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I don't understand why chickfila is possilbe. I think wendy's chicken things kick it's ass in every way possible. But I don't eat fast food much anymore beside chipotle, God's gift to man.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 20, 2012 -> 02:52 PM) You have to interview, hire and train about 50,000 people. And no, they won't all be from the public schools that have jobs now. That process alone will take months upon months or more. You have to build and/or fix facilities - maybe only a few, or a lot, depending on what public facilities you can operate in. You have to go through long certification processes with the state and feds, like all schools do. You have to have companies with enough staff to handle managing the charters and administrations of these schools, which right now they don't have, and it may take a long time to get. You have to set up school boards, and have public review periods for many charter school elements, including their curriculum. You will have to fight the unions legally, and that will be a long, drawn out, and expensive mess. You have to set up the financial arrangements for funding, contracts, and all that other fun legal crap, which again, seems easy on the surface, but in reality ends up taking forever while the lawyers tear it apart. You have to make wholesale changes in the CPS administration, and take on large charges to get out from under current obligations. You have to have the laws changed, at the state level and in city ordinances, which means getting the backing of the state legislature (both chambers), the governor, the city council and the mayor (there are rules in place about public education and city-provided schools that have huge monetary impacts, and they need to change if you do this). The list goes on, but seriously... tell me with a straight face you think that could be done in a couple months. I don't know if it would be that hard, basically the real question is "what if we disbanded the Chicago Teachers Union". It would essentially be the same thing. But I still think the entire process would take at least a year.

That's probably a pretty small number of people he's "f***ing" over. But it is fairly regressive. You should applaud that, no? The moochers being forced to pay?

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Sep 19, 2012 -> 05:44 PM) I don't agree with what he said about the teachers not caring about the kids learning at all...but I also believe that if they had gotten raises, they never would have went on strike for the other things, because they weren't the important factors of the strike...they were simply used as additional bargaining chips. Right, I"m on the same page with you. I know enough teachers to know that they care dearly about their kids, and frankly they are good teachers! But, the reason they started the strike, it's fair to say at this point, was exclusively about their benefits and salary. They may care about those things, but they weren't striking over those things.

All remember to register. It's getting close to the deadline for this election.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 19, 2012 -> 05:05 PM) That was a big part of it of course, yes. I don't think anyone has said otherwise. But looking at the facts of all the things they were contesting, I think it is clear they wanted more than just that. People would love it to be simple, though. I'm responding to all of those "YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOURSELF" pictures that were going around, that made it seem like the teachers were standing up to the city over condiitons in the classroom. What were they most willing to concede on? Classroom conditions. It says a lot.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 19, 2012 -> 03:32 PM) The CTU did specifically ask for class size limits, and CPS was saying they could not do that. I am not sure who won out there, have you read the entire contract? NPR reported this morning that those conditions were not met. And considering the strike is over, I think it's fair to say that the teachers in front of the TVs who said they were striking because of class conditions, were really just saying that because they knew it was their most sympathetic point. But clearly they were striking for their pay packages and evaluations.

I think there are a lot of good things in here for teacher evaluation, and chicago will continue it's climb in educating it's students. But notice how the strike ended despite there still being overcrowded classrooms and other outcomes "for the kids". Those were red herrings.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Sep 18, 2012 -> 10:47 PM) http://opensignal.com/ Well that's that. Thanks!

Chicago-livers: How would you rate Sprint in terms of chicago coverage. I know we've asked this before but I couldn't find it on the googlesearch of soxtalk. I live in Logan Square, and have a great deal on AT&T. However, I never get service in my house, so I need to switch. I would be more inclined to Sprint, but if they don't have a good reputation then Verizon it is.

I wonder what the pct was of people that started gates. That was the shortest notice I've ever seen. I think most of the notes on it went out after kickoff.

What is your point caulfield? Just because you have an average wage in KC where housing is probably 40% cheaper than chicago, doesn't mean chicago teachers don't earn enough after having 15 years of money being poured into their salary and pensions that we couldn't afford. Now they can't handle 4 years of not getting a substantial wage.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 16, 2012 -> 10:53 PM) Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, which is totally, definitely NOT about Scientology (and wouldya stop asking?!), grossed a stunning $729,745 from just 5 theaters, which gave the film a per theater average of $145,949 — the best opening weekend average for a live-action film of all time. The Master‘s phenomenal per theater average outshadows Moonrise Kingdom, which broke the same record earlier this year. (*Note: Kevin Smith’s Red State technically holds this record, as it grossed $204,230 from 1 theater in its 2011 debut, yet that film’s bow was more of a special event — tickets cost $40 and Kevin Smith was present, so it’s not a totally fair comparison.) The Weinstein Co., who declined to provide budget information for the film, says The Master will expand into at least 135 markets next weekend — about 600-800 theaters. www.ew.com As it comes out, those more on top of it than me, could you broadcast when the music box will do a 70 mm showing again?

