ChiSox_Sonix

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Apr 1, 2009 -> 02:40 PM) None of this could be further from the truth since those locations have absolutely no bearing on the others by proximity or otherwise, they don't consider that kind of thing, they never have. Russia has nothing to do with Madrid when it comes to the Olympic decision, nothing at all. Same goes for Beijing and Tokyo. Of the four remaining, Chicago has the third lowest ranking by the international committee, as Tokyo and Madrid are both over 1.0 evaluation points higher. And Rio has the lowest chance of getting the Olympics, not the highest. Read more here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Summer_Olympics Then tell me why for the most part the Olympics are never staged on the same continent in consecutive Games of the same variety (ie two Summer in a row)? If you don't believe that politics and recent sites plays a role in who gets the games, then you are kidding yourself. I'm sorry, but there is no way they are going to allow Europe (Madrid) to host the '04, '06, '12, and '14 games and then also give Madrid the '16 when there are cities such as Chicago and Rio on the list. You can not base initial scores on who has the highest/lowest chances of getting it. If that were true Rio wouldnt even be on the list as Doha scored better. Fact is, the IOC wants Rio to prove itself capable and if they can come close and can prove security won't be an issue they will get the games. The IOC is very aware that no So. American country has ever hosted. It's foolish to believe things that like don't matter, especially in this day of age.

Bolivia beat Argentina 6-1 yesterday in a qualifying match! Wtf?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 1, 2009 -> 01:22 PM) Yeah, its in Old San Juan. I'll be hitting up the Bacardi distillery across the harbor, too! Word of advice...it's not as cool as it sounds. When we first read about that excursion it was the first thing we signed up for. When you get there you get a couple free drinks outside and then take a "tour" via a projection movie then go into a couple replica rooms. To be honest, it was somewhat disappointing.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 1, 2009 -> 08:36 AM) Seen: I'll be in Puerto Rico in 2 weeks, and I'm planning on seeing the old Spanish fort that's a World Heritage Site and the Arecibo radio telescope (the big dish thing in Goldeneye). The one in San Juan? San Cristobal I think? I was there last summer as an excursion on a cruise through the Caribbean. It's pretty cool.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Apr 1, 2009 -> 11:24 AM) Because, the crime rate, massive traffic issues, total lack of funding (which WILL be tossed to the taxpayer no matter what they say), etc. will make Chicago even more unbearable than it already is. There are so many reasons to avoid this that the few reasons to get it are so far outweighed I won't bother going further into this. Not that it matters, there is no way we get the Olympics here, and anyone who thinks we have an actual chance -- LOL. Well let's see, Beijing just had the Summer Games which will hurt Tokyo's chances. London has the 2012 games (and Russia has the 2014 Winter) which pretty much rules out Madrid. And Rio is already hosting the 2014 World Cup and had the lowest score in the first round of voting. It is highly probable that one of Rio or Chicago will get it. Add in Rio's iffy infrastructure and their own problems with crime/security, I see no reason why Chicago has no "actual chance" as you say. In fact, I think it's funny if people actually believe that. Rio is the front runner since it'd be the first South American country to host it, but I'd say Chicago is right behind it.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 01:39 PM) sheesh, people seem very cliquey on this thread. I asked for everyone's thoughts and feedbacks on the the whole Daniel Farraday thing and no one responds, yet when someone else makes a post on something else there's immediately resposes to their posts. I'm through with this thread, **** everyone. LMAO You've got to be kidding me... There are plenty of LOST forums that would give you answers if you're that desperate for feedback on your theories. Just because someone posts in a thread doesnt mean everyone else has to respond to it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 12:47 PM) I think he'll probably go #1 this year, but if the Nats simply don't want to go that high he'll go in to next year's draft with everyone knowing the kind of money he wants, and wind up with the Yankees or BoSox or Tigers or someone like that. Maybe, but if i'm the Nats or any other team with a high pick and Boras makes some statement prior to the draft I wouldnt even bother. No point in making a pick you know you wont sign. Yes you'd get a comp pick the next year but that just gives you one less prospect in your system for the time being

