Texsox

WOW, I can't believe I live on the same border y'all are describing and worked in Reynosa, Matamoros, and Nuevo Laredo. I don't know where to begin. Yes, there is crime in Mexico border cities, just like every major US city. Gangs, drugs, etc. all come into play. There are places in Chicago most of us would not want to visit, the same with Mexico cities. NAFTA caused a huge influx of rest of world companies moving to North America, and especially Mexico. Reynosa is home to the largest concentration of Japanese manufacturers outside of Japan. They avoid tariffs on their country of origin b y manufacturing in North America. At least in my corner of the border, the infrastructure has improved greatly in the past 12 years. Two International bridges have been built, with one more beginning. Highways have been built, local roads improved. The industrial parks have better roads and easier access. Public areas are being painted. Part of Mexico's problem was allowing countries to plunder and not contribute. For example, Mexico charges a tax on profits. Using the classic Maquilladora model, goods are staged in the US, sent over to Mexico for assembly, them returned to the US for sale. The company "sells" the finished goods to their American division at cost, resulting in zero profit and zero taxes paid. That loophole has been closed to some extent. Most of the abuses you read about are Mexican companies exploiting their own workers. On the border, most Maquilla managers are US citizens and have the same ethics as you and I. They try to make a difference. With China coming on strong, they are also in a competitive bind and trying to squeeze every penny.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 11:39 AM) I've said before, and it bears repeating, Kucinich is one of the few who actually hasn't changed his mind 15 times. Not specific to Kucinich, but to never making a new decision . . . For those that voted in favor of the war, what does it say about someone who doesn't change their mind after not finding any WMD, after not experiencing anything the administration outlined? I do not see any virtue in not making a new decision once you discover you were wrong, for whatever reason. Blindly sticking by a decision you made years before, when so much new information is out there is wrong. I thought back then our country was in a very tough situation. Are there WMD there and could we find them? It seemed amazing to me, with all the countries around the world, that Iraq could be the only one, and the most dangerous. But, if asked to vote, I would have voted to invade. Now, after seeing everything that has happened, I realize that was a mistake, and with the benefit of hindsight would have voted against. Why would continuing to support the war make me a better leader? We need leaders who can change and adapt to a new world. The world changes itself constantly and new decisions need to be made all the time.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 11:14 AM) This pretty much sums it up for me. A quote from Tim Russert yesterday on Meet the Press: Tim Russert not a lot there to disagree about. Sad.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/opinion/...f4e&ei=5070

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 10:38 AM) Do you really think that article was written because the journalist went looking for this story? No chance. These departments are probably BEGGING papers to have articles like this. One of the cops quoted in there even said it, pretty much - they want people to think there is a cop on every corner. Only way to do that is for people to be aware of these tactics. Therefore, as word spreads, it works quite nicely as a deterrent. Agreed. But the conditioning will fade over time as you pass more and more lawn mowers who are not undercover cops. Meanwhile, people see fewer and fewer cops patrolling the beat . . .

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 10:14 AM) Take a bite out of crime.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 27, 2007 -> 12:07 PM) http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...17/COLUMNISTS41 Deon Sanders pipes in. I think a great line from Billy Madison is a perfect response for this: "Mr. Sanders, what you've just written is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this world is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul." What an idiot. Two high profile careers will be biting the dust. BTW, 100% of the cows, chickens, hogs, etc. that enter a meat processing plant do not survive. Our industrial methods of execution for these animals isn't all that pleasant either. I am beginning to think Soxy's diet is for me.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 10:17 AM) Read the article, it talks about targeting the enforcement to areas of accidents or school zones. As for the undercover part being cost ineffective... I don't see how. A cop costs the same in jeans and a t-shirt as he/she does in a uniform. A big ol cruiser sitting there deters a lot more drivers than a guy washing his car. Highly visible would seem to deter more than undercover making highly visible more cost effective. Now if we perhaps start talking the income side of writing more tickets, perhaps the equation changes.

