Balta1701

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jan 21, 2007 -> 11:19 AM) Sort of, but not that much. Utley is a lot better than Iguchi and a lot younger. No way Iguchi gets that many years, and I doubt he'll get that much money. Granted on both points, but before this, 2nd base was one of the few positions where we hadn't yet seen someone get a really big contract.

Anyone think the price on Iguchi just went up?

Update on the Microwave.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Jan 20, 2007 -> 07:09 PM) Lock Box! think Al Gore will run for president in 2008? At this point I really don't think so...despite the fact that he's probably been the single most correct person on almost every issue for the last 5 years or so, he's shown no steps so far to actually get himself set up for a race. He doesn't have many people or any sort of active organization set up, he hasn't talked like a candidate, and most of the "insider" notes we've heard about him seem to suggest he's fairly happy not having to run for a public office. He could still change his mind and fix some of those problems, but the reality is, the longer he takes to get into the race, the worse shape he'll be in, because Obama, Clinton, and Edwards will be spending every day shaking hands in Iowa and raising money, which will leave him behind the curve a lot.

Link.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Jan 20, 2007 -> 01:06 PM) HOw many 1000+ page bills do they NEED to pass? I swear that sometimes they propose things just so the public won't realize that they are mostly useless. If they don't want to read it, hire staff to do it and summarize it for you. But you sign it, you one it. Do you have any concept of how much detail is in budgeting and tax related resolutions these days? Those need to be that long because the government just does that much.

California may move its primary up to Feb. 5th, 2008. That would be only 2 weeks after New Hampshire.

Brownie's still pissed.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jan 20, 2007 -> 06:23 AM) Balta, with all due respect, what has he done to merit that kind of support, besides a good speech? Also, the Clinton machine is about to chew him up and spit him out. "He attended a madrassa for four years - *gasp* he's a Muslim!!!!!!!" - source? - "a democratic challenger study". Let me make it clear... I don't care, but that's getting ready to hit the crapper pretty soon. If you're going to ask me about Obama's qualifications in terms of executive experience, yeah, I'll grant that they're limited. But in this case, if it gets that far, I would be casting my vote more for the type of person Obama is and the type of President I believe he could be. But anyway, he does certainly have to survive a hell of a test if he's going to get that far, and that is the Clinton machine to which you refer. And passing that test with class would be an ideal way to prove his mettle. Hillaryclinton.com

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Jan 20, 2007 -> 08:07 AM) I think it is time to pass a law that requires each and every congressman to read every bill that comes before them , and have to sign a form saying that they did so. Not only would that prevent them from 'suddenly discovering' something in a bill they already passed, it would keep them busy enough so that they wouldn't have time to pass stupid stuff just to try and justify their jobs. Well, unfortunately that's just not going to be practical in the least; i mean seriously, how many 1000 page+ bills does Congress pass each year at this point? From changes to the tax code to budgeting resolutions, I don't even think its possible for people to read every bill. On the other hand, the Patriot Act is a particularly bad case, they basically made it magically appear during the night and had it passed before anyone even had a chance to open the book.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Jan 20, 2007 -> 08:09 AM) Just a thought, if the money is going to fun alternative energy research, wouldn't that be like shifting the money from your left pocket to your right pocket? Some of the biggest players in alternative energy are the oil companies themselves. The government actually does this quite a bit...for example, with research funding in health areas. The government will pay for research that the government feels is important but that the private sector may be neglecting. It might not be all that profitable for an oil company to try to research a way to wean the U.S. off of oil, but that same oil company is moderately happy to take additional government money in exchange for doing the research. Probably not the best system we could design, but I'm not sure what the other optionw ould be.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jan 20, 2007 -> 05:38 AM) Watching ESPN, one of the "experts" said that the Saints have been the most consistant team in the NFC, someone want to explain that to me? Personally, I'd say that Detroit was by far the most consistent team in the NFC this year, but that's just me.

answerwas at noon shall i when you makes ann appeaance in the ub OFFICE on 3 hours of sleep. Bring on Kevin smith!!! bOOYHEAY! GO bEARS SUNDAYANYWHO QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 08:52 PM) i thinkd you fve b een drinking I agree. Good night sonny boy. Don't throw up in the Denny's bathroom on 37 like my friend Chuck. My God was that a mess.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 08:38 PM) Interesting note on Grilli ... I saw a Detroit columnist refer to Grilli as one of a number of "on the cusp" young pitchers in the Tigers organization. Seriously, I'm not surprised at Grilli's success, the White Sox were so desperate for starters for like 5 years that they tossed aside bullpen talent because that wasn't what they needed. But anyway, I think KW has realized that flaw this year. And if you lined up Grilli versus anyone that pencils into the Sox bullpen this year, including Logan/Sisco, for the first time in several years, I take the inexperienced guy in the Sox bullpen bases on sheer talent alone My God can this bullpen bring the heat. I hope it works for a full season, because on paper, Minny will wish they had the stuff we do

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 08:28 PM) MORA err CAF high fice>? no high fice? i mean hihgh gfive dont worry im done dirnkeing but i lieke where im at now STEPHEN COLBERT RULES. SERIOUSLY, YHOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DRUHNK POSTS, ASK NUKE ABOUT THE ONES I HAD LAST SUMMER. MASN WAS I PLASTERED. HIHGH GFIVE SONNY BOY. bUT ALL MYNE ARE DEDICATED TO STPEHEN COLBERT IN HIS FIGHT AGAINST BEARS. Anyway, Urlacher murders the Saints on Sunday btw. These Godless killing machines play 2 weeks from now.

