jfields

I bid $1, plus a book on economics.

Thanks, but I still won't sleep with you. Vinny, I'm not defending either democraticunderground.com or makethemaccountable.com. Just be aware that there is plenty of spin in both directions, along with inaccuracies, insults and idiocy. Let's take an issue (US holding prisoners at Gitmo) we've been discussing online here in the forums: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=716272;page=1;mh=-1;;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC Now let's look at an MRC "Cyber Alert" about it: http://www.mediaresearchcenter.com/cyberalerts/2003/cyb20030305.asp#4 Tell me what makes that alert-worthy. Where is the global media conspiracy in asking that question? Then we must all be in on it, because we've asked it and debated it here. http://www.mediaresearchcenter.com/cyberalerts/2003/cyb20030323.asp#2 This is a good one. Yeah, Jennings was wrong to question or doubt the administration's word on the WMD. And, umm... just where are they, seven months later, after the end of "major hostilities"? Nowhere to be seen. That was definitely a horrible liberal question to ask at the time. The entire MRC site is a farce. Granted the other ones you mentioned are too, but this one might strike a little more home to you, since its views are more closely aligned to yours. Touchy, when one makes humor out of something near and dear, when it is easier to pick on the other side. Me? I'll pick on the spinmeisters and fanatics of both sides.

Jim, Next thing, you'll tell me that Maryland is "out of the way" or "inconvenient" or something. Where is the love, man?

Ditto for: http://www.mediaresearchcenter.com/ Yup.

If the parents won't instill proper values and discipline their children as needed, it makes no difference what the teachers do. In that case, we are headed toward that fall anyway. Parents must to a better job than they have been. Teachers can't be responsible for picking up the slack for a nation's poor parenting.

I trust teachers to do both, within certain limits. I'd be unhappy with the teacher teaching a flat earth also. Teachers should discipline as well, to a degree. I think corporal punishment is over the line. A good teacher can be amazingly effective without ever laying a hand on a kid. When more severe discipline is called for, drag the parents into school (in the middle of the day) and force them to be inconvienced by their child, and to know what the child did so they can continue the punishment at home. No kids run around screaming in my wife's class, and she doesn't have to beat them to instill discipline. Life isn't fair. Unjust detention happens. But is that the same as an undeserved beating by an authority figure? Using the same logic, life isn't fair, so why make a big deal about wrongful imprisonment or innocent people getting the death penalty? Because at some point, we have to do our best to be fair, and make sure that the ramifications of mistakes aren't too great. I agree to a degree, but question giving the authority for inflicting physical punishment to a non-family member when the situation isn't urgent. We aren't talking about safety, or a situation where a child needs immediate physical pain to reinforce a message with authority during their early development. By the time a kid gets to elementary school, that level of development has mostly been passed, and by junior high, completely passed. A 16-year old like the one in question doesn't need a spanking from a teacher to have a lesson sink in. They have the cognitive development to know what they did to deserve a grounding, or even a whuppin' given later, at home, by the parents. I agree. Teaching is an integral part of parenting. Discipline is a part of teaching. But teachers and parents are far from interchangeable. Most teachers have a student for 10 months. Parents are ultimately responsible for their children. The parents are the ones in charge in instilling a value system in their kids. Teachers can't, because they have too many kids, and only have them for a little while, in sequence. The lasting influence on children is the parents. The decision of what is worthy of physical punishment is enough of a grey area that "common sense" of the teacher isn't sufficient. They can discipline in lots of ways, but that one should be left to the parents.

Chuck, I didn't have those problems when I was in school either even though my teachers never laid a hand on me. They didn't have to. One note home and my parents would take care of it. And I have no objection to spanking/paddling or whatever if done by the parents. No yelling, screaming or paddling at school can make up for incompetant parenting. That is where the responsibility lies. The teachers can't force a kid to have good values. That must come from home.

Don, I disagree with you. My wife is a teacher and she's had the urge to backhand kids, but she can't. Nor should she be allowed to under any circumstances. While it may do a lot of good to a lot of kids, in instilling discipline and respect they lack, leaving that judgement in the hands of teachers is a recipe for disaster. Their judgement isn't perfect. What happens when some teacher slaps your kid, when it was another kid that was acting up behind him/her? Would you be okay with that? I wouldn't. Also, what is "acceptable" corporal punishment? Slapping? Pushing? Beating a kid bloody? Where and how do you draw a line? We aren't talking about self-defense here, but punishment. How would it vary in any way from "child abuse"? I'm not saying kids can't be bratty/mischevious/criminal and deserve a whoopin'. But it isn't the teacher's place. Teachers should teach. Parents should parent. The failure of one doesn't mean the other must automatically fulfill both roles. They can't.

And you are a fine one to talk about that. Not to mention, that is four days old, you slacker.

The magic is in getting a bunch of people to pay you a million bucks to do it. In that sense, the guy does have a talent for publicity. In the end, that might be his biggest talent. I tend to agree with you, Ivan. Blaine gets a big "so what?" from me.

Yeah, but how much would the jump tix cost?

I thought it was "duckjoke". Hoping that isn't really it, because I'm not on the list and don't know.

Absolutely right. And I have the right to mock them if I think it is a disgustingly poor imitation of a beer. And you can call the stuff I drink overpriced, dark, bitter, horrible used motor oil and make fun of me. You'd just be wrong.

Anyone who drinks a Coors Light loses by definition.

I'm to busy to debunk. Anyone else have a few spare hours?

I'm closer to the "kids", myself. I couldn't really instruct on turntable usage. But I used to have a record. A record. It was in import I couldn't get on CD, so I played it on my parent's stereo.

Actually, my wife is the one in the family that cares about baseball. I don't follow it at all, except when she is trying to watch a game and I'm trying to sleep. I just get annoyed with all the spoiled, indulged brats. That isn't just baseball, but most pro sports.

Woof.

Money can't buy love, but it can buy World Series pennants.

In another thread, Skybytch said, So here ya go. I say yes to some, no to others. How is that for vague? From past debates relating to gun control, I know PhillyKev is in favor of legalizing. Who else?

There are millions of kids that go to the "Record Store", yet have never touched a vinyl record.

I really hate when people need to throw foriegn phrases into a perfectly good English conversations. It just takes away that je ne sais quoi.

[sarcasm] Why, that's easy to answer Chris. It helps clearly illustrate the vast intellectual superiority of liberal thinkers. Knowing how much smarter and wiser we are just gives us this big warm and fuzzy feeling, kind of like seeing metaphorical boobies when there are no real ones there. It just makes you feel good, gloating over the poor, hapless conservatives. [/sarcasm]

Given enough time, don't they all?

It is mixed. You have to buy them rigs, but then you do have packers. "Do your chores, and that includes replacing the closing loop!"