Disco72

In general, I think it is a good idea. It won't really be "full year" schooling since there will likely be significant breaks between terms, just not one long break in the summer. However, there are a lot of non-education related issues that would result from this change... how about businesses that rely on students on break for season employment? Or students that rely on summer money? (maybe less of an issue in high school, but still an issue) Many high schools are not air conditioned and are already miserably warm by the time school lets out - will we have to add A/C to every school in the US? I could see a solution where the school year end date goes further into June and starts earlier in August, still providing a 5-6 week break including all of July.

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Feb 28, 2009 -> 03:36 AM) I never, ever use the drive thru at the bank. I go inside for everything. They always f**k you at the drive thru!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 27, 2009 -> 05:18 PM) The Bears Offensive needs IMO from now are: 1. A veteran WR. Spend what it takes to fill that spot. The team just isn't going to develop a WR from this draft or last draft fast enough to make a dent on their WR hole. 2. Additional O-Line help, specifically a Right Tackle. A high draft pick would work, as would a FA signing. 3. Backup RB and Backup QB. Between the 18th pick, their 2nd round pick, and the $31 mil or so in cap space they have with no one to extend, there's no reason not to fill those holes. If the Bears don't do this (the bolded part), then I think it is fair to say they don't plan on being all that competitive this season. They honestly don't have a legitimate WR on the roster right now. Frankly, they probably need two WRs, and there are some interesting guys out there past the first tier (Housh plus the guys supposedly available via trade) since I doubt the Bears spend huge money on one WR.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 18, 2009 -> 12:05 PM) The thing I find interesting about this model is that it doesn't seem to learn/be adapted from year to year based on results. If a team is constantly missed, or hell, if players are constantly missed, then you'd think adapting the model might make sense. You could publish PECOTA's original model and a PECOTA v. 2.0 where the previous year's performance was compared to expectations and used to recalculate things, and that might be a very interesting exercise. What makes it even stranger is that a basic "updating" feature can be done somewhat simply (e.g., a smoothing forecast) and is probably the simpliest part of what is already a complicated model.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 01:47 PM) Completely this kid's fault. If you are a celeb and you KNOW you are doing something that is illegal, dont do it front of a camera. I agree, but cameras are everywhere now given their size and cellphone cameras. One more reason why being famous would suck.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 10:40 AM) It's like watching a car wreck for me. I can't look away. I feel for you. I just couldn't take it anymore.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 08:22 AM) Nip/Tuck = most over the top show ever I think it reached that status several seasons ago when it went from "interesting" to "unwatchable."

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 11, 2009 -> 09:20 AM) So, you are saying that it doesn't matter if you've seen him play or not, it just matters what he looks like at the supermarket? Fabulous. As long as he's buying healthy food at the supermarket...

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 10, 2009 -> 11:23 PM) Well, then at least you have to give them credit for that...at least. I mean, everyone can predict year after year after year the Royals are going to be an 80-85 win team, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe this will be the year and they will actually get it right...I guess I look at it like trading programs meant to beat indexed mutual funds. 85% of the time, the computer programs are wrong, but when they're correct, they're spectacularly correct and everyone tends to defer TOO much to these predictive validity models. The problem is that these models overrate the Javier Vazquezes and Nick Swishers to the point where there is a disconnect from the reality of constructing a REAL baseball team. It seems that one problem with these programs is that they do not correct for past errors. If a player has a certain set of peripherals yet consistenty performs well (e.g., Buehrle) and another is consistenly medicore (e.g., Vazquez), past history should allow the model to update itself over time when previous preditions are consistently proven incorrect. It isn't that hard to program that into the model.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 10, 2009 -> 03:19 PM) I dont think she's dead, we see her in the future so she cant be dead, it uses the same logic she used with Hiro. Good point...but if she is dead, it is typical Heroes in not killing off any "original" characters, no matter how annoying and insufferable they may be (and I like the show).

QUOTE (CWSOX45 @ Feb 10, 2009 -> 03:06 PM) I don't think I can post the material since it is premium material, but what I will do is talk about the VORP of the players on the depth chart. .... It just goes to show you that you have to take everything you read with a grain of salt. Quite frankly I think the 2009 White Sox will be a 83-84 win team. Thanks CWSOX45. When looking at that, it is pretty much a "worst case" scenario if that's how they have the Sox starting lineup and rotation constructed for 2009. In some cases, it legitimately appears that he picked the players with the worst VORP to put into the simulation.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Feb 9, 2009 -> 08:42 PM) Great PR spin by A-Rod and his people, admit to only using in the years that were going to be on the backburner of your career anyways. No way I believe he only used them between 01 and 03. He uses the pressure as an excuse, like what, the pressure went away somehow when he went to th Yankees? He had two of his best years of OPS+ and RC/G with the Yankees. I also love how he said something along the lines that he was young and naive, sorry when you're 25 or 26 and have been in the majors for parts of 2 years and 5 full years and you are commanding quarter billion dollar contracts that excuse doesn't fly with with me Those years also correspond to the last big gasp of steroids before testing (and probably the massive switch to designer PEDs), so it is logical that he quit before the testing started. It all depends on if you believe him; I'm not sure if I do.

