Courtesy of the Non Sequitur comic strip.
Your turn: Is print really dying? Should newspapers do anything to stop the trend of declining paper readership? Do I start looking for a new career now, or is there some type of future for us?
]]>According to the AP, the doctor, Phil Kazanji
says he first thought the amount was a mistake. Now he calls the whole thing "the most ridiculous thing a government agency would do."]]> Again, according to the AP:
City finance director Dave Gajda says Kazanji paid $158 on a bill for $158.48. The city penalized him 3 cents and sent him the new tab. Gajda says Brighton doesn't have the authority to waive a portion of taxes.
Never mind that the city should have socked Kanzanji for the $5 and change it spent sending him a letter.
I wanna know what we need to do to get $158 tax bills. I know a few New Lenox homeowners who would gladly trade for Kanzanji's tax bill, even after the 3 cent penalty.
Also, do you agree with Kanzanji that his tax bill fiasco is "the most ridiculous thing a government agency would do"?
]]>so i just moved and int he move i lost pretty much all of my clothes. i have all my socks and boxers and pants. just no shirts or shorts or anything else. anything you have wuold be great.]]>
Something's not adding up here: Why would a pilot violate federal law and allow a passenger to sit in the bathroom unbelted, but refuse to violate company policy by saying that since the man is not an employee, he can't sit in the jump seat.
]]> Either way, what do you think the other passengers were thinking when the man remained in the bathroom by himself for nearly an hour and a half?]]>Are you kidding me? A number of states have passed similar legislation, and none seems to have been knocked down. And earlier this month, a pipe smoking club and its attorney members were unsuccessful in getting a temporary reprieve from the state's smoking ban for their annual convention.
What makes a few smokers and their attorney think they can convince a Will County judge to overturn the law?
Smokers will argue about the government slowly eroding their rights. While that's a concern, that's not what's happening here.
]]> If you want some evidence of government sponsored "communism" to fight against, fight against the seat belt law. I could care less if you don't wear your seat belt. You'll only kill yourself. But you don't care about that, do you? You care about your ability to puff while putting quarters into a slot machine. Or your ability to puff while throwing back pints. All at my expense.Unlike your not wearing a seat belt, your smoking impacts me. While I'm lucky enough not to be worried about asthma and other health ailments smoking could worsen, I do enjoy breathing clean air. And I love that I can bring a jacket into a bar and that I can enjoy myself without worrying about washing clothes and showering immediately when I get home. And yes, I do occasionally smoke -- usually cigars, and always outdoors.
Perhaps phil9065 said it best in a comment at the bottom of the online story:
How would you like it if everytime I took a sip of beer I spit it on your face and clothes...I bet you wouldn't like it. No one is stopping you from smoking, just do it outside away from me
If you need somewhere to smoke, go do it in your car, without your seatbelt attached, of course. Otherwise, I get to call you a hypocrite.
]]>Over-ambitious cop or totally useless driving instructor?
]]>Is this evidence that Obama is moving onto the general election, or a tacit acknowledgment that the Democrats will probably seat the two states' delegates after all?
]]> Hillary Clinton won both states, but even if the delegates are sat for the convention, she's got a mountain to climb if she wants to be in the top spot on November's ballot.Either way, Democrats outta do something about those two states, especially if they want to win them in November. Think about it? If you were a Michigan or Florida voter -- especially a swing voter who pulled Democrat in the primary to vote for either the first female or first viable black candidate -- would you still support the donkeys who didn't let your vote count?
If history is any indication, both states are uber important on the road to Pennsylvania Avenue. Somebody needs to tell that to the Democrats ASAP.
]]>Your turn: Is print really dying? Should newspapers do anything to stop the trend of declining paper readership? Do I start looking for a new career now, or is there some type of future for us?
]]>The only complicating factor was the occasional sports game that ran a little longer, perhaps cutting into the 10 o'clock news or reruns of The Simpsons.
Now, it's a regular occurrence. Networks seem more and more to be ending shows at 8:31 or 9:02, or some other stupidly annoying similar time.
