Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Group wants Hastert deal investigated | Chicago Tribune

I admire the renewed calls for a thorough investigation of this obvious ethics problem that Hastert has. If he's not a crook, then prove it. He works for the citizens of the U.S. and is paid handsomely for it. He should have some accountability in this matter. I wonder if Fitzgerald would look into this matter?

Monday, November 27, 2006

Web Lets Riders See Train Times From Afar - washingtonpost.com

This would be great in Chicago. The system we use in Chicago is on one bus line. I'm not sure how much this costs, but it would make riders very happy to have something like this on the trains. Even better would be a system that would allow you to see the wait time for the next train (like DC or London) while on the platform. the signs that they have now are at best an OK clock. The information is always old and preprogrammed. What do I care about closing stations. What about something about slow zones and what progress the work crews are making? CTA could learn a lot by just giving the customers something new and innovative. I know they are strapped for cash, especially after the next contract goes through, but there is never a good time. Raising fares may be the only thing to do, especially if Congress refuses to fund operations.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

More Longtime Couples in France Prefer L'Amour Without Marriage - washingtonpost.com

That makes sense. The big factor in the US with couples is not the tax breaks, but the additional benefit of health care. I'm curious to know what the percentage of married people in the US married because of health care. It won't be first, but I'd bet it gets into the top five. The religon angle is also intriguing in how the US and Europe differ so much. There are some evangelical in Europe, but as a percentage they don't seem very powerful. What is the difference between the US and Europe on that front?

Friday, November 17, 2006

Showing a New Style, Department Stores Surge - New York Times

Interesting considering the Field's news here in Chicago. I'm wondering if Field's couldn't have been the high-end Midwest retailer that Federated could use. I personally like department stores because you can see so much stuff. I'm curious to see how long this lasts or if another downturn could hurt margins. Things are looking brighter in retail right now if only gas prices are coming down.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Macy's brand a tough sell in Chicago | Chicago Tribune

Too bad that Federated screwed up so bad here in Chicago. It's the final nail in the coffin for midmarket department stores. You're either going to Walmart/Sears/Penny's or Saks/Nordstoms/Neiman's, but nothing in between. It's been a long time coming, but sad since it was such an institution here in Chicago.
Macy's brand a tough sell in Chicago | Chicago Tribune

Too bad that Federated screwed up so bad here in Chicago. It's the final nail in the coffin for midmarket department stores. You're either going to Walmart/Sears/Penny's or Saks/Nordstoms/Neiman's, but nothing in between. It's been a long time coming, but sad since it was such an institution here in Chicago.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Dubious Mix: Rich Suitors, Ailing Papers - New York Times

I'm not sure that it's that depressing. They will need some sort of settling out of the classifieds and the like. At the same time the margins are still good. If you're smart and buy the cachet of the paper then you are in good shape. Murdoch's ownership of the NY Post is a money loser for sure. However the cachet and influence is probably worth whatever losses he sustains. That's the type of owner that the LA Times wants. I doubt that any of the suitors will be that generous and smart, but who knows.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Rumsfeld Resigns as Defense Secretary After Big Election Gains for Democrats - New York Times

Finally! The sad thing is that it didn't take an incompetent Iraq policy or the deaths of countless U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civillians. It didn't take the mucking up of procurement policy or the generals practiaclly rebelling. It took the election of a bunch of "whining" Democrats? I'm a little befuddled. It's good that he's finally done, but at the same time a little weird. Obviously he's the first casualty of the Dems winning the House, but what else. Still in shock.
CNN.com - Elections 2006

The House races were good but not great. The GOP held those three NY seats and the Georgia seats are still up in the air. There will be some close movement still, but a great night for America.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Terps Enter Season as a Restoration Project - washingtonpost.com

It's not that William's is a bad coach, but he suffers from wanting too much. He recruits way above what he can get. If he won another National Championship and 5 staright ACC titles he might then start recruiting the Duke, UNC, UCLA guys. He goes after those top recruits and loses to Duke. We're stuck with Chris McCray and no plan B. this is the same for Maryland football, when things hit rock bottom last year. Basketball is going to take a little while. Hopefully this year's recruits can finally build a foundation for the following years. We can snowball into the next year and the next year. As bad as those Walt Williams teams were, they were a start that built up the team to finally a four year Juan Dixon. Maryland should get the recruit that's going to be a killer his junior and senior years instead of having inexperienced players.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Army Times: Rummy must go. - By Fred Kaplan - Slate Magazine

Here's the editorial

Here's some of the reaction

Here's the thread on the Web site

It sounds pretty nasty on the Web site already. I'm really surpprised that this story hasn't gotten more play in the nati0nal papers. I did see one of the talking heads dismiss the editorial as a plot from Gannett to discredit the President. I doubt that Gannett is organized enough to pull off that, more likely they felt safe enough to say that Rummy must go. The editorial doesn't even mention Rumsfeld's greatest failure, the Abu-Gharib scandal. The military is really pissed off about this and it's starting to show.
Daily Herald | News

More Duckworth VFW stuff. I was thinking on this over the weekend and now think that Roskam sat on this intentionally. Why would he hold this? He didn't want it to hit any news cycles. Released on Friday afternoon for the Saturday papers? Doesn't seem like the most confident time to drop an endorsement for maximum impact on the election.

Check out the Capital Fax Blog on this which has the most infor I can find.

http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2006/11/03/breaking/#comments
Once Safe, Public Pensions Are Now Facing Cuts - New York Times

These obligations are going to demolish city budgets around the country. It will be impossible to overlook this coming wave when tax-payers are directly responsible for these obligations. The best solution would be to nationalize the municipal and state pension with the federal pension system. That way you could avoid the population/tax base problem (assume that the tax payers are moving within the U.S.) and spread the risk over many different people. It would probably take the bankruptcy of a few major cities or states due to pension obligations for this to happen, but its coming. Here in Illinois, the problem is really bad with one of the must underfunded pensions in the nation. The Trib wrote an article up last week on the issue. No more pension holidays and build up the reserve. A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Elections :: National VFW group backs Roskam

more from the Trib here

This is disgusting. More backroom deals with GOP pols. I'm not saying that the VFW would go and support a Dem, but they should have sat this one out. My gut is that this will backfire. Duckworth actually qualifies as a member of the Veterns of Foreign Wars. He didn't serve in the military. She lost two legs fighting in a foreign war. Roskam sat out military service. The national VFW will get lots of angry mail and the organization itself will start to feel old and insignificant. VFW numbers are down over the decades to begin with and endorsing the opponent of a Iraq War vet is just dumb.

Friday, November 03, 2006

The Seattle Times: Local News: Issaquah bus driver appeals firing for "flipping off" President Bush

When I read about this Froomkin today I was struck by the irony. No doubt that flipping the bird to a Presidential Limo was not cool. He probably should have been suspended or docked a days pay. Nonetheless held accountable in some way. Too bad the President doesn't do the same for his cronies.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Karl Rove's Split Personality: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com

Fantastically deep and thorough look at Karl Rove. You certainly learn a lot about American Politics by reading this behemouth. I wonder if he's really going to go into cold storage at some University. What would be the point of that? How does that appeal to his psyche? My bet is that he will teach for awhile, but then become an old wise man in the GOP. He'll advise the next generation of hacks. He'll also run a nother race. Sure he's climbed Mt. Olympus, but why would he stop? The races are the only way to get those adreneline highs. Once you're hooked, you can't go back.