The Czech Republic

Just as CWM is the TSM Spelling Bee Champion, you are the TSM Geography Bee Champion. YCongratulations: your trophy, consisting of a smiling bee atop a globe, is in the mail. Israel is in ASIA, you dumbass! If Egypt can be listed along with Russia and Turkey as countries that are part of two continents, as the Suez Canal is considered the boundary between Africa and Asia analogous to the Ural Mountains acting as the division line for Europe and Asia, then how in perdition can Israel, which all my maps tell me is BEYOND the Suez Canal and Sinai peninsula, be part of AFRICA?

So that's how it got from monkeys to people. OVERSIMPLIFIED HISTORY OF AIDS Gay guy rapes monkey Gay guy has sex with bisexual guy Bisexual guy has sex with hetero woman

Just as CWM is the TSM Spelling Bee Champion, you are the TSM Geography Bee Champion. YCongratulations: your trophy, consisting of a smiling bee atop a globe, is in the mail. Israel is in ASIA, you dumbass! If Egypt can be listed along with Russia and Turkey as countries that are part of two continents, as the Suez Canal is considered the boundary between Africa and Asia analogous to the Ural Mountains acting as the division line for Europe and Asia, then how in perdition can Israel, which all my maps tell me is BEYOND the Suez Canal and Sinai peninsula, be part of AFRICA?

I think Dan Patrick came out as the ass of that one.

If we lost Clement, we'd need to trade for another pitcher of that caliber. But I might want Nomar. I dunno.

This wasn't nearly as split down the middle as it was for me. But that's probably because we don't have as many bleeding-heart liberal posers who just want to do what MTV and their college sibling's buddies tell them is best for the whole wide world.

[Wilbon]Hey Precious, your BOY, Anglesault, your BOY, he already said this! Your BOY already said this![/Wilbon]

I voted cancer. In my high school discussion days, I perfected the science of saying controversial disrespectful things that got the OTHER guy ejected. Like so: "Cancer, not even a question. And I'll tell you why. We solved AIDS already. Don't sleep around and keep away from the needle drugs. Aside from a transfusion gone awry, you're safe from AIDS. We've made so many advances since the 1980s that more than anything, AIDS is a penalty for ignorance. There's no need to throw millions of dollars into research for a disease we have to TRY to get when people are being destroyed by their own bodies with no explanation. Non-smokers are losing their lungs to cancer. Children are dying of leukemia. And we don't know why. Now let's say we all go home tonight, don't do any drugs, don't have sex, just have a nice dinner, watch some TV, read a book, go to bed. You could wake up with cancer tomorrow morning. I could wake up with cancer tomorrow morning. But let me tell you something: you sure as hell aren't going to wake up with AIDS tomorrow morning." "OH MY GOD!! YOU ARE SOOOOOO INSENSITIVE YOU BASTARD! I KNOW SOMEONE WITH AIDS WHY DON'T YOU SAY IT TO HIS FACE! HUH? SAY IT TO HIS FACE! "I think you'd better leave." The Czech Republic always wins it in the end.

Doubtful. And I'm a Cubs fan: I know brutal.

Ooh...Winnipenguins... I think it's bullshit. League would block it, and I don't blame them. They would make more money in Winnapeg then Pittsburg...so why sould they block it? Hey, I'm one of the biggest supporters of a Canadian NHL on this board, and I'm in the Midwestern U.S. There should still be Jets and Nordiques (and Whalers too), and maybe even a ninth city. But Winnipeg can't get back into the NHL at the expense of the PITTSBURGH PENGUINS. They're terrible now, yes, but they won the '91 and '92 Cups with a legendary group of players: Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Tom Barrasso, the Samuellssons, Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, all coached by Badger Bob Johnson and Scotty Bowman. That team cemented the Penguins' place in history, and the future. What if the Edmonton Oilers had ceased to exist? The team of Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, MacTavish, and Fuhr, just stopped continuing on? There's no precedent for a successful championship-winning franchise to disappear.

Congrats to the Cubs for sweeping the south siders. Now the Cubs are 3 back and the Astros are 7 back. Still a little too close...and what is the deal with the 41-38 Milwaukee Brewers? We might have to earn those wins. Also: I hope the L.A. Dodgers decide to sweep a series or few, because I really don't want the Barry Bonds and the Giants in October, because that team is somewhere near "wading pool" in terms of roster depth.

This was quite the spirited discussion in several of my old social studies classes. Now both should ideally be taken care of. But if it was a matter of choosing who you'd make a charitable donation to, would it be towards finding a cure for cancer, or a cure for AIDS? Which, to you, is the more worthy cause?

