Chicago Dave's View

How Dangerous Are Cell Phones, Really??

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:03:00 +0000

They're after our right to 'freedom of speech' again....

Okay, slight exaggeration. But the National Safety Council started touting studies and statistics today that show that ANY cell phone use while driving is extremely dangerous and shouldn't be allowed.

I think I need to get a look at these "studies" that the National Safety Council keeps referring to in their recent campaign to ban all cell phone usage in cars. I swear I almost had an aneurysm as I listened and tried to make sense of their claims and "arguments" of how dangerous cell phones are. The representative that was being interviewed on the radio while I was driving home today made the following claims:

There's absolutely no safety advantage to using a hands-free device while driving.

- Then why the hell did everyone push so hard to pass THOSE laws??! Seems like a huge waste of time, money, and congressional process. Or maybe it was just seen as a necessary "first step" toward a total ban...?

Talking on the phone is one of the MOST distracting things you can do in a car. More dangerous than eating a cheeseburger or playing with the radio.

- That really seems a bit extraneous. I've done all of these things. I've been with people who do these things while driving. Trust me, I would MUCH RATHER carry on a conversation with someone than have them eating or playing DJ.

"Driving while talking on the phone is as dangerous as driving drunk."

WHO are these people they are studying and WHERE are they finding them??? These have to be the same people (we all a know a few) who can't even handle chewing gum and walking down the sidewalk at the same time. Some people just have very, VERY, poor multi-tasking abilities. I'm guessing that these people would find it difficult to drive and look behind them in their mirrors at the same time. Should we outlaw those dangerous rear view mirrors now?

And now the statistic that almost caused me to drive right into oncoming traffic...

It's actually been shown to be SAFER to be talking to people who are IN THE CAR than to drive alone.

What!!?

I can't believe he said this. I mean, I believe it's true...sometimes. I just can't believe that one can compare talking on the cell phone [not dialing, not 'texting', but TALKING on the cell phone] to drunk driving, and then turn around and say, that it's more than fine if it's in person. That doesn't even make sense. When people are in the car you tend to look at them occasionally, right? That would cause you to take your eyes off of the road. Are people staring at their cell phones while they talk? My brain is starting to short-circuit again while I'm typing this! I'm sorry, but I just can't take any body's word for it that it's a safety advantage to talk to people in the car, but if it's using wireless technology it's comparable to having a .08+ blood alcohol content.

I'm not sure what the REAL motivation behind this ridiculousness is. And I'm scared to learn what their real end-game entails. But right now is when we [people who are able to responsibly talk and drive] need to speak up. We cannot allow this to become law. If it does, it will be similar to a lot of the gun laws in this country; the law abiding, responsible drivers will suffer, and the irresponsible scofflaws will not even be affected.

How about we get the traffic cops to actually do their jobs and deal with the real dangers that are already on the road? An example, something else that happened as I was driving home today. I was behind a large truck. We were on a road that is two lanes in each direction (south Clark St.). The truck was weaving between the lanes without turn signals and spending most of the time with a set of wheels in EACH LANE. The driver could have been drunk, could have been half asleep, definitely was being dangerous. I backed way off of him. But the Chicago Police who were driving right behind me didn't do anything about it. This might be because the cop driving was too busy tailgating me with a cell phone to his ear?

Priorities people. I seriously believe that there are far more important matters at hand than whether or not I should be legally allowed to take a call while behind the wheel. Let's deal with them first, okay?

Roland Burris Gets Denied Seat by Senate

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:43:00 +0000

Roland Burris goes to Washington. Roland Burris goes to Senate. Poor Roland Burris gets shut-down. No entry. "Credentials no good."

Video showed an emotionally upset and disappointed man walking across the street in the rain to tell the press what [he must have known] he will have to do next.

I feel for him though. I really think he might a good man, a decent politician, and probably even a pretty honest guy. He's got a good record, REALLY wants this job, and quite possibly for the right reasons. But he knew this wouldn't be easy.

The Democratic Party told Blagojevich not to appoint anyone. PEBO seconded it. But Rod had to go ahead and do it anyway. Sure he might legally have the right to do so [for now]. But it may have just cost a good man his reputation, and maybe more importantly, his career. The shady governor just can't do what's right, what his party and 'The People' want, or what is good for the state and the nation.

Rod Blagojevich is a self-serving, arrogant, and desperate man with little or no redeemable qualities. I challenge anyone to argue against that. And now we have just one more shiny example of that. If he's going down, he's going to take everyone around him down with him. It doesn't matter [to him, or anyone else] whether it's on purpose or not. He's essentially got political "cooties." And there seems to be no "shots" for that.

Poor Roland Burris might have been appointed legally. He probably saw this as his opportunity to make a positive change and affect positive change in a time in which it so needed. And how great would THAT be; to see such good come from such evil! Unfortunately he just might have been too pure of thought. It didn't cross his mind that he wouldn't be able to separate the "appointee from the appointor."

He'll fight, and he'll probably even get his seat in the Senate. But just long enough to warm that seat up for the next, publicly elected, Senator from Illinois. Long enough to get his name in the books. And hopefully long enough to pay his legal fees and plan his retirement.

7 Things Every Cat (And Their Owners) Should Have

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:39:00 +0000

Living in Chicago I meet a lot of pet owners. Due to the small spaces and lack of back-yards, a good number of these people choose to room with cats. Many conversations I've had about pets usually conclude with similar deductions: We all love having a cat, but hate the chores that go along with it.

So, do you want to reap the rewards for pet ownership without [all] the responsibility? Well, with these clever inventions you can have all the fun without the fuss.

First off, you have to make sure that the little guy (or girl) eats. That's where an automatic pet feeder comes in. Just fill it up every few weeks or so and your good to go. (Unless you have an exhibitionist cat like mine who prefers to be watched while he eats. But that's an whole other article.)

Now that your cat's eaten, they'll probably be thirsty. Sure you can leave the seat up on that giant porcelain 'fountain' in the bathroom.... but if you're too lazy to put out a fresh water bowl, chances are that your toilet's not exactly gleaming clean. No problem, all you need is a "Pet Fountain". This cool contraption percolates plenty of fresh water for whenever your furry friend wants it. Most even include a carbon filter that keeps the water fresh, clean, and healthy!

