iamshack

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 04:36 PM) Hmmmm........ @danpompei Bears are not on the verge of signing Phil Emery to be their GM, source says. Not saying it won't happen. @danpompei Nothing going to happen soon. Sounds like the Bears are trying to save some pennies on his salary....

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 08:40 AM) There is no cost associated with me downloading a pirated copy of a movie. There are costs associated with unions being required to represent non-union members. This is why digital copyright issues are distinct from numerous other "free rider" problems; digital piracy does not actually pose a direct burden on the copyright holders. There sure as f*** is...I'm not sure how someone so intelligent can continue to insist this is true. The cost comes in the form of dollars that those who actually pay for the music are forced to spend. Don't you think that if more people will willing to purchase the product instead of steal it, regardless of cost, that musicians and or providers such as iTunes would offer it for a lower price? We could all be buying albums for $6.99 if everyone that pirates music would pay for it instead of stealing it. Instead, we have to pay $12.99 because they know there are X number of people who are going to steal music regardless of price or regardless of whether they can afford the music for the simple fact that they can steal it. So I bare the cost. Tex bares the cost. Meanwhile, you download that s*** for free on Limewire or whatever. I hope your computer gets infected with a virus and you have to spend more on a new computer than you would have ever spent on music in the first place!

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 04:11 PM) Ray Emery? ?

Damnit...I wanted Jimmy Raye....I hope this is false...

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 02:52 PM) Realistically, what would you like to see Kenny Williams do the rest of this off season? Any more players need to be traded? Any cheap free agents out there would taking a chance on? Trade Gavin and and Matt please.

Happy Birthday Balta! Hope you enjoyed your day!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 09:01 AM) If you want the stats, they say that icing the kicker is a slight disadvantage in almost all circumstances. I'd bet that most of the stats though are because kickers are expecting to be iced these days. Statistics aside, the fan and media backlash that comes along with botching that particular play is a much bigger deal IMO than the statistical disadvantage.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 10:58 AM) In the words of Peter King..."I counted 23 pressures on Manning". The 9ers front line was getting close to him regularly. Almost any QB will look "Sloppy" when you have guys regularly in his face. Yeah, but a large part of that is a direct result of him being so immobile in the pocket. That same pressure on Rodgers or Brees and they just escape the pocket and find a receiver on the move. Eli is sort of limited to the actual pocket.

QUOTE (daggins @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 10:16 AM) I spent a good 10 minutes trying to find something like this and it just doesn't exist. Part of that is that, in fact, announcers are paid to fluff their teams. Part of it is that this material tends to be hard to Google. Part of it is that Hawk is actually pretty unique in his position within the organization as a mouthpiece, and part of it is that the article really isn't very critical of the Sox or KW. It is critical of Ozzie (ok, but thats easy) and it points out some very obvious truths about the Sox (the OF defense has been lousy for years, and they have lousy Spring Trainings) but still maintains that the Sox are right there with the other teams in the ALC in terms of talent (thus shielding Williams from scorn). It defends Rios and Dunn. It grasps for optimism in every possible detail. Its fluff. You also won't find another announcer who is allowed to be as much of a blatant homer while calling games as Hawk is... He's one of a kind, our Hawkeroo...

