southsider2k5

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:35 AM) I don't claim to be an advocate for "small government" so idk what point you're trying to make. "Mandatory drug testing for all Americans who receive some sort of benefit, service or good from the government" and "small government" don't really seem to work well together. Like I said prior, I would rather see the credit go away, and Fannie and Freddie get phased out, while the government divulges as many of its properties and land ownings as possible. If you are going to keep the government in the housing business, I'd rather see them do it right.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:33 AM) Cutting people off from public aid, people who can't otherwise afford to eat or have a place to sleep, isn't going to improve their lives. And, given our current "war on drugs" state, they're more likely to end up in prison than to get any sort of treatment. Again, it sounds like the whole "we are paying for it anyway" argument of universal health care.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:31 AM) Aside from the invasion of privacy, unreasonable search & seizure and the massive costs? lol "small government" conservatism And besides, I'll go out and say the program was one of the main drivers of this whole last financial mess with Fannie and Freddie putting the foundations down for the housing crisis. So even getting rid of all intervention in the housing industry wouldn't bother me at all.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:31 AM) Aside from the invasion of privacy, unreasonable search & seizure and the massive costs? lol "small government" conservatism It sounds like you are talking about the coming health care program, but I am sure you have a major problem with that, right?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:26 AM) How many government services, programs, credits or assistance should require mandatory drug testing? Student loans? Public schools? DMV or library? All sorts of tax credits? What about executives at big banks that received TARP? Mandatory drug testing for them? Stop and think about this for a minute. The whole point behind having a ginormous government to give out trillions of dollars a year is supposed to be to improve people's lives. Here is one way we actually have a shot at doing that, by trying to break the cycle of addiction, or even preventing people from trying that crap in the first place. As always prevention is cheaper than treatment. It isn't on the top of my "to-do" list, but like I said, I wouldn't have a problem with it for sure. I'd rather see service programs instituted to accompany many of these programs.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:21 AM) You'd really be willing to submit to annual drug testing for your mortgage tax deduction? Why not?

Do you have to pay a player the rest of his contract up front if he is released, or do you still pay them on the normal paydays?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:24 AM) Super 2 is different. That is for arbitration purposes only. You have to have 172 days (times six) of service to be able to become a free agent on your own. If you are a super 2, all that means is that you get to go to arb one more year. Edit nevermind, I just realized we were talking about two different things. I was referring to eventual free agency.

QUOTE (gatnom @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:19 AM) Not saying he's wrong, but there do seem to be conflicting opinions on the matter: Super 2 is different. That is for arbitration purposes only. You have to have 172 days (times six) of service to be able to become a free agent on your own. If you are a super 2, all that means is that you get to go to arb one more year.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 09:09 AM) Well, s&s is not a bulls*** argument and it's not equivalent to taking a public sector job. But it really addresses a non-issue. Drug use for people on public aid isn't statistically significantly higher than the population at large, so off the bat it stigmatizes them as "likely drug users." Second, it's really expensive to do this. It's going to cost a lot more money than it saves. Third, what's the end result? "You're addicted to heroin, sorry, out in the streets with ya" I struggle to see it as anything more than further punitive "war on drugs" crap. eta: I guess you'd be cool with mandatory drug testing for your mortgage deduction, right? Since it's basically the same thing, the government paying for part of your housing costs? In the grand big picture, I would much rather see ways of having people have certain responsibilities for receiving government aid. For example, getting a pell grant? You need to put in a set amount of community service. We have plenty of projects that need to be done around this country, and we are giving this money away anyway, why not require people who are able bodied/minded, and free of time commitments to "pay back" some of that money. To your eta, yes, I wouldn't have a problem with requiring a drug test to get a mortgage, let alone the deduction. I'm guessing the rate of foreclosure is higher among drug users anyway, so that ends up being a wasted payment (and directly taxpayers money) in those cases.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 08:27 AM) I'm actually impressed at how the correlation between commodity prices and the dollar is at best a second order feature. The things that show up much, much more strongly are global events. The Asian Economic crisis (98), the 2002 bottom, the pre-2008 spike, the post-2008 bottom. Here's the last couple years if you'd like to stitch them together. I think you have your cause and effect backwards. The dollar drives commodities prices.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 08:26 AM) I think it is either 9 or 10 now, but yes... after that point, he can't get a full year of service, even if he plays all year. That will push his free agency back a year. Here is the article http://www.southsidesox.com/2011/6/21/2234...dayan#storyjump