How am I supposed to watch the first two minutes of Law and Order SVU (perhaps the most crucial), while finding out who got booted from Dancing with the Stars (It's a sexy show, so shudd up) all while ensuring that the DVR properly catches Deadliest Catch (Why is each show more addicting than the last, even though they admittedly show the same thing)?
]]> A few theories are that networks are either pushing advertising time up a few minutes (and thus their revenues) or making a huge hassle for viewers hoping to record shows on other channels simply because they overlap by a few minutes.What's the solution? As much as I would like to boycott any such shows or networks, like Homer Simpson, I can't imagine fighting with TV and it's warming glow.
]]>The Crete Democrat, who is the state senate majority leader, is running against Martin Ozinga III for the 11th Congressional District seat. Obviosly, Ozinga's campaign is making lemonade with the news, arguing that for years Halvorson has followed the lead of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones. This removal is evidence that those relationships are hurting the campaign, according to Ozinga's folks.
]]> Halvorson responded to several media outlets that she has broken step with Jones recently on a number of issues, including recallHalvorson was replaced in the chairmanship by Democrat Ricky Hendon of Chicago.
A few notes that really haven't been reported elsewhere: Hendon also voted for recall, but Hendon also was the one who gaveled the session to a close, as Republicans were calling for a vote on the house version. Because of legislative procedures, Halvorson's the one on record as making that adjournment, even though her campaign says she didn't have anything to do with it.
Expect a more comprehensive story in tomorrow's paper.
I'll save my opinion, but what's yours?
]]>More importantly is what was inside the trunk: "a two-liter bottle of Squirt, a bottle of motor oil and a stack of white cardboard with a picture of a shish-kabob, which police officer Michelle Martorelli identified as a cookbook."
Assuming the Squirt was unopened, would you drink it? With enough smack-talking, I would try a sip of the tasty lymon beverage.
5/13/08 Update: Michael Schmidt, one of our photographers at the paper, took this excellent shot of the inside of the car.
According to Mike, the smell was horrible. But, I would still probably sip the Squirt... for a fee.
]]>That’s pretty much what this blog is about and why it’s named the way it is.
]]> My wife and others around me are often subjected to complaints about everything from horrible pizza delivery service to idiot politicians doing something stupid, to the jerk in the loud car who blows by you on the right only to meet up at the same stoplight blocks away.As I told my wife: These are the things you’ve spent six years listening to. Now, the world will (hopefully) listen (or, in this case, read). Check out my very first entry on drive-throughs for an example (entitled A hungry wet man…)
I’ll spend some time commenting on news, offering opinions that are probably too short for a column format. The tone will be admittedly a bit ranty, but with sound opinions based on common sense.
As we in the news business claw for ways to reach readers in any way possible, the rules of the game are changing a bit. We hope to get people to read online, whether it’s hard news stories or entertaining blogs like this. That being said, I’m still an old school journalism guy, and while this won’t be strict journalism, I’ll insist that we follow the same rules. Basically, that means no personal attacks, verify your facts, and if you’re going to comment about someone or something based on those facts, you should be able to tie your name to it.
As a general rule, issues and people that I cover on the news side on a regular basis will be off limits for me to discuss on an opinion basis, but feel free to comment yourself on these folks. I do, however, plan on offering some small blog-only news items or further insight and detail on stories that I do write for the paper.
You, the readers, will be encouraged to sound off and leave your feedback, and often, a question will accompany each post for you to respond to.
If you’ve got any feedback on the blog itself, certainly direct that to my attention via e-mail.
Here’s to a hopefully great online experience.
]]>Twice today I found myself at a drive through waiting for food (I like to think it's because it was raining and I didn't want to get wet, but let's face it -- I was just lazy.) That's where I realized the designers of the buildings are morons.
Ever notice those cute little awnings that fast food restaurants have over their drive-up windows? Ever notice they stick out just enough to be immediately above your driver's side window?
]]> This means when it rains, buckets of water careen right off the awning's outermost part and directly onto the inside of your door. Trust me: It's not fun. Ever try stuffing a sub sandwich into your mouth with a soaking wet left arm, when the rest of your body is completely dry?Can't restaurants take a lesson from banks and put a roof over their entire drive through to save the lazy from getting wet? It seems simple enough....
]]>