NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 01:59 PM) Its funny that you always go back to Rush, when not a single person on here uses him as a defense for their thoughts. I don't think anyone here uses Gore as a defense for their thoughts either. The science Gore cites is what people here have used directly to defend their opinions, just as Gore has. I actually used to listen to Rush semi-regularly, back in college, when I was making the long drives in Iowa.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 01:33 PM) Wouldn't that be similar to firing a gun in a crowd, but because you didn't hit anyone, it's not so bad? The crime is driving drunk, why should it matter what also happened? There would be separate charges for that. Perhaps I wasn't clear. Yes, those would be seperate charges, and therefore, would mean stiffer penalties. The DUI charge is what it is. I agree.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 01:21 PM) Wow. I wouldn't have guessed it at all, although with the way the pen is set up, Haegar could be a huge change of pace guy. Yeah, that's kind of why I'm hoping for him in the pen. Not just to keep Aardvark out, but because I think Haeger would be a great piece in a bullpen with 4 or 5 flamethrowers. The idea of squeezing Haeger between one our starters and one of the three coffin nailers (Thronton, MMac and Jenks) is just too awesome.

Anderson starting 2 games in a row. I thought they already decided to send him to Charlotte? I am glad to see him getting the time in the lineup.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 12:05 PM) Cross Haegar off of the list for Chicago with his last couple of outings. This is pretty much down to Danks and then Floyd, with Russell lurking if they both blow up again. Ozzie was quoted today saying his last two outings did not hurt his chances, strangely enough. Link, go to bottom of the article in the notes.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 11:40 AM) You are right, while I was pissed at being stopped at all for something I didn't do, everything up to the 'you're cheating' part I had no problem with. Me smelling like booze, I understand the field tests. Then he just became a dick. And as I mentioned, I have 3 cop friends, so I know they are not all bad, and that the number is even pretty small. My whole point was to counter those who were clamoring for drastic measures right off the bat for everyone, when there are distinctions. The first timer who maybe did have 2 or 3 beers at the game shouldn't be thrown in the clink for 5 years (with the stipulation that there are always exceptions). I took one of those tests in college, I passed it with 2 beers. Officer was kinda mad at me for doing so. I didn't state that nobody was affected at .08, I said some. I also have major criticisms about MADD, but that could be a different post. And an FYI, the stop was in Dyer, IN. I agree that jail for a first time offender, if no accident is involved, is over the top. I think you also make a good point about gradients. Someone who blows .09 is definitely and unquestionably effected by it, but, they are less of a danger than someone who is at .20. The penalties should perhaps be gradient with that. And thanks for the info, I'll try to avoid speeding or rolling through stop signs if I'm ever in Dyer, IN. QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 10:57 AM) As a person who bikes to school regularly and is constantly avoiding people driving large SUV's on cell phones...I'm also damn happy that this state is banning talking on those things while driving. To me, people are just becoming less and less concerned with their driving. No one takes it seriously anymore. They drink and drive, they drive while on the phone or while applying makeup, or heck, even trying to eat while driving is dangerous. I've seen people reading a friggin' book behind the wheel. I'm not sure what the solution is, though. How do you enforce those sorts of things? Cops or even cameras can't always see those distractions. The only thing I can think of is making things like cell phones or other distractions sort of add-ons to other violations. If you are caught running a red light, or in an accident, while on the phone, the fines or points should automatically double. Something like that.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 11:22 AM) No, that was not printed in the NYT. It was an angry letter to them in regards to something that they did print a few weeks ago. I'm pretty sure this is the article he's writing about...one of the attempted NYT hatchet jobs on Barack already. Since it's behind the TimeSelect wall, I'll be nice and post it...just don't tell anyone. Compare this to his description of the interview...and yeah. Damn liberal media. I was aware it was a response, I just didn't know if the response you posted was ALSO in the NYT after the fact (there was no link or source).

