Embedded Files
DONE - District One News Events
Latest News for May 2014
=== Nothing is worth more than this day. ===
=== Each day is a gift to be treasured. ===
=== Life is short - Eat what you want. ===
Contact jerryd at: jerryjd@jerryd.ws
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May 30.1, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "$1.1 billion “mini” capital bill moves through House" which you can see here.
May 30, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Jon Hilkevitch, with some familiar IDOT names, titled: "Major project to clog Kennedy Expressway on June weekends" which you can see here.
[ Probably a good place not to be on those weekends. ]
May 30, 2014
[ Part 2: Are some IL politicians are just stark raving loony? You can't make this stuff up. Try this one: ]
[ Quoting from Capitol Fax: It could soon cost $200 for kids to set up a lemonade stand, have a bake sale or sell cupcakes in Illinois. ]
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "*** UPDATED x1 *** Poison pill kills cupcake bill" which you can seehere.
[ Let me try to understand this:
How would anyone expect that 'food safety standards' are the same for a kid selling a food product? And, not know that it's unregulated?
How would anyone not realize that there is a risk drinking the kid's lemonade or eating a bake sale cupcake?
Thinking back, I don't recall many. if any, news reports about a bunch of people getting sick over lemonade from stands or fund raising bake sales.
I DO recall a bunch of articles describing food poisoning from regulated, inspected food producers (ground meats, for example) and restaurants (salmonella, for example). Where some people died or dozens or hundreds got sick, some hospitalized.
Also, I'm truly fascinated by the 'well respected, regular, repeat commentators' on Capitol Fax who seem to think this was a good idea.
While it's not currently fashionable, some degree of personal responsibility seems in order here. If you have an allergy, why would you take the chance of consuming an unknown product?
What ARE all these people thinking? ]
May 30, 2014
[ Another study ... Shocking; just shocking. Uhhh...no...just some common sense? ]
Science World Report has an article by Kathleen Lees titled: "Physical Fitness During Old Age Helps Reduce Risk of Reduced Mobility" which you can see here.
[ Wonder who funded THIS 'study'? But a good reminder, keep up our physical fitness. ]
May 28, 2014
[ Whoa ! A whole long weekend WITHOUT any more IDOT revelations ! ]
May 28, 2014
Then again, CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Adventures in budgeting" which you can read here regarding the budget for IDOT Airlines.
May 28, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "More mandates, less mandates" which you can read here.
[ Ever wonder if some politicians are just stark raving loony? Try this one: ]
[ Quoting from CapitolFax: "An Illinois Senate committee has amended a far-reaching education funding bill with a provision allowing local school districts to opt out of dozens of instructional mandates, including driver’s education.
Manar’s newest amendment gives school districts the opportunity to skip out on the instruction of the following topics: drivers’ education; daily physical education; avoiding abduction; internet safety; the Holocaust and genocides; black history; women’s history; United States’ history; disability history; the disability rights movement; charter school education; consumer education; natural resources; steroid use and prevention; requirements applicable to sex education courses; patriotism and representative government; and violence prevention and conflict resolution.
It would also allow schools to stop observing certain holidays—Leif Erickson Day, Arbor Day, Bird Day, American Indian Day, Illinois Law Week, “Just Say No” Day—as well as watching a Congressional Medal of Honor film.
Those exemptions would be available to all school districts across the state for school years 2014, 2015 and 2016. After those three years, Manar said he thought it would be good to assess the impact of those changes." ]
[ Seems like after 3 years, we ought to check Manar's sanity. Maybe now would be a good time to check, too. ]
[ Yeah, that's it - Let's go back to readin', writin' and 'rithmetic ! Let's gut the current system.
,,,And leave a group of kids clueless about the USA and their world! Then, we'll see if it screws anything up.
As Bud Theisen used to say: "Progress is our most surprising product." ]
May 28, 2014
Jack Ryder [Admin, 2002] sent a couple of emails updating his medical status which you can see here.