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jan 22, 2012 -> 10:21 PM) Jason Garrett did it successfully. Nice...too bad it was his own kicker I don't think icing a kicker is ever a great idea...eventually it's going to come back to burn you. Once instance in which I do think it's a good idea is in windy conditions so that your own kicker can see where the ball will go on a longer kick. Of course, there is always the chance he'll drill that kick and miss the next, which obviously is what happened to Garrett.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 22, 2012 -> 11:19 PM) Kept several plays alive moving his feet throughout. Those plays to Bradshaw for example (on the 30 yard play and the check down) was a perfect indication after he was getting hammered all game. I agree that saying outstanding was a tad strong however. But Eli deserves moving out of the whole "little Peyton's brother" by some out there. Eli is very good with improvisation. He gets the ball off to the backs fairly well. One thing I could not understand was why the Giants didn't run more play action. Any time there was a running back in the backfield on a passing play, he would just bail out into the flat rather than faking the handoff to freeze the backers and safeties. Considering how big of a RB Jacobs is, I don't understand why you wouldn't run PA with him more.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 22, 2012 -> 11:15 PM) Meh if the Niners didn't take each other out they had 2 easy picks. He was good but outstanding is a little strong. Yeah, I agree...Eli played so so, but his lack of athleticism really showed tonight. Several times there was pressure in the pocket that a guy like Rodgers or even Brady would have eluded and Eli just could not escape it. I thought both games were pretty sloppy...not particularly great execution and I didn't think it was a direct result of any dominant defense or anything. Hopefully the Super Bowl will have a bit more solid execution involved.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 22, 2012 -> 11:52 AM) Do not let them pressure you into a decision. Walk away at that point, and they will come back with something better. Yeah, exactly...I walked out of there two different times and I walked out of a Toyota place and had the owner (who is a semi famous Vegas car dealer, not unlike Bob Roooooohhhrrrmmmaaaannn in Chicago) calling me to ask what went wrong. Ended up getting the Audi dealership to give me exactly what I wanted...OEM nav/bluetooth/iPod integration. I have to tell you though...now that everyone has access to the information and pricing for every car in town, and around the country for that matter, they have switched gears to trying to really scam you on the financing now. I had the Toyota guy try to sell me on financing at 9.95 % by picking apart my credit report and telling me some dashes in my credit report meant delinquent payments on my old auto loan. They will try to get you to agree to a bs interest rate even though they are really getting your loan at a much better rate. If I would have had the patience, I would have arranged to get my own financing separately, sold my trade at CarMax or private party, and brought those to the table and just negotiated the price of the car. If you can do that, you can control a lot more variables and preclude them from playing games with you. Or better yet, save your money and just pay cash!

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jan 22, 2012 -> 05:23 AM) This night was....eventful. Unfortunately for the wrong reasons. Oh DO tell...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 21, 2012 -> 01:04 PM) Go try a volt! Man, I wish I could... I fought all day with these dealers and ended up getting the Audi Q7 w/ 43,000 miles on it. Just got it home...awesome machine...and I got them to agree to install OEM Navigation/Bluetooth/Ipod integration next week. So I am pretty stoked. Got a very good deal.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jan 21, 2012 -> 03:55 AM) I've never heard a positive thing from anyone who has ever driven or owned a Range Rover that didn't have to do with luxury/aesthetics. My godbrother owns one and said it's horrible on gas and drives like s***. This is what I have heard as well...then I started researching...it appears most of Range Rover's problems were in the late 90's and early 2000's...then BMW bought them out and redesigned them into the very popular models from 2005-forward. I believe Ford owns RR now... Anyways, it drove fine, but yeah, you were definitely aware that you were driving a very large vehicle. The 305 HP version I drove is in my estimation underpowered. The Supercharged 400 HP version is definitely the way to go, but is also more pricey. As for the gas mileage, I don't drive all that much, and I am in need of a large SUV to haul my great dane(s) around, so unfortunately that is something I am going to have to live with. Still researching...

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 21, 2012 -> 08:32 AM) Nice bump. Dammit, don't you know there are old people around here who get confused? I too am in the shopping for a vehicle game. My problem is the vehicle doesn't exist. I want one for unimproved roads in west Texas, something that I won't mind pin stripping on cactus or mesquite, and when the inevitable limestone dent occurs, I will judge it mainly for it's artistic beauty and the story to tell. It will also need to tow around 3,000 pounds and be reliable. I don't want to be broke down on vacation. So how to balance the knock around qualities of a cheap, high mileage, used car with the reliability of a new car. A buddy just told me his 1997 GMC Yukon beast may be available. We've had it up and down beaches in Mexico, I know the four wheel drive is stout and the engine was rebuilt in 2008. Currently it is missing reverse, but at my age, why back up? The GMC Yukon and Suburban lines are exactly what you need for this job, Tex!

