" why can't the auburn school board have a decrease in the tax levy instead of always an increase. always their pet projects. vote no "

" Time to get rid of the guns. Last week it was elders in a nursing home, now the innocents in Binghamton. Have we already forgotten Virginia Tech? Citizens in the Old West ended the violence and terror in their communities and demanded that guns be locked up and strictly limited in their use. I say it's time again to confront this issue. The guy who needs a gun in his pocket to maintain his perpetual erection can be issued free pills. "

" cm
Today's knees last about 15 years and only the plastic that seperates the metal needs to be replaced. The second time is less of an operation and recovery time is a lot less than the first time.
My doctor did mine when I was 53. All the other doctors wanted to wait until I was 65.
My doctor asked if I wanted to spend the next 12 years in pain or would I rather get the knee replacement.
I had the knee done.That was 6 years ago.
I saw the doctor last year and he said to come back in 5 years for the next check up. "

" Why not hands-free at least? If you are on the road all day, sounds like it would be worth the investment, and a good preventative against traffic tickets!

On the subject of "liberals" and "right-wingers" (worn-out terms with which I don't hold much stock) -- no, that's not my experience. Working not only in academia, but in Ithaca, where not too long ago they elected a mayor from the Communist Party, you meet a whole lot more people who would self-identify as "liberal" than most other places.

I have found more narrow-minded, intolerant people than you might imagine -- people who think that you MUST be PC, as if it were a law written in stone, and who have zero tolerance for anyone outside a pretty narrow band of views they find acceptable.

I have always found this ironic, that so many people who preach tolerance have so little themselves.

There are a lot of hypocrites among academics -- they'll tolerate and even embrace ethnic and racial differences, and sexual-orientation differences (though I meet many who are snide and nasty about marriage and children), and religion (as long as you don't have any, or if you do, it's very moderate and you keep it to yourself), and gender equality (except if you have to take time off work to deal with your family or children) -- but almost no tolerance whatsoever for political views outside that narrow band they consider acceptable.

I have known people who considered themselves politically "to the right of Darth Vader" who were more tolerant of differences and more decent to individual persons than many a a so-called "liberal" academic with whom I have worked.

So, no, I don't find they are more tolerant than some so-called right-wing hotheads. I think there are a lot of extremely intolerant people in the world, very judgemental and unkind (if not worse) to others, and that their political orientation has little to do with it.

By comparison, it makes my self-professed personal low tolerance for bad grammar look like a very minor quirk indeed. "

" FG, I always respect your views and we mostly agree, but occasionally we disagree. We had a pretty good running battle of wits over the DPW situation but we never resort to personal attacks as some do. I am on the road all day and I answer my phone on the road, but just for a quick response as to where I am heading and I will call you back when I get to my destination. I can concentrate on driving and talking for a quick conversation as my mind may travel from the phone but not the road. I have had bad experiences with friends who have pulled over to make a phone call or check a map and they were nearly killed and one incident where a friend was killed on the shoulder of the highway. I personally find it safer to use the phone than to pull over. My personal opinion may not be best for others. If I was operating my vehicle in a reckless way while using the phone I would expect to receive a ticket. My personal opinion does not make your opinion any less valid. Is it just a coincidence or are the more liberal people able to disagree with each other and seem to have a more flexible world view and the right wingers are always in lockstep? "

" More than half the time I ignore the polls because they don't offer the response I would give. Most of the other half I also ignore them because they are asking about things about which I could not care less.

Hey, brew, no offense on my disagreement with your position the other day, I hope. I still sincerely disagree, but you have your head on straight most of the time and I do respect your input.

(The only reason I have such a high percentage of posts the past two days is that I am stuck here at my computer while nearly everyone else is out having a good time. At least I got a couple hours of yardwork in and spent time visiting my elderly neighbor on one side, and chatting with my neighbor on the other side too). "

" Why don't we change our polictical system completely and govern by Citizen online polls? We don't need to elect representatives to serve in office. Just govern by the results of the Citizen online polls. What a brilliant idea you poor fool. For one thing these polls seem to be dominated by a group of very negative whiners and complainers. They don't seem to be very useful in determining the average citizens view. But you feel that the city manager should be bound by these polls? "

" "World economy" is BS -- I guess you noticed! Glad to hear you were able to enjoy a day, cm. I spent a lot of mine tied to the computer, grading papers and working on my last lecture for class. (About half-2/3 done). Then I had to go outside and rake and do some yardwork because while it is sunny, 50 and lovely today, it is supposed to return to cr*ppy weather again tomorrow.

Yesterday was bad enough -- cold, rain, snow, and strong winds. I saw cars yesterday with more than an inch of snow on them.... "

" PS I am soooooo sick of hearing how the USA is giving billions to whatever country this month...
How is this even possible when we are borrowing for us?
we will now borrow for them too only in our name???

...thankyou China for your loans?! "

" FG after HE cant control you, he continues to control your children, which inturn still controls you!
horrible circle..

court in 2 wks..pray for me Karl..lol
since I am forced into what is right now,
pray I am alive to make it to court! "

" hello! a few minutes of computer time at the sons house, after being at the pool with the grandkids! what a beautiful day in Florida it is.