May 28, 2014
All related:
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "So, where are all these great ideas?" which you can read here.
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "*** UPDATED x1 *** Rauner the disciplined dodger" which you can read here.
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Rick Pearson and Bob Secter titled: "Rauner: Specifics on tax, spending plans coming 'in due time'" which you can read here.
May 26, 2014
Never Forget
Always Honor Those Who Serve
For Each of Us
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Have a Safe & Happy Memorial Day
Welcome Summer !
May 23, 2014
Here's the Chicago Tribune - Eric Zorn Change of Subject column titled: "Yes, the pension crisis is an emergency. But whose fault is that?" which you can read here regarding the pension 'funding' issues, lawsuits and the Attorney General's response.
May 23, 2014
Mike Kroot [Elec; 2002] sent a link to an Associated Press article in the State Journal-Register titled: "IDOT official resigns, is under investigation" which you can see here.
May 23, 2014
Madison.com has an article by Nick Heynen titled: "Database: Wisconsin state employee salaries" which you can see here.
[ $800K? Makes IL look positively good. But most likely, IL just farms this out to some consultants at 2X or 3X the costs? ]
May 23, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: “An existential angst grips Chicago business” which you can see here.
May 23, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Steve Schmadeke titled: "Cook County judge removed from bench" which you can see here.
[ Well, how about that ? ]
May 20.1, 2014
[ Seems like IDOT month in the news. ] The Chicago Tribune has an article by Alexandra Chachkevitch titled: "IDOT truck collides with car in Northbrook" which you can see here.
May 20, 2014
[ It Is IL #43. Even the Atty General can get into the act. ] CapitolFax has a thread titled: "The pension militia?" which you can see here.
May 20, 2014
[ It Is IL #44. More familiar names from D1. It just never ends. ] CapitolFax has a thread titled: "More reform and renewal" which you can read here. Related, the BGA has an article by Patrick McCraney titled: "Hitting The Road - Clout-heavy IDOT administrator leaves agency amid scrutiny over patronage hiring under Gov. Quinn, but officials won’t explain what’s going on." which you can read here.
[ Reminds of the saying: 'Death by a thousand cuts'. ]
May 20, 2014
[ Commentary by jerryd; take it or leave it: The problem with crap like this is that good, hard working professionals get screwed, merely by whim, by the political stokes the politicians put into place. These strokes answer to no one, as long as they do the bidding of the strokes who put them in place. And, these individuals don't care who they hurt or what the costs are; District & IDOT management are want to keep their jobs and follow along; good people get hurt. And, I suspect IDOT is not the only agency where this occurs. ]
May 19, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has a locked-up Eric Zorn Change of Subject column titled: "Yes, the pension crisis is an emergency. But whose fault is that?" which you should find a way to read here regarding the pension 'funding' issues, lawsuits and the Attorney General's response.
[ There are ways to read this article. Be creative. Or ask your neighbor for a copy, if they get the Trib. If the Tribbies unprotect it, it will be posted again. ]
May 19, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Richard Wronski titled: "Illiana agreement commits Illinois to spend $250M - Officials sign deal outlining details of partnership" which you can see here.
[ Hey, it's only taxpayer money, right? ]
May 19, 2014
[ Related, It is IL #42. ] The Chicago Tribune has an editorial titled: "Illiana Expressway would be state's top road fund priority - Quinn would make Illiana Expressway the state's top road fund priority" which you can read here.
May 19, 2014
[ Good news for a change, ] The LA Times has an article by Don Lee titled: "After decades of exodus, companies returning production to the U.S. returning jobs" which you can see here.
[ Yeaaaaaa. Finally, some of the idiotic-money-grubbing-deciders are starting to get it. ]
May 16, 2014
Jack Ryder [Admin, 2002] sent an email updating his medical status which you can see here.
May 16, 2014
CapitolFax has an old thread titled: "Sen. Kirk, GOP congressmen get into the act" which you can see here.
