southsider2k5

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 28, 2008 -> 08:05 AM) As far as the credit market goes, here is yet another problematic dynamic to think about... the US' embarrassingly low savings rate. Normally, that means higher consumer spending, which has been pushing the economy forward in recent years. But, think about this - banks need to raise cash to give out more credit. They can't raise cash as easily if people aren't investing it. And if people can't get credit for loans, and take steps backwards financially, they will save even less. That's a negative spiral right there. The only way I see to get out of that is if enough people decide they can't afford or get a loan for a home, and they rent instead, and they actually save/invest the money that would have gone into the house. But the American household doesn't tend to do that - they spend the money instead. You think the cycle looks bad like that, wait to see what happens if they lock the banks into the bad loans that exist out there today. The thing that has always kept the US moving forward through credit crunches is the ability to write off bad debt and move on. The best example I can give you of why holding on to bad debt doesn't work is the Japanese housing bubble of the eighties. There economy is still stalled because it is culturally unacceptable to write off debt. That is why they haven't had real growth for decades. The scary thing is that the US would be a much bigger scale.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 28, 2008 -> 07:52 AM) In all seriousness, this might be the worst economic crisis since 1929. I'm not being a smart ass, either. Unless something drastically changes, and quickly, we could be in a LOT of trouble. The credit markets need to get moving again, and if that doesn't happen, the Fed could lose control of the whole damn thing. If they pass the stupid bill to "save" the housing market, you might as well flush the economy down the toilet and annoint whoever gets elected as a one term President, because there would be no saving this economy.

I really believe he was planning on running for President if the nominees ended up being Hillary and more conservative republican. I think with a moderate repub, and Obama running, there really isn't as big of a niche for Bloomberg as he expected there to be.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 06:43 PM) can anyone say S-T-A-G-F-L-A-T-I-O-N? signed, cknolls. Corn-All time high Wheat-All time high Crude Oil-All time high Heating Oil-All time high Gasoline-All time high Gold-All time high Euro Currency-All time high Yup, no inflation there...

So first she wouldn't release her records from her time in the White House, dispite Hillary's assertation to say that time reflects on why she should be President, and now she won't release her tax records until she is safe from scrutiny in the primary. There is no one that can convince me that another Clinton Presidency would be any fundimentally different than the first Clinton or Bush time in office. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080227/D8V2P8H01.html

Interesting constitutional question... Is McCain technically able to be the President? http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/28/america/28mccain.php

QUOTE(The Critic @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 11:34 AM) Those aren't bad seats. I have section 303 for Sunday but my cousin might be coming through with a suite. Either this Sunday or the 16th from what he tells me. Since I already have tickets for this Sunday I'm hoping he gets the suite for the 16th. Where should I meet you guys Section 227 at the UC is nice seats. They have a waiter/ress that works each of those sections, so theoretically you never have to leave your seats if you don't want to. Its also a smaller section with less people in it, and more of a season ticket holder crowd. You'll enjoy it, just don't expect it to be like the Madhouse on Madison. It is definately a more sterile experience. Kinda like going from Old Comiskey to the New.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 05:55 PM) So I saw this on ESPN by Bucci; I also saw that John Paddock was fired in Ottawa by Brian Murray, and Murray is taking over as the coach again. Any interest in either of those 2 guys as a possible replacement for Savvy? I don't see the Hawks firing Savard anytime soon. He's made progress with the team record-wise, and without getting the superstar player, its hard to expect much more from this group at this time, especially if you factor in the huge amount of injuries. Maybe if they get off to a slow start next year, but I just don't see it happening at this point in time.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 03:19 PM) Better? No. More informed? Perhaps. The people you mention are no worse than the people who will immediately dismiss a sabermetric statistic just because they're too lazy (or ignorant or don't care enough, whatever it is) to understand and know what it is. I'll be honest and say that I couldn't have made my point much better than you just did for me. I didn't realize for a long time exact how that exact kind of attitude and distain for people reflected on me, until I saw it in others. It really woke me up, and made me step back and realize what I wanted out of the game. I didn't enjoy the game of baseball nearly as much when I obsessed about stats and tried to make myself feel better at someone else's expense. Once I got past that, the game of baseball has become a lot more fun again.