If you're in the city, or just over-cautious, your cat might not be able to get outside too often (if at all.) That's okay, just bring the outside in for them. Now that you've got your Pet Fountain, for a few bucks more you can add the "Aqua Garden". Purely organic, hydroponic wheat grass easily grows simply by clipping a little "seed pod" to the side of your pet fountain. Within a few days you'll start seeing growth of what will become your pets favorite little patch of healthy grass to play with, and eat! It will usually last a few weeks. Then you can just pop in a new "pod" and grow more. Or, if you're feeling down, you can always cut the grass; throw it in a blender; and make your own wheat grass shot?

Food? Check.

Water? Check.

Grass? Check.

Uh-oh. What goes in must inevitably come out as well. That's often enough to make most people not adopt a cat at all. Taking care of that 'business' is definitely not a pleasant proposition. I am personally not a fan at all of 'poop-scooping.' So, I go "ScoopFree".

The ScoopFree litter box is worth it's weight in....gold. [nope, didn't go there] This litter box does all the dirty work for you! All you have to do is replace the pre-filled litter tray about once a month and throw the old one away. (This might have to take place slightly more often if you're a crazy "cat-lady" with lots and lots of cats.) Indeed, this is a high-tech toilet for your kitty. Complete with motion sensors, timers, and built-in motorized 'rake' for scooping. It even stores the 'dirty stuff' out of sight and thus, out of mind! Some models even have their own ionic air filters now so you don't have people walk in your door and question, "Do you have cats?" This is indeed the best 'waste management' solution since indoor plumbing!

What? You don't always have enough time or energy to play with the little fur-ball when you get home? Feel bad that he's not getting enough exercise? 'Miss Pretty Precious' turning into a holy terror? "Loco!Motion" may be just what you both need. Just add 3 AA cells, [plus maybe tie a shoestring on the end] and this automated arm will keep your kitty's attention for sure. It's extremely quiet as far as electronic cat toys go. It's by far the most hushed that I've [barely] heard. Moreover, it's random, jerky motions capably mimic your own play-skills. My cat really goes crazy with the thing. Therefore, "Loco!Motion" just may be the most appropriate name for it. *(It may be sold under the name, "Pure Commotion" at some pet stores.)

Hit Below to See

"Pure Commotion" In Action!!

I know, I know... All that playing [among other cat activities] tends to spread quite a bit of unsightly fur EVERYWHERE! How it got on top of my surround sound speakers I may never know!?! But not to worry, I've found how to handle that too.

First, you NEED a Roomba. Really, just go get one; The BEST 'practical' gift I've ever received. Roomba does a better job at getting fur off of carpet, tile, and hardwood than anything else I've used. And the best part? It does it all-by-it-self! Almost completely hands-off. You can set it to run while you're at work. Roomba will automatically get itself back to it's charging dock when it's done. And it even gets into corners, under most furniture, and won't fall down stairs! All you need to do is empty it out when you get home, (Extremely easy!) and your floors will always be fur-free.

Cats LOVE sleeping on the bed, the couch, maybe even your pool table. Unquestionably, cats adore anything that their fur will stick to. Well, just a few swipes of the "Mini Sweepa" and you can comfortably bring guests over again. No fear of her nice black dress turning into a furry, gray embarrassment. No more worries of waking up with a mouthful of cat hair. The little rubber bristles of this handy brush get that fur up quicker than any lint brush, roller, or tape you might be using now. The "Mini Sweepa" is re-usable, and it works great on lots of surfaces. You'll find yourself giving almost everything in your place a swipe or two when you're getting ready to have company over.

Well, I'm sure there are more items that I could add to this list. But I've covered the essentials pretty well, I think. If you know of a must have that I don't have listed here, or you already own some of these items... I'd love to hear about it. So, leave a comment and share it with us!

Blagojevich To Appoint Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris as Obama's Replacement

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:25:00 +0000

In a bold [yet not too surprising] move, our fearless Governor will hold a press conference this afternoon (at 2 p.m.) to name Obama's successor in the Senate. Blagojevich is said to name 71 year-old former Illinois State Attorney General Roland Burris as his choice to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

This, only a matter of weeks after his well publicized arrest for attempting to "sell" said Senate seat for personal gain. This arrest also sparked action within the Illinois Congress to move toward impeachment of the self-serving Governor.

It has been well stated by the Democratic National Party that they would not recognize ANY appointments by the tainted Illinois Governor. I can't believe that anyone would even consider accepting an appointment from Rod Blagojevich. This would have to be considered career suicide by anyone with half a brain. I know jobs a hard to came by these days, but come on now!

If Roland Burris does take the Senate seat, he can't reasonably imagine that he could keep it in an open election. Or that he will be able to actually accomplish anything while in office. I just don't foresee any self-respecting politician wanting to have anything to do with him.

Really, for the sake of government, democracy, and the good of this country, Rod Blagojevich needs to give up. He needs to retire, resign, give up the Governor's position. He needs to get out of politics, fight his court battle, but do it as a private citizen. By maintaining his position as Illinois Governor and continuing to [try to] do business, all he's accomplishing is tainting others with the same suspicion of corruption that he brought upon himself. The only real thing I think Blagojevich will ever accomplish from now on as governor, is to further ruin the reputation of Illinois politics and make this state known as having the most corrupt and dishonest political system in the nation.

Perhaps this move is meant to reinforce Rod's assertion of innocence? But I can't see this as anything other than a last ditch attempt to gain favor with someone who has ties to the Illinois Attorney General's office. Just more scheming, plotting, and dealing to save his own arse.

This is just one more shiny example of how Rod Blagojevich has no class. He works with entirely no consideration for his political party, the State of Illinois, or it's many fine citizens who [unfortunately] put him in office. This guy is only out to help himself with absolutely no regard for anything else.

Well, maybe something good is to come from this fiasco. Perhaps Illinois voters will take a little more time in choosing who to vote for in the future. The citizens of Illinois (especially Chicago) have for much too long voted for officials based on the wrong criteria. They don't take the time to actually think about what they're doing and who they're giving power to. It's time to wake up Illinois! Take those blinders off, and start making some better decisions!

