Epicurus

well, players long gone are still owed lots of money and they're threatening to sue, which means the team will be punished with -3 points per game, and after 3 offenses, it automatically drops a division. Tavlarides is owed $30K immediately and there are many others, like Toche, Essien (remember Alafouzos spending close to a million on this a-hole?), et al.

We had another mass shooting in the US, this time in Las Vegas, the deadliest of its kind, until the next one of course. Our right to be safe is trampled by the right for someone to own military-grade weapons. We had hoped that after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, Congress would act to pass some federal gun safety laws. Nothing! The victims' stories and pictures in Vegas are beginning to circulate now. I'll leave you with the images of the children of Sandy Hook as a horrific reminder that how a political party and its leaders are essentially in the pocket of the gun lobby.

When I hear, "give the guy a chance", I say, why give a chance to a buffoon, a charlatan, a bullsh*t and con artist?..... On these grounds alone, it's idiotic to argue for giving the car keys to a toddler! But, let's say the debate was within the margins of a political disagreement (this is not, because of the man-child in the driver's seat)... why would I give him a chance? I will not forget how badly he and so many others treated former President Barack Obama for 8 years... challenging O's legitimacy (birthism) I will not "work together" to privatize Medicare, cut Social Security and Medicaid. I will not "work together" to build a wall. I will not "work together" to persecute Muslims, put them on a national registry I will not "work together" to lower taxes on the 1% and increase taxes on the middle class and poor. I will not "work together" to help Trump use the Presidency to use the office for nepotism and for promoting Trump business I will not "work together" to weaken and demolish environmental protection. I will not "work together" to sell American lands, especially National Parks, to companies which then despoil those lands. I will not "work together" to remove civil rights from anyone. I will not "work together" to slash funding for education, the arts, humanities, and public broadcasting. I will not "work together" to take basic assistance from people who are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. I will not "work together" to get rid of common sense regulations on guns. I will not "work together" to eliminate the minimum wage. I will not "work together" to suppress scientific research, be it on climate change or anything else where there's a scientific consensus I will not "work together" to criminalize abortion or restrict health care for women, and defund Planned Parenthood. I will not "work together" to increase the number of nations that have nuclear weapons. I will not "work together" to put even more "big money" into politics. I will not "work together" to violate the Geneva Conventions. I will not "work together" to give the Ku Klux Klan, the Nazi Party, the Alt-Right and white supremacists a seat at the table, or to normalize their hatred. I will not "work together" to increase voter suppression. I will not "work together" to normalize autocratic rule, and to disrespect for our democratic institutions, while expressing admiration for dictators. I will not work together to undermine consumer protection and the safety of products I do not want to see the Supreme Court and federal judiciary populated by Trump judges that think corporations are people and "original intent" (of slave owners) should supersede common sense in the 21st c. Obviously these positions are progressive and conservatives are for all the above, hence my disagreement. But, with Trump, we're talking about the most unqualified person to occupy the White House in the last 100 years (possibly ever). He's been a fraud all his life. The only interesting thing left (for me) is to see at which point, if ever, the Repubs will figure out they've been duped.

