iamshack

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jun 4, 2010 -> 08:59 AM) I had a chance to go to BestBuy and play with an iPad the other day. I wasnt really impressed. I wanted to be, but I wasnt. It was a little heavier than I expected it to feel. The more I played with it, the more it felt like a iPod Touch that was run over by a steam roller. Yes it is nicer to read books on and watch movies, but over all it wouldnt be worth the over $500 i'd have to pay for one. I respect your opinion....but I have to tell you, if you enjoy reading, the iBooks alone makes it worth it. Can't tell you how many hours I have already spent reading and how many books I've read that I wouldn't have ordinarily picked up without it. Some really cool magazine apps too.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2010 -> 08:03 AM) Soxnet game writeup: Carlos Quentin has a shiny new batting stance. Ooh, good eyes, Balta. I hope that was indeed part of the reason for his recent oppo power...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 4, 2010 -> 06:35 AM) If we're talking about price comparisons with natural gas, I should note from the geologist side that there is good reason to think natural gas prices will actually stabilize over the next decade compared to the wild swings in the last decade due to production from "unconventional" natural gas well sites. It's energy costs in general. Yes, it's natural gas, but it's also electricity costs, which are a function of coal prices, natuaral gas prices, renewable energy investments made by the power company, etc. As I said, primarily, the huge savings in the past were realized by propane users, but a building with a tight, efficient envelope can realize a 50% reduction in your utility bill most of the time.

Watched The Informant! and Law Abiding Citizen the last few nights. The Informant! was better than I expected, mostly because I think someone ragged on it pretty well here. I thought Matt Damon did a good job, and some of the humor was cracking me up ("from a Crichton novel")...there is some really funny s*** in that movie... Law Abiding Citizen was kinda lame, and I don't really care much for Jamie Foxx, but I do still like Gerard Butler, so I enjoyed watching him screw with Foxx...

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 08:08 PM) Yeah, I was reading that site just now, that's where I got the $15k guess from. From what I understand you need water underground, that shouldn't be a problem in Chicago. I'm interested in how it works, and I'm kind of surprised that people don't talk more about this. I'm also seeing that there is a federal tax credit worth 10% of the installation cost... gotta look at IL too Keith, this is gaining more and more steam in the midwest in areas of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc. Basically, it was not economically feasible unless you were separated from natural gas service and had to rely on propane for heat. But with the costs of energy rising, it is becoming more and more a viable alternative, especially in large commercial/government/municipal buildings such as schools, hospitals, military bases, etc. Basically, there are two types of systems, a horizontal loop system and a vertical loops system. Not sure of the feasibility in a metropolitan or urban setting, but my guess is a vertical loop system would be necessary unless your property were to lie on a very large lot. The key will be absorbing the installation cost. You are correct in that there are tax credits available, however I am not certain off the top of my head what expired and what did not recently. However, if you can absorb the installation cost, the return on investment is very fast - probably within 3-5 years depending on the size and efficiency of your building. My stepdad and I have completed a lot of research into this and so I can get you information should you so desire. Sent you a PM.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 11:21 PM) The offense, defense and starting pitching suck but the season isn't over. I'd enjoy watching a lot more if they can turn their record around and make things interesting. This is like the Murphy's Law White Sox. Whatever can go wrong has gone wrong. It can't last so I'll watch the victories and and hope for comebacks when we're down and pray things improve. Ahh, thank you for that, my friend. I truly enjoyed that after what Mark and Gavin (and the Rangers) have taken out of me this week...

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 10:32 PM) Agreed. Rios should and probably will be our only star rep. Pauly will get some consideration because of his 16 home runs...but Teixeira/Morneau/MCab will probably make his chances slim to none.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 07:00 PM) Regardless of whether Google ever actually catches Apple in mobile phones - they might, they might not - Google isn't one of those companies you just brush to the side and declare superiority over. If you are running a company like Apple, you either already know this, or you learn the hard way in a couple of years. That said, I totally agree - I love this kind of competition. This is how markets are supposed to work, companies scrambling to build up something so they can sell it to everyone at the best price, always trying to get the leg up on each other. Apple having a fire under its ass is probably a bad thing for Apple but that's great for us. I agree as well, but I just hate when companies like AT&T and Verizon are throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars on silly advertising when that money could be going to R&D or lower price points on current products. I hate those damn ads because as you said, unless you live in Boofoo, WV, you're getting coverage...and even those people are getting cell service, just not 3G service. As for the networks, I've used Sprint and AT&T in my lifetime, and Sprint was the worst customer service company ever. So when the iPhone came out, I jumped at the chance to get AT&T, and personally, I find their service to be world's better. That being said, I'm not one of these guys always watching videos on YouTube or surfing the web. I mainly text, check email, and place phone calls. The worst trouble I've had with AT&T's network is not getting texts right away, which happened a bit when they first enabled picture messages, at which point you'd have to restart your phone. Nothing for a few months now though.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 03:41 PM) ATT? Or Apple? r I don't necessarily think ATT's business plan has been overly successful. I think they currently have a network that can't handle the number of customers they have, but clearly they have to be happy with the # of customers they have. That said, there plan was an epic failure because they are getting hit wtih tons of negative PR and have generally a very bad public image. That isn't a good thing for the long-term continuance of your business, especially when your size is pretty reliant on an exclusive right agreement that will be ending in the foreseeable future. Hmm, I think maybe you're seeing it that way through your yellow and black sprint-colored glasses. I know they take some flak because they have been the exclusive provider for the iPhone for the last 4 years or so, but there isn't much they can do about that. I also understand their network has been pushed a bit because of the wild success of the iPhone, but I wouldn't say they are "getting hit with tons of negative PR," or that their plan has been an "epic failure." Do you really think Verizon would be spending the amount of money fighting them through their ad campaign if they thought AT&T's plan was an "epic failure"? I agree with you that they were caught off-guard by the huge amounts of data that the iPhone users are consuming, but to say that paying $ for an exclusive contract for one of the most successful products of the 21st century and having more users than you anticipated, to the point that it is straining your infrastructure - to say that is a failure - that seems to be a bit inaccurate to me. I guess what matters now though is how they capitalize on their position in the marketplace going forward. Because you're right, the exclusivity contract will end sooner or later (2012?).

