doubleM23

You can go to the sale whenever you want, for free from 9-2... You have to pay to be able to get on the actual field and play catch. I believe it's something like 20 bucks for adults and 10 bucks for kids for a reserved hour of field time. Space is limited, though.

I must half-disagree. While the system the USSR used, based on equality and not merit, would probably make for a "lazier" workforce, the Soviet Union had deeper scourges than just a lack of ambition. First, the USSR never was able to fully adopt a strong peacetime patriotism. Outside of ethnic Russians, not too many others living in the USSR were too pleased with it, and once the ball started rolling, it could not be stopped. Also, I believe a system like that can work, however, you also have to provide the workers with incentives; granted they may not be great ones, but by the 60s and 70s, the standard of living was much higher and coushier in the US than the USSR. I still say that if the USSR had been able to get over the "industrial" hump it had created within its post-Stalin economy and become as powerful a consumer economy that the US had and is, history books would have been written differently.

There are a couple of points here that are glossed over that need to be readdressed... First, the USSR didn't collapse because it was a 1-man island... Look at any map of Europe between 1945 and 1989 and you'll see that the USSR was pretty cozy in fellow Communist regimes; the problem was that the the Soviet Union's economy was driven by a government too unimaginative and too late in its response to the growing demand for the high-tech industry. The USSR industrialized faster than any nation ever had or has when Stalin came to power, but that strength became detrimental to the economy's post-WWII success, especially once the global economy slowed, because it was too rigid and focused on industry to see the wave of the future. By the time of Brzehnev and Gorbachev's reforms it was already too late. Aside from that entirely, the Soviet Union, as it was established and run, is a pretty paltry example of a Marxist state anyway. Comparing the USSR to Marx's ideals is like comparing the US to Plato's; neither looks too good compared to the accepted ideal of the ideology they adhere to. And, also, we owe a lot to the Soviet Union; first for pretty much single-handidly defeating the Nazis in World War II for a good number of years (this is debatable), but second, for posing as an imminent threat to US national security for so long, keeping us focused on one enemy politically, militarily, and economically. The Economic Miracle owes it success to the fact that the USSR and US were caught in an ideological blinking contest, and each wanted to rebuild its half of Europe as fast as possible to curb the spread of Communism in the West and liberal democracy in the East as well as to have strong military allies. Without the Soviet Union, it's not hard to imagine most of Europe still rebuilding from the carnage that was that war. Happy Birthday, Karl.

Ha ha... Now that's good stuff.

#1... It wasn't the 80s.

As far as I know, she is in Bolingbrook, doing her student teaching for her last semester for ISU. It's a b****... You have to do all the work of a teacher as well as the work of a college student.

There's no debate about this... Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

It's business. I think the realy people to be upset at are the ones who want to watch midgets getting exploited.

Why? They're the ones paying them. Nobody is forcing any owner to pay a ridiculous salary. I can see the argument for a salary floor so that dicks like the Seligs can f*** over a team and town like they did in Milwaukee.

Eww... I wouldn't mind Evans as head of the minor leagues (I wouldn't mind KW in that role either), but hell no as GM...

Albuquerque changed their team's name to the Isotopes? That's pretty sweet.

I think this is too complex to be summed up with a 2-answer poll.

Winter rocks. How anyone could live without this baffles me.

9:30 AM, to be precise.

Ever heard of plate tectonics?

I think you're confusing the terms intelligence and instinct. I'm not going to get into a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo about what goes on in a cockroaches' noodles, but given what I have seen of the planet thus far, I really find it hard to believe that other animals have even the slightest capabilities of intellect. Many of them are very advanced in the art of instinct, but it's a real stretch for me to think that any other being on the planet can process information the way we do. Cockroaches don't die because they are built to not die. They're not big and clumsy like dinosaurs, have excellent natural body armor unlike humans, and can basically survive on very limited food and water, unlike pretty much everything to supercede them evolutionally. Animals may be bigger, faster, smarter, and stronger, but when it comes down to durability, it's hard to outlive 'em.

I don't think the Sox can really be considered sleepers considering what division they play in. Right now, we're sitting prettier than probably all but 2 or 3 AL teams.

They're only in the Valley for soccer.

Ugh... Why can't anyone leave well enough alone?

Um, you don't just give them out for free. The US would still make a small fortune if they legalized drugs, put a nice tax on them, and offered clinics.

Loyola has 1 and they are the only team from Illinois to win the NCAA Tournament. Bradley has 2 national championships that predated the tournament. BU was a powerhouse in the 50's and 60's.

The Bears were pretty good. Bradley is still one of the Top 25 teams in all-time Division 1 men's basketball victories and still has the most basketball national championships of any Div-1 school in Illinois. Also a couple of marquee alumni like Chet Walker, Kirby Puckett, and Hersey Hawkins. Everyone knows of the Jays recent success. Drake blows at sports. They do have a beautiful campus. If anyone is looking for a small university in the Midwest, I would give Drake a shot. As does Evansville. Illinois State sucks. . Indiana State is known for Larry Bird and the 1979 National Championship game against MSU. Northern Iowa has Kurt Warner. SIU, also a good program now. Wichita State is one of the best baseball programs in the country. I saw them last year. They are good.

The criminalization of all drugs is completely absurd. While, of course, there can by no real figure, the illegal drug industry is one of the most profitable in the world. And all that money is going to urban street gangs, organized crime syndicates, shady police officers. Why do you think drugs will never be legalized in America? There's too much money to be lost to the government by way of taxes. Plus, if someone wants to get high, who gives a s***?

from left to right... Bradley Braves, Creighton Bluejays, Drake Bulldogs, Evansville Aces, Illinois State Redbirds, Indiana State Sycamores, Northern Iowa Panthers, Southwest Missouri State Bears, Southern Illinois Salukis, Wichita State Shockers