May 16, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an important Commentary by Anita Alvarez, Robert Berlin, James Glasgow, Joseph McMahon and Michael Nerheim titled: "Early intervention helps at-risk Illinois kids succeed later in life - Want to keep at-risk kids out of the criminal justice system? - Early intervention is the key." which you can read here.
May 16, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "In the eye of the beholder" which you can see here.
[ About IDOT and Rutan exempt hires. ]
May 16, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Mitch Smith titled: "Climate change's effect here: More severe weather, higher crop yields - Crops affected by heat, drought" which you can read here.
[ But some fool congress-critter says: 'It's not mankind's fault'. So, I guess it's OK then. Well, true or not, the consequences will be felt by....wait for it....MANKIND. How about that ! ]
May 16, 2014
Related, Reuters has an article by Alister Doyle titled: "West Antarctic glaciers in "irreversible" thaw, raising seas -study" which you can read here.
[ So, we've been warned for years that the tipping point is approaching. And now....we're past the tipping point. Great. ]
May 15, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Sangamon County judge blocks pension law" which you can see here.
May 15, 2014
[ It Is IL #41. ] CapitolFax has a thread titled: "More trouble for Dorothy Brown’s husband in state grant probe" which you can see here.
May 14, 2014
You possibly might have noticed that the site counter hit 50,000 over the past weekend. Wow, I guess.
May 14, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Martin: Cut state worker pay" which you can read here.
[ There you go......the answer to every State financial problem. Cut the workers. Surgically remove the middle class. Yeah, yeah....that's it ! Let's go one-up on WI. ]
May 14, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Pension crisis by design" which you can see here.
May 14, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Rick Pearson titled: "Illinois unions ask judge to delay new pension law" which you can see here.
May 14, 2014
Related, CapitolFax has a thread titled: "SUAA and attorney general reach agreement on pension reform delay" which you can see here.
May 14, 2014
[ A continuation story. ] The State Journal-Register has an Associated Press article titled: "IDOT: Rehiring alleged patronage jobs too costly" which you can see here.
May 14, 2014
Related, Marty Anderson [Elec; 2008] sent a link to a State Journal-Register article by The Associated Press titled: "IDOT hires had political clout - Dozens of state jobs involved in a dispute over whether they should be free of politics were filled by Gov. Pat Quinn's administration with candidates who were politically connected or gave campaign contributions" which you can see here.
[ I KNOW !!! Shocking, isn't it? HaHaHaHa. ]
May 14, 2014
[ It Is IL #40. ] Central Illinois Proud has an article titled: "You Paid For It: Illinois State University President Residence Remodel" which you can see here.
[ Ya just gotta love the logic they spew as justification. ]
May 12, 2014
More fun at IDOT:
Marty Anderson [Elec; 2008] sent a link to a State Journal-Register Associated Press article titled: "IDOT: Rehiring alleged patronage jobs too costly" which you can read here.
Related, and even more scary, the BGA has an article by Patrick McCraney titled: "Investigators' Notebook - IDOT Secretary Talks About BGA's Clout Hiring Investigation" which you can read here.
[ This can be somewhat troubling, if that's the best response Secty Annie, the attorneys & the flacks can come up with. ]
Related, CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Quinn, Schneider try to explain patronage hiring" which you can read here.
[ Oh, boy....What are these people thinking? ]
May 12, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by titled: "Ex-Ald. Mell starts lobbying firm with help of daughter Patti Blagojevich" which you can see here.
[ Of course he did; lovely. ]
May 12, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Jason Meisner titled: "McHugh Construction to pay $12 million fine as part of federal, state probe" which you can see here.
May 12, 2014
CapitolFax has an old thread titled: "Rauner urging state workers to help him find Quinn corruption" which you can see here.
[ This would be a LOT more believable if he sent the same email out to every employee in his investment firms, eh? ]
May 12, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Richard Wronski titled: "Tollway's $75 million bridge project will yield to fish - Construction on wider Fox River span won't get underway until after spawning season" which you can see here.
