Guard Dog

Didn't that award lose all credibility when they gave it to Arafat? Heck why even pay it any mind afterwards.

Thank you everyone. It was a FANTASTIC trip. Anyone who goes to Hawaii and only sees Maui or Oahu is missing out. The small islands are the best part of that state. We didn't do a lot of the touristy stuff, we just explored on our own. We went to Fern Grotto, went swimming in the waterfalls at Alakai. Steph got scuba certified and we went diving twice, she LOVED it. I hadn't been diving since I moved away from Florida. We watched Games 3 & 4 of the Rays/Red Sox series from the beach lounge in the resort with a couple from Lowell MA. Obviously that didn't turn out well but I got over it quick. Finally on Wednesday night we were going to go out for dinner but ended up just ordering room service and sitting on the beach outside the villa and I figured that was the best time to do it so I just told her I had one last birthday present for her, gave the ring and just asked. I think it really surprised her. But she said yes right away. One thing struck me on the way home. Most of you know the story but I was in a bad car accident a few years ago. It completely screwed up my life. For the most part that is history now but if it wasn't for that I'd never have met Stephanie. I don't know if I'd go so far to say that some things are "meant" to happen or that we have some kind of preordained destiny. But sometimes it's hard to dismiss that notion too.

Completely agree. Calax is a good guy, he's just hasn't caught too many good breaks in life. He'll weather the downs and enjoy the ups just like he always has And if not we'll buy him a ticket o South Africa so he can hang out with Bruce, that guy could cheer any one up!

She said yes! More details when I get home tomorrow!

Well folks all I can say to you is aloha until next week! GF will be here soon and we are leaving for Kauai tomorrow morning. An with any luck I'll have some good news when I get back. Ya'll behave yourselves until then!

Moore has had a trend of being dominating for the first few innings, then collapsing in the middle. Think of it Key, two long standing rivals fighting tooth and nail in a short series. Every pitch, ever at bat matters. It's gonna be epic!

Oh I have no doubt about your intelligence, I was just busting your chops!

I just could not make this stuff up! http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/03/need-health-care-coverage-just-dial-1-800-****yo-to-reach-obamacares-national-hotline/

Hurlie, they have medication for that! Those two are worlds apart!

Wals that might be one of the smartest things you have ever posted. And you've posted a LOT of intelligent things over the years!

How about this one? I'm a dues paying, card carrying member: http://www.lp.org/

The difference is you can avoid all that by choosing not to own a car. Obamacare compels you to buy something even if you don't want it. There is a HUGE difference. Remember, originally they wanted to make it a criminal offense not to buy insurance. That got reduced to a fine which the slipped by the Supreme Court goalie by calling it a tax. The best way to kill it I'd say is to eliminate the price escalators they called a tax and take it back to the SC as a violation of the Commerce Clause without the taxing power fig leaf to hide behind.

You paid for those classes! How does you skipping them **** the man? The man doesn't care is you show up or not!

You guys wonder why I say government is an evil thing? The Obama admin had the IRS go after a prominent neurosurgeon after he gave a speech critical of Obamcare while el Presidente himself was in attendance: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/3/irs-targeted-dr-ben-carson-after-prayer-breakfast-/ It seems the IRS really is Obama's secret police going after his political enemies.

Bruce, you have to understand these Republicans who are fighting Obamacare got elected BECAUSE they said they would do exactly what they are doing. If they get weak and squishy now their constituents who sent them there to do this will show them the door in 2014. Most polls agree 51% of Americans want this BS gone. And Obama barely got 50% of the vote in 2012. The truth is the US is dividing into two different and mutually exclusive camps. Right now we have more in common than in opposition. That is what has and will hold us together... until it doesn't. When that happens we will break up, of fight, or both. The last bill the house sent to the senate funded obamacare but forced the congress to participate in it without exemption or subsidy. The senate rejected it. They would rather keep the government closed than be forced to actually obey the law they are forcing all of us to comply with.

Matt Moore is going to throw on Friday. ESPN says Price is probable for Saturday.

I can't decide who to root for now that the Rangers are out. You know I posted a guide for that!

The cheese-stuffed pasta shells!!? I just ate that exact thing! Like five minutes ago. Dammit, of course. See, this is what I'm talking about. When I get to be twinners on the internet, it's with frozen dinners, not regular temperament improvement.

TV is on, mini fridge is full of beer. I have a bag of Doritos. First pitch is in 40 minutes. I'm ready!

Well it seems we can all agree that the main problem in the US is costs. Now, just thinking in terms of economics 101 if you have a fixed quantity of a commodity, then force everyone by law to purchase that commodity what happens to the price of that commodity? Obamacare does not provide single payer service. All it does is require everyone to buy insurance and subsidise the cost for some by increasing the cost for others. How could this not drive up costs? The most insidious thing about it though is that is compels under legal penalty as a condition of citizenship that everyone must enter into a private contract with a third party. Am I the only one that sees how that is a terrible precedent?

No, that is not a good option either. However, replacing a bad option with WORSE option is not a fix. The problem, the ONLY thing wrong with the US healthcare system is the runaway costs of both care and insurance. The costs are only high because there is no consequence for them being high. There is no price competition between suppliers, providers, or even drug makers. And most people are removed from the actual costs of their care so they don't even know what they are getting or their insurance is paying for. It is common for providers to run tests and procedures their patients don't even need just to generate revenue. You have all heard me say it, we do have a perfect health care system in the US; Veterinary Care. Competition keeps prices low. You can buy as much or as little as you think you need. Tommy's vet has equipment my doctor could never dream of owning. And the reason this system works is the goddamned government has never gotten involved in it.

Very busy with work. I'm trying to finish all my projects before going on vacation on Friday. I can't wait!

Marie Calenders stuffed shells. Out of the freezer and into the oven. I'm sure it will taste like hell but I don't have time to cook.

It's not universal health care that scares me. It's the bastards that will be running it and what they will do with it.

I don't think we'll ever see political affiliation as some kind of means testing. Although it is a possibility that should not be ignored. I think they will use this to go after other freedoms they don't think you should have. Like guns. Making the health of every American something the government has a vested interest in will give them a chance to do things through that back door they would never get passed in Congress. Heck we already have governments making large sodas illegal, telling citizens what they can and can't eat, or buy, or stores and restaurants can sell. Plus if you have ever dealt with the VA you would know the government has no business running any kind of healthcare.