NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 04:11 PM) an 11% county sales tax is messed up. way too high. i think it would be the highest in the country. so we will have the distinguished honor of having the highest gas prices and highest taxes! seriously, they need to cut something, not raise taxes. I'll say again... there is an alternative. If all of the business-minded conservatives here want the government to really be run like a business, then you need to look at the services it provides, and charge the actual users of those services a rate that closely matches cost. If at that rate no one uses it, THEN you cut it. But if you can break even* at a given rate for the service, then cutting it makes no more sense then running it out there while losing money. * = for a for-profit business, it would be a net income equation, but for government its zero-sum, so break even is sufficient.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 04:16 PM) Libertarians run every presidential election None with Paul's profile, and none who can get even 1% of the electorate. Paul, with the millions he has rasied, could get a lot more than that.

Shouldn't the "first of all" be, WTF kind of people decide its acceptable to threaten a kid's life, to make their point? I seriously would like to see the authorities find the poster who threatened the kid with hanging, and prosecute him/her for assault on a child. I am pretty sure that a threat to hang qualifies.

Wow, 10/10 is a big day. Have a fun one, everyone!

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 02:29 PM) If they need to, they'd find room.... I was just pointing out that it doesn't really matter that the list is at 40 right now.. That being said, Egbert does not need to be protected. They changed the rules last off-season and have given an extra year before a player needs to be protect... Taken directly from Wikipedia (I know, poor source, but it's easier than retyping the CBA PDF)Egbert was drafted in '04. He's safe. Awesome, thanks for the info. Phillips was drafted in 2000, though, so still upcoming judgement day for him.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 02:25 PM) That would mean Heath is on the 25 man as well, FWIW. True, though I was being more general about Eggy versus other less talented, less valuable players.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 01:29 PM) It's very possible they don't put him on the 40-man. If he doesn't get traded before then, and if he ends up not being put on the 40-man but guys like Phillips and Gonzalez are on there, I will be very upset.

QUOTE(29andPoplar @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 02:16 PM) A perfect example of what the White Sox guy said. Eh, his point #1 isn't far off. Pods was affordable.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 01:43 PM) There was no Ford strike, at least not yet. The GM strike actually ended up giving UAW workers some longer term job security anywhere from 5-10 years so I fail to see the long term ass biting here. Yes they did - it just only lasted a day or two. Check the articles about the GM strike, just before they settled, they all said Ford plants had been struck as well. What I am saying is short term, they got more good stuff as you point out. Long run, this sort of problem is the kind of thing they will remember when they decide whether or not to keep operations in the U.S.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 12:32 PM) The City and County governments were find until their primary source of revenues growth fell apart. They really need to cut services and become more effecient like any other business would have to do. Eh, I think there are other ways beyond cutting services. I think you do a combination of things, including getting out of pensions, some targeted tax and fee increases on nuisance activities (traffic violations, water bottles), and then the most important part - raise the fees associated with lesser used services. This way, everything available now is still available, but the people actually using the services are the ones paying for them.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 11:23 AM) With the CFs on the market, he would probably be the last one I would bet on the Sox signing. I think Jones is more likely than Hunter, for example. Certainly more like than some of the SS names bantered about, like A-rod and Tejada. But still a long shot, I agree. QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 11:29 AM) He's clearly just throwing crap on the wall. Most likely. Offered as-is.

