MattZ

Yes, you can be, but that's not the crux of this case or this thread. The argument before the justices was whether a punishment of death in this case is disproportionate. This was decided under the 8th Amendment (ie, "cruel and unusual punishment"). Yeah, that was my point in my initial post above. The question of whether the punishment is disproportionate really seemed like a no brainer to me. no one would argue that. The question is whether death is the right penalty.

This seemed like a no-brainer decision to me. Executing someone for a crime that does not result in the death of the victim is disproportionate by definition. I don't say that lightly -- I would agree that there's no lower skum in the world than a child rapist. Except for someone that commits pre-meditated murder.

Coming to a town near you: Silver Jews - 2008 Tour Dates 08/28 Milo Columbus, OH 08/29 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH 08/30 William Pitt Union Assembly Pittsburgh, PA 08/31 Crofoot Pontiac, MI 09/02 Lee's Palace Toronto, ON,CAN 09/03 La Sala Rossa Montreal, QC,CAN 09/04 Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, MA 09/05 Middle East Boston, MA 09/06 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY 09/07 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY 09/09 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA 09/10 Black Cat Washington, DC 09/11 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC 09/12 Grey Eagle Asheville, NC 09/13 Variety Atlanta,

I'd also like to point out that the "liberal media" and the party's pocketed "527s" (eg, moveon.org) are doing an excellent job (if you search for it) of criticizing their own for what is happening and doing what they can to get grass roots support for getting immunity out of the bill.

As I said a few pages ago, this is a much more important issue (to me) than these other issues stealing the headlines...

I found Carlin's bitterness at the end to be particularly sad. I took it to mean that he was beaten down by the BS in the world, and he knew that he'd lived long enough to know that it was getting worse with no end in sight. Maybe I was reading into it too much, but it struck me that had given up. Or that he knew he couldn't change anything. Not sure that makes any sense.

that just about made my day. Thanks Wendy.

This is a much bigger deal to me than the campaign finance issues that are stealing the headlines. Damn.

I've had a few days with this release now, and I can't stop playing it. The first spin was a bit of a head scratcher. I didn't really get it and felt below par. But something clicked and now I love it. Putting the needle down on the album is like stepping into another world. There's nothing like escaping into a Silver Jews album. Open Field. It works! Maybe if someone else wrote that song, I'd think it was crap and turn it off. But when David Berman does it, it just works for me. Same with Candy Jail and Party Barge and, well, every other tune on there. Dang, I love this guy. G

It's not just hooks though -- the guy just knows how to craft a song. He is a master. It's really stunning. Bridges and harmonies and hooks. How about the harmony on Turpentine? Ain't no one doing that. He is so much better than everyone out there. The mix reminds of This Year's Model in spots too. Especially that organ on American Gangster Time. Right outta Radio Radio. I need some more time with the album to give a final opinion, but this one is definitely going to get quite a few spins.

I held off on this for a rainy day. Had the vinyl, but wanted to wait until I had the time to sit and really listen. I had stayed away from all reviews except the chatter in this thread. Completely agree with the Brutal Youth comparisons. Especially at the beginning. A few quick thoughts after 2 listens: 1. When I listen to Elvis after a long hiatus, I realize how so far superior he is to virtually EVERY other songwriter I listen to. The guy is just a flat out genius. Stunning. 2. This record has sort of a loosey-goosey feel and it helps and hurts. Makes for a fun time, but it see

Would anyone be kind enough to do a B&P or some other arrangement for The Genuine Basement Tapes? I've never heard these... Thanks in advance if anyone can help. Just shoot me a PM. I will be your best friend forever.

Man, David Brooks is a clown.

I second this request. Thanks!

Awesome!! My two in one pack was a cool story too, I think. I saved and saved and saved my money to buy a box of packs. I didnt have the money or any interest in saving up to buy the Griffey a la carte, but I thought it was a better idea to spend less on the box, with the hope that I'd get one Griffey as all the other good cards from that year. So anyway, like I said, I saved and saved. I finally had enough money and I made the purchase. I ran home and started ripping open packs. I was getting good cards, but with 3 packs left, I hadn't gotten a Griffey. If I remember right, even th

If I remember right, that was Upper Deck's first year of production, right? I seem to remember there were a lot of glitches, and I got doubles fairly frequently that year. But just in Upper Deck and just that year. Man, those Upper Deck cards were beautiful when they first came out. So shiny. So much better.

I got two of those in one pack. True story. And I am laughing since you say it "will only rise." I seem to remember thinking that card was worth "$100" back in the old days. You know, before everyone relalized these cards weren't worth crap...

I think Obama has "won" the last couple of weeks, if there is such a thing, and if such a thing mattered. This McCain offshore drilling idea is ludicous and he looks more and more like a flip-flopper every day. Can the base really support this guy? And on a purely superficial level, the guy just looks old and stifff. Too old and too stiff, methinks. (This is the Election 08 thread, btw)

Let's take a step back in the midst of the chaos to acknowledge that the Mets have won 5 of their last 7 series. In other words, I can talk about how my team is "not very good." You can't.

Scrolling through the posters/posts in this thread before I got to the end to post my own thoughts, I realized that Beltmann's awesomeness may actually be the ONLY thing that everyone on this board can agree on. I can't think of anything else. Happy birthday to one of the greats...

I have two issues with this. First, you casually mention "moral or not" but I have yet to hear an example of "not" that is compelling. If someone has moral objections to it, that's fine. But so far as I know, all of these objections are moral objections. And second, it seems to me that the people with moral objections to it, can just as easily choose for themselves not to engage in same sex marriage and abortions, and leave other people to choose for themselves what they should and shouldn't do. So, you criticize the lack of respect for people with moral objections, but the folks with mo

Jeez you Boston fans are having quite a stretch. I don't know that I'd go so far to say that the 86 yrs of Red Sox misery were worth it. I mean, lots of fans lived and died without seeing a World Series championship. But wow, this is pretty close. Congrats to the Celtics fans in the house.

I understand that Michael Jordan's legend has grown to the point where he may never have missed a shot in his entire career. But MJ just made his team better in a way that I don't see Kobe making his team better. I agree that Kobe can get hot and take over a game in a way that I haven't seen since MJ. But I'd still take MJ if my life was on the line. Every time. Not really even close.

Rumor is they didnt want to fire him on father's day. Unbelievable. The Mets: redefining Bush League for all of us!!

Sometimes I wonder why I am a Mets fan. What a joke.