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Just curious. When the mayor speaks, do people actually believe him? Or are Chicago voter just that dumb?

"Just curious. When the mayor speaks, do people actually believe him? Or are Chicago voter just that dumb?" Just that Dumb. And: Apathetic. Without hope. Brain-washed. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Clueless. Downhearted. Disenfranchised. Disgusted. Downtrodden. Weary. Dejected. Depressed. Self-deceptive. Incredibly lazy. Masochistically tolerant. Unbelievably gullible. Same goes for every other resident of Crook County, be they Republican or Democrat. Oh, and that includes you, 'Suburban Chick'.

Mick and Ben please go to www.chicagoclout.com for a exclusive story. Channel 2 did something on this also. More on John Kolomay in a month.

when in doubt, move out at the very least go to the burbs to shop stick it to the man baby that'll teach them

"The city's Democratic machine is and always has been built on jobs..." It isn't the jobs (and the state and county are guilty of making a mockery of the veteran's hiring preference) that offend me as much as the contracting. That is were the real money is at. And please don't let these yahoos chase anyone out of this city - god knows we are going to have a hard enough time making ends meet and paying our taxes due to the gross financial mismanagement and lack of real investment in affordable housing, public safety, public transit, public education, or sustainable economic development (and I'm not talking about a new target or wal-mart). But for everything they do to try and screw up this city - there is no other like it, so please don't give up on it to easily. Saddest story of the year - the demise of our local papers. I wish them luck in the new year, they are going to need it. We are about to get less investigative reporting and a whole lot more Hollywood BS. Happy New Year.

Bam Again Chicago Clout... http://cbs2chicago.com/local/water.main.break.2.619058.html Enjoy this, bs on the cutting room floor. Deep Water.

"But Mayor Daley overruled Hoffman, with city officials explaining that ousting Kozicki would send the wrong message to whistleblowers." Exactly. We would not want to give the wrong message to whistleblowers. Better to add insult to injury and pad the undeserved salaries, for good measure.

Yes, it is a sad story. Like sad songs, both say so much.

"'But Mayor Daley overruled Hoffman, with city officials explaining that ousting Kozicki would send the wrong message to whistleblowers.' Exactly. We would not want to give the wrong message to whistleblowers. Better to add insult to injury and pad the undeserved salaries, for good measure." Are all whistle-blowers ALSO co-conspirators IN CRIMINAL ACTS?

"...a high-ranking department official began more strictly enforcing the rule that student interns actually be students...” The City Council has $140K/yr worth of "students as trainees." I wonder if they are actual students, or the usual fare of nieces and nephews. http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/04_100_Corporate_Fund.pdf#page=21

What the heck is the City doing spending money (and it's a total of $350k a year for five positions) on a Sergeant-at-Arms? What the heck is this position for? What do they do? For salaries in the range of $89k to $50k a year I hope they're doing a damned good job for the city's taxpayers. And try finding this well-paid job in the real world: "Council committee secretary in charge of committee rooms" - $60k a year. $60k a year to allocate rooms for meetings????? Mindblowing. And people wonder why there's no money to run the CTA...

"Council committee secretary in charge of committee rooms" - $60k a year. $60k a year to allocate rooms for meetings????? yeah and there's TWO of them AND 4 ASSISTANT Seargents-at-armses ($47K-89K)

Why don't you guys calm down.The Mayor and I and the people of Bridgeport wish all A 'HAPPY HOLIDAY'

I see your point, and my apologies for responding so fast. TGIF!! Though to some of these city employees, every day is like a Friday, eh? 60K to plan/allocate rooms for meetings??? i once made 40K and planned events all over the country, found speakers, hauled AV equip from airport to hotels, arranged meeting rooms/locations, etc. got laid off when the industry i was working in- telecommunications- went bust post Sept. 11th If only I lived in Bridgeport... do they need another room booker?

When Coconate was at work, he should have done his job. Mayor Daley works 7 days a week for Chicago.

