bigruss

Walt in the past is a consistent "Oh s*** Im in trouble" worrier, but then he wins and he does a 180 to "Everything i touch turns to gold" until he gets in trouble again. I though last night's episode was very consistent from his character.

QUOTE (chimpy2121 @ Jul 16, 2012 -> 12:56 PM) Suntimes is reporting $18 mil guaranteed. Can't believe it took them this long just to end in the middle....

Im not a part of any credit unions so I ruled them out, as that seems a pain to have to sign up to be a member just to apply. I checked with Chase (my main banker) and they declined my application, probably thinking I don't have enough credit history, but I've gotten a 3% rate from BoA and Im awaiting PNC right now. Right now I'm falling for the Infiniti EX35, there's some pretty good deals out there for used 2008 models with lower mileage (40k and under) for around $22-25k. Unfortunately my desires in what I want make my options limited, Im looking for a bit of sport, class and all under $25k. Not much out there new for that price, and the models I had hopes for just aren't living up to expectations.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jul 15, 2012 -> 10:17 PM) CAN'T BELIEVE THEY KILLED JESSE!!!!!!!!! Is this a joke or was this in previews for next week? Cuz it was not in that episode.

HOLY f***ING s*** This season is going to rock our world, CANT f***ING WAIT.

Where do you guys for auto loans? I'd like to be able to go to a dealer with at least a different financing option in hand, but I don't have much of a credit history since I am fresh out of college but I figured this would be a good time to start that credit history anyways. I do know that my credit score is >750.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 10:39 AM) The Optima is a nice-looking car...lots of them out here in Vegas. Kia definitely hit a home run with that one. Yea they did, I actually prefer Kia's styling to Hyundai's for many of their competing vehicles.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 10:38 AM) Have you driven the Velo yet, Russ? It looks like a neat little car. I was driving in to work the other morning and saw a totaled one getting hauled away...thought to myself THAT didn't take long... Haven't had a chance, I'm waiting for the Turbo to appear at local dealers, right now I just see presales advertised for it. I'm also scared that if I test drive one Im going to buy it then, when I really should wait a few months.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 10:25 AM) Yep Ah, I remember someone here posting a pic of an Optima. I could get a really sweet deal on a 2012 Sonata right now (around $2500 in rebates) but I think I want something sportier.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 09:58 AM) Agree with both posts. Low interest rate, 10 year/100,000 mile warranty and only 72 miles on the odometer when I drove it home where the reasons I went with a brand new car. You bought an Optima right? That's a great looking car.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 09:28 AM) Whoa, on the train this morning I hit 3/4 of the way through Book 3 of Game of Thrones (A Storm of Swords)....holy crap. Yup, that book is top 5 for me, unfortunately Martin doesn't hit that stride again in the next 2 books, hopefully the 6th picks it up again.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 09:04 AM) Thanks for the thoughts, guys. This would be a pretty irresponsible, yet fun toy for me...not even going to try and justify it as anything other than that. I currently have an Audi Q5 which I use as my daily driver/dog hauler. Love, love, love it, but really miss driving a manual transmission and a bit of spirited driving. Have looked into the possibility of getting a vintage sports car, such as a late 60's or 70's camaro, a mid 60's Ford Mustang Fastback, but honestly, I don't know anything about fixing cars and so that would probably be unwise for me, as I wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do if something went wrong (and the chances of that are much greater with a car of that age). So I keep coming back to a new or slightly used vehicle. Don't love American cars, I'll be honest. While the exterior styling of the recent muscle remakes are pretty sweet, I dislike the interiors. Not the biggest fan of Japanese brands for mostly the same reason. Which brings me back to the German brands. Porsche, BMW, Audi (I refuse to buy a Mercedes sports car). Owned an Audi TT previously, and loved it. Open to getting a used second generation model, but they are all automatic tiptronic transmissions, which I am really not sure I am comfortable with. The only model they make that is a 6-speed manual is the RS model, which was new for 2012. And runs $60k. Ouch. I'm going to the dealership sometime today to test drive a 2008 white coupe, and then potentially the 2012 RS they have on the showroom floor. The difference in performance is massive, however, the price tag is as well. I love Audi's and that TT looks sick, how hard is it going to be for you to test drive that and not put down an offer right there? I'm currently trying to find a sportier or luxury car for around $25k, so far I've been drawn to: Hyundai Veloster (would prefer the Turbo, but 26k is pricey for what that car is imo) Audi A3 - used Ford Mustang - 2012 model since there is a $3k rebate right now Im still in the process of saving up for the down payment (just out of school so probably will be for a few months) plus the Veloster Turbo is brand new and dealers don't even have it in stock.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 07:15 AM) Don't buy new cars because they depreciate about 15% the minute you drive them off the lot. Have had 8 different GM and Chrysler vehicles in the past and have had major mechanical problems with every single one. Most recently have had two Toyota vehicles with no problems at all. We're hooked on Toyotas for life. Meh, there are so many incentives for non-luxury brands right now that you can tend to make up for the depreciation and then some, plus you won't have any miles on it. Also, Toyotas are solid, they just don't wow me at all in styling.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 09:04 PM) I miss my sports car and I want a new one....now I can afford one... Anyone get any nice sports coupes recently? Opinions? I'm dreaming of an Audi TT RS right now....gulp... Well in that price range, I'd recommend an Infiniti, I absolutely love their styling and their Coupe performance tends to be class leading. Infiniti G Coupe