The conservatives claim to be faithful, especially those pious Xtians who miss no opportunity to tell us how morally superior they are. In reality, they and their party are morally corrupt when it comes to public policy meant to help the sick, the powerless, and the poor. The Good Samaritan story? Who's that socialist person who redistributes resources, advocates something unsustainable, and reinforces bad behavior?... Here's today's NYT Op-Ed: Editorials, Op-Ed and Letters | OP-ED COLUMNIST And Jesus Said Unto Paul of Ryan ... By NICHOLAS KRISTOF What would Jesus tell House Speaker Paul Ryan about looking after the sick and the needy? A woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came up behind Jesus and touched his clothes in hope of a cure. Jesus turned to her and said: “Fear not. Because of your faith, you are now healed.” Then spoke Pious Paul of Ryan: “But teacher, is that wise? When you cure her, she learns dependency. Then the poor won’t take care of themselves, knowing that you’ll always bail them out! You must teach them personal responsibility!” They were interrupted by 10 lepers who stood at a distance and shouted, “Jesus, have pity on us.” “NO!” shouted Pious Paul. “Jesus! You don’t have time. We have a cocktail party fund-raiser in the temple. And don’t worry about them — they’ve already got health care access.” Jesus turned to Pious Paul, puzzled. “Why, they can pray for a cure,” Pious Paul explained. “I call that universal health care access.” Jesus turned to the 10 lepers. “Rise and go,” he told them. “Your faith has made you well.” Then he turned back to Pious Paul, saying, “Let me tell you the story of the good Samaritan. “A man was attacked by robbers who stripped him of clothes, beat him and left him half dead. A minister passed down this same road, and when he saw the injured man, he crossed to the other side and hurried on. So did a rich man who claimed to serve God. But then a despised Samaritan came by and took pity on the injured man. He bandaged his wounds and put the man on his own donkey and paid an innkeeper to nurse him to health. So which of these three should we follow?” “Those who had mercy on him,” Pious Paul said promptly. Jesus nodded. “So go ——” “I mean the first two,” Pious Paul interjected. “For the Samaritan’s work is unsustainable and sends the wrong message. It teaches travelers to take dangerous roads, knowing that others will rescue them from self-destructive behaviors. This Samaritan also seems to think it right to redistribute money from those who are successful and give it to losers. That’s socialism! Meanwhile, if the rich man keeps his money, he can invest it and create jobs. So it’s an act of mercy for the rich man to hurry on and ignore the robbery victim.” “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven,” Jesus mused to himself. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven.” “Let me teach you about love, Jesus — tough love!” Pious Paul explained. “You need a sustainable pro-business model. And you need to give people freedom, Jesus, the freedom to suffer misery and poverty.” “The Lord God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor,” Jesus replied, emphasizing the last two words. Then he turned to a paralyzed beggar at his feet. “Stand up!” Jesus told the man. “Pick up your mat and go home.” As the man danced about joyfully, Pious Paul rolled his eyes dismissively. “Look, Jesus, you have rare talent, and it should be rewarded,” Pious Paul said. “I have a partner, The Donald, who would like to work with you: He’d set up a lovely hospital, and the rich would come and pay for you to heal them. You’d get a percentage, and it’d be a real money-spinner. Overhead would be minimal because every morning you could multiply some loaves and fishes. You could strike it rich!” “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God,” Jesus said. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received comfort.” “Oh, come on, Jesus,” Pious Paul protested. “Don’t go socialist on me again. Please don’t encourage class warfare. The best way to help the needy is to give public money to the rich. That then inspires the poor to work harder, galvanizes the sick to become healthy, forces the lepers to solve their own problems rather than kick back and depend on others. That’s why any realistic health plan has to focus on providing less coverage for the poor, and big tax benefits for the rich. When millions of people lose health care, that’s when a country is great again!” “From everyone who has been given much,” Jesus told him, “much will be required.” “Well, sure, this hospital would have a foundation to do some charity work. Maybe commissioning portraits of The Donald to hang in the entrance. But let’s drop this bleeding heart nonsense about health care as a human right, and see it as a financial opportunity to reward investors. In this partnership, 62 percent of the benefits would go to the top 0.6 percent — perfect for a health care plan.” Jesus turned to Pious Paul on his left and said: “Be gone! For I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; and I was sick, and you did not help me.” “But, Lord,” protested Pious Paul of Ryan, “when did I see you hungry or thirsty or sick and refuse to help you? I drop your name everywhere. And I’m pro-life!”

