Saturday, May 17, 2008

as seen on the History Channel

The world ends on April 13, 2036. (In the unlikely event we're still here then.)

Friday, May 16, 2008

Bill Orally video - newly found footage

"...you have the IQ of a turnip, you hapless gorilla."

Really, is there anyone more brain-dead than Michael Medved? (non-Bush division)

Michael Medved Plays To The Lowest Denominator. Again.

The idea of a distinctive, unifying, risk-taking American DNA might also help to explain our most persistent and painful racial divide - between the progeny of every immigrant nationality that chose to come here, and the one significant group that exercised no choice in making their journey to the U.S. Nothing in the horrific ordeal of African slaves, seized from their homes against their will, reflected a genetic predisposition to risk-taking, or any sort of self-selection based on personality traits.
A S S H O L E

"I'll be here all week..."

Huckabee at NRA Meeting: Jokes about shooting presidential candidates are funny!

During a speech before the National Rifle Association convention Friday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee — who has endorsed presumptive GOP nominee John McCain — joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.

“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he’s getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”

so in a way, we should almost feel sorry for him

It's The Stupidity, Stupid

There are jerks who act like jerks and know they are acting like jerks and display a sense of arrogance, who put it in your face that they full well know they are being a jerk, know you are upset by their jerk-like behavior, and just don't care. But then there are the ones who act that way with a completely difference sense of arrogance, one that is coupled with the obvious fact that the jerk just doesn't get it. If the President went to Israel and was defiant in his tastelessness, rudeness, dishonesty, and hypocrisy, that would be bad enough. But it is the complete lack of understanding of the brutal stinging irony of his obliviousness that is the most upsetting.

the sort of stuff you don't hear in the US news media

Obama described it as a "false political attack", saying he had never advocated talking to terrorists, while Joe Biden, the Democratic chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, said: "This is bullshit."

the accolades roll in (cont'd)

"I'm sure there's a lot more guys out there that hate each other more than he and I do."*
-- New Cub outfielder Jim Edmonds, on his relationship with Carlos Zambrano

(* quote unfairly taken out of context)

See them while you can! This offer won't be repeated!

Now endangered, polar bears a bigger draw in Churchill, Canada

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Appeasement? Whatever...child's play compared to trading with the Nazis like grandpappy Prescott...

Well, if you believe some effete, tea-sipping British newspaper...and do you remember this story from September 2004? All the U.S. press coverage? Neither do i...

How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power
Rumours of a link between the US first family and the Nazi war machine have circulated for decades. Now the Guardian can reveal how repercussions of events that culminated in action under the Trading with the Enemy Act are still being felt by today's president

"George Bush's grandfather, the late US senator Prescott Bush, was a director and shareholder of companies that profited from their involvement with the financial backers of Nazi Germany.

The Guardian has obtained confirmation from newly discovered files in the US National Archives that a firm of which Prescott Bush was a director was involved with the financial architects of Nazism.

His business dealings, which continued until his company's assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading with the Enemy Act, has led more than 60 years later to a civil action for damages being brought in Germany against the Bush family by two former slave labourers at Auschwitz and to a hum of pre-election controversy.

The evidence has also prompted one former US Nazi war crimes prosecutor to argue that the late senator's action should have been grounds for prosecution for giving aid and comfort to the enemy."

speaking of SHTEALS

Matt Joyce hit his third homer and contributed a sac fly in the Tigers' loss on Thursday. Joyce has homered in three of his last four starts. With Gary Sheffield back in the DH spot, Joyce should play left field against all right-handers for now. He has to be grabbed in any AL-only leagues in which he remains available.

Another Corms Shteal

Jesus Flores reached three times and scored the only run of the game Thursday against the Mets.
He was still nearly the goat in the ninth inning after throwing the ball into center field on Carlos Beltran's steal attempt, putting the tying run on third with one out. His shaky glove played a role again just two minutes later, as he had a foul-tip strike three pop out of glove, keeping Carlos Delgado alive at the plate. Fortunately for Flores, Delgado went on to line into a game-ending double play. Flores definitely looks like the best offensive catcher in the Nationals' organization, but he has a ways to go on defense.

take dat, HATERS (cont'd)

McCain believes Iraq war can be won by 2013

Sounds good - what's a couple more trillion dollars we don't have? Hasn't stopped us so far...

this should bring out the nutjob vote

California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO (obviously) - The California Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage, paving the way for California to become the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry...

