Hey LGT - I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster here at the site.  I am a student at Northwestern University in northside Chicago but am from Cleveland and my bro directed me here.  The point of my diary is this:  I want to say thanks to Jay/Ryan/intelligent contributors for showing how to actually argue and discuss.  I'm an engineering major at NU and they make us take public speaking - we have to do these dumb persuasive speeches, and I'm forced to listen to one kid after another make unsubstantiated, emotional claims supporting one position or another.  Truly, LGT has sharpened my criteria for arguing and honed my demand for quality and data.  Cleveland Indians-talk showed me why logical, data-backed discussion is the only way to argue.  This very post might be a violation of LGT's credo, but regardless, I dig this site and needed to shout-it-out a la Ron Burgundy.  Thanks all.

Joey