Controlled Chaos

More waste.... Forget your party for a second and ask if these signs are necessary. The first time I saw it I was like WTF. This is almost as bad as Blago plastering his name all over ther tollway. chicagotribune.com Stimulus signage has GOP outraged Critics say they amount to taxpayer-funded political advertising. Others respond that signs, too, are jobs By Katherine Skiba, Tribune Reporter 11:02 PM CDT, July 15, 2010 WASHINGTON — First-term Republican Congressman Aaron Schock of Illinois is peeved over the green highway signs that have sprouted across the U.S. touting stimulus dollars at work. "Propaganda. An unnecessary overhead expense," argued Schock, who, like every House Republican, opposed last year's $787 billion stimulus. Lately some Republicans have been taking aim at signage for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This month, Schock introduced a bill, the "End the Stimulus Advertisement Act," to prohibit them. In Illinois, about 950 signs have been posted at highway, road, transit and other projects, said Josh Kauffman, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation. The signs cost about $300 each, and it costs another $200 to install them, he said. The bottom line? About $665,000, a calculation Kauffman said is based on buying a sign and installing it in two locations. The cost has come out of the $936 million Illinois has gotten in transportation stimulus cash, he said. Illinois residents are no strangers when it comes to spending on road signs. Four years ago, tollway leaders were criticized for planning to drop $480,000 on 32 signs extolling "Open Road Tolling. Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor" ahead of the 2006 election. In an interview Thursday, Schock asserted that the costs nationally have reached an estimated $20 million. His spokesman said that figure is based on reports from eight states and media accounts. About half the states choose to use the signs and the others don't, said Jill Zuckman, a spokeswoman for U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican whose old congressional seat Schock holds. "While we have encouraged states to let the public know where their tax dollars are going, the decision to post signs has been left to the states," Zuckman said. Bowing to GOP pressure, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board sent a letter Thursday to six federal agencies asking how much money has been spent on stimulus signs, logos and emblems. "I don't have any idea, nor does the board, on how much has been spent," said Ed Pound, board spokesman. The letter went to the departments of Transportation, Defense, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development as well as to the Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration, all major recipients of stimulus funds, Pound said. The recovery board wants them to respond by Sept. 3. The signage uproar is grounded in a long-standing principle that appropriations by federal agencies should not be used "for publicity and propaganda," said California Rep. Darrell Issa, the top Republican on the oversight committee. It was his letter, dated June 24, to the recovery board's chairman that prompted its query. In his letter, Issa said the signs show that it's the "common perception that taxpayer funds are being wasted on what amounts to political propaganda on behalf of the Obama administration." "Self-congratulatory stimulus signs are inherently political," he added. Issa wants to know if federal agencies have required the signs on projects or just suggested them. Zuckman, at the transportation department, said states have been "encouraged" to let the public know where their tax dollars are going, but the decision is up to individual states. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, asked about reports that millions were being wasted on the signs, said Wednesday: "I'm glad that the Republicans have noticed the nearly 11,000 road projects this summer." Gibbs maintained the tab for signage is about three cents on every $100 spent on the recovery. Where do Republicans think the signs come from, asked Eddie Vale, political communications director for the AFL-CIO. "There isn't a magical road sign unicorn that brings them. They're manufactured, that is, building and placing the signs also create jobs." At Western Remac Inc. in west suburban Woodridge, president Mike Conoscenti said it had made and sold about 100 Recovery Act signs — and he appreciates the work. "In this day and age, everything is extremely competitive in pricing. Work is down for us across the board, our margins are extremely tight, and we're happy for anything that we can get." [email protected] Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 05:32 PM) I know what the tea partiers in the other thread can do to prove they're not racist. They can have their spokespeople release mock letters to Abraham Lincoln!...(from the coloreds) You're bigger than this Balta.