A coalition of religious and social conservative groups is attempting to put a measure on the November ballot that would enshrine California's current laws banning gay marriage in the state constitution.

FULLAS#I+

FULLAS#I+

So in the process of discussing how to keep "their" TV military analysts "on message" regarding claims about the Iraq war, they talked about efforts to have both Stephen Hadely and Bush himself speak with the analysts -- proposals that had been discussed with "karl" (which, clearly, in this case, means Rove). That means Perino's denial was false and that the White House had at least some knowledge of and involvement in this propaganda program.

Disaster Relief

When did China get better than us at disaster relief? How did this happen? Do we need to start questioning our system of government? Or is a flood just a lot harder than an earthquake? Why do so many Chinese people seem to be interested in donating blood? Why does the country seem do be drawing strength and national unity from such a disaster? Did I take a wrong turn somewhere?

the accolades roll in

"Most people think there's something left in the tank."
-- Jim "Anchovies" Hendry

"He's another veteran presence in the clubhouse and a left-handed bat with power."
-- Mark DeRosa

"He's got experience. He's played in big situations. Here at Wrigley Field with the crowd and so forth (drunk assholes... ed.), the fact that this club can win -- those are all positives for bringing in a veteran player."
-- Lou Piniella

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

revelations in the news (no, not revelation 17)

News headline: Bush: Global warming 'is real'

If you live in Ft. Worth, San Luis Obispo, Oxford Mass, or Newtown CT, you might want to stop visiting LoC (if you didn't want to stop already)

Charter to Snoop on Broadband Customers' Web Histories for Ad Networks

Wired, May 13, 2008
By Ryan Singel

Charter Communications, one of the nation's largest ISPs, plans to begin eavesdropping on the web surfing of its customers, in order to help web advertisers deliver targeted ads.

In letters being sent to some of its 2.7 million high-speed internet customers, Charter is billing its new web tracking program as an "enhancement" for customers' web surfing experience. The letters were first reported by a BroadbandReports.com user on Sunday. The pilot program is set to begin next month.

"Browsing the web can become more like flipping through your favorite magazine, where you see ads that are appealing to you and enhance your enjoyment and the utility of the experience," the company's letters read...

Charter plans to test its program in four markets: Ft. Worth, Texas; San Luis Obispo, California; Oxford, Massachusetts, and Newtown, Conneticut, according to Charter Vice President Ted Schremp.

He described the system as capable of noticing when a user visits Honda.com or Toyota's website, for example, so that when the user visits unrelated sites, he or she will be treated to automotive-related ads.

The company is aware of the privacy and transparency concerns, according to Schremp, but believes the program will benefit its customers and its own bottom line.

"The fact that we sent customer notification letters is indicative of the approach we are taking overall," Schremp said. "This is just another example of leveraging the latest technology."

Charter is partnering with a company called NebuAD to build profiles of its users. NebuAD will share the behavioral tracking results with third-party advertising networks like DoubleClick. Users can opt out of the system, but have to give their full name and address to get an opt-out cookie. The process would have to be repeated for every browser on every computer in a home to block the service, and would have to be reset if cookies are ever deleted.

Charter is entering tricky territory with the program, which effectively turns the ISP into the ultimate third-party tracking network. Conventional ad delivery networks like DoubleClick use a third-party cookie to build profiles of users across different websites, but can only track visits to sites that serve the company's ads. In contrast, Charter will know every URL its customers visit.

I wonder how this will turn out?

Obama, McCain Aim to Curb '527s'

Sen. Barack Obama's top fundraisers have asked his campaign donors to refrain from contributing to liberal independent political organizations in hopes of controlling the tone and message of the general-election campaign.

At a meeting in Indianapolis on May 2, members of the Democratic front-runner's finance committee made it clear Obama (Ill.) is worried that overtly negative advertising from outside organizations could undermine his themes of unity and hope.

"If people want to support our campaign, they should do it through our campaign," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.

The meeting was only the most overt effort by Obama or Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee, to freeze out "527" groups -- named after a provision in the tax code -- which are not allowed to openly support a candidate but have helped define recent elections through negative advertising.

The McCain campaign has been less organized than Obama's in its efforts to counter the groups, but the senator from Arizona has made clear his antipathy toward them -- without much effect.

