NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2011 -> 11:08 AM) Senate votes 81-17 in favor of preserving $22 billion in tax breaks for oil drilling. Idiots.

Dan reports his rehab is going well. He's in the final stages, in Arizona. He feels he'll be unlimited when mini-camp starts in late Feb, should be right back to it by then. I'm hoping for B-Ham for him, I'm sure he hopes for the same. They may keep him in W-S if they are unsure about his recovery, but I suspect if he starts mini-camp looking like his old self, he'll be in AA for 2011.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 11:37 AM) That is fine but than go home and call it a career, no need to read about how good he thinks he is. Thome is doing what Dye should do if he really wants to play baseball. Obviously Dye is not really looking to play and I really do not understand what his point is. His skillset has diminished and he either wants to play or he doesn't. Pretty sure that the press called HIM. And he doesn't want to call it a career, he wants to play on his terms. There is no whining here, or trying to be bigger than he is. I just don't get why people have a problem with this.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 03:16 PM) Right now, everyone is still buying. The interest rate on the 30 year Treasury bill is 4.9%. People are buying that stuff up like it's being sold by Glenn Beck. You are showing a chart that goes through 2007.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 11:51 AM) More info on this story. Un-f***ing-real. A party committee? A $23,000 desk? Preckwinkle actually seems to be making some good dents, hopefully she goes after the Treasurer's Office next.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 10:35 AM) That is a net number. It means 500,000 found jobs, but 464,000 lost jobs= 36,000 jobs created. (numbers aren't actual, but you get the idea. Right. The 4Q running number was significantly higher than 3Q, so smoothing out the diffs, the curve is going the right way... just not steeply enough yet. We'll see how the full 1Q 2011 pans out.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 09:34 AM) You know what is funny. Bernanke denied having anything to do with food inflation, but took credit for the rise in asset prices . f***ing moron. March 2008: "The housing market is contained." Seems eerily similar to them stating they can contain inflation today. I thought I was the only one in this forum who was worried about inflation rubber-banding when the recovery strengthens.

QUOTE (ChrisLikesBaseball @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 08:45 AM) This is a very cool White Sox shirt, but I can't figure out who it is... Anybody have any idea? My first guess would be Harold Baines, but I don't remember him ever having just a mustache. Who else could it be from that era? The rest of the line is pretty cool and more defined with guys like Randy Johnson, Reggie Jackson, Mattingly, Munson, and Kirby Puckett, : NIKE Weird. During that jersey period, who from the Sox ended up in Cooperstown? I can think of Fisk and Seaver. Neither of them had a stache like that.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 01:39 AM) The man made up his mind what he was willing to do, and what he wasn't willing to do. I can respect that. Agree completely. I see no whining here, I see a guy who has decided the parameters within which he's willing to play, which I have great respect for. To me, that looks a lot more professional than hanging on by a thread for years. I agree he was in denial about wanting to start in the OF, he thought he was still good out there, and he wasn't anymore. But him deciding not to play 4th OF for $3.3M last year, to me, does say he wasn't scrounging for cash. He wanted to play on his terms.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 05:08 PM) The problem is they could be doing this stuff on the buses and trains right now, but don't. I can't tell you how many times in 12 years I have been stuck on a train, where not even the people running the train have any idea what is going on. They do, I used it all the time in the city. Bus Tracker shows next buses and times for any given station and direction, and its surprising how good it is. For trains, they are just now piloting that same sort of system. QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 08:57 PM) Despite not living there, I've definitely gotten the impression that the Chicago Public Transit system is one in need of serious funding/upgrades. This, and what DA said, are both correct. I find it funny that people think this is entirely a problem of CTA being bad at planning, or entirely a problem of lack of money to fix the infrastructure. Its clearly both.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 01:25 PM) First health care exemptions, now emissions exemptions. So basically the law only applies to those who aren't in Obama's pockets. Nice way of governing. http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltwa...-exemption-febr I'd call that a huge stretch, to say its related to GE. I think its more likely the exemption was more about political pressure to get an alt energy type facility online quickly, which doesn't necessarily make it better (just different). Good news is, that's a very narrow exemption, not nearly as bad as the health care stuff was. Bad news is that there were exemptions at all, I agree that shouldn't have to happen.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 12:45 PM) This is with Viciedo being in Charlotte, right? Was there any real chance of him being in Chicago, barring trade or injury? I don't think so.