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 02:54 PM) No, ATT paid a huge amount of money for exclusive rights to a product. There is nothing about there network that is superior to the other providers. Just one in a list of problems is the fact that they are over-capacity due to the Iphone, but other networks have more bandwith to handle it. No, I'm certainly not claiming their network is superior in any way. But to argue that they somehow are in trouble because their business plan succeeded more quickly than anyone might have predicted is silly. I don't think being overly successful is really going to kill them.

QUOTE (Capn12 @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 03:31 PM) On another note....good lord, are people seriously paying $90 for the iPad case on eBay? Really? I mean, its not even that great of a 'protective' case... I'm trying to find some sort of semi-stable case for the thing, before leaving for Vegas on June 22nd, and my area of the country just has nothing available. I have the one Apple marketed at launch. It was $40 and I'll tell you a ripoff at that. But it does work nicely and protect the device well, which in the end, I guess is all I could have hoped for. But the thing is not worth anymore than $15 - 20 in my opinion.

Nice little Cardio X on my day off today just to keep the mojo going...week 1 is in the books and I am ready to take on Chest & Back again tomorrow. Woot woot.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 01:21 PM) I don't want to fight with j4l again...hopefully that can be spared. He's at least passionate about the Sox, I'll give him that. Same with greg, even though he drives me crazy (just like I do others!) 85% of the time. But I always read everyones' posts here, no matter what...at least when I have the time. Usually he J4L attacks me first, lol. It just reminds me of 2006 when the "dark clouds" were increasingly gathering and yet those holding onto 2005 and first half of 2006 wouldn't let go and bullied everyone who saw the inevitable dissolution of the World Series team coming sooner rather than later. I just don't see the point in good White Sox fans fighting each other over something pretty silly and not even quantifiable. Everyone has different ways of dealing with disappointment. To say someone is less of a fan because they turn off the game early, don't even tune in at all, don't believe the team has the ability to turn things around and make a comeback...everyone has their threshold. I tried to get invested in the minor league system and it's hard to do even that this season. I think his main point is simply that you have to suffer through the bad times to really appreciate the great times. I watch them every chance I get. That's not to say that I am any better of a fan than anyone else for doing so. It's just my way of being a fan. Everyone has their own way of coping.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 01:08 PM) And there's no need to lecture people about "how they're better Sox fans" because they have a more optimistic approach to this year's team than others....I mean, come on, how can someone have joined the White Sox bandwagon in 2005 when many people were a fan of the team for decades before that? Why do we need to hear that sh--? Fine, he's a younger fan...then stop measuring who's a better fan based on their reaction to this season's putrid results. Even the "best" Sox fans can't easily digest this season. All you will have to do is look at the attendance figures from here on out to understand the malaise the entire franchise has fallen into just 4-5 years removed from glory. If nothing else, it was runaway hubris to think that this franchise was going to become a dynasty, pull even with the Cubs in terms of critical mass and win the hearts and minds of young fans throughout the Midwest. We might be the most irrelevant team in the AL today if not for the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles, and both those teams have loaded minor league systems to look forward to and give them some type of reason to believe in the future. Seriously, if I wanted a lecture about it, I would listen to MIT/CAL TECH/CAMBRIDGE/OXFORD taped ones, where I can learn something new about the world. Does it please any of us who questioned the make-up of this team coming into the season? No, not really. It displeases me more that our GM and manager are so completely clueless about how to fix this mess...it's not like we have a plethora of minor league talent waiting to rise to the top like the Indians do. No, you're right, I should have mentioned something about J4L's post as well. My bad. As for the long-term future of this organization, I am not worried about that at all. We have plenty of pieces to trade into a nice long-term picture, if that indeed is the direction we ultimately go.

