As a faithful reader of feed items that Rick shares I saw this one about WKRP coming to DVD and how they had to swap out some of the music because of some licensing issues.

I remember Chris Anderson mentioning WKRP in The Long Tail as the 'holy grail' or something along those lines of getting a TV show on DVD because of all of the issues with getting the music cleared. So it appears that they found a workaround. Also the post above references Gary Sandy and I figure he could use an extra link....

My copy of the book is up in my son's room (the kindergartner) no he isn't reading it himself, but dad reads it to him sometimes. He acts like he enjoys it.

Oneman

Have had some stuff going on this past week so blogging has been a bit light.

First I want to post a bit about Dallas stepping down as Kendall County party chair. I guess the first question that came to my mind and was surprised I didn't see it anyplace else was what impact this has on Hastert running for re-election?

It makes me lean a bit more to the idea that he is not going to run again but not decisively so.

Wow, 34 years as party chair During the 10 years or so I have been an elected committeeman in Kane county I think we have had 4.

OneMan

Some quick thoughts....

Brilliant!
For those to lazy to follow the link. It's a small room for 2 built into a giant beer can. Think of this for NASCAR if nothing else. You take them track to track and rent them out for the weekend. Dudes would pay a fortune to be able to spend race weekend in a beercan.

Naperville Mom T-Shirts Worth it just for the line 'Please tell me you know a good babysitter'.
The Naperville Dad shirt says... "NAPERVILLE OUR HOUSES ARE APPRECIATING FASTER THAN YOURS" kind of sums up the whole town.


Actually met the woman behind these shirts picking OneSon up from a birthday party today.

If you are at the bad workout area in your office building no one is impressed when you take a cheek-full of chaw halfway into your lifting routine. In fact the large guy on the treadmill who used to lift for football 20 years ago will need all of his powers not to just start laughing his head off.

If you are swimming at the Y and want to swim some sort of strange breast stroke to keep you face from getting wet so you can keep your glasses on please do so without kicking into adjacent lanes where more than one person is swimming. You have a whole lane to yourself, use it. Also they now have corrective lens goggles at reasonable prices, and getting your face wet will not cause you to melt.

Considering all of the stuff the city spends money on we can't come up with 60K to search for some more mastodon bones at Phillips Park in Aurora.

Yeah I know OneMan is a bit of a budget hawk, but come on. Looking for mastodon bones, how cool is that? If each ward tossed in some of it's ward funds we could do it easy.

Again it's an example of a unique oportunity for Aurora, they don't have any mastodon digs going on in Oswego or Naperville. It could even be a bit of a local tourist attraction. Come help dig for some bones on the weekend. I would spend $10 to let OneDaughter do it in a heartbeat.

OneMan

A OneMan Book Review....

Leviathan on the Right How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution by Michael D. Tanner of the Cato Institute.

It was an interesting read, if for no other reason than his logical explanation of how the party of small government has become the party of big government.

Using examples including No Child Left Behind, marriage promotion and faith based government action he illustrates how classic small government conservatism has been co-opted by folks with a host of different agendas and goals.

All of the examples work and work in different ways. With education he points out how education had been the classic provenance of local governance but how under the Bush administration we are moving to a national school board. That no matter how hard the administration tries to claim that we are not creating a national curriculum by pushing testing and rewarding scores on those tests they are creating a defacto curriculum.

Pointing out that how the Republican Party went in 25 years from proposing to eliminate the US Department of Education to putting the federal government in local education in ways that no one would have imagined 25 years ago by either party.

The other really effective example he uses is a set of small examples in a chapter entitled National Busybodies. Pointing out of the Republican lead house and senate addressed such non federal issues as steroids in baseball, video poker, Janet Jackson and his best example Terri Schiavo.

If you wonder how the Republicans went from the party of small government to the party passed legislation to have the federal government promote marriage and work to try and invalidate by any means necessary state level actions on medical marijuana and civil unions this is the book for you.

Well worth the money, I purchased my copy.

OneMan

Why the Edwards $200 haircut is bad for him. Even worse than the huge house.

Because an average American can understand the idea if you have a lot a money you get a big house, heck most Americans have that dream.

It's the idea that you have a lot of money so therefore you spend $200 for a mans haircut that is not part of anyones wealth dream. It just sort of reinforces the pretty boy image he has in some people's mind.

Also kind of hurts his 'Two Americas' thing because it is obvious which one he is in....


OneMan

First and foremost, thanks to everyone who offered suggestions on what to see and do. We were not able to get all of them. But thanks it made my daughters experience much better.
Took OneDaughter to Springfield today, have to say it was quite the fun adventure for her (and a lesser extent dad). We got in a bit early so we stopped by Senator Lauzen's office he wasn't in yet but I got to take a picture of OneDaughter at his desk...

