NorthSideSox72

Definitely see some difference in Anderson's stance and swing. We'll see if it translates to better results.

Man... I'm no huge fan of Hawk and DJ, but these Cubs announcers are even worse. I haven't watched the Cubs on TV for a while, but it used to be a little more tolerable with Steve Stone in there.

QUOTE(HeGone33 @ Mar 4, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) BA really looks no different up at the plate than last year. Other than the number. Didn't he change his mechanics? Looks to me like he's holding the bat differently, and his torso/hips are turning more. He isn't trying to use all arms as much.

QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 3, 2007 -> 01:26 AM) http://www.maps.com/games/africa.html North Africa: 150/150 West Africa: 65/150 (ouch!) South Africa: 110/150

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 2, 2007 -> 01:35 PM) They do, if you take your head out of the Goracle's ass long enough to find it. And no, it's not simply $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, Balta. And before the next smart ass comment comes about "they just pollute and pollute and pollute", no, that's just simply not true. There isn't the Goracle (or someone like him) speaking for the GOP, so of course they won't get the same attention. I'll expound on this. I agree with Kap on this point, and its an important ideal - $$$$$ is not the only major political reason behind the resistance. The other big one is the ideal of individual freedoms, versus group freedoms. The GOP have historically been crusaders for individual freedom, individuals including both businesses and citizens. So anything that comes along which looks like the beginning of a forced mandate that will cost people money and/or some sense of personal freedom, they'll flinch at (there is of course the major exception here - the part of the GOP highly motivated by religious crusading will be perfectly fine with restrictions on freedoms if they meet their morality). Virtually all of the scientific community, along with a growing majority of lamens in this country, have accepted the reality that we as humans are doing massive damage to the environment that will soon come back to bite us in the a**. And so we have accepted that we all have to work as a group to combat the problem - it cannot effectively be left to a few well-minded individuals anymore. Its too late for that. But that doesn't mean that the desires of conservatives for government to stay out of their business suddenly dies. Its still there, and some people will fight to protect it even in the face of every piece of logic and science you can throw at them. I'm hoping and expecting that resistance to wane as time goes on, but occasionally spike up in anger. That's what we're seeing here. Hopefully logic will prevail sooner rather than later.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 03:20 PM) So, I notice a lot of guys on the team are wearing this jersey - with the single button, and the white slash under the arms. Me likes. But, if I search MLB and other shopping sites for sox jerseys, I don't see it anywhere. Anyone know of a place I might find one, other than the Sox' locer room? These are now up on the MLB site, in case anyone else was curious. /hijack

QUOTE(Scwible @ Feb 20, 2007 -> 09:45 PM) More from 2-20-07 Carlos Vasquez So, I notice a lot of guys on the team are wearing this jersey - with the single button, and the white slash under the arms. Me likes. But, if I search MLB and other shopping sites for sox jerseys, I don't see it anywhere. Anyone know of a place I might find one, other than the Sox' locer room?

QUOTE(fathom @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 04:30 PM) It's good that he didn't feel pain, but you have to be concerned whenever a pitcher (especially a power pitcher like Jenks) has shoulder tightness. That sort of thing could be nothing (just not loose enough yet), or it could be an indication of a serious problem, or anything in between. I hope they know soon.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 01:10 PM) To my eyes, this data, if correct, would be much more an argument against the "Kick them all out" philosophy that a significant minority of the U.S. seems to espouse, rather than an argument against fixing the laws so as to allow them to be here but in some sort of legal fashion. Well that is the part that goes beyond economics. I don't think people should be allowed to stay who got in illegally, because there are non-monetary risks to their presence here, for them and for everyone else. But I do think the end result should be to allow as many in as there are jobs, and have them all here documented and legally, with all the protections that go along.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 03:45 PM) Al Gore winnning the Oscar for his conservation type movie was kinda like when Milli-Vanilla won that Grammy. or maybe just use , like, only as much fossil fuels as the average american... instead of 20 times as much. that or stop blaming everyone else for global warming when you, yourself, are a major contributor to carbon emission. Oh for *&^$(*'s sake. Do any of you read? He isn't using 20 times anything! That home of his he is purchasing 100% renewable energy for, and for anything else that emits carbons, he buys them off the market. But really, please, go ahead and believe the garbage being spewed by those who prefer flaming to facts.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 01:08 PM) I dunno what to think. Fire the tellers for letting teen girls do this? Laugh because it seems so ridiculous? Tellers are trained to do exactly what someone like that tells them to do. There are a few different reasons for that, including safety of the tellers, liability for the bank (financial and legal) if something goes badly, insurance requirements, etc. Its cheaper to give them a cash drawer with a few thousand in it than to have one get shot.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 12:51 PM) More from the Atlanta paper: Maybe they'll get their own reality show on MTV after this. Yeah, called "Mommy, jail hurts!"

