter."
I'd like to think had it been my child, we would have returned the ball to Howard, but the negotiating sure as hell wouldn't have been done without me present.
Where is the evidence of that?
Check out any auction site and do a search for game-used baseballs. Considering I'm on the mailing list for the Detroit Tigers and they sell random GU balls for $35-75 and any home run ball for more than $200, this kid got jobbed.
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:49 PM on October 08
Oops. That total for the season should read:
2009 Season Hoser Picks Straight Up: 48-14 Against The Spread: 36-26 Lock of the Week: 1-3 Trifecta: 1-3 Money: $-260
When you said I was making money, I knew that couldn't be true. :P
I am up in real money, though, almost enough to pay for a large soda at Wendy's? How the fuck can a large root beer be $2.49?!?
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:14 AM on October 07
I am not sure how much Trent Edwards will play with Eli Manning already there at quarterback, but I guess we'll see. Not sure how this makes sense for Buffalo, though.
Huh?
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:37 AM on October 07
Apparently, you get on Lebron's bad side and out you go.
I just dropped Chansi Stuckey last night in my dynasty league and I have no idea whether to be upset about it or not.
Stuckey has a shot to be the No. 1 receiver in Cleveland, but that's like being the ... uhhh ... that's not good.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:36 AM on October 07
Curse you, old man!
Final stats for Week Four:
2009 Week Four Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 11-3
Against The Spread: 7-7
Lock of the Week: 0-1
Trifecta: 0-1
Money: $-670
2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 48-14
Against The Spread: 36-26
Lock of the Week: 1-3
Trifecta: 1-3
Money: $1,080
2009 Week Three Money Spent: $15
2009 Week Three Money Made: $0
2009 Season Money Spent: $70
2009 Season Money Made: $100
2009 Total: $30
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:31 AM on October 07
Read #4 in my list and then think about the McNabb comment.
Hmmmm ...
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:07 PM on October 06
Top 10 Reasons To Hope Rush Limbaugh Lands The Rams
10. Chants of "Rush! Rush!" might get the Rams to give Steven Jackson the ball 30 times like they should be doing.
9. Concession sales of nachos and chili cheese dogs guaranteed to skyrocket.
8. Ready-made promotion: "Husky Narrow-Minded Bigot" Night.
7. Might drive Al Franken to buy the Chiefs.
6. He can't be any worse at owning a sports franchise than George W. Bush.
5. Leftover Green Bay Cheeseheads easily convertible to Dittoheads.
4. Budweiser theme song replaced on PA system by "Barack The Magic Negro."
3. Offensive linemen won't feel so fat around him.
2. Players will have access to OxyContin right in the owner's box.
1. Maybe it will get him off the radio.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:58 PM on October 06
Not the best week so far at 7-6 ATS, but if the Packers come through tonight, I'll be laughing all the way to the pay window for the third week in four tries. Plus it would be nice to be .500 on Locks. *rolls eyes*
I had someone ask about that discrepancy (as my record on my blog shows 1-2 for Trifectas), and it comes from legally betting ProLine through the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission. The lines come out on Wednesday or Thursday for the weekend action and sometimes can be up to a field goal off the Vegas lines. When another pick presents itself as a better choice for the three-play, I substitute it for my least certain pick in The Hoser Trifecta.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:57 AM on October 05
I looked at all the home teams and there wasn't a game I saw where I was as sure the home team would cover as I am the Packers can handle Minnesota. I didn't see a single spread this week where I thought, "Man, that is WAY off."
It certainly is going to be a great week, though -- I'm stoked for the Ravens and Pats.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:46 AM on October 02
Or, as would be pertinent to the NBA:
There is no "I" in team, but there are a couple in "PATERNITY SUIT."
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:22 AM on October 02
I'm reading exactly what you wrote:
"Why all the Favre hate?"
I fail to see how that doesn't involve people, which would then mean that people were Favre haters.
Who are you saying hates Favre? Kittens?
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:36 PM on October 01
WOW.
I couldn't walk through that routine, and I used to actually a pretty damn ... errr ... rope jumper.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:44 PM on September 30
I'm sorry, but I don't subscribe to the notion of putting children in a bubble that protects them from all pain, physical or emotional. Life is hard, better to learn that lesson early than to be thrust into it without any experience. I don't disinfect every surface in my house my kids might come in contact with...I don't censor my language, video games, TV, music or movies...I tell my kids when they're bad at something, and laugh at them when they screw up. But I also do anything I can to help them get better and learn from their mistakes. But I guess in today's world that makes me a bad parent, not isolating them from all the evils of the world...
Talk about your overreactions.
I asked rcade because he has a background in newspapering. It's a decision I would have had to consider were I the editor at the local TV station, although I think I would have come to the same decision.
I get using it locally, as I think WCAX figures most people would either know or easily find out who he is. I've decided I also would have used his name in the local paper, as the same rules apply.
But as for the Chicago Sun-Times, I don't know. I'm hoping Kyle Koster will come over and join in the debate here (although I was a bit of a douche in my initial comment there and have apologized for that). Of the five sources I can find who have written about this story (including us), only he used the name. Kyle responded on his blog that the name was right in the broadcast, and I have responded that I don't think leaving the kid's name out diminishes the story in any way.
As for putting kids in a bubble, MeatSaber, I'm not sure how not putting the kid's name out there for possible national ridicule is the same. This is not your kid tripping and falling into the pool at your neighbor's house and you catching it on your cell phone. This is his name being put out there in conjunction with Leon Lett and Bill Buckner -- two professional athletes who probably didn't deserve the crap they caught.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:29 PM on September 30
By the way, Deadspin and Fanhouse didn't use the kid's name. Only a staffer from the Chicago Sun-Times did, and I've left him a note to see if he thought about not using it.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:00 PM on September 30
Because the kid's possibly 14 or 15 years old, and he's going to catch enough hell from his teammates and classmates for the rest of the season, and possibly the rest of his existence.