How Barack Obama Controls The Media

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:00:00 +0000

This recent "situation" with Rod Blagojevich and Barack Obama's, shall we say, somewhat detached involvement with it has shown me something. Honestly, it reminded me of my Wednesday nights watching "The West Wing". There was a recurring theme that spread across many different episodes. It was always stressed to be very important and necessary to move forward with the administrations agenda. It all came down to four little words, "control the news cycle."

This was something that came to mind briefly when the Hillary Clinton Secretary of State appointment was imminent. Obama spread that story out over 2 or 3 news days. He held a press conference on Friday supposedly to answer questions about it, briefly commented on it, and said there would be more information on Monday. He then proceeded to give, essentially, a speech about his economic plans. He took a lot of public discussion and debate about Hillary Clinton, capitalized on it, and artfully changed the subject to what he wanted us to talk about. That Monday he did approximately the same thing. He kept the conversation on the economic crisis and how he's going to fix it. Honestly, brilliant.

And now, with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's arrest and corruption charges, he did it again! As soon as talk started that he might be 'involved' or some how entangled in this mess, he held a press conference. All of the media showed up; everyone wanted to hear him deny, or lay out facts about who talked to whom. He gave essentially two well thought out, intentionally worded sentences stating that he personally knew nothing about it. He then, again, gave a little speech... this time about health care. Obama then introduced Tom Daschle as his nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary and passed the mic over to Tom. Unfortunately for Barack the "change the subject" technique didn't work too well this time as the news focused only the first few minutes of the conference. He did however set up his next press conference by telling us that it would "take a few days" to get that list of contacts between his and Blago's personnel. So we are all now waiting with anticipation for that next time he'll step in front of the camera.

It's like Groundhog day. A bunch of idiots standing around waiting for a rodent to come out of a hole and tell us if it will be warm and nice soon, or if it'll be cold a bit longer. We (especially the media) are all waiting around for Obama to come out of his office and tell us if everything's okay and safe, or if we're going to see more trouble for a while.

I'm not going to make a decision whether it's good or bad that our president elect, or "PEBO" as the kids are saying, is taking his policy cues from a canceled TV show. I'm just going to say that I'm on to you Mr. Obama, and I'm a little impressed. So let's all pay close attention over the next 4 years. If you're reading this, chances are you own at least one season of "The West Wing" on DVD. Watch it again and let me know if you see any other similarities between Jed and Barack.

Damn I miss that show....

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Barack Obama Denies Involvement With Blagojevich in Press Conference - News Reports Controversy.

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:36:00 +0000

Barack Obama held a press conference today to respond to the myriad of media requests I'm sure he has gotten about the Blagojevich fiasco. His answers were obviously very carefully worded and "less than forthcoming", as 'the news' would say. It's also been reported on that he will not immediately release a list of 'liaisons' or members of his staff that had contact with the Governors office [until it is thoroughly compiled and detailed].

This has gotten the media in a frenzy. The fervor at which reporters are suggesting that this means he has something to hide is hilarious to me.

Here are MY thoughts on Obama's reaction to the situation in Illinois:

Barack Obama is evidently (as proven November 4th) quite a skilled politician and public speaker. He ALWAYS chooses his words carefully and is rather good at choosing just the right words. (e.g. "Yes We Can" and "Change") Also, this Rod Blagojevich thing is political poison. Anyone who is only reasonably associated with it will have one hell of a hard time loosing this from their public-opinion resume. And any redeclaration of facts about personal involvement will be questioned, re-questioned, and questioned yet again resulting in a very fast and very strong drop in public support. These details alone are reason enough to understand Obama's reaction to his press conference questions today.

I'm not jumping to Barack Obama's defense so much as I am rationally thinking this through. (Something today's news media is not very experienced at.) I'm trying to think how I would react if I were in his position. And I'd like to think that it would be pretty much as we're seeing.

You might want to consider as well that Obama has moved forward with his transition planning and Cabinet appointments faster than any President-elect in history. He obviously has a very tightly scheduled plan he intends to follow before Inauguration Day. I'm quite sure that his plans and schedule had absolutely nothing 'penciled-in' for avoiding having his career tainted by an idiotic, selfish, criminal Governor from Illinois. And I'm also pretty confident that Obama's not willing to let this idiot affect his presidential plans in any drastic manner.

In other words, he has better things to do. (He might as well just say, "I'm busy. The end.") Unlike the media, whose number one interest and agenda is to jump on whatever juicy story that pops up. To take that story and talk about it 24/7, exploit it for ratings, and sensationalize the hell out of it.

The media just makes me laugh...

....and disappoints me again and again.

A Little Comic Relief

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:59:00 +0000

In these days of economic uncertainty and rampant political corruption, I offer a brief moment of comic relief to lighten your day and [hopefully] bring a little smile to your face.

"Skitch"

A new comic, expertly drawn by: Tom Burns

Enjoy, comment, and please feel free to SHARE it with the world!

(Click on "ADD THIS" button below to share, email, bookmark, etc...)

Illinois' Governor "Hot Rod" Blagojevich Arrested By FBI Minutes Ago!

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:49:00 +0000

Uhhhh....

In what was surprising move to some, FBI swooped in this morning and arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff. FBI allegations against the Governor include trying to sell Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat and using the appointment for his own personal gain! He is also accused of threatening to withhold government funds from the Chicago Tribune unless they fire certain staff that have been critical of the governor.

Blagojevich was caught on tape saying, "If they're not going to offer anything of value, I'm just going to take it." This said in obvious reference to Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat. He was also heard on the recordings saying to the Deputy Governor, "This is a f#%^ing valuable thing, you don't just give it away for nothing!"

Governor Blagojevich, officials said, was even considering taking the Senate seat himself and using that to "rebuild" his name. He had also mentioned this positioning himself well for a run at the Presidency.

The governor has been showing public arrogance recently and even joking in the news about having his conversations recorded. I don't think he's laughing anymore.