Also, the "wiretapping" Trump said "sick" Obama ordered on him.... So, here are the possibilities: Obama ordered an illegal surveillance Some agency did this illegally There was a legal investigation (with warrant and proper procedure) about something, like Russian hacking. Trump is a liar. Given DJT's history, which one do you thing is most probable?... By the way, he's the president now, so he can find out whether this took place, or that million of illegals voted, or the kind of "carnage" he inherited, or the unemployment figure, or the FBI, CIA, NSA findings on Russian interference, etc, etc. As we knew during the campaign, Trump is a man-child, ill-tempered for the office, a buffoon and an ignoramus, and a narcissistic pathological liar. Sadly, this is not my "liberal" opinion, it's the facts. Politifact

So, what happened to, "I have a plan that will cost less and will insure everyone"? Now, "nobody knew health care was so complicated!"... Is that possible that Trump didn't have a plan for health care? Now he's relying on Speaker Ryan to promote something that will conservatives don't like and the CBO says it'll make 24 mil. lose health coverage. Are we great yet?

You both say reasonable things which should be the basis for meaningful reforms. Instead we have people on both sides who find the worst behaviors and abusers to support their views. In my view, this approach is not at all helpful. Those who generalize too much or wilfully want to create false impresssions perfrom a disservice and if they post here (which they do) demean this forum. (that;s my 3-cent contribution)

@1789 I'll forgo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX DEL Surely, you can't be serious when you say that the Bible doesn't condone stealing and murdering, are you? Do you read only those passages that makes you feel good? To begin with, any book that includes instructions how to keep slaves can't be a sources of morality. Slavery is worse than stealing, at least. Oh, do you want more examples? OK. Here there are: God will kill the Egyptian children to show that he puts "a difference between the Egyptians and Israel." 11:7 Joshua, with God's approval, kills the Amalekites "with the edge of the sword." 17:13 ; various times God instructs his followers to invade, rape, loot, and pillage. Well, not kill all.... "keep their virgin daughters for yourselves" he says... "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Thousands of innocent women have suffered excruciating deaths because of this verse. 22:18 Those who break the Sabbath are to be executed. 31:14 ; same with disobedient children and adulterous wives! God tells the Israelites to make slaves out of their neighbors and their families. The "heathens" and "strangers" are to be their possessions forever. 25:44-46 Gee is this stealing? I wonder... After God killed Korah, his family, and 250 innocent bystanders, the people complained saying, "ye have killed the people of the Lord." So God, who doesn't take kindly to criticism, sends a plague on the people. And "they that died in the plague were 14,700." 16:41-50 If you worship the wrong god, God will get jealous and kill you. 6:15 God instructs the Israelites to kill, without mercy, all the inhabitants (strangers) of the land that they conquer. 7:2 do you want more?.... OK, I'll throw in a freebie: 9 million children under the age of 5 die every year from natural disasters and diseases. Go to any children's hospital and if you have any heart, you'll begin to cry.... Unless suffering doesn't matter, or early death that gets to heaven (?). I suppose this is part of the grand design? You say, "the Church did some heinous things but the Church did some good things that many people would be grateful for." Some heinous things? Again, are you serious? No other institution has done so much evil for so long. I guess, your God is OK with murder and torture, and stealing from the vulnerable and the poor. It's is the Enlightenment that has given you the kind of life (science and freedom and opportunity and open tolerant society) you enjoy today. The Jacobins weren't promoting the ideals of the E. including ind. rights, due process, etc. They were acting more like theocrats. There you go with Obama, again....but, your knowledge about "God fearing Washington" reveals that you are not really well versed about the deists. Though it reveals your view: God fearing. Precisely. It's fear that paralyzes the mind, and it's fear that makes people drop to their knees... Peace.

I can't prove it, but I sense Russia must have something on Trump, otherwise I can't explain his reluctance to criticize Putin and Russia. Even Bill O'Reilly (Fox News) was taken aback the other day: When Trump said he respected Putin, O'Reilly responded: "He's a killer, though. Putin's a killer." Trump fired back: "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?"

I don't know if anyone would want to "invest" As you said, investment assumes some kind of profit, and PAO won't be profitable for a long while. The club needs serious money soon just to survive and much more to improve to the point of being competitive in Europe. That's not likely. But even domestically I doubt the sport is very profitable given the economic situation and the bad quality. I watch games on tv or internet when I can but the spectacle is boring, very low entertainment value. Rooting for a team makes it more interesting but ...

