Y2HH

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 03:39 PM) I don't know if we need a seperate thread, but, what the heck. One of the major initiatives people have pushed for this decade is improving rail transit in the US; intercity as well as urban. With intercity/regional/national rail, the benefits of a better infrastructure are many - less use of fossil fuels, less pollution, faster trips and more efficiency of people's time, etc. Obama today was talking about the $13B+ in stimulus money specifically set aside for high speed rail improvements. One of the big candidates for a big chunk of the money is the network of intercity rail lines radiating from Chicago: east to Detroit and Cleveland, southwest to St. Louis, northwest to Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis. The idea is to improve infrastructure on those lines to improve speed and reduce entanglements with freight traffic, so that the travel times by train to those cities would be shorter than driving (without the headaches of driving), and even faster than flying when you account for the B.S. of the airports on both ends. I for one think this is a fantastic "green" infrastructure initiative. Lower energy use and pollution, travel by train so you can read or work or sleep instead of driving, reduce traffic on the roads, reduce road maintenance, increase business travel efficiency, increase regional tourism... just great all around. Thoughts? I love the idea, I hope they implement something like this -- it'll be a wonderful system to have in place, after all is said and done. However, for me, no thanks -- I like my Jeep. I'll continue to drive my Jeep to work every day...I dislike mass transit as I dislike people. If it were convenient for me, and faster for me, I'd probably take the train, but as it stands, although it would save me money, it would cost me time, and a lot of it. My current commute by Jeep from Des Plaines to downtown Chicago is 30-35 minutes, as I leave by 6:30am every morning. It would take over an hour to get to the train, park, take the train, get off the train and walk. And since I get off work at 3pm, it's still only a 35 minute commute home by Jeep (yes, it's not a regular car so I won't call it one), so although I do hope they implement a system like this, I don't even use the ones we currently have in place, so I wouldn't care to use this one either...but I'm sure it'll be good for everyone else!

I swear quite a bit, even in normal conversation -- and I don't even realize I'm doing it. It's just how it is...now f*** off.

QUOTE (BobDylan @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 12:39 AM) You brought up the comparison, not me. And why do you only name Dell? There are several other computer makers out there. That's the beauty of the open market. Choices. Prove it. On both accounts--Asus, and that the Apple is "undoudbtedly" smaller, sleeker and has longer battery life. (The Macbook is smaller than said Asus, but you're talking as if the Apple will be "smaller..." than any equally powered computer on the market. That is your point, I think, which I mistook earlier.) I've known Asus to be a pretty damn good computer company. Especially as of late. What is the "industry," exactly? EDIT:I just found out this little tid-bit. Asus builds components for the iPod, the iPod shuffle, and your very own Macbook. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Hey, if you want to pay a few hundred extra bucks for a 'better looking computer,' fantastic. That's your choice. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford that. Myself, I build the machine on my own. I make my own design choices, spec choices (all to a limited extent) and what not. You ask me, that's better than anything. And seriously, I hope you attempt to back up that second quote. I don't have an iPOD nor a Macbook -- and I know Asus is a component maker -- but they wouldn't be my first, or even second choice for my computer "builder". As for the "industry", I mean the IT industry, and those of us working in it, my entire group of friends, not to mention everyone I know that's in the business -- not a single one of them has an Asus computer or ever even thought of buying an Asus computer. And we've all been in this industry for over 10 years. Asus makes excellent motherboards, but when it comes to computers, meh, they're just another OEM builder that has little practical experience. I'd rather build my own if that was the case. Also, while my friends are huge into this racket, I'm not a big fan of piece by piece builds, simply because of how complicated the warranties can get, having to ship individual components off, etc is not fun. I'm one of two Mac users out of the bunch, and there are 12 of us, not counting work associates. I give the size/form factor example because I have yet to see/find a notebook or desktop machine with the same internal components (or close) that's as small as an equally powered Mac. If you need me to prove that to you, take the blinders off...because I know you haven't either. The smaller, tighter design is what makes them better looking, btw...not the fact that they use metal casings, since Dell (among others) does that, too. Also, my opinion of Asus as a computer company are just that. You love to talk about choice, so I choose to not like Asus. I'd buy/use their components in a minute, but I just don't view them as an OEM builder worthy of my consideration. And for the record: My home desktop is an iMAC 24" My work laptop is a Lenovo T60 My work desktop is Lenovo/IBM desktop My second home laptop is a Dell Inspiron 17" My third home laptop is a Dell XPS Out of all of the computers I use, I have but 1 Mac, so I'm not some crazed biased Mac fanboi.