Tossing this log on the campfire. My guess is the average citizen is more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than being robbed, assaulted, etc. So those people actively involved in public safety should spend time in the areas that would decrease the most likely threat to body and property. So aggressive enforcement of traffic laws make sense. The undercover part seems silly and cost ineffective. Perhaps there is more to the story like a specific problem at a specific location?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 6, 2007 -> 09:00 AM) I so dislike the DJIA as a measure of the markets. I really wish they'd focus more on the 500, as well as the Russell. They all seem rather antiquated. Why average 30 when you can average them all? Besides minor historical interest, the Dow is just not interesting to me. It is fun to look through history and see who was on and who is off. Who is still operating and who bit the dust.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 09:43 AM) I plan on returning to college this fall. To learn Spanish. Congrats, is this business or pleasure?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 09:27 AM) Holy s***, you're kidding me? I'm getting so freaking old because I remember you leaving for school. He didn't say he was graduating

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 5, 2007 -> 04:34 PM) But he also seems like he has so much fun playing the game too. If his body holds up, might he just keep doing it because he likes it? Think about Maddux, what else does he have to prove or to earn? He could have retired 3 years a go a guaranteed HOF with loaded bank accounts, but it sure seems like he enjoys getting his butt out on the mound. About what I was thinking. He still looks like he genuinely loves the game. About the time he's thinking retirement will be when his daughter is about a teenager and probably won't want him around anyways

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 08:18 AM) You know, if it wasn't for the idiot fringes of both parties, it might be a better country in the political sense. Amen.

You want old? I'm continuing my never ending search for education at University of Texas - Pan American and to make life easier for me found a place closer to campus. So I guess it's a college style move. But, my son leaves for Texas State University (no Friday classes beginning this year) next week. He's still not certain what dorm he has been assigned to but he has his schedule. Typical Freshman bad scheduling. 8 AM classes every day and a night course. At least with AP credits he's jumped past a couple classes. My daughter has her eyes on NU. She spoke with a recruiter last year and it is almost impossible, or so it seems. She's ranked 9 or 10th in her class of 500, but after a bunch more kids drop out this year, she'll be 9 or 10 out of 400 and needs to move up a few notches to have a better chance.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 08:20 AM) Yeah, well welcome to Billboard Top 100. Find me one act that doesn't fit that bill of sucking but living in nice homes on that list. I wonder sometimes if it isn't easier to find an audience of hundreds or thousands than it is to find an audience of millions? And what about the poor twit whose style and voice is exactly what mainstream America wants? It's entertainment.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Aug 6, 2007 -> 10:36 AM) My sister-in-law asked me what I knew of that band the other day. I said "nothing". She then played me the song. I then told her "I know they suck." LOL And they are from Villa Park. I believe this is the first #1 for a local Chicago band in a very long time. So while they may suck, they will be wsucking while living in nice homes

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Aug 6, 2007 -> 08:06 PM) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_...ntagon_religion You know what frosts my ass about this one is if they were Muslim, this would be ok, and in fact encouraged and protected. I doubt it. I think they should all be allowed. But then again, who should control the usage of the uniform and insignia?

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Aug 6, 2007 -> 05:32 PM) the city of montreal just collectively shat themselves.... They still haven't succeeded? picky picky.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Aug 6, 2007 -> 03:47 PM) I wish the people that were against "ilegal immigration" would just come out and admit that they just don't like mexicans. A little harsh, and totally untrue for most Americans. But there is a sliver of truth in there. People are more comfortable around people like themselves. Canadians speak English and enjoy a better education system. Mexicans speak Spanish and their education system is lacking at best. They will sleep ten to a room and work 20 hours a day everyday to earn a living. But I don't believe for a minute that SS or Kaps (for example) well thought out positions are racially motivated.

If they don't help much, then why the hell are players taking them? GMAB. If all it made was a 15% difference he would still be 100 away and probably not setting the record.

QUOTE(Shadows @ Aug 4, 2007 -> 10:13 PM) Hes not just the greatest hitter of his time, hes the greatest hitter of all time..

Tiger is amazing a player as I've ever seen. I've followed him three or four times and have witnessed some of the worst behavior possible, directed towards him. He has also rebuilt his swing mid career, and survived all the supposed distractions (family, boredom) that were going to derail his career. Could he be a better human? Probably. We all could. I'd take him as a person ahead of Bonds and 99% of the NBA.

Gravity, not just a good idea, It's the law That is sick. Wow. Lucky dude.

Current song stuck in my head, and I don't mind Plain White T's Hey There Delilah Just thought y'all would like to know