Check back for more information as I'm able to gather it and share it with you as this unfolds. I'm beyond excited that we are finally rid of this guy, not very surprised at how it happened, and am looking forward to getting more facts about this situation.

Read the official USDOJ Press release here:

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01.pdf

The officially filed complaint and affidavit can be read here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-12/43789434.pdf

(It's about 78 pages long and details the investigation that has been ongoing since 2003!)

Happy Birthday Rod!

"Olympic Village Progress Made for Chicago 2016" - OR - "Daley Loves It When A Plan Comes Together"

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:07:00 +0000

It seems that Mayor Daley's vision for Chicago 2016 is slowly and steadily taking shape. It was reported today that agreements have that will help ensure the building of an Olympic Village on the site that was formerly Michael Reese Hospital.

The $1.1 Billion project (about the same dollar value as the recently passed parking meter lease deal) will build 5000 condo units for Olympians to use as dormitories during the Chicago 2016 Olympics. This construction project will also bring a much needed infusing of money and development to the Chicago lakefront south of McCormick Place.

Investors are rightfully a little concerned about the destiny of the new housing after the Olympics are over. Especially considering the current economy and the fact that only about 5000 condos are sold in all of Chicago in GOOD year! But we should keep in mind that this is almost 8 years down the road. That's enough time for two full Presidential terms. And we all know how much our economy can swing in just two Presidential terms.

Organizers also stated that $50 Million of developers' "rights fees" will go toward helping to finance a proposed Olympic Stadium in Chicago's Washington Park.

Chicago's New Parking Meter Rules to Help Solve City Budget..... And Perhaps Obesity

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:04:00 +0000

I foresee a lot of walking in Chicago's future....

The Chicago City Council seemingly and admittedly rushed to a passing vote to privatize the city's 36,000 parking meters. As a result of this decision, Chicago's parking meters will leased by a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley for the next 75 years.

This deal will infuse the city with over $1 Billion that Daley says will be used to balance Chicago's budget. This new parking meter deal will also drastically increase the cost for parking on the streets of Chicago over the next few years. Top meter rates are said to rise up to $6.50 per hour within 5 years. That's $2 more than the minimum hourly wage for waitstaff in Illinois! This will actually make it cheaper to park at some parking lots than at the meters in Chicago!

"Chicago Parking Meter LLC" (the fund that will now run city meters) will also do away with parking meter "holidays" and charge you to park at meters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (366 in 'leap-years')

This is going to radically affect the way of life in this city. For one, I'm sure it will be a lot easier to find parking spots on the streets of Chicago. That is, if you're willing to pay for them. But finding overnight parking will definitely become more difficult as meters will be running 24 hours a day.

I think a large percentage of drivers (myself included) will rather park a little further away and walk the extra distance instead of paying these ridiculous rates. This could be a good thing; giving people the opportunity to do more walking, take more public transportation, and plan their errands a little more efficiently. On the other hand, a lot of businesses are already concerned that potential customers will just keep driving past their shops instead of dropping 10 quarters to 'run in' for 20 minutes of shopping. (Who keeps that kind of change on them anyway?)

With the recently activated winter parking regulations; economic downturn; and existing frustration with Chicago's ticketing and towing policies, I believe this is bad timing for this kind of change. This could also prove to be a rather poor political decision for Chicago politicians looking to get re-elected.

If you're worried about this transition affecting you, there are some good options to consider that could save you money, fines, and undue stress:

Plan your day better. Try to park centrally and walk to the businesses and shops you need to visit. You can always walk back to your car and put items in your trunk before moving on to the next stop.
Stay local. Many neighborhoods in Chicago have their own, smaller, locally run stores and shops that can offer more convenience. And, quite often, these places may afford you unique products and personal service that you won't find elsewhere.
Take public transportation. There are buses, trains, and taxis all over Chicago. (This option can also help the environment) There are websites and iPhone 'Apps'("CTA Tracker", "iTrans Chicago CTA", and "CTA Routes")that can help you with this if you're not familiar. They can plan your routes as well as give you exact times and prices of your entire trip.

Last, but not least....

Take action, speak out!

- Don't park at meters if you don't absolutely have to.

- Write letters and call your representatives.

(Just remain calm and mature with your wording though)

- Find out who voted in favor of this deal don't re-elect them.

This city is getting a little out of control with taxes, fees, fines, and parking 'difficulties'. But we can, and must let them know that it's time slow down. They need to stop rushing into major decisions that affect Chicago citizens and visitors in such extensive and negative ways. They need to take time, think things through, and start working in OUR best interest.

"Where to Street Park in Chicago in the Winter" or "Welcome to Hell....Frozen Over"

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:56:00 +0000

Well, the first big snowfall of this winter season commenced at almost exactly midnight, this morning, December 1st. There's no denying it now, folks... It's winter in Chicago! Now we get to look forward to all the wonderful challenges that go along with snow in this city. Not the least of which is trying to park on the street.

For those of you in the City of Chicago who have garages or own/rent parking spaces, this isn't that big of an issue. For the rest of us however, there can be some very real consequences to parking in the wrong place.

Chicago has many streets and roads that are designated "Snow Routes". And there are two important parking regulations that come attached to those words.

The first snow route parking regulation is the "Winter Overnight Parking Ban". On approximately 107 miles of arterial city streets from 3am to 7am EVERYDAY - regardless of snow - there is absolutely no parking allowed. You WILL get ticketed, you WILL be towed, and you WILL pay Chicago a lot of money. I recommend that you not test this out. They get quite a bit of revenue from this and will not hesitate to take your car. You can see a map of these streets here.

The second snow route parking regulation is enforced when there has been a snowfall of two inches or more. And while the City of Chicago claims that this is not activated often, and that they'll usually just 'relocate' your vehicle instead of bringing it to the impound lot, I suggest that you be mindful of these areas too. Here is a map of these 500 miles of roads.

Because of these parking rules, spaces will be limited. Try to stay calm. Plan to spend extra time looking for parking, digging out your car, and parking farther away. Keep your tempers under control and remember that we are all dealing with the same situation.

Good luck and happy parking!

