IlliniKrush

QUOTE (Tex @ May 12, 2011 -> 09:15 AM) Walk into a car dealership with 20% down and you will drive off their lot. Walk into a mortgage company with a decent down payment and no credit cards and you will get a mortgage. Stable work history and a history of saving, including a positive net worth, actually has value. But yes, showing you can manage a negative net worth with lots of debt also works, and there are a lot more companies advocating for that. But actually saving money, putting away an emergency fund instead of relying on credit cards, saving for down payments instead of no money down instant gratification is very difficult for most people. Even if you don't go as far or as extreme as some financial advisors will tell you, being your own credit card increases your net worth and saves you money. And look at who is telling you that credit is essential. Credit monitoring companies, credit card companies, credit repair companies. And we want that stuff immediatly, it's something we like, so we believe them. The only time I can honestly say you absolutely need a credit card is to rent a car. If you manage to put aside an emergency fund, you can pay for those unexpected expenses like car repairs. If you can't afford to set aside the savings, how will you pay off the credit card without racking up interest payments? Americans want to spend 110% of their income. You're right. If you have an emergency and/or savings account and can put money down, you'll end up getting what you want. CC's are a dicey proposition. I bet some (not all) people who have racked up a lot of CC debt started out with the mentality that they'll just use it a little bit, and always pay it off and not carry a balance. Some people undoubtedly have it and it just makes it easier for them to buy needless s*** on a whim, because hey, it's going on a CC and I don't have to worry about it until later, at which point I don't even need to pay off the whole thing. Having a CC available is a good thing, but I don't agree with putting everything on there. If you do have the cash up front and it's not an emergency, might as well pay for it. Cash is king. A lot of people can get out of trouble with a back to cash movement. There's also something about pulling cash out of your wallet (or to some degree swiping your debit card and having the money gone right away) and paying for something...it seems more "real" at the time, and might even make you think twice about whatever it is you are purchasing if it's not something that's a necessity, which could help you save money. There are too many people (not here necessarily) that treat a CC as a toy and figure at some point, they'll figure out how to pay it off. The interest/penalties you have on it in the long run are brutal.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 11, 2011 -> 06:36 PM) I just spent 4 days for free in Naples, FL and I'm getting several hundred dollars worth of free room nights for my honeymoon thanks to my credit card and I do not carry a balance, ever. I had a credit score right around 800 at the age of 24 thanks to taking out a card I never use. Credit cards are simply a tool, not something to be feared. Yeah, a portion of your FICO score is your debt to credit ratio, so having a card or two and essentially cutting them up is actually pretty wise. You don't necessarily have to use the card much for it to have an impact.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ May 10, 2011 -> 08:11 PM) I'd watch them, just like if I would if I moved to a different city. I would expand on my Phillies fandom, probably look into the Brewers, and what choice would I have other than to watch more Cubs baseball? You can't ever replace the team you grew up with though. You moving is WAY different. That's just not the same. Everyone here would follow the Sox somehow even if he or she moved. It's not the same comparison, it would be way different if the team moved out of the city, as they aren't really your team anymore. The connection would be gone. QUOTE (Rowand44 @ May 10, 2011 -> 10:45 PM) I'd cry and probably never watch baseball again. Yes to 1 and Bulls*** to 2.

Datsyuk is the most entertaining player to watch in the NHL. And right now he's doing it with one wrist.

Go here: http://www.creditcardconnection.org/ Getting a CC from a credit union is a good move

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 10, 2011 -> 06:16 PM) You have to go at lunchtime on a weekday to have any experience at all. Correct. Outside that, the Taste is complete garbage.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ May 10, 2011 -> 10:07 AM) Should be a good Western Conference Finals between two historically epic chokers. I think you've missed something.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ May 9, 2011 -> 01:55 PM) Congrats bud! In celebration I'm going to go steal s*** from Sears.

Just got a new job today. Beer at noon, here we go!

Paging Patrick Marleau

QUOTE (SoxPride56 @ May 7, 2011 -> 12:33 PM) Sean Miller is headed to Maryland. HUGE blow to Arizona Jump the gun much?

QUOTE (juddling @ May 5, 2011 -> 11:30 PM) I'm sure i'm one of the few but I find ABC'S Happy Endings mildly amusing. I also think The Middle is underrated The Middle is solid.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 4, 2011 -> 01:31 PM) Only against the sox would a player accidentally hook a nice change up into the corner only to have it stuck under the wall as the umps allow an extra base. No, it was Pierre's mistake for reaching in, that negates a lodged ball situation, ump made the right no call to keep the play alive.

QUOTE (T R U @ May 4, 2011 -> 01:28 PM) dude give me a f***ing break, that s*** was pretty much in the wall.. thats not pierres fault It doesn't matter. Once you reach down into the wall to play it, it doesn't matter if it's stuck, they can run for days. Had he threw his hands up before reaching down for it, the ump would have killed it.

In Juan's defense, that was a balk.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 4, 2011 -> 02:14 AM) Laugh all you want...but when this team saw a crowd of only 20,000 there tonight, it had to be demotivating. If the fans aren't going to come out for a key game against a top divisional rival, why even try? Crowds like this insure that we will not contend this year. I am laughing, your logic is terrible. Maybe had you made the trip in, they would have played harder. Also, your definition of a "key game against a top division rival" means a 4th place vs 5th place game? And they should try because they are being paid millions, and it's their job to perform, regardless of how many people show up. Anyway, why should the fans come out?

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ May 3, 2011 -> 11:33 PM) Before I even saw the poll, I was going to vote for 2007. How can 2006 be on that list? That was a great year filled with career seasons. No playoffs, but not for lack of winning. Well disappointment is based on expectations, and I wouldn't call it a great year. More talented team than 05, they were only a 90 win team that should have won more. 9 up on the Twins at the break and ended up 6 behind them (and 5 behind the Tigers). That's sure disappointing, and should absolutely be on that list.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 3, 2011 -> 05:30 PM) Gracie Bell is the ugliest baby to ever be on a TV show. For real though, the acting and directing was awesome and its been awhile since I got so hooked on a show and the characters. thanks to soxtalk for turning me on to this show, it was an awesome watch. I think we pulled down about 3-5 episodes a night a times. Hell yeah she is. She looks so freaking weird. I think I'm one of the few that watched it from season one...I know a lot of people started and gave up after an episode or two. It's been very rewarding to see every episode, what a great show.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ May 3, 2011 -> 05:47 PM) After making a fuss about fans not having to show up for this series, I will be attending tonight because I was given really good, free tickets. The upside of having a bad team is that people give up their tickets a lot. Sucks to be the guy who gave up his tickets to you. If only we had more people there, we may have had a hit!

If people wanted to give AJ credit for being a good "handler of the staff" when it was going well, those people also have to put some of the blame for the poor pitching on him as well. Furthermore, he can't block balls, he can't throw anyone out, half the time he can't even find the ears on the ball, and he's been awful at the plate. "Intangibles" doesn't get it done as a major league catcher.

Name one aspect of the game that AJ does well in anymore...

So Angelo and the Bears completely f***ed up the trade yesterday, and admitted as much, so there's no sense trying to pretend anything else happened. Not something you want to get a reputation for around the league. http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articl...ade_Fiasco.aspx

Wait...broken shower head? Angry shower immediately afterward to wash away the Sox loss and filth of Billy Koch? Or...? You were also like 12 at that point. Geez.

Yeah, Cuba Gooding Jr just couldn't take them all the way

Opening day 2004 in KC, punched a hole in a closet door in my college apartment.