"We will attack Obama viciously on all fair issues, whether they are national security, whether they are taxes or the economy," promised Chris LaCivita, one of the Republican strategists behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group that attacked Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry in 2004. LaCivita added: "At the end of the day, every individual has a right to participate in the political process whether John McCain likes it or not. It's their constitutional right."

Chicago is back in the duck-torturing business

Chicago again foie gras-friendly zone
May 14, 2008

(AP) — The Chicago City Council has repealed its controversial two-year-old ban on foie gras, a delicacy made of duck and goose liver.

The vote was led by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who called the measure that went into effect in August 2006 the "silliest" ordinance the council's ever passed.

Supporters of the ban consider foie gras cruel because geese and ducks are force-fed to make their livers bigger. The measure passed Wednesday by a vote of 37-6 with no debate. Its sponsor, Alderman Joe Moore, shouted his objections.

The Illinois Restaurant Assn. and a local restaurant had filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn the ban, but a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the effort last June.

Fungster said... K-Mad complaining about what the MSM isn't reporting? Shocking! (cont'd)

The Four-Star Elephant in the (News)room:

DEMAND the networks address the military analyst scandal and fulfill their obligation to the American people. SIGN THE PETITION: DEMAND these news outlets fulfill their obligation to the public. Then tell k-mad to SHUT THE PHOKK UP ALREADY. It is time to stand up and make your voice heard... if you can make yourself heard over k-mad's annoying, incessant WHINING. Really, what the phokk does he EXPECT? That we live in a DEMOCRACY where "journalists" serve as WATCHDOGS for the public? HA! FAT PHOKKING CHANCE K-MAD YOU PHOKKING DIMWIT! "Journalists" are just like everybody else -- they like being treated like pals around people like RUMMY and DICK "DICK" (DICK) DICK CHENEY. If you don't like it why don't you go move to RUSSIA... or AFGHANISTAN. I already signed your phokking PETITION... now I'm starting ANOTHER ONE telling you to GO AWAY.

Fungster said... K-Mad complaining about what the MSM isn't reporting? Shocking! (cont'd)

Contractors Gone Wild, Media Gone Missing

Bruce Falconer is calling out the mainstream media for ignoring the disturbing testimony that dominated recent U.S. Senate hearings into corruption by private contractors in Iraq. The testimony came from whistleblowers Frank Cassaday, Linda Warren (both former employees of Kellogg Brown and Root) and Barry Halley (who worked in Iraq for Worldwide Network Services, the Sandi Group and CAPE Environmental Management.) They told stories of widespread theft of materials and supplies needed by soldiers, looting Iraqi treasures (in one case melting down Iraqi gold to make cowboy spurs), and a prostitution ring run by the manager of a "major defense contractor," which led to the death of a colleague whose armored car was diverted "to transport prostitutes from Kuwait to Baghdad." Cassaday, Warren and Halley say they were punished and harassed when they tried to alert their companies to these abuses. Aside from Mother Jones, the only news outlet to file a report on their testimony was David Ivanovich of the Houston Chronicle, although a transcript of the hearings is available on the Senate's website.

he doesn't seem embarrassed

DCI Group's Work for Burma's Dictators Embarrasses John McCain

Doug Goodyear, the CEO of the Washington D.C. PR and lobbyshop, DCI Group, was selected to manage the forthcoming Republican National Convention (RNC), in St. Paul, Minnesota, because of his "management experience and expertise," a spokeswoman for John McCain said. Michael Isikoff reported in Newsweek that in 2002 DCI was paid $348,000 to represent Burma's military junta. "It also led a PR campaign to burnish the junta's image, drafting releases praising Burma's efforts to curb the drug trade and denouncing 'falsehoods' by the Bush administration that the regime engaged in rape and other abuses," Isikoff reported. Goodyear defended the company's work: "It was our only foreign representation, it was for a short tenure, and it was six years ago," he said.

what about "Condoleezza"? "Scooter"? "Wolfowitz"?

The top ten boys and girls names for 2007 are:
Boys:
1) Jacob
2) Michael
3) Ethan
4) Joshua
5) Daniel
6) Christopher
7) Anthony
8) William
9) Matthew
10) Andrew

Girls:
1) Emily
2) Isabella
3) Emma
4) Ava
5) Madison
6) Sophia
7) Olivia
8) Abigail
9) Hannah
10) Elizabeth

Emily has topped the list since 1996. Jacob has done so since 1999. Elizabeth returns to the top ten after a two year absence...