Daley says to cover a budget shortfall for 2008, the city needs $108 million in new property taxes, in addition to a new tax on bottled water, and increases in a variety of other fees. This is in addition to the absurd proposal by Cook County to add 2 points or more to the sales tax, which would push it over 11%. At what point do these government agencies look into getting out of the pension business, just like most businesses are doing. That is a huge cost of doing business, and I think its time they drop out of it. Any obligations they currently have they need to keep of course, but going forward, no more. Offer a 401k, with a match even, to save a lot of money. That is better for everyone involved for many reasons. And try some buyout programs for people who have only been on the payroll for like 5 or 10 years - some will take it. For the record, I am actually OK with the water bottle tax. Its a use tax, those things are becoming a huge problem for waste purposes anyway. But that property tax increase?! Come on. I'd also rather see them chase down offenders more often for things like false 911 calls and traffic offenses and increase revenue that way. I wouldn't shed a tear if they fined people a little more for running red lights or calling 911 because their neighbor's dog pooped on their lawn.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 10:51 AM) In the category of "just sayin'" Ron Paul also fits the Unity Party basic platform of small government, balanced budget and ending Iraq. If Paul went independent or Unity in '08 and got even 5% of the vote nationally, that would pretty much destroy any GOP hopes of getting the Presidency in '08.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 10:17 AM) Ok. Well. For this to happen we would have to shed serious salary which means Garland and another player, maybe even konerko in the deal with the Angels. Of course that means that Figgins has no position to play. This season Chone played 2B, 3B and RF. Which means you would have to stick him at 2B and use Richar in AAA or as a sub. 1. Figgins 2B 2. C kotchman 1B 3. Thome DH 4. A Jones CF 5. J Dye RF 6. j Fields LF 7. J Crede 3B 8. AJP C 9 J uribe SS I struggle with who bats #2 with that scenario. Kotchman seems like a good choice at #2. I might flip Thome and Jones against LHP, though. That's also a very heavily RH lineup in the middle. I think you want to try to move AJ up to 6 or 7, and you need a good LH bat off the bench who can play multiple OF positions. Owens maybe could fit that role nicely, in addition to adding speed. And because you've got some much improved OBP in there with Figgins, Kotchman and Jones (to an extent), you can afford to stay with Uribe at SS if necessary. That lineup could hit a LOT of homeruns.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 10:15 AM) Chrysler Strikes Like the GM and Ford strikes, this may get the workers some relief short term, but it will end up biting them in the ass long term. Not a smart move.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 08:45 AM) Full Article QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 09:57 AM) FreeRepublic.com actually has their home address posted. Yeah, see, that's what you get for daring to speak out on behalf of a government program that helped your family! I think some valid arguments can be made against the bill as written. But that sort of venom is just completely uncalled for. That's disgusting.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 09:40 AM) I was arguing the point of not trading him. People in this thread talk like you can't deal Bobby. If you can get a deal that improves your team elsewhere, I don't give a damn how good your closer is, he gawn imo. As the club has no one else in the vicinity of being ready to be a major league closer, there is no way I'd trade Bobby to improve "elsewhere", unless the team got a decent closer back and/or the deal was just so incredibly good in the team's favor that it was a have-to type trade. In that highly unlikely case, you then go find an experienced closer. But other than that scenario, which won't happen, no deal. The only person on the team I'd be less interested in trading is Mark Buehrle.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 09:06 AM) I like your love of Bobby, but I am of the belief that trading him would be the best thing. Yeah, its nice that we have a guy who pitches 65 innings a year, SIXTY FIVE INNINGS WTF, but put that in perspective. If we can get some valuable pieces who play 9 innings a game and have some upside that's a no-brainer. You have to have a lead before you can get a save, and selling high on a RELIEVER, no matter how good is something I can totally agree upon with an organization that has so many flaws. 1. 65 of the most critical innings of the season. 2. So a team that has only a few strengths, you want them to trade one of the small number of those, who happens to be one of the best AND youngest AND cheapest closers in baseball? Why on earth would you do that, unless you got some kind of can't-refuse offer? 3. What exactly do you think Jenks will net you?

FWIW, Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Braves beat writer David O'Brien is betting that either the Dodgers or White Sox will land Andruw Jones. A few other teams he mentions are "rumored" as interested. Scroll down to "Whither Andruew" for the discussion.

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 08:50 AM) i agree. in addition, very few HS kids are going to work for minimum wage or slightly higher. Really? Most kids I grew up with did something like that in HS and in college. I know I did. I worked a variety of low-paying, crappy jobs. Many college students I went to school with worked the corn and soybean fields too during the summers, detassling and woking. I am not saying there won't be a negative impact if all of a sudden many of the illegal immigrants leave, because there would be. But there are positive results as well. You need to take both into account. And further, a policy undertaken needs to keep both in mind.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 08:33 AM) Only 3 said they would completely leave Iraq IIRC. Well yeah, but they all (other than Hillary) have made it seem like they will pull back 95%, leaving only a small advisory and special ops force, or something like that. Hillary, on the other hand, has said basically nothing.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 08:02 AM) I got news for you. I still bet that if they win the White House AND Congress, they won't leave Iraq. If Hillary is President, true. If any other Dem is President, I'd say, false.

Unable to get enough GOP votes to override a Prez veto on any restrictions, deadlines or pullouts from the Iraq mess, the Democrats have now decided to wait it out. Basically, they have decided the current climate and balance in Congress won't allow them to stop the war unless they take the doomsday approach of cutting off all funding. But, knowing the President's time is now limited, and the significant chance there will be even larger majorities in both chambers come 2008 (and possibly a Dem President), they are going to let the administration hang themselves with the Iraq rope (along with the GOP), and see what they can do when the current terms are over.

QUOTE(Al Lopez's Ghost @ Oct 10, 2007 -> 05:34 AM) A little help - What's BAPIP? Batting Average on Balls In Play

QUOTE(Steff @ Oct 9, 2007 -> 08:47 PM) Cheat is there a way to tell when they took them? I checked our building, and the picture is VERY recent. Like August or September recent. New building just down our street looks almost like it does now, in terms of phase of construction. This is uber-cool. And kind of creepy.