Chisoxfn

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 8, 2016 -> 09:24 AM) Well, so here is the issue...some of the aggressive renewable portfolio standards, particularly in California, have brought a lot of wind and solar onto the western electric grid. Additionally, the production tax credits being extended through 2021 has finally provided developers with some sense of stability. So what happens is that certain states that are in proximity to states with high renewable portfolio standards, or in areas where wind or solar are particularly feasible to develop, have tremendous opportunities, if they have flexibility with their fossil fuel generating resources, to purchase solar and wind energy for tremendously low prices, sometimes even getting paid to take the energy, on the wholesale market. Enter distributed generation customers who now wish for the utility to compensate them for their solar energy at a retail rate that is often 5-10 times the wholesale rate. Why would a utility want to be on the hook for that? It's basically the second coming of PURPA, which many utilities are finally unwinding now. California, I must say, bless their hearts, are going to be paying many other states to take their solar and passing those expenses onto their rate payers. And then when they need other states' fossil fuel generation, they tax their ratepayers additionally for that dirty energy as well. I've long felt it was odd that the people with solar get paid a higher rate than the wholesale rate. It never made sense to me (other than essentially just using it as another subsidy / incentive to push solar). The other question in Nevada is what is going to come of solar in a state where theoretically, solar would make a ton of sense. I had read a few articles which indicated all the national carriers essentially left the state (no idea if that is true) but clearly the solar argument becomes much more null and void if the pay back period is significant. With all the incentives, you can justify solar pretty easily in CA (If I wasn't planning on moving to a bigger house, I'd have already put it on my current place). It all comes down to the fact that the solar industry still hasn't hit the fine line between reducing the incentives and the cost of solar coming down (to where you don't hit an eqilibrium point that significantly jumps the cost of installing solar back up). Auto industry has some similar issues with how it rolled out electric and hybrids, etc.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 8, 2016 -> 09:33 AM) What he did to Fisher was brutal. Made him install the triangle with zero players that fit the system(not to mention it is antiquated), gave him absolute s*** rosters which were further gutted, and then fired him how could one even tell if he is a lousy coach After asking my question, I did see a report saying the Knicks had already decided Fisher wasn't transitioning appropriately between his role as a player and a coach (per Windhorst). I'm guessing those are things you could visually see, despite the lack of a roster. That said, you'd also expect some of those things, given that he hasn't coached, and you can't expect him to be an expert overnight. I have a similar belief about Hoiberg (as much as I complain about him, I try to remind myself the NBA game is a lot different than the college game). But that is the optimist in me who always wants to hold out hope. Hell, I kept hoping one day a switch would go on for Del Negro, LOL (who I long said was terrible, but at least had the excuse, with the Bulls, for being inexperienced).

Is it really Fish's fault the Knicks have no talent? Or has he also proven he's a lousy coach?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 7, 2016 -> 08:47 AM) Nevada's Perplexing War on Solar Really surprised this isn't getting more attention here. Some key battles around the future of distributed energy, solar in particular, playing out in the west. The amount of disinformation in these articles drives me nuts, particularly, this notion that our current President, Barack Obama, doesn't know exactly what he is doing...no, I kid More seriously, this notion that the utilities want to pay distributed solar owners less than market rate for their electricity is simply not true. What the utilities want to pay distributed solar owners is closer to the wholesale rate for electricity, rather than the retail rate that customers want. Forcing utilities to pay retail for what they could get at a much cheaper wholesale rate elsewhere would simply raise everyone's rates and result in non-distributed generation owners subsidizing distributed generation owners even more than they currently do. It will be interesting to see how this continues to play out in Nevada and California and what the resulting rate impacts will be. Additionally, how this impacts not only the solar industry, but other forms of potential distributed generation. I've been following it (as I plan on getting solar when we move to our next place (which could be in 3 months or could be in 3 years...market is so s***ty right now outside of interest rates...prices just seem so absurd). California just delayed things for another few years but it is really interesting how Nevada was able to get its push and it will be interesting to see if other states eventually make that push. At one point it looked more likely CA was going to and I still think they will eventually, but to me there has to be a fine balance. Of course when i say I follow this, it is more casually and I clearly am not understanding of all the inner details. Definitely seems your project was a successful one (when you view it from your perspective though). A real win for the utilities and probably the non-solar consumers (if those costs ultimately result in lower increases or even decreases in their costs).

So my dad, die hard Dodger fan, says there has been a lot of talk in LA about Sox being aggressively interested in Puig. No inside sources, just what people on the radio are speculating. Evidently Dodgers are trying to push Ethier. But long story short, it is getting coverage in LA media as well (with there reports being the Sox aren't offering the front line pitching the Dodgers want...which I presume means Hahn is trying to get a deal sold around prospects). That probably means you need to get a 3rd team in and have the Sox give those spects to the third team with the Dodgers getting a front line pitcher.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 5, 2016 -> 09:07 PM) Scoregate aside, still a game we should've one. I just wonder what the score actually was. Yeah that was crazy. I feel like the Bulls have had a ton of games, they should have won. I don't get how they can have these issues. I hope to hell they can fix it. By the way, as I gripe, I also realize that the team had to play Barstow minutes because Portis is so god awful defensively right now. Honestly, he's horrid. Bairstow sucked defensively too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 5, 2016 -> 08:41 PM) Outcoached once again down the stretch. Got caught with Hinrich and Snell on the court on an important offensive possession. Also, decision to let Butler shoot free throws when he was clearly hurt was an idiotic decision. Just f***ing pathetic. I'll give the Bulls some credit for the fact that the Nuggest hit some ridiculous shots but we continue to wilt away / blow big leads (or just get routed). Offensively we fell apart and defensively we got flat out lazy (albeit the Nuggets hit some well defended shots at times...they also had plenty of good looks down the stretch).