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 03:46 PM) I'd prefer to go for Dempster, who for 2.5 months won't cost a ton in prospects, and the Sox could even get some money back against his remaining salary (which would be around $6M for the rest of the year). He would also probably be happy to stay in town. The biggest factor on Volquez is, does Cooper think he's fixable. Even though it was probably said with a hint of comedy, Dempster has said he would never play for the Sox.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 09:36 AM) Ahh, I got ya now...yes, ours is the same way...our HR department has an incredible amount of influence over what goes on in our company. Dunno if you guys remember, but a year and a half ago or so I was embroiled in this negotiation over the salary for a new position I was offered here. I asked for more money than they were offering, not a substantial sum by any means, maybe 6% over what they offered me. My manager was committed to giving it to me, but HR would not authorize it. The manager was forced to select the next candidate on the list because of the impasse with me. Almost every experience I have had with our HR department has been negative. This most recent promotion I negotiated took some 2 months to process through HR because it was a new position that was to be created and I was jumping up several levels in authority and salary. Which is exactly my point, they hinder business more than they help. And I just don't get it, how is it so consistently like this across the board? Is it a power thing where HR just does this to make sure they have power in the organization? 2 months for 1 new position, really how much work was it for them to process that? A few days at most? It's not like they are doing anything with it really, all the job requirements, etc were most likely already created by the manager of that position.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 09:26 AM) What are you gonna do, fire them? They are HR, they will fire you. Who do you file complaints against when it's HR you have issues about?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 09:15 AM) I lost you at the part where you said you work for an HR department in or near the top 10 and it is because they don't do anything... I actually work in the IT department, but our HR department is terrible yet they have been ranked very high. From what I have seen and heard here, the HR department does not only not help most people, but actually hinders them in their work. For example, 95% of the teams in the IT department have some sort of level system for job titles, so you see something like Business Systems Analyst II. The number system fluctuates a bit, but the principal is the same. On my team, we have 1 title, and it's a Senior Engineer title, so even though I am fresh out of school I have the same title as someone with 20 years of experience. My manager and his manager have requested HR to fix this, and proposed multiple fixes yet HR either won't do it, or forgets to do it. I just see problems from them everyday, and really wonder what they are thinking when they make the choices they do.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 09:09 AM) I'm confused... How so? My point is that it just seems like HR departments everywhere drop the ball in terms of recruiting and organizational support.

Serious question: Why does it seem that every HR department is just terrible? I mean, I work at a company where we consistently rank in/near the top 10 to work in HR at and I'm really believing that's because they actually don't do anything.

Thought this would be handy:

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 03:11 PM) I'm 100% certain it wouldn't hurt my concentration, and you're welcome to try to prove me wrong. Well depends on what you are trying to concentrate on.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 02:43 PM) You casually but professionally follow up on the possibility to keep you on her mind. Yup, after a day or two send a thank you email for the conversation and how you look forward to future conversations about working there.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 11:03 AM) Verlander is dating Kate Upton? This world sucks NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 11, 2012 -> 09:26 AM) Pringles version are better imo.