QUOTE (Rex Hudler @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 09:33 PM) Not sure if I am crazy or not, but I'm going to run a 15k Saturday morning. The Statue to Statue run in Birmingham is considered the most difficult non-marathon run in the state of Alabama due to its extreme hills and frequent changes in elevation levels. If I survive, then I am going to try and run the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville on the 25th. I have to get off work on Friday to do so, which, aside from killing myself with the 15k would be the only obstacle to doing the 1/2 marathon. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it! Have you ever run in a marathon before? It sounds like you have but just in case, make sure you band-aid your nipple area...otherwise they'll be bleeding/raw from your shirt by the time you're done.

QUOTE (BobDylan @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 06:54 PM) You're serious, aren't you? And "netbook" is just a niche term for a tiny laptop. Apple also doesn't make Tablet computers either. Suppose we should toss that out the window too, since it would be unfair to add that as a positive to buy PC because Apple doesn't do it? Look, if you want to argue that OSX is better than Windows XP/Vista, fine. But if you're going to argue Apple's under the hood power versus the open market and imply that it is just as good, if not better then the rest, you're just flat out blind. Hey, I'll admit Apple has some pretty powerful computers, and they generally work great. But there are things out there that Apple isn't doing and that Apple doesn't have. It just irks me that some Apple users think they are on top of the computing world in just about every sense of the game. And finally, take a closer look at the Dell XPS gaming laptop. Your Macbook pro, as far as power, is a joke to that thing. I never really said their under the hood power is greater in every way, I simply said in case by case comparison, the cheaper alternatives are usually less powerful, bigger, and have terribad battery life...if you took more of it than that, I didn't mean to put that forward. The XPS is stronger, no doubt, but again, it's not even an equal comparison -- there is no Dell notebook that has the same specs as a Macbook Pro without way over blowing it, and without adding a lot of weight and a lot of size. In an equally powered system, the Apple will undoubtedly be smaller, sleeker and have better battery life. Like the person above who compared the Apple to a Asus (of all competitors), the Asus will no doubt weigh way more, it will be bigger and it will have absolutely terrible battery life...in short, Asus is trash, and I don't know anyone in the industry that would even buy an Asus. I'm not saying the Apple is the top of the heap when it comes to hardware, everyone knows that's not the case, I'm simply saying that Apple puts a lot more effort and engineering into their designs than anyone else, thus some of the price increase has to be attributed to that.

QUOTE (Soxpranos @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:46 PM) Yeah, for Carlos Gomez You mean the overrated terribad in Minn? Meh.

Life isn't fair. Deal with it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 10:08 AM) That is why they should charge more for the extra space, but not the differential cost of that added crap. Even if you do it on a cost-flat basis, they'd actually make MORE money, because they'd draw a new revenue base. It doesn't have to be a marketing cost. I'm sure if it were that easy for them to make more money, they'd have done it by now. One of the airlines, big or small would have tried it by now...but the fact that the entire industry, including profitable airlines like Southwest, haven't done it means it probably won't increase revenue or profits.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 09:54 AM) I know a lot of people who like the idea of having the larger seats and leg room you get in business or first class, and could care less about all the fru-fru s*** ("fancy" food, fancy eating ware, hot towels, etc.). I am surprised that the airlines haven't yet employed a section in larger aircraft with business class seating and no other frills - and charge somewhere between coach and business class (since biz class is so much more expensive). I'd be all over that. I'm 6'3" and have broad shoulders - my ass fits fine in one seat thank you, but I could use the extra room. I agree with this, it'd be nice to see. However, that will cost an already ailing industry even more revenue just based on how much it costs to fuel/maintain/fly those planes -- less seats = less money = less profit. Just as a person who takes care of themselves, when I pay for my seat I'm not a fan of sharing it with someone who doesn't.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 09:37 AM) http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/04...ngers-more.html Oh my. Can they do this? I don't see why not. If you're using 2 seats -- pay for them. Because I can tell you as a smaller person, I'm not a fan of paying for *MY* seat and having to share it with someone else.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 01:41 AM) I guess his metaphors are kinda crazy if you just cut it up into tidbits and distort everything he says. I knew your post was garbage when I clicked on the video and it was created by Media Matters. Honestly, what was the point of posting that? No kidding. And while I think Beck is just a sensationalist, be real -- a media matters video?! Get more biased why don't ya.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 09:23 AM) Pods is playing CF in Charlotte. He also played some CF with Colorado last year. If he doesn't get hurt in Charlotte, I expect him with the White Sox in a week or so unless Owens dazzles. I agree, also keep in mind Pods still has some friends on this team who are in high positions of locker room power. I'm sure they'll push Ozzie for Pods over Owens if they have the opportunity to do so. I know I would if I was on the team and a friend of mine came back to the team under a minor league deal.

