Will someone explain to me how an little LCD device can end up causing felony charges? Seriously, just because you thought it might be dangerous doesn't mean you should have.

OneMan

Does Rich have a point, does Obama have some sort of magic mojo?

Oneman

And the hits keep coming. From the Trib.

A Chicago drug-testing company with a long-standing no-bid state contract is under state and federal investigation amid allegations it billed the state for drug tests it never performed.The company--K.K. Bio-Science Inc.--came under scrutiny following an Oct. 27 report in the Tribune detailing how Gov. Rod Blagojevich's wife, Patricia, earned more than $113,000 in real estate commissions from the company's owner and president.

If nothing else sometimes it seems as if fate has it in for Gov. Blagojevich.

OneMan

Crain's has this

State Representative Lou Lang still has visions of expanding gaming in Illinois, but this time he says his attempt to put casinos in the Chicago area won’t be undermined by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Yeah won't be undermined by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, come on the governor is like Lucy with the Football when it comes to gaming. Saying one thing than yanking the football away.

Remember this, this or this the man is a gaming tease.


OneMan

Zorn has a link to an item by Kevin McCulloch about Sen. Obama appearing at Rick Warren's church. It has this line about 3 sentences into it.

Because of this supposed shared concern, Warren is ready to turn over the spiritual mantle to a man who represents the views of Satan at worst or progressive anti-God liberals at best in most of his public positions on the greatest moral tests of our time.

You know I guess I don't see the grace in that statement. But the bigger question that faces me is how much of the 'law' (see the old testament) does one have to believe in, in order to be acceptable to some folks. If any deviation from a given moral standard is enough to be a showstopper?
Second question, if all life is vital (I would agree with this) then doesn't the same viewpoint that sees abortion as wrong and something that should be illegal also require universal health care in this country and view a candidates views on that as just as vital? If people die in this country because they can't afford health care (and don't kid yourselves it happens) isn't that also a sin that needs to be addressed?
The issue that religious conservatives face with Sen. Obama is that he seems to be able to carry out an conversation on faith (without seeming awkward about it) and take in a direction of grace without focusing in on the law. That is the Love that Christ spoke of means really caring for your neighbor, not pointing that is cohabitation is morally wrong and judging him for it.

When I find my self getting a bit judgmental (more often than I care to admit) I remember Matthew 7:3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye* when you have a log in your own?"

OneMan

Some more hard hitting stuff from the Sneedster

Cap flap: In case you didn't notice, Sen. Barack Obama was wearing a White Sox cap at the Bears game Sunday. The Sox are the favorite team of Mayor Daley, whom Obama endorsed for re-election the following day. It's called covering all bases.

Or Mike it's called he lives on the south side so therefore logically would be a Sox fan (like any sane person).
OneMan

I am looking forward to seeing how this thing with Ald. Danny Solis election papers works out. If this ends up being true I don't see how he stays on the ballot.

OneMan

I am sure there will be a large number of thoughts on the Trib editorial on school funding. I am not holding my breath that change will ever come. Much has been written about school funding in this state for the last 20 years but not much as ever been done. Having grown up in a 'poor' district and now living in a district with a much better financial situation I can tell you of the differences and disadvantages first hand.

Until a 'profile in courage' moment happens in Springfield where someone is willing to put their political career on the line (or give it up completely) to make it happen, it isn't going to happen.

If you think selling the lottery is the way to make that change happen you must be a graduate of the public schools in this state.


OneMan

Somedays there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of knowing enough about TCP/IP to give your ISP support guys fits when you call for support and call BS on their answers.

OneMan

Eric Zorn has some good advice not only for presidential candidates but candidates in general. Use the web to deal with the BS that is going to come out about any candidate as a first step.

OneMan

Thanks to the Hon. John Fritchey and his post over at Illinoize I was able to get a copy of the lottery sale RFQ.

First an explanation. Any deal like this has a NPV that is how much the cash flow over time is worth like an annuity, (that is $100 million from the lotto paid out over 20 years is not worth $100 million cash today) so the break-even price is the NPV. So when I use the word discount that is an reduction in the price I would be willing to pay. Usually due to risk.