I also need knee replacements, as of 1996. but I was only 34 then, and the doctors refused to do them then. They seem to say suffer until you are about 55-ish! the main problem with replacements are ONE piece of plastic, that only holds up for 6 years right now, leaving more surgery every 6 yrs.

Hopefully when its my time that will have made new plastic! hahaha "

" lmao ya right "

" Different opinions and different voices are welcome. You either hold your own or you don't. The Bone and I are currently disagreeing, but respectfully. She has valid points, which I acknowledged, and I think I have some valid points too. We may or may not come to agreement, but we've explored some ideas and done so without acrimony. That's my standard mode unless someone gets in my face, and even then I try to stick to a decorous manner (which often requires me to ignore rude and antagonistic behaviors).

I have a personal bugaboo, which is communication skills which are so bad that meaning is lost, but I've been trying to learn to be a little more tolerant of weak spelling or grammar skills (as long as the meaning is coming across). That's my personal quirk and I confess to it.

But you haven't seen ME trying to "chase off" anyone. "

" Thats because they have a tendency to chase away those who offer differing views. "

" sos, same 5 people "

" I see that the father who shot his 5 children in a trailer par in Washington State was another case of a wife who tried to leave her husband, only to have him commit murder. Men have to learn they do not have the right to control the women in their lives -- if she's had enough, let her go, she does not belong to you and you have no right to try to force her to stay, or to punish her for going.

I know I am making a generalization and that there are plenty of decent men out there in loving, sharing, equal partnerships. But sadly, there are still plenty who are not that mature, and many of them are violent when they realize they have "lost control" of the other person. "

" I should have typed "illegaly," since an adverb was required, but I was typing too fast and didn't stop to proof. "

" I think we live in a diseased society, and the symptoms are coming to a head. The problem is holistic, the whole system, so trying to treat one tiny corner isn't going to solve it.

There are many sick people out there. the thing is, once a sick person decides s/he has nothing to lose and is not afraid to die, that person is capable of anything, and there's not much anyone can do to stop the person. Making guns illegal won't stop a person who is prepared to kill innocent people as well as himself. Perhaps he gets a gun illegal (what's a gun charge compared to murder; what's a gun charge to a dead guy?) Perhaps he decides to run people down with a car, or slit throats, or make a bomb and blow people up.

At the point beforehand, when the person has not yet done anything, people who know him (or her) may be nervous or uncomfortable and they may even mention it to some authority, but what can be done? You can't lock a person up on suspicion he'll go postal some time in the future. It can take years to have someone committed, and there has to be cause first.

I don't have an answer either, Bone. I also can't say if we are really seeing an increase in this kind of violent crime, or if it just SEEMS like we are, because of increased media coverage making us more aware of it. You also can't entirely discount the effect of copycat crimes.

The media is going to carry stories of violent crimes, which is also their right, but more because the stories sell newspapers (and radio, and TV and websites) than for any other reason. Like a bad eating habit, the public eats it up and wants more. Individuals who are already mentally unbalanced find a focus for their rage, a plan, an idea, in these news stories, and see how much attention they can get, and there you go again.

Yet you can't advocate stifling a free press because mentally unstable people get inspired by reading about the crimes of other nutcases.

No, I have no answer to all this either, and I share your sorrow and desire to make it stop. But it also makes me angry when groups with a political agenda use a tragedy to manipulate the honest concerns of caring people to their own ends -- taking away our rights as another little step towards stifling our ability to stand up to them. "

" Farmer's Gal,I agree with you.BUT something has to be done about these events. I never shot a gun or rifle and never will. I feel that We should take a good look on how to stop this. I have no idea what to do but we need to do something. Look now it happened in Pittsburg 3 people are dead.Again I will pray for them. "

" Those who would strip us of our Constitutional rights have no shame about USING a tragic event to justify taking away our rights, and too many people get suckered into believing a loss of rights would be "good for us." When it comes to rights, you have to think with your head, not your emotions.

I have a very dear friend in Binghamton, and it happens she is also Chinese. She's even the head of a local Chinese American Association. I spent a while in touch with her yesterday, to see how she was doing and make sure none of her family or friends came to any harm yesterday. She's shaken up, but OK. Her main concern, aside for sorrow for the victims and their families, was that would be a backlash against Asians in the Binghamton area in general.

