NorthSideSox72

Our rep's initials are NM (don't want to put specific names out here), and she's been fine. But we don't request much, so we really only deal with her for our annual request for going to full seasons. I've never had problems with any rep we've had.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 12:16 PM) Yup. That's the government subsidy I'm talking about. You only pay a limited amount (tolls) to use those roads directly, and usually that doesn't even cover the cost of the roads. Correct. Roads are 99% free (in terms of direct cost), except for the few toll roads around the country. Trains usually charge fares, and yet still get federal and state dollars at a miniscule percentage of roads - lower that use levels would dictate.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 11:46 AM) Because, as you noted with the parking meters...the efforts to improve efficiency by privatizing these things have this odd habit of making prices go up and not down. The prices went up, and the money ultimately, in part, goes to the city. They basically got an advance on future cash flows, that was MORE than the sum of what they would have been. Hard to pass that up. And honestly, I have no issue with the meter rates going up, but in that case I can see arguing otherwise. QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 12:10 PM) also, how the f*** is that not a monopoly? You can buy ALL the meters? No meters from a potentially cheaper competitor? They used a bidding process to get the most dollars from it. So there was competition. But are you saying that individual meters should be sold seperately? Wouldn't that be a logistical nightmare?

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 11:00 AM) Since when does the term "do some good somewhere" imply superstardom? I never said he’d be great, I never said he had a place on this team, but stranger things have happened then a guy who was once a well-thought of prospect managing to get his career back on track if given a shot at the Major League Level. I tend to agree, I think there might be something there. And its possible, if De Aza is a complete flop (he's not doing so well down south), that Kroeger could get a shot with the Sox as a backup OF. But its more likely he ends up somewhere else.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 11:01 AM) By privatizing, you also reduce overall expenditures. Although these may be one time plugs, doesn't it also by definition make the hole left to fill slightly smaller? Yes.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 10:12 AM) Chicago is using Privitization to fill budget holes. So, instead of fixing the holes, they are just plugging them. you cant privatize everything... or eventually you run out of things that are worth enough money to privatize. So, in 10 years when we continue to have budget issues because of chronyism and sweetheart deals, what's left to sell? That isn't an argument for not doing it. That's an argument for getting their overall budgeting better, which I agree with. But why on earth would you not want to ALSO do this?

As all of the Chicago residents know, the city sold the parking meters to a private company. Prices went up, and much consternation ensued. The city got a billion dollars for it. Now, the city is renewing efforts to privatize Midway Airport, which may net them over $2B. I am apparently in the minority, but I like these decisions. The city is just not going to be efficient at it, and it gives them a serious boost of cash when they most need it. I don't really care about increases in parking prices, because I think it puts the cost on par with what private industry (parking lots and garages) are charging, and it helps discourage unnecessary driving. What do others think?

I sent a note to my rep a few weeks ago. We have the 27-game weekday plan, and asked to go full season in the same location, if they weekenders in our same seats don't renew. She said they'd be looking at it in January, but I haven't heard back. We made the same request the last two seasons, never got anywhere, but I'd think we will eventually if the weekenders drop out. But I wouldn't want to move seats, as we are in pretty much the perfect spot in our price range - front row UD, right above 1B.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 09:40 AM) Yeah, I have to say both. Somewhere there is the line where the extra spending and delays are not going to make a difference. I don't know where that is. I already don't fly unless I have to. Is there a point where people who fly for business will choose to drive again? Or take a train? Again, I am sure there is, but I don't know where that will be. If the rail system can improve its infrastructure, and get around the current contention issues with freight rail, you will start to see some of that shifting occur. I don't see driving becoming much more popular, unless gas prices decline notably and sustainably.

Jobs picture continues its improvement. Job losses in December at 84k (lowest since March 2008), and the November losses were revised down from 169k to 145k. Service sector actually sees net job growth for the first time in almost two years. Analysts saying we're just a couple months from seeing positive job gains overall. Employment is still factor #1 in this recovery, so let's all hope the positive trends in this area continue, or at least don't reverse.

