Texsox

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 11:54 AM) Yes. And Walmart relies on them remaining on government programs to keep their prices superficially low. As is every other employer who has employees on any government program. The only difference between Walmart and othere employers is Walmart actually helps employees learn about those programs. Other employers don't care enough to let their employees know about those programs, or don't bother to find out. If we want to help the working poor, the programs are good, if we don't get rid of the program but let;s not have the program and complain when people use it. Again, I use University Financial Aid offices as another Walmart type company that encourages people to apply for government assistance programs. Would you also fault them for relying on government programs instead of lowering tuition?

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 12:21 PM) Does that include Rick Perry's Texas of the Future? Rick Perry will be the GOP nominee for President.

We really need to seal off the US from everything. Nothing gets in or out. . .

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 09:01 AM) If you're a restaurant buying your supplies there you deserve to go out of business. More than a few use Sam's Club. If you price items at Sysco, Ben E. Keith, et al you will find Walmart and most larger grocers sell for less. Depending on scale, it isn't such a bad alternative. Not every restaurant has the need or menu prices to shop at the (only sometimes) local wholesale markets.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 05:57 PM) Hey, nice false dichotomy! But now with Walmart in town, the owners of those Mom & Pop stores are going to be unemployed, soon. Maybe they can get a nice job at Walmart! This, basically, is what I've been driving at: And a link to the study done by Loyola and UIC: http://www.luc.edu/curl/pdfs/Projects/WalM...port2009122.doc So it drives out other jobs and replaces them with lower-paying, lower-benefits dead end jobs. Why, exactly, is this a positive for everyone? Lower prices compared to Mom and Pop. Every national retailer, Target, Jewel, Costco, Sams, Best Buy undercut the locals. So a few jobs are lost but all their customers are paying lower prices, improving their quality of life. This is the ugly side of our economy. Walmart and others found a better way to distribute goods and kicked local asses.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 24, 2010 -> 08:44 AM) Even if they have a universal recipe, think about the supply chain. If you want to do things right, you need things like tomatoes, dough, cheese, sausage. You may have a local supplier in Chicago that you use all the time, but then what does your shop in Florida do? You can ship stuff from Chicago, but you're stuck canning or freezing stuff to do that, or you can find local suppliers for fresh stuff but they're never going to be the same. Especially if there isn't a Walmart in the neighborhood . . .

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 05:34 PM) Also those poverty levels are national rates. Now consider that we're talking about urban Chicago. And also consider that the poverty rate is that low because of government assistance, i.e. we all get to pay for Walmart's employees through taxes because Walmart doesn't actually pay them enough or give them benefits. Which is better, Mom & Pop Grocery Co. employing someone at $7.15 an hour and not telling them about programs that can help them with housing, education, health, etc. or an employer that tells them about these programs? Of course, they could just buy this book . . . Walmart isn't doing anything different than colleges with financial aid offices. They practically force kids to sign up for government aid just so they can increase their enrollment.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 05:28 PM) Also worth noting is that Walmart employees typically don't work 40 hour weeks because management doesn't want them getting close to overtime. 35 hours a week for a full year at $7.15 is $13013 before taxes. I do have a hard time accepting that every job in America should be one that can support a family. There are people who want to work part time. There are people who are looking for a second job, etc. As far as Walmart shuffling people into government programs for the working poor, I think it is a shame that more employers are not helpful to their employees and help them to find these programs. If the program is good, people should be encouraged to use it, if the program is wrong, we should get rid of it.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 05:10 PM) Well, it's not poverty unless you're assuming there's a family of 4 being provided for with that income. Poverty level 1 person about $5.25 2 @ $7.05 3@ $9.10 These are national poverty rates. Obviously someone living in areas with lower consumer prices will live better. Anyone want to work out a budget for someone earning $7.15 per hour?