I feel the same way about gun rights. I don't own one myself, nor have I fired one in many years, but I stand by our Constitutional right to bear them and become very uncomfortable when people start using a tragedy as an excuse to give up our rights. "

" I am sorry but,with all the senseless shootings, We need to curb gun ownership. I know that people will cry that its their rights to bear arms,but something needs to done. My prayers go out to all familes and friends. "

" I once went to see a pro soccer game at the Silverdome outside Detroit -- that would have been around 1980 or 1981. I've never attended any other men's pro athletic event. I suspect that boycotting baseball games wouldn't be very effective coming from me, LOL! "

" RE: Baseball games
I heard on TV (Arizona) this a.m. that the NY Yankees have the highest charge for their games. The average charge for a Diamondback's game is $14. It's no wonder that the Yanks can afford to pay millions for their players when they can charge and receive over $850,000 per season for a suite! If people would boycott high-priced ball teams, then the players salaries would be forced to fall within "normal" limits (whatever that may be...I think all sports players are overpaid). "

" Well after the online vote they held to reopen the fire house on fredrick st, It appears the tax payers have spoken! Mark you work for the tax payers not for yourself! Will he admit he was wrong and reopen it? 75% said yes, listen to your employers mark! You have wasted enough of our money, time for you to move along! "

" Thank you all for the knee replacement input. As it turns out, Dr. Izant is my orthopedic physician and I am quite confident in his ability.

I already do exercizes to keep the muscles in shape, and luckily I am in fairly good health at age 48 and weigh 120 pounds, so there are those things in my favor.

I appreciate the feedback. Now all I have to do is get it over with. ANGDAD is already planning culinary treats to get me past the hospital food.

Here's wishing a pleasant weekend to all. "

" Hold off as long as you can with your knees. Age makes a big difference on how you recover and how long they last. I need both done,but I am only 52. "

" I may have to have a knee replacement eventually, but I have experience with emergency knee surgery, plus my ex-mother-in-law had both knees replaced.

Take your physical therapy / rehab very, very seriously! My mother-in-law was on the hefty side and extremely sedentary and didn't put enough effort into the rehab -- and had the knee lock up -- they ended up having to "break" it and re-do it.

I expect hers was an extreme case -- I'm not trying to scare you -- everyone else I've ever known who had it, it went well. My surgery went well too -- and they started me on PT within hours of waking up from surgery. That's the thing -- you have to get it moving right away.

Follow their instructions and you should do great! Good luck, AngMom -- I am heading home a little early to take a cat to the vet -- wish I could just go home and sit in a lawn chair reading a book. Ahhhh! "

" I had a knee replacement about 5 years ago. Dr Timothy Izant is probably the best in Central NY. When the other doctors screw up, they bring him in to fix it. I had an operation that was supposed to give me 8 years before I would need a replacement. It lasted 8 months. Dr. Izant had to remove all the metal that was used on the first operation and then do the replacement.
A normal replacement takes about 21/2 hrs to do. Mine took 5 hrs because of all the junk he had to take out.
Four days in the hospital, two weeks at home therapy, 8 weeks, three times a week therapy away from home and you will be playing golf.
I have no pain in the knee and it should be good for at least anouthe 10 to 15 years.
Good luck! "

" Would everyone please keep an eye out for the three finger skeleton stolen from the nursing school? I hear that they are very dangerous........... "

" Greetings to all. What a beautiful weather day!

I was wondering if anyone out there has experience or expertise regarding knee replscement surgery. Apparently i need one, or should I say two. First to remove the pins I currently own, and second to slap the new knee in place.

Lot's of fun. From what I have heard, it is a dreaded, dreadful process.

Any input or suggestions would be much appreciated. "

" Typo -- "loud," not "lous." "

" I can't take loud noise, Karl, and have a ruptured disk I have to treat with caution -- so I don't think you'll be getting me on that bike ;-) My football pounding days are behind me too, I'm afraid....

I'm thinking about taking up hiking -- something that would be challenging, enjoyable, outdoors, quiet, refreshing yet peaceful, where I could set goals and work hard to achieve them, but wouldn't involve hard pounding, particulary of the back and knees.

(Even when I was young, I couldn't take lous, noisy motors). "

" FG--all it would take is one time on a bike, soaring about 20 feet in the air over a double jump and feeling the thrill of competition, and you'd be hooked, like me!

Or better yet--bouncing over and through the mud bogs, swamps, over the trees and roots and rocks and stumps of the race course in the woods racing that I do--bbrrRRRAPP!--that is puuuuure HEAVEN!! "

" 'Fraid that while baseball bores me silly, gas-guzzling, ear-splitting, mud-spattered motocross interests me even less. Sorry, Karl! I am a football girl all the way, and always glad to see the Commissioner clamping down and insisting on reform.

Back to my viewing of the 1973 Superbowl, Dolphins over Redskins for the only perfect season in NFL history. Too bad Netflix has only the highlights film -- I wanted to watch the GAME, start to finish. It's all I have through the long, dry off-season, sigh. "

" sos "

" DID you guys see the story on the price of going to a Major League baseball game these days?

Remember that motocross races cost only a fraction of that!

Why anyone would pay that kind of money to see doped-up, steroid-sweating, overpaid, spittle-drooling crybabies throw a ball around is BEYOOOOOND me! "

" I think that the Police need to do their job first before asking for a raise. I didnt get a raise this year. When the Police do something about the drug house on my block and in Auburn then and only then should they get a raise. The reason why I say this is that I gave them plenty of evidence and they still do nothing. "

" Obviously whoever made that first comment failed the civil service test. Do you need help? "