Nine countries in Europe combine resources to build an energy network, connecting wind, solar and wave power sites around the North Sea and northern Europe, in order to make better and more complete use of renewable energy. Since it uses various types of power spread over the network, it should create a more even keel energy source on net. Very nice. Cost, however, is expected to be $43B. This shows both the great potential and great cost of getting out energy infrastructure up to date here, if we wanted to. Unfortunately, we are falling behind, and when we actually have to do it, we will have lost an opportunity to also make some money at it.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 10:15 PM) tax credits are a pretty good mechanism to get a boost in targeted sales. In general I agree, but that doesn't mean they work for everything, regardless of implementation. I wasn't as sure about this one, but the fact that more than half the buyers in that period were new buyers makes me think it probably worked.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 6, 2010 -> 07:18 AM) I'm pretty sure Konerko is Polish. Father Polish, mother Italian. I just looked it up - I thought the same you had, until now.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 07:53 PM) Is there a minimum standard before self defense can be used? It is easy to say the suspect had a gun so I shot him. It is easy to say the suspect was driving his car at me and I shot him. Obviously it can't be the suspect was waving a newspaper at me and I shot him. I wonder where the courts draw the line? Imminent threat of harm or death, and/or reasonable expectation of that harm barring reaction. Other factors come into play as well. Rocks? Maybe, depends on the circumstances.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 04:09 PM) LOLerrific? You've been texting too much. Actually, I almost never text. Or talk on the phone. I hate phones. I have a data phone, work needs me to have it (blackberry), so I just email.

LOLerrific. Poor guy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 04:00 PM) Considering he'll actually be playing a position, that has to set the market for the remaining nearly-full-time DH's, doesn't it? Yeah, I think KW's plan on this is working pretty well. Too many bats for not enough DH slots in the AL, prices will keep dropping, and he'll pick up a Vlad or Thome type guy for a year and probably no more than $3M.

Glaus to Braves, 1 year, $1.75M base, goes up to $4M with various incentives.

QUOTE (BaseballNick @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 03:46 PM) Swisher will forever live on through the successes of Wilson Betemit...oops, I mean Jeff Marquez...oops, I mean Jhonny Nunez. Nunez may yet be of value. But ultimately, he was a guy the Sox had to get rid of - he brought net zero value to the team at that time. Anything they could get was worthwhile.

I really like what their GM has done this past year or two. Just a lot of good moves.

Christ, we're on the Swisher nonsense again? He was a player with no position on the Sox. No one in 2009 would have benched Dye or Quentin for him, and he can't play CF. Not to mention he obviously was hated by many of his teammates and coaches. He's gone, he had to be gone, and who gives a crap what he did later with the Yankees. Let it die.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 03:22 PM) Yes, because otherwise they'd be 100% unable to charge him in civilian courts. Again, you are missing the reality of these heated situations. First, we're not talking about beating a suspect in a locked interview room with a camera. This stuff happens in the in between spaces. Second, the first people to handle this guy are cops and the first available feds - not soldiers or spooks. These people are angry, and human. Now, I am not talking about waterboarding or some such complex, time-consuming exercise here. I am talking about plain old physical abuse, threats to life and limb, etc. And I stand by the idea that those things likely did occur, as they do in such situations, whether or not its logical or sane to do so. One can only hope that if this did happen, it happened somewhere that it wasn't recorded or witnessed by anyone else.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 03:14 PM) There are way too many people that think the s*** on 24 is real. And way too many people who assume that because the rules of torture have changed subtly, that means no one is ever tortured. Or for that matter, that everyone has the same definition of it. I certainly hope you and bmags aren't thinking that Hollywood silliness is what I had in mind when I asked that question. Look again at the scenario I posed. Not only is it possible, I'd even say its likely.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 03:03 PM) i mean i guess it depends if there was a bomb going off and jack bauer was there ohmegods Since those policies by most all sources are said to have been effectively ended since 2003, I would say yes I can speak confidently they were not. Eh, I wouldn't be so sure. Torture doesn't just describe the planned out stuff. Would you really be surprised if the cops, and the feds, there originally, didn't maybe push boundaries a bit? Maybe knock the guy around or threaten him in some way? Frankly, I'd be surprised if that didn't happen.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2010 -> 02:58 PM) Thank god we tortured him then! Thats the only way to get things out of these dudes! Do you know for sure they didn't?