iamshack

QUOTE (Fotop @ Feb 5, 2010 -> 04:12 AM) Don't want to post the exact quote from Buster Olney's blog today, but thought this stat was interesting. Off the top of my head, don't have an idea who was hitting for us in the two hole for most of last year (short term memory loss I suppose) and presume the reason for this is that our #3/#4 hitters weren't feared. Thoughts on this? AJ, Alexei, Gordo.

I like #2, Eenu.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 5, 2010 -> 03:41 AM) Anybody do the long distance thing? Ive been with my girlfriend for over two years, from senior year in high school to present and about a hear and half of that has been long distance. Ive been at UIllinois and she went to GVSU her freshman year and is now at Purdue. I still have feelings for her (which astounds me still) but this whole long distance thing is really getting to me. There are some periods where I cant stand it and other times I dont mind it. Im back in that I cant stand it stage though. In my experience, only the strongest couples seem to last through the long distanced dating. You had better been dating for a looooooonng time before the distance occurs, or neither party really has any other offers. Otherwise, it's simply not a good idea. The college years are too great for people to be hamstrung by the sort of rigid behavior required by long distance dating. I would think looong and hard about whether you think it's worth it to continue.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 12:34 PM) You tell a girl you like her, she doesn't like you - MOVE ON. Don't look back. You're friends with a girl, you decide you want more, she doesn't like you 'that way' - MOVE ON. Friendship is over for a bit. You're dating a girl, she breaks up with you - MOVE ON. Don't look back. Obviously some of this depends on the seriousness and length of relationship, but Don't talk to her, talk about her, or ask to hear about her. If you see her...say Hi...don't be an ass, be civil, but be short and move on. Forget the lets be friends and talk all the time thing. Be friendly when you see each other, but find someone else to hang out with. You really can't get over someone if you're always seeing them. Look gentlemen it isn't that difficult. You shouldn't have to 'convince' a girl to like you. This isn't the movies....where the girl says NO and the guy chases and chases the girl and she finally falls madly in love with him. If she likes you, the interest is there from the beginning. She may be unsure about being in a relationship or afraid of getting hurt or whatever...but as far as 'liking' you....if she has to think about that??? GTFO! Tell her you like her, let her marinate the thought for a few days or a week, if she comes back and isn't interested...then take her at her word and move on. Not to call out iamshack at all, but this "The stories are quite often about a guy who kept pursuing a woman until he ultimately convinced her to marry him. And those are some of the strongest couples around" I just don't see as the case. All I can say is, seek out some very happily married couples, and ask them how they met, how their first few dates went. Just as you are saying this isn't the movies where a guy chases a woman for months and months, I can counter with the same thing. This isn't the movies where everyone falls in love at "first sight." People simply aren't always that good at understanding what qualities will attract them to someone else. People fall in love after knowing eachother for a time, or after struggling through a few dates....it happens in all different manner of ways. Just ask an older married couple....I guarantee you that you will hear some doozies...

Oh. That was me. He disagrees with my optimistic viewpoint. Therefore, he must be a pessimist.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 11:53 PM) I don't disagree with that, but I also think that there's more to the "general ed" classes then just a blowoff or a way to make money. It's to get a grounding of certain basic elements. You're right in the sense that (in my field) I didn't learn about contract law or GAAP in BIO1000. Sure, you're geared to learning to what you need to know as you zero in on what it is your career path is. But at a fundamental level, when you start college, the point is to be able to be taught to think critically about any subject matter. Not just "law", or "spreadsheets", or "journalism" (or to say, classes about writing style). Oh, I couldn't agree more. In fact, many people seem to think law school is similar to undergrad in that you choose a major. This is simply not the case. You take a core curriculum and using the principles of that curriculum, you learn to analyze and process all sorts of information and data. It seems to me that an undergrad core curriculum should focus more on the critical thinking skills necessary be successful in most white collar jobs and then worry about handing out a well-rounded education. If one doesn't get the critical thinking part first, he most likely isn't going to really understand or retain the subject matter anyway.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 05:30 PM) no, but one of my barely passing student, who is now getting a high A, brought in some venison back strap from a deer he harvested. Awesome. What was he getting before? C-?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 10:29 PM) The point isn't about what classes you take, it's your ability to adapt and learn something that's not the subject that you're in. The point also is to be able to think critically about a subject you might not be an expert in. bmags, I'll try to use an example. What guides your philosphy on global warming? Should you be guided on some scientific theories you might have learned in some science class, or should you be guided by some journalist who doesn't know a damn thing about it? I'm not mocking you here, I'm trying to ask a question that might make you see why sometimes a BIO1000 or a SCI1000 or whatever might become relevant. For me, I'm in finance and accounting, yet I can see the relevance of taking general curriculum courses, because you have to be able to understand some things that might be out of your realm sometimes. What molecules make up that pharma product you're making? What chemicals are used in making that piece of steel lighter and used in an airplane? Why would you use titanium instead of aluminum? How does that explain cost differentials (of course that's more economics)... but I'm just throwing out some things to chew on here. I ran across this quote from (oh s***... ) asshatery101, I mean Rush Limbaugh, that he said within the last couple of days, I guess: There's a lot of truth in that statement. And that's why, IMO, for a field like journalism, you want to be "well rounded". Feeling something is true, doesn't make it true. And that's what this "extra curriculum" helps with, IMO. Kap, I learned more about how to think critically and analyze information I had no previous experience with or knowledge of in law school. I was a history major and learned quite a bit of interesting stuff in undergrad, but the stuff that really makes a difference for me now, I learned all of that in law school. I think more classes like ethics and logic should be focused on, as well as critical writing.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 10:20 PM) The picture that's painted is that Republicans are the only one to pull this s***. Everything they do is "unprecedented". Uh huh. Everything is bulls*** now. That's why we have a lunatic in the White House after a lunatic just left. And I don't ever see that cycle breaking because all the good people that might be worthy stay out of it for the exact questions you ask above. The thing is, I enjoy the strategic moves and the manipulation of personalities that goes on in other things, such as chess, war strategy, sports, etc. But when it comes to government, it just doesn't seem interesting anymore...