So finally decided to take the plunge and start car shopping. There is an audi dealership literally right across the street from my work, so I went there, especially considering I was interested in a Q7 to haul the dogs around. Ended up test driving a 2010 Q5, a 2007 Q7, and a 2006 Range Rover HSE. The Q5 is more than I'd like to spend, as it's about $39k and I am trying to be more around $30k. The Q7 and the RR were both right at $29k. The RR has 61k miles but is super clean and has all the bells and whistles...backup camera, proximity sensors, navigation, Bluetooth, yada yada....but man, it drives like a tank and I'm not sure I can deal with that after driving around my little TT for 5+ years. The Q7 had a nicer ride but was a bit under-equipped for a 5 year old $30k car IMO, as it didn't have nav, bluetooth, ipod integration, backup camera, etc. But it was still more refined than the RR and has a beautiful interface and a gorgeous pano sunroof. It has 43,000 miles on it. They were really pressuring me to make a decision tonight, at which point I told them I needed to sleep on it. They tried to make me some special offer that was good only for tonight, and I reamed them out. Would love to hear from anyone who has knowledge of these vehicles or has any other suggestions.

QUOTE (WilliamTell @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 07:37 PM) Week 1 of P90X2 is done. Loving it so far! Great job WT!

NYG 28 SF13 NE 35 Baltimore 24

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 08:54 AM) The compelling counter example is current reality--these things are readily available for free, yet they still generate billions. I also have zero sympathy for industries who fight vehemently against innovation and do everything they can to stop it in order to protect their current positions. Goods are stolen from retail stores frequently. Is the appropriate response security checkpoints and strip searches at mall entry points? Or do we instead go with much less intrusive measures? Again, appropriate responses in scale with the problems. Well, if you are in a retail store and they suspect you have stolen something or are attempting to steal something, they can and do search you and they do indeed detain you. What is the appropriate model?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 20, 2012 -> 05:54 AM) Digital copies don't actually cost someone money directly. Stolen physical product does. Breaking the internet and draconian copyright laws aren't the solution to outdated business models. They sure do.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 10:48 PM) The same people who never would have considered walking into a store and shoplifting a CD will easily accept or download a pirated copy. It is virtually anonymous. Yes, there are thefts in every business, would you expect a store to just roll over and say, here take what you want? Why do we treat a digital download different than say a car? Imagine if a car thief said he would have bought that Mercedes G series but Mercedes was trying to make too much profit so he stole it instead? The business model may be flawed based on today's technology, but simply allowing people to steal your product isn't the answer. This is besides the point.

QUOTE (flippedoutpunk @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 08:01 PM) Im with this, all of it. Its the reason why i havent paid a cent for any software or music. Why would i buy a hard copy when i can transfer my pirated copies easily into my ipod. Or pirate windows using a daz loader and buying a hard copy, i must not have a heart of gold like most people. But at the same time how many downloads has the iTunes store sold to date? There is a fair percentage of people that don't want to deal with downloading pirated copies of anything because they find it's more of a pain in the ass than just buying it and knowing you're getting a certain quality and safe product. They don't want to steal anything, but they do want a more convenient way to buy their music or movies. People have all kinds of different reasons for buying things as opposed to taking similar content for free, but the bottom line is there will always be a fair percentage that are willing to pay for something they appreciate, and in my mind, those people can still support these industries if they just try and work with the technology, instead of fighting against it, as SS posted.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jan 19, 2012 -> 06:34 PM) Amazon has saved me the past few semesters without having to buy an ereader. I can buy a used text book from their marketplace for $95 and sell it back for $85 in Amazon credit (which is like cash to me for how much I shop on there). I freaking love Amazon. I spent $800-1000 a semester in law school and refused to sell the books back for dimes on the dollar. Now I have a bunch of heavy law books I am still lugging around. Textbooks on the iPad is something I fully support.