So you don't find it ironic that the reason AT&T has a distressed network is because so many people are enjoying the use of superior products on it? The fact that that is seen as some sort of weakness on AT&T's part is, well, strange to me.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 12:41 PM) This team seems to love the terms platoon and protecting a bullpen. When I heard Lillibridge was coming up because he can platoon and pinch run I just shook my head. Bring up Morel and see what he can do or bring up Viciedo and let him DH. You do this every day until Teahen comes back......nope we will get the Omar/Nix/Lillibridge platoon...ugh. I would have liked to see Retehrford I know he is having a terrible season but a change in venue could help we have seen Lillibridge, there is nothing there. I agree 100% on Lucy. Tyler Colvin was not a highly rated guy We'll have 2 months to watch these guys play.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 12:34 PM) Yeah but there was a 5 or 6 week stretch when it felt like 3 runs per game was a near impossibility. Oh trust me, I recall that. I don't think it was 5 or 6 weeks - the entire season is only 8 weeks old. The Tigers have scored 5 more runs than us on the season, and they are right in the thick of things. There is no excuse for this team to not be in a competitive position given the pitching we have. We all knew, coming in, that our strength was going to be our starting pitching. Uhh, wtf happened?

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 12:37 PM) Except that Kenny doesn't have to call the Cardinals to make Mark's desire to play for them evident. Mark's been doing that through the press for years. The Cardinals know that Mark would push for them pretty hard, and thus have less incentive to match offers from theoretical other teams. Yeah, I think certainly could play into it. But Mark isn't going to try and screw over the only franchise he has ever known, either. I don't think he would ever push for Kenny to accept a less-than-fair deal so that he could be dealt to St. Louis.

I believe Jason is referring to Sprint. And by the way, my iPad still rocks. I get more use out of this device than any laptop I have ever owned.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 12:24 PM) I'm just curious, when did you go to your first White Sox game? Mine was 1979. Honestly, the 2007 team was more interesting than this one, because that one had Fields, Owens, Wasserman and Gonzalez at least TRYING to make an impact as rookies. Hopefully the inevitable trades and promotions of Hudson, Flowers and possibly Viciedo will provide a reason to become re-interested, re-invested, re-motivated to at least care about the development of the organization and how things are setting up for next year. So it's J4L's fault that he wasn't born yet when you started going to games? Enough with the cock measuring.

QUOTE (hogan873 @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 12:25 PM) No, you're right that the rotating DH not the blame for the entire season. But, I think that if KW had gone out an acquired an actual DH, we wouldn't be seeing as much of Kotsay and Vizquel. And I'd add Quentin and Beckham to your list of culprits. Is Mark Kotsay making our starting rotation suck so badly? The offense has scored runs. Sure, they're no juggernaut. But to me, those guys getting the ball every 5 days have let us down big time.

QUOTE (hogan873 @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 11:15 AM) What bothers me the most is the silence. KW and Ozzie should have come out by now and said, "Wow, did we make a mistake on this rotating DH idea!" I realize that is almost comical to expect something like that. But all we hear is the occasional blurb about how KW and Ozzie get along as well as they have to and the team has to start playing better. Well, this team is in trouble. And this team will not be "this team" next year...hell, they won't be the same come August 1st. It's just a shame that players like AJ, Konerko, Jenks, and Putz may get dealt when we were led to believe that the Sox would be buyers come June and July. I have lost a lot of interest in the team, and I probably only watch 30 minutes of games off and on. I'm tired of getting that rare hour or so when I can sit down and watch a game only to turn on the TV and see the Sox down 6-2 in the 4th damn inning! The rotating DH is not to blame. The culprits are Mark, Jake and Gavin as far as I'm concerned.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jun 3, 2010 -> 08:47 AM) Maybe, but his limited NTC and 10/5 rights (next year?) could severely limit the number of teams in the running. Let's say that the Dodgers, Mets, and Braves all offer really nice packages of prospects for Mark, but Mark rejects trades to those teams. Then a team like the Cardinals (who already know that Mark will accept a trade there) can step in and offer a lot less for him. I don't think this has happened very often since NTC's have come into vogue. A player will usually at least toe the line and keep his mouth shut and allow the team to use as many teams as possible to maximize leverage. Instead of Mark outright rejecting the offers, Kenny tells the Cardinals GM "Look, Mark would really like to come there, but the Braves and Mets are offering this..." It usually seems to work itself out.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 03:35 PM) Well, Pierre hasn't sat out a game since April 13th and hasn't taken a break from the field in 23 games. This is why Ozzie wanted the rotating DH; he's going to use it to keep his guys "fresh". I actually like Vizquel against feldman, Omar's been pretty hot of late hitting .344 since May 1st and Scott Feldman's 89 MPH fastball is perfect for Omar since he'll have little trouble catching up to it and he doesn't have a ton of trouble with slow curveballs like Feldman's. Omar hit Neftali Perez's 96 mph heat last night to deep center...that was as far as I have seen him hit a ball in a White Sox uniform. I was impressed that he could even get good wood on it.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 2, 2010 -> 03:10 PM) Phew! What a hectic day. Back to Chicago and the waiting game begins. And damn! Nike campus is ridiculous. Oh man, I can't believe I never guessed that was the company! Awesome! How did it go, Sqwert?