From the RFQ

The State currently contemplates that the Concession Agreement would include a revenue sharing arrangement with the State retaining a percentage of the Lottery's gross receipts in excess of historic gross receipts during a to be determined base year.

This could/should have an impact on the value of the deal. Unless you are giving me a decent inflation rate as part of the calc, this can end up a being a big risk in a 75 year deal. A few years of major inflation at the wrong time may mean I pay the state a decent chunk of my revenues forever, I don't really know how you price that in, but you have to price it in.

Next

The Concession Agreement will include operating standards related to the operation of the Lottery with which the Concessionaire will be required to comply. The Concessionaire also will be subject to a regulatory system of control and oversight by the State.

This one is going to cost you as well. Unless the regulatory structure is well defined in terms of rights and role this would also require a discount on the price. Why? If I buy the lottery I want protections against you using a regulatory club to bring me back to the table on the deal and/or taxing me to death.

Then a disclaimer

(iv) any unaudited financial information or other information with respect
to the Lottery at any time provided by the State or any of the State's Financial Advisors, legal counsel or other representatives is merely an estimate, assumes the successful implementation of the Lottery's long-term business objectives, is not compiled in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles and may not reflect the actual results of the Lottery's operations; and

This might be boilerplate, but if I am the one you start moving forward with on this I am going to have my auditor come in a run the numbers. This is too big of a deal to find an oops with down the road. If I can't do this, that's right a discount.

From the highlights.

Exclusive Long-Term and Defensible Franchise: As the sole and exclusive lottery in the State, there is no direct competition to the Lottery. The current legislative framework strictly limits the presence of gaming alternatives. The State anticipates a secure and defensible regulatory and concession framework will be established to maintain the Lottery's unique position as the exclusive lottery gaming in the State and will furthermore provide the concessionaire significant flexibility to operate the business within current law. It is anticipated that the concession term will be up to 75 years.

First question, how much of the 'significant flexibility to operate the business within current law'dependentndant on current law. What are my redresses I get legislated out of business? Unlike a road or a bridge a single action of the state legislature and a stroke of the governors pen can put me out of business or add acompetitorditor. What is casino gaming expands significantly. Your exclusive isn't worth much unless I have protections in the contract on it, otherwise it's a discount.

Then there are the

Significant Growth Opportunities: The LotteryÂ’s per capita sales are below US averages, despite the State's per capita income being among the highest in the nation. The Lottery believes there are numerous opportunities to increase per capita Lottery spending and overall growth. For example, under the State laws and policies, the Lottery's sales force and management is currently not permitted to receive incentive-based compensation, which would reward expanded retail
penetration, higher sales, or enhanced profitability per customer. In addition, marketing expenditures remain approximately 1% of sales and have not grown since 2001 despite a positive correlation with sales. It is anticipated that the concessionaire would have flexibility to increase marketing expenditures and advertise through a wide variety of media so long as it is within the limits of state and national laws. In addition, we anticipate that the concessionaire could further drive sales growth through the application of the Lottery's recent market segmentation research, in order to reach a better understanding of and increase connectivity with Lottery patrons.

(Off the finances for a second) If increased marketing spending would help revenue why isn't the lottery doing that now? Also your sales force might sell more if they got paid momanagementmanagment was rewarded differently?

Bacfinancese finaces, a 5 year history of growth isn't enough to base the entire plan on. Also me doing all of the 'incentive' things is going to cost me more money. As for the market segmentation data, that's great but will you let me really market to it?
Then

Strong Economic Environment: Illinois has a strong and diversified economy. Measured by per capita personal income, Illinois ranks third among the ten most populous states in the US. The State's economy encompasses a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, transportation, technology, and consumer products. The State of Illinois is home to over 60 of the Fortune 500 companies in the US and is the 17th largest economy in the world if ranked as anationte nation2. The State's population and personal income levels have grown substantially over the last five decades, and are projected to continue to grow at 0.7% and approximately 4%respectivelyspectively. The State currently has its lowest unemployment on record at 4.1%. This is largely due to an addition of 400,000 jobs since 2004, which represents the fastest groMidwesthe Midwest. The State of Illinois' size and relative economic strength further suggest the significant growth potential of the Lottery through increased market penetration.