Shiloh, the youngest daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, debuted on the list at number 804. Maddox, the name of their oldest child, has seen steady gains since first appearing on the list in 2003 at number 583 and now ranking at number 226. Suri, the name of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter, did not make the list. But Britney Spears' second son is named Jayden, which ranked at number 18. Miley is new to the girls’ list this year, entering fairly high at number 278, attributable to the popularity of teen sensation Miley Cyrus.

For reasons likely to puzzle baby name experts around the world, American parents have become infatuated by names, particularly for their sons, that rhyme with the word “maiden.” These names for boys include: Jayden (No. 18); Aiden (No. 27); Aidan (No. 54); Jaden (No. 76); Caden (No. 92); Kaden (No. 98); Ayden (No.102); Braden (No.156); Cayden (No.175); Jaiden (No.191); Kaiden (No. 220); Aden (No. 264); Caiden (No. 286); Braeden (No. 325); Braydon (No. 361); Jaydon (No. 415); Jadon (No. 423); Braiden (No. 529); Zayden (No. 588); Jaeden (No. 593); Aydan (No. 598); Bradyn (No. 629); Kadin (No. 657); Jadyn (No. 696); Kaeden (No. 701); Jaydin (No. 757); Braedon (No. 805); Aidyn (No. 818); Haiden (No. 820); Jaidyn (No. 841); Kadyn (No. 878); Jaydan (No. 887); Raiden (No. 931); and Adin (No. 983). This startling trend was present, but less pronounced, with girls names: Jayden (No. 172); Jadyn (No. 319); Jaden (No. 335); Jaiden (No. 429); Kayden (No. 507); and Jaidyn (No. 561). Social Security spokesman Mark Lassiter indicated that the agency would resist any legislative efforts to standardize the spelling of these names.

Experts also may be surprised by the extent to which American parents are naming their daughters after spiritual and philosophical concepts. One of the most popular names for girls (rising this year to number 31) is Nevaeh, which is “Heaven” spelled backwards. The variant Neveah came in this year at number 891 and Heaven is number 263. Also represented were: Destiny (No. 41); Trinity (No. 72); Serenity (No. 126); Harmony (No. 315); Miracle (No. 461); Charity (No. 673); Journey (No. 692); Destini (No. 914); and Essence (No. 930). Cutting against this trend was Armani (No. 971).
American parents were far less likely to name their sons in this way, although the 2007 boys’ list does include Sincere (No. 622) and Messiah (No. 723).

Smiff might need one

Turn Your Laptop Into an Earthquake Sensor

If Monday’s earthquake in China has sparked an interest in seismology, and you happen to own a Mac laptop, you can transform your computer into your own personal seismic station. A free program from SeisMac takes advantage of the acceleration sensor inside you computer to register when it gets the shakes. The program was developed with support from the National Science Foundation and from the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, a consortium of nearly 100 universities.

Golf, by George Carlin

I know where we can build housing for the homeless: golf courses. Perfect: golf courses. Just what we need: plenty of good land in nice neighborhoods, land that is currently being wasted on a meaningless, mindless activity engaged in primarily by white, well-to-do male businessmen who use the game to get together to make deals to carve this country up a little finer among themselves.

I am getting tired, really getting tired of these golfing cocksuckers in their green pants and their yellow pants and their orange pants, and their precious little hats and their cute little golf carts.

It is time to reclaim the golf courses from the wealthy and turn them over to the homeless. Golf is an arrogant, elitist game and it takes up entirely too much room in this country.

It is an arrogant on its very design alone. Just the design of the game speaks of arrogance. Think of how big a golf course is. The ball is that fucking big! What do these pin-headed pricks need with all that land? There are 17,000 golf courses in America. They average over 150 acres a piece. That’s 3 million-plus acres; 4,820 square miles. You could build two Rhode Islands and a Delaware for the homeless on the land currently being wasted on this meaningless, mindless, arrogant, elitist, racist — there’s another thing: the only blacks you’ll find in country clubs are carrying trays — and a boring game. Boring game for boring people. Have you ever watched golf on television? It’s like watching flies fuck.

And a mindless game, mindless. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick, and then walking after it! And then hitting it again! I say, “Pick it up asshole, you’re lucky you found the fucking thing. Put it in your pocket and go home, you’re a winner. You’re a winner — you found it!”