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 11:17 PM) In terms of offense the Sox have signed a skinnier twig boy than Alexei, a KC Royal, and someone who spells his name wrong. Still no bat in our batter's park. This bat could probably be had for cheap and would actually probably exponentially improve this ridiculous offensive roster. Aww, he's cuuuuttteee...

It's things like these, that the average American who doesn't follow politics closely, doesn't even know are possible or that they occur in our legislation process. This is the reason I don't follow politics. How could anyone want to when this bulls*** goes on back and forth?

QUOTE (scenario @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 10:13 PM) Note to Soxtalk posters, I really appreciated winning the minor league scouting award last year. And I sincerely appreciate being nominated again. But... this year all of the other candidates deserve it much more than I do. So... Please pick one of them instead of me. JPN, OzzieBall, Flavum, and Danman... all of you are very deserving. Thanks for your outstanding contributions to the FutureSox board this year. S Too late.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 09:00 PM) I think it's absurd that so many of you would consider him a fool for passing up an offer for more money. If the man decides to retire, I'm sure he's considered how much money he's already accumulated. The man has his own priorities, and he seems to have them straightened out pretty well. Mark Buehrle doesn't care about his career statistics or his chances at the Hall of Fame. He (probably) has more money than he, or his children, will ever need. He doesn't need to squeeze every last dime out of his playing career. I respect the hell out of him for that. I agree with about everything you said here. At the same time, how many guys do this? We hear about retiring to spend more time with the wife and kids, but seriously, those guys almost always seem to end up coming back. I'm with his wife...I'm not buying this.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 07:45 PM) AH, side-tri-rise. Love it. Shoulders and Arms and ARX tonight, crushed it! Did a double with morning plyo, dont try that one at home! Tried to double with vball and S&A last night, didnt work out. Oh wow...a double with plyo is insane....gotta hand it to you on that one... I did yoga tonight and felt like a complete slacker because I shut it off after the basic balance poses.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 04:35 PM) If they did get the HS grad to work for less, that means they offered it to a college grad first who turned it down. I'd still rather have the offer and turn it down, then not get an offer. And I believe that proves 2K5's point, you make more with the college degree. That is simply not true. Sometimes they do not want to allocate the money in their budget for a college graduate, so they simply do not respond to college graduates who apply. I cannot tell you how many positions I applied for after graduating with a law degree, only to be told, "you are vastly over-qualified, sorry." They are afraid to offer the job to you even if you accept a lower salary to start because these things usually have a habit of coming back up again when it is time for raises or promotions.

Your opinions are almost on one side of the pendulum or the other...as if everything is always black or white, but never gray. Realize that a LOT of things are gray, especially when it comes to people, relationships, women, feelings, attitudes, etc. How old are you? 22? 23? I thought I knew a LOT when I was that age too...but you have to realize that as you grow as a person, you learn that you really didn't know as much as you thought you did...

QUOTE (The Beast @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 10:32 AM) I've always thought that if her dad called her princess as a child, that I would never date a girl like that. Because while I will treat a woman with respect and love her, I will not treat her like a princess. I run from girls like that. And I purposely talk about my ex to get rid of the women that I meet that are initially into me but that I find that I'm not fond of. I always thought one of my better qualities was knowing that I didn't know everything, even when I felt strongly about something. Seeing how much you have changed as a person over the past year or so, I think you might benefit from realizing you don't know everything as well.

