NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 02:30 PM) Well that is true, but at the same time both sides still seem to despise the current system and want it changed. I guess it's an example of why it's in the best interest of the country if each party has significant representation in government, because if one side gets out of control power, it would probably lead to bad laws. I doubt many hardcore liberals or conservatives would ever admit that though. Sure. If both sides are that upset, then its probably in about the right balance.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 02:31 PM) You know, that's a great metaphor. GS = MSFT. Making use of monopolies and other should-be-illegal tactics to rake in enormous profits while at the same time filling the market with horrible, horrible junk that no one can really live without. All we're missing is a genuine effort by Microsoft to destroy the world, like what we had from GS. Ignoring for a moment the ridiculous last line, the general post is correct. But its also correct to say that GS and MSFT are what they are because they are really damn good at what they do, and their presence in their markets has been a huge benefit to everyone.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 02:29 PM) The big problem is that market value and actual worth can be two completely different things, especially in a super specialized niche market. There could literally be no one who wants to buy the packaged assets, but it does not mean they are worthless, because they are made up of a large pool of assets that still have a worth individually, meaning that by very definition they could never be worthless. M2M fails in these situations. I think I said that a few posts up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) Is GE paying out $20 billion in taxpayer subsidized and guaranteed profits to its employees? If they are then they're annoying me too. GS is at the top of the list because they're raking in the dough, giving it out to themselves...and all the people who are making decisions for the government happen to be ex Goldman employees or GS stockholders. GS = MSFT If you had a gov't agency that was tasked with dealing in computer software, would you really be surprised if you have a bunch of MSFT execs in there? Sort of has to be that way.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 02:23 PM) I love the liberal vs. conservative argument on economic inequality. One side says screw the rich, the other side says screw the poor. Isn't there a better choice than those two out there? Yes - there is the system we have now, which is the result of decades of compromise between the two sides.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) And to oversimplify it further...since the Feds have effectively declared that the big guys can't take any more losses on this stuff...the value for them is arbitrarily inflated (Wells Fargo just sold off a chunk of their sh*tpile for $.30 on the dollar and that was probably a high price, for example.) If the assets are actually sold, then whatever price they get is by definition the market price. So that is a non-issue in that case. As for the stuff sitting on their books, its very, very different for different asset classes. Exchange-traded investment instruments with reasonable levels of open interest, or even OTC stuff with good liquidity, are just fine on MTM. Its the illiquid, exotic and one-off contract type stuff where MTM is an utter fail.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 01:46 PM) I don't think Fields would go anywhere. I don't think we have another back up first basemen. I'd tend to agree on logic, however, I've seen some articles recently, like in the Trib, that hinted Fields may be the odd man out.

QUOTE (kane0730 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 01:36 PM) No CQ tonight. Per Trib: Podsednik lf Ramirez ss Dye rf Thome dh Konerko 1b Pierzynski c Getz 2b Beckham 3b Wise cf Danks p If we keep Wise around, and send out Fields or Anderson instead, on TCQ's return, I am going to be very unhappy.

Section 522, Row 1. I will see mullets and post-game fireworks. Hopefully also many in-game fireworks, and a win.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 09:58 AM) How weird is it that Jermaine got an emmy nomination but Brett didn't? Who are Jermaine and Brett?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 11:11 AM) By the way, I'd just like to take a moment and express my astonishment at how amazing Goldman Sachs is at gaming the system. They literally have ripped off the American taxpayer wholesale and did so with Goldman executives on one side and former Goldman executives and stockholders on the other side. It really is a marvel how well they've maneuvered through the maze of legalized corruption in the banking industry. A virus typically makes its host sick or kills its host. Goldman, instead, has convinced the host that it needs the virus to survive, and thus the host should hand over to Goldman anything it wants. You really do have to be impressed. I don't get this, at all. Goldman has paid back their government debt entirely, and early. They are now, again, a healthy IB. I can understand the risk you see in having such large IB's as one piece, I agree with you there. I can also understand the anger at some of the things they, and to a GREATER extent others, did that led up to the financial mess we had and have. But your statements as to Goldman's manipulation are way over the top.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 11:09 AM) Well, obviously I havent done nearly as much research as you have. Mine is simply based of the wikipedia article. Unless I am reading it wrong, the original workding was based on the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights: "That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power." It talks about the militia "composed of the body of the people". now, to me, that doesnt mean EVERY citizen. Just the members of the militia. However, the first wording brought up to vote was this: "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person." It's worded much more towards individuals. But the final version: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" is a little more poorly worded. The people" the people of the militia or the people of citizens? Take into consideration the position of commas in the various drafts and such. i think it's just a little to hard to 100% define. I think it LEANS towards individuals, but the militia part overshadows it. Re-read the bolded above from your post. The phrase "composed of the body of the people" makes it 100% clear they are talking about the citizenry, and if that wasn't clear enough, it also specifically forbades long-term standing armies, SEPERATELY. There is zero doubt in my mind that the people's militia being protected in 2A is not at all referring to a standing military. It is referring to the people as a defensive body. And because of the phrasing in opposition to a standing army, the implication is that an armed populace capable of defense is preferable to that standing army. Militia Standing Military Militia = the people

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 10:05 AM) Believe the 2nd Amendment will never be properly implemented because the original intent was lost in the constant revisions made to the amendment before its final passage. I've written research pieces, multiple, on 2A. I'm pretty familiar with the background. And yet, I have never heard anyone say something like this. Can you explain what you mean?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 08:32 AM) I was just being silly using Obama's catch phrase. OK, I couldn't tell - some people really do seem to think we can just outright stop logging, or stop mining, and everything will just go on like normal.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 17, 2009 -> 07:33 AM) YES WE CAN No, we can't. We still use wood for a lot of stuff. Other options are often more expensive AND have an even heavier environmental impact.

Garrett has been demoted to Great Falls, where they are trying to get him into a starter slot again. The roller coaster continues. First start at GF on 7/16: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Solid start on short innings. Let's hope he can build on that.

I hadn't even realized that Garrett Johnson, one of my AAP's (and the most obscure) was demoted to GF. Looks like they still think he can start. He's only 21 still, so he's got time. Nice first outing for GF: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Combined line of the two Kanny pitchers (Dex Carter, Dan Remenowsky): 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K Carter has a 129:30 K:BB rate in 105 IP this year. Remenowsky is 64 K vs 8 BB in 35.2 IP, and lately, its 23 K against 1 BB in his last 10 outings, and hasn't been scored on in 5 weeks. I love me some Kanny pitchers.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 03:29 PM) It just seems to be opening the door for further exploitation in the future. As I said, you can't just stop all logging. Therefore, you have to have the door partially open.

You were playing briefly for Windy City in the Frontier League. Did you get to know Chicago at all, as a city? What did you think of it?

QUOTE (BaseballNick @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 02:59 PM) Carlos is back in Charlotte. So, I doubt he's playing Friday then.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 02:52 PM) Not sure where else to post this but i think these 2 smileys should be banned from the buster: I find them extremely annoying in the context they're typically used in here.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 02:13 PM) king Lemur in Madagascar Ah. I haven't gotten to see any of those movies yet. Are they any good?

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 01:44 PM) Not a fan of King Julien?? I think his Julien ad libs are the funniest thing he's done by far. Who the heck is that?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 01:28 PM) Prude He's incredibly unfunny. Its not that I am offended by him, its that he's just not entertaining to me.