NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Feb 26, 2012 -> 06:23 PM) If this were my restaurant, and this guy is a regular customer, the next time he comes in I tell him that we are adding an 18% gratuity to his bill and if he doesn't like it, he can eat elsewhere. Spot on. This guy has a right to be a raging asshole, and the restaurant has a right to tell him to shove it.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Feb 25, 2012 -> 10:34 PM) Jared Mitchell ship I am afraid has sailed! I never liked the pick even before he got hurt. Way too early to make that call yet. If he bombs in 2012 like he did in 2011, then I'll consider that possibility. But not yet.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2012 -> 01:26 PM) If I did the same thing in Indiana, I'd be committing a crime. It is the same in most states. You pick one ballot, not both. Actually there are a number of states that can do both. But my whole point is, it should not be a crime, in fact it should be encouraged. I think of it as a run-off system.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2012 -> 11:23 AM) Meaningless, but it still would be one vote. You still have the right to vote in the other race if you deem your own parties race as "meaningless". Voting in both is two votes IMO. I can't see how it isn't illegal. Because it is two seperate elections. I am actually a supporter of being able to vote in primary elections for any and all parties, for all voters.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 27, 2012 -> 07:47 AM) f*** this morning! I let my dogs out only to watch them chase deer out of the yard, so I get to half throw my shoes on and chase them 3 blocks away in a field to bring them home. (Really it was pretty funny seeing two bassets chasing deer) THEN I get halfway to work and realize I forgot my wallet and my phone. Yay for being late to work. Is one of your dogs named ?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2012 -> 08:06 AM) Versus having 3 of them with all 3 growing, like we have now. First, as I said, the situation done as it was, was my second choice, and I wasn't hugely opposed to it. I wasn't one who wanted the whole thing to drive off a cliff. Second, Chrysler has experienced some growth, but they are still struggling and still have fundamental problems... if it weren't for rental car fleets, they would not be making money. They products continue to be among the worst, in most classes where they have a model. They are run by a mildly psychotic Italian who seems to think his Fiat mentality will work here. Basically, I am pretty convinced that Chrysler will likely die back again and continue to be a laggard in the future. Of course, I could be wrong, this is all just predictions.

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 26, 2012 -> 04:53 AM) I think that your memories as a 16 year-old are lying to you. That movie was made for early-teen boys, so if that is when someone saw it, I could see how their focus on the pod racing and light saber fight scenes (which admitedly were quite cool) would give them the memory of a good movie. For pretty much anyone else, and aside from those things, it was a laughable disaster of a film, repleat with racism, awful dialogue and acting, silly plot devices, and some of the most awful CGI characters ever conceived by man.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2012 -> 07:58 AM) GMAB. Seriously? We aren't talking semantics here (although even if we were, tearing into that would be right up your alley). There is a fundamental and very large difference between the Big 3 all having to contract, vs going from 3 to 2 with the 2 actually growing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 04:16 PM) It pretty much did consolidate a lot. GM's production capacity went down by what, 25% or so? And it shut what, 15% or so of its dealerships? You don't seem to understand the difference between consolidation and contraction.

Apparently I jinxed UNM. Lost two in a row now. Looks to me now like Big 12 has 5 locked and a 6th (Texas) on the bubble (leaning out). Big 10 with 6 locked (Purdue clinched Saturday) plus NU on the bubble (also leaning out IMO). Big East, people are saying 9, but I think its 8. I don't see UConn and WV both making it, and I am not even sure about USF. SEC 2 locked, with Vandy and 'Bama on the bubble. ACC 3 locked, UVA on the bubble (leaning in), NC State on the bubble (leaning out), and Miami with a long-shot chance if they win out. MWC 3 locked, might get a fourth if one of TCU or CSU wins out but I doubt it. PAC-12 has only Cal locked, with Wash, AZ and Oregon all on the bubble, I'd guess 2 of those make it. WCC with 3 teams all with high odds, but one could drop out. A-10 is a cluster-f***, Temple and St Louis are in but there are 3 or 4 other teams that might sneak in too. MVC with 2 in, and UNI on the bubble. Horizon, WAC, Colonial and Summit could all sneak in an at-large bid based on how their tournaments fall out. Love this time of year for basketball.

I still think we should have allowed the industry to consolidate down a bit. Specifically, let Chrysler go under, for the long-term betterment of GM and Ford. But that wasn't going to happen for a variety of reasons.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 02:28 PM) It's all stupid regardless of how much they mitigate that stupidity. I thought that went without saying.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 12:08 PM) Obama Fundraiser Turned Ambassador Was Largely Absent From Bahamas Post All Presidents do it. Of course, Obama is smart enough to put the buffoons in places they can do little harm, like being an ambassador to Luxemborg or the Bahamas. Bush decided to put one in charge of FEMA, which was a special level of stupid.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 24, 2012 -> 09:11 AM) One bracketologist still has Illinois as a #1 seed Interesting. Who is this person? And don't show that to Chisoxfn, they have Iowa not even being in the NIT, or even on the bubble for it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 10:23 PM) Been snowing/sleeting in Northbrook for like 10 hours now, but nothing is sticking. Just a thin layer of slush that doesn't even cover the grass, and nothing on the concrete at all. Unless the temp drops another few degrees, this may turn into a nothing event. Well, with the snow coming to an end, looks like we got 3-4" in Northbrook. But its hard to say for sure, it is really uneven because of the warm temps.

