Skywarp!

Some friends like and some hate: 311, Weezer, Presidents of the United States of America, The Hives, 2 Skinnee J's, System of a Down, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Strokes, there's a lot more but I'd really need to be in front of my collection to be exhaustive about it. But out of those I'd say none of these beat each other out to be the most loved, but the most hated are by far Foo Fighters.

Yeah, those dark green Seahawk jerseys are the worst in the NFL right now. It looks like they're doing an Eagles impression. The Redskins' P.C. uniforms are horrible looking too. Somehow, they look like an NCAA team when they wear 'em. And also, how about a topic where we discuss teams who had great uniforms and color schemes and then got ugly new uniforms? The Golden State Warriors are near the top for that one when they changed a while back.

AFC East New England has clinched the division title and a first-round bye. New England can clinch homefield advantage throughout playoffs with: 1. A win or tie OR 2. A Chiefs loss or tie AFC North Baltimore can clinch division title with: 1. A win or tie OR 2. A Bengals loss or tie Baltimore is eliminated from playoff contention with a loss and a Cincinnati win Cincinnati can clinch division title with: 1 A win and Ravens loss Cincinnati is eliminated from playoff contention with a loss or tie OR a Baltimore win or tie AFC South Indianapolis has clinched playoff berth. Indianapolis can clinch division title with: 1. A win OR 2. Titans loss OR 3. Colts tie and Titans tie Tennessee has clinched a playoff berth. Tennessee can clinch division title with: 1. Titans win or tie and Colts loss AFC West Kansas City has clinched the division title and a first-round bye. Kansas City can clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with: 1. A win and Patriots loss Denver has clinched playoff berth and will play first-round game. NFC East Philadelphia has clinched a playoff berth. Philadelphia can clinch division title and first-round bye with: 1. A win or tie OR 2. A Cowboys loss or tie Philadelphia can clinch homefield advantage throughout playoffs with: 1. A win and Rams loss Dallas has clinched playoff berth. Dallas can clinch division title and first-round bye with: 1) A win and Eagles loss NFC North Minnesota can clinch division title with: 1. A win OR 2. Packers loss OR 3. A tie and Packers tie Minnesota can clinch playoff berth with: 1. Seahawks loss OR 2. Vikings tie and Seahawks tie Green Bay can clinch division title with: 1. A win and Vikings loss or tie OR 2. Packers tie and Vikings loss Green Bay can clinch playoff berth with: 1. Seahawks loss OR 2. Packers win and Cowboys win or tie OR 3. Packers win and Dallas has better strength of victory than Seahawks OR 4. Packers win or tie and Seahawks tie NFC South Carolina has clinched the division title. NFC West St. Louis has clinched the division title and a first-round bye. St. Louis can clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with: 1. A win or tie OR 2. Eagles loss or tie Seattle can clinch playoff berth with: 1. A win and Vikings loss or tie OR 2. A win and Packers loss or tie OR 3. A win and Cowboys loss and Seattle has better strength of victory than Dallas OR 4. A tie and Vikings loss OR 5. A tie and Packers loss Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, New Orleans, N.Y. Giants, N.Y. Jets, Oakland, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Washington have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Colts would win AFC South based on head-to-head sweep of the Titans. Bengals are only alive in the race for the AFC North title. They have been eliminated from contention for a wild-card spot. Right now, the Packers would be No. 4 seed over the Vikings based on better record in common games. However, if each team wins in Week 17, their record in common games will be tied and the Vikings will win the NFC North. Vikings are No. 6 seed over the Seahawks based on head-to-head win. Wild-card matchups AFC Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens First-round byes: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs. NFC Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers First-round byes: Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams

What a crappy present!

If Moore indeed made it up, then it's not just an eerie coincidence the guy's last name sounds like "pris-ner" after all.