Even if I buy all of that, it's a 75 year lease! Do you know how much enconomic conditions can change in 75 years? The growth numbers are from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Bureau of Econmoics Analysis, I'll ask my econregardlessreguardless iaccurate be acurate even 10 years out, aftervoodoot it's vodo.


If it has all this growth potential why aren't we doing a better job taking advantage of it. Oh yeah, we want a quick buck so we don't have to make hard choices today.


OneMan

First Thing We Will Do is License All the Painters...

A different Aurora GOP blogger (I have no idea who he/she is) has an interesting post about Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and HB 359. Printer friendly text here. HB 359 appears to be a licensing act for drywall and painting contractors.


First the exemptions: If you are painting a ComEd Plant it appears you don't need to be licensed. (See Page 3 line 9-17)

Next the Qualificiations:
Section 30 Is well worth a read on it's own. To get a license in to be a contractor it looks like you would either need 4 years of painting experience.

On the other hand if you have a law degree or a 4 year degree in Accounting, business, economics, physics or areas you only need two years of experience. Why physics but not chemistry or biology? Why law but not computer science?

If you have completed a appreticeship with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades it looks like you only need one year of experience.

You also will only need one year of experience if you has a 4 year degree in architecture, construction technology or any field of engineering that is directly related to painting, drywall finishing, or glazing.

What field of engineering is directly related to painting, drywall finishing, or glazing? So a physics BS you get credit but an BS in mechanical engeneering you dont?

I dobut if this is going anyplace, but still might make an interesting campaign mailer down the road.

OneMan

Doing some quick math (using a spreadsheet I came up with a while back)

On a 75 year lease with a 2% sales growth rate and a 3% inflation rate the NPV of the is around 33 Billion Dollars. During that period Your total sales are about 338 Billion dollars and total revenue is about 112 Billion. A 3% growth rate results in sakes of 552 Billion and revenuye of 184 Billion and a NPV of around 47 Billion.


Bottom line on pure numbers it looks like 10 Billion for a 75 year lease is a steal.

OneMan

Rich and some others have had some stuff about the Chicago voter lists containing SSNs.

As someone who gets voter lists, the last thing I would have ever wanted to even see on these lists was an SSN. Why, simple because you can't do anything with it (so it's just extra information to deal with) and also because something like this could happen (someone realizes you have it) and it's just awkward.

Also in terms of it's only X disks, don't kid yourself this information gets shared and not everyone with a computer is smart enough (or makes the effort) to keep something like this off of a walklist the make up or a copy of the voters in area X they give to a candidate or volunteer.

I am confident this information has been copied a bunch of times. If something is being done with it, who knows. I am willing to bet that the data has traveled to a bunch of people who did not get the original disks.

I don't think I have ever seen it in any of the lists I have ever gotten and if I did I would just pull it or make it all 9's if for no other reason than my own protection.

OneMan

The bit Fox 32 did about me and domain is now on-line.

OneMan

Mike was nice enough to get a picture of me on Fox talking about Obama2008.org.

OneMan

The Beacon News did a story about 'The Domain' it also has a picture of OneMan without his glasses (please note how the photo was done was their idea, not mine).

OneMan

Had a guy parked in a pickup-truck with the engine running in front between my house and my next door neighbors house tonight when I got home from church at 8:45 PM he had a PC going as well.

I asked him if I could help him, I figured he was lost or something , he seem surprised by the question. It wanted to know what was wrong with him being there since he wasn't blocking anything. I said nothing as long as he wasn't using my wi-fi (I doubt he was using mine, the signal would be weak at the street and I have password protection on mine a few neighbors do not have password protection) I checked the log on my wireless router and didn't see any connections in the last few days. However my next door neighbor doesn't have password security and by the time I was able to call him and suggest he unplug to see if the guy would leave but the guy already left.

