bills_fan

Don't forget Jimmie Griffin, who when asked by a News reporter why he was filling all of the vacant spots in city gov't with his buddies from South Buffalo responded by saying "Who would you expect me to hire, my enemies?"

Fatheads https://www.fatheads.com/ Church Beer Works http://www.churchbrew.com/ Enjoy!!

When the econoy is teetering on implosion, gas prices are at record highs and the war in Afghanistan is escalaing, I think the house has more important things to worry about. Chef called it right...childish.

Simple answer...don't eat it. Publicize how bad it is for people. My Demolition Man (A really under-rated social commentary movie BTW) reference was apt if there is anyone supporting this...

Ryan Howard 2006 313 AVG, 425 OBP, 58 HR, 149 RBI, 659 SLG, 181 K (Won MVP) 2007 268 AVG, 392 OBP, 47 HR, 136 RBI, 584 SLG, 199 K 2008* 236 AVG, 325 OBP, 29 HR, 87 RBI, 512 SLG, 132 K * Through 377 ABs, not including AUG and SEPT, traditionally his best months. My guess is he finishes this year with 255/365/55/145/590/210 Serious numbers indeed...numbers unlike any other major league player (except perhaps Josh Hamilton this year) has put up over the same time period.

The real problem with the models was that they assumed that default/foreclosure would be a localized event (loans would fail in one place, but not nationally). The models never accounted for the risk of national default/foreclosure. The securities were structured in the same way. For example, lets say you were a hedge fund, that wanted to beef up its cash every December. You could purchase a tranche of mortgages that only included December payments. And, then lets say that you believed your model, that repayment risk was localized, so you ensured your tranche was comprised of loans made all over the country. And lets say you didn't think you needed the AAA piece, but bought the BBB piece, based on your model and because it was much cheaper. You could be screwed when the tranche itself hits ceratin events of default/foreclosure and the AAA piece gets paid first, you may get nothing off this rated security, let alone your promised cash flows.

Another ridiculous government ban...I'm starting to get that Demolition Man feeling... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1216682549...l?mod=yhoofront

I agree with you in certain situations, but power hitters tend to have more K's than other types of hitters.

I would guess it has something to do with the hundreds of millions he is worth, his worldwide fame....and, oh yeah, the accent. Women are suckers for aussie accents. I have a few Aussie friends here in NYC. Its actually quite funny when we go out. The pickup technique is just to stand near the bar in a crowded spot and start talking loudly, about nothing in particular. You should see the women flock when they hear the accent.

Howard needs to go back and work with Tony Gwynn, like he did in his MVP year. Gwynn had him balanced on his swing, and Howard was able to rake lefties. Ryan Howard will always have the power numbers, but to be a complete hitter, he needs to get back to the balanced swing that allowed him to hit .300. I discount the strikeouts, especially if he does the above. A strikeout is just another out.

See, now I have a problem with this. Burrell does NOT suck. He is a very solid MLB OF, who would bat 5th for every team in the league. He has a good batting eye (.400 OBP every year), good power (30-35 HR), and is not awful defensively. He had that one miserable stretch, a couple of years back, when he could not hit. He has since really turned it around. He does NOT suck, and 12 mil is not a bad salary for his ability.

True, but late (even by 90 days) is not yet foreclosed. You may still get paid at 90 days late with a workout provision. But I see both your and Bluefire's points, and it should be considered. Although I have heard that "late" as defined as 90 days, was a small, fractional number as well (at least 2 months ago, when I heard it).

Just do us a favor, if/when it pops, let us know if it was what you heard. I'd be curious if there really was an Oct suprise and the Times sat on it.

True, but I was comparing the Phils prospects to the Brewers/Cubs prospects. If I'm a seller, I'll take the best guys, no matter who is giving them. Interesting trade rumor involving the Phils and COL... Holliday/Fuentes to Phils? Personally, I think the Phils need to see if Myers can be a #2 in a playoff rotation. If not, they go get Burnett. If so, then maybe the above is revisited.

Care to enlighten?

I like rational skepticism. Now, teach her to view the opposing viewpoints in either side of the argument, analyze the rational arguments on both sides, noting open-ended issues (ie. big bang creationism and missing links in evolution) and decide for herself which viewpoint to support (or at least which to give greater merit to). At this point, given she is 6, I'd say (no LSI reference intended).

Foreclosed.

Think about this excerpt from one of your articles for just a second.... Perhaps I don't understand as much as I should, but how can FNM and FRE have liabilities that will "swamp their assets?" I understand that may be the case if 5-10% of the US population stop paying their mortgages, but thats not really going to happen. Right now you are talking a fractional rate of default, .1%. As long as the cash flows remain steady, we may just get out of this in one piece.

But those prospects would not even be ranked in some of the better systems. The 2B, sure, he's decent but blocked but Utley. Blanton is a definite upgrade over what was there. This Phils did not have a Matt LaPorta-type and I have 9/15 in my Harden breakdown pool. Burnett is interesting. He's a stuff guy, which excels in the playoffs. As the deadline gets closer and closer, I can see the Phils pulling the trigger on Burnett, as well. The Jays may end up dropping their price, I think all the Phils would have to do is offer better talent than Tor could get from the draft picks when Burnett walks. Move Myers to setup Lidge and you have a great playoff rotation of Hamels-Burnett-Blanton-Moyer, with Flash and Myers setting up Lidge. I like my chances there. Burnett would be motivated to score one more big contracta nd probably pitch lights out.

Sax

But Blanton is an upgrade over who the Phils had in there...Kendrick, Eaton or whoever.

Lets not push it. After last offseason, it couldn't get worse unless they moved the team. The Sabres still have too many RWs and are missing a second line C (Connolly will hurt his pu$$y in Game 8 and be out until Game 68). A good offseason would have been packaging a winger or two and draft picks to Florida to get Jokinen. I'm still holding out hope for Bouwmeester. Imagine him and Rivet each getting 20-25 minutes a game.

Not a bad trade for the Phils. Blanton keeps the ball down, which will help him in that park. He will benefit from an unfamiliar league. Once the league figures out to lay off his low junk, he could be in trouble, but not so bad in the short term. A playoff rotation of Hamels-Myers-Blanton-Moyer doesn't look so bad. The only true prospect Philly gave up was the 2B, who is good, but blocked by Utley. Now if they added Burnett as well, Myers could head back to the pen and setup for Lidge...then look out!

Then they didn't look hard enough. A poster in this thread gave you an example. And to anyone who says "that money must be made up from somewhere else," No, it doesn't. The estate tax is not a revenue-generator for the gov't. It generates something like .01 % of the budget, after factoring in the costs to administer it. It is purely a social function. All these billionaires getting behind it is bull, but useful because it tells us that it is probably necessary, but that the threshold should be set somewhere around $100 million or categories of assets should be treated differently, liquid vs. illiquid assets. Then, it serves its intended purpose while protecting small businesses/owners of farms etc.

Would love to see a picture of that, sounds pretty cool.