No, no chance of that happening. “Dorko” in the plaid knickers is going to hit it again and walk some more. Let these rich cocksuckers play miniature golf. Let him fuck with a windmill for an hour and a half or so, see if there’s really any skill among these people.

I know there are some people who play golf who don’t consider themselves rich. Fuck ‘em! And shame on them for engaging in an arrogant, elitist past time.

From the land that elected George Bush twice? Smiff ain't eatin' dis wif a 40-foot phokkin' pole

McDonald's bets big on chicken sandwiches for breakfast

Will the Southern-style breakfast sandwich appeal to consumers in the North? Vote (results not scientific, but fucking IDIOTIC)
Chicken milestones (losing on the last pitch of the season?)
Taste test (tastes like s#i+?)


Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Wrigley Field Suckfest

Making his first major league start in two years, Shawn Estes beat the Cubs by allowing three runs -- two earned -- in 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday. The win was the 100th of his career. Estes kept getting the Cubs to chase balls outside of the strike zone tonight, and he somehow only walked one batter despite throwing 40 balls among his 93 pitches. It was maybe the worst effort of the year from what has been a strong Cubs' offense.

Rummy: the "correction" for people voting the wrong way is another tairrist attack

DELONG: Politically, what are the challenges because you're not going to have a lot of sympathetic ears up there.

RUMSFELD: That's what I was just going to say. This President's pretty much a victim of success. We haven't had an attack in five years. The perception of the threat is so low in this society that it's not surprising that the behavior pattern reflects a low threat assessment. The same thing's in Europe, there's a low threat perception. The correction for that, I suppose, is an attack. And when that happens, then everyone gets energized for another [inaudible] and it's a shame we don't have the maturity to recognize the seriousness of the threats...the lethality, the carnage, that can be imposed on our society is so real and so present and so serious that you'd think we'd be able to understand it, but as a society, the longer you get away from 9/11, the less...the less...

so we can stick to the drugs and get rid of the replutokins?

"Through our "Change You Deserve" message and through our "American Families Agenda," House Republicans will continue our efforts to speak directly to an American public looking for leaders who will offer real solutions for the challenges they confront every day," said the memo prepared for lawmakers.

What the GOP doesn't seem to realize, because they are idiots, is that "the change you deserve" is the registered advertising slogan of Effexor XR, a drug that many of you might have started taking as a result of all the...you know -- terrorism.

Bill Orally goes nuts

Bill O'Reilly, an asshole, you say? Shocking.

the ultimate sacrifice

For the first time, Bush revealed a personal way in which he has tried to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers and their families: He has given up golf.

"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf,” he said. “I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

Hillary spinning herself into the ground again

Currently bloviating again about how "Florida and Michigan should count." And yet one of her main bloviator-toadies, Terry "Fullas#i+" McAuliffe, when he was DNC Chairman, once threatened to strip Michigan of half its delegates if they moved their primary too early.

"They thought I was bluffing. But it was my responsibility as chairman to take action for the good of the party, and taking away half their delegates was well within my authority...The whole primary calendar was in danger of spinning out of control."
-- Terry "Fullas#i+" McAuliffe

watch for falling objects

San Diego 14-25 (Road: 6-15) 8:05pm ET
Chi Cubs 23-15 (Home: 15-6) TV: CH4, CSN
SD: S. Estes (0-0, 0.00)
CHC: J. Marquis (1-2, 5.08)

he's ready

Eric Hurley - Okla - 42 2/3 IP, 1-3, 6.54 ERA

And New Orleans? Hagee ain't aplopogizin' for dat one: you got what you deserved...suckers!

Now McCain can go back to jerking off pandering the religious right for votes...

Pastor Hagee "apologizes" for anti-Catholic remarks (AP)

In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote: "Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful."

Ah yes, one of those non-apology apologies. You know, one which doesn't say "I apologize" or "I am sorry" but does say, "If anyone may have been offended." aka a bulls#i+ apology.

Of course, Bill "The Great Whore" Donohue sucked it up like a sale on sacramental wine.

And as long as you're a Catholic who believes in reproductive rights, evolution or is gay, you're still going to burn in hell for all eternity. There won't even be a non-apology for those sins. And no need to for any Republicans to fret over those comments, since they're basically the party platform.

