Patrick425

Does this take into account who is up after Bonds? Or who you have in your bullpen (i.e. righty, lefty situation, etc)? Isn't this all about mitigating risk. Someone mentioned that the chance of winning dropped by 5.2%. However, aren't those situational odds of winning pretty much done in a vacuum without any consideration about who is batting, who is on deck, who is pitching, who is in the bullpen, how much the bullpen has been used lately, is the current hitter tearing the cover off the ball lately, is the on deck batter in a bad slump or maybe battling an injury? I realize that 90% of the people that post things here are very much into using stats to explain everything, however I would guess that most seasoned managers would say that it's impossible to make all decisions based on probability tables. Stats do not always tell the whole story and there are intangibles that are always at work in every situation.

Didn't have a whole lot of luck with the lyrics you mentioned..but here is a site that you can type in a phrase or scattered words (on the right side of the page) and it will search for songs based on that. http://www.leoslyrics.com/

I don't think the point of balancing a check book is to determine how much you have in your account. It's more to see that the bank did not make some error (i.e. you made a deposit of $345.67 and they gave you $34.56 - it's happened to me), or someone did not make some unauthorized transaction in your account, or some store that you went to didn't charge you twice for a purchase, etc. In addition, maybe you wrote a check to someone (there are occasions when you don't have a choice - for example, my son's school fees pretty much have to be done with check or cash), and they don't cash it for a long time, then, at some unexpected moment they cash it when you are low on funds. Your online balance won't reflect uncashed checks. However, all that being said, it does annoy me when people have to record there purchase right there in the check out lane as you wait.

Hardware Hank? Uecker doesn't do that any more? It probably has not been done in years, but it's so ingrained my memory, that it seems like I heard him do the "You've got a lot more going for you with Hank...Hardware Hank" thing just yesterday.

Had to log into the in game thread to see if anyone commented about the guy behind the plate that was posting messages on some sort of dry erase board. I just saw a couple of them.."Steve-dunk" and "Lol". Never saw anyone do this before, and now it appears that he has stopped. I wonder if he was asked to stop.

The original post is most definitely one of my biggest pet peeves. If you have a checking account, you should have a check card and be using it. I remember all this talk about possibly using finger prints or eye scan or having a chip in your drivers license that would be universal for everything including purchasing groceries. This technology would help streamline the shopping process, although, I understand the security pitfalls. It's clear that some people are so afraid of any technology beyond a checkbook or cash, so I doubt any further attempts to make the shopping experience more efficient would ever work. Basically, I get very annoyed at any situation where a person is completely oblivious to there surroundings or any inconvenience that they may be causing others. Or, worse, they are aware, but just don't care.

I don't want to be misunderstood. I understand that the people providing services rely on tips and I think I'm a pretty fair tipper. In fact, on a couple of occasions, when I've been out to eat with my parents, I had to pull the Ross on friends thing and go back and leave a few extra bucks. I'm just saying I don't agree with the system and I wish it were different. Another awkward thing about tipping. Lets say I frequent a restaurant. One day I get bad service and I show my displeasure with a bad tip. Now, the next time I go in, I get the same server. Now I have to be worried about the content of my food. I would much rather not have to worry about tipping and voice my displeasure annonomously with a phone call to the restaurant manager making him or her aware of the situation and then they take any action that is needed to correct the situation. Bad tips don't encourage better service, they just make for angry service providers.

So, why am I tipping hair cutters? I could not easily cut my own hair. I also could not easily take my garbage to the garbage dump. I also don't have the option of getting my own food at sit down resturuants or dealing my own cards at a blackjack table. As I referred to in my original post, I understand that some of these people rely on tips. However, my point is that they shouldn't. They should get paid a fair compensation to begin with and the price of goods should be increased to pay these fair wages. If the person providing the service can not get motivated to provide good service if tips are not involved then that is something the employer needs to address, not the customer. edit: sorry about the multiple quote boxes...not sure what happened there.

Our pizza order usually comes to around 16 bucks with garlic bread. I normally tip about $2 and whatever the change is...so close to 15%. By the way, when did 15% become 20% in resturaunts. Are people just so bad at math or too lazy to figure it out that now we all have to start tipping 20%? I thought 15% was high enough. Not a big fan of tipping anyways. I think it's an odd custom that for some reason only applies to certain services. Where does it end (garbage men?, hair cutters?, furniture delivery?, the guy that does your taxes?) I would much rather they raise the price of the food and pay the staff a respectable wage. I understand that it's a way of showing your appreciation (or lack of) for the level of service you got, but then why does not apply to everything. Should they lower your cable bill and then allow you to tip at the end of the month based on the service you think your cable company provided you? I just never understood tipping.

Carpet Cop? What is that? I found a carpet cop carpet cleaners in Tennesse, but nothing like that in Illinois.

Johnny Whitaker - Family Affair. Still looks the same. I recognized him right away.

Takenobu Mitsuyoshi

Ok, that last video (posted by needmorefans), may be one of the funiest things I have ever seen. I'm going to have that video going through my head for the rest of the week.

If so, have you noticed significantly heavier traffic since they opened the ramp from N43 to W94? I leave downtown everyday at about 4:30. I just can not believe how horrible the traffic has been since they opened that ramp about 10 days ago. It was never that bad before the new Marquette interchange was constructed. What? Has there been a huge population shift to the west suburbs in the last 3 years since that ramp has been closed?

The other day on the road (94 east bound on my way to the Brewer game on Saturday night) I saw an SUV with an IL license that read "CRPT COP". Corrupt Cop?? What else could it be?

