NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 09:22 PM) Alito's (and often Scalia's) legal opinions are offensive in that they're so bad. I've said before, people were up in arms over the Roberts nomination, but I am much more OK with him than I am with Alito. Alito is just plainly in over his head, and worse, he's a political wind sock, which is exactly what you do not want on SCOTUS.

QUOTE (juddling @ Jun 29, 2010 -> 07:01 AM) That's nothing like the pitcher who broke his arm throwing a pitch. i'm thinking it was Dave Dravekcy(sp) some years back. i remember seeing the tape and actually being able to hear the arm break....still gives me the willies thinking about it There was more to that than a broken arm. AS I recall, he had a cancerous tumor in his throwing arm, got it treated and healed, came back to baseball, and in I think his first game back, suffered a massive injury to the arm. I remember watching the pitch, he was facing Tim Raines. The tumor had come back without them knowing it, and that caused the muscles to break down in his arm. I think he actually, eventually, had to have the arm amputated. I'm sure someone could wiki me and correct anything I got wrong here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 04:30 PM) Whether or not it's effective should have no bearing on the constitutionality. They are certainly two different arguments. But in both cases, the case for this type of gun control is quite weak.

Jones in the starting lineup, that's new. He needs some AB's if he is going to heat up again.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 03:16 PM) What's the difference between guns and abortion rights or marriage "rights?" I don't think you want states to be in control of that issue do you? Ideally, the government shouldn't be involved in marriage at all, but that's another discussion.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 02:37 PM) As do I, but it still takes power away from the states and gives it to the federal government. Even if the "correct' reading of the Constitution is what was just ruled, it still takes away a power that the states and municipalities have enjoyed for many decades. Yes it does, but in my view, its a power they weren't really meant to have. By the way, Illinois residents, don't be surprised if the FOID card process also gets brought to court for being an overbearing hindrence on ownership. Not sure it will be successful, but I'd be shocked if it didn't get a good test soon.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 12:42 PM) Question for some of the states-rights people here: how do you view this issue? Most (all?) states-rights advocates are right-leaning and I would assume support gun ownership rights, but this ruling makes federal law trump state and local law. I don't think anyone believes that EVERYTHING should be state-controlled. 2A is right there in the Constitution, as a federally guaranteed right, and there fore IMO is a federal issue by nature. States are welcome to handle implementation and subtleties, but I think that outright banning handguns goes well beyond subtlety and administration. So I tend to agree with SCOTUS here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 08:07 AM) On the off chance that working with Ozzie/Cooper could rehabilitate him, if I had Ozzie's word that he'd stay under control, I'd do it, because if you could get him back to at least solid setup man form, worst case scenario you've got trade bait, and if you're moving Linebrink to get him, then basically you're at equal numbers on salary, such that if h e did melt down your not taking a hit you wouldn't be taking anyway. That's my limit though. I'd take him when risking essentially nothing. You're not risking nothing. Think about it - he's Ozzie's bud. There is a strong chance that Zambrano has issues with people in the clubhouse, and/or has some major meltdown. A sane manager would, at that point, get rid of him. But I'm fairly sure that Ozzie wouldn't - he'd keep him, much to the dismay of some on the team. Cooper has already said "that asshole isn't pitching here". Even if the money is even in sending over Linebrink, you are definitely risking a lot.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 28, 2010 -> 07:59 AM) If he was costing us $2 million a year, and it didn't cost us anything I cared about to get him, I'd do it. Nothing more. I wouldn't care about that buyout if he melted down again. Even at $2M a year, no thanks. He's a worse pitcher (attitude aside) right now than any of our starting staff, and he's only better than Williams and Linebrink in the pen. So the only place he'd be of use is basically to take Linebrink's spot, and be a long and mop-up reliever. And while that has value, it doesn't have enough value to outweigh all the baggage he brings. So, really, I'm just sticking with No Thank You.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 04:11 PM) If you really think the Royals are better than the Braves or even the Cubs, you really need to get a bit of a reality check. Go look at interleague records this year, it's almost even. Thank you.

There are like a dozen reasons not to do this. The only reason TO do it that I can think of is that he's Ozzie's buddy. And now that I type that, I'm not sure that's a good reason either. No thank you.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 08:36 PM) You're being trolled, Balta. At least that's my working assumption. Kap isn't a troll - he's become the loony guy ranting incoherently in the corner (in terms of his posts in this forum).