This is going to be interesting. Basically the fun part is if Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana can show economic hardship and sucessfully sue to have the locks closed. I love a state versus state fight.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 04:04 PM) Like i said, between coupons, rebates, grocery stores, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Aldi, and occasionally a few other stores, I haven't had any need to stop at Walmart, I'm constantly beating their prices. If I want something higher quality, I'll go to the farmer's market or the organic store nearby. Then again, I have lots of options nearby. The whole reason why I'm inching towards your side is that in truly blighted areas, there aren't that many options. How do you know you are beating their prices?

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jun 23, 2010 -> 03:30 PM) I think that's probably a good comparison. Uno's and Giordano's both down here just don't get it right. Wrong sausage mostly, but wrong sauce and spices as well. Man do I miss Chicago pizza! Yep, the sausage is always wrong. There is a plakce by me that makes a decent pie, NY style, but still pretty good.

First off, I agree with most of Jenks post. Second, does Illinois tax food? Texas does not, and I thought Illinois stopped as well. I'm wondering if this was similar to the problem we had down here, the nearest Jaguar dealer was 200 miles away in San Antonio. Eventually, one moved here.

As is well know here, I really like McCain, and reading his quotes, he seems to back the Pres 100%. If it is good enough for John, it is good enough for me. And btw, I wonder how many Americans thought, "we're still fighting a war there"?

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 22, 2010 -> 05:45 PM) I get it, you're older than me and a billion times more mature. I get it, your younger than me and have to get drunk to celebrate, even at work. Never grow up dude Keep the PAAARRRRRTY going

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jun 22, 2010 -> 07:09 PM) Strawman. Again. Kap, a historical cycle of large increases every few years followed by smaller increases, as noted in the article, seems like more than a strawman. I've seen these increases consistently over the years.

I see the need, but the state can't pay for everything.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jun 16, 2010 -> 03:35 PM) Why doesn't OU have more power? Why does Texas control all. It isn't like they are some small school. They have an exceptional football program (oen of the best in college football history) and recently a pretty strong basketball program. Do you really have to ask that?

Great move regarding Tallon. After reading my comments, perhaps I sound too extreme. I'm not saying what he did was anything more than inappropriate behavior for the situation. I doubt too many people thought, hey let's go to the parade and watch the Hawk players get drunk. Maybe we can toss them a beer and they will open it with their teeth. But again, and I agree with others here who have pointed out the pattern. This was, at the minimum, just a youthful mistake by someone caught up in a huge moment. Many people outgrow this and learn responsibility. However, based on his short history, we also have someone who could be a Bob Probert in training.

I'm shocked that no one has endorsed taking the job of an illegal.

If I was an insurance company, I think I would be tempted to toss out some rate increases and blame the upcoming changes.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jun 22, 2010 -> 03:52 PM) That sounds like a winner. A nice twist on a boilermaker. I bet the same drink with Laird's Applejack instead of bourbon would work nicely as well. So many great drinks, so few liver cells left. fixed One recipe in Remixed that caught my eye was the Dharma Bum, a hot drink of Tazo organic chai concentrate, Silk soy creamer, and spiced rum. I'm wondering why, besides a possible endorsement, he would prefer soy creamer to regular creamer.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jun 22, 2010 -> 08:57 AM) You mean at a rally where people are tossing him beers and the team is forking over the cash for bottles of champagne? I've done a complete 180 on this topic... Kaner got drunk at a booze-filled celebration. Big deal. It's not like he pulled his pants down during his speech. I get that point, I really do. I understand the post game party, the day after party with friends. Well if people were tossing him beers, what choice did he have but to drink them all? That is kind of cool for the fans, "hey kids toss a beer to the player and watch him drink it! Hee hee, shake it up first." I guess most of the 21 year olds here drink every beer tossed to them and can't understand saying no. It's done and over.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 18, 2010 -> 09:07 AM) So I popped for Lies My Teacher Told Me on Ebay. I am interested to say the least. Pretty good read. Much of it starts coming off as a bit of self grandstanding, but he's a college professor and we've all heard that tone before.

Think about all the jobs illegals are doing and be ready to take one of those when they get deported. Meat packing plants, landscapping, restaurants, migrant farm worker, will all be looking for new employees. And in general, if you hold a degree past the minimum, it will be accepted.