"Mayor Daley works 7 days a week for Chicago."? Save your bullshit for when you have to sell used cars. Aristocrats 'work' only for themselves. And their definition of 'work' isn't the same one as applies to us 'commoners'. What Aristocrats 'work' at is anything and everything that enables them to benefit from the actual, honest work done by all of us commoners. Period. God forbid they ever have to actually do an honest day's worth of work, no, that's not what they believe they've been born and bred for. Thus, so many fucking lawyers in politics, using the power to make law, apply and impose law, interpret and adjudicate law, and, thus, profit from the honest work done by those they consider to be 'beneath' their station in life. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and shits like a duck, it's a duck. (Aristocrat = duck) "Quack, Quack." "Quack, Quack, Quack." Yep, we hear you, Mayor Mumbles, we hear you.

He plays with himself at work, Most likely.

Does anyone else feel like we are shifting as a society? The disappearing middle class has given way to a greater disparity between those that have money, and those that don't. Let us hope this won't be the case, but flash forward 20 years. Could anyone see the 99% being ruled by 1% here in the US of A?? The 99% working deep within the coal mines, the wind farms, the manure pits, and at the the Wal-Marts (which will have gas stations, pharmacies, clothing, on-site health care, groceries, etc.), all to produce energy for the 1% to consume? Could anyone see the massive shortage of women in China, and the booming wealth of its nation giving way to new business opportunities for those struggling within the 99%- i.e. mail-order American brides to Chinese men? Am I crazy? Could any of this happen? And if so, what role would American politics play in this somewhat bleak future society?

Christopher is getting a bad rap here on this blog. He was the individual whom stand up and took responsibility,when no one else would. If he made a bad decision,It was made for good reasons. Many Managers have to make split second moves, to benefit their organizations. Every decision made by Christopher, had the intent on moving Chicago forward. He is a trustee of St Xavier College,Chairman of the Irish heritage Fund and serves on numerous boards.If Chris was lacking in character why would so many organizations want him on their boards? Christopher would never intentally committ hiring fraud or be involved in the Bridgeport village land extortion. Because he is a good friend ,almost relative, of the Daleys he is being victimized by disgruntled former workers and the Media. Chris is a better man than he is being portrayed here.

"If Chris was lacking in character why would so many organizations want him on their boards?" That would depend upon the character of the boards he's on. A reasonable presumption would be because he's a proven yes-man. Ask Daley why Kosicki's got a six-figure gig. It ain't because Crissy ever just says no.

So, you've been doing some thinking. One thing, to try to avoid when thinking, is the tendency to reach conclusions, however tentative, theoretical or speculative, well before you have thought enough about all the factors relevant to the subject at hand. Since this particular subject has many interconnected elements to consider, it is premature to form such broad and general projected conclusions, however colorful, before considering those many relevant elements. Understand that your thoughts are welcome, though what is more welcome would be an elucidation of the steps taken to reach your stated projected possibility. One possible response to your question of "Could any of this happen?" would be: Maybe, if most people living here settle for becoming complete and total sheeple, content to be herded, sheared and slaughtered according to the whims and fancies of the small number of predatory rulers, commonly known as politicians. It doesn't take overwhelming physical force to achieve dominance, only a sufficient number of sheep content to think only of their individual comfort of the moment, oblivious to the lurking wolves surrounding them. That rainy day is fast approaching, boys and girls. Are you sure you know how to swim?

I don't know how to swim that well, but I can float for hours. Or shall I say that I can "flotsom(e)?" Thank you for the response. It's always interesting. I see your point in regards to not making conclusions. Maybe it's the time of year, but I can barely listen to the radio, or the news. There's so much disappointment, on so many levels, and many of us know/believe that there is a silver lining to every cloud, and that we should fake it until we make it etc., but sometimes the possibility of that silver lining is not enough, as we are trying to push past this kernal of a moment that is the despair inside of us. And yes, the 1:1 perspective exercise is good for these times. Isn't that what America is all about... everyone thinking of their individual comfort at the moment? Medicating with food? Drugs? Love that is a series of moments but can't really be returned/sustained? But there is hope. And at least for now it's a free society. And if you believe we are doing a disservice by taking up too much space on these comments feel free to email me at ginandjuiced@hotmail.com I hope I don't already know you, or if I do I guess I never knew you well.