I had a truly horrendous week. McFadden and AP while I benche Ben Tate, Reversal of last week. Gates with an impossibly late game time decision. f*** tony romo. f*** Chris Johnson.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 14, 2012 -> 01:22 PM) I have a 4½ year old son and a 3 year old daughter. To date, any overnight trips that we've taken have involved staying at the homes of family members. We're thinking that in March, for my wife & son's Spring Break, we'd like to venture out into full family vacation mode. We think that Chicago might be a good place to go because it's not too far of a drive and we know of plenty of things to do that the kids will like. The one thing I need help with is that for a 3-5 day trip with small kids, I'd much rather get some kind of condo/townhome rental rather than a hotel. It helps save money on meals, and it also helps to have a little bit more space for days when the weather is bad or we're really worn out and want to spend some time inside without feeling cramped. Anybody know of any places in the Chicago area that do this? airbnb

This has come up before, but, a cool graph from a cool company:

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 07:06 PM) They also lacked any sort of national support. But no, I don't think one recall election puts an end to the idea that unions a good base support for progressive politics. Recall elections are rare, usually unsuccessful and widely disliked. LOL

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Sep 11, 2012 -> 01:06 PM) I scored 150 points and lost by 3 because I played Rashad Jennings (5 points) and Ben Tate (5 points). I had MJD (who I thought was gonna get like 8 touches), Richardson (who was bad) and Michael Bush (who i was gonna play until I saw Foster might be here). Ugh. What terrible decisions. I'm always my own worst enemy in fantasy.

Surely the recall election can put an end to all this yeah? They couldn't even deliver all of their members, and were terrible at delivering union households.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:30 PM) Gentrification can have negative impacts, too. Largely related to housing policy.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:23 PM) There are two sides to that, places like that where walking is impossible...and places where walking is dangerous. In either case, I can go to any big city and show you places that are the exact opposite of what he claimed. Driving: also very dangerous.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:18 PM) What neighborhoods do you live in? There are *some* neighborhoods that are livable/walkable...but there are still just as many that aren't. Again, you live in a false reality and need to take a look around. Either that, or get out more. I can take you to 500 Chicago neighborhoods and drop you off for a "walk" since they're so livable/walkable...but we'd never see you again. Try basing what you say on reality for a change. Spend a day in Oswego, or Oak Brook, and then tell me what's walkable. You have to drive from one store to the store across the street because you will be crossing an 8 lane street of insanity where cars aren't used to seeing pedestrians. You drive from one store to another in the same parking lot.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:15 PM) I recall the strike when I was in grammar school and they extended the school year...we were still in school at the end of June...it wasn't good. I remember doing/accomplishing nothing after the first week of June. It's impossible to gauge, however...but I think there is more truth to it than you want to believe. But to claim it's completely untrue? Based on what? At least I'm basing it on *something*, rather than just saying it. Kids do NOT want to be in school when the sun is shining and it's warm out. You simply said it's untrue, and opposite of reality? What reality? The fake on you try to live in? I'm going to just have to disagree with you...you've based your opinion on nothing. Edit: And getting out on time does not make the summer any shorter/longer. They get the same amount of days off. I think there's merit to this largely because of expectations. If your expectaiton is you go to school until mid-june, you wouldn't have been so adversely affected. But you expect to be out in June, so it was harder to concentrate.

Per kids losing these early days, it is pretty s***ty for college seniors who should be talking to their guidance counselors preparing. You can't make that up at the end of the year.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 02:37 PM) Here's a prediction, and something to consider... CPS student numbers have gone up more in recent years than the city population would seem to dictate, and one of the primary reasons for this is that parents who normally would have packed up the kids and moved to the burbs for better schools (or sent them to private schools), are unable to move (or afford private school) because of the economy and the housing market realities. Lower grade levels are being overwhelmed - this is part of the reason some of these kids have 35 people in their 1st grade classes. This is a pent up wave. Now, with the strike going on, regardless of who parents blame (probably should blame both sides), they are angry at the school system. More pent up desire to leave the system with their kids. So, when the economy finally does recover with a bit more flourish, sometime in the next few years... you will see a new wave of urban flight, as families with kids take their kids away from the schools and crime in the city. Probably won't be as profound as what happened in the 70's and 80's, but it will happen. On the one hand, that will help lower class sizes in the city schools at first, and allow a greater percentage of kids to go to magnets. On the other hand, the bottom drops out of the budget, as tax revenues decrease and per-head state and fed money drops as well. So the fiscal nightmare the schools system is already in, may not actually get better when the economy does. Just something to think about. I think your prediction flies in the face of every trend right now. There aren't more people in the city because people couldn't sell their house (if you can't sell your house, you can rent it to the booming rental market right now and pay your new mortgage.), there are more people in the city because more people are moving into the city. I think realistically you are going to add a nice tax base of younger people who will not be having kids or will move before they do, which will support those who do have kids in school. Once the economy recovers and even more move in, it should be fine, except we have a massive debt to the pensions which needs to get solved.