QUOTE(T R U @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 08:18 PM) Yep.. basically what I was getting at was a lot of things I heard from Dolphins fans was they didn't want Cameron because he failed at Indiana (something like 18-37 IIRC) but I don't see how any coach could go there and be successful (Like contending for titles not just 1-2 games over .500) What I was impressed with was the offense he was able to generate there, they had a top 10 rushing attack and he was able to do some inventive things with his offense (Randle El) My God, that offense was beautiful under Cam. Cam's problem at IU had absolutely nothing to do with the offense. I was a student with season tickets during Cam's years, and except for the occasional Michigan or Wisconsin game, Cam always made it entertaining. But after a few seasons of Cam's dominant offense, I think everyone at IU was begging for a defensive player or two, and Cam just couldn't recruit them. A top 50 defensive staff would have probably won the big 10 as good as Cam's offense was, but he couldn't even get top 100. Maybe he'll be better if he just ignores the defense and hands it off to Thomas and Jayson Tayler and their coaching staff, but it's hard for me to explain how abjectly bad Cam was in recruiting on defense.

QUOTE(Chet Lemon @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 08:21 PM) Richardson is Governor of New Mexico. He will be one the most qualified candidates in the field of all parties. Unfortunately, because of the Nature of this Dem. Campaign, Richardson is starting off in what I would consider to be 4th position (which would drop if either Gore or Clark fully throw themselves into the race before the end of Feb.) Richardson has the disadvantages of lack of money, Obama usurping his internet support, and Obama being the #1 minority in the Dem fields. Without Barack, I think Richardson would have a real chance. But trying not to be a racist (Obama gets my vote from the 04 convention speech unless he calls me a KKK member), Obama is at the top of my list. I really respect Richardson and would love for him to be Obama's VP or the nominee in 12 if somehow Bush saves his party in 08 (highly doubtful), but in 08, I'll be voting solely on who I think can be the next Reagan; who I think can be the single man who leads the United States into the next period of its history. Given the abject disasters George W. Bush has created, I literally see no one who has a shot at repairing this mess other than Obama. And that, just the hope in his voice, has won Barack my vote 2 years ago. And nothing in the last 2 years has changed theat opinion. A good president will not save this nation from George W.'s disaster. The only thing that will save this nation is a great president. If our next leader is not one of the greatest we have ever had, then the United States will fall. And the only candidate I can hope will fullfill that role is Barack Obama. That is the end of my argument for Barack. He may well not be up to the task. But I see no others who even have a chance.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 07:56 PM) 50 cent hotdogs at UDF. I don't know what UDF means, but if I had to put the gas station chicken up against Jimmy Johns for a single meal, the gas station would win. And Jimmy Johns is basically my 2nd favorite meal ( Next July, wedding in South Bend, I don't care which JJ's, I'm getting a f***ing sub)

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 08:17 PM) greasy SOLD ME OUT TO W(ILLLIE I WANT SOME f***ING CURLYU FIRIES NOT FIrSE I WANT FRUIES NOT FIRUOE FIRED not fries oh yes fries Stephen Colbert>>god>>Bill O'Reilly. And man that was some sh*tty wodka I had at social hour. Anyway, bring it on young squire. If you can get your hands on a megaphone, please, drive by Delta Chi saying through the amp: "Delta chi, delta chi, home of Mark Lee, home of Mark Lee".

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 07:56 PM) They've got some decent recruits coming in, and they were one win from a bowl this last season. We didn't lose much from this past season's roster. The Hoosiers are bowling this year; book it. As an Alum and a big fan of what Hoeppner has done...man am I looking forward to a chance at a bowl game with these Hoosiers. The thing I think I like the most; Hoeppner has made this team look like they have balls. And despite my constant begging for my team to show that they have balls, I think they have a chance to make noise based solely on that. As a Pasadena Resident...god would I ever be thrilled if they could end up here in the next 2-3 years. But that's me dreaming. I'd seriously risk being arrested to high-five the band during the parade.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 19, 2007 -> 07:57 PM) I still think this guy doesnt taste the majors. I think he's a receiver in 5 years. Maybe a starting one, I dunno, that depends on him (look at Mike Williams and his year off for reference)

You know, at some point, the Republicans will actually have to start announcing that they're running to replace the unconstrained disaster for that party that is George W. Bush. Anyway, Arizona Governor Bill Richardson is ready to annouce that he is officially running for the White House in 08 by forming the classic exploratory commitee. Trying not to offend anyone, personally, I think the best possible ticket for the Dems in 2008, regardless of who the Republicans run, would be an Obama/Richardson ticket. Both candidates are perfect in my mind; Obama thus far has embodied everything I want in a chief executive, from the intelligence to the willingness to serve, and Richardson has experience beyond what Cheney came into the Job with, and instead of a legacy of Failure Richardson has a legacy of success. And on top of just their abilities, there's the race issues, which unfortunately are still of unmitigated importance for this nations' future. Barring a significant change by someone doing something incredibly stupid like endorsing Osama (not Obama Fox News, read the letters), I will vote in the primaries to advocate that ticket from now on.

Senators Feinstein (D-CA) Leahy (D-Vt) and Pryor (D-Ark) have introduced legislation to remove a newly discovered provision of the USA Patriot act, inserted casually by Arlen Specter, which alllows the Executive Branch to appoint prosecutors to fill any vacancies that appear in the federal prosecutor brigade without having the appointee approved by the Senate. In the past month or so, 7 different prosecutors, including the Prosecutors who went after Barry Bonds and Duke Cunningham, have resigned, possibly at the insistance of the White House, which has left the White House able to appoint their replacements with no debate or approval.

God I miss that City. Someday I hope UofC or Northwestern is hiring a Geochemist. Anyway...

Man, do I ever miss the chicken that they sold at the gas station at the corner of route 6 and McCool rd. but that's a bit beside the point.