QUOTE(knightni @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 06:15 PM) Hate to break it to you, but I've seen things similar that at the Cell as well. Those bathrooms are damn nasty during/after games sometimes. Plus some people when they partake in beverages, don't know their limits. I've been a casualty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time in a beer fight at the Cell before. Not pretty. And he is definately too young to remember some of the nasty crazy stuff that happened at the orginal Comiskey Park. The Picnic area was the bleacher bums before Wrigley was cool.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 02:48 PM) Can you give an example of this? I'd say the people who are more statistically aware tend to hold an even greater appreciation for the game. There's also a "statheads aren't fans and only care about the numbers" tone that's in this thread. Not surprising, but it's there. It's a completely ignorant view, too, but again -- not surprising. Its no more ignorant than thinking that the "statistically aware" are somehow better than everyone else, and looking down on other people for it.

http://mvn.com/mlb-redsox/2008/02/27/fredd...n-with-red-sox/

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 11:23 AM) The WaPo gives a summary today of the CW on what it will take for Clinton's campaign to not have it's obit written next Tuesday. If she goes on after that point, you might as well call her Hillary Huckabee.

Its called missing the forest for the trees. People who spend to much time buried in the numbers, and even the wins and losses miss the grandure of the game that is unfolding in front of them.

QUOTE(Cknolls @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 09:03 AM) I hope their ideas are as good as ETHANOL. BTW. Why don't these moderators ask the candidates about the boondoggle called ethanol. Obama wants to end famine in the world? Hey Barack, how did you vote on ethanol? I'd be curious to hear the candidates asked this question. Many of you spoke of ending subsidies to oil companies as prices and their profits hit all time records, not to mention talks of windfall taxes. Now with basic food prices at the same point, would you support the same for farmers? If not, why are energy prices more important than food prices?

I have a 2004 Impala I bought new, and I love it.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 11:12 PM) Mr Potato Head? He is a "fooking loosier" in my best Canadian accent. (southsider will appreciate the reference... ) I'd love to post the reply, but I don't want the suspension for it Let's just say.. ".... So I take my stick, and I stab him with it"

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 08:53 PM) According to this article, found via a quick Google search, direct aid to East Germany basically paid for by increased taxes (i.e. nothing like NAFTA where there are actually goods being produced/exchanged) cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5-2 Iraq wars since reunification, and it's been done by a much smaller country. By my quick look, It looks like we are in the area of about 100 billion dollars a year going directly to Mexico through the trade imbalance (about $75 billion last year) and the cash sent back there by Mexican nationals (about $25 billion). That doesn't include the cost of being Mexico's welfare system and taking care of their indiginous people who end up here, not to mention the lost wages brought about by wage rate depression of people willing to work for way less than most American's can afford to live. I think if they were extrapolated out over the near 20 years since reunification, the dollars would stack up pretty nicely.

Does Richar have an option left? I have a feeling he might need it.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 08:37 PM) If you actually count them the same way, the majority of the difference vanishes. The U.S. has been finding ways to exclude people from the unemployment count by considering them out of the work force for 30 years. There is still some difference, but I'll also add that the U.S. economy hasn't been trying to completely rebuild newly annexed Mexico like West Germany has been. The trade imbalance and cash sent to Mexico beg to differ...

QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 08:03 AM) I knew somebody was going to do that. I almost made a comment about it not being musical. And I agree, I never could stand Rush because Geddy Lee sounded like nails on a chalkboard to me. Eh, I couldn't resist

QUOTE(max power @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 01:01 PM) Weird that bart would turn down an "incentive laden deal" from us and accept a minor league deal from the Red sox. Maybe he feels like he has a better chance at making the rotation there. Most likely the Sox offered him a better deal, Colon thought he could do even better, Kenny got pissed and withdrew the contract offer, and Colon had to settle for the Red Sox minor league deal.

I guess now is the time to start the clock on the next set of back spasms for McGrady?

QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 12:30 PM) The death penalty is too good for these kind of deviants. But then again, we don't want to waterboard someone that wants to kill thousands of us. I am not going to lie. It is exactly these kind of crimes that makes me appreciate the death penalty. It conflicts me with the whole "Do not kill thing", but the anger over crimes like this takes over in me. There is no punishment that could fit this crime.

QUOTE(AngelasDaddy0427 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 12:06 PM) Please... Anyone who doesn't see that Hillary is front runner and is setting them up for such landslides never seen before in American history the rest of the way is kidding themselves. She will also get 90 % of the super delegate vote. There is no doubt about any of this. Obama has no chance in hell! And by the way I am an Obama supporter. I just prefer to be realistic about it. You keep using that word, I do not think it means, what you think it means.