QUOTE (chimpy2121 @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 12:35 PM) He said some summer thing a couple of years ago (before Alabi hurt his leg). It might have been U-18 or one of those Big Men camps. That could mean that Thabeet wasn't fully developed, but I still thought it was interesting. Well if it was a couple years ago I wouldnt really look into it. 2 years ago when Thabeet was a freshmen he wasnt nearly the player he is now. At that point, he had only been playing basketball for two years so that wouldnt surprise me if Hansbrough was tougher at that point.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 12:37 PM) And if the Yankees would be willing to pay it, then Boras can hold the kid out for a year or two until he winds up with a team willing to pay it. It delays his arb clock a year but if the kid is getting $50 million anyway... He wouldnt even have to hold out. If there was just one team willing to pay it then he'd go to them in the first round. If that ends up being a serious asking price, team's unwilling to even go anywhere near that number wont even bother drafting him.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 11:52 AM) Let Colon have a few starts before we all jump off a bridge. Excuse me, but that rational post belongs elsewhere.

QUOTE (chimpy2121 @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 11:09 AM) Talked to Solomon Alabi after class today and he said Hansbrough is tougher than Thabeet based on his experiences playing against the two. I thought that was a little interesting. Also, I got my laugh for the week as Hamilton has been rumored for the UGA job. I don't know what's funnier, the fact he would go to another rebuilding team or the fact that UGA wants him. Don't get me wrong though, I love Ham as a person. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. When has Alabi played against Thabeet?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 04:13 PM) Well it looks like we're stuck with a s***ty CF unless KW pulls the trigger on a trade. Why hate just for spite? Might as well hope he does well. That^^ I'm not too excited about the idea of Dwayne Wise being our every day CF and leadoff hitter but it is what it is. I'd rather spend my time hoping he does alright than b****ing and moaning about it while hoping he sucks.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 30, 2009 -> 02:14 PM) They were the conference champion and conference tournament champion of the best conference in the country (with no close 2nd). I think they fully deserved to be the #1 overall. As for the games, if Michigan State can hit some shots, I really like their chances. I like Villanova's too. They both play defense; UConn and UNC do not. Yea because it's not as if UConn led the country in blocked shots and rebounding, had the second best team fg% defense and 3rd best rebounding margin or anything like that

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Mar 29, 2009 -> 10:28 PM) I like this Curry addition. I doubt he'll ever average 20 at Duke like he did this past year as a freshman at Liberty, but given that Henderson doesn't go to the NBA (which he'd be nuts to do), he'll take Henderson's spot in 2 years. nbadraft.net currently has him pegged as likely to come out early and going as high as #8

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 01:23 PM) He could just as easily improve in the NBA. Why do people act like you improve more by staying in college then playing in the NBA? There really is no evidence of that at all even for guys who aren't getting a lot of PT early on. If you're at a big time school you'd improve more in college. Thabeet still has a lot to work on but he didnt touch a basketball until 4 years ago. Since he arrived in Connecticut he has improved tremendously. That improvement wouldn't have come in the NBA. You need to grow in game situations not just in practice. Leaving too early they wont get any game time at the next level and if they havent reached the level expected of them they are often let go. Look at Blake Griffin. Last year he would have been a lottery pick, but a lot of people weren't sold on his readiness to play in the NBA. He was a very good player last year, but now he's a monster. He would not have improved so much by sitting on an NBA bench and playing 2 minutes a night.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Mar 26, 2009 -> 05:24 PM) And here I thought Obama was the one weak on terror, i guess the GOp just doesnt want to make time for it anymore... Senate Republicans Skip White House Afghan Briefing awww... I'm sorry. Here I thought national security was far more important that partisan politics. More of the article...you know, just to be thorough, I know you wouldn't ever purposefully leave anything out. Just trying to help. To be fair, the last paragraph there was added after the original post.

