NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (MO2005 @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 11:34 AM) Alright lets just wait till halfway through the season when everyone is whining and crying that we need Crede back! Much as I liked Crede and still do, there is no way it made any sense to bring him back. With his very serious injury risk, and the fact that we have two talented guys ready to fill the position, bringing back Crede just wasn't a good idea.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 11:19 AM) He's listed as being on the Chinese Taipei WBC roster and there's no organization listed next to his name. Maybe this was already covered but I missed it. Here's the link: http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/roster...amp;season=2009 He's one of eight Lins on the team. For those of you keeping score at home, that is 8 Lins, 2 Chengs, 2 Kaos, 3 Kuos, a Wang, a Tang, a Chan, and a Pan. No Dong though, he plays for China alongside Yang Yang. Lots of players still have no team listed at this time of year, until April when the season starts. I wouldn't read into it. But, Lin has now spent 2 years in the Rookie leagues (Bristol, GF), doesn't have the velocity he was reported to have, and his numbers are good but not great. So its not outside the realm of possibility. Still though, he's only 22 and they spent 300k on him. I'd guess he starts the year in Low A, with Kanny.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 11:06 AM) Ok, Governor Jindal, seriously, now it's personal. Bobby Jindal is opposed to me having a job, and Bobby Jindal wants you all to die in volcanic eruptions. WTF? There sure as heck is waste in the bill. But those three items are not waste at all. In fact, the first two (fuel efficient cars, high speed rail) are fantastic ideas that are exactly where we should be putting the money. Now, I also like the idea of keeping some track of volcanism, though I can see an argument that it isn't a "stimulus" item. In any case, what Jindal did here was manage to highlight good things in the bill, which I suppose is the opposite of his intent. If the rest of his speech was like this, it must have been a disaster.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) Can you go for an MBA without much prior related coursework in undergrad? I'm thinking if I go back to school, that may be the route I'd wanna take. Different schools are different. Many high end schools could care less about your undergrad field or grades, and care most about your work experience (some require X number of years of full time professional work for entry). Some programs, its all about the GMAT score. Others care about undergrad grades. Just make sure you do well on the GMAT.

QUOTE (JustWin @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 09:20 AM) Very true. And the new owner suppposedly met his wife at a Cubs game so if he's a big fan they'll probably continue to spend money and be a perennial playoff contender. They'll become the Yankees of the NL. That makes me sick even thinking about it. I'm sure someone's about to say "the Yankees haven't won the WS in 8 years" or whatever but that's not even the point. You hate to wish injury on anyone but that might be the only way to slow the Cubs down if they keep spending and the rest of the division doesn't (whatever happened to the Cardinals, by the way??). If the Cubs start making the playoffs year after year after year, no one but us Sox fans will even know the Sox exist in this town. Hell, it's almost like that now. It won't be nearly that bad. Even in bad years now, the Sox are drawing much better than they were. Look at what the organization has done in this decade (2000-2008): --3 division titles --a World Championship --Competitive teams into late season almost every year --Significant renovations to the ballpark --Added lots of kid-friendly amenities The Sox have become a winning organization. Very few teams can make the same claim as the first three points above - maybe only NYY. And now that people have been coming to the stadium, they are seeing what a great experience it has become. The Sox have drawn a new generation of fans, with the smart marketing, especially for kids, who will be more likely to be ticket buyers as adults (whereas Wrigley is just not good for kids - I know parents that are just not willing to take them to that park now because of the crowd, parking issues, etc.). The organization has also set itself up to be very good for the next few years, talent-wise, while the Cubs' system is barren. The neighborhoods in the area are much safer, and we are getting a new Metra station. Even if the Cubs do finally win a World Series, the Sox are not going to drop to where they were in the late 90's. The Sox aren't likely to overtake the Cubs in popularity, but they won't lose a lot more ground either.

I saw a headline today pointing out that the major markets are now down approximately 50% from their peak. Half. Yikes.

BA Political Science, minors in History, American Indian Studies MBA, emphasis in Finance and Investments

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 08:26 AM) They are both roughly at the same latitude. So, it wouldnt matter. I think you meant longitude.