I think it was you that commented about how an intelligent person is full of contradiction? WELL.... in that spirit, shortly after I posted that last comment, I thought, What the heck? I sound like I am having the most massive pity party ever, when in actuality there is so much to love about life, even when it feels full of sadness and euphoria, and not much in-between. Jung said, "The word 'happiness' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness." In that spirit, I'm posting some high-lights, and low-lights of this past year. Making "resolutions" is a masochistic tradition, yet everyone should - in my opinion, feel free to ignore it- make a list of highlights to cheer themselves up, or at least as a warm-up before delving into all the things they feel like they *should* do better in the coming year. 2007 Highlights—In no particular order of importance: 1- Screw-top wine 2- A new job that doesn't require travel 3- A relationship with a kind and caring person that lasted most of 2007 4- Meeting cool, unpretentious, talented people as a result of said relationship 5- Blogging for the first time 6- Listening to new (or new to me) bands—Too many to list, but Arcade Fire, the Magic Numbers, Gillian Welch, and Ray Lamontagne come to mind. 7- Taking a break from work. I took photos, wrote every day, read, exercised, saw live shows, and had an amazing time with friends and family because I was the most relaxed I've ever been in my entire life, outside of possibly childhood, though even then I was quite busy with "projects," like organizing a neighborhood talent show at the age of 10, or trying to start a dog waste removal service at the age of 12. The self-sponsored "sabbatical" was worth every minute, and every lost dollar. I save money not to have a mortgage that can enslave me, but so that I can have the freedom of "buying time" when I need a break from the heaviness of life. If it weren't for health insurance, and the security of steady pay, I would have become an entrepreneur many years ago. 8- All the babies born to friends 9- Visiting such friends at a reunion to see them, and their said babies, and to have a blast in general. There are a handful of people that have known me for one or even two decades, and I am grateful for their friendships, even if we don't all get together often. When we do, it's as if no time has passed. 10- A cat tree for my cat. 11- Friends in general. Putting "chicks before dicks," and friendships first, and trying not to let my emotions rise and fall in reaction to suitors and potential suitors. Low-Lights 1- Why focus on the negative? 2- This list is gonna be short 3- One huge low-light is the fact that shortly after I signed on to the new job, the company got new owners. Changes were imminent, and heartbreaking. The second half of 2007 has been devoted to dealing with these changes, and trying to rise past them, and not in spite of them. Anyone ever notice that spite and spit are almost the same word? 4- Gee, I really can't think of anything else 5- Honestly…. 6- I'm healthy. 7- I'm living in a free society 8- A roof over my head 9- Food in the belly 10- Music playing as I type this. 11- Coffee. A weekend. List over. (Oh- and why 11 points of light, and not 10? We can all use an extra point- for good luck. I don't know anyone that doesn't need or deserve it.) And to all anonymous peeps, feel free to add your highlights & low-lights. In fact, please do so. Sorry to hijack. The bad news is that I am just as bad as Have no Doubt, but the good news is I haven't repeated the same thing a zillion times, or have I, just using different words?

29-21

So book of Genesis 29-21 was a highlight for you this past year? Did you get married? Please elaborate, or correct me if you were referring to a football score, or some inside joke.