-- I can't seem to upload the pictures so I will try and flicker them tomorrow or something..

Then we swung by Sen. Rutherford's office, no he isn't my senator or anything however he got stuck sitting next to me a few times at events in Kane County and OneDaughter did a parade for him handing out emery boards so I figured we might as well say hi. One of my goals for the trip was to try and have my daughter see these people outside of doing the campaign thing.

He came out and talked to us, gave us a quick tour of his office and talked with me and OneDaughter for a few minutes and asked her some questions.

We then tried to see if Rich was at his desk in the press office, he wasn't so I left my card and talked to his office mates for a few minutes while my daughter enjoyed what was on the walls.

Then we walked around a bit and saw Senator Jones addressing a group of men at the back of hall where all of the governor paintings are. Someone then looks at me and says 'I know you', 'You went to Thornridge' which I did, it turns out Rep. William Q Davis graduated a year before me in high school and having not seen him in 20 years he was able to remember me. I was blown away, he was even nice enough to say I looked like I did in high school, considering the weight difference (significant, more) and the hair difference (not as significant, less) .

Next we headed over to the Howlett building to have lunch (chicken fried steak and the burger were both good) and for our first group event. We got to talk with Tom Cross for a few minutes before he addressed a larger group of students and answered some questions. He was rather funny, pointing out if you went to watch the session what to try and look for and explaining some of the basics as well as answering some questions from the students (OneDaughter wanted to ask about the GRT but I suggested she save that question for another time (she had seen the GRT buttons))

So then we headed back over to the statehouse as a larger group, went through security (you figure they would have had both medal detectors going with size of the crowd at each entrance) at this point I saw Rolland Burris and went over to shake his hand, so that was really more fun for dad...

Once inside a group went with me to speak to Senator Lauzen, so I got to do the give someone my card and have them give it to him. Yes I know to most of you this isn't a big deal, but I have to say standing in that side chamber and having him come out to meet me was cool. He came out into the rotunda area to talk to the kids and parents and shake hands and ask questions he was very gracious with his time. The kids seemed to get a kick out of meeting him and he recognized OneDaughter which made her day, she must have mentioned it to about 10 people later. He took time to speak to everyone posed for a bunch of pictures and was generally a big hit with everyone.

The we wanted to try and speak with Linda Chapa-LaVia as well, the scrum or whatever you want to call it in front of the doors to the house to hand your card to someone and see/wait for them to come out when a decent size crowd is there is something to behold. So I sent my card in (my Township GOP Vice-Chair card I should say) and waited, she came out go to the Speakers office so I able to corner her and she spoke to everyone for a couple of minutes and headed over to the Speakers office. She seemed rather busy so we were glad she could take a minute out for us.

So then we went into the gallery to listen to the debate on the concealed carry bill for judges, public defenders etc. the kids and the adults were both kind of getting into it. If nothing else when Rep. Black started talking about the margin needed for approval everyone was listening due to his volume if nothing else.

We had to go so we could do the Capitol tour, which was also a hit with the kids and the guide did a great job. During the tour I had at least two of the adults in our group ask if I had heard how the vote on the gun thing had turned out. We get to the last part of the tour, the house gallery just in time for the vote on the gun bill. So the kids were able to see a vote in action. Then Rep. Cross took a moment of privilege and recognized the kids in the gallery, that was also a big hit with the kids.

So as the rest of the group headed over Lincoln's house OneDaugher and I headed back over to the house doors to try and see if we could meet Rep. Fritchey since he said to say hi in my original post on Illinoize.

I was just about to hand my card in when he came out to talk to someone else so we walked over to where he was and waited, when he finished I introduced my self as OneMan. He stopped shook my hand and talked with OneDaughter for a good 5~10 minutes or so. Man, I was glad we decided to try and talk to him and thankful he was willing to spend that kind of time talking to my daughter. My daughter wanted to get over to our next stop so he got on one knee and listed to her talk about gifted education funding and thanked her for coming to see him. After our chat add me to the Rep. Fritchey fan club.

Soon as we finished talking someone standing by us said, 'Oh your the guy with the post in CapitolFax about coming to Springfield' , 'Yeah', 'I gave you one of the cynical answers'... No worries.

After that we did the tour of Lincoln's home, which I have to say our tour guide did not seem to really be in to all that much (we were the last tour before quiting time). We then headed over the the Lincoln-Herndon law office and did that tour right before they were getting ready to close. Which was better, but I hope the state spiffs it up a little before the Lincoln bicentennial.