I wonder if MLB.com or ESPN or CSN or someone will have the live box score I can keep up with at work.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 25, 2009 -> 06:49 AM) Yeah, experienced airline captains on major carriers are in the six figures. Well, they were. I get the impression from a pilot I know, that many of the senior captains retired or took cuts, and other pilots the same. I think at this point, six figures for a pilot is probably rare.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:34 PM) I'm ready to make life miserable for friends of mine who are fans of the Cubs. ...I got my first "L" t-shirt today. I never understood this sort of thing. Why wear a shirt making fun of some other team, when you could wear one that roots for your own?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:45 PM) Yup! And guess what? They still get the service! So what is everyone b****ing about? The fact that they clog up the ER, which is the only place they can get service? The fact that because they don't get preventative care, they end up costing all of us more money? The fact that some of them could afford it if it wasn't so obscenely expensive?

QUOTE (Texsox @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:39 PM) /feeling old I didn't get it either, don't feel bad.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:35 PM) everyone in the AL Central finishes at .500 or better? That would be crazy. Heh. I totally guessed on the wins, I didn't even do the math. Just drop everyone by about 3 or 4 games, same idea. I was more interested in the relative standings.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:21 PM) Pharmacueticals is a huge one. Huge. And in their case, again, its other things: labor costs, regulation avoidance, cheaper access to raw materials.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:14 PM) I guess I'm coming at it from a less manual intensive type of company. For manufacturing, that's true. But that's about the only industry that's true. It's ended up costing companies more in service industry to outsource. Also Technology, and other areas as well. Lots of industries. Lots of business. The only area of business I know of, where the prime motivation for going overseas is for tax sheltering, is finance/banking.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:05 PM) That's not entirely true. Partly (a very small part), but not entirely. There are so many MNE's set up for tax purposes only it's crazy. Compensation levels are NOT a part of it. Healthcare costs are a small consideration because they get a write off for that. Its much more than a small part, its usually the biggest part. Labor costs moved overseas are almost always far lower than here.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 02:02 PM) Corporate tax rates are not what drives them out of the US. That is and always has been a red herring. What drives them out is either (take your pick, or take both) compensation levels for American workers or healthcare costs. Sort of. Tax rates, and breaks, WILL have an effect locally, for attracting businesses. But companies move production overseas for one or more of these reasons: --Lower labor costs (pay, benefits) --Tax situations (but its more about "special" tax shelters for profits overseas, not because of high rates here) --Proximity to, or lower cost of, production-necessary hard resources --As part of marketing/agreements on products to be sold in a new region or country --General growth strategies for global businesses --Certain financial concerns outside of taxes (related to FX, trade agreements, or other stuff) And there may be others I am not thinking of.

I would liked to have had the exhibition against the Australian National team be broadcast. I think that would be something unique and fun to watch, or at least listen to.

Either: Die Walkure, Richard Wagner or: Ladies and Gentlemen, by Saliva

AmEx is doing something sort of novel, as a way to get some of their high risk debtors off the books. They are offering $300 to certain customers, if they close their accounts.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 09:08 AM) Isn't every "right" subjective? Not legally. Its all in the Constitution(s), and is delineated pretty clearly. Now, if you feel something should be a human right in general, that is subjective.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 24, 2009 -> 08:58 AM) We are talking expansion or new cities again? Here is my fave choice: the largest metro area that does not have a major league sports franchise (football, baseball, basketball, hockey), and also doesn't have another team within 100 miles. Anyone want to guess? hint: also has a large hispanic population, great baseball weather with minimal rain and warm temps, and a population that is growing very quickly, and an entire state without any major professional sports competition. I just realized that my above description could actually apply to two different cities. Either one would be a good choice.

We are talking expansion or new cities again? Here is my fave choice: the largest metro area that does not have a major league sports franchise (football, baseball, basketball, hockey), and also doesn't have another team within 100 miles. Anyone want to guess? hint: also has a large hispanic population, great baseball weather with minimal rain and warm temps, and a population that is growing very quickly, and an entire state without any major professional sports competition.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Feb 23, 2009 -> 04:43 PM) 2005 WS remaining (Playoff) Roster Ozzie Guillen (Manager) Bobby Jenks Jose Contreras Mark Buehrle AJ Pierzynski Paul Konerko Jermaine Dye I never would have bet money that this team would've changed this much in 4 years This time next year, that list of 6 will be a list of 3, at most. Buehrle stays, probably AJ and Jenks. Jose, Konerko and Dye will all be gone, is my guess.