5 Things Chicago Needs to Fix Now

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Anyone who has lived in the Chicago area long enough to consider their self a 'resident' could easily rattle off 10-20 things they think need-a-fixin' in this town. The following are just my top five at the moment.

Number 5

"Legislative Districts"

I'm putting this at number five because it bugs me, I think they're outdated and inappropriate. But I also know that there's a better chance of Archer Ave getting straigtened out first.

If you look at a map of Chicago's legislative districts it'll be pretty self-explainatory. They have to be the most ridiculous, shady, corrupt districts in America. They get defined in private meetings and "deals" between representatives for the main purpose of getting re-elected and preserving power. They serve little, if any, benefit to the residents and businesses of Chicago. Usually, I would claim, the opposite is true.

Number 4

"Expressways and Interchanges"

A major interchange in the heart of Chicago was once listed among the top 10 things in America that need to be addressed. The complex mix of bottle necks, lane changes, ramps, confusing signs, and just pure danger that the average rush-hour driver encounters on the "expressways" of Chicago is quite honestly enough to drive a person insane. (No pun intended!) There should be an 800 number for a 'road-rage' hotline printed on the back of every driver's license issued within 40 miles of Chicago. These roads, which always seem to be under construction, are at least one or two lanes narrower than they should have been 10 years ago. Too many drivers plus not enough road equals bad news.

I used to have a 17 mile commute into the city every day. A drive which could be as quick as 15 minutes without traffic, would commonly take one to two hours between 2pm and 7pm. Any city with a five to six hour "rush hour" has a problem that seriously needs addressing.

Obama, you want to invest in fixing roads? How about starting in your hometown...

Number 3

Street Cleaning Signs

I swear I remember a time when there were standard, metal signs posted that clearly stated when you could not parked on a street due to normally scheduled street cleaning. What happened to them? Instead, Chicago decided to implement a system of temporary signs to serve this purpose. What happens is the night before they want to clean the road, a mass of city workers canvass the streets and tie paper signs to trees and poles that state no one can park there the following day. Then, that next morning (usually around 9am!) droves of cops with ticket books in hand patrol those areas and leave $50 tickets on the cars of people who didn't even know that they weren't supposed to park there!

What a scam. Sounds illegal doesn't it? Should be. Not to mention who decided that tons, literally TONS of paper signs should be used instead of permanent (re-usable) ones. This doesn't seem very eco-friendly. Especially since most of the paper signs get ripped down by upset, recently ticketed car owners and just thrown on the ground. In fact, it sounds like a huge waste of environmental resources. Which brings me to number 2...

Number 2

"Recycling"

Almost everybody in America has a little rectangular bin that they put out along with their garbage once a week. In that bin we place all items that we seperate out for recycling. This has been available and working for over 10 years in most of the country. But in the 3rd largest city in America what do we do? NOTHING! That's right, nothing. There exists no recycling program for the City of Chicago. Oh, they tried an ill-conceived program a few years ago. This program involved placing recyclables in these over-priced 'blue-bags' and setting them out with the rest of the trash. Unfortunately, there were never any special "recycling trucks" to pick up these bags. So the regular gargage trucks would have to collect them and just threw them in with the rest of the gargbage. At that point, all of it (blue bags AND Hefty bags) recycleable and garbage-garbage, all went to the same place. That's right, the landfill. After perpetrating this scam on the Chicago people for over 10 years, they finally faced facts and ended the rouse a few years ago.

...Still waiting for a refund on all those expensive blue bags that ended up in the landfills.

Number 1

"Clean Energy"

I had touched on this topic in previous articles posted here and here. And with a little online research I've found that there is some legislation in place to give some tax incentives to Chicagoans who install solar panels on their property. However, I beleive a lot more can and should be done to promote this city's transistion to 'green' energy sources. There are so many possible ideas to help propigate this. Perhaps we could start with just a better marketing plan? Internet, TV, radio? Or considering all the time people in Chicago spend in their cars everyday, maybe enlist the use of a few of those giant billboards to educate people. A lot of people don't know about what's already in place to encourage greener energy use. There could also be more advertisement about the simple choices we can make to improve the situation. Basically I think the public officials just need to get on the same page as the general public. We are eager and willing to do what we can. Just let us know you're willing to help too, Chicago (government).

"Help us to help you."

"Economy... WHAT Economy?" or "How To Save America by Buying American"

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:57:00 +0000

I think that by now we all understand that the United States economy is in trouble. It's in the news everyday, President-Elect Obama is talking about our economy and his plans to repair it once he takes office. Businesses are "trimming the fat" by letting employees go or cancelling bonuses and "holiday parties." And retailers are pushing deep discounts to try and stir up more sales this season.

A huge part of the problem with the economy today (probably the biggest!) is that the United States just doesn't produce and sell enough products to keep our money circulating within America. Most cars, electronics, clothing, and other consumer products are made overseas and sold here. Then OUR money goes back to those foreign companies to pay THEIR workers. And it seems this is happening as fast as the Federal Reserve can print the money!

One thing we can all do to help our economy, make sure American workers keep their jobs, and strengthen the value of the U.S. dollar is to bring back an old saying:

"Buy American!"

It's great to get those wonderful electronics and the lastest fashions at those low prices that sweatshops and foreign labor laws (or lack thereof) enable. But we can all clearly see now that a few dollars saved here and there turns into a huge recession in the long run.

We NEED to support those companies that still reside in America. We NEED to buy their products and services. This is the only way the American economy is going to survive over the long-term.

"But HOW do I buy American?"

This an unfortunately valid question these days. Especially considering that practically every label you find at most large department stores say, "Made In {insert foreign country name here}" Foreign products are being pushed on us everywhere we turn today. Well, ALMOST everywhere.

With a little research, internet surfing, or a mindful eye, you can help ensure that your American dollars go back to American workers. Hard working Americans trying to make a living and support their families. Again, let's bring back another old saying:

"Look For The Union Label!"

Go to stores that sell American made products. Only buy cars that are manufactured or (at least) assembled in the United States! And electronics.... well, good luck with that. But there are resources to help you find these mysterious products. Here are just a few to get you started:

http://www.americansworking.com/

http://www.madeinusaforever.com/index.html

http://www.madeinusa.org/

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/

http://www.usab2c.com/

http://www.usstuff.com/

Or if you're feeling particularly patriotic and have an entreprenurial spirit... Perhaps you could build your own website that sells all American Made products. You'll be helping the economy, the nation, and yourself by putting that money in American workers' pockets.... as well as your own!