I don't know whether to believe if this is real or not, being that Moore seems to invent a lot of shit. Anyway, from michaelmoore.com: " Dear Mr. Moore: I’m writing this without knowing if it’ll ever get to you. I’m writing it not knowing why, or knowing what I’m going to say. I’m writing it not knowing if I’ll ever finish it or mail it. I’m writing it from the trenches of a war (that’s still going on,) not knowing why I’m here or when I’m leaving. I’ve toppled statues and vandalized portraits, while wearing an American flag on my sleeve, and struggling to learn how to understand. I was in Vindanza, Italy when I heard your Oscar acceptance speech. It was the day before I boarded a plane and experienced a “combat landing” in uncharted territory in northern Iraq. It was such a surreal feeling—the only light came from a red bulb—we sat shoulder to shoulder in silence. We were told to expect heavy artillery/chemical attacks. I can’t say I know what was on the minds of those men packed next to me, but I assume it was thoughts of family and religion. But me, a single 20 year old, I was thinking about what you had said. I joined the army as soon as I was eligible – turned down a writing scholarship to a state university, eager to serve my country, ready to die for the ideals I fell in love with. Two years later I found myself moments away from a landing onto a pitch black airstrip, ready to charge into a country I didn't believe I belonged in, with your words repeating in my head. My time in Iraq has always involved finding things to convince myself that I can be proud of my actions; that I was a part of something just. But no matter what pro-war argument I came up with, I pictured my smirking commander-in-chief, thinking he was fooling a nation. I discovered that the result of the war and the actions of G.W. cannot be treated as the same issue. Bush accidentally did a good thing for the Iraqi people. After the fact he's starting to claim humanitarian intentions for going to war - obviously bullshit. But he realizes that that is the only positive outcome. I could explain what I've seen here; a people forced into poverty & ignorance – but I'll spare you. I try not to think about the ultimate future of this place. I'm sure we'll cause them to fall victim to Banana Republic and Joe Millionaire, with a puppet president and monopolized oil industry. But there will be plenty of time in the future to worry about those things. I can't say I know what I believe. I am willing to accept that my opinions are a result of a given subconscious, not sufficient knowledge. Do I support care for the low income class because I truly understand the system, or because I've personified inadequacies and identified with those who experience struggle. Does a conservative oppose gay rights because he genuinely understands the issue or because he's scared to face deeper levels of humanity? What if you could be given a reason for everything you believe, but the reason is unrelated to the topic – the result of a life and a psyche? Will we believe those things the same way we used to? I call myself a liberal because I've been moved to tears by the words of Paul Wellstone, scenes in "The Awful Truth," the funeral of Matthew Sheppard, and the homeless people in the city I once lived in. It's not what I know, it's what I felt. It's dangerous to rely on emotions to guide your moral compass – but it’s the only way to be honest. I understand everything I believe may be wrong; that I believe for a reason, and that reason may not be reality. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say. Maybe just that I can't look at this war politically. I can only look at it as an experience that has taught me that life is dictated by seconds and inches; one that has caused me to face death and loss and fear. And at its core, stripped of the WMD's and no-contest contracts, it's been about one thing: serving my country. The most difficult thing has been learning how to be proud of that. This country, I'm serving,…is it America? Has it ever been? It's always bothered me that, despite the American philosophy, it became NECESSARY for a civil right movement, it became NECESSARY to form the ACLU. I've simultaneously battled Saddam loyalists and these questions. Kind of an odd setting for suddenly doubting my patriotism. But while my fight with those trying to kill my friends & I is far from ending, the fight within myself has ended. I found what I've been fighting for. It's been you, all along. I hated you on a plane ride in the dark with shaking hands. But you've been the roof of my loyalty, my bravery, and my dignity. Mr. Moore, you are America. This isn't a "I'm a hip liberal & I'll be cool if I get an autographed copy of Stupid White Men" letter. I've faced every weapon, from SCUDs to swords, and I've had to face why. And you've been the answer. I'm serving a country in which you live; where you're allowed to speak and PEOPLE LISTEN; where you're allowed to write and PEOPLE READ. What a beautiful country – every injustice has a prosecutor – every struggle has a defender. We are still a country being born. Compassion will never lose to conservatism…the country could be ruled by Jerry Falwell and Dick Cheney – but there will always be tears, as long as there is injustice and oppression and greed and hypocrisy. And there will always be you, the people you've taught, the lives you've influenced. You reminded me that America exists, and I suppose this letter is meant to thank you for that. I can't explain the pride you've instilled in me, and the comfort you've given me, to know that if I find myself fallen on the battlefield, I gave my life serving something I loved and truly believed in. Sincerely, Mike Prysner"

The Atari E.T. and Puck-Man myths are true. Here's one of my favorite myths. "This one time, King Hippo got up."

Don't underestimate how far people can dig for excuses. If the official Administration Motive was "This planet has put up with Saddam for too long," the anti-everything squad would have replyed, "oh, that's great. Why now and not 12 years ago? Becuase it's about OIL!" Although I think you're right...the world needed a better reason than "let's take 'em out." Unfortunately, I can't believe he DID have WMDs myself until they find 'em. (And even then, the anti-everything people will claim they were planted.)

Wasn't the supposed "last straw" upon entering the war that a U.S. vessel in the waters over Vietnam was shot at? And is it true or not that years later it turned out to be a false report just to "justify" going in there?

Put it into quotations next time. Yes, yes I am quick to attack. As cliche as it is right now actively rooting against your country in a war no matter how many buts you put in front of it is disgusting to me and "Un-American". And don't bring the "OMG UN-American means someone disagreeing with the President" b/c you can do that all you want but when deep down you root for your fellow countrymen to die just so your selfish desires will be meant makes you the worst kind of scum. It was in quotations. Not this B.B.s big box quotes, but the text marks were there nonetheless. But whatever. It happened back there.

I know. Send that back to whoever wrote it. I saw the quotations. Sorry if you thought that was me bitching at you. Oops! Sorry!

Can none of you read? It wasn't my post. I'm bouncing ideas from different boards off each other. Some of you are so quick to attack, you don't realize who you're biting into during the feeding frenzy.

