Willihammer

Huh? I don't know what we're arguing about anymore. If I see a northerner with a confederate flag, I assume that person is probably a racist. And I'm the last person to throw that label at someone. I specifically said "southern" white person in my post because I think the symbolism has a more complicated heritage that includes post-Civil War years, ie. beyond slavery, for them.

How so?

Don't you think your viewpoint could be colored growing up in the north? Its not a mistake to paint all southerners who embrace "southern pride" as glorifying slavery? I can't do that.

I agree that the people coming from out of state to use the Gen. Lee statue as a platform for their own agendas are confusing things. They might still be protected by the first amendment, I don't know. The violence doesn't help. The irony is, the Charlottesville city council voted to remove the thing. Self determination and local government were pillars of the Confederacy, as I understand it. So by inflating it into a national thing, it seems they're undermining the wish of the locals. As for confederate symbols in general, I learned a while ago that I'll probably never fully understand white southerners' attachments to them. I do know that there is more to these things than slavery and racism. For some people at least.

From the article you posted above I admit I'm not sure how the first amendment applies, but they seem to feel it does. Like most folks I think free speech is worth protecting, even if I don't like the message being protected.

Maybe everyone knows already that the Charlottesville protests were initially spurred by a free speech question regarding the taking down of the statue. Is anyone even a little bit conflicted about that?

Godwin's law in full effect I see. I appreciate that Trump could do some lasting damage to this country but its impossible for him to be a Hitler type dictator even if he wanted to be. The best comp I've heard for him so far is former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/21/if-berlusconi-is-like-trump-what-can-italy-teach-america

Levine practically apologized for being unable to complete a trade in the Strib last week. The Twins “have placed a lot of [waiver] claims on players we think can help our team,” Levine said, but have not been able to negotiate a trade. “It’s not for lack of effort on our part,” he added. “We’ve already pivoted once in this process, and I think we demonstrated a willingness to respond to the way the team is performing. … We have the support of ownership to do it, and we’re going to continue to be creative and aggressive the rest of the season to help our team.” Sounds like they want to add a player(s). I assume bullpen, but we can't say for sure I guess. In any case, its another reason to over-prepare before the season starts, because you can't necessarily swing a trade later, especially in August.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/east-notes-yankees-mets-nava-orioles-de-leon.html

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=32521

Well no, they can't evidently.

I do like the Lewis pick, and the Enlow pick. And Rooker. And Leach. But there has been a fair amount of churn since the season started, ie. Jay, Stewart, and Rortvedt. At least Gordon, Gonsalves, Javier and others are hanging on though.

Man, Jay, Stewart, Rortvedt all fell of the top 10 since preseason.

China is far from a liberal democracy but its a lot better than it used to be. The reason, I believe, is the rise of its middle class, which occurred over the past 4 - 1/2 decades after Nixon formalized relations. Before then we viewed Taiwan as the true government. The situation in Korea looks similar I think.

I don't think there's any question the defense has taken a step back this year. But the tools are still there, he just has to play better.