Mirra was one of the originals. Loved watching him tear up the xgames. Can't believe he is only 41. Wonder what drove him to commit suicide.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 10:41 AM) I could be 100% wrong, but I thought I heard that he couldn't get himself worked up due to the pacemaker. So him seeming lax is due to to that. I agree, it's frustrating to watch, but I'd rather him not pass out on the sideline either. That is fair enough and I totally agree. That said, I'm just amazed at how little he seems to speak while on the sidelines (maybe because the only way you can is to shout given how loud it is in various arenas). Oh how I miss Thibs horse voice throughout the telecasts, haha.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 08:19 AM) Thought he had a chance to take a timeout or two to help Rose get some rest in the last few minutes of that game. The Bulls announcers were discussing how gassed Rose was. I will say that the offense looked a lot more fluid and continues to look more "fluid" when one of Rose / Butler is out. They have to figure out a way to get those two to make each other and everyone else on the court better. Bulls are having there worst stretch while Rose is playing much better ball. It makes sense as they haven't had a ton of minutes but I haven't seen much out of Hoiberg to give me faith that he can help tweak the system (especially since they really aren't running anything) that will maximize everyone's strengths. Hopefully Dunleavy helps things out (obviously he won't make an immediate impact given how much time he's missed).

I saw a lot of the same from the Bulls though. Just terrible decision making and practically blowing it again. All the while I look and there is good ole Hoiberg not doing a thing. I missed my telecasts where all I could hear was Thibs yelling at the guys and making sure they knew where they needed to be, etc. Hoiberg seems to be attempting to be Phil, but Phil had a plethora of rings and wasn't that way in his career when he established himself. And by the way, I'm not saying Hoiberg is a bad coach cause he isn't shouting, but jesus, he barely looks like he's ever even talking to anyone. Literally he looks like he doesn't coach. I know that can't be the case but with some of these lapses we've seen from a veteran team, it certainly makes me feel that he has significant issues that he's going to have to figure out. Was he this lax at ISU (I know he is never going to be a shouter and that is fine, but was he so quiet from the perspective that he never talked on the sidelines)?

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 03:17 PM) I was probably 9-10 when it happened. Its kind of fun to re-live as an adult (fun is an odd choice, but you know what I mean). I remember when it happened, I was so pissed that the Simpsons or whatever it was I wanted to watch after school was interrupted by that stupid bronco chase and all of the coverage of the court case.

Tanking in MLB isn't like tanking in the NBA. One player doesn't impact a team like one player does in the NBA. I don't even see why MLB needs to bother this. Too many examples of awful teams who have been awful for forever or who it took 30 years of tanking to become relevant again (and I wouldn't argue they were strategically tanking).

If you can get 5K wiped off (and you are certain of it...I will bold this because you need to be clear you can get that forgiveness without any issue). Calculate whatever your interest cost will be on that amount (I presume much smaller) and make sure 5 years from now you have exactly 5K to get that reduction (I'd also check but I presume that 5K reduction will be taxable unless there is some excemption related to forgiveness of student debt). Oh and just put the extra money into a downpayment for a house account or some other savings account (obviously don't go blow it). But if you truly can get the 5K reduction, my theory is you should take it (it is there for a reason). This is nothing different than a millionaire or a billionaire would do when it came to tax planning strategies, etc. By the way, touche, in general sounds you have been savy with your funds (no debt and working aggressively to pay this down...only thing being, if you can get 5K for free, why not take it).

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 01:28 PM) Sigh, there's no way my wife takes that chance. No sex for 4 months, yay.... Good thing the last four months prepared you, haha.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 10:51 AM) Drops the f***ing mic. Jose Quintana?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 10:42 AM) Between that being Cowley, and the Sun Times, I am not even going to waste a click. Cowley has been more accurate about the Bulls than any other reporter covering them. To be frank, I believed 100% of what he wrote in that article.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 05:59 AM) Trump losing Iowa is news, but to me the fact that Rubio is in a near-tie with him for 2nd is the biggest news here. And allows the GOP to continue having some chance of winning the general. Also... 100%, my man. I am fully on board with Rubio. Really can get excited about him and get behind him. Trump had a big win with his concession speech tonight as well (extremely classy...downright surprised and impressed me). Cruz looked pathetic as the winner. Please let Cruz's momentum slip and let some of the other repubs pull out so Rubio can ideally get a state primary prior to super tuesday (he doesn't just need to keep building momentum leading up to super tuesday, he also to me, needs to get one of the states). And it won't be New Hampshire (I don't think...would seem Trump has that on lockdown and I thought I read where Kasich and Christie were about tied for 2nd.