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 12:50 PM) I dunno, maybe I'm in a "Thank you sir may I have another!" kinda mood today, but here's some more gasoline to toss on filibuster fires today. 2 different studies regarding illegal immigration and its effects on America have come out in the last week, based on U.S. Census data, with some fairly surprising results. First, a study by a UC Davis researcher found that the current immigration status has actually had the effect of pushing the wages of native-born Americans Upwards, instead of downwards. The article does present some objectiosn, and the study author's counter to those objections as well. And secondly, a different study by a UC Irvine Sociologist found that illegal immigrants currently have a much lower incarceration rate than virtually any other native born group of Americans. The rising wages should be expected - its one of the good side effects of immigrants coming in and doing manual labor jobs that are better for them than in Mexico, but somewhat lower on the desire scale for natives. It also lowers cost of things like housing construction. But, let's be clear - that has little to do with their being here illegally. You could see that same positive effect and then some, if we just adjusted our immigration laws to match the economic realities.

This is analagous to seat belts laws, in a way. I am in favor of people being ticketed and fined HEAVILY for not buckling in their children (or putting them in proper car seats, depending on age). But with adults, I think you get into paternalistic law and that isn't necessarily good. I feel its important for children because they don't have a choice yet - they aren't choosing their lot in life, and they don't understand the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. Same goes for insurance. Therefore, I think we need to have basic insurance for all children, and I'd be more than willing to pay a little bit for that, just as Hitless Wonder was saying. But unlike Hitless, I'd guess a majority of people would support such a thing. And its also a matter of priority - this is more important, to me, than funding things like business education programs and other things that are good but not as critical. The long run benefit of this for society is huge, by the way. If more poor kids are healthy, a larger number of them will find their way out of the dark hole of poverty. And its a perfect example doing something other than giving them a handout, but which is likely to go a long way.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 09:20 AM) Perhaps not, but rising from the dead or not is not some minor Bible trivia quibbling point like when Jesus turned the water into wine was it merlot or shiraz. Died. . . rose. . . will come again. . . t's sort of the central tenet of Christianity. True. I just don't think you have to believe that Jesus' body vanished from the tomb as stated in the text, to believe he rose from the dead. As the son of God, his body was sort of superfluous at that point. I am not trying to say its not an important topic - just that it isn't something that should shake anyone's faith, nor validate anyone's disbelief.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 08:56 AM) I agree that a fully human Jesus, fully engaged in all domestic aspects of human life is not something that should shake the foundations of the faith. But I think you are missing the real point for the by-the-book faithful. If Jesus rose from the dead and 30 days later ascended bodily into heaven, how could his bones possibly be in an ossuary in a tomb in Jerusalem? Well, I wasn't really addressing the Bible-literalists (i.e. Crazy Carl), who are sort of pointless to discuss. I can't handle conversations with people like that. Most of the Christians I know have varying levels of faith and devotion, but very few are 100% literal about the text.

Interesting discussion, but I think that people who are either outraged or joyful are missing the point. For a person of faith, I don't see why Jesus having potentially been married or having kids is detrimental. It just makes him that much more of the flesh, and further expands on one of the things that makes Christianity somewhat unique - God in human form.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 08:17 AM) Is this 16"?? Yessir.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 03:41 PM) There's a hell of a lot of people who choose to stay in those circumstances, and then also choose to complain about it. That's the saddest part of all. I agree that happens way too often. But here is a question then... given that guarantees them a life of struggle and mediocrity... why do people do it? Are they just lazy? Or are they so convinced they'll never get out that they don't try? I don't have a specific answer in mind. Just curious about people's theories.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 01:36 PM) Try bookingbuddy.com. It makes searching a lot faster. Just put in your specs and it searches a bunch of travel sites for you. Yeah, there is another one like that called sidestep.com, also handy at times.