Groups we saw at the capitol today (partial list)
Homeless Advocates
Gifted Education (us, well my daughter as you can tell by my spelling and grammar)
Domestic Partners
Pro-GRT
Anti-GRT
Right to choose
School health clinics


OneMan

Well election night has come and gone. We were done at about 10:30, would have been done by 9:30 if not for some human errors in the process (some folks did not bring in all the stuff they needed to bring in). All in all things went fairly well.

As always it was fun, at least for OneMan

The partial city results (not including DuPage) can be found here.

Sorry Bridget I had to stay until the last vote is counted so I couldn't get to O'Malleys any sooner than I did.

As for the Ward 3 results all I have to say is cool! It wasn't even close, I am looking forward to the Beacons take on it in the next couple of days.

Off to Springfield tomorrow with OneDaughter. I will try and blog when I get back.

OneMan

Well election day is coming tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see how the 3rd Ward race ends up. Reguardless it will be interesting to see where the challenger raised his money from. I plan on getting copies of D-2s that were filed on paper in a few local races on Wed.

Some things in one race in town have set some precidents with what is considered relevant and not relevant for the press to report. Not to get all opneline-y but a precident has been set, one at least I now expect to be followed down the road.

As for endorsements, none here. It's a non-partisan race (despite what someone says when they filed with the state) and I am going to respect that at some level. Reguardless of what I may mean if I were to endorse someone there is a implication there bigger than just my endorsement.

I will be yet again the representative of a major political organization at the count at the Aurora Election Commission (even tho it's a non-partisan election, it's just easier to have partisans observe).

I will not be writing anyone in for Kane County Regional School Board of Trustee's . I can't spell that well.

I do however plan on having OneDaughter run in 10 years (if she wants and I will get her on the ballot, no write-in stuff) :-)

OneMan



OneMan

Jake over at the School of Rhodes has an open letter about line jumping (that is people who zoom up to take advantage of construction merges). Read the letter I think he has a point but it reminded of a story.

Years ago before the kids joined the firm and Mrs. OneMan used to work weekends, OneMan used to crew on a racing sailboat. One Saturday morning I am driving downtown and hit the old Hillside Strangler and a car with about 5 young women in their early twenties (same age as I was at the time) zoom by on the left shoulder (because waiting is obviously for un-cute chumps like me). Oh well, I get further up and what do I see, they are pulled over by a member of the Illinois State Police on the shoulder further up the merge.

So what do I do, start laughing my head off, as I go by at 3 miles an hour. The driver see this and I am not sure because the window was up in her car, says 'Funny You' about three times. This causing me to laugh harder.

Have to say it made my whole day.

OneMan

Well election day is getting close, regardless I am looking forward to seeing the D-2s on some of the local races. I called the state about one filed on paper to find out about an in-kind donation.

Why is OneMan being vague, because I haven't seen the D-2 some information was shared with me over the phone, so until I see it I am not going to report directly on it.

Regardless where the money has come from in some of the local races is always a good read.

OneMan

I have mapped all of the polling places in Aurora Township using google maps.

Enjoy

OneMan

The Beacon published their endorsements for alderman today in Aurora. Have to say there were no big surprises. They were also nice enough to offer up this about Nesbitt

Kifowit's challenger, Jim Nesbitt, is not qualified to hold public office and has no platform outside of criticizing the incumbent. The tone of his campaign has been nothing but negative, leading us to believe he is simply token political opposition.

The Beacon also talks about pro and anti Weisner alderman, I don't know if I agree with them on that point. At some level, having an alderman or two (or four) who think the mayor is taking the wrong approach on some issues is really healthy if you ask me. The mayor needs to respond to the alderman, just not the other way around.

OneMan

I took a little while after Sneed's return from surgery... But we have a Yum Yum sighting.

Radio rascal Roe Conn spotted at yum yum Aigre Doux eatery on Kinzie Street.

Also a Leslie Hindman piece, between her, Sugar R and the Burkes you can write about 40% of all Sneedlings.

OneMan

A little while back Rich over at CapitolFax asked for reasons you are thankful you live in Illinois. I have one, it's not Michigan.

On Thursday, House Democrats delivered a spending bill that includes the idea of putting $38 million worth of public funds toward outfitting every student with a digital music player.

The Detroit News had a good editorial on this titled An iPod for every kid? Are the !#$!ing idiots?

OneMan

People who were at the 3rd Ward forum at the Roundhouse today...

Alderman Kifiowit
OneMan
various others.

People who were not.
Nesbitt

Perhaps he couldn't get a ride.

Actually some comic did fill in for Nesbitt for a minute and had a great joke. "The reason I didn't vote in all those elections is because I wasn't running". Seriously, why not go, you just end up looking chicken.

