jasonxctf

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 05:45 PM) I agree. But the thing is, the bailout was actually designed to have banks merge. There was pressure on certain banks to take over some of the failures, and they were paid to do so. See Bank of America taking Merrill Lynch. So the bailout, in it's nature, made this problem worse. you're spot on. It's a double edged sword... we need the big banks now to help ease the pain of the smaller/mid sized ones going under. At the same time, its pretty dangerous long term to have something like 60-65% of this country's deposits tied up in 4-5 institutions.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 05:45 AM) so you think Chase was going under? really? they didn't even use the bailout loot to give out loans, they used it to buy more banks. so the bailout actually made that problem, of super mega banks, worse. No, I think you are combining my two thoughts into one. Yes, I think without the bailout/investment, many additional banks would have gone under. And since the banks lend to each other, this would have effected others. (In fact, there is a great article on Lehman/Barclays in Esquire Magazine this month) No, I don't think that JP Morgan Chase would have gone under. My second thought is that we need to eliminate "too big to fail" in the long-term, and break up these gigantic financial institutions who have gotten even bigger (3-5x bigger) over the past 10-15 years.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 11:32 PM) bulls***. without the bailout, those banks DO NOT go under. if it was a GOP president, you would not have agreed with ANYTHING you just posted. i'm calling you on this. I know for absoute certainty that some of the banks, would have gone under. Others, would have had a "run" like what happened to Washington Mutual and been forced either under or to be bought out for pennies on the dollar. Others, would have been frozen in time, thus managing deposits and collecting loan payments for years without lending out another dollar. Now the biggest problem going forward is that these financial institutions are too big. "too big to fail". At some point, and I hope its during the next 4-5 years, we force these banks to break up into multiple smaller ones. (like AT&T back in the day) I always go back to the same story... First Chicago Bank was a big bank. 10th largest in the US back in the early 90's. They merge with Bank of Detroit (18th largest) to create the 7th largest bank in the US. Then First Chicago NBD merges with Banc One. Then the new Banc One acquires Louisiana First Commerce Corp (size unknown). Banc One becomes Bank One. Bank One is acquired by JP Morgan Chase in 2004. (which is a combination of Chase Manhattan buying JP Morgan.. Chase by the way, also merged with Chemical Bank in 1996.) Then, in 2008 JP Morgan Chase acquires Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual (6th largest in 2008) Big enough for you? You can do the same with BOA and Wells.

so with that logic, if I've been saving for years to buy a new car and then spend $30,000 in 2009, did I run a deficit? what if I bought the car years ago, and am paying interest at $700/mo for 5 years instead?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 07:31 PM) You should know the obvious error here. Hot Air??? Seriously? From Money Magazine, published on Friday and posted on the front page of Yahoo/CNN What You Need to Know About Social Security by Walter Updegrave Thursday, September 17, 2009provided by This benefit should be the cornerstone of your retirement planning. The answers to these five questions will help you to get the most out of it. (Money Magazine) -- You've probably spent a lot of time sweating over your 401(k) and IRA. But have you given much thought to the way Social Security will fit into your retirement plans? You should. In fact, Social Security provides 50% of the income for more than half of married retired couples and about 20% for high earners. Moreover, it's the only source of income you're likely to have that's guaranteed to last for life and keep pace with inflation. But given the complexity of the Social Security calculations, it's tough to figure out how to make the most of it. The amount of your monthly check will depend on when you retire, how much you and your spouse earned, and whether you work in retirement. "That makes it hard to plan," says former Social Security Administration deputy commissioner Andrew Biggs. The following guide will answer those questions and give you strategies that can help you maximize your benefits. QUESTION 1: Can I count on Social Security to be there? You can. Despite what you may hear about the system going broke, the funds from workers' payroll taxes will cover all retirees' payments until 2016 even if no changes are made to the current program. After that the Social Security Administration can cover full benefits until 2037 by cashing in its Treasury bonds from the Social Security trust fund. And when the bonds run out, income from payroll taxes would be enough to cover about 75% of payments for decades. That said, the government is looking at ways to shore up the system. President Obama has talked about imposing Social Security payroll taxes on income over $200,000 (currently, earnings over $106,800 are exempt). Other possible fixes: upping payroll taxes, raising the retirement age, and scaling back payments in some way. The good news for anyone in or near retirement: "People 55 and over are likely to see no change or just a marginal change in benefits," says actuary Bruce Schobel, who worked on the commission headed by Alan Greenspan nearly 30 years ago that fixed the system (at least until now). But even younger workers can rest assured that drastic cuts are unlikely.