I get the feeling that people who ask us to forget 2005 and the players of 2005 weren't there to enjoy it... ...were too young to understand or appreciate that a lot of us waited 10, 20, or 30+ years for it (if not more)... ...or hadn't jumped the bandwagon because it wasn't 2006 yet... Whatever the case may be, let me not be the first, but one of the many that was there to enjoy every second of it, who was old enough to understand it, and had gone through enough losing to appreciate it...that tells you to f*** off and die in a fire the likes of Hell on Earth. 2005

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 09:31 AM) Starting very soon here, I'll be doing something I did years ago, that is a great way to get in better shape, tone lower body and a little core, and get an aerobic workout in while commuting. I'm going to bike to work. My ride is about 6 miles each way. I do it on an MTB with knobbies, which is a lot more work than a road bike with skinny tires, but that is part of the idea. I go basically all out for 30 minutes to get downtown and park the bike at the gym. Do 3 or 4 weight sets (upper body and core), shower and change, walk to work. Go back there to change after work, bike back home. At a high pace of biking for 30 minutes / 6 miles each way, I'll burn 600 to 900 calories (depends on what source you look at), get in two aerobic workouts, save myself the $75/month for the CTA pass, and not add any extra time to my day (since I have to commute anyway)... its fantastic. And I need it, bad. I've gotten into terrible shape the last few years - I clock in at 6'3" and 250-ish right now. Need to be about 200. I figure if I do this all summer and into fall, I should be back down to 200 by the end of the year. If anyone here works downtown and lives somewhere else in the city, I highly recommend this option. Anyone else do this? I did something similar last year, but not quite on the same intensive level you're talking about here. I work at Blue Cross HQ building downtown (across from Millennium) and at that time lived in Bridgeport, so I'd bike to work in the morning, and go to a local gym during my lunch hour. I've since moved out to Des Plaines, so I no longer bike to work, but I've been doing other things to keep in shape. If you could keep something like that consistent and stay motivated you'd be in excellent shape by mid July. You could easily lose 50lbs in 2.5-3 months time with that kind of working out.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 13, 2009 -> 11:40 PM) I don't have a gut. I'm 5-10, 135....I'm looking for a little more definition in my abs, not so much trying to burn stuff off of a gut. Wow. 5'10" 135? If you turned sideways you'd be invisible! Drink some shakes and continue working out!

You should only do ab workouts 3 days a week MAXIMUM, while I recommend only doing them twice a week spaced out from each other by 3 days. People tend to overdo ab workouts for no good reason. You wouldn't perform bench presses on a daily basis because you need to give your tricep/delt/pec muscles time to recover/repair/rebuild -- apply the same logic to stomach muscles, etc. Also, for any of you gym rats out there -- NEVER do ab workouts with weight. For example, crunch machines that allow you to add weight, or machine based equipment that has adjustable weight, stay away from this sort of thing. The idea is to shape ab muscles, tighten them up, NOT make them bigger. You'll know what I mean if you ever see a person who did this incorrectly in the gym, they'll be ripped, but still look like they have a beer belly because their ab muscles are too big.