29 to 21. 29 + 21 = 50 50 = the number of aldermen 29 > 21 = the majority which ruled the Chicago City Council during Mayor Washington's tenure 29 = the Vrdolyak 29 (see above) 29 : 21 = slightly more than a bare majority in the Chicago City Council 29 : 21 = significantly less than an overwhelming majority in the Chicago City Council 29-21 = a reminder that, in a very real and practical sense, there are too few aldermen, not too many, just as there are too few state legislators, too few honest politicians (not necessarily the oxymoron this appears to be), too few honest 'business-persons', too few honest-at-heart citizens and too few dwindling options remaining in our rapidly fading Democracy Democracy is a form of cooperative governing that depends upon the participation of those being 'governed'. Participation requires effort. The output/results cannot be greater/better than the input/effort. Better being the most beneficial for the greatest number of those 'governed'. Better NOT being the most beneficial for the least number governing. HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT is 'bad' only for the least number of those governing for the primary purpose of their own greatest benefit. Honesty, integrity, sincerity, commitment to fairness, equity and justice cannot be purchased. The ideal of a free society, governed by those who embrace the concept of less is more, elected by those citizens who value their substantial freedom more than the illusion of what is, in reality, the mere impression of significant security, requires that the vast majority of it's citizens be most, if not all, of the things they believe they are. Fear has it's function, as in the instinct to survive, but, for a society to approach being an Authentic Democracy, it's citizens must be capable of being fear-less, as in less fear-full. Being less fear-full is not easy. We not only fear death, we fear loss, loss of what we have, loss of the possibility of having more and loss of many things that death will eventually take from us anyway, that being every-thing. When any given group of people embrace being less fear-full, they are then capable of realizing the benefits and responsibilities inherent in being more free. We, as a nation, can continue to choose to be more like sheep, depending upon false 'shepherds' for our illusion of safety, more like squirrels, socking away our individual nuts for the winter, more like rabbits, fleeing at the faintest sign of danger, and remain a democracy gradually decaying into an effective aristocracy/dictatorship. That appears to be what we, as a whole, have chosen to do with our collective 'free will'. Regardless of the harms our choice has brought to not only us, but the rest of the planet's inhabitants. We are the example of what Democracy can be, both when we embrace it's potential for free and respectful existence and when we waste Democracy's potential, by allowing it to become what it can be, a vehicle ruthlessly controlled by those who have zero appreciation for the freedoms of individuals. It's the responsibility of all citizens to understand, and aspire to, those individual responsibilities which a successful Democratic society depends upon. Because, in the end, we are responsible for determining whether we live within an Authentic Democracy that benefits all of it's citizens or a Demon-ocracy, which, as the name implies, is harmful to most, if not all, of it's citizens, commoners and aristocrats alike. If only those who think they are 'religious' wouldn't be so prone to self-deception, they might find the essential wisdoms within their own religious tenants to actually be honest, with themselves and with others. Alas, hypocrisy is the rule, rather than the exception. "You can't cheat an honest man" rings true. So, why are there so many men and women who feel, usually correctly, that they are being cheated?

"So, why are there so many men and women who feel, usually correctly, that they are being cheated?" Hmmm.... "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Per ER This includes politicians. Anyone that feels cheated, usually is. Rise above the hypocrisy-- perceived, and otherwise.

"'"You can't cheat an honest man' rings true." + "So, why are there so many men and women who feel, usually correctly, that they are being cheated?" = Because there are so many dishonest men and women. If you get cheated, you got so because you were trying/hoping to get more for giving less, or some variation of same. Give what you would like to be given, pay what you would like to be paid and you'll never be cheated or feel that you were.

Well, I was just walking home after dropping off keys to a friend, who lives near Clemente H.S, and my purse was snatched.... and I got it back!! i chased the punks down. yelled like a crazy person. chatted them up, gave them my lame $1, laughingly all i had on me! they took my cell phone and chicago one CTA card. i lied and said all my credit cards are maxed out. i was like just give me my purse. the police just left. now i am going through automated system hell trying to cancel the chicago one card. not as if they are going to ride the el all night and take advantage of the $20 on the card.

"Give what you would like to be given, pay what you would like to be paid and you'll never be cheated or feel that you were." They were kids. Maybe 14 or 15 years old tops. Scrawny black kids in doo-rags (sp?) Anyhow, they were trying to cheat me and steal from me, but I refused to let it happen. Or well more accurately they would have gotten more if I had had more. The nicer of the two said to me, "It's not our fault." I know, I told him, it's society. "My sister got mugged last week, he said. "Wow," I replied "That sucks." And I hope there was sympathy in my voice when I said it. In any case, I was very shaken up, but thankful I only lost a cell phone, a CTA card, and $1.