It's really not necessary to put the kid's name out there as a joke on the internet (which rcade wisely didn't do), but the local TV station has to realize also it'll be picked up off the broadcast and off YouTube. It would have been just as easy to say, "An Otter Valley player unfortunately spiked the ball," wouldn't it?
As a former newspaper publisher and broadcaster, I'm normally pretty hard-assed about this kind of stuff, but I just don't know what the positive side is to naming names in this instance.
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:46 PM on September 30
Maybe so, Bo, but they should have been told to stay the hell away from the ball. As deep and close together as they were, though, I kinda think they were sent out to catch the kick.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:02 PM on September 30
Mount Mansfield? I bet James Dean did that several times. (click here for rimshot)
I can't decide whether I would have named the kid or not, rcade. I shouldn't be protecting him, but I'm not sure what his identity adds to the story. As you said, the coach is the dumbass who sent him out there (and even if you wanted to do that, he could have been instructed to take a knee).
I'm waffling.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:52 PM on September 30
I'm awfully big on world-class kielbasa.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:16 AM on September 30
Head's up play by the kid who ran it in, but rcade, you're probably in the best position to answer this -- would you have named the kid who caught the ball and spiked it into a turnover on the TV report?
I'll wait for your answer.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:16 AM on September 30
Wfraz-You certainly do. To answer your question; No, you can't. See how easy that is? I don't have kids, but you can't take my Golden Retriever, either. The parents had the same opportunity you gave me. Incidently, why bring the mosque into play?
No, they didn't. Even if we are to believe that all the kids were all told, "Hey, we're taking this bus out to a Baptist revival where you will involve in some heavy religious stuff," don't you think perhaps communicating that directly to the parents in the form of a meeting or a phone call might be in order? Geez, I have to sign off for my kids to go to the museum. You'd think a blood sample and notarized permission would be in order for something like that.
Why the mosque? To see if you'd rise to the bait. You didn't, and good on you.
Go check out the 600+ messages in relation to the story rcade linked and see how those people feel about mosques. The incredibly ridiculous double standard of most Christians about how it's okay to push their faith on any poor sap who happens to stumble by -- but God forbid someone else hands them a Koran -- is out in full force.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:52 PM on September 29
NY Post headline:
GOVERNING BODY TELLS REFEREE, "URINE TROUBLE NOW!"
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:42 PM on September 29
Student gets baptized=Reverend's daughter gets "banged". There's some real moral relativism.
Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em.
By the way, since this is no big deal to you, do you have a child of your own I can take to my local mosque for a nice round of punch, cookies and indoctrination fun?
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:05 PM on September 29
The church's pastor, the Rev. Ron Davis, said that he requires minors to obtain their parents' consent to be baptized, but he added: "Sometimes 16 year olds look like 18 years. We did the best we could."
Think he'd have the same standard if he had a 16-year-old daughter?
"Hey, sorry I banged your daughter, Rev -- she looked 18 to me!"
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:40 PM on September 29
By the way, have you noticed that if you're making a list like I did there, when you first post it there are no returns, but if you go to edit, don't do anything and report the comment, the returns are fixed?
Weird.
And now I feel like Andy Rooney. Have you ever noticed how fat NFL linemen are? Why is that? They have to be running a lot, either on the field or to the bank with their paycheques. And why put them in those tight pants? Couldn't there be special sweatpants for linemen?
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:03 PM on September 29
I think I'm going to start posting this here, since no ever goes back to see the final tally:
Final stats for Week Three:
2009 Week Three Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 13-3
Against The Spread: 12-4
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 1-0
Money: $1,160
2009 Season Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 37-11
Against The Spread: 29-19
Lock of the Week: 1-2
Trifecta: 1-2
Money: $410
2009 Week Three Money Spent: $15
2009 Week Three Money Made: $50
2009 Season Money Spent: $55
2009 Season Money Made: $100
2009 Total: $45
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:00 PM on September 29
Final stats for Week Three:
Lock of the Week: Green Bay
Trifecta: Indianapolis, Denver, Green Bay
Over/Under Good Buys: Indy/Arizona Over
2009 Week Three Hoser Picks
2009 Season Hoser Picks
2009 Week Three Money Spent: $15
Straight Up: 13-3
Against The Spread: 12-4
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 1-0
Money: $1,160
Straight Up: 37-11
Against The Spread: 29-19
Lock of the Week: 1-2
Trifecta: 1-2
Money: $410
2009 Week Three Money Made: $50
2009 Season Money Spent: $55
2009 Season Money Made: $100
2009 Total: $45
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:40 PM on September 28
Funny how you never read stories about people taking busloads of Catholic kids to ACLU meetings, ain't it?
Fire him.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:33 PM on September 28
Pretty good week for The Hoser heading into the Monday nighter.
2009 Week Three Hoser Picks
Straight Up: 12-3
Against The Spread: 12-3
Lock of the Week: 1-0
Trifecta: 1-0
I also hit my Trifecta ticket -- hello, $50!
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:44 PM on September 27
Does this really deserve an FPP?
Yes, yes it does. It's good to see this franchise headed in the right direction, and it's good to see them take their first step against Those Who Shall Remain Nameless.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:10 PM on September 27
Women's Soccer Playoff Turns Ugly
It is a little strange ESPN was so hot and heavy on this. Maybe it was all staged and the network got the tipoff beforehand -- "Hey, bring out the good cameras and we'll put on a show!"
Also ... it was kinda hot.
Rashomon ... they make those little boilable noodle packs, right?