So, what should the purpose of this site be? What is the "mission statement"?

Trump's national security adviser general Flynn is in hot water because, allegedly, he was talking to the Russians about lifting US sanctions. Apparently VP Pence and others are miffed about Flynn's less than honest disclosures to them. I'm very disappointed with Trump's picks for his cabinet, with the exception of UN Ambassador, and Secy of Defense. But, 90% of Republicans approve of what he's doing so far.

Yes, great show, but is that all people want? What would you do if could go to Westworld? I also think that fantasy could be fun to pursue at times. I've played video games, even thought about how it'd be to kill another human being, but I hold that human lives are very precious, and I'm not at all violent. Could I kill? Possibly, but in self defense or to save other lives from unjustified violence. So, Westworld is a fantasy world where I think it's OK to play in-person "video" games. It's those in the real world who think violence is the first option that I'm concerned of.

I said, As to the dance around the issues, some people are conservative first. The rest is finding ways to attack their opponents. If you are a conservative, you are religious; you have archaic ideas about gender roles; you're uptight about anything sexual; you don't like individual choice if it's not what you do; you place law and order above fairness, tolerance and diversity. And, and you believe in myths,from religion to the American dream that everyone has equal access to opportunity, and that blacks had it better under slavery. I stand by it, and you're saying absolutely nothing to dispute it. You are a conservative above all, with the traits above. I am not doing what conservatives are doing, not by a long shot. I'm allowing you to have individual choice, live your life the way you seem fit, believe whatever you want, disagree with me, have a subservient wife, observe your religious laws, and have discussions with your god. I don't care. Who's fighting to prevent individual choice? Who's fighting against freedom of conscience? heh? But, I do care when you, and other religious, conservatives want the rest of us to do the same or stand by when your ilk wants take the country back to the dark ages. But, what's new? This has always been the case with conservatives and the religious nuts who are hell-bent in forcefully saving us from hell. Thanks but no thanks.

Surely, you can't be serious about Western values resting on Judeo-Christian values... Unless, you, like other Xtian apologists pick and choose certain passages to justify what you want at the time. I could find you other passages in the holy book that contradict whatever you find, which is also a strong indication that the Bible was written by several men over long time, with lots of disagreements about important events and details. Xtian Tolerance? Com'on, dude. Anyone even with a shallow knowledge of history knows how vicious, murderous, bloodthirsty the Church has been. It comes all smiles today, because it wants us to forget the past, and because it has given so much in terms of power. It's the Enlightenment (Age of Reason) that gave the west it's humanistic face, with tolerance, individual choice--which includes the right of free worship or no worship--freedom of expression, etc. while being fought tooth and nail by the church. And, yes, it mattered (still does) how the vast majority of the faithful and their leaders understand their religion and practice it. Capitalism? It was the liberals (like Adam Smith), children of the Enlightenment, who in promoting individual rights also advocated for ind. economic rights. The Church for centuries was exploiting the people (serfs) often as the largest landlord under feudalism. So it was against capitalism or any system that would life the people out of poverty and ignorance. (I wonder why...) Even until the 18th c.the Catholic Church condemned capitalism as evil. Only the Calvinists (Protestant "ethic") were very capitalistic, because they believed God had chosen them to be successful (how convenient). Sorry, buddy, but you managed to pack so many inaccuracies (alternative facts?) in a couple short paragraphs. Remarkable.

