NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 1, 2011 -> 08:43 AM) He pushed for a week and then caved without a fight. He doesn't own the high ground on that issue at all. He's like every other politician - in it for himself and the money that put him in office. Honestly, he's monetarily set for life anyway. I highly doubt he was trying to protect his own very small income change. It was pretty clear what happened - he didn't want it, but compromise forced his hand.

For those who were all up in arms about Pierre running yesterday with no outs and the heart of the order up... Ozzie himself was quoted after the game as saying he hoped it was just a spring training thing, and that he simply gave hsi players carte blanche to run at will and show what they can do in that way. This is a non-issue.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 05:26 PM) Point goes to Walker: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117101638.html Agreed here, if he's being accurate, that's a good point. QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 05:29 PM) Also, this from Obama's statement earlier in the day: is hilarious. Guess you're not doing the right thing, Mr. President. Not so much here though - he specifically pushed to NOT have that tax cut anymore for his bracket. I'd say he can own the higher ground on that one.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 01:46 PM) I can't for the life of me find the details of how it works now, but in the Obama budget/infrastructure plan, there is a clause rewarding communities that use federal funds to fix existing roads and penalizes ones that construct new ones without money for upkeep. And if done by itself, that directive will be counterproductive, because that will mean most of the work is the exact B.S. stuff I was referring to. You need to define maintenance money AND delineate the high value targets for impact of the work.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 01:36 PM) Not sure about you, but pretty much every project I saw that had the ObamaCo emblem on it for Stim work on roads, was things like resurfacing, water main replacement, etc. Not that tese things aren't useful, but they really aren't going to have much effect on economic development. If you wanted the road construction money to be used that way, it should have gone to projects built to minimize congestion, etc. Furthermore, the more you do this, the more you feed the beast. The biggest reason we are so far behind on infrastructure work is that the people who have funded various projects over the years to build more roads, aren't building the long term maintenance into their math. They think they can build new roads, and worry about maintenance later. Its just really poor thinking, and we need to get away from it, including letting some roads deteriorate over time and consolidating our spending.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 12:42 PM) Total thread derailment ahead. We're still trillions behind on infrasctructure investment in this country, including roads. The Stimulus was a pittance, on the order of 1% of what we need. We need investment in other things as well...but "Not investing in roads" is not an option. Poor road quality is a damper on economic investment in many communities. Edit: and also drives massive increases in CO2 emissions (the longer you sit stuck in traffic, the more fuel you waste) Not sure about you, but pretty much every project I saw that had the ObamaCo emblem on it for Stim work on roads, was things like resurfacing, water main replacement, etc. Not that tese things aren't useful, but they really aren't going to have much effect on economic development. If you wanted the road construction money to be used that way, it should have gone to projects built to minimize congestion, etc.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 12:23 PM) My place of employment was CLOSED last Monday (Presidents Day), an employee came in to work (despite us being closed) and slipped in our parking lot. She is now filling workers comp. Can she do that since we were closed and there is a reasonable assumption people would not comming in to work, therefor parts of the walk ways may not have been salted. Can she try? Of course. Whether or not she is successful may depend on what the expectations were on her specifically. If she worked off hours regularly anyway, or if there was some project that required her to put in extra time, she could certainly make a case. Hard to say for sure though.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 12:17 PM) I'm wondering if NSS72 wrote this article for Scientific American. Heh. No, but I could have. I favor an oil tax over a gas tax for multiple reasons, and I think more can be done that doesn't involve new taxes... but its a pretty solid article. This is just such an obviously good use of capital, far more so than a lot of the B.S. we're spending so much on right now like the wars in the Middle East, oil subsidies, road construction, keeping Bush tax cuts for the rich, etc.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 28, 2011 -> 08:57 AM) As usual, I'm going to be the one who chimes in negatively on the current state of the economy. Worth noting; I'd never, ever have predicted the 2009-2010 stock price runup. To me, right now, I anticipate headwinds in a lot of sectors, in no small part because of the fact that things have run up so much. Banking has recovered some but not entirely from 2008...but there's a strong risk of another implosion since nothing was ever fixed there. Consumer goods or manufacturing...some inflation can help companies by giving advantages to companies with domestic production, but another oil shock would also threaten their sales. If I were looking for long-term growth, I'd either target sectors that I think might be able to show substantial growth in the next decade (Defense/aerospace, technology, pharmaceuticals, clean energy), or I'd simply go for short-term stability and let some of the overseas instability shake itself out while I sat contently holding US T-Bills. I can always move funds back into stocks from Treasuries at a later date. If your investment horizon is like a year, then yeah, I'd think a safe harbor investment would be smart. But I'm assuming that Russ is looking for something longer term. That being the case, with the eventual recovery and inflation snap back that are both inevitable, long term, I'd still strongly favor equities.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 27, 2011 -> 02:53 PM) Anybody have advice for someone who is looking for growth stocks or funds? Im looking to invest long term about $8000 in the next month or so and want to start looking into possibilities. I currently have a bit under $1000 combined in BP and VZ stock. Unless you have a lot of time to trade and track actively, I'd suggest staying away from single names, and use more ETF's. You can target all manner of industries, sectors, div vs non-div, big and small div, big and small cap, etc., spread your risk more effectively, and not have to worry as much about constantly tracking company news. Just my .02.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 25, 2011 -> 08:32 AM) I'm not trying to call anyone out and I understand his name is unique, but Buehrle has been on this team going on 12 years. We can spell his name the correct way. Topic title edited.