May 11, 2014
Happy Mother's Day.
Then again, the Chicago Tribune has an article by Rosemary Regina Sobol titled:
"Making plans for Mother's Day ... and then the gunfire started" which you can read here.
May 9, 2014
RT has a Reuters article by Gene Blevins titled: "Pentagon-sponsored study opens door for super lasers, weather control" which you can see here.
[ We can send and return folks to the moon; yet we still have no way to mitigate weather. Nor are we all that good at identifying objects coming to crash on earth & mitigate those effects. Great. ]
May 9, 2014
The NY Times has an old October 30, 2005 article by Roger Lowenstein titled: "The End of Pensions" which you can read here.
May 9, 2014
[ Another study. ] Tech Times has an article by Rhodi Lee titled: "FDA recommends Cologuard stool-based DNA test for colon cancer after it demonstrates 93.3 pct sensitivity" which you can see here.
May 9, 2014
Mike Kroot [Elec; 2002] sent an item titled: "Now we know!!! - Complete and Finished" which you can see a version of here.
May 9, 2014
Marty Anderson [Elec; 2008] sent a link to a State-Journal Register article titled: "GOP lawmakers want federal probe of Quinn hires" which you can see here.
May 7, 2014
Jack Ryder [Admin, 2002] sent an email updating his medical status with a little more info which you can read here.
May 7, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Jon Hilkevitch and Richard Wronski titled: "O'Hare western access may look like dead-end - With plans for a western airline terminal on hold, DuPage highway to airport planned to carry traffic to old entrance" which you can see here.
[ Crumbling infrastructure everywhere. And the Tollway is spending $3.4 Billion in hopes that (quoting): "Proponents of the project see underused land stretching east from the western suburbs being transformed into gas stations, restaurants, hotels and shopping centers employing tens of thousands of people." Ahhh....more low wage, poverty level jobs for $3.4 Billion spent. It is IL. ]
May 7, 2014
[ You may have seen the commercial on TV. ] Volunteers of America has a commercial which you can view here. You can go to the VOA Website here. You can see the Better Business Bureau's report on VOA here.
[ Read the numbers. People shouldn't be homeless in the USA. People shouldn't go hungry in the USA. Please do what you can. ]
May 7, 2014
Greg Wachowiak [Matls; 2004] sent a link to a Pension Tsunami Website article by Amanda Vinicky of WUIS titled: "Motion Filed To Put Pension Law On Hold" which you can see here. You can see the Pension Tsunami front page here and browse around.
May 7, 2014
Marty Anderson [Elec; 2008] sent a link to an Associated Press article in the State Journal-Register titled: "State workers retire at higher rate in April" which you can see here.
[ Oh.....Happy Dance Here in Boone County ! Retired for a while & lovin' it ! ]
May 4, 2014
Jack Ryder [Admin, 2002] sent an email that he's had a diagnosis of cancer. He OK'd posting two recent emails about his medical status which you can read here. Lets keep Jack and Deb in our thoughts & prayers.
May 4, 2014
[ Been trying to write the same thoughts for months; can not do better than these. ]
The Chicago Tribune has a Commentary by Ron Grossman titled: "Not nourishing a middle class is huge mistake" which you really should read here.
[ Here's a quote: "If the time has come to bid farewell to a once-flourishing middle class, let's also remember it for its gifts: democracy, rule of law, material comfort and something less tangible but equally real: an optimistic spirit." ]
The Chicago Tribune has a Commentary by John McCarron titled: "More U.S. corporations moving headquarters overseas for tax haven" which you really should read here.
[ Here's a quote: "Don't look now, but while our corporate-owned media have us worried about congressional expense accounts and city workers getting free parking, big business is busy nailing the coffin lid on this nation's middle class." ]
[ So, summarizing my thoughts, crystallized by these commentaries: the fat cats, the 1%'ers, will keep sucking blood from this country, where they made their riches, until all that's left here is a shell of what this country once was. ]
May 4, 2014
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Stay requested on pension law" which you can see here.