QUOTE (BobDylan @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 10:59 PM) Compared to the open market of PC's? That's not true at all. Look at the "netbook" surge for example. Or the Dell Adamo. Apples/Oranges. Again, what i said IS true. I didn't even mention netbooks, since Apple doesn't make them yet, I said laptops. Compare equally powered, systems/laptops to each other and you will see what I said holds true. The Macbook Pro would need to be compared to a XPS laptop gaming rig, for example. The MacBook Pro has a full powered high end mobile graphics card, amongst many other things. The nearest thing to an Adamo is the regular Macbook, the Air could possibly be argued, however the Macbook/Air both use faster processors, front side buses, caches, etc, so even then, it's not a straight up feature to feature comparison. The point I was making was in comparing almost identical hardware specs to each other -- then looking at the size, shape, etc.

Awesome! I've been following this up until now, and it's good to see Cera finally agreed, he was the last big hurdle to making this happen.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 02:02 AM) I take it what you mean by this is... would people retract their statements being made here since the news broke and make williams out to be a genius? Yes, the majority. Would they be in the right? No. Sane people would retract their statements, however, the majority of "the sky is falling" Soxtalkers wouldn't, which I know is contrary to you saying the majority would, while reality dictates that no...they wouldn't, and you know it. I know it. And everybody here knows it. I hope BA shines with this opportunity, I really do. Furthermore, I hope Pods comes up and is a star bench player for LF/CF days off, pinch running situations, etc. However, if it doesn't work out as planned and Pods comes in and plays a average or even below average CF while batting .300+ with a .365OBP and becomes a menace on the base paths leading to wins because of how much he distracts opposing pitchers, I won't complain about that, either. Whatever happens, I just hope for the best for the team.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 01:16 PM) I must say I've never heard that term before. How about I grate ur face with a cheese grater?

QUOTE (Capn12 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 12:47 PM) You HAVE seen Pods in the field right? If not, watch my avatar a few thousand times. Pods > Wise? arguable for CF reasons. Pods > BA? Not a shot on God's green earth. And I can almost guaran-damn-tee you that Ozzie will use Pods in CF over BA most of the time now. I've seen your repetitive avatar, I saw the play, too. I suppose I could make an avatar of Pods hitting a walk off home run it the world series and pretend that he's so great, he can do that *every* at bat in an important game, too. Or, to be less of an ass, I could make an avatar of Pods bunting runners over, getting on base, taking pitches, taking walks and stealing, too...something Wise never did except on accident or when it didn't matter. And from the start, I said give Anderson his shot -- but now it's up to Anderson to do it, Ozzie already said Anderson has his shot. Rotoworld says Pods days as a starter are over and he'll be a backup, BUT, if our #1 blows it then I'm sure we will see Pods...and who knows, maybe we'll catch lightning in a bottle like the Cubs did with Edmond's last season. And speaking of Edmond's, no...absolutely not, he's done for. The Cubs realize they caught lightning in a bottle with him last year, which is why they cut ties with him before they ended up looking stupid. Besides, Edmond's is a MEGA primadonna, and don't give me that, "he's calmed down crap, either." The only reason he controlled himself last year was because he was hoping for another contract...had he gotten it, he would have once again been the b****ass he's always been.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 12:34 PM) I would rather have Wise in CF than Pods both offensively and defensively. Can't say I agree with that. Ever. While you may have a point defensively, to say offensively is insane. And defensively is even stretching it while I know Pods isn't a good CF, neither is Wise. The catch Wise made where he hurt himself would have been caught by a standing Anderson. Wise over Pods?! NO. Never. Ever. Never ever! MY GOOD GOD MAN, NEVER.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 12:30 PM) I have and I'll stick to that. If we were talking about LF it'd be a different story, cf I'd rather have Wise or Owens at this point, true story.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Apr 14, 2009 -> 12:28 PM) I don't think anyone has tried to claim that Owens or Wise are better than Pods. It's very much the opposite. Then I don't get all the complaints from you and your Soxtalk nazi brotherhood! Look, we weren't getting anyone else...so this is what we have. Pods or Owens (or Wise when he returns) as backup for Anderson (unless Anderson blows his chance).

I for one like it...let Anderson be our new full time CF and have Pods on the bench for certain roles/situations, UNLESS Anderson totally botches his big break. Also, Pods can be useful for giving Anderson or TCQ a day off now and again -- and for pinch running situations. Even though he is older, his reputation for stealing still precedes him and will undoubtedly throw off opposing pitchers who will once again be more worried with Pods stealing on them than throwing a good pitch. Welcome back Pods, I don't care what these Soxtalk nazi's say -- you are better than Owen and Wise!