Texsox

The best path to a solution I've heard in a long time.

QUOTE (The Critic @ May 5, 2008 -> 08:49 AM) http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-r...p&type=lgns The article doesn't say why Bale punched the hotel room door. Maybe room service was late? The ice machine was broken? The pool was closed? Dumbass. QUOTE (shipps @ May 5, 2008 -> 08:59 AM) Drunken injuries are always so confusing the next day. OMG, how many people saw themselves in that post? me neither

I think businesses all over Chicago should mimic it. Bring a sex doll to work day.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 3, 2008 -> 07:50 AM) This reminds me... having had many similar experiences, I always thought that if I had the capital to invest, I had a great idea for a theater experience. You build a more or less normal theatre, but the entrance has a very small bar. You can only enter if you are 21, period. You only have a very narrow selection of beers, and few seats, and you don't allow the booze into the theatre. You then also have an usher who actually stays IN the theatre for each movie, and actually tells people to be quiet if necessary (and asks them to leave, also, if necessary). You also make the warnings much more pronounced that if you start talking or annoying people or using your damn phone, you will be asked to leave (and then actually follow through). The overage you make on the booze sales could help with the extra usher costs, or you even add a dollar or two to the movie price. What do you get? A theater with adults in it, no kids, and a respectful audience. All for a dollar or two more per person. I would gladly pay that difference for the experience. You could also do this as only part of the theatre - these X number of screens are on the other side of the bar, the rest can be normal screens for families, teenagers, etc. Actually we already have that in Texas, but they bring the beer to your movie seat, and burgers. And the ushers/waitresses are there to shut up noisy patrons. One is opening about 5 minutes from my house.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ May 5, 2008 -> 07:32 PM) You should bury it

A friend of mine who has become a Dave Ramsey devote, strongly is advocating paying off the loan, regardless of interest. His theory is in four years it will be too tempting to use the capital for other expenses or purchases and not pay off the loan. Plus if Murphy pays a visit (must be a Dave Ramsey catch phrase) you really not going to save that money towards the loan. His approach is a couple three thousand in a 401K and/or IRA after paying off the loan.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ May 5, 2008 -> 04:51 PM) A CD? That's the default. I am seeing some rates around 4%. I am also thinking he needs to toss some in the market. His team won the stock market game in middle school, we'll see what the "pucker factor" does when he's investing his own money His student loan is subsidized, so he will not be charged any interest until he quits school, so that is not a factor. I'm thinking he puts $3,000 in a CD to cover the loan and takes the $500 difference and buys some stocks, probably adding from the balance of the money and maybe dear old dad will make a gift so he has a decent starting point.

QUOTE (Chet Lemon @ May 5, 2008 -> 01:30 PM) Hawk was a great General Manager, therefore any subsequent managerial advice given by him must be correct. I give Hawk a lot of credit for realizing that the GM thing was not his bag and getting out.

QUOTE (letsgoarow @ May 5, 2008 -> 11:04 AM) This is true Dr.Cox reruns are cool.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ May 5, 2008 -> 04:21 PM) This was my youngest daughter's favorite joke when she was like 4 or 5. The problem was that she could never remember how it went. her: Knock knock? Me: Who's there? her: Banana. Me: Banana who? her: Arent you glad I didn't say orange! (falls over laughing) My daughter had one that she liked because it always made someone look stupid, but you have to start

A maid asked for a pay increase. The wife was very upset about this and asked: "Now Maria, why do you want a pay increase?" Maria: "Well Señora, there are three reasons why I want an increase. The first is that I iron better than you." Wife: "Who said you iron better than me?" Maria: "Your husband said so." Wife: "Oh." Maria: "The second reason is that I am a better cook than you." Wife: "Nonsense, who said you were a better cook than me?" Maria: "Your husband did." Wife: "Oh." Maria: "My third reason is that I am a better lover than you." Wife (really furious now): "Did my husband say that as well?" Maria: "No Señora, the gardener did." SHE GOT THE RAISE

QUOTE (Jim Spencer @ May 4, 2008 -> 09:41 PM) Mullet here also I had a flat top with the sides down to my shoulders. Look pretty cool in 1988 A guy with a mullet told you that

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 5, 2008 -> 03:59 PM) Is it worth noting that the government spent about $20 million on a prototype test of the "Virtual Fence" and it flat out didn't work? Any sort of physical barrier, fails when we allow students, tourism, etc. We need a sane workable immigrant worker program tied to jobs, that allows American businesses to hire the workers we need.

So #1 son has $3,500 in a subsidized college loan that will not come due for at least three years, possibly five or six. He also has $6,000 in very liquid assets and I don't mean beer. Minimum I'm suggesting to him he needs a low risk vehicle to park $3,500 until graduation. Ideas? College is basically paid for. He will have some living expenses that his benefactor (me) might not pay for, so he needs to budget for that. He is looking for part time work, but we'll see how that develops.

How much? Quality top soil, or deeper stuff? Clay? Any construction waste tossed in? Why not just build a hill?

