southsider2k5

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 28, 2009 -> 04:13 PM) Just want to say something about why I post here in response to this. Can I be grating sometimes? of course. But then again, do you think that no one on the other side winds up grating on me? When one spends time debating politics, or hell, Baseball, whatever you want, there's going to be people who disagree with positions you take. You're going to get annoyed with it sometimes. You'll read something and say "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard". You'll think someone is totally wrong. But sometimes, you actually learn something. I'll be the first to admit that not only have I learned things in discussions with 2k5 that I didn't know/didn't understand before, my own thinking has been altered in ways that I feel allow me to understand the discussion better. So no, I'm probably not going to agree with 2k5 ever on the financial situation. And I'll have a fundamentally different interpretation of polling data than you guys will. And I'll cite different sources than you. But that doesn't mean I don't find it valuable. At points, yes, it certainly can get frustrating. I gave up running my own blog and just dropped off the face of the internets in 2004 after GWB won his 2nd term because I just couldn't deal with it and it was just frustrating as all Hell. You guys are on the outs now, and I remember exactly how that felt. But here's the interesting thing...I'd still be happy to sit down with any of y'all and drink a beer. Or catch a Sox game. Whatever. Because people are going to look at the world in different ways. People look at data in different ways. If things get on a person's nerves too much, or if its no longer entertaining or educational, then it can reach a point where it's not worth it to keep up the discussion. For me, it's not personal. People can have honest disagreements, people can get on each other's nerves, people can piss other people off, but it's only worth what you feel like you get out of it. I enjoy posting here, I enjoy these debates, and I enjoy presenting opinions, having them challenged, and then having someone else fire back. That's why I'm still here, and I think that's why we put this as a separate forum in the first place. AH PERSONAL ATTACK!!! BAN HIM, BAN HIM!!!! I just want to throw out that none of this is personal to me. If Balta came into Chicago, I'd buy the first beer. As a matter of a fact, I really hope to see him, Sqwert, and AHB (and anyone else I like to argue with in here) at a game this summer. Except for Kap, he's a real Chip!

I think this is a Soxtalk record... a guy getting thrown under the bus for two full innings in spring training. This has been a true Real Men of Genius. Congratulations go out to you Mr Sports Drama Queen Based on Minuscule Sample Size.

We just go the new HD TV last night, and I want to upgrade to be able to get all of the standard HD channels on Comcast. They want $8 a month to lease it, but I want to see if I can buy one. I have been looking on Ebay and Motorolas sites, but I am not sure if a specific box is exclusive to a specific cable company. Does anyone out there know which HD and/or HD/DVR boxes belong to comcast if necessary? Any advice in looking for the box?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 03:51 PM) Barack's popularity rating jumped 8 points in 48 hours. So, we can either stop playing these silly games or we can keep doing so. Obama's popularity was going to drop in Feb., because there was going to be a moderate inauguration speech bounce. Inevitable. Then, Obama chimed in with a not-really-the-SOTU-so-let's-call-it-the-STFU-speech on Tuesday, and his numbers jumped right back up. Similarly inevitable. Next, either this bounce will fade naturally as the speech moves in to history, barring some other amazingly Presidential looking event. It's the same cute little game as with the stock market. I think it is hilarious the backlash that I am seeing from using the exact same posts and statistics that I saw for eight years under Bush. Everyone thought it was the most important information on the planet when it was about McCain and Bush. Its been 5 weeks. You all had better grow some skin or something.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al...940270571_x.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al...500388319_x.htm

So it really sounds like they are planning on Viciedo starting in the minors when Ozzie is saying he will be here soon.

Pinned, for her pleasure.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 12:00 PM) better than nothing for a b game Not much...