If we don't, this could soon be a typical day for ALL of us:

"Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 a.m. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day, Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in.....AMERICA....."

Obama to Invest in America's Future

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:52:00 +0000

There's been some negative talk about about Obama's plan to overcome our current economic crisis. His plan is targeted to created over 2 million jobs by 2011 by investing in America. He wants to build and improve roadways, bridges, public works, as well as promote development of alternative power sources. Most of the negativity comes from the predicted cost of such a plan.

In my opinion, the money's going to be spent anyway. We will dig ourselves deeper into debt. And with current spending most of it would probably go overseas, increase the deficit, and not increase America's ability to sustain a decent [much less, prosperous] economy into the future. So we might as well invest in ourselves for a change.

It's time to think about the long-term concerns of the United States again. And it's time to be selfish, it's time to clean up our own backyard and make sure this great country of ours will last long enough to celebrate another centennial.

Clinton Power on the Rise Again

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:57:00 +0000

I guess you could say that I'm a bit conflicted about the [almost certain] possibility of Hillary Clinton taking the reigns as this country's Secretary of State under the Obama administration...

On one hand I despise practically everything that the Clintons have done, currently do, and stand for. They are an ugly, power-hungry, selfish, stop-at-nothing couple of corrupt political creatures who do anything and everything to get what they want regardless of long-term collateral damage to others or the United States.

On the other hand, they are power hungry, stop-at-nothing, political creatures who accomplish [almost] everything they set out to do. So, as long as somebody else is choosing their goals for them they might prove useful in repairing the condition we find America in today.

I say 'they' because there is no separating the two influences. Once you mention the name 'Clinton', instantly they both come to mind. (Unless you're at a P-Funk concert, perhaps?) They also live together - mostly. And the Clintons will probably be together, talk together, and travel together a lot during Hillary's duties a Secretary of State.

They also do/have done many other things together. For example... partnering with Dubai in a 'business' venture that really benefits nobody except for the Clinton's and the Dubai government. Helping the Dubai government actually hurts a lot of other people. The more money the Prince of Dubai has, the more power he has. The more power, the more he can oppress people in his country, people of Israel, and spread his influence throughout the middle-east.

Most of Bill Clinton's Dubai connection is through a company named 'Yucaipa' as a senior, paid advisor. Through his various business dealings and exorbitant amount of money he's received from it, Bill has essentially become a "paid agent of the crown of Dubai." Can you say, "conflict-of-interest" boys and girls?

Or, perhaps, Obama is a genius. Perhaps he plans to exploit and control that 'relationship' by having Hillary in his cabinet. Maybe this could be a good thing? Or... maybe she figure out a way to use this office to work on the Clinton's retirement plan and guarantee that tons of money and power are afforded them after she leaves the office. And leaves America in worse condition than she found it?

We can only watch and wait to see at this point.

Fans excited over long-awaited, new release from Tesla (Motors)!

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:20:00 +0000

For well over a year now I have had a sleek and sexy red roadster as my Windows wallpaper on my laptop. Most people who saw it assumed that I was a big fan of Lotus or Ferrari. But those who bothered to comment or ask me about it found out that the picture was actually of a new kind of electric car that I've been waiting to see go into regular production.

What was pictured is a 250 horsepower, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seat sports car that can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 4 whisper quiet seconds, can travel about 300 miles on a single charge, and can be "re-fueled" with just a few hours of being plugged in at your home.

The Tesla Roadster ,as it's called, is seriously on par with Porsche and Ferrari when it comes to style and performance. The "Roadster" boasts heated sport seats and full leather interior. A 7-speaker stereo with CD, iPod, and MP3 support. It has power windows, air conditioning, and even a retractable cup holder! Also 250 horses 'under the hood', 276 ft/lb of torque, independent suspension, anti-lock brakes, and 17-inch 7-spoke wheels. And a slew of other luxury options and accessories to appease even the highest of car buying standards.

In the fuel-efficiency department, Tesla has no rival I can think of. This ain't your mommy's hybrid. In fact, it's not a 'hybrid' at all. This car is all electric; no gasoline at all, baby. Though, calculating approximate electricity costs versus gasoline prices and mileage... the Tesla Roadster will hit your wallet around the same as a car that gets about 135 miles per gallon!

"Charge me, baby!"

The California based company announced November 3rd that is now in regular production of the car at a rate of about 10 per week. That number is expected to jump up to 30 per week as early as next year. Tesla, backed by the same guys who started PayPal and Google, is selling this awesome machine close to $100,000. Depending on your view of things that's either kinda pricey or a pretty good deal. I consider it the latter. However, the plan is to start making profit and drive down the costs of the technology with this high end model. After that, they intend to start producing more 'affordable' versions that will appeal more to the rest of the car buying world. I haven't seen any hard schedule as to when that might happen. But knowing what kind of brilliant minds (and money) are running things, I'd keep my eye out for Tesla Motors stores to open up in a city near you soon!

Tesla Motors - Los Angeles

My Night With 'Boston Legal' - OR - Why I Love/Hate David E. Kelley

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:34:00 +0000

There I was watching tonight's episode of Boston Legal, when William Shatner's character 'Denny' made reference to this being the show's last season. This upset me a little bit as I leaped forward to start searching on my laptop for verification of this horrid possibility! As I read article after article confirming the tragedy, my mind started racing with ideas of how to best compose my feelings into a decent blog posting.

Just then I heard an argument in the show that basically stated that people should vote for whomever they want, but should be able to form a clear and concise argument as to why. Having felt the exact same sentiment for the last few months (just ask any of my Facebook friends), I suddenly shifted that to be the inspiration for my next article. While putting together a few thoughts on that topic, Alan Shore (James Spader's character) listed many ridiculous reasons why people vote for certain candidates. He then summed it up with, "we vote for who we like....we're as simple as that." I thought it was a great scene. It was enjoyable, entertaining, so true, and yet something that not many TV shows could bring. It's one of things this show does well. The writer's do tend to get rather political sometimes, and from an obviously liberal position. But they do it very skillfully, entertainingly, it's always timely and current, and they usually offer some room for balanced viewpoints.

