K_Mac

Wow. All four games tonight go to overtime. Chicago loses again. A couple of weeks ago they looked like they couldn't lose. Now they can't buy a win. The Maple Leafs winning again makes it quite possible the number one seed in both conferences will be done after one round. I love the playoffs!

If someone would have predicted a week ago that the Blues would be 3-0 and the Blackhawks 0-2 in the first round, we would have laughed about it. So much is about timing in the playoffs; getting hot at the right time, good defense and great goal tending. I am not going to predict anything. I'm just enjoying the ride! It does look like the Maple Leafs think they can beat the Caps. That is shaping up to be a great series. Edmonton and San Jose is interesting. I sure would like to see the Oilers beat the Sharks...

Heck of a game in Minnesota tonight. Gimrius I agree the current playoff format is flawed. It certainly doesn't reward excellent play during the regular season very much. Pittsburgh and Columbus having to face each other in the first round is a good example. My Blues also have a long history of failing in the playoffs regardless of their seeding. They've been breaking my heart for years.

We're off to a great start! Blues win with Jake Allen putting on a goalie clinic in Minnesota and the Blackhawks losing at home to Nashville. My sentimental pick in the West is the Blues, although I would not be surprised to see Chicago in the Cup Finals. In the East I'm taking the favorite to win it all. The Capitals seem to be the complete package, and in Shattenkirk and Oshie are a couple of favorite ex Blues. What do all y'all think?

I think you're right. In all my travels I never saw such a mess. Letting people board, and then telling them they have to go is asking for trouble.

Some would say that your insistence that you would have behaved the same as the doctor if you had been bumped on your return flight from Mexico could be considered ignorant. Disagreement does not equal ignorance. I used to fly often. I missed appointments, deadlines, and important family events as a result of all manner of airline issues. One delay cost me a large amount of money. Fly through Chicago often and you will miss deadlines. Anyone who flys much understands that there are few guarantees. Do you really think making security drag you off the plane is a reasonable plan?

Amen! While there are times when an adult has the God given right (and even the responsibility) to be willfully disobedient in my opinion, this wasn't a stand for civil rights or social injustice. It was the behavior of a petulant child. The argument can be made that the doctors behavior serves to draw attention to the problem. He would still have had plenty of attention and airtime if he had made security show up and then walked off the plane.

I completely agree that overbooking is a bad practice and should be stopped. With that said, if my number comes up I will leave the plane and then do everything I can to make it a very expensive decision by the airline. Refusing to leave the plane is not an acceptable option. Every airline has the right to do it based on our agreeing to it as part of the ticket purchase. I have no sympathy for the good doctor. He isn't any more important than anyone else. He created the situation and got what he deserved in my opinion.

Good to hear from you LBH. I'm glad you're doing well.

My Blues are going to make the playoffs and probably avoid having to play the Blackhawks in the first round. This is a very good thing. The Blues look good, but I have been watching the Blackhawks play a lot over the last few weeks, and they look like they have a step or two on everyone else. It really pains me to say that...

Slone and flechero are absolutely right. I had a partial left knee done about 20 years ago. It has held up remarkably well. If I had worked harder and paid more attention to therapy, I would have more than the 105° of movement I have. It is still much better than it was before the replacement. Mine hurt like a !&#+@ for a couple of weeks. Others I know have little pain. Good luck.

Redline he will not buy you dinner, and you will pay him good money for the privilege! Catch 22 glad you survived the week. Some are better than others...

I think it is very good line for the money, and I use it frequently. It is not very abrasion resistant, and retying often in some applications is necessary. I've used other more expensive fluorocarbons, but on my budget I always come back to Red Label.

I completely agree. In your price range you can't go wrong though. You don't have to spend $200 or more for either a rod or reel to get great performance. Once you get a few combos you can adjust according to technique if you choose. A high-end rod for fishing a jig or plastic on the bottom is a wonderful thing. When cranking, a smooth, powerful reel will be appreciated. Enjoy the process.

I have a tendency to collect rods on deck as the day goes on, even if one or two baits are working fine. I will almost always start the day with 4 or 5 combos on deck, even if I know what's been working. You never know when a chatterbait, or spook, or buzzbait, or wacky rigged Senko, or shakeyhead , or squarebill, or scrounger might work better even if you know a jig or worm or creature will. For me, a big part of part of the enjoyment of fishing is experimenting with different baits and techniques. Don't underestimate the guy in the jon boat or the guy in the high end boat with 20 rods on deck. Making judgements about fishermen (or anyone else) based on equipment is silly in my opinion.

Yes, a flip and a pitch are two different ways of accurately and quietly delivering a bait, generally at close range. Yes, I know some can consistently pitch a jig into a coffee cup under a picnic table from 30 yards, but most of us aren't that good.? I thought I knew how to pitch until I started fish with my current partner. He is the best by far I've ever seen, and I have watched him enough to improve a great deal. He can hit spots that seem impossible. Ask him what he's doing and flipping is his answer. In 5 years I've never once seen him flip a bait, but as good as he is he can call it anything he wants.

Gooldy a Sig 226 is a very fine pistol that is high on my wish list. I have shot several and the trigger is far from "atrocious." Making recommendations based on what you like and why is a good thing, but like fishing equipment, one man's junk is another's treasure.

Congratulations. Redline is right; that is a wonderful photo!?

Interesting post Gundog. I hope you survive this cataclysmic event! I have enjoyed reading about your struggles. I realize that is a little twisted, but I am what I am. Pineapple on pizza may not be a crime, but it is an abomination that should be.

Normal is very overrated! When I first started bass fishing I was the same way. The good book tells us for everything there is a season. Enjoy.

DesertBass, I would agree that funny is subjective. I also agree that Redline had no nefarious intent. He and I have both been around this forum for a long time, and I respect him and his input. Intent is an interesting notion though. If I say or do something offensive to you under the guise of humor it is still offensive to you. Even if my intent is completely innocent, I am guilty of offending. There are many topics that are viewed very differently by folks. That is the reason politics and religion are not discussed here. My views on these subjects offend some whether I intend to or not. They are divisve by nature. Joking about drinking and driving or any other illegal activity will always offend some. While that is perfectly acceptable, even desirable, in a comedy club or an HBO special it is not here in my opinion.

My mom used to tell me, "argue with a fool and you're liable to act like one." It took me many years to have enough maturity to actually follow her advice. As others have said, life is too short to fight with idiots unless they give you no other choice. Well done.

For folks who fish swimbaits, especially bigger ones, $80 is not a lot of money...for a quality bait. This is clearly not a quality bait. For those who have to have this bait, wait a bit and you will soon be able to buy it from the budget table at Walmart. I'm guessing for about $6.

It is a popular belief that there are no limits when it comes to comedy, and that joking about any subject is acceptable. The more vile and offensive, the better. There are many who will pay good money to see these "comedians". That is their choice. This is not a comedy club, and joking about drinking and driving is not funny.

Good luck. I have enough tackle that I could probably fish the rest of my life without buying anything new. What would be the fun of that?