And you totally disgust me with your ingnorance. For you to get what you want a lot of people have to die. Several thousand more in fact. So you sir can promptly go fuck yourself and anyone else that thinks like that. Just to clarify, the person that wrote that isn't here...i don't think...Right... KANE... Nope. None of that is mine.

This is what someone in another thread said about the same post. Thoughts? "This article really disappoints me, because Orson Scott Card wrote some of my favorite books ever. But it's idiocy. The idea that during war, blame for deaths automatically goes to the "enemy" is just ridiculous. Do we place no responsibility for Vietnam on the Presidents who made it happen? No. We hold them accountable, because the war was unjust. If the cause is just - which it is up to EVERY American to decide for themselves - then we can believe in it and accept combatant deaths as a neccessary but unfortunate reality. But when the war is unjust, when the President has hijacked the nation's resources to win power and contracts for his rich buddies, we say "fuck you, this war is fucked." And we blame the people who lied to us to get us there for LYING TO US TO GET US THERE. We have been shafted, and this article makes it sound like we're just supposed to stand by and support the person who FUCKED us. And by US, i mean YOU. Because I didn't fall for it. I don't hope that our troops die. I don't hope that we can't rebuild Iraq. I don't hope that Iraq will drive the United States out. but I DO hope that the war will fail - because its goal is none of those things above. Its goals are political and domestic and underhandedly capitalistic, and if Bush succeeds in achieving those goals with a war that goes against everything America thinks it stands for, we'll just be proven a nation of suckers and sheep once again. The fucked up thing is, the reason why no one really cares that we're being lied to is because we all have it too goddamn easy to want to complain. We just as a nation have no sense of responsibility to any other human beings. We're selfish and arrogant and something has got to give. If this is how we're gonna be, I don't want us to be in charge of the world either."

<<Deleted.>>

Eagles (8-2) would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC based on better conference record than Rams (8-3). Patriots (9-1) would be No. 1 seed in AFC based on better conference record than the Chiefs (10-2). Bengals (3-2) would win the AFC North based on better division record than the Ravens (2-2). Packers (6-2) would win NFC North based on better record in common games (vs. Lions, Bears, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Chargers) than the Vikings (5-3). However, if the Packers and Vikings both win out, their record in common games will be tied (They'd both be 8-4. The Vikings still play Kansas City and Arizona, both of which the Packers lost to, while the Packers still play the Raiders and Broncos, who the Vikings split with. That would add one loss and one win to the Vikings common games and two to the Packers, leaving them both at 8-4). The next tie-breaker would be conference record and the Vikings would be better. Vikings would be wild-card over Seahawks based on head-to-head win. Wild-card matchups AFC Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals First-round byes: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs. NFC Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers First-round byes: Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams

Basically just because of the controllers, most fighting games, with the notable exception of MK1, tended to be better on SNES. It was hard playing a game meant for 6 buttons on a 3 button controller (this argument is based on the controller you're supplied with, not the 6-button joypad that game out later). Even Eternal Champions, a game designed for Sega only, wasn't made to be 3-button friendly.

"1. Bush won the election. He won it fair and square by the rules of the Electoral College system." But the whole dems. argument of the "Bush didn't win fair and square" wasn't that the rules of the Electoral College said he won as opposed to the Popular Vote, it was that they belive Jeb Bush staged a fix in Florida.

There are good conservative posters here. We have a healthy mix of both liberals and conservatives (as DrTom said). True. Plus, I tend to play Devil's Advocate no matter where I am. I take the conservative side on a liberal dominated board, and vice-versa. Maybe I enjoy the exchange of ideas, or maybe the Irish in me just likes to stir the pot?

Amen.

It's no use, guys. Anything or anyone politically moderate on this board is ferociously attacked by the far-right as they would be on a far-left board. For people like me, you just can't win.

You can honestly look at the 2 leading candidates we had in the last election and call that a good choice? That was like choosing which rusty instrument you want inserted into your bunghole.

Ripper. Thank you. I never knew cheeks could be so shiny.

From the Boston Globe: ABC recalls producers from three campaigns 12/11/2003 A day after ABC "Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel generated criticism for over-emphasizing strategic issues as moderator of the Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire, ABC News confirmed yesterday that it has pulled three "off-air producers" from the campaigns of Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, former senator Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, and the Rev. Al Sharpton of New York. Asked if the decision was related to the three candidates' low standing in the polls and longshot status, ABC spokeswoman Cathie Levine said "as we prepare for Iowa and New Hampshire, we are putting more resources toward covering those events. We'll continue to cover these candidates as other news organizations do. To date, we've logged more hours with these candidates than any other news organization." Kucinich responded to ABC's decision by saying, "Obviously, ABC is retaliating for my challenge to Ted Koppel in last night's debate. They have proven my point, which is the media, and now specifically ABC, is now trying to set the agenda for this election." -- GLOBE STAFF