Texsox

In another thread around here, Kap, and I think we all can agree Kap is an intelligent, well read man, mentioned that there had to be reasons regarding the Iraq war we'll never know about. I agree and some of those may make us feel better, others may make us want to barf. Bottom line, I could believe he sat there thinking this has to be true, he's the President of the US. We do trust our leaders most of the time, and on the big stuff. I'd cut him some slack for slowly coming to that realization.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 28, 2008 -> 04:51 PM) The SUV market may be decreasing, but the Tahoe Hybrid has an ~30% increase in fuel capacity. The actual mileage may be less than the typical "car", but the fact is even with the decreasing SUV sales, many Americans drive SUV's (just check out a California freeway on a daily basis, where the ratio is pretty even between Car & SUV, in fact, in many areas I drive, I'd say there are more SUV's than cars). Now lets say I'm in the market for an SUV, this means I'm not in the market for a freaking Prius (I should preface this by saying there isn't anyway in hell I'd ever buy a Prius, things are a rip as far as I'm concerned; your paying 30K for a car that has the features/quality of a compact car), I basically have the option of buying a Tahoe Hybrid or one of the other many gas guzzling cars (the bright side is more SUV's are doing the variable engine (ie, 4/8 cylinder where the engine runs on 4 during highway driving (unless you are stepping on it)). If Honda/Ford whomever all had the typical SUV's with hybrid engines and 30% better fuel capacity, than I would be buying a car and in turn effecting the gas supply. The reality is the majority of SUV owners aren't going to just turn over there SUV for a freaking Prius or Civic Hybrid. We drive SUV's for a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with the fact that we probably haul stuff/have kids/drive in winter conditions/prefer to have the extra room, and the Prius/Civics of the world aren't going to fix that. In terms of the NextGen Prius, they are scheduled to come out in the near future and the technology is already set aside and they are in heavy testing stage. In fact, the Next Gen Prius will be out during 2009 (Model Year 2010). The MPG ratings which estimate the "100" MPG Next Gen Prius estimate the current generation Prius at "85" MPG (you can expect to get 45-48 MPG out of the current Prius, not 85MPG). These estimates are based on Japanese standards and from everything I've read online are completely out-dated and ridiculous. The new Prius is actually going to offer two batteries and the key is the new hybrid engine will run on hybrid ("battery") power for an extended time (ie, the car will run up to 25-30 MPH before the "Gas Engine" kicks on). The version that is expected to get the best mileage will be based on a lithium ion platform (anticipated 10 MPG improvement from the previous Scion, which pushes it into the 55-58 MPG range) while the version using the current batter (although a tweaked version of such battery platform) will see a 5MPG improvement (estimated). The release is scheduled for Detroit Auto Show in January 09 and will hit show-rooms early in 2010. Toyota is working on coming out in future years with an option which involves a bigger, plugin type battery, which would push the MPG into the 100MPG range (this is something which would work for short-range use and Toyota has already nixed reports that it will be available in the next few years as the cost is currently far too high). When we do a Texas roll call, just shout out a howdy! You would so fit in down here. Giving the consumer what they need, instead of what they want, may be a nice social thing to do, it rarely works long term. Like The Big Mac and 48 oz Cokes, the SUV will not die even though it is bad for you.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 28, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) Why on earth GM made the poor business decision to go to the Tahoe for their first hybrid, when people are running away from those vehicles at this point, is something I don't even understand. As usual, the American car companies don't seem to get it. 18 months ago, SUVs ruled the world. That was what was selling and what Americans seemed to want. Whenever we can go big, we go big.

OMG, It is just too perfect without a caption.

Washer memory. A guy named Bob from Iowa. Came down to my camp last summer. World Class washer champ. Never came close to losing a match. I don't think he was ever behind in a match. He was also an amazing ping pong player. Especially that rotating version.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ May 28, 2008 -> 03:12 PM) He'd probably be on mine as well. He was a terrible character guy and to be honest, I'm not even a big fan, but he was dominant at his role and he was tough as hell. He was tough as hell. It's too bad hockey has a role for a guy who was basically a brawler on skates. He was arguably the toughest, meanest, sob to ever don a Chicago jersey in any sport. But how many DUIs did he rack up? IIRC he once blew a .31 while on his motorcycle and when asked how he could stand, he replied, it must have been all the coke. How we took him in is beyond me.

Decent thought on Probert. And well argued. I disagree but admit I would have added him to my Top 10 list of embarassing Chicago athletes.

Really this comes down to two views of why businesses mark holidays. Some, like Alpha, believe it is a kind of selfless tribute to the holiday. Cynics like me think it is to attract more business, like a Memorial Day Sale.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 28, 2008 -> 01:26 PM) Except for me. I always felt threatened by his asskickingness. shhh, I'm trying to buy him off, I learned that from US foreign policy in the past 60 years.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:25 AM) Just a quick update. As the date for the ride gets closer, the training is starting to get more serious. Although I haven't had a ton of time to do longer rides, the shorter ones are coming along faster and furious. As long as the weather cooperates, I'm out there every morning riding now. I am really looking forward to making this ride happen... but I definitely need your support. This week I started my big push for more help. I am looking to find 100 $30 donations between now and August 1. If you can be one of those supporters, I'd really appreciate it. Click on the link on my signature, for a website where you can donate securely. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Rex Kickass I will make another donation after my camp gets underway. It will be in by August 1. You should be able to count on your friends, and we're all friends here.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ May 28, 2008 -> 12:02 PM) I have a policy, if I go to a restaurant and the person behind the counter doesn't speak English, i never go back. When I used to got to school downtown I would occasionally stop at Dunkin' for breakfast. one day i walked in the woman behind the counter had NO idea how to understand english. i never went back. You would have a very limited choice here. But I have a similar plan. If I go to a restaurant and have a good meal and enjoy the place, I go back. If I have a bad time, I don't go back.