I have zero problem with lifetime protection for any past Presidents and VP's and their families. I think, considering the service they ALL gave to their country in the toughest job in government, that's a reasonable benefit.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 25, 2011 -> 09:22 AM) After reading that, the pitch I throw to Morneau is a high and tight fastball. I wouldn't hit him but get him thinking what may happen if I did. Not saying this specifically for Crain but any pitcher. Normally I'd agree, but with a guy who is suffering the effects of multiple concussions, I personally wouldn't take that risk.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 25, 2011 -> 08:10 AM) I just test drove a Nissan Leaf I'd love to hear a review.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 08:07 AM) I just cant blame Pujols at all for asking for 30 mill a year when Hunter and Crawford make 18 and 20 respectively. I don't blame Pujols. I would blame any GM stupid enough to sign him for $30Mx10.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 24, 2011 -> 02:36 PM) Creepy pic from Garfien: http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/ful...j6N75KN1X91Q%3D QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 24, 2011 -> 03:30 PM) That picture won't load up for some reason. Me either, the link was specific to a session.

Its all bulls***. It was bulls*** with the GOP used so many procedural filibusters when they were in the minority, and its bulls*** that the WI Dem Senate left the state. Bulls***, bulls***, bulls***.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 24, 2011 -> 01:48 PM) This is a cool map of the vote by precinct. Far NW and SW sides tend to be heavily populated by cops and firefigthers and paramedics, who all endorsed Chico because Chico looked like the candidate least likely to do anything about pensions. SE side, I have no idea why that was so heavily Chico.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 24, 2011 -> 09:21 AM) Yet the Cubs draw great crowds year after year. How are they any different than KC or Baltimore? There is even another team in the Cubs' market that does field a challenger almost every year. Even since free agency got started decades ago people have been predicting this. Eventually, maybe it will happen. Really?

QUOTE (IChaseBlackWood @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 05:08 PM) Not much to say?! I don't have him on fb anymore ...he called me "Mami", so he had to go ..I still wanna know what's going on with him ..I'll see him in a few weeks, but I'd like to be caught up before then!! After a very good 2009 in Bristol, he was disappointing in Kanny last season. He did improve a bit in August, but not a whole lot. He's still only 20 for this coming season, so I'm sure he'll repeat Kanny, and has plenty of time to develop.

QUOTE (IChaseBlackWood @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 05:06 PM) ANYONE heard ANYTHING about Dubler?! He is my AAP. There is a thread in here for him too, here is the link. Basically, after a few disappointing seasons, he became a backup in the system. Filler, basically. And barring injuries to other prospects, he's not likely to break out of that role. He played about 50% of games last year in Kanny, and put up a less than stellar .197/.323/.261/.584 line. About the only positive for him offensively is that he does walk a fair amount. He got red hot in May with a .323/.500/.419/.919 line, but hit under .200 in three other months. Haven't heard anything about this season for him yet.

In addition to CMB, Dock Walls was his usual waste of space. I never learned enough about Watkins to say for sure, but she was certainly pretty underqualified. Chico, Rahm and Del Valle were real candidates, though Del Valle seemed kind of a wimp. That left Rahm and Chico as the only real candidates.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 03:19 PM) Here's the 10 longest HR at Great American ballpark, listing Dunn at 535. Heh. Dunn is on that top 10 list 3 times.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 10:25 AM) Dunn is listed as having hit a 535 foot homer off of Jose Lima. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cin/ballpark/longest_hr.jsp 535? Holy s***. What's the longest ever hit in the majors, since decent measurements began? Can't be much more than that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 23, 2011 -> 01:31 PM) The issue now with this election is...no one really has a clue what Emmanuel's politics regarding Chicago's fiscal issues are. He's actually made some specific policy ideas known, though he's also been vague in other areas. Seems like this main approach will be to pass a few things he knows he can get through the Council easily at first, and in the meantime, try to breakdown the Council's power structure to set up the pieces for him to have Daley-like run of it. That will take time, and its no guarantee he will be successful. Also, remember folks, in terms of enacting policy and fiscal changes, Chicago is actually a strong-Council system. No one thinks of it that way because Daley had so carefully and powerfully set up the council to lay down for him, but that was Daley's own doing - not the nature of the system.