i used to run the photo lab at a Walgreens 10 years ago. at least then, you as a clerk, are "responsible" for reporting anytime of nude, illicit or illegal pictures. Quite frankly, I never dealt with bath time pictures, but I certainly would have let those slide. I did get Spring Break pics and other nudie pics (bachelor parties, etc) I didn't care and just let them fly through. After a close inspection by me. The only time I ever turned something in, was when some kids spray painted nazi symbols on someone's house. Those promptly got a 2nd set made and turned into the Cops who later arrested the kids. I'd turn in the drug pictures (bongs, coke, etc) to the store manager and let them deal with them. (which was nothing)

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 22, 2009 -> 10:20 PM) Yeah, he was pressured by some to take over Iraq to oust Saddam. And he said, something to the effect of, the US does not want to own Iraq. Daddy knows best. i don't listen to my Father either.

thought this would be an interesting topic.

Lets go with the following Ozzie... why the hell not? 1. Pods- LF 2. Beckham- 3B 3. Quentin-DH 4. Ramirez- SS 5. Kotsay-RF 6. Getz-2B 7. Flowers-C 8. Fields-1B 9. Lillibridge-CF

just got off a conference call/town meeting with my Congressman and Kathleen Sebelius. Pretty interesting stuff, well done. Not sure how many of these that Sebelius is doing, but spending 1-2 hours with each Congressman's District's seems like some serious dedication to her work. Add that to the meet/greets and other public events and talk shows... you certainly can't say that she isnt working her as* off.

Post All Star Break Numbers Dye .171 Konerko .255 Quentin .234 Nix .236 Rios .155 with Sox Wise .225 Thome .233

Go get #13 Mark. Too bad you deserve at least 15 already.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Sep 17, 2009 -> 06:44 PM) In the small sample size I know, I would say this might be reality - there's a lot of docs that I have heard say they'd cut way back or just get out altogether. But that's a small sample. Nate Silver hit the nail on the head. After your polls show that John McCain was going to beat Obama on the Youth Vote by 72-27% margin... you're pretty much typecasted as an unreliable pollster for life.

that's what they get for not renting out pornos.

I'm proud because normally I would stick my tail between my legs, get angry and not say/do a thing. Its like getting in a fight with a guy at a bar for hitting on your girl... its childish, stupid, etc but boy do you feel good (presuming you don't get your butt kicked) afterwards.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 14, 2009 -> 04:27 PM) Still lame. why?

my motives are half political and half economic. my bird flipping was economic.

on Saturday, I saw a bunch of those Tea Party people lining up on Randall Road in Geneva. (for those who don't know, Randall's a pretty busy 4-6 lane street) I slowed down, honked my horn and when the waived/looked at me, I flipped them a strong bird.

that's a shame.. was hoping that Torres could keep the "mojo" flowing.

being the good journalist that he is, i'm sure drudge posted the rising approval numbers on his website.. right.

i hope Chicago wins. would be an unbelievable experience to go see an olympic event. I dont care if I end up watching "Underwater Basketweaving".

QUOTE (smalls2598 @ Sep 2, 2009 -> 04:13 PM) Podsednik dh Beckham 3b Konerko 1b Dye rf Quentin lf Ramirez ss Rios cf Nix 2b Castro c come on Oz, you're 7 back and in third place. Why not throw out a lineup like.. 1. Pods-LF 2. Beckham- SS 3. Quentin- RF 4. Konerko- 1B 5. Dye- DH 6. Ramirez- 2B 7. Rios- CF 8. Flowers- C 9. Fields- 3B

thought this would be a fun topic... my father spent years in Antartica in the 60's my mother used to go to the Easter Egg Roll at the White House during the 50's

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Sep 1, 2009 -> 05:08 PM) Incorrect. i agree that Thome had no place in 2010. The offensive side of this team is going to see a dramatic shift next year.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Aug 31, 2009 -> 10:13 PM) That's pretty good list. I salute you. but this should be US citizens only. people here on visas need to be covered by their employer. a quick question and maybe this is a falacy (spl?) of the marketplace. doesnt company sponsored group insurance (say at Motorola) help cut down on the individual cost of insurance due to the laws of averages? Wouldn't eliminating group insurance, and thus flooding the market with 300 million people looking for 1 policy at a time, increase costs to everyone?