So what do you think the odds are he was using someone's wireless connection in the hood.

OneMan

First Sneed had a hint of it

Hmmm . . .Dear me. There are rumbles Gov. Blagojevich has been making disparaging comments in public about state House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Rich has provided some more when he reported on a press release from Gov. Blagojevich where he suspended a predatory lending act that Speaker Madigan was a big sponsor/fan of. Seriously however what was the downside of at least starting the pilot program.

Is the Governor trying to get back at Lisa for her having to do her job when it came to parental notification and FOIA stuff? Is he trying to take the speaker down a notch?

I also suspect Mike's folks are looking at the Gov's D-4s and will be more than happy to feed any useful information to reporters.

As a Illinois Republican I have to admit the immortal words of Flounder from Animal House came to mind. "Oh boy, this is going to be great!"

I would put my money on Mike, heck he might take him out just for pure sport at this point.

OneMan

I am sorry, but what is the appeal of Hillary? Seriously, I don't get it. Also does 4 more years in the US Senate really give her a big experience edge over Sen. Obama?

OneMan

Some more Obama

Eric Zorn reminds us that his middle name is Kreskin with his old piece about how Sen. Obama would run for President.

The Beacon has an AP item about how Obama's record may offer critics some ammo. Again kids, two words: Alan Keyes, if there was something(s) really bad in the record we could have got someone better than Alan Keyes to run against him.

FYI, before the exploration announcement "the domain" got about 3 hits a day, now its getting about 35 a day.

OneMan

A new update in the Sneed Yum-Yum watch (it looks like something she starts the year with)

Finah than Ina?Breakfast baroness Ina Pinkney has a novel way of getting her name out during her run for mayor as a write-in candidate.
• To wit: The proprietress of Ina's eatery, anti-transfat campaigner and one tough cookie herself, is passing out fortune cookies inserted with missives at her yum yum place at 1235 W. Randolph on how to correctly spell her name.

OneMan

People who may be looking into Sen. Obama for the first time there are a few things I want to say.

As someone who has blogged about Sen. Obama for a long time (my first Obama post over three years ago).
Someone who was written for the Obama Truth Squad in the past.

Someone who is a minor Republican Party Official (very minor).

If you think his past drug use is going to be Achilles heel,
you should in fact get off the drugs. Seriously, no one seemed to care much in Illinois. If they did we could have found a better replacement candidate for Jack Ryan than Alan Keyes.

The Obama is a Muslim thing. Seriously do you think Christian America is
going to buy into the whole “Well his dad was so therefore” thing? Using the
logic she used in this posting the early Christian Church should have never
trusted Paul. Because of who his dad was we should question where is loyalties lie? How screwed up is that?

The his middle name is Hussein thing. If people are not going to vote for him because middle name, God help our democracy. Seriously, Mrs. Austin Mayor had a point along these lines with Illinois and the last name of Ryan almost 3 years ago.

Like it or not, even large numbers of Illinois Republicans who dealt or knew Sen. Obama back when he was in the state senate describe him as likeable. They may say he is a screaming liberal, but they felt he was likeable. That is something that is going to be hard to overcome. Mocking his last name and his faith is not going to be the way to do it.

I will have some more on this down the road.

OneMan

From The Sun Times

"If I recall Dr. King, he wasn't hanging out in Manhattan. Dr. King was not in Beverly Hills. Folks said 'Why are you going to Harvey? Harvey has lots a problems.' I said that why I'm going to Harvey."

No OneMan was not at the event I was out of town. I did grow up right by Harvey (Dolton), so I know the area and know a bit about the issues facing the area. Will this silence some of the critics?
The audio from the Sun Times.

I would suggested that you listen to the audio.

The references back to Moses work very well and he is able to use terms and phrases with religous refernces that I couldn't see Sen. Clinto using in a million years.

"Long before he was a leader of men, he was a man of God"
"What are we doing for others?" (repeated several times)

For some more might I suggest this article, her blog is here

OneMan

Former Kane County Board member Mary Richards passed away yesterday. She was also secretary of the Aurora Township Republican Central Committee. As the gang over at OpenLine reminded me via their post about her efforts as a voter registrar, going to the area high schools, nursing homes and other locations to register voters.

