Iwritecode

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 12:04 PM) It's an easy, indisputable revenue stream that doesn't require raising taxes. You can't beat it. That's really all it is. I hate the fact that they insist it's for "safety". I've seen a number of people slam on their brakes the second the light turns yellow so they don't get caught by the cameras.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 10:49 AM) This. I got a ticket for turning right on a red and not coming to a complete stop. I watched the video of it online, I was about a split second away from reaching a complete stop, but I was definitely moving the whole time. There went $100 to the citizens of Franklin Park from LittleHurt05. The website says something about not using the video in court. That's interesting.

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Jan 28, 2011 -> 10:18 AM) I just got one in the mail for the exact same thing. I'm leaning towards just paying it (its $50 here in Knoxville). In my case I think it's a case of not coming to a complete stop before turning right, which is against TN law, so I'm definitely in the wrong legally. Of course, there was a green right turn arrow that I apparently just missed, but I doubt I can win that argument. How can a camera tell that though?

I got 2 red-light tickets in the mail for turning right on a red light even though there are no signs saying I can't turn. How much of a pain in the ass are these things to fight?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 04:14 PM) If you make between $0 and about $35k, you should have seen a slight tax increase. If you make above that, you should see a slight to moderate tax decrease, with the amount of the decrease growing the more you make. My first check this year was about $30 more. But they hadn't started taking the 5% in state taxes yet. When they do that I'll end up with about $20 less per check than I was making last year. My wife is taking an even bigger hit because she makes less than $35K. Plus they will be taking a whole lot more out of her next check to make up for the fact that the tax is retro-active to Jan 1.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 11:07 AM) He's also quite dedicated, so I bet he slims down. I wonder what they'd have to do to get his eyes the right shade of blue.

I must be retarded or something because I can't find Colon's numbers against the Sox. I seem to remember them hitting him pretty hard when he was with the Indians.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 26, 2011 -> 05:45 PM) You're missing the other big money streams...and there's a lot of them at this point. Revenue Sharing dollars (i.e. DirecTV extra innings, merch sales) totaled over $13 million a team last year, and has been skyrocketing. Another big one is the TV and radio contracts...which by some reports run upwards of $400k a game, to the point that they'd total >$50 million a year. Then you have the advertising contracts...which are worth on the order of $5 million a year just for the naming rights, plus all the ads around the facilities. Also parking. IIRC, the Sox own the lots themselves. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 07:04 AM) The only time the White Sox had stacked crowds throughout April and May was 2006, and we know why. That's exactly why sustained success is necessary. Win the division 2 or 3 years in a row and you'll see the attendance rise.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jan 25, 2011 -> 06:24 PM) I wouldnt give anyone my house address, find somewhere public to meet. I guess I’ve never really thought about it before but I’ve sold a few things on Craigslist and I’ve always had the person come to my house to look at what I was selling. A couple of times it just wasn’t practical to meet somewhere else. One was a 6’ X 5’ X 15’ dog kennel and the other was a 14’ pop-up trailer. I’ve certainly heard horror stories though. Especially if the item for sale is worth a lot of money.

QUOTE (scenario @ Jan 24, 2011 -> 11:08 AM) I think the economy has had a bigger impact on attendance the last few years than their record in a particular month or homestand/road-trip. I'm sure that's part of it. Even though the Cubs (being the anomaly they are) have topped 3 million the past 6 years. I'm just saying that most fans probably put more weight on the team record rather than the payroll when deciding whether or not to go to a game. I'm just guessing that more people would want to see a team that's 10 games over .500 and in first place that only spent 90 million over a team that's in last place and spent 150 million.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jan 24, 2011 -> 10:45 AM) i dont think its all just about success. its kind of..wrong , i guess, that the sox say how more fans need to go or go when the team wins but its not exactly the cheapest thing to go to. i went to 6 games last year but its just me and my husband. but for a family of, say 4, its expensive. bleachers at 38 a person and parking, thats 175 dollars. and thats not including drinks,food,etc. so its not exactly that easy to say hey lets go to a sox game, especially not multiple times a year. There are really only 3 ways to have really good attendance. Win, build a new stadium, be owned by a large Chicago media corporation.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 23, 2011 -> 03:32 PM) It is sure easy for people to say the Sox need to spend to get them to go to games... I don’t think it matters much if they spend 50 million or 150 million. If they win, the fans are more likely to show up. Just glancing at last years attendance it looks like for the first 2 months of the season they were averaging around 20,000 during the week and between 25,000 and 30,000 on weekends. The problem is they went 2-4 in their first homestand and them came back home after their first road trip in last place at 4-9. Compare that to Monday July 26 when they came home in first place and had a nearly sold-out crowd. The attendance peaked in 2006 and has been on a steady decrease ever since. Even with the division title in 2008 mostly because they haven’t had enough sustained success.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 21, 2011 -> 02:55 PM) We used to have soxtalk gatherings all the time at soxfest, they than doubled the prices and poof, game over. FIFY