About now is the time I hear the line, "life is merely a sum of one's experiences." This is always a good line; It's common enough we've all heard it. Yet sometimes, when considered, can lead to much contemplation and revelation about oneself. Actually, take 20 seconds and do that now. Think back shortly to what you remember most about what you've done so far in this life.

I know what pops into my mind when I do that. Maybe some of you thought about things you have yet to accomplish? ...perhaps wondering when or even if you might get to them?

Well, the show came back from commercial into yet another cigar-smoking, scotch-sipping, dialogue between Alan and Denny. As I sat there watching the back and forth at the end of the show, as I've done nearly 100 times before, I figured out what I wanted to write about. And my original thoughts came back to me even stronger: This is a great TV show! And I'll miss it.

Boston Legal - Seasons 1-4

Only four episodes left - Watch them.

Monday nights on ABC, 9pm (Central Time)

"Green ain't just the river on St. Patrick's day!" Or "How Chicago Will Improve Burnham's Vision!"

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:57:00 +0000

It only took 100 years, but it seems that Chicago city planners are finally taking the last major recommendation from Daniel Burnham's plan for Chicago's lakefront. Burnham's 1909 vision is being realized in an effort to "go green."

Essentially a 2-mile long breakwater surrounding Monroe Harbor, the proposed 'Eco-Bridge' will provide; more parks & recreational space, skyline views, and much needed 'green' electricity for Chicago.

Raised in Chicago, famed architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham has contributed immensely to the shapes and sights of the Chicago we all know today. He's to thank for the Rookery and Monadnock buildings, The Museum of Science and Technology (last remnants of 1893 World's Colombian Exposition) as well as much of the lakefront that we enjoy today.

Local design firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has been charged with bringing Burnham's Plan into the 21st century. The current plan includes the addition of wind turbines to supplement the city's power supply and an observation tower to take full advantage of the gorgeous city views only possible from almost a mile off shore. There is also talk of this being the perfect location for a possible Olympic Flame in 2016?

Daley is obviously motivated by furthering Chicago's image as 'Greenest City' and hopes to fulfill his own Olympic dreams. But, being a huge fan of Burnham, Chicago, and the use of wind power, I will be excited to see this project completed with or without the added excitement of 'Chicago-2016.'

Burnham's Original 1909 Plan

Follow these links to learn more!

The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City

(Chicago Visions and Revisions)

Pocket Guide to Chicago Architecture

Blagojevich gets to APPOINT Obama's Replacement!?!?

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:49:00 +0000

WHAT??! This guy isn't qualified to appoint a barber for Don King! How does this man have so much power?? How is he still Governor? And why is he not on his way to jail like so many other of Illinois' politicians?

First, a little background for those of you who need it. Governor "Rod" Blagojevich currently has an amazing approval rating of 13%. An approval rating lower than Truman ever had, lower than the current President Bush, and more than 10 points lower than California's Gov. Gray Davis at the time of the famed recall election that put "Arnold" in charge. The Chicago Tribune reports that "Rod" has "the lowest ratings ever recorded for an elected politician." And when asked for comment recently he actually said that he thinks he's doing a pretty good job! Which makes me wonder if he's hallucinating or maybe taking too much Paxil?

Blagojevich "blames the sluggish economy" for his approval ratings. I think you could probably turn that around and blame a lot of Illinois' "sluggishness" on good ole "Hot-Rod" himself. This due to his unbelievable tax plans and questionable leadership that have been driving businesses across the border into Indiana and Wisconsin for years now.

As for activities that I consider bordering on criminal? He spent $2.6 MILLION of Illinois' money on a foreign produced flu vaccine that the FDA had warned would not be allowed to enter into the United States. The vaccines ended up being "donated" for use in a different foreign country. The Governor also decided to spend a lot of time and money pushing for a law banning the sale of certain video games. A law which was later declared to violate the First Ammendment by a federal court judge and cost the State of Illinois taxpayers a whopping half-million dollars in legal fees! That only covers a few of his pet projects that the feds aren't already investigating.

And now we're going to allow this gem of a politician to just appoint a senator for the next two years? No vote, no primary, no choices at all for the citizens. He just gets to pick one of his buddies to replace Obama in Washington. To give whomever he chooses a gauranteed job making almost $200k a year for the next 2 years supposedly representing the people of Illinois.

How does he have ANY IDEA who to pick to represent Illinois when, obviously, no one feels he knows how to represent us well?

Mr. Blagojevich has shown time and time again that he has no respect for the law, Illinois citizens, or the tax-payers hard earned money! He should not have the right to call himself Governor of this great state much less appoint new representation for us! I cannot wait for 2010 when we get to replace this anchor that's weighing Illinois down. And I cannot imagine (or am afraid to imagine) what he might do in those next 2 years....

God help us.

From "Windy City" to "Wind POWERED City"

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:17:00 +0000

Anybody who has spent much time walking down the streets of Chicago can surely appreciate how much wind whips through this city at any given time. Recently, I began to ponder why we aren't harnessing more of that wind power in order to help with our enormous appetite for electricity.

If there were just one moderately small sized wind turbine generator on every building in this city (or even just downtown!), Can you imagine how much power that could create for us? Just think about it. Power to help run our air conditioners in the summer, our electric heaters in the winter, or even those beautiful city lights every night all year long! This could prevent a lot of coal from being burned, nuclear waste from being created, and money from leaving our checking accounts.

The benefits could go way beyond that as well. I'm imagining thousands of jobs being created to produce, install, and maintain the units. More jobs and lower bills would undoubtedly help our economy by resulting in more people with more momey that can be spent elsewhere. Such use of wind power would obviously cut down on pollution, and can send a surge of money into the industry causing further development and expansion of wind technology. It just may also cause other major cities to realize that they could do the same thing too.