Also try hotwire.com and priceline.com, who may still have blocks left. Though they are usually better for larger cities. And sometimes smaller local hotels, and especially little B&B's and what not, aren't on Sabre or those other systems, so you should try them directly too.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 12:07 PM) No you don't, but the U of I has also been criticized about it's use of the Chief logo on clothing and on the field. In fact, when I was there, they changed the mid-field logo from the Chief to the Block I. And I'm pretty sure that the university has a pretty tight rein on the use on clothing and other things they sell. You don't see it on uniforms at all. So...the Blackhawks should be included in this discussion, although I think it's the best uniform in all of sports, too bad what's inside that uniform...not so good. Maybe the logo is accurate to what he would have worn, I don't know (I believe he was Sac or Fox, though I'd have to dig up some old books to see). Or maybe those tribes gave permission. I don't know the history on the B-Hawks' logo to know on that one.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 11:29 AM) Well, then here's the other side of the token...what is more effective with a person who winds up addicted to cocaine, meth, etc., (pick your drug); locking them up as punishment, or finding a way to treat that person? In some cases, yeah, locking them up is the best option. But I can't imagine anyone here would argue that it's the best option in every single case; that we wouldn't be better off getting some people treatment instead of tossing them into prison. Locking them up would be a better alternative if jail wasn't a place to get more cocaine and generally fall further into criminality. That includes treatment, I agree. And locking them up does at least get them out of society for that period of time.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 10:07 AM) I'll bet you could write the exact same article about pretty much every Catholic priest who molested a child over the last 50 years. As far as I have ever seen or read, they do a ton of good works outside of their nasty little habit which just happens to be against everything that they have ever taught. No one seems to be out writing up rebuttal op-ed pieces for these guys, why is that? No one seemed to have a problem with the "liberal media machine" picking up the story and running with it. Why were their no replies about how many soup kitchens they served in, or how they tithed, or the marriage couseling they did, or the comfort they brought to people who lost loved ones, or how they were crippling churches by taking these priests away etc, etc? I guess the "conservative media machine" must have really dropped the ball on protecting the "religious right" or they still have some lessons to learn... It just really drives me nuts that this kind of thing is OK in one instance, but it isn't in this case. I read tons of editorials just tearing the Catholic Church and organized religion apart for this kind of thing, yet when it happens here, we shouldn't worry about that, just worry about the message. Enviornmentalism is like a cult as I see it anymore. Everyone must assimilate or get destroyed by it. If you question this, there is something wrong with you, and the entire media machine crucifies you. People lose their jobs for questioning the envornmental machine. If people do reseach on this that contradicts the accepted facts, it is dimissed summariliy as "junk science" or worse, and the media machine kicks into high gear. Its not that the message gets ignored, its that you ignore the messenger or get ran over by him. I can't wait until Al Gore shows up at my door in his Borg outfit with his laser pointed in my eye, for questioning his authority. Did you really just compare Al Gore's electric bill to molesting a child? And environmentalism is a cult?! You know, I enjoy our discussions on this board, but I can't see having any sort of logical discussion on the topic if you seriously believe those things. I'm out.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 27, 2007 -> 09:57 AM) I know Appalachia very well. It's where my dad is from. Guess what? He did what he could to escape it. Oh by the way, I would make the argument that Indiana suffers from some of those same economic hardships, at least where my parents are. Unemployment runs rampant, jobs are scarce, etc. I left because I saw it coming 15 years ago. That's what an education did for me. So, how do we educate folks to further themselves to make a difference? I asked a teacher that the other day (Chicago public high school teacher of many years). Better teachers would help. How do we get them? The first answer wasn't higher pay, although that might help. The answer was getting rid of some of the large bureaucratic overhead in the large public school systems, fix the infrastructure (buildings are apparently a mess), maybe even outsource some of the facilities management to private firms. Also allow teachers more room to breathe, and teach as they see fit. Then, with some money saved from the overhead, raise the pay a bit, and raise standards of hiring at the same time. But honestly, that's just the schools. The problems related to education are much greater outside the school buildings, IMO, and this teacher agreed. Poverty, violence (in person and on TV, video games), poor work ethic from parents, lack of personal responsibility, drugs, etc.