Me thinks it's the unreasonable people who have a particular view and won't change for any reasonable argument or fact. Decent people with a working intelligent brain don't support hate, bigotry, and violence, against other innocent human beings. I also think that trying to promote a cause and bring about peaceful change then you shouldn't justify violence or hate. Otherwise it leads to blindness, and loss of perspective. One bad action doesn't justify another bad one. It's sad that, at least in rhetoric, several of the posts here are like that. It's simple. Have they been (still are) abusive cops? Yes. Do minorities have a reason to be fearful? Or, have they suffered abuse? Yes, yes. You can't dismiss centuries of slavery and discrimination because "it's the past" as if that has no effect for the present. Have there been violent people part of (or claim to be) the BLM? yes. Does racism exist at least in equal % among blacks as among whites? yes. Is crime higher in low income, low education, low opportunity communities (all of which are dis-proportionally black)? yes. Do conditions a person live in influence their behavior? Of course. If you were sent to prison, you'd be a bad ass in order to survive. It's similar situation in some neighborhoods. No, I do not support nor do I excuse such violent behavior, but I understand the causes of it. Some people here frame it as a race issue. I don't have respect for those who race-bait, nor will I be reading the garbage put out by such people here.

The Dem party is not my ancestors nor do I care to defend what conservatives did generations ago under whatever name. It's a shame that the progressive party, the Republican, betrayed its values when was bought by big money and gave home to religious nuts, bigots, and racists. But, since you ELLA apparently believe in "original sin" (what Eve did that condemned all humanity), then I expect you to be a man and apologize for the following: Do you know your ANCESTORS had slaves? Do you know that Greeks committed atrocities? Do you know your church abused poor people, raped children, and cooperated with the occupiers Ottomans? I expect an apology from you for EACH of those offenses.

probably cooking you a meal, cleaning/fixing your house, or mowing your lawn.. are you 1 issue person or a conservative? (or both?)

Have you noticed that the worst chicken hawks are the ones who never served? As to the dance around the issues, some people are conservative first. The rest is finding ways to attack their opponents. If you are a conservative, you are religious; you have archaic ideas about gender roles; you're uptight about anything sexual; you don't like individual choice if it's not what you do; you place law and order above fairness, tolerance and diversity. And, and you believe in myths,from religion to the American dream that everyone has equal access to opportunity, and that blacks had it better under slavery.

Yeah, but after America's first place, who's second?????

Is there no motivation, or they just can't play well? Or, both? I'd guess PAO has a much bigger budget than Levadiakos and most of the other Greek teams, but PAO doesn't seem to get it together this season.

This is when ideology, (especially those ideas derived from ages and societies steeped in ignorance), prevents good-meaning people from doing sensible things that actually help humanity. Take for example abortion, a thing nobody likes. I mean everybody wants to have as few abortions as possible; none would be ideal. We can all agree to this. Now, what makes abortions rare? What are those factors that reduce abortions? Why in 2016 (source) we had the fewest abortions in the US since 1973 when the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade (legalizing abortion)? The facts are there, and they show that sex ed and most importantly women having access to birth control are what reduces abortions drastically. This is what has made abortion to decline for the last 20+ years What do you think Trump and the conservatives are doing now?.... Something that works or something that doesn't? The con leaders either prefer wilful ignorance or want to impress the religiously conservative base.... So, yeah, now with Trump and Pence at the WH, they'll begin to teach ..abstinence and the fear of God as preferred (but failed) method against abortion, while they'll be de-funding women's health clinics and education in human reproduction. Are we great yet?

Even Chris Wallace of Fox News said today that he was there and saw thin crowds. Trump is a pathological liar. I've lost count how many times he's argued that he never said something when there are videos of him saying so. I'm trying to figure out why someone would be doing this when there's ample evidence that he's lying. Are they totally disconnected from reality. Or, maybe Trump took George Costanza's advice:

In an alternative universe, the FBI director came out 10 days before the election and said he's investigating the fraudulent Trump "university" and that Hillary had asked Russia to hack into Trump's tax returns.... and then HRC won the election but lost the popular vote by 3 million votes... I reckon all the Republicans would be stepping over each other to go to her inauguration and support her as the 45th president of the US. Just like they did with the 44th president.

Great read, Mr. Adams. The Krugmeister has another good one https://nyti.ms/2jPeHnO