oh no...a black conservative woman!! Wait....and the tea party supports her??? I thought they were all racist?? Here's a fox chicago video.... http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/polit...lhelmi-20100714 Flannery is horrible here. To compare her situation with getting Pederson knocked off the ballot is a joke. He filed for state representative, state senate, secretary of state, U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor....all with zero signatures. Removing him is removing a sham...hardly the same the democrats trying to remove a legitimate challenger. Judge sets date in ballot removal appeal Bolingbrook Republican seeks to run in 43rd District race By Mary Owen/TribLocal.com reporter Courtesy photoCedra Crenshaw, 37, is seeking to run in the 43rd District state Senate race. A Bolingbrook Republican is fighting a Will County Electoral Board decision to remove her from the ballot as a candidate for the state Senate. On Wednesday, Will County Associate Judge Bobbi Petrungaro set a July 20 hearing to review the case. The board voted July 7 to remove Cedra Crenshaw, 37, because her nominating petitions had the incorrect wording. “The fact of the matter is we think the Electoral Board interpreted the law wrong,” said Richard Kavanagh, chairman of the Will County Republicans and one of the attorneys representing Crenshaw. “It’s a pretty simple case.” The removal of Crenshaw, an accountant turned stay-at-home mother, has roused local and national Tea Party members, who have staged protests on her behalf and contributed to her campaign. More than 20 Crenshaw supporters showed up to the Electoral Board meeting wearing patriotic T-shirts. Crenshaw has captured national attention with radio interviews and a mention on Fox News Channel’s “Sean Hannity Show” Tuesday night by a guest conservative commentator. If Crenshaw is returned to the ballot, she will challenge incumbent Sen. Arthur Wilhelmi, D-Joliet, in the 43rd District, which includes Lockport, Lemont, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Manhattan and Joliet. Wilhelmi was confronted Wednesday by a Tea Party activist during a bill signing ceremony with Gov. Pat Quinn at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Catherina Wojtowicz, who later identified herself as the leader of the Chicago Tea Party Patriots, grabbed a microphone off a table and demanded that Wilhelmi explain his involvement in Crenshaw’s removal. “Why are you afraid of a mom from the suburbs?” Wojtowicz shouted. A flustered Wilhelmi tried to calm the woman by saying he would address her questions after the meeting, but the woman was promptly escorted out by hotel security and members of Quinn's state police detail. Wilhelmi said the woman’s outburst was regrettable and he will support the decision of the court. Mark Batinick, Crenshaw’s campaign manager, said the ballot controversy has generated publicity for the campaign nationwide, and he is hopeful the attention will trickle down into the neighborhoods in the district. Crenshaw was chosen as a candidate by the Republican Party on March 30 after no Republicans ran in the February primary. Twenty days later, she submitted more than 2,000 signatures with her nomination petition, double the required 1,000 signatures. Soon after, her petitions were challenged. The Electoral Board voted 2-1 to remove Crenshaw from the ballot. The two Democrats on the board voted in favor while the lone Republican voted against. The board ruled the signatures were invalid because her forms stated that signatures could be collected no earlier than 90 days before the filing deadline. A new state law requires that signatures be collected no earlier than 75 days before the deadline. Tribune reporter Monique Garcia contributed to this report. Couple other articles.... http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary...cqueary.article http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion...0,3148172.story

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 11:46 AM) As individual "boiled vegetable X", sure. As far as putting together a whole meal, for most people, it's 10 minutes for 1, 10 minutes for another, 10 minutes for another, then 20-30 minutes of cleanup/running the dishwasher/emptying the dishwasher. If the government can just supply everyone with a chef and a maid the problem would be solved.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 09:11 AM) I don't even remember that. I yelled? You prolly just forgot your CAPS LOCK was on.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 14, 2010 -> 05:47 PM) I dont think sucking is involved, are you sure he showed you the correct technique? I don't know rock..maybe he got whitewashed, if that happened I would say there was serious sucking involved.

QUOTE (girlslikebaseballtoo#26 @ Jul 14, 2010 -> 03:52 PM) "Whatever happened to sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, now we just have AIDS, crack and techno" SORRY, saw this thread and it immediately made me think of my beloved GnR!! LOL ALSO ..WTF is cornholing?!?!?!?!?! Whatever you do, don't search for cornhole pics!!!!

QUOTE (mreye @ Jul 14, 2010 -> 02:47 PM) Starved Rock is a great place to hike in the winter when the small waterfalls are frozen. long time no see mreye!!

I don't get to the bars too often anymore, but I was at Grotto in Oakbrook for a birthday party couple Saturdays ago...and um DAM!! Women out numbered men at least 5-1. I never had those odds back in the day...even my wife commented on all the chicks. That was never the case when I was single and there was a variety here. You definitely had the hot rich cougars...for you youngings trying to score a old chick. But there was also a lot in the 30-35 range...just tables of 6-7 chicks sitting by themselves. As for the under 30 crowd, the girls birthday I was there for was 25 and it was her friends B-day too who was 24. So there were like 25 girls just in those groups. I'm assuming if they chose to go there for their B-days they go there other times as well. I will say if you meet a chick at a place like this...she's most likely very high maintenance...so big deal...don't marry her.

QUOTE (docsox24 @ Jul 13, 2010 -> 12:19 PM) yes they are going to be for sure. sex with the ex is great cause you never know if its the last time Sex with the ex isn't always good though. How many here have had to rehash their breakup because of what was supposed to just be a little drunken fun? I know I have...as if breakin up with someone doesn't suck the first time...you have to do it again. Still worth it though...especially if she's trying to prove something to you.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 12, 2010 -> 08:34 PM) As has "Put it on the board." I heard the guy on the tv show Wipeout use it.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jul 12, 2010 -> 03:23 PM) I live in NYC and have Extra Innings, too, which means, as you state, we get to sample many if not all of the other broadcast teams. And having the opportunity to do so makes me appreciate the Hawk and Stone Pony so much more than I might otherwise. They actually "entertain" you during the game. I mean, if I had a dime for every one of these cookie cutter play-by-play guys out there with their rehearsed, professional voices just blandly calling the game - well, let's just say, I'd have a whole stack of dimes lying around. Seriously, you go from one's team booth to the next, and one by one it's essentially the same 'ol thing going on. From that Josh Lewin guy in Texas, to Brennaman in Arizona, Staats down in Tampa, the guy doing play-by-play for the Brewers, to that dreadful KC team, so on and so forth - they are all pretty much the same. Snoozeville! Meanwhile, we have two very knowledgeable and personable guys describing in a terrific back-and-forth sort of way, the various nuances of baseball for two or three hours each night, peppered occasionally by a Hawkism here and there. Now that's what I call entertaining, and I, for one, absolutely and fully enjoy each and every telecast. I wouldn't change a thing or trade this tandem for any of the others out there! Now for what I really think....... : ) Good post.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jul 12, 2010 -> 02:33 PM) Bhawks better not be shopping Sharp, he is more important to this team than Niemi and it isnt even close imo. This. The Soupy thing is crap....they were always trying to move that contract and they will remain unsuccessful. Nothing new there. Glad we have #4 though!! If he keeps progressing, those last couple years will be a bargain.