As long as you've learned the important lesson of never carrying anything with you that you're either willing to have taken from you OR willing to fight to the death to keep, (as in kill whoever you have to), you're ahead of the game on this experience. That's the conundrum of living, wherever and whenever you may be, there's always the possibility of having to choose between the fight or flee reaction. That's also why I won't ever regret growing up in the city, nor raising my son in the city, as there's no better training ground for surviving anywhere in this world than the streets of Chicago. If you've lived your whole life here and can't seem to figure out how to survive, and prosper, you weren't paying enough attention. Even a CPS experience teaches one to not depend on anyone else to teach you what you seek to learn. Plus, where else can one be so routinely irritated, yet consistently given so many examples of the variety of human behaviors, but in a city like this one? From the best examples of the best in human nature to close to the worst, this town has it all. It's the one place where a person can nourish both humility and confident enthusiasm at the same time. Now, if only those sticky-fingered little rascals could see how successful they could be, were they to channel their energies into acquiring the knowledge and learning the many skills currently and/or traditionally in demand. Because it's not like they'll have much of an opportunity to do so if they get busted and incarcerated. Here's a little comment I made, on the subject of practical education opportunities: http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2007/12/11/right-work/ Life really isn't rocket science, it just takes a commitment to personal honesty, at the very least with oneself, to figure out how to live and let live. My advice: get a dog, take him/her with you wherever you go and whenever you can and stop carrying a purse. Also, wearing a good pair of running shoes, (or a pair of steel-toed boots, if you plan on kicking some punk ass), and loose fitting clothing is most helpful.

my place is too small for a dog, plus my cat once attacked a rott. unfortunately i did not even think flee or fight. it all happened so fast. in retrospect they could have had a gun, or knife, and nothing is worth dying over. i was just angry, and shocked, and my instinct was to yell at them, and i was running before i even realized it. and yes, i had running shoes on. no steal toes, though. as for your comment, i actually recall reading it back when that blog was posted. i worked in employment recruitment advertising for three years, and there is a huge need for vocational workers. i agreed with that comment. of these two kids, one really seemed to have a heart (the one who said it was not their fault, his sister was mugged last week). it was his pal that i wondered about. oh well. i'm glad i am ok now, and happy to no longer be cat sitting. i blogged about it on my blog myspace.com/ginandjuiced

"That's also why I won't ever regret growing up in the city, nor raising my son in the city, as there's no better training ground for surviving anywhere in this world than the streets of Chicago. If you've lived your whole life here and can't seem to figure out how to survive, and prosper, you weren't paying enough attention. Even a CPS experience teaches one to not depend on anyone else to teach you what you seek to learn. Plus, where else can one be so routinely irritated, yet consistently given so many examples of the variety of human behaviors, but in a city like this one?" Very well said! Count me as a city mouse no matter what. The streets of Chicago are amazing. I wouldn't trade walking them for anything, though I just have to be a bit more aware. 10 years in the city and one purse snatching which was gotten back is not such a bad ratio... though it was a wake-up call to be (or try to be) much smarter. Not having my phone, and realizing I only know a few numbers by heart was a very grounding experience. As I was waiting for the police I posted a blog, and a few people responded to it within minutes, which was really incredible. It's amazing how blogging has changed the way many of us communicate with each other-- for better or worse, but in this case mostly better. Having a tech-savvy, "fully wired" Jewish mother on Myspace is kind of scary, though. I pray that she does not figure out how to text message next. She's already borrowed my Photoshop manual, and communicates with my niece in Seattle via webcam.

This is beeeeeeery interesting: "Daley should love the reformers who got the legislature to drop the petition signature requirement from 25,000 to 12,500. Without that change in the law Daley would not have been on the ballot at all. He only presented 19,000+ signature in the post Sorich conviction era. And the challenge brought his number down to 14,000. If we had had the money and people to continue challenging his petitions, he probably would have NOT been on the ballot at all. I was there for the challenge and I saw bad signatures approved by the Board of Elections employees who were doing their best to drag the process on and keep da mare in power. Posted by: MACK | December 31, 2007 10:29 AM" from ChicagoClout, courtesy of MACK and Patrick McDonough. Are all the honest citizens beginning to see the light?

When you're done admiring the Sargent-at-arm's empire-building savvy, scroll done and check out the Finance committee, it has a larger budget and headcount than some executive branch depts.

Citizens interested in exercising their Right to Vote can find important information here: http://www.chicagoelections.com/voterinfo/default.aspx