Pastor Hagee "apologizes" for Anti-Catholic remarks (Crooks & Liars)

Though this shouldn't affect the coming Rapture in any way. Armageddon? Come on down!

Why don't you two get a room?

Who has the time?

I'd read this, but there's so much I has ta do before I can get to it, mostly because I surfed the net finding stories like this....

Slate's special issue on procrastination

as reported here Friday (cont'd)

The Chicago Scum-Slimes reports that the Cubs will pursue Jim Edmonds as soon as he clears waivers on Wednesday.

Sources tell the "paper" that Edmonds has told his agent that the Cubs are the first team he wants to talk with. Edmonds would likely replace Felix Pie on the team's roster, and share center field duties with Reed Johnson.

We are living in a golden age (cont)

Fung can't function any more, he can't stop laughing at this.

Can't we all just get along?

BLACK KID’S DESK

wouldn't a simple plague of locusts be more traditional?

One experienced, credible activist in Christian politics who would not let his name be used told me Huckabee in personal conversation with him embraced the concept that an Obama presidency might be what the American people deserve. That fits what has largely been a fringe position among evangelicals, that the pain of an Obama presidency is in keeping with the Bible's prophecy.

According to this activist, at the heart of the let-Obama-win movement is longtime Virginia conservative leader Michael Farris -- the nation's leading home-school advocate, who is now chancellor of Patrick Henry College (in Purcellville, Va.) for home-schooled students. Farris is regarded as one of the hardest-edged Christian politicians. He is reported in evangelical circles to promote the biblical justification for an Obama plague-like presidency.

-- The Asshole Bob Novak

This just in: there is a college for home-schooled children run by an evangelical Christian who advocates an Obama presidency as the plague America needs and deserves, in case you've been wondering where tomorrow's leaders are coming from.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Are yous guys aware of dis insanity?

Wow, this is a really bad idea:

http://savechicagoculture.org/

Imagine a Chicago with no Metro or Double Door or Schuba’s. Imagine a Chicago with no Royal George or Bailiwick or Athenaeum. Imagine a Chicago where local music is only heard in the suburbs and theater is limited to Wicked and Jersey Boys.
Scary thoughts. But if the City of Chicago’s City Council doesn’t hear your voice by Wednesday, May 14, they can become reality.
On that date the council will vote to approve an ordinance that has the power to stifle creativity in Chicago’s musical, theatrical, and general cultural scenes. With no public discourse or commentary, this proposal has been approved by the City Council Committee and is on the fast track to be pushed into law. It is up to us to let our elected officials know that Chicago’s creative scene is too rich, too varied, and too vital to be regulated in such a blanket fashion.


The details:
The “Event Promoters” ordinance requires any event promoter to have a license from the city of Chicago and liability insurance of $300,000, but that’s just the start:
The definition of “event promoter” is so loosely defined it could apply to a band that books its own shows or a theater company that’s in town for a one-week run.
“Event Promoter” must be licensed and will pay $500 - $2000 depending on expected audience size.
To get the license, applicant must be over 21, get fingerprinted, submit to a background check, and jump over several other hurdles.
This ordinance seems targeted towards smaller venues, since those with 500+ permanent seats are exempt.
Police must be notified at least 7 days in advance of event.

For the complete ordinance, check out
Jim DeRogatis’ blog on the Chicago Sun-Times.

We are collecting signatures to present to the council voicing our opposition to this ordinance. YOUR VOICE IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE CHICAGO’S CULTURAL SCENE CONTINUES TO THRIVE. Please leave a comment as your expression of disapproval. These will be presented to the City Council and to all Chicago Aldermen prior to Wednesday’s vote.

Haven't they suffered enough? (cont'd)

Bush sets off for Middle East, unable to quell its troubles


[POST #3000: dat's a lot of crap.]

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (cont'd)

Adam Dunn is hitting seventh Monday for the first time since 2005. Meanwhile, Ken Griffey Jr. continues to get a free pass. Dunn has the better OPS of the two by 55 points and has the same exact number of runs+RBI as Griffey despite using just 85 percent as many outs and always batting lower in the order. That Dusty Baker won't even try hitting Dunn second or third in an effort to get him going speaks poorly of him as a manager.

Now, the real test for Dusty will be when he tries to double switch Dunn out for defense in the 8th, and we'll see if he mistakingly puts the pitcher in batting 5th where Dunn normally hits.

Fung?