QUOTE (ozzfest @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 09:01 AM) Bump. I'm wondering what you guys think after Bulls losing 9 of 13. Are the GarPax apologists still out there? I'm not a Gar apologist.I'm a Paxapologist.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 09:16 AM) McD is in a much better place than he was last year. He isn't great now, but he was lost and had no confidence last year. Snell and Niko on the other hand are clearly behind where they were last year. Niko is another one who just doesn't seem interested in working hard or running a system. He snipes from distance, and that is about it. I agree McD is better than last year. While Hoiberg gets credit for enabling him and helping him with his confidence, I still think most of his issues had nothing to do with Thibs and had everything to do with the fact that he was hurt and as a result fell out of favor. I guarantee he'd have gotten playing time with Thibs this year and probably been as good if not better. Thibs was very good at getting the most out of his guys, imo. And Thibs was behind and on board with drafting Doug (so it isn't like Gar / Pax shoved him down there throats).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) That's just it. I don't see any coaching. I don't see much effort most nights either, especially if we aren't playing a top team. Offense is the issue and it is a major issue. Defensive intensity has been there (you wouldn't be rated from a metric perspective where they are, without that intensity). Hell, its amazing there defensive metrics are what they are considering the turnover issues they have on the offensive side. Offensively, they look terrible and it has to do with a combo of players we have out there and plays we are running. I don't know what the hell it is, but it ain't offense and its rarely pretty. MJD will solve a lot of spacing issues (if he's healthy) but the real issue is they have to figure out a system which maximizes Rose and Butlers ability to play together.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 08:17 AM) A lot the team defends that way. The effort is way down in too many games. Opp FG % is best in the league. Bulls got torched defensively against Clippers but there issues have been in pace and offensive efficiency. Defense has been there, even with the lousy pick and roll defense. That said, a lot of that was done with Noah around as well.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:54 AM) I will say the Bulls team last year had some really bad runs when Dunleavy was out of lineup, much stronger with him in it. He is one of the few players who plays within the flow of an offense. He always makes decisions quickly and keeps things moving. Love him as a player. It isn't that Dunleavy is great, it is that Dunleavy replaces guys who consistently seem to be negative players. So the collective difference essentially rates MJD as a better player than he is. Snell, Niko, and Doug have relatively consistently been awful. They all have had there moments but from a consistent perspetcive, they are consistently poor players. Even Snell, who once plays consistent defense seems to have lost that edge too and when it comes to Niko and Doug, if they aren't scoring, they are worthless cause they are getting torched defensively. And yes, as someone else mentioned, our pick and roll d is bad. That said, our OPP FG % is best in the league (or was...not sure if someone passed us in past couple days).

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:45 AM) I haven't been impressed with Hoiberg, but I haven't really seen the Trestman level screw ups either. I think he's a guy that inherited a team with expectations and then immediately got hit with really tough injuries. Not having Dunleavy is a huge missing component to this team. People say he's old, but he's a very smart player, a very good shooter, and a guy that moves without the ball. One of the few on the roster that does that well and that's really what this team is missing. He's also lost Noah and Rose for some games. Moore and Hinrich here and there. And now Mirotic. That's not easy. This team is probably a lost cause, but getting the 3 position solidified with Dunleavy is going to help immensely IMO, assuming he's 100%. That's all that really matters at this point. Either they reach their peak at the end of the year heading into the playoffs, or they continue to play .500 ball and bow out early. No sense in getting all worked up over it before the All-Star break. Good post. My big thing I struggle with is Snell / Niko / Dougie and collectively where they have been this year. Gar deserves a lot of blame and this situation is very difficult for a first year coach and injuries absolutely have played a factor but as I said, I'm confident this would be a better team with Thibs (than again, I'd say that about almost any team in the league cause I think Thibs is the man).

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:44 AM) One thing that seems to be much different to me: -Under Hoiberg, when players have lost confidence, it seems like they are encouraged to go out and try and shoot more and create to get out of the slump. Play more individual. -Under Thibs, if you lost it, you earned your PT by focusing on the little things, playing d and rebounding and playing within your role, to then get time to shoot out of it. I think that plays a part of it. There's a "I need to shoot out of my struggles" we see more on this team, like Jimmy doing stepbacks galore yesterday. Yeah...I am totally sick of Hoiberg. He's young and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but this team looks lost and yes, players should be blamed, and the front office deserves a lot of that blame, but Hoiberg's coaching leaves a lot to be desired. Yesterdays game was just absolutely frustrating to watch. I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the difference of the two players and I look at everyone whose taken steps back and while I'm not blaming Hoiberg entirely for that regression, I do think this team would absolutely be better with Thibs. I will give Pax the benefit of the doubt but Gar is absolutely done. Now I do hope Hoiberg somehow learns and pulls it out (by all accounts he's a good guy and he isn't Trestman...Trestman never played the game and was never near as successful as Hoiberg was). But things are a mess right now and I think Hoiberg's laid back style is hurting things at this point.