Kane County was blessed for her service on the county board, the township party was blessed by her service and I was very blessed to know her.

She will be missed.

OneMan

232 Lines from Star Wars made better by replacing a word with the word pants.

My favorites
You came in those pants? You’re braver than I thought.
These aren't the pants you're looking for.

OneMan

There has been some coverage on how the mayor and Sen. Meeks as well as others want some school funding changes (including perhaps an income tax increase).

Here's a question for you kids. If the governor ends up having legal troubles (a big if I realize) and ends up not being the governor, does this get pushed forward under a Governor Quinn in part so he ends up being everyone's scapegoat and makes it easier for Lisa to win the primary against him down the road.

Yes, I understand I am visiting tin-foil-hat land with this and there are a large number of ifs.

OneMan

I saw this in the Trib

Only weeks after Blagojevich won re-election in November, office aides asked state workers to make sure Blagojevich's chair sits higher than the rest at the conference table in the governor's office, where deals are made with legislative leaders and policies are formulated with his staff.

Can't they just give him Brad's old chair? Then again sitting up high might help you try and figure out who might be wearing a wire. Perhaps he just got sick of Mike Madigan patting him on the head.

OneMan

Yeah Bill another landfill in Kane County, brilliant. His proposal to look into the idea got one vote, his own.

OneMan

Mr. Rogers, defender of the right to record TV shows for later viewing.

Some public stations, as well as commercial stations, program the "Neighborhood" at hours when some children cannot use it ... I have always felt that with the advent of all of this new technology that allows people to tape the "Neighborhood" off-the-air, and I'm speaking for the "Neighborhood" because that's what I produce, that they then become much more active in the programming of their family's television life. Very frankly, I am opposed to people being programmed by others. My whole approach in broadcasting has always been "You are an important person just the way you are. You can make healthy decisions." Maybe I'm going on too long, but I just feel that anything that allows a person to be more active in the control of his or her life, in a healthy way, is important.

—Frederick Rogers, [3]

"Very frankly, I am opposed to people being programmed by others.", sounds like a good stand to take in life in general.
OneMan

Rich has some scoop on Congressman Hastert and his plan to stay in the House.

So much for OneMan's plan to run for congress. Just kidding (about the plan).

OneMan

Thanks BGA for doing what the Illinois Republican Party should have done a while back.

If the BGA wins this does the state have to cover their costs?

OneMan

General Rule: The hair-dryers at the Naperville Y are not there to dry your 'junk', please keep this in mind fellow Y members. I am still trying to get that image out of my head.

OneMan

Heck Notre Dame even NIU has won a bowl game in the 21st century.

OneMan
Tags: Notre Dame , NIU, Northern Illinois University

The NYT and some other outlets have had items about Wal-Mart pushing compact fluorescent bulbs. We have about 5 or 6 here at OneMan central now. I have to say they generally work. Mrs OneMan has some complaints about the brightness of a couple (we have one that takes a moment to light up and one in garage seems to need to 'warm up' a bit).

From the Fast Company story

Last year, conversations started in Wal-Mart around the potential of swirls to save customers money on utility bills. "Somebody asked, 'What difference would it make if we changed the bulbs in the ceiling-fan display to CFLs?'" says Kerby. A typical Wal-Mart has 10 models of ceiling fans on display, each with four bulbs. Forty bulbs per store, 3,230 stores.

"Someone went off and did the math," says Kerby. "They told me we could save $6 million in electric bills by changing the incandescents to CFLs in more than 3,000 Wal-Marts. I couldn't believe it. I didn't know I was paying $6 million to light those fixtures. I said, that can't be right, go back and do the math again." The numbers came out the same the second time: savings of $6 million a year. "That, for me, was an 'I got it' moment."

I think ComEd is starting to push this a bit as well. If nothing else getting a few of these might cover at least part of the rate increase we are going to seeing.

OneMan