Oh, I brought along OneSon with me (OneWife and OneDaughter were at a Girl Scout thing) proving that you can focus on faith and family and still be aware about what is going on locally.

OneMan

The Sun Times has a story about 'Crash Pads' places in homes rented by flight crews from out of town who fly into and out of Midway. That had this little quote.

Sometimes, building owners even sell residential parking permits to crew members, depriving the city of parking fees at Midway.

Denying the city parking fees! The horror! Those evil.... Yeah, sorry have to admit, don't really feel bad about someone denying the City of Chicago some parking fees.

OneMan

The Beacon has a story today about the 3rd Ward candidates including some information about Jim Nesbitt's ability to drive in Illinois (due to a conviction in another state for DUI). But this little bit at the end also caught my eye.

Nesbitt's detractors also have pointed to his voting record, on file at the Aurora Election Commission. Those documents show that Nesbitt voted in the 2001 election, but didn't vote again until the 2007 primary in February. That is the largest gap represented in any of the candidates' records.
Nesbitt has said that those years were focused on "faith and family," and that he was too busy to get involved with local politics. But now, he said, he has time and wants to represent the voters.

You know Jim lots of folks who are focused on "faith and family" and even Apple Pie, still find time to vote. If nothing else than in national elections. We had one in 2004 in cause you missed it. I find your comments vaguely insulting in that you are implying that folks who found time to at least vote were not focused on what is important. You don't have to 'get involved with local politics' to make an informed voting decision.

OneMan

Why I think HB 1100 is a good idea and why. I guess that makes me a bad Republican

A) These folks are going to drive anyway, it makes sense for the state to know who they are and where they live. (Yes, I know they are in the country illegally and we are going to be 'rewarding' that)

B) I suspect, but can't prove that someone with a drivers license and/or certificate is less likely to run in an accident if they are involved or if they are just at witness.

C) It will make life a bit easier for the police if someone has some form of identification provided by a government entity in the US.

D) More folks will end up having insurance, likely resulting in me paying less for uninsured motorist coverage.

E) If you ever need to find someone who is in the country illegally you might have a better chance if you have something with their picture, name and address on file.

As for 'rewarding' argument, come on. There are all sorts of things we let immigrants do and/or do for them without checking status. I don't see how making sure they are competent to drive shouldn't be one of those things were status does not matter.

OneMan

Well Rich was nice enough to provide the link to the GRT so I started taking a look and I found this interesting bit at page 12 (of the pdf starting at line 4)

(8) Gross receipts from the sale of transportation
services by a common or contract carrier, in proportion to
the mileage traveled by the carrier during the taxable year
on roadways, waterways, airways, and railways in this State
to the mileage traveled by the carrier during the taxable
year on roadways, waterways, airways, and railways
everywhere;

Using one definition of Common Carrier this would even include airlines I think. But regardless just using a 'trucking' definition this in some ways is going to be an accounting nightmare, let's say I ship something from Davenport, IA to Gary IN is the 'mileage traveled' based as the crow flies or actual road miles?
What if I am shipping between two points outside Illinois but the item goes into a hub within Illinois? Is the shipper then liable for tax?
We also have this on page 10 at line 8

Gross receipts from the sale of telecommunications, broadcast, internet, or cable services, if the location of the equipment at which the services are received by the purchaser is located in this State.

So the state is going to tax satellite radio and television (or the gross receipts of the same).

The Beacon has some coverage about some yard signs thefts (and charges being filed) in Aurora involving the alderman at large race and the 3rd Ward race. The interesting part about may come down to where exactly the signs were. I also like the fact someone took the time to do a stakeout and see where the signs were going.

OneMan

Well it's April 1st when it's time to get a new fishing license in Illinois and some other states as well.

So OneMan goes on-line to do it and when he selects resident fishing license he tries to move on and first gets this

After enjoying the feel of a one of those sites that makes an attempt to change your home page he clicks Cancel, because he doesn't really want to make a donation and then gets this...

After again enjoying the feel of a website that wants to change my home page, and wondering what % of people who buy Illinois Resident fishing licenses really want or need a Lake Michigan Salmon stamp ($6.50), He also starts to get a little annoyed. He just wants to get his fishing license and get on with it, not be subject to up selling. What's next a check to make sure I don't want a Fur Bearing Animal Breeder license as well? ($25.50) Finally, after being asked a survey question about if he tends to fish more in private ponds or non-private ponds he was able to check out after paying a convenience fee.

If you ask me between the upselling and the OK, Cancel thing (neither of which was there last year) OneMan was underwhelmed by the process. If this is what all e-government is going to be come (up selling), count me out.

OneMan