"But how do we implement such an idea?" Well, this is Chicago, a city that is masterful at making people do and pay for things they don't neccessarily want. Some small examples would include; the ridiculously high taxes Cook County charges on tobacco product (in the name of our health), the $50 fines imposed if you park on the wrong side of the street on "street cleaning day", and we even pay a bottled water tax now (supposedly to lessen the amount of plastic bottles that end up in landfills). I won't even get into the laundry-list of codes and regulations that apply to doing pretty much ANYTHING within the city limits.

So, I'd suggest maybe more tax breaks for those that use wind power? Perhaps some sort of fines or extra taxes (the Chicago way) for not using alternative electricity sources? Hell, why not just sign a bill into law that would require any landlord with 2-3 or more rental units to mandatorily install a wind power generator on their tennants roof? I would certainly back this idea!

Well, if I'm just half the writer I think I am you, by now you're asking, "now what can I do about it?" Glad you asked! Best thing you can do now to help is to talk about it. Tell anyone who will listen. But most importantly, tell someone who can do something about it. Here is small list of resources to get you started:

Office of the Mayor:

Address: Office of the Mayor

City Hall - 121 N LaSalle, Room 507

Chicago, IL 60602

Fax: 312-744-8045

(That's ALL the info they had published for him)

Find & Contact your Alderman:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalProgramAction.do?programId=536879154&channelId=-536879035&topChannelName=Government

Or go to the big man himself...

President Elect Barrack Obama:

Online contact forms:

http://answercenter.barackobama.com/cgi-bin/barackobama.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php

http://obama.senate.gov/contact/

How to get a hold of Barack Obama:

Washington D.C. Office
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2854
(202) 228-4260 fax
(202 228-1404 TDD
Email

Chicago Office
John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn St.
Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 886-3506
(312) 886-3514 fax
Toll free: (866) 445-2520
(for IL residents only)

Springfield Office
607 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
(217) 492-5089
(217) 492-5099 fax

Marion Office
701 North Court Street
Marion, Illinois 62959
(618) 997-2402
(618) 997-2850 fax

Moline Office
1911 52nd Avenue
Moline, Illinois 61265
(309)736-1217
(309)736-1233 fax

And have your friends and co-workers do the same.

Call, write, fax, or email them and let them know you want to see more rooftop wind power generators in this city! Feel free to quote me or send them a link to this story!

Thanks!

Is more coal REALLY the answer??

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:26:00 +0000

During an August 5th campaign speech making fun of Senator McCain about wanting to drill for more domestic oil, Obama stated that he plans to "use more coal" to help solve America's energy crisis. I'm confused, does he want to save the environment or not? Well, he did promise change. How about longer, warmer summers....and autumns....and winters? More coal burning is a convincingly fantastic way to secure our path to global warming!

And now in the news there is serious talk of executive orders just waiting to be signed that will eliminate much of the search for for domestic oil sources; oil that would surely bring us closer to the energy independence that this country needs to progress.

Why would we not want to drill? The most prevalent argument I've found is that it might harm the environment. Exactly how would localized drilling into the ground affect the widespread environment? I'm asking because I'm not sure. When was the last time we heard about a nasty oil spill occurring at a drilling location? Or how those nasty drills are contributing so much to global warming and world-wide environmental changes?

So to recap, he's not a big fan of more nuclear power (I gathered this from the debates), He doesn't want to look for more oil in the U.S., and promises to burn more coal to make electricity. Considering that coal releases way more "greenhouse gases" than the burning of oil, again I'm confused. How is this progress? How is this a good idea? How does this "change" the world for the better?

About me (and my little blog too!)

noreply@blogger.com ("Chicago Dave") — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:44:00 +0000

I seem to be (or at least have been told that I am) a rather opinionated person. I feel that I do have certain views on many topics that don't normally get the public attention that they deserve. My views, in my opinion, are not necessarily in the minority. However I do believe that a lot of other opinions out there seem to be spoken with much louder voices ("quality" not "quantity"). It's a shame and a rather unfortunate irony that some of the worst ideas and beliefs in this country are often accompanied by the best marketing.

One of my goals here is to work on changing that. I have a lot of faith in the American people. And I believe that most of us quietly know what is truly right and wrong. Maybe because we know these things to be true we don't feel the same need to openly justify them? Thus, we don't talk about them enough and the wrong ideals get way more press. And that causes the public to think that's the popular view.

It's my opinion that, "The minority view gets the majority of the coverage." (I'm quoting myself there.) As just one tiny, current example (this should get you going!) I give you California. Yes, California, the closest thing to a true Democracy that we might ever see. (And a shining example of why America is a 'Republic'! ...but that's a rant for another day.) Their ballot this recent "Super Tuesday" brought 'Proposition 8' in front of the people. They decided to let the voters finally decide on how to legally define 'Marriage'. According to polling data collected since the proposition was introduced predicted there to be a strong vote to squash this amendment and allow "gay marriage". But to everyone's surprise the vote went in favor of the traditional definition.

Now, I have no real arguments for of against legally recognized same-sex unions. In order to have a truly free society however, there must be provisions in our laws to support that kind of lifestyle. Apparently though, you can't just redefine the religious institution of marriage to suit today's secular needs. I know a lot of you may disagree with me here, but marriage is a life-long union before God between a man and a woman. It has been since God ordained it, and should stay that way. Now that doesn't have to, and shouldn't affect the right of life-long same-sex partnerships to benefit from the legal and social advantages (and disadvantages) that marriage affords to "traditional relationships". Perhaps I can expound on this at a later date.

But back to my point....
It says a lot that a popular vote in California could make such a decision. California, the home-base for liberal thinking and social progress. For a state that is almost always certainly a 'sure-thing' for democratic presidential candidates and 'left-wing' thinking to make such a supposedly "right-wing" decision could surely be described as nothing less than unforeseen. And it makes me curious as hell what most of America REALLY thinks about a lot of the other issues making noise today. And that is exactly what I hope to uncover with this little experimental "blog" of mine. Well, that and people are getting tired of me filling up their Facebook walls with my rants and tirades... :-)

So please stay tuned. It just may lead to you getting informed, getting pissed, or even getting active. But my hope is that however it effects you, it all starts with you getting thinking!