QUOTE (GioHudson @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 09:13 PM) Sorry, I can't seem to get poll added. I wanted the options: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020+ LOL A user named "GioHudson" joins, starts a thread with a poll asking when we'll see the playoffs again, and doesn't even want to include any of the next three seasons. How many more Eeyores does this site need? Looking at what KW has been doing, I think his target is 2013 or maybe 2014. But 2012 will tell us a lot about the key pieces. How Beckham/Dunn/Rios do to meet expectations, how Morel/Flowers/De Aza/Reed/Sale develop, and how all these new pitching prospects do in the minors, will tell us how likely it is that the plan may work for 2013.

Been snowing/sleeting in Northbrook for like 10 hours now, but nothing is sticking. Just a thin layer of slush that doesn't even cover the grass, and nothing on the concrete at all. Unless the temp drops another few degrees, this may turn into a nothing event.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 03:04 PM) False. I played semi pro rugby at 370...I'd say Herm was about 320 or so QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 04:32 PM) And your height? Yeah, Herm always looked short out there to me, at least compared to the players. Less than 6', probably by a good bit. Plus Herm doesn't have the muscle bulk a Rugby player would have. A normal, not extraordinarily strong person less than 6' at 400 pounds, would not get around like Herm did. That said, he might be 320, I don't know, but 400 for Herm is laughable unless he is like 6'8" or something.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 01:46 PM) I think our destiny is almost assuredly Kansas State in the 4-5 game. Oh yeah, I was interpereting the format wrong. Yes, I'd agree, now that I look at it again.

QUOTE (flavum @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 02:25 PM) ^ They'll have 7 in the pen, and I doubt Jordan Danks has a shot. If they go 7 in the pen, then I agree about Danks.

QUOTE (Cali @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 01:49 PM) Who knows what Herm did, but if anyone has ever seen the Documentary "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" you would know a hardcore juice fast for a month or so could drop some serious weight and quickly. Especially on a guy pushing +400 lbs like Hermie probably was... No way Herm was pushing 400 pounds. I don't think he's very tall. I would be shocked if he was over 300 before this, let alone near 400. A 400 pounds guy of average height can barely walk around normally, let alone trot from the dugout like Herm did (in an admittedly jiggly fashion).

If I were Robin... LINEUP De Aza, CF Morel, 3B Dunn, DH Konerko, 1B Viciedo, RF Ramirez, SS Rios/Fukudome, LF AJP, C Beckham, 4 BENCH Flowers: C Lillibridge: 2B, RF/LF Kuhn: 3B, 2B, SS Danks: OF ROTATION Danks Peavy Floyd Sale Humber BULLPEN Reed (CL) Crain (SU) Thornton (SU) Ohman (MR) Santiago/FA crowd (LOOGY) Stewart (MR-LR) Some explanations... --Even though I put De Aza in CF, and a platoon of Rios and Fuku in LF, in reality, it is a two-position platoon among the three of them. I am still skeptical of De Aza defensively in CF and I don't think Rios is going to be as bad there this time around, but we'll see. --This team has no good 2-slot hitter, I picked Morel, but it could also be Ramirez or Beckham, depending on how their seasons all go. --The bench is tough, but I am a believer in Kuhn, so I think he's a better fit than Martinez. Kuhn has played a lot more positions and is, IMO, likely to be much better with the bat. You lose a bit on D, but think about this: the starting 3B, SS and 2B are all above average on D so you are only replacing them on rare off days anyway. For that purpose, I want the bat more than the glove. --I was torn on Johnson vs Danks, because Danks has the glove (and that helps a weak defensive OF a lot) - and I could see it going either way. Coin toss there, went with Danks. Need the D replacement, and 1B coverage really isn't much of an issue with Lillibridge and Dunn and even Kuhn there. --I think Stewart is a reliever, so he's in the 'pen. Axelrod looks more like a starter to me, so I want him in AAA starting. --No way you don't start Humber. Have to. --Reed is the future closer, I think he may do better just plain jumping in. Thornton isn't much of an experienced closer, so it isn't like Reed has a mentor to mimic for a while. Just put him in there. --LOOGY job can be one of 3 or 4 guys, Santiago most likely, but there will be ST competition for it. --There are a bunch of other relievers who could get a 7th spot if they go that way, but I have a feeling they will go with a 6 man pen. If it is indeed 7, then Kuhn or Danks drops off the roster.

QUOTE (Rex Hudler @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 12:22 PM) That doesn't answer my question. There is a very good chance that 5 teams will be 9-9 after this weekend, with Indiana State sitting in 8th place at 8-10. Head to head comparisons can't work in a 5-way tie. Sure they can, as a pool. Take each team's record against the other four, and that amounts to a H2H record amongst the tied teams.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 12:17 PM) Boy, if we only began drilling our domestic oil ten years ago......or perhaps had a new pipeline to bring oil from Canada. You mean like having the highest level of domestic production in decades? Because we do. You mean like opening up tons of new fields, on and off shore, for drilling? Because both Bush and Obama have been doing that. The pipeline thing is indeed being turned into a political football, but keep in mind that is Canadian oil, not US oil, and much of it will be exported anyway.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 12:47 PM) Nobody cares about that, to get right down to it. "Buy American" is usually meant to help the average guy working on the floor of the Ford plant. If Ford really gave two s***s about those people, like they want us to, they'd put more time into making a better car. More people would then buy them and they'd be able to hire more people in America. The argument about making better cars is a decade or two stale. GM and Ford products have improved a lot in that time, in fact until recently Ford was right there with Lexus near the top in reliability. I don't do the Buy American thing, I buy the best car for my needs - sometimes its a Ford or GM product, sometimes it isn't. Chrysler, on the other hand, has been a garbage brand all along.