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 11:50 AM) I think it's going to go down to the wire as to who starter #5 is going to be. Personally, I think they are sold on Floyd, just because of his experience. But, who knows? I can't remember a spring training in recent years where there were this many roster spots still seriously in play this late (1 week of ST to go) - 2 or 3 in the pen, 1 in the starting five, and 1 position player.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 10:59 AM) Well I'll be damned. Turns out I was right, after all. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070323/sc_nm/carbon_china_dc China to surpass US Carbon Emmissions in 2007. SAY IT AIN'T SO! I don't think anyone doubted that China would pass us soon - just a question of when. Doesn't change a thing, though, for us. We can act or not act. If we act, we can then work with Europe and Japan to force China to change too. But we have to go first, because there is no way China will.

QUOTE(mreye @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 08:34 AM) Just a stab in the dark: Maybe they have to prove the dog was alive when he found it. If it was already dead and he cut the head off...that's not animal cruelty. Good point.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 01:03 PM) From Gregor at the Herald. As a follow up, check out the article in the Trib. Ozzie seems high on Logan. So I wonder where Gregor gets his info.

Wow. So that was published in Op Ed of NYT then? I think this points out what I've been trying to say here for some time. The media is going downhill not as a matter of political bias, but as a matter of trashing the basic principles of good journalism in favor of sensationalism. Polarity and conflict sell better. And as newspapers struggle to make money, they succumb to those base tools. How embarrasing for them.

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 08:05 PM) I have been pulled over simply because it is 2am and there are bars nearby. I have also been stopped at 'safety check' roadblocks, which are a crock. The 2am one was the worst. As part of my at-the0time job I restocked a bar. I was covered with booze from cleaning a large spill, and the ensuing stop was fun. SUPPOSEDLY, I rolled thru a stop sign. However, seeing cops there evry night, I know enought to make a complete stop, so the cop was lying right there. He then proceeded to give me all the usual roadside tests. Well, my eyes appeared 'glassy' to him, but that was from all the smoke in the bar. I smelled like booze, but I was wearing it, hadn't had a drop. Did the eye test, and according to him, I moved my head. Standing on one foot? Easy, if I wasn't stopped on a hill. So, he decides I am drunk and slaps the cuffs on me to go to the station, where I demand a breathalizer. It comes up zero. Cop gets mad, tests me again. Zero again. He really gets mad then, says somehow I am either cheating, or the machine is broke. Wants me to do it a third time, I say no, get me a supervisor or a lawyer, because i want to leave. I get crap about how he can still give me tickets for several different things, including dui, even though I blew a zero. Bottom line, after 4 hours, I get out with a ticket for failure to obey a traffic signal. And to top it off, the bastards wouldn't even drive me back to my car. So, should I get a huge fine because I can't stand on one foot and a cop lied about the other tests? I shudder to think what would have happened if I had ANY alcohol in me. Now I get it. I didn't understand your previous posts, saying things that made zero sense about some people not being impaired or not being "messed up" at .08 (B.S.), 2 beers in an hour doesn't effect your driving (also B.S), etc. But what I see here is that you are angry because some asshole cop gave you a hard time. That would piss me off too, but it has nothing to do with the DUI laws, which are far too lenient. And to answer your question... no, I have not had 2 drinks in an hour and driven anywhere before. If I drive anywhere and drink, I limit myself to A drink, or maybe 2 if I'm somewhere for a few hours. That's it. If you have any doubts about what .08 does to you, you should try to participate in one of those studies that the state police (and sometimes local agencies) put on where they serve you drinks, test you, and have you drive (on a course, or using a simulator). See how you react differently. It will be crystal clear. I know because I've seen it done. QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 10:26 PM) i wasn't being sarcastic, i think a lot of cops abuse their power and act like total dicks. they are so many bad chicago cops. i think the bad ones out number the good ones. This isn't even in the vicinity of accurate. Of course there are a lot of bad cops out there. As I said in a thread the other day, Chicago has 13,000 sworn officers. If even 5% of them are assholes (which is probably low for the normal population), that's 650 assholes with guns and badges, and that's a little scary. You can point at the couple dickheads who pulled you over and hassled you, and you forget about the rest of them that are doing their jobs. Being a cop is a very exposed job, and when a cop screws up, lots of people hear about it. So a few bad apples make a whole department look like idiots. So unless you are talking about Franklin Park or some other little mob central city, to say there are more bad cops than good ones is ridiculous. I can tell you from experience its simply not true. But then, maybe my standards are different. For example, if I pulled over A-Dog at 2am, soaked in alcohol and glassy-eyed, you can bet I'd have given him some field tests. If he failed those though, breathylizer should be next. But if I didn't have the machine in the squad, I'd have to take him to the station anyway. So up until the point where the cop said "you must be cheating or something", got pissed and left him without a ride... it sounds to me like he didn't do anything wrong (unless he did indeed make up the traffic violation - that's a load of crap).