My wife, daughter and another friend are going to the Linkin Park concert next Wednesday at the UC. A friend of my is driving them in and since I'll already be here, I'm just going to me them after I get out of work. So my friend and I need something to do while the other 3 are at the concert. Is there anything fairly close?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 20, 2011 -> 02:07 PM) Oh, so you mean you used it just for wearing around? That's interesting, didn't think of that. When they first starting eating actual food (instead of milk), those little ones we found to be... less than sufficient. Yep. It saved having to change shirts every hour or so. Of course then they get old enough to start pulling them off and it doesn't matter anyway.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 20, 2011 -> 01:25 PM) --Lots of bibs, for when they start baby food and solid foods. You will go through them quickly, and I recommend the hazmat suit type things that have sleeves and a little pocket built in. The tiny little cloth ones are nearly useless. We found that the little cloth ones work well when they are teething. Helps to keep some of the drooling off their clothes. Also lots and lots of blankets.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 18, 2011 -> 11:08 AM) I don't think I know a single song from any of those CD's. I recognized 3 or 4 of the artists and might be able to name 4 or 5 songs.

Anyone know when the new Illinois state tax of 5% takes affect? I've heard that it's retro-active to Jan 1 and I've also heard not until July 1.

My wife and I decided a long time ago that when our kids are grown and out on their own (we'll be in our mid-40's by then) we are going to get a corvette. Just haven't decided on a year yet. She wants one from the 60s or 70s style. I'd honestly be happy with any of them.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 14, 2011 -> 08:08 AM) If I understand what he means, I think he's saying he claims zero on the withholding so that the IRS pulls more out during the year and he gets a larger return when he files. That's exactly it. I understand that it's essentially a "free loan" to the government but we are really bad at saving money. This way it's outta sight outta mind. If we put it into a savings account or something we'd be way too tempted to spend it.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:18 AM) I have a 100 mile round-trip work drive every day so I drive cars into the ground. I managed to get 200K+ miles out of my 2000 Saturn and nearly 200K miles out of a Corolla before that, but I just bought y very first new car last month — a 2010 Prius. I really like it and it's nice to only have to gas up around once a week rather than every other day. I would love an all-electric vehicle, but I need something that can do better than 100 or so miles on a single charge. I'm the same way but my commute is closer to 180 round trip. I've got a 2003 Grand Prix that I just had to replace the engine in. I'm hoping it'll last until the end of this year at least. I want a mid-size car that will give me 30-35 MPG that I can still afford to pay off in about 3 years.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:25 AM) It's probably in the "Total amount you earn". The Republicans agreed to this tax cut, so the less you make, the more you're paying in taxes. If your making $50k per year, your taxes should go marginally downwards, while if your wife is making $25 k a year, her taxes should go marginally upwards. When you file a joint return, that will somehow even itself out. That's what I figure. We have 3 kids and claim 0 so we get a lot back anyway.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:20 AM) If you're making under about $35 k per year, you're going to pay more in taxes this year than last, and the lower the number, the more your taxes will go up. OK, that's what happened. I make more and my wife makes less. What's the reason for that? EDIT: read your next post. Got it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:12 AM) LOL, and did you tell them, "duh!"? Did they say stock and bond FUNDS, or stocks and bonds DIRECTLY? I am starting to think you mght work for some sort of financial firm, that either provides investments already to the public or has weird restrictions on these things for employees. I don't know. I'll have to ask. It's a little hard to explain but I work as a contract programmer. The company that actually pays me is run by a bunch of accountants. The guy that I actually deal with from the company is not one so some information may be getting lost in translation. QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:12 AM) Federal income taxes should stay materially the same in 2011 for nearly everyone. But, maybe your income went up? Or maybe the company realized they were under-withholding and bumped it up for 2011? I thought they should have stayed the same too. I'm only going by what the online calculator said. I haven't gotten an actual paycheck yet. Not til next week.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 13, 2011 -> 08:03 AM) You're kidding. I've never heard of that. I mean, I've heard of stock purchase plans (which obviously have only one choice), and partnership shares in a single entity... but a 401k where you can't decide which funds to buy into? Did they at least tell you what they plan to put the money in? I was told stocks and bonds. I guess I could find out exact details but I can't change it. On a semi-related note: Does anyone know how they figure out how much to take out of your check for federal taxes? I found a payroll calculator online that was very accurate for me last year when trying to estimate out my checks. When I put in the numbers for 2011 it says that I should be getting about $30 more this year. They are taking more out in federal taxes but less for social security. When I checked my wife's check it says she'll actually be getting $7 less. Again they are taking less out of SS but a lot more out of federal taxes.