So, so, SO glad we decided to buy a snowblower back in December. I resisted at first, but this would have been horrendous without it. Long corner lot, and we have to do our sidewalks ourselves. Plus the driveway.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 12:39 PM) is there room for Stealth Elf, Omar and a 4th OF? Lilly is what he is but at least he can back up IF and OF. Teahen, Castro and Omar are already set for the bench, barring a trade. So that leaves one spot open for Milledge/Lillibridge/De Aza. That is, unless Ozzie opts for a 6 man pen instead of 7, which I doubt occurs.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 12:21 PM) Looks like there will be a position battle for the 4th OFer spot. There already was, this is just one more guy in the battle.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 10:12 AM) Nope, just dominated a good MN team without our 2 prized players. Royce White- Beat s*** out of mall cop and robbery I believe Chris Allen- Banged all of his teammates gf's, drinking, and talking back I believe QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 10:14 AM) Royce White was one of them. Minnesota recruit who was dismissed due to problems (he beat a mall cop after being confronted on the robbery). A complete all world talent though. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/men...yce-white_N.htm Chris Allen (transfer from Michigan State) The reasons we don't know is he had all kinds of problems with his teammates and it got to the point that a lot of rumors pointed to him being just a pure scumbag. Interesting. I heard about White, but thought he was ruled ineligible. Back when I was in school there, it was a point of pride that ISU tended to be more stringent about player behavior and penalties for doing stupid s***. I wonder if that still holds, and if White will be on a short leash.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 10:04 AM) And some of the guys Hoiberg has went after have some serious character red flags. Just curious, as I don't know a lot on this... who has actually come to the team that falls into that category?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 09:58 AM) Under Hoiberg ISU has shown interest in any player that has talent. Sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing. Either way, for at least this year, Iowa basketball (University and ISU) is horrendous. That's because it will take a few years for Hoiberg to get any good recruiting underneath him and get that talent onto the team. Meantime, they are finding hole-patch players wherever they can. 3 of their starters are seniors too.

Instead of 1, I'll go with 25. Love this list. Dave Barry's 25 things I have learned in 50 years... The badness of a movie is directly proportional to the number of helicopters in it. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe Daylight Saving Time. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" People who feel the need to tell you that they have an excellent sense of humor are telling you that they have no sense of humor. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" A penny saved is worthless. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" They can hold all the peace talks they want, but there will never be peace in the Middle East. Billions of years from now, when Earth is hurtling toward the Sun and there is nothing left alive on the planet except a few microorganisms, the microorganisms living in the Middle East will be bitter enemies. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" The most powerful force in the universe is: gossip. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is: age 11. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.' -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" Nobody is normal. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be: meetings. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" If there really is a God who created the entire universe with all of its glories, and He decides to deliver a message to humanity, He will not use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" You should not confuse your career with your life. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" Your friends love you anyway. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years" Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. -- Dave Berry, "25 Things I Have Learned in 50 Years"

QUOTE (PeavyTime @ Feb 2, 2011 -> 10:57 AM) Anyone who works in an office or something not "life or death" is an idiot if they tried to go to work today. QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 2, 2011 -> 11:04 AM) Agreed. Unless you're an ER doctor stay the f*** home. I could imagine if some company insisted their office workers come in today to find out some of their employees were injured, or worse, trying to make it in. The trading markets are all open. You can't just not show up with a book on the market, and let it just sit there. You'd get killed financially. Some people have to work. I tried to get in, couldn't, and I'm working from home.

One of my programmers called me last night, from a CTA bus on the Drive. He got on it at 4:45pm... was still on it after 10pm. Apparently they were still rescuring people even this morning from LSD. Dude got home at midnight - 7 hour commute. Worked from home this morning, then walked a few blocks through the arctic wasteland to catch a 9:30am train (Metra is on Sunday schedule). Website said it was running. Got to the station, and the announcement came over that this train, and the next one, were cancelled. I give up, I'm working from home today. Snow when NOT drifted was about mid-thigh deep here in Northbrook, drifts are 4-5 feet. But the sun just peeked out for a minute! Now its snowing again.

Missed a couple of days' of interesting data.. YESTERDAY: Midwest Manufacturing report (ISM-Chicago) rose to 68.8 (vs expected fall to 65.0), highest reading since July of 1988 Consumer spending rose 0.7% in Decemberm vs expected 0.5% TODAY: Dow closed above 12k, S&P above 1300 A bunch of heavy stocks reporting stronger than expected earnings ISM for January showed fastest industrial expansion in 7 years

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 12:00 PM) Incorrect. I'm overwhelmed by the staggering profundity of your artfully crafted retort.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 11:21 AM) Let me try asking a different way...how is it a purchase mandate if you can choose not to make the purchase? You can't! You can choose to pay for it one way, or pay for it another, and its the same product - health insurance. I'm done with this conversation, you're not going to see what everyone else here sees.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 1, 2011 -> 11:18 AM) Then by your definition, all of those other tax credits are mandates to purchase those products as well, no matter how you futz with it. Otherwise, please explain to me how they aren't. Raising taxes across the board coupled with a targeted tax increase for purchase of a private product is how this bill is structured, and it's how every other one of those tax credits works. No, that's YOUR definition. No one is being penalized for not buying a home and taking out a mortgage. Everyone was on the same playing field in that case, then an incentive was added, to pay LESS money. Your mandate had everyone on the same playing field, then forced SPENDING. I just don't understand how you can't see this difference.