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 07:45 AM) Gotcha I still dont get the implication of terrorist threats. I want the guy to get put away for something(even though it probably wont be much because pets are considered property), but terrorist threats seems a stretch. Somebody far smarter than me will probably explain it though, Terrorism laws at the state level, written a long time ago, are different than people think. Think of it as, "what is the goal of terror?" Its fear of unknown peril. This guy cuts the head off a dog and leaves it for the girl, who he had a romantic interest in. What does that say? It says, "this could be you". Its not assault because its not direct harm to the target. No threat was made in a direct enough fashion for assault on the girl to fit. But terror fits. What I don't get is, they are saying he "may" also be charged with animal cruelty. May?! How is that NOT animal cruelty?

Congratulations SSI, and many happy birthdays with cake-covered faces!

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 03:26 PM) uhh, the whole education portion of this thread started as me pointing out that the US lacks engineers and such. it is now devolving into "what classes Balta took" and "what classes he thinks are important". Well, Balta is after all a scientist. Hey, add me to your Boone Logan fan club, would ya?

I gave in, and ordered MLB Audio. Didn't want to, but oh well.

670's website says they are doing the game, but if you click on "listen now", its some annoying interview instead of the game.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 02:59 PM) I thought Buck is pretty solid at throwing? Also, with all of the LHP in our division, Pods will be playing in about half the games within the division if he's platooning with Pablo. Sounds good to me. I like Pablo. I just wish we still had Raines around to teach him how to use his speed better.

Here are the takes on the AG AG mess from some of the GOP candidates.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 01:56 PM) I like Erstad in LF over Pods. Eh, I'm not so sure. I think I'd rather have Mack than either of those two, actually - with Ozuna playing against lefties. Gload would have been better than either one as well. But between Pods and Erstad, I think I'd actually take Pods in LF, all things considered (though its sort of a lesser evil choice).

QUOTE(Y2HH @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 01:30 PM) I'm glad you started this thread, since you are such a huge BA fan and he's starting today...perhaps you will be the luck charm he needs! I'm actually not that big a fan, I think I'd rather have any number of guys in there. BUT, I think he is a FAR better choice than to start in CF this year. He's the best option on the club at this time.

My first of the season. Ahem... mi mi mi mi mi... GO YOU WHITE SOX!!! Oh, and, go BA!!! Play good, hit ball hard, prove I'm not insane being the only person on this board who thinks you still have a shot. ETA: Contreras v Ramirez

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 01:11 PM) Will this turn into a 2 person race for the Dems? Maybe Gore will reconsider getting into the mix? Gore might jump in. Also, Richardson and Biden have yet to make their run-ups. No one knows them yet. If either one can raise some substantial money, then they are still in the mix. Kucinich is still theoretically in there too, but he's really a non-factor. I still think Richardson is the wildcard who could come up big, especially if Gore doesn't jump in. Biden has already put his foot in his mouth, and will be saddled with being the "other" senator in the race.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 12:48 PM) to the family and friends. Since the news conference was to announce he is continuing to run, I don't feel bad mentioning this. I wonder how the other campaigns will handle this issue. I believe there are some legitimate questions to be asked, foremost, how does he see balancing the pressures of running the US and supporting his wife? I doubt any of the candidates even mention it, if they know what's good for them. No way to look good doing that. Besides, the question will be asked in the media anyway - the other candidates won't have to.