QUOTE (hogan873 @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 06:57 AM) I'm the king of procrastination...outside of work. Every year I'm scrambling to buy Christmas presents for my family on December 20, and I always say I will do it earlier next year. I never do. At work, though, I use checklists, notes stuck to my computer monitor, and my personal favorite Microsoft Access. I know this doesn't really help with your issue, but I've learned to manage my time very effectively at work. It's the time outside of work I need to work on. Why do you suppose you are so eager to use systems at work but not at all in your personal life?

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 07:58 AM) I will give my #1 reason why it is and will be better to have a college degree. You will have more choices in careers to pursue. Without a degree, any degree, there will be less. I have never heard of a job that college grads were excluded, I have seen where a college degree was required to be included. If you are only measuring your career in dollars and cents, then perhaps, in some cases, you would be correct. I agree with you that ultimately you will have more opportunities by having a degree. We're discussing whether our higher educational system is broken or not; whether it currently makes much sense to go into significant debt to obtain a degree; whether it is even a given that college grads fare better in the job market; etc.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 07:13 AM) Or as an indicator that the employee will invest in themselves, have the ability and drive to go beyond the minimum. Have the credentials to get accepted and complete higher education. When you have dozens or hundreds of resumes to sort through, it makes for a easy first step. Balta, the careers that usually pay well without a college degree would be in manufacturing, trades, sales (that's changing quickly). Law enforcement is starting to require college. There will be more opportunities and choices for people with degrees. The happiest people I know are the ones with the most choices. If someone wants to try to build a career with a four year head start instead of a degree, it's their choice. You could also drop out at 16 and take the GED. I simply don't know how you can say this with any certainty. This is what we have been told for years, but it simply does not seem to be bearing itself out in practice. Many employers would rather take a less-educated empoyee on at the most entry level position and pay him less. Try having an advanced degree and applying for jobs only requiring BAs and listening to them tell you how overqualified you are, even when you are willing to negotiate salary within their given range.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 01:25 AM) Yeah, she really is a great girl and we get along very well. I'm fine for now with proceeding how things are, but I guess we'll need to talk about it sometime. She seems to be coming around (and all my friends think we're gonna get back together), but I'm just going to let things play out and go from there. Oh, and thanks for the advice. Sometimes it just helps hearing an outsider's perspective with a fresh take rather than what all my friends say. Though, everyone says pretty much the same thing (but I guess that's good). Ugh, my apologies for my terrible grammer. Too much multi-tasking! I need to take my own advice and focus on only a few things at once! I meant sounds like she needs you to be there for her, not that you need her to be there for her. Ack. Sounds like you should just keep the same approach you have been taking.

Sounds like maybe she was just looking out for you and your best interests. I'd just take what she says at face value. If she you can accept your new relationship for what is it - just spending time with one another but with no strings attached - than I would proceed. Sounds like you need her to be there for her. But if you can't handle it, you have every right to back away from this.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Feb 3, 2010 -> 11:51 PM) My GF broke up with me, oh, about 3 weeks ago. Came out of nowhere.... But she calls/texts me every day and we hang out all the time. Actually, nothing in our relationship has changed except the "title" of boyfriend/girlfriend. I mean nothing has changed She's not even hanging out with another guy or anything cause I spend the night with her like 3 or 4 nights a week (including Fri/Sat). What the hell is the deal here? I'm so confused. I want to ask her about it, but I still like being with her, and I guess honestly I am afraid if I push the issue, she'll get freaked out. I know it's not healthy to do this to myself, but you guys know how it is... it's hard to pull away. Keep in mind: I don't initiate hardly any of our hanging out or spending the night, etc. I let her do that, but I certainly don't say "no" when she wants to hang out. Well, she did want me to spend the night last night and I told her I didn't feel like it. And then she wanted me to come over and hang out tonight, but I told her I had to go workout. I don't want to be a b**** and come whenever she wants me to. Did she give you a reason for breaking up with you in the first place?

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Feb 4, 2010 -> 12:09 AM) I love checklists. Every day at work I just start a new checklist with things from the previous day that I didn't finish and add to it as stuff comes up. It definitely helps a ton. I hardly ever finish everything, but I put out the biggest fires first (so-to-speak) and prioritize what's most important. Then get to the smaller stuff when things slow down a little. http://gawande.com/the-checklist-manifesto

This is actually one of my strengths, and I have to tell you, I owe it all to being forced to prioritize and delegate back when I was working in management for Abercrombie & Fitch. The key is to constantly re-prioritize things. Focus on only your most important tasks at one time. If you try to juggle everything at once, you often become overwhelmed and accomplish none of your tasks or very few of them. In law school I worked full-time and took 3-4 classes a semester, and so I was able to hone my skills while juggling those committments. Currently, I work 12 hour shifts for days at a time, so it is a challenge to fit sleep in, workout, eat, and accomplish much of anything. The keys are just so simple. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Make checklists and check one thing off at a time. It is really that simple.