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 11:31 PM) Paul Motherf***ing Konerko, ladies and gentlemen and THAT is how you get a 16,000 square foot house in Scottsdale b****es.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 08:24 AM) Isn't there something coming up in 11 days regarding service years and Viciedo being arb-eligible a year later? If so, that date (or shortly after) is when I'd expect to see Viciedo up here provided Pierre's troubles continue. I think it is either 9 or 10 now, but yes... after that point, he can't get a full year of service, even if he plays all year. That will push his free agency back a year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 07:54 AM) At the rate he's going, if he does...he's got a legit shot at Thomas's team career HR mark during 2013. At the rate he is going now, he will break Frank's record in 70 games.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 10:10 PM) http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/0...lar-debasement/ It is pretty interesting to see how exactly the opposite commodities prices are to that. The weak dollar is great, unless you need to buy things like gasoline, food, or clothes.

QUOTE (juddling @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 03:50 AM) i liked Falling Skies though I wasn't thrilled with a commercial break every 8 minutes or so. Should be worth a look as the season goes on. I also just read Comedy Central is not picking up either The Onion's sports show or Norm's show either. Only saw Norm's once but thought it was pretty funny. Never checked out the other one. Any networks show is like that anymore.

Wow. That is a great day!. Congrats.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 01:50 AM) I was actually there today watching him take BP, and that leg kick did look bigger than normal. I'm not sure what Haugh was watching, but he seemed to be popping a lot of balls up and dipping his back shoulder, really getting under them. And Walker really was there. Pitch after pitch, he would advise him in different ways. I've been a lot less hard on Walker since last summer since I've actually gotten to see a bunch of things behind the scenes. He works his ass off with those guys. We just have a team of headcases unfortunately. During the game though, Beckham looked super loose, messing with the guys all night. I don't think he's overanalyzing anything. I forget who I heard say this, but they compared Gordo to a younger Konerko and Quentin for not being able to let go of previous at bats. Sounds like Beckham is that kind of obsessive player. Listening to the Walker quotes, it sounds like is working more on the mental edge of trying to get him to relax, as much as he is doing technical stuff.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 22, 2011 -> 12:04 AM) Usually he's fine. But last night, they were having some kind of technical difficulties or there was someone in the studio making fun of one of the callers. It's one thing to take a "company line" but quite another to belittle Sox fans. Today, the argument was that many others in baseball didn't see Lillibridge as an everyday day option. That's fine. But this whole idea....well, we don't know how Viciedo will hit, even though he hit the last two years in the minors, he did VERY well in the beginning at the major league level and still finished with solid numbers, he raked in ST and then he's been among the best minor league hitters for 2 months straight. Sure, he could fail, yeah. That's true. But there's less of a chance that he fails than the chance the Juan Pierre becomes the type of player offensively and defensively he was for the last 4 months of 2010. We're only talking $2.5-2.75 million. Less than Linebrink, less than Teahen, less than Manny for one month. Which brings up the next argument. We don't have a replacement. Look at all the struggles with Cabrera, Wise, Owens, Swisher, Erstad, Pods, etc. It's hard to find a replacement "spark" at the top. Well, just give Alexei Ramirez a chance. It's usually a good thing when a Silver Slugger is maximizing his at-bats while the worst WAR player in the AL is replaced from that same line-up. I'm sure it was on purpose. That is the Scores whole schtick. That is the primary reason I can hardly listen to that channel. In general it is just bad radio.

I think Serg found his slider again...

QUOTE (southsidepride15 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 10:14 PM) My_F#@$%@_spacebar_is_not_working_due_to_spilled_Budweiser.....any_clue_how_to_fix??? Your first problem is drinking f***ing budwiser

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 10:12 PM) Just hopped on now, any news on when this game is starting up again? It is literally like five posts ago.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 10:10 PM) who are we gonna throw out on the mound Bowden just said Crain is coming in. Tarp is almost all of the way off of the field, and you can see diamond dry all over the place.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Jun 21, 2011 -> 10:05 PM) so was game called? it's past 10? Looking at a 1015 restart now. Damn