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jun 26, 2010 -> 10:59 PM) You're right... what am I going to do? Seriously, though, it's setting up to be the worst year in modern times economically. There's several factors for it. Bookmarked.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Jun 26, 2010 -> 08:20 PM) S&P low below 500. 437.88 to be exact within 18 months.. How many years now have you been projecting this kind of thing to be coming soon? And its never happened, or even nearly happened. You technical guys are great at finding edge in the short run, but you seem to think that means you can project numbers like that 18 months out. Its ridiculous.

Remenowsky said he's getting an X-Ray and MRI today (probably already done), they don't know for sure what it is. They are hoping its minor. He says it felt like he dislocated it. I'll update if I hear more.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 03:59 PM) NSS is not gonna be happy to see this. I'll send him a note and see what's going on.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 11:32 AM) Seriously, the team has won 9 f***ing games in a row and 13 of 14. Are you ever positive, Sqwert? In this case, I agree with him. Kotsay is being way, way, way overused by Ozzie. I'd rather see Jones in there anyway, but even better would be an actually good hitter.

I'll be there. QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 10:05 AM) The problem for the Cubs is that Sox fans are currently sporting relentless game boners, and Carlos Zambrano happens to be one of those guys. I wish Lou good luck in convincing him not to throw the game, but I doubt any of his disconnected food rambling is going to help this time. And this post confuses me. I honestly can't tell what you are trying to say.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 10:16 AM) As I've been pondering this whole process I've come to a single thought, actually a question, about health care in this country. Does the requirement for profit that drives a corporation help or hurt the quality of health care they deliver to the patient? When a customer walks into a car dealer, the employee of the car dealer they meet has the task of maximizing the profit the company makes both short term and long term. Same with walking into a restaurant, beach shop, or gas station. Does that also work in a Doctor's office or hospital? For most Americans, the people who are paying the bill (your insurance) and the people preparing the bill (the provider) both are trying to earn a profit from your visit. Seems like a losing play. I've brought this up in here many times. If the insurance industry didn't exist, then the natural consumer/provider dynamic would mean that the profit drivers align with quality of product, so yes, it would work. But as this is an insured industry, the buffering throws the at equation out the window.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 09:39 AM) And at least to me...the fact that the financial industry lobbyists aren't the ones who have any idea what is going on and yet are the ones making all the decisions is kinda a big part of the problem. Well that's not accurate either - I'd bet many of the lobbyists DO know what's going on, but they will frame it to protect themselves. I don't expect a Senator to be an expert on everything. I do however expect them to be smart enough to know what they don't know, and have a few numbers to call in pretty much any subject area (finance, for example) to get some information from someone who gets it and is NOT a lobbyist. Further, I expect them to use the resources already available in the federal government, such as people in the regulatory bodies, to get yet more information.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 09:32 AM) Really, you don't think that every person remotely involved in decision making on this bill has had hours upon hours of time with finance industry lobbyists over the past year? Not who I meant. But I think you know that.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 09:22 AM) I believe he's talking about efficacy of their regulations, ie how well it will work, not that nobody understands the bill they wrote. I'm sure that's part of it. But honestly, I really do think a lot of these guys really did NOT know what they were doing. I've seen enough of what they have said and proposed to be sure that they are meddling in areas they do not comprehend. Which isn't to say they still shouldn't act - I hoped they would. I just hope they spent some time talking with people who understand the markets before making their decisions.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 08:38 AM) Plus those extended ones make the phone super bulky. Eff that. They need to make a battery cover with a solar panel. Sure it won't be for charging the phone but it could extend the period between charges. You do know you can buy compact, super-light, roll-up solar panels that plug into USB's, right? You can definitely charge your phone with solar, its just not built into the phone.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jun 25, 2010 -> 08:29 AM) We can't, so lets stop living that dream. We can, for energy purposes - just not immediately, and not without making some hard choices. And in fact we will, because we will have to. Its really only a question of when, how fast we get there, and whether we're in front of the technologies or behind them. Since I'd like to actually see some growth of sustainable, high-paying jobs (read: not road construction), I'd prefer we be in front.

I am awful at golf. I don't mean I'm a novice - I mean I'm really bad. I tried playing 1-2 times a week for a while one summer to see if I got any better - my "better" was getting my scores into the 105-110 range (I think 105 is the best score I've ever had). More typically I'll hit 120-130 with a few mulligans. I once hit a drive from the tee that went about 4 yards... STRAIGHT BACKWARDS. Another one went about 6 inches forward, and 4 inches buried into the ground. I have broken the door of an electrical box with a ball I hit. I have hit drives that sliced so badly, they didn't just go onto the next fairway, but they literally went to the next one over from that. I eventually switched from righty to lefty at one point, and was equally as bad. I gave up golf.