May 4, 2014
[ Don't ya just love it. ]
CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Illinois justices not attending biz-backed pension conference" which you can see here.
May 4, 2014
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Mitch Smith and Kim Geiger titled: "Naperville trucking company wins ruling to return to road" which you can see here.
[ OK. Certainly wouldn't want the company to go out of business, even tho its driver was responsible for one death and one serious injury. And, until they got caught, it apparently was OK with them to operate in that fashion? What are they thinking? And what are the deciders thinking? ]
May 4, 2014
[ Another 'politics - IL style' story. ]
CapitolFax has an old thread titled: "Lesson learned: Don’t ‘Leave’" which you can see here.
May 4, 2014
HTR News has an article titled: "State cops can track residents' cellphones - Wisconsin officials mum on use of warrants, data related to Stingray device" which you can see here.
May 4, 2014
A couple of recent visitors.
Left: Male Red Breasted Grosbeak; showed up passing through last week.
Right: Northern oriole [ also called Baltimore oriole ] showed up Saturday.
May 1, 2014
Mark your calendars. Our Master of Ceremonies, Roy Fonda [Exec; 2001] reminds us that this year, in about 5 months, the Keep In Touch Luncheon is Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 at Chandler's. A great opportunity to visit with over 100 of your fellow Retirees from District One; don't miss out.
[ And, here we go with another fun month in IL. ]
May 1, 2014
Ahhh...Illinois - Part 1:
[ Just keeps getting better and better and... ] CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Sen. Kirk, GOP congressmen get into the act" which you can read here. [ Uh oh. Feds. Again ? ]
May 1, 2014
Ahhh...Illinois - Part 2:
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Meredith Rodriguez titled: "Illinoisans have lowest home-state opinions in the U.S., poll says" which you can see here.
Related, St. Louis Today has an article by Chuck Raasch titled: "llinois, Missouri, fare badly in Gallup poll" which you can see here.
Related, St. Louis Today has an article by Kevin Hoffman titled: "Are Illinois taxpayers getting more or less bang for their buck?" which you can see here.
Related, CapitolFax has a thread titled: "Gallup: Half of Illinoisans would leave if they could" which you can read here.
May 1, 2014
[ It Is IL #38. ]
The Chicago Tribune has an article by Ray Long and Maura Zurick titled: "State agency ex-director to pay $100,000 in revolving-door case" which you can see here.
[ More scary. An 'ex-agency director' can't understand what 'one year' means ! But, maybe, not so surprising these days. ]
May 1, 2014
[ It Is IL #39. ]
The Chicago Tribune has an article by John Byrne titled: "Arrest warrant issued in Ohio for former Chicago comptroller" which you can see here.
May Birthdays
Quote / Thought of the Month:
Ahhhhh.....It IS Illinois !
Youtube of the Month:
Measure of a Man by Jack Ingram
Year: 2009
Remarks: The Measure of a Man:
So what exactly are so many politicians and 1%'ers thinking?
Recurring Thoughts of the Month:
Kids shouldn't go to bed hungry in America - Donate to your local food pantry.
Go adopt a dog. Saving one dog may not change the world; but it changes the world
for that one dog.
See a panhandler today? Give him or her a buck or two or ten. They wouldn't be
doing it if they had real money. Life is getting tougher for a lot of folks these days.
Nothing is worth more than this day. Any day can be the last we have.
Each day is a gift to be treasured. Don't Miss It. Don't Blink.
Still Smoking?
If you still smoke; get some help; find a way to stop now. Click here to get started.
Heart Disease in Women?
Go directly to the Go Red for Women Day
Website here with information about heart disease in women.
One More Thing
We're always looking for email addresses (and missing birth dates) of D1 Retirees on
the 'Looking for Retirees' web page.
If you have any info, send them along to jerryjd@jerryd.ws
...
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