Matt B

My house backs up to an apartment complex and I'm looking for something around 12 - 15 feet tall to block the view in and out of my yard. The neighbor has a large live oak tree whose branches keep the area in moderate to deep shade most of the day. This part of the yard is a little bit low and there is often a little bit of water that build up during a rain. However it seems to drain pretty well - even after a heavy rain, most of the standing water is gone within a couple hours. I'm in south Louisiana - zone 8. I'm not sure if there is anything out there that would be well suited for this, but any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've been fortunate enough to have two tickets to Bristol this weekend fall into my lap at the last minute and now I'm scrambling trying to plan a trip for the weekend. Does anyone know how bad traffic is following the race? I've been to Talladega and it is horrible. Just want to know if I should be expecting more of the same. Thanks!

how long will it take the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets to pick them clean of their star players?

I'm pretty loaded at RB (A. Peterson, M. Jones-Drew, L. Johnson, D. Sproles, and F. Jones) but would like to add another solid WR. I'm thinking of proposing a trade with Felix Jones for Dwayne Bowe. He's already got Marion Barber so he would both Dallas RBs. I'm hoping Bowe can possibly start to put up some decent numbers with Huard at QB. What do you think?

Since I hear so many people talking about redistribution of wealth and how the Bush tax cuts are unfair, I'm curious to hear how people think the rates should be. For reference, here are the rates for 2007 for taxable income for a single person:

$0 - $7,825 - 10%

$7,825 - $31, 850 - 15%

$31,850 - $77,100 - 25%

$77,100 - $160,850 - 28%

$160,850 - $349,700 - 33%

$349,700 and above - 35%

The Commission on Presidential Debates requires that eligible candidates are polling at 15% nationally in order to participate. Is this too much of a roadblock for third party candidates who are already required to collect thousands of signatures just to get on state ballots while the two major parties do not have to collect any?

A system that puts the power in the hands of the people and away from Washington politicians and unfairly subsidized corporations. This country was set up as a republic of states so that people can govern themselves the way they choose rather than have a centralized government that requires everyone to be governed the same. The one-size-fits-all attitude that a lot of people seem to have is the root of why this country has become so politically polarized.

Problems don't get solved in Washington D.C. - they are created there.

300 million people in this country, and these are supposedly the two people we have to choose from? If the system isn't broken, I'd had to see it when it is.

Without resorting to all the typical rhetoric, I'd like to hear people's definitions of these two terms. Also in the spirit of full disclosure, please indicate where you believe you fall on the spectrum (e.g. very conservative, slightly conservative, moderate, slightly liberal, very liberal).

A few additional points:

I don't care what your political party affiliation is. I also don't care for whom you plan on voting for President. Please keep answers as brief as possible, because, in my opinion, the more words you need to describe something, the less you know about it.

If you've actually looked into them (Bob Barr, Ralph Nader, Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, etc.), know what they're about, and still just don't agree with them, okay. I want to know if you have bought into the "wasting my vote" or "lesser of two evils" theory, why do you think this is an effective means of voting when it clearly hasn't been working out too well for the American people the last 100 years or so. In 1992, if all the people who wanted to vote for Ross Perot but voted for George H.W. Bush instead had actually done so, Ross Perot would have been the 42nd President of the United States rather than Bill Clinton. Why do people continue to vote for the candidate they dislike the least rather than the one they favor?

And I'm talking about what they really support, not what they're saying. Much of the talk is just to try to create some kind of division between the two. Both support amnesty for illegal aliens, both support cap & trade taxation, both refuse to allow drilling in ANWR, both think that putting more control over health care in the hands of the federal government is a great idea. Please try to keep the rhetoric to a minimum - it won't convince anyone with even a modicum of intelligence.

If you think he's still got a realistic shot to get in, then I've got some ocean front property to sell you.

I know it's a little early, but I'm excited.

I would have a sixteen team bracket - eleven conference champions and five at large (a lot of teams, but that way no one can complain they didn't get a shot). No one gets a bye. Take one weekend off following conference championship games, one round per week for the next four weeks, a week off, then the national championship game. Rotate the national championship between the four locations as it is now. It would be a lot of games in one season (up to 17), but still fewer than the NFL.

It was a huge deal when he became the first black head coach in the SEC, but the results have been less than stellar. Granted, it's gotta be pretty difficult to convince a kid to go play football in Starkville, Mississippi.

schedule games between some of these geographical rivals for the last week of the regular season?

They're playing games like Steelers v. Eagles, Redskins v. Ravens, Raiders v. 49ers, and Cowboys v. Texans in the preseason, but it seems like they would add some excitement at the end of the year, particularly for fans of teams that are out of the playoff hunt. It works pretty well in college football.

As a Mark Martin fan, I'd rather a different number. I'm worried that if I wear something with an 8 I'll be confused for a Dale Jr. fan.

NASCAR will limit owners to four teams each next year. With five teams currently, who will be let go from Roush-Fenway at the end of the season?

He hasn't been competitive in several years, especially not now in a Toyota. He's barely been able to qualify for any races this year and when he does, he usually gets lapped about 20 laps in. I know DJ has a lot of fans out there - it has to be tough for them.