The laws the US government are trampling on, not just environmental, is a disgrace to every American who values their rights. Combine that with large campaign contributors receiving special exemptions, makes this a travesty of the tallest order. On the plus side, they are wasting money in my local economy, and fixing an aging levee system that only comes into play during hurricanes.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 5, 2008 -> 01:51 PM) Look up the difference in earning power for a student who finishes HS and one who finishes a 4 year degree. That is a direct result of a college education. Start multiplying those differences times what that person would pay in taxes over a lifetime on that additional income, and times that times the amount of students who would be hurt by a tax on education. I don't think it would even come close. Again, I said if it was shown there was a delta. And I think it should go both ways, there may be some Universities that deserve more of a tax break, or some public services to help them out. We agree there are benefits, I can't believe anyone would debate that point. We both know that future benefits do not pay current bills. If a town is going broke hiring extra cops, widening streets, bigger jails, whatever, ~~and~~ the University is phat in cash, then there needs to be some dialog. Certainly having the local tax base pay for the University doesn't seem totally fair. If they are not spending all the interest, a tax on the retained earnings would encourage them to spend it on education, perhaps more scholarships, etc. I don't think the principle should even be discussed. But the earnings maybe. BTW, I rejected the argument that because the student would be benefiting so much that slightly higher costs to the student would be worth it. Personally, especially attending a historically Hispanic University in a low income area, I know how much the slightest increase hurts. Currently at the University of Texas - Pan American a qualifying student living at home would have zero out of pocket expenses. Raise that even a little, and we'd have kids forced to drop out.

So the argument comes down to: I know the company has a posted policy against insuring these items, I shipped them anyways, and I want the companies policy reversed because it is unfair to me? Am I missing something? UPS and Federal Express seem to have the same policy for their standard shipments. It seems that no carrier actually insures these deliveries. Perhaps teams are able to buy special insurance. I know a number of eBay sellers use private insurance instead of the insurance that the post office provides. It arrives via the USPS, but it is insured through a thrid party. That is the same thing we did at one company I worked for. UPS only insured to $100, above that we bought private insurance for delivery, damage, theft, etc.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 5, 2008 -> 01:34 PM) But this isn't public funding we are talking about. These are PRIVATE donations to a university. Correct, so perhaps that is not the area to look to if it is decided that Universities need to increase their contribution to the tax base. But what portion of their income would not be considered private?

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ May 5, 2008 -> 01:37 PM) I see, you like to keep your candles up the other end, eh? I'm not judging, mind you. I know when I get to be as old as you, I'll probably take whatever I can get too. The gerbil is scared of the dark . . .

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 5, 2008 -> 02:18 PM) As opposed to quickly shot down and slow, or gradually shot down and fast? I saw that after I posted but was too lazy to go back and edit. I figured who reads my posts anyways, half the board has me on ignore.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ May 5, 2008 -> 02:15 PM) No, but right after thinking, I'd like to chew on a candle, I'm sure it would be just the thing. B) Having never chewed on a candle, I did not notice an analogy. Sometime you will have to tell us your candle chewing story

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 5, 2008 -> 01:05 PM) Why does something have to be done about it? Who is it hurting? In theory, it is the same debate that circles when public funding for sports stadiums, entertainment venues, etc. comes up. What are they costing the local communities versus what are they paying. Since we really have no objective evidence it is all a theoretical converstion at this point. I think if a local town or county could show that the University is costing this and is contributing this, and, there is a significant delta between the two, some dialogue should take place. Just like a business may negotiate for tax breaks, and some businesses accept additional taxes, dialogue isn't bad.

So a company has problems with a certain category of items. They decide to not cover those items in case they are lost/stolen/damaged. They add that to their terms of service. Someone ships those items and has a problem. They then follow their rules. Sorry, I find it hard to fault them. They should not have to be liable for any item someone decides to ship, especially if they took steps to protect themselves and notified their customers. You still may have a couple of avenues. I forget the original post. Did you ship this or was someone shipping it to you? I'd ask where you would have seen that information prior to shipping. It would seem unfair if it isn't posted somewhere easy to see. Here are prohibited items. If someone else shipped it to you, why are they not liable? Do they have any proof they really shipped it to you?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 5, 2008 -> 12:41 PM) So then, what is the alternative? Is it simply to allow these endowments to continue growing and locking up funds (in no small part thanks to their tax-advantaged status as it is) that they never spend? Well the purpose of an endowment is to spend the interest not the principle. Trust me, my employer was hurting for funds and more than a few people wanted to "borrow" from the endowment instead of the bank. That was quickly shot down and fast. Perhaps a tax on any retained interest income would be the sane thing to do. Encourage them to spend all of the interest each year, and offer some incentive to support local projects in the community that the local tax base otehrwise would have had to pay. I know my campus also patrols the neighborhoods around the campus. Parking violations are the #1 priority to keep the neighbors happy, but they do have the authority to arrest, write traffic tickets, etc.