Wow. I suspect caving in meant we can get more publicity for free then we can get for actually running these ads.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 28, 2008 -> 11:44 AM) Both of your posts are exactly right historically. 1st generations never really bothered to learn English, or leave their own neighborhoods. Its usually the 2nd and 3rd that assimilate. But its also very true that the government made no accomidations for other people. If you wanted governmental service, usually the kids were brought down to the local office to translate. Absolutely, and while the kids were translating, our parents were standing in line getting impatient.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 28, 2008 -> 11:40 AM) And historically, the government didn't try to learn their languages. That fact was among the reasons why the youth then adapted - because they had to. If not, the business of the country would have become much more difficult and costly. It costs more to translate a document 10,000 times while people wait in line then to translate it once in an office.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:55 AM) I believe setting up English classes would cost less than hiring a few new offices and government employees that can speak Spanish. Hire some high school or college Spanish teachers to set up classes a few days a week. If they have to spend money on something,this would bring back the biggest return. How many people in each class? 30? That would be 100 classes. How often should they meet? How about three times per week. 300 class hours would be about 8 or 9 teachers. Where should the lessons be held? Maybe we need a building? Either get High Schhol grads to move here and take these jobs, or have the company that makes the profits hire some bilingual emplyees for the local government.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:37 AM) Enforced loneliness? If you move to a community, or a country, where the dominant language isn't one you know... you can learn it if you make the effort. Or, you can choose loneliness. But here in this case, we have a community who speaks majority Spanish, in a county/state/country that is majority English. So it goes beyond just that. A choice has to be made about how to bridge the gap, or whether to bridge it at all. Any path you take will have costs and issues - but IMO, the path of English will cause the fewest problems in the long run, for government purposes. OK, there are 3,000 people in this community who need to learn English, how does that happen? Where do they go? Who pays for it?

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:27 AM) Businesses wouldn't print their order forms in 30 different languages if the cost to do so would outweigh the benefits of doing so. If the government doesn't do that, they get sued by the ACLU. Hell, we may have to redesign and print all our money because a minority doesn't like that they can't use it (blind people). So the cost to accomodate blind people will be in the billions, for both government and private businesses who have to adapt to whatever new money designs come out. Not a very efficient use of resources to offer 'service for our blind customers.' Should we start printing our money with Spanish words as well? If the people are going to work here, live here, use social services here, at least try to fit in, just a little bit. Nobody is asking them to become white, just learn a little language to get by. I'm done. I see where this is going.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:13 AM) I don't think you can look at this issue in a community-level vacuum. The reality nowadays is that people are more transient, and get around a lot more. I'd bet that in that county, and that state, English is far and away the primary language. If communities start cobbling together different primary languages as an expectation of base communication, that will start to add enormous costs and problems to businesses all over the country. As far as businesses, as noted in the article, many spring up that speak Spanish and make money. We expect private business to offer customer service for their customers, but we demand that government does not offer that same service. We point to how inefficient government is, but when they start acting like a private company, we complain. Read again the living conditions they are enduring to pick our crops. You think $4.00 per gallon gas sucks, we can drive less. Food costs are something we cannot escape.

They pay sales tax on their purchases and income tax. But no matter what language you speak, the poor receive more in benefits then they pay out. We give economic incentives to businesses here who relocate from other areas. Typically, those property owners do not pay property taxes either.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:00 AM) The solution is them making an effort to fit into the society they have chosen to live in and learn enough of the language to get by. You don't have to be university educated to pick up enough to survive. You had difficulty learning Spanish. If you decided to actually live there, surrounded by it all day, you would learn it, or at least enough to get by. You would be surprised at how much learning that takes. In a HS class, it would be a couple years. Far better for some High School graduates to move into those Cargo containers and start working the fields.

I like the thirty minute sitcom with Family Guy, South Park, Simpons, etc, included as eligible. And perhaps Top 25? This may not populate as well as the others. I am already thinking of ten and it could actually be very interesting.

What education level are we dealing with here? Read how they are living for an opportunity to live in America and work our farm fields. Do you think these are University educated humans? Try and learn Spanish and see how far you get, I tried. I worked in Mexico. Just saying learn English discounts the realities of actually making that happen. The solution is getting our kids to take those jobs. To live in remanufactured cargo containers and pick crops.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 27, 2008 -> 09:47 PM) Can police be next? http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/loca...ilingual26.html Again, why aren't these people learning English? Since they are called 'permananet' residents there, they are not migratory. They live here, do not pay taxes, use government services, and then need special treatment also? Not right. They have jobs, they shop in stores. What we need are more Americans to go up their and take those jobs. To live in those houses. To work those fields.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ May 20, 2008 -> 06:42 AM) I just noticed Frank is getting real close to some more major milestones 2 RBI from 1700 8 2B from 500 60 hits from 2500 I think he's close to some walk and run numbers too Frank is always close to some numbers and the names that he passes are the best of the best that baseball has produced.

I love the guys that argued that when the team did it, kids would not see it. Now that it was done where kdis could see it, that's ok too. Nothing like sex toys at the ball park. Use guys are going to make great dads some day. But Honey, my dad gave me my first blow up doll on my 13th birthday. perverts are funny