QUOTE (juddling @ Feb 7, 2009 -> 07:00 PM) This past week's Battlestar Galactica was awesome. I was surprised they ended the mutiny as fast as they did but if they can keep the pace up to the end...great. Burn Notice continues to be my new favorite show. The great thing about Burn Notice is that they know what the show is and don't take it too seriously. It's consistently entertaining.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 10:12 PM) Link I don't think Swimming ever suspended Gary Hall, Jr. No way Phelps should have been suspended.

It shows how hard up we, as Sox fans, are for baseball that we have a thread of this length on this topic.... ....and I've read every word!

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 04:16 PM) Unless of course Abreu steals bases like he did last year then he's more of a detriment than an asset. Buzzkill!

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 11:34 AM) KW is rated about where he should be, and his arrow will point up or down from there, depending on the performance of Viciedo, Poreda, Beckham, Flowers, Marquez, etc. over the next two years. Cashman, however, is WAY too high. He's third or fourth tier at best. How many GM's WOULDN'T have won a WS with his resources over the last eight seasons. Pavano, K. Brown, Unit, Igawa, Hughes and Kennedy not the studs they were supposed to be, and on and on - you can't blame all of their blunders on the Boss, just cause he's old and senile. Cashman consistently brought teams to the postseason that had less quality pitching overall than their competition - inexcusable given his resources. I couldn't agree with you more on Cashman. Every year, I discount the Yankees because their starting pitching is average, at best which is amazing how much money they've spent on it over the years. The Cashman philosophy is apparently to throw huge money at average players with injury risks and/or career years. How many of us knew that Pavano would be a bust? How many people see that Burnett is now vastly overpaid for his production? This year (2009) might finally be different for the Yankees, but we'll see.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Feb 1, 2009 -> 04:41 PM) I was thinking his lung capacity has to be off-the-charts. Its gotta be off the charts.

After one Pods injury after another, people have a problem with Owens doing some speciality work to help keep himself healthy for a full season? For someone whose value is inherent in healthy legs, this makes a ton of sense. Like him or hate him as a baseball player, to rip him for doing this is just plain silly.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:43 PM) True, with Jenks, Linebrink, Thorton and Dotel the Sox can run out some good arms. They'll need it with a young guy at 5 and the crapshoot that will be Colon's health. What they really need is a long man who can eat some innings to protect both the pen arms and the young guys since we saw last year what happens when one cog in that pen goes down. Richard might be the best guy for that long man job based on his performance in 2008.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 12:44 PM) Getz and Lillibridge and Owens could all put up .150 OBP's in ST and I still wouldn't want Wise leading off/playing every day/playing every other day as a platoon guy. I completely agree, but I also believe that Getz and/or Lillibridge (plus Anderson and Owens) will perform to the level that we won't have to worry about the apocolypse that is Wise as an everyday starter.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 12:28 PM) Guillen's biggest flaw is trying to take platoon type players and fast guys who can't hit and make them into full time starters. There is no reason that Wise should be anything but a 4th OF. Of course we flash back to last year, and Quentin was the 4th OF, and Owens was our leadoff hitter in ST. Hopefully it sorts itself out. But Wise over the course of the year leading off = epic fail. I fully expect there to be a legit competition in ST for 2B and CF (and 3B if Viciedo hits). If Lillibridge and Getz show they can be good OBP guys in ST, I doubt Wise is leading off for the Sox.

It sounds like he'll be ready and pain free on Opening Day. The bullpen is one area where the Sox could/should have a big advantage in the division, but that advantage won't be there without an effective, healthy Linebrink.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 04:40 AM) Going around the horn and cupboard here is what i think realistic comps for whats in the minors and at the ML level; ceiling wise. I would love to hear what other posters across the board think are legit major league comps for some of these players. Also i highly doubt all of these players pan out but those are the players i associate each with when i think of their ceilings QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 10:51 AM) Lol so I guess all of our prospects almost are going to make it to the bigs and be successful. I actually think Mark Grudzelanick is a pretty solid comparison to Getz but with much better defense, and honestly I have no problem with that type of production. If Getz can just walk a little bit more, he is just the type of player we need. Beautox was talking about his view of the ceiling for each player, not projecting each of them to become regular or All-Star players in the majors.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jan 29, 2009 -> 08:15 PM) they are also looking to reboot The Crow, Predator, and also a prequel to The thing. That one is gonna be hard. I don't think there is a middle ground...either they nail it or it'll be awful.