Thousands volunteer for naked photo shoot in stadium

Obama confronts important campaign issue...

Ok, but how is he at darts? That is the clincher for me...

After the speech, Obama stopped at Schultzie's Billiards hall, where he showed much greater skill at pool than he had shown at bowling last month in Pennsylvania.

As a small crowd oohed and ahhed at his third consecutive good shot, Obama said his skill was "the sign of a misspent youth. I wasn't doing wholesome things like bowling."

Still, Obama lost to Iraqi war veteran Paul Scott, 24, because he accidentally knocked in the eight ball prematurely.


Then again, do we want this free swinger with his finger on the button?

Republicans running out of groups to hate on...

You know they will have reached the pinnacle of pettiness then they vote against "Plutocratic Rich White Guys Day"...

"Republicans Vote Against Moms; No Word Yet on Puppies, Kittens."

On Wednesday afternoon, the House had just voted, 412 to 0, to pass H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day," when Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), rose in protest.
"Mr. Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote," he announced.
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has two young daughters, moved to table Tiahrt's request, setting up a revote. This time, 178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers.

Is there anything better than a bunch of monks?

Monks step up as Myanmar junta fails to aid cyclone victims

haven't we all made this mistake at least once?

Actor Dennis Farina arrested for bringing gun to airport
The former 'Law and Order' actor, who tried to board a flight at LAX with a handgun, tells police he forgot it was in his briefcase.
By Jean-Paul Renaud
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 12, 2008

Dennis Farina is a bum shot.

Still, Los Angeles International Airport police took no chances Sunday with the former "Law and Order" actor, who was teased for his poor shooting skills during his earlier career as a Chicago police officer.

Farina, 64, was booked in a felony case after LAX screeners found a loaded handgun in his briefcase as he prepared to board a plane.

The actor, who is often cast as a foul-mouthed mobster or cop, was contrite when he told airport police and FBI agents that he had forgotten he put the .22-caliber semi-automatic weapon in the case, authorities said. He spent most of the day in a Van Nuys jail and was released on $35,000 bail.

"He was apologetic and very cooperative, and he said he understood what was going to happen," said LAX Police Sgt. Jim Holcomb.

Farina had no permit for the gun, and it was not clear why he was carrying it. A representative for the actor could not be reached.

Holcomb said Farina told investigators he put the gun in the case before driving to L.A. from Arizona for the United Airlines flight to Chicago. He was booked on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon.

Is it true?

I hears dat dey got rid of the black L that would go up at the end of Cubs games, because they were hoisting it way too often. Something about darky Baylor originally suggesting it, but they waited till whitey Lou to finally get rid of it. So now they either won or ? - either they didn't play or they lost. But one doesn't know. Because they got rid of the L.

as reported here Friday...

The Chicago Tribune reports that the Cubs "are exploring the possibility" of signing Jim Edmonds. Let go by the Padres last week, Edmonds' arrival would send Felix Pie back to Triple-A. He batted .178/.265/.233 in 26 games with the Padres, whereas Pie is hitting .222/.286/.286 through 29 games, and Edmonds is 15 years older.

Holy Frijoles!

Look who's ahead in the souper douper delegate count!

Don't you have to be funny? or, i dunno, have talent?

Jimmy Fallon will reportedly replace O'Brien on 'Late night'

I pfink Smiff would make a better host...who's with me?


Haven't the mothers in West Virginia suffered enough?

Clinton spends Mother's Day campaigning in W.V.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

One of these years Dusty Baker will figure out the double switch, you'll see...

But until then he will still be compensated with MEEEEEEllllllions of dollars a year, so don't feel to bad for him...

Though Corey Patterson was supposed to be at the plate, David Ross batted out of order in the ninth inning of an 8-3 loss to the Mets on Sunday. What is this, Little League? Per MLB rules, Ross has to complete his at-bat to be ruled out, and the outcome of his at-bat is then discarded with no runners allowed to advance. The Mets allowed him to do so, and since he lined out to right there was little harm done. Ross was the batter listed in the order after Patterson, so he was forced to come back to the plate for his 'real' at-bat and Patterson was charged the out. Ross singled after returning to the batter's box. There's almost too many jokes here for us to enjoy. Corey Patterson making outs even when he's not at-bat is just one of them. As if their wasn't already overwhelming evidence that Dusty Baker is a horrible manager, this just adds m
ore fuel to the fire.