Texsox

Sox Beat Cubs in WS

Heaven

Marlins take Billy Botch

Interesting take from one Minny fan's standpoint.

Kojak

West Wing Marathon

Tyson loses

Some of the Yankee fans had the same heart felt saddness for Jose leaving as we did for Billy Koch. They would have taken a used rosin bag for the guy. Others believe they got hosed, stil others have the Ohh Goody, print the WS tickets now

New commercial with Jose and a few Sox players, or JR, or pretty much anyone in the Sox organization. Jose "It sure is nice to leave that idiotic media behind in New York, but I am a little confused, who is this Kotex Boy, Jay Moronotti?"

I'm going to hell for this but . . . the odds of us getting involved always seem to be determined by the color of the opposition skin. Notice we haven't attacked any white people since Germany. I am certain Bush is also weighing the political liabilities of body bags coming home from the Sudan and not liking the idea. Sadly, life and death in Sudan is being decided by how voters in swing states would react. Don't think for a moment that Bush, or any US President in the past 100 years, is going to enter us into what would be an unpopular military action so close to an election unless the US population demands it.

In the Sudan thread, SS mentioned that the UN has outlived its usefulness. Some would argue it hasn't, some may claim it never had any usefulness. I'm wondering what y'all think would be the alternative? Every country for itself? No multinational organization. Maybe smaller regional ones? If the world disbanded and started over, what would be better?

yes I did

He was last seen writing down "strip search" and "anal probe"

Roger has been coaching his younger son's team. It is a coaches pitch league and Andy Pettit asked if Roger is dustring back any of those 10 year olds.

A sniffer dog died from an overdose after searching a suspect car

Japanese Man Arrested After Writing 'Suicide Bomb' On Plane Link Here He wrote down suicide bomb so he would look it up later and learn it's meaning. I guess this is one lesson he will not soon forget.

Believe it or not, the Rio Grande Valley is hoping for a major storm to dump lots of rain in our reservoirs.

Sushi lunch

Minny is on pace for 92 wins. We would need to be 39-21 the rest of the way to reach that same win total. It's crunch time.

18-10 and we may pick up 2 or 3 games. Minny is keeping pace to have a great season. If my math is correct they are on pace for 92 or 93 wins. For the Sox to reach 93 wins we need to be 40-20 the rest of the way.

Botch

What are Cub fans Alex? Correct! Please choose another answer.

I have a question or two: If a US company opens a plant in China, is it OK as long as they do not send product back to the US? How about if they stop exporting from the US to Europe and instead open a plant in Spain, for example?

If I may clarify a couple things based on 8 years in and around Maquillas. Some easy to understand info The major growth for Maquillas have been Pacific rim companies setting up shop in Mexico. The largest Japane Chamber of Commerce outside Japan is in Reynosa, Tamps. Mexico. For logistical reasons they are investing in Mexico, and hiring US management, instead of shipping products from outside NAFTA. Some of this is also because of import duties on non-NAFTA products. Maquillas are only exempt from import tarrifs if the sub assembly or raw material originates in a NAFTA country. Tarrifs have actually increased on non NAFTA materials. In this area, NAFTA is working. It has brought economic development to North America. It is misleading to compare maquilla wages. For example, most maquilla plants are required by law to have a Doctor on staff to treat the employees and their families. It is mandatory to offer free meals for every employee. It is required to offer free transportation to the workers. Employers pay death benefits. I can assure you that Maquilla wages are not .70 per hour, even before benefits. That is closer to the number that China is reporting. Every Maquilla plant along the Texas-US border is unionized, I cannot speak with authority on the others. The unions negotiate contracts for their workers. Mexico has resisted, and has the maquillas, US unions from coming into Mexico. The UAW and others have tried to bring their unions but so far they have been unsuccessful. The Mexico unions work far closer than their US counterparts in plant operations. I have watched as the Mexico unions have worked side by side with management to compete. They understand they are in danger of losing jobs to China. Already we have seen companies that are very manual labor intense leave Mexico for China and some of the former Soviet block countries. Just like in the US, if you have been fired from 3 jobs in 3 months, you will have a hard time finding another job. Maquilla managers meet regularly and are very organized. You are correct, poor employees have a hard time getting employment. Plus Mexico allows employers to share more information that dates employed. The US courts have stopped US employers from doing that.