QUOTE (bulokis @ Jul 12, 2010 -> 11:53 AM) When is the last day when we can match that offer to Hjalmarsson? With all these changes, our on ice defense will suffer the most. We do not know how these young guys are going to be defensively. In a perfect world, we could have gotten rid off Huet and Soup's contract and not lose almost half of the Stanley cup champions. Friday. Dam San Jose for this s***...it was a good move on their part. I think the Hawks have to sign him...I wasn't prepared to give him this much cause I thought they could get him cheaper, but their hand was forced and I think he is one of the key cogs. I say sign Hammer, wait for arb numbers on Niemi. If it's reasonable...sign him. If it's close...maybe look at getting a cheaper center for the 4th line than Reasoner. If it's too high...then bye bye Antti. Come on up Corey. The bigger question if this situation plays out and Crawford comes up...how the hell do you send Huet down?? I just don't see it...which means his Bens are on the books.

There's that evil "folksy" thing I heard such bad things about in the last election. If saying 'atta boy' or 'jam city' or 'he gone' is folksy and bad, then I don't want to be good. I love the homerism of Hawk and when 'he gone', I hope they replace him with another homer. The only thing I could do without is some of his old timer stories, but the excitement or dissapointment in his voice when something good or bad happens makes up for his digressions once in a while. He is a fan of the team he's calling...I like that. It's why I listen to the radio call for Bears games. Ilike the annoucers feeling the same agony/joy that I do.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jul 12, 2010 -> 10:49 AM) f*** 7 days. do it tonight.

QUOTE (SoxFanForever @ Jul 11, 2010 -> 09:32 PM) I was actually looking for that thread as well. I've got myself in a confusing situation. There's a girl I met through my co-worker about a year back. I hadn't seen her for a long time until the beginning of May when I invited her and her friend out along with a bunch of others for my birthday. We ended up kissing, had a good time, she gave me her number, etc. A few days later I called her and talked to her, asking if she wanted to get together. She says she isn't over her ex that she was in a long relationship with and wanted to be friends. I see her last night for the first time since then when I was out with a group of friends (I invited her roommate to join us and she came along). Well, ended up kissing again, she was very flirty. However, I know she is supposed to go see her ex sometime in the next week or two out of town. Do I make another move and risk rejection again? Wait for her to make a move? Thoughts? Quick edit: don't mess with the win streak! Do I make another move and risk rejection again? Nope. Wait for her to make a move? Not sure what you mean by wait?? If it's "I'm not going to pursue any other girls, cause this one may call" Then HELL NO!! In fact, I hereby challenge you to talk to a new girl in the next 7 days.(I know a challenge from me means s*** to you..but pretend it does and go for it.) Thoughts? If the original one makes a move, great...have some fun and don't take it to mean anything. She wasn't over her ex back in May...it's now July and she's going out of town to see him... As Milkman so eloquently put it....she's going to get stuffed. FYI--old thread: http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...6154&st=750

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 11:45 AM) From TSN's Bob McKenzie I'd be happy to sign him to that contract, I think he's worth $3.5 mil, especially with how well him & Campbell play together. Suck it San Jose. Should be a no brainer...especially with Ladd off the books

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 09:07 AM) I don't know what that means. When attending a hockey game....you never get up during the action. You wait for a stoppage in play, i.e., a whistle. Same goes for when you're returning to your seat. Wait at the top of the stairs for a whistle, then scurry to your seat. It's hockey etiquette 101. Congratulations, you now know more than about 50% of the Hawk fans that attended the playoffs this year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:18 PM) So who wants to start teaching a former basketball fan how to be a hockey fan? No, I'm not kidding. WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE!!!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 9, 2010 -> 08:41 AM) Only if every free agent acts as classless as leBron did as he left. Not returning calls, no common courtesy to call an owner to tell them you are going somewhere else and embarrassing an entire city on national TV with a stupid decision show. I wonder if this sets any kind of precedent for future free agents. I mean I don't think so, because they have to see some of the backlash here... but I can see them trying to one up each other. Make everyone come to him...give a pitch...hold out on a decision.

Not sure if this has been posted yet..... http://deadspin.com/5581889/lebron-james-is-a-cocksucker

Can someone please remove swisher sticks and wing nuts from my sub name/group?