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) I really don't know where some of you guys are getting this. You YOURSELVES have pointed out how bad the economy is, and done so in much more strident terms than Obama has. If anything, I think Obama is understating the many dangers involved here. SS, you and I may disagree a lot, but usually I can understand your perspective. But this is just ridiculous to me. Hope, as Obama portrays it, is right where it has been, if you watch him speak. Now, the media likes to pick out his most dire statements, of course. Makes better "news". But the idea that Obama is somehow abandoning his identity and overstating how bad the economy is to get more spending in, is just ludicrous. ETA: I am not saying its ludicrous that he'd want to push his agenda, including its spending. Just saying that the idea of him making things appear worse than they are to get it done is not accurate. I don't think I have ever said that he is making things appear worse than they are.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) I really don't know where some of you guys are getting this. You YOURSELVES have pointed out how bad the economy is, and done so in much more strident terms than Obama has. If anything, I think Obama is understating the many dangers involved here. SS, you and I may disagree a lot, but usually I can understand your perspective. But this is just ridiculous to me. Hope, as Obama portrays it, is right where it has been, if you watch him speak. Now, the media likes to pick out his most dire statements, of course. Makes better "news". But the idea that Obama is somehow abandoning his identity and overstating how bad the economy is to get more spending in, is just ludicrous. I watch the man speak everyday, and there is nothing inspirational in there since the election. I honestly feel like he is using the economy the same way Bush used 9-11. You are pretty much labeled if you don't agree with his policy ideas. He has even gotten to the point of calling out people who disagree with his policies or views and having the attack dogs called out on them (hello Rick Santelli). I am waiting for his team to start calling people unpatriotic.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 11:47 AM) Something I agree with Palin on... Its amazing, but you need more parential permission to take an asprin in a school than you do for an abortion at a clinic. I don't know about right or wrong, but it is pretty mindblowing to me.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) But doesn't the market already know that "things are really bad?" Isn't that stark reality already factored in? I'm not naive enough to think that the President's words are meaningless, but it isn't like he's disclosing heretofore secret information. Things have been bleak for a long time now. I can accept that the market might be a little better off at the moment if he had taken a different tact to get the bill passed, but I have trouble comprehending how it would be appreciably better (especially long term) if he played Pollyanna instead of Eeyore. He has an assload of spending plans he wants passed. In order to help pass them, he has to make things look as bad as possible. On top of that, most of the things he is trying to pass, are going to hurt Wall Street, and they know it. Wall Street reacts to the news, as well as the policy. It isn't even that he has to bury his head in the sand, but if you contrast his message, with the message on the campaign trail, it is 180 degrees different. 4 months ago, it was about Hope and Change. Hope is gone all of the sudden. That whole optimism and inspiring people thing is out the window. Its sad when Ben Bernanke is inspriring more hope than Obama is.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 11:23 AM) Seriously, you're actually going to reduce yourself to playing the level of this game? The markets are dropping virtually every day. Obama is the president and speaks almost every day. Therefore, the markets are dropping because Obama is speaking. This rock on my countertop keeps tigers away. I would like to sell it to you. You don't see any tigers around here do you? There have been multiple times where a sell off was directly related to an Obama policy speech on something in the economy or private sector. This has been quoted all over the place by the specialists and marketmakers on many trading floors, on different occasions. Yes the market is going to go down when the President gets on TV and says things are really bad in order to get what he wants passed. I don't get why this concept seems to be so odd to people. Important people can move markets with their words. Hell am I the only one old enough to remember the "Irrational Exuberance" speech. Are you guys seriously going to tell me that selloff was independant of Greenspans words?

Its sad, but I would rather have the Joe Crede is the greatest, versus Joe Crede sucks arguements again, versus this Cubs arguement

http://thehill.com/dick-morris/its-obama-s...2009-02-24.html

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/26/obama-tax...on_charity.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...?obref=outbrain

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 09:04 AM) If there really are some assholes getting their last kicks in, then I hope they are prosecuted and jailed for it. ^^^ Put them in a jail for the rest of their lives... at least.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 08:12 AM) they just pay the penalty for being over the cap and move on I thought the cap in the NFL was hard? If not, what does the penalty for going over look like?

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE51O3TB20090225

RIP, Norm. You were one of the originals in Chicago media.

I think Michael Jordan said it best when he said that his path was paved by Johnny Red Kerr. Without him, Jordan wouldn't have been possible. RIP Red.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 26, 2009 -> 09:09 PM) Canada's banking system seems ok Should we really give all regulation power and funding to one quasi-governmental entity, though? I fully believe they are much more capable of making better decesions and being more isolated from the outside influences of the business sectors than the current governmental structure we have now.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 26, 2009 -> 08:55 PM) lol, Milton Bradley got pulled in the first inning with a tight quad. LOLLERCOASTER But if he is hurt, he can't destroy the clubhouse