QUOTE (BaseballNick @ Mar 27, 2009 -> 09:49 AM) This is usually a good plan, but they haven't hit on much of anything lately as far as pitchers go (Kris Honel, Royce Ring, Lance Broadway, Kyle McCulloch, Nevin Griffith, and the jury is still out on Poreda). I want to see some high ceiling pitchers drafted, but their track record hasn't been too encouraging. Our scouting definitely has to step it up. Speaking of, anyone know the deal with that kid? He was drafted out of HS so he's obviously still young but didnt he have TJS last off-season? Anyone have any status updates on him?

I had well water at my parents house growing up...people say it has an egg taste. We bought a Brita pitcher. Once you put it through that it's fine. Never had any problems with it. It definitely does taste different but it's not a big deal IMO. Never stained clothes, showers werent weird. On the down side, if the power went out in the winter or for whatever reason we couldnt flush the toilet etc b/c the pump is electrical based. On the positive, it's our own source of water that isnt affected by any potential problems with a public water supply.

Seen/Done: 1) Paris 2) Lived in Germany in 89-90 (Berlin Wall came down, Germany won World Cup) 3) Swiss Alps/Neuschwanstein Castle 4) Gave a speech at the 2006 Cooperstown Baseball HoF Annual Symposium 5) Old Quebec City Want to do/see: 1) Pyramids/Valley of the Kings 2) Rome 3) Athens 4) Angkor Wat 5) Machu Pichu I have a list of everywhere in the world I want to go and it is quite extensive. It's hard to narrow it down to five. I'd also love to see the Serengeti, London, Easter Island Moai, Mayan/Aztec ruins, Petra, Jerusalem, Uluru, Patagonia, Galapagos Islands, go to a World Cup, run with bulls, Virunga National park to see the apes, Panda reserve in China etc...There's just so much to do and see in this world! I wish i was rich, just so I would have the time, ability, means, funds etc to just travel the world. I think that would be amazing. Or just become a contestant on the Amazing Race i guess.

I guess on a really base level you could look at it like "well if i need to pass a drug test to get the job that pays for your welfare, why shouldn't you have to pass a drug test to receive it"? I understand that the majority of people on welfare really need the program, but the system is also highly abused. Of course, bringing children into it complicates it tremendously, as they are not at fault for what their parents do or don't do. I would support some sort of testing system if it was feasible and made sense for everyone involved.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29891754/ Lawmakers in some states want welfare recipients to submit to random testing

In SDSU's defense, it is a big deal for them. Without looking it up, when was the last time they had a successful team? This was their last home game of the year, they won the right to play in NYC at MSG on national television against BCS schools, they are in the NIT Final Four (something that means something for mid-majors)...i'm willing to give them a pass on the rushing the court. They were all just excited. I'm sure i would be too if I was a student there.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Mar 25, 2009 -> 09:08 PM) Rumor is it'll be an ACC school. Va Tech dropped the ball once in not offering him a scholarship, I'd be surprised if they do it again. I'd say Va Tech, NC St, Clemson and even possibly South Carolina have to be considered likely potential landing spots for him. He wants to go to a big school, but he also will want to stay close to home and I'd bet he would pass on any 'elite' school so he could remain a focal point of the team.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Mar 25, 2009 -> 02:02 PM) At each checkpoint yes, but not in between. But it is a race. At any given point someone is always in the lead. People may not know due to the fact it is run in such ridiculous conditions and in the middle of nowhere but if they had UAVs up there following the mushers there would always be a leader. On one level you may be right in a sense, but I think the gist of the question was to single out a sport where there is no way for the participants or spectators to ever truly know who is ahead at any given time.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Mar 25, 2009 -> 01:50 PM) I can't get questions 2 or 3 so far, and I only have two of the "dw" words (dwindle. dwarf). The rest I'm pretty sure i know. The pear brandy one is a really interesting story. Went to wikipedia to look that up...very cool. Never would have thought of that, yet so simple.