You call it picking holes. I call it objectivity. I don't believe my faith to be the One True Faith. Or yours, or his, or hers, or theirs. Theology is fascinating. If its study led me to a prosperous future, I'd take that road in a heartbeat. I think that everyone should actively study all religions from a disinterested point of view, not as a mainliner, not as a Mormon, not as a Muslim, not as a Unitarian. This is so they have an idea of what's going on with all of these groups. It's not enough to formulate an opnion based on blind faith. Once you've heard what everyone has to say, make your call as to who you'll follow, and who you'll advise others to steer clear of. In my case, there's too many things in the LDS faith that make me raise an eyebrow. Don't get me wrong, there are admirable traits, such as the clean lifestyle and importance of work ethic. If we had more people like this our country would be in much better shape. But there's the disconcerting secrecy of the temple, the capitalistic nature of the church, baptism of the dead, secret handshakes, and the like that makes me wonder if this can possibly be the real deal. Let's look at Scientology. First things first, I don't trust any religion that's copyrighted. I'm less inclined to put my faith into the teachings of a man quoted as saying "The best way to get rich is to start a religion." Now they too have the clean living thing going on, but they also have the "aliens from outer space are responsible for my bad traits, and I need to unlock my inner soul through pay-by-the-hour counseling sessions" thing going on, and any way you slice it, that's a little creepy. The Unification Church is more exploitative than any church around. A religious body should NOT own major newspapers, hotels, and have millions of dollars the way Reverend Moon's group does. Many are right to be skeptical of this. I've been known to take a lot of interest in Christian Science and its teachings. In a way, it basically comes down to intellectual Mormons: similarly ostracized, but bearing more traditional Protestant beliefs alongside the "God is more of an omnipresent concept than a old bearded man in the sky" deal and the notorious healing process. Also remember: Christian Scientists are free to practice medicine how they please...sure, take that aspirin, but your pals in the congregation aren't going to think it's doing you any good. On a related note, the Monitor is a respected newspaper which does not let religion factor into its reporting. Props for that. As Christian Science does not have the structure of other, larger churches, nor does it believe in trying to convert others by thrusting itself upon unwilling people, preferring to let people discover the faith by themselves, it's easier to consider it less harmful than others. So I've done all my reading on the major branches of Christianity, and come to the conclusion that the mainline Protestant churches are probable providing the most agreeable religion. By relying on the Holy Bible without supplementary literature, nor having an international bureaucratic structure, my friends amongst the Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Lutherans have the practice most desirable to me. I encourage you all to not only take this test, but subsequently read up on your religions, taking in everything from Adventism to Zoroastrianism, and seeing what you believe in after that, or why it cements that you were right to begin with. I'm glad that I did.

Exponential improvement. Keep up the good work. What's your trick?

Where's the anthropological evidence to confirm that the Native Americans are one of the lost tribes of Israel? I'm sure it's out there. Far be it from a divinely inspired man that you claim Mr. Smith to be to do something like fabricate such material. That's the stuff I'd expect from an illiterate Freemason, not a guy like Joseph Smith.

Ump wanted to go home.

Is Luther Reigns really WCWSN mainstay Horshu?

In a Cubs-Astros game, I think it was Rusch that beaned the ump twice. One wasn't so much hitting him as it bounced off the hitter's bat and back into the ump's shoulder.

Ooh...Winnipenguins... I think it's bullshit. League would block it, and I don't blame them.

Mark Cuban isn't gonna let the Mavericks battle for 8th. He'll pull off something, just you wait.

Momcandenza?

Yeah, Incandenza covered it. WDI doesn't get enough traffic for me to invest equal time in it. TSM has enough that it's a hybrif of message board and live chat. But now we have live chat in addition. Anyhow, I just can't post at WDI because TSM eats up too much time with its girth.

Here's something to chew on. Joseph Smith said in the Book of Mormon that God appeared as a beam of light somewhere in upstate New York and told them that via the tenets of what would become Mormonism, man could ascend to God status. Meanwhile, the Bible warns us to beware of false prophets, and also of Satan, who disguised as the Angel Of Light, tempts man by telling him he can become a god. Do you have to do this anytime someone says anything about Mormonism? Everyone is free to challenge the tenets of my Presbyterian faith. Open challenge, guys. Bring your worst. If you think the Presbyterian Church is harmful, deceptive, and manipulative, open my eyes.

Here's something to chew on. Joseph Smith said in the Book of Mormon that God appeared as a beam of light somewhere in upstate New York and told them that via the tenets of what would become Mormonism, man could ascend to God status. Meanwhile, the Bible warns us to beware of false prophets, and also of Satan, who disguised as the Angel Of Light, tempts man by telling him he can become a god.

Okay of the last seven years: Two of them were crappy squashes. Two of them were won by the New England Patriots. Rams-Titans sucked until it neared the end. Did anyone think the Falcons would win? The thing about the Super Bowl is that it's all about the pageantry and the hype and everything. Stanley Cup, World Series, and NBA Finals all produce better and more interesting gameplay over a four-to-seven game stretch. The sixty minutes that comprise the Super Bowl itself are lackluster at best.