I'm so stooped I sit on steps

[NCOriolesfan]

Originally Posted by rfp

What is more serious to me is folks whose jobs have been moved overseas, folks without medical insurance who have suffered a major medical setback, kids who have incurred substantial tuition debts on the advice of college financial counselors, etc. ... I could go on.

If I have to look left and right while locking my car when parking near the inner harbor for a night out, that is not the biggest problem facing America.

Vote Republican in 2012 and see where that gets you.

Sorry if this is off topic — but it is my area of concern these days.

What President signed NAFTA into law?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by NCOriolesfan

What President signed NAFTA into law?

The subtext of NAFTA was to increase work and income capacity in MEXICO.
This is (still) a good motivation. But when that development is done poorly
and done absent real protection from illegal border crossing... it becomes the farce it is.

[Pammyd]

Originally Posted by barante

I want to call everyone's attention to the latest brouhaha in Mobtown: Is is sitting on stoops or steps? Tempers flare over this question. Some natives claim that stoop-sitting -- even though sanctioned by the Maryland Historical Society in an exhibit -- is heresy preached by wannabe pretenders. That real people always sit on steps. (See the Union Square facebook page for details).
This is very dangerous. After all, countless of people have died in Baltimore -- and all this may be documented by perusing newspaper files -- in Thanksgiving family quarrels over who gets white/dark meat. A bunch of turkeys, those Baltimorons. They get violent over just about anything.
BTW, since the Inner Harbor mobs are much talked about, read a terrific book about the 1840s when real mobs terrorized Baltimore. They were centered around competing volunteer fire companies that were extensions of political parties. An amazing amount of killing, much authorized by police which protected whatever fire companies belonged to the party in power. The book is called Hanging Henry Gambrill, the publisher is Maryland Historical Society, if you want to stoop that low.

I love your post! I am a big history nut so to me this was super interesting. I had no idea that mobs went back to the 1840's; not surprised. People tend to forget that there has always been some sort of crime around and I think perhaps even way back to the 1600's when they use to hang witches in Salem. I have seen different stories in history books of how they use to pile stones on top of a criminal in order to punish him not thinking the weight would eventually kill him. Interesting stuff. I am going to look for that book you mentioned. Might be a good read.

I use to live up in Northern Maine and they too have some rather odd expressions that perhaps go way back to earlier days. The driveway as we call it is the "dooryard", the counter in the kitchen is "the sideboard", the toilet is the "flush" and I am sure if you lookl into the history of Northern Maine you will find lots more they say that makes absolutely no sense. I lived there for 11-12 years and moved back here to the city sounding truly like a "farmer"..lol. Great place to raise kids but then?????? Thanks again for your post.

[NCOriolesfan]

Originally Posted by MrRational

The subtext of NAFTA was to increase work and income capacity in MEXICO.
This is (still) a good motivation. But when that development is done poorly
and done absent real protection from illegal border crossing... it becomes the farce it is.

Screw the party's! People on both sides need to wake up to what's going on.

[rfp]

Obama has been a disappointment to me. I won't vote for him again. He is the better of two sorry choices, but I won't vote for someone whose only qualification is that he is better than the other guy.

The only lever I'll be pulling is for Leslie Coolidge (look her up if you want to know where I live). Her chances are slim and none in my district.