>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/02/scotus.westboro.church/index.html?hpt=C1>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>The courts don't have the common decency or enough balls to do what is right.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>I predict some well deserved fatalities on the Westboro side shortly.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>FWIW, while I detest Westboro's behavior, I think the court ruled correctly in this case. It's not free speech unless we protect the right to say things we hate.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Sorry Tamar, but I have to disagree with you on this one. Their message is hate. If their message were aimed at Jews instead of Homosexuals, would it still be detestable but acceptable? It would not. Nor should it be. Nor would the courts allow it. Spreading hate is spreading hate, even if the target is homosexuals.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>It's not "acceptable" at all. But it is legal. That's the issue (the right to free speech), not whether the speech is hateful.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Of course it's acceptable. The court said so.
If it weren't acceptable, it wouldn't be legal. When society sees something as unacceptable, it creates laws around it. Society sees purse snatching as unacceptable, so it makes it illegal. Society sees prostitution as unacceptable, so it makes it illegal. If this is legal, then society has said it is acceptable. Not all speech is free. There are lots of things one cannot say, and why? Society has deemed those things unacceptable, and hence, illegal.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>That's my point. They are not the same thing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I am not being preachy; it's just a legal point. How's life?
>>>>>
>>>>>Actually, life it quite good right now. I'm even finally over the worst of the spending on my mother's move to assisted living and on getting rid of her car. Now if the price of gas would come back down to earth...
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm not hoping for too much, but the Jays look like they might have an interesting team this year. They seem to have embraced small ball rather than long ball in their trades and drafts. Could be exciting even if they don't make it into the heats.
>>>>
>>>>Sorry to hear about your mom. Death is inevitable but that doesn't make it any easier. All I can say is be a good son to her to the end.
>>>
>>>Thanks, but actually there's nothing to be sorry about at this point. She's quite liking it. It's a beautiful place and they really look after the denizens. When she first moved in, she was impressed. I told her the only real problem with the place was that it was full of old people. She uses a walker (she's 92).
>>>
>>>But she's eating better, her 4 grown grandchildren live in the same city and visit her a lot. She also has 6 grown great-grandchildren in the same city. I don't live there, but the reasoning was that if she stayed in Toronto, I would be it. And I work 81 miles away, but in London, Ontario, she has all those 'kids' who want to see her. And there are all those other folks who live there for her to talk to.
>>>
>>>She steadfastly refuses to use the pool table. I told her, "Hey look, you're already bent over...". Fortunately for my upbringing, she has a good sense of humour.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Here is a terrific article that was in the NY Times about the unlikely friendship of Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry. I loved the parts about Guidry picking Yogi up at the airport and them bickering like old spouses. Here's a guy who went 25-3 one season and won the Cy Young award, coming in second to Jim Rice as MVP, literally carrying an old guy's bags and negotiating with him for a month about where to eat dinner. Yogi has the three places he likes and Guidry has to threaten to leave him to his own devices to vary the routine. Stay home and have macaroni and cheese, then. It sounds like Guidry, a Louisianan, has some cooking chops, but damned if he can lure Yogi outside the three favorites. A life affirming friendship that made me smile.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/sports/baseball/24yogi.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=yogi%20berra&st=cse>>>>
>>>>The Tribune's baseball writer rowed against the current yesterday by writing, in essence, not so fast about the Phillies. He was riffing on comments by Cliff Lee at a press conference that seemed to presume the division championship, the world series, immortality. He wrote that he doesn't think they're even going to win their division. Old bats, no bullpen, injury prone starting pitchers. That may have been a bit dire but I don't think they will win 116 games, either.
>>>>
>>>>Meanwhile, here in Chicago, the Cubs got into their first fisticuffs of the season on day 4 of the new season, LOL. A lot of attitude from a guy who couldn't get anyone out after May and had not done much before. If the Ricketts family is serious about turning the Cubs around they should put him on an ice floe and push it out to sea.
>>>>
>>>>The Brewers, of course, will win their division <g>. Not so long ago that was not a fantasy. Eh, well. A game at Miller Park is always a pleasure. You can't beat fun at the old ball park.
>>>
>>>Overall, I'm looking forward to a fun season. First game I'm going to is in April to see the Yanks get their ***es handed to them. And thanks for the link.
>>
>>It sounds like your mom is doing as well as can be hoped for at her age. Here's hoping longevity runs in the family.
>
>In my family it has tended to gallop. My mother was one of 9 kids and other than one who died in WWII and one who died of Parkinsons very young, the rest are still with us in their mid/late 80s and 90s. On my dad's side; he died at 76 of a heart attack, but his sister is over 90 in a home in British Columbia.
>
>>
>>At least one of the Chicago teams has gone to two tier ticket pricing, charging more for the prime attractions like the Yankees. I have wondered for quite a while when this was going to happen. You pay more for a better car, a better show, etc. Why not more for a better ballgame? My guess is this will spread.
>
>The Jays were doing that at least last year. Before that, I know not. They call them Premium Games.
As though anyone can predict good baseball games. Some of the best games I have ever seen have been unexpected pleasures. You think it's going to be a meaningless game between also-rans and an outstanding catch in the outfield or a triple get your blood going. You just never know. It's a beautiful game.
The most memorable game I ever saw was Roger Clemens mowing down the White Sox at Comiskey Park, way back pre-steroids. He was off the charts that day. The White Sox manager said I can't believe we got any hits off him at all. I think they got three. It was a shutout with 16 K's. He was utterly dominating, a thing of beauty. I am still irritated at him for cheating in his later years -- he might actually go to jail -- but young and clean he was unhittable.
This is pure pleasure -- Ernie Harwell included. Depending on how you feel about Vin Scully and some others, he is one of the baseball announcers who slows life down to a pleasant pulse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxa1SfmB2cE
