Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

num wrote:
  Heres hoping Teixeira's career takes a  Johnny Damon turn after signing with the Yankees.

That's just it - I don't think it's going to happen.  The kid's legit, he's young, consistent, works hard, and LOVES to play baseball.  Damon was 32 when he signed that yankee deal - Teix will be halfway through his new Yankee contract when he reaches the age of Damon's first contract year with the yankees.

I'm telling you - I wish I had never seen him in an Angel uniform….it wouldn't hurt this badly if I hadn't.

vansmack wrote:
kind of like the Iraq Group job (and I disagree with the LAT assessment that they wrong, but we've been through that).

to quote mickey kaus- "I must have missed the part of the blueprint where the Iraq Study Group called for the Petraeus "surge" strategy."

:)

Venerable wrote:
"I must have missed the part of the blueprint where the Iraq Study Group called for the Petraeus "surge" strategy."

I'm not revisiting this…

vansmack wrote:

Venerable wrote:
"I must have missed the part of the blueprint where the Iraq Study Group called for the Petraeus "surge" strategy."

I'm not revisiting this…

i was gonna post something about teixiera not really helping the angels last year, but neyer wasn't as helpful as i thought he was. 

Venerable wrote:
i was gonna post something about teixiera not really helping the angels last year, but neyer wasn't as helpful as i thought he was. 

I know, heaven forbid you actually come up with an original thought that's your own and not someone else's blog post…

vansmack wrote:

Venerable wrote:
i was gonna post something about teixiera not really helping the angels last year, but neyer wasn't as helpful as i thought he was. 

I know, heaven forbid you actually come up with an original thought that's your own and not someone else's blog post…

SMACK!

The Official Win7 Beta is available for those daring (the servers are really busy right now though):

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx#

As if United/Chelsea and the Steelers playoff game weren't enough on Sunday…may head may officially explode on Sunday.

Bono to write Op-Ed column for New York Times
Jan. 9, 2009, 3:00 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) – Can he type with those shades on? Bono will write an Op-Ed column for The New York Times.

The paper announced that his first column will appear Sunday, for which he will also do a podcast. His column will appear occasionally.

Bono called the gig "an honor," and joked that he's "never been great with the full stops or commas."

The Times said the column will cover a broad range of topics.

The 48-year-old U2 rocker has been an advocate in the fight against AIDS and poverty in Africa.

Times editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, said Bono "is an extraordinary man who thinks deeply about his art and the major issues confronting the world."

For those that are interested, I have become totally addicted to ESPNs Streak for The Cash game (pick 27 games in a row and win $1 Million).  So much so I created a group.  Feel free to join.

GROUP NAME: The Degenerates
PASSWORD: gamblers

In order to join my group, you must first sign up for the game, make a pick and then click the Join a Group link.  Search for The Degenerates and enter the password.  There is no charge to play.

Even I thought this was already over, but what a waste of $3.5 Million…

Updated: January 14, 2009, 8:46 AM ET

Anaheim ends court fight vs. Angels
Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The city of Anaheim is dropping its legal challenges to the name of the Angels.

Mayor Curt Pringle says the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to give up its battle to restore the team's name to the Anaheim Angels.

The city had argued that team owner Arte Moreno violated the city-owned stadium lease agreement when he changed the name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005.

A California appeals court ruled against the city last month, and an Orange County Superior court jury sided with the team in 2006.

Pringle says city leaders believe the wrong court decision was made twice, but says "it's in everybody's best interest to take no further action."

vansmack wrote:
Even I thought this was already over, but what a waste of $3.5 Million…

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The city of Anaheim is dropping its legal challenges to the name of the Angels.

at least you have a jersey. . .to me, they're still the california angels. . .

Venerable wrote:
at least you have a jersey. . .to me, they're still the california angels. . .

Don't worry, I'll buy you a Fremont t-shirt…

vansmack wrote:
What the hell are the Dodgers thinking?

Dodgers Sign Andruw Jones: 2 Years, $36 Million

Yep - a no brainer as the Dodgers are set to release Jones.  Shocked they couldn't trade him with that contract.

In my next life I'm gonna be a GM.

I tend to drink more wine in November and December, plus I'm off whiskey probation between Thanksgiving and Xmas, so I'm partially responsible.  But rest assured Miller, I'm back on the High Life…


Beer sales falling with economy
SABMiller's beer shipments down during economic slowdown; Carlsberg makes cuts
EMILY FREDRIX AP Food Industry Writer

Even the brewing industry is starting to go flat in the worldwide economic slump.

SABMiller PLC, the London-based brewer of Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni Nastro Azzurro lagers, said on Thursday its beer shipments fell unexpectedly in the third quarter as consumers pulled back on their demand.

i like how the local beer lady at the local fine beer shoppe i frequent, is telling me to buy these mucho pricey beers at 30 $ a four pack and the such, and to store them like wines.  "storing beers for six to eight years before drinking them is a the new thing."  very interesting.

because i'm not sure where else to post this:

Circuit City to liquidate remaining US stores

Bankrupt Circuit City Stores Inc., the nation's second-biggest consumer electronics retailer, said Friday it failed to find a buyer and will liquidate its 567 U.S. stores. The closures could send another 30,000 people into the ranks of the unemployed.

a while back, i used to look forward to these liquidation sales.  maybe it was because i took it as the end result of managerial incompetence or hubris.  but now they strike me as sad and a tad unfair.  yes, i know that CC had it coming for a while.  still, it's hard to rejoince in a liquidation sale these days.

That's hilarious.  I was on the circuity city web page making my wish list when I saw the notice that somebody posted in this thread.

There's some good stuff to be had…

gizmodo is saying that the liquidation sale is all BS… any experience with one?

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
gizmodo is saying that the liquidation sale is all BS… any experience with one?

I got some great shit at CompUSA's liquidation sale.

It's a total bluffers game, btw, much like the tower records liquidation.  If you get there early, you'll have the best selection.  But if you're patient, you have a chance at a really good bargain.  But if you wait too long, they sell out.

I made a priority list and set a spending cap.  I found parts were much easier to be patient on, but built systems went pretty quickly.  Most of the markdowns happened on Friday - and it would stay that way for about a week.  For example, I picked up a few OEM hard drives - one when it was 40% off and a second when it was 60% off.  I used the liquidation to replace stuff (going to a full G wireless network, bigger harddrives, more RAM, etc.) - I may do the same with circuit city except that I just bought a new TV for the bedroom, dammit.