Joe, I'm not sure how any Brewer fan can loath Selig. Without Selig, there is no Brewers or Miller Park..period. That's all that needs to be said. It's like winning the lottery and complaining about the taxes you have to pay on it. If you are upset about the way he ran the club after the early 80's, I think JimH5 put it best: In regards to his commissioner-ship (is that a word?), I think he has done a pretty good job. I have no problem with the cancellation of the WS (although, I wish he would have held out even longer) or what happened with the All Star game. However, I shudder every time I hear him utter the words "this is the golden age of baseball". I completely disagree with that. Just raw attendance and TV viewing numbers do not make this the "the golden age of baseball". edit: This probably belongs in the "explain your avatar thread" in the OT forum, but I think my avatar explains how I feel about Selig. To me, he is the most valuable Brewer ever.

really? Imho, that's one of the beauties and unique qualities of baseball.

Ok, had a long response to this that I deleted because it was way too off topic. So, to try to stay on topic. One of my changes would be that the Owners run baseball and make the rules and that the players get on there knees every night and thank their lucky stars that they get paid to play a kid's game. - Can o' worms...open. (but probably should be another thread)

Ok, I have been out of town the last couple of days, but wanted to post some comments, questions regarding things I have seen in the Olympics. 1) Yes, the opening ceremony was unbelievable 2) I'm short and never could jump very high, so volleyball has never been a sport that I played or followed very closely. However, I found myself watching the USA womens team playing Japan on Saturday morning. I could swear that when we played volleyball in gym class in school, that only the team that was serving could score. Is my memory way off? Are there different variations of volleyball scoring? Did scoring rules change since I was in school? 3) Ok, this is going to show my complete ignorance when it comes to global geography and international politics. However, I'm watching the opening ceremonies with my son and the Hong Kong atheletes parade out into the stadium. My 10 year old son looks at me quizically and states, "I thought Hong Kong was a city?". I don't have an answer for him, because I thought the same thing. I know Wikipedia can give me some answers on this. However, even after reading Wikipedia, I'm not sure I understand and not sure how I cold explain it to my son. Same thing with Taiwan. Sounds like China claim they control Taiwan and Taiwan claims they are independent. So...which is it? How could there be any confusion or dispute over this (without an actual military settlement of some sort)? Wouldn't there be certain things you could point to that would make it pretty clear one way or another? I'm sure many people on this site who are smarter than me can help me clear the confusion without getting too political.

Ok, based on your clues, I would guess Gary Numan, Ric Ocasek, or Todd Rungren. But I'm pretty sure that the person in that picture is not any of those guys.

Not sure if someone mentioned this, but I'm rooting for 3 extra innings that go deep into the bullpen each game.

Sorry, I was on vacation without internet access when this threat first came out, so sorry for chiming in so late. I agree exactly with what JumpinMacFlash said above. I didn't even know that they were called Crocs until about 6 or 7 months ago. I think the first time I saw someone wearing them I had to do a double take. They struck me as some cheap toy like shoes that you would buy in a $1 store. I also started wondering if the person wearing them was foreign or something. I'm just scratching my head on how they became such a big rage. I just don't understand how they can be comfortable or how they could possibly make your feet sweat less. They are made of rubber, right? I never thought of rubber as being breathable.

Not sure if you saw this Brian, but here is the latest update on the Waukesha train noise issue: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=781144

I wasn't sure where else to put this and didn't want to start a whole new thread. However, I was noticing that the Nationals and the Padres (the Brewer's next 2 opponents) are tied with the worse record in MLB. You hate to get too giddy about that, but as I drilled down further into looking into these two teams I came across this little tidbit about Scott Hairston stealing a base on Wednesday that makes me wonder if SD is even being managed any more: According to The Sports Xchange notes: PH Scott Hairston stole second in the eighth. No big thing, you say? It was the Padres' first stolen base since 42-year-old RHP Greg Maddux stole second July 12. It was the Padres' first stolen base by a position player since SS Khalil Greene stole second June 21 -- 39 games ago. The Padres now have 26 steals on the season.

Ding, ding, ding - ImGantnerDamit is correct. A little bio on Cornelius Bumpus from the Steely Dan web site: A favorite of audiences everywhere, Cornelius Bumpus was the keeper of a rare and wonderful flame: a master of the classic and soulful saxophone sound. Cornelius began his musical career at age ten playing alto saxophone in the school band in Santa Cruz, California. Through the encouragement of his parents, his love of music grew, and by age twelve he had joined his first working band. He then led a rhythm and blues band for seven years. In 1966, Cornelius spent six months performing with Bobby Freeman, writer and recording artist of the classic song, "Do You Want to Dance?" In 1977, he joined Moby Grape and wrote one tune for the "Live Grape" album. During the 1980's, Cornelius rose to worldwide acclaim performing with The Doobie Brothers. For 10 years, Cornelius and the Doobie Brothers had countless hit songs and were awarded many gold and platinum records. Cornelius even contributed a song on the One Step Closer album. Cornelius recorded two solo albums and toured with his own band. Stints were also put in with Jeff Lorber and Lacy J. Dalton. Since relocating to New York in 1986, Cornelius performed and recorded with a host of artists, including Etta James, Hugh Masakela, Michael McDonald, the New York Rock and Soul Revue, Boz Scaggs and Phoebe Snow. Cornelius' tremendous talent was featured in Nite Sprite since 1986 and he toured with Steely Dan since 1993. Cornelius had established his own website at corneliusbumpus.com, where you can find information about his '00 CD, Known Fact - and more.