Archive for April, 2008
April 30th, 2008
We’re launching a project this week called “180 Degrees: Solutions for a Better Rockford.”
A lot of talented folks have put in a lot of time on the project so far. You should be able to read and see some of that effort by Friday and in print by Sunday if all goes well.
The project started with the simple question of “How did Winnebago County come to have the highest crime rate in the state?”
Of course, there is no simple answer. Education, the economy, crime, culture, and government are so intertwined in that question that all five elements must be addressed if residents in the community are truly to feel safe in their own homes.
As the first step, we’ve started a blog called “180 Degrees” that some of you may not have stumbled onto yet. I encourage you to check it out. The blog entries will give you an idea of the thought process that has driven the project.
April 30th, 2008
The Illinois Senate defeated a plan yesterday to go to a graduated income tax.
Those who supported the measure said it wasn’t about raising taxes (yeah, right), but it was about fairness.
I think Dave Syverson had it right: “This isn’t going to be a tax on the wealthy. This is going to be a tax on the middle class. But it’s going to be sold to the voters as, ‘We’re going to make the other guy pay. We’re going to make the rich pay.’”
Seems to me that the “other guy” is always those of us who can least afford it.
What do you think?
April 29th, 2008
Anna Voelker noted in the Bricks & Clicks blog yesterday an item about Sun Times columnist Jay Mariotti dissing Rockford.
It wasn’t the first time Mariotti made a Rockford reference. On June 14, he wrote:
“Just because we’re in Chicago, where one Series has been won in the last 187 tries, doesn’t mean the major-market-expectations scale should be skewed generously. Yes, they beat the Cubs to the multi-flagged trophy, but that’s like being the tallest building in Rockford.”
FYI: The tallest building in Rockford is downtown’s Faust Hotel, about 130 feet tall. The Sears Tower in Chicago is 1,450 feet
When that item appeared, I tried to contact Mariotti. E-mail and two phone calls were not answered. Hey, I’m sure he’s a busy guy, but I was wondering why he picked Rockford, whether he had ever visited the city and whether he might have had a bad experience here.
Just curious. Oh, Jay, you’re wrong about those quarterbacks that you mentioned in this morning’s column. None of the QBs the Bears passed on will amount to anything. I’ll bet a dinner at the finest restaurant in Rockford on that.
April 28th, 2008
Republican state Rep Tom Cross is sponsoring a resolution to honor Brett Favre.
Bears fans complained when the Register Star gave a lot of space to the Packers last season. How do you feel about Illinois honoring one of the greatest Packers to play the game?
I’d consider such a resolution IF the state could pay its bills on time, had a decent budget, a plan to reduce the deficit, a capital program, etc. etc. etc.
Bottom line: Illinois lawmakers have more important things to do than honor someone else’s quarterback.
April 28th, 2008
Well, we know there are quite a few people who blow through red lights as if they weren’t there. That’s one of the reasons that we supported the cameras the city of Rockford hopes to use to crack down on those who run the red.
The Tribune this morning had an editorial supporting Chicago’s cameras. Chicago has 75 cameras and hopes to have as many as 129 by the end of the year.
The editorial says a recent Federal Highway Administration report found that the seven cities that used the cameras saw a 25 percent decline in right-angle crashes and a 15 percent increase in rear-end crashes.
But in Chicago, the numbers are better. Total crashes declined 30 percent, angle crashes declined 40 percent and rear-end crashes declined 28 percent.
In Rockford, hardly a day goes by that I don’t see someone blatantly run the red. It’s bad when I’m driving a car, but even worse if I’m riding a bike. Some folks think it’s OK to run the light if there are no cars around and either fail to see bicyclists or ignore us.
If those drivers thought they were being caught on camera, perhaps they’d be a bit more careful.
April 25th, 2008
I’ve been getting a lot of good-natured razzing from folks here in the office about my inability to catch any muskies last week during an outing Doug Goodman and I made to Lake Shelbyville.
Check out the story and video.
Getting skunked on one trip isn’t so bad. I was skunked for an entire season two years ago.
If it were easy, it wouldn’t be as much fun.
Ron Fulk is a good guide. You have to remember the material he had to work with: me and Doug under less than ideal weather conditions for muskies. The water levels are way up on Shelbyville also, so that’s a big factor.
Besides, we didn’t see any one catch fish that day. The bass guys came up empty and the crappie guys came up empty.
The thing about musky fishing is that it only takes one fish to make for a good day. If you only catch one bass, one crappie or one bluegill, you’d be disappointed. But if you catch one muskie, especially if it’s more than 40 inches long, your day is made.
April 24th, 2008
Thought I’d share this op/ed with you. I’ve seen and even used some, of these tips before.
Get What You Want In 30 Minutes
San Francisco, CA – “People who don’t set goals wind up asking, ‘How come I never got what I wanted out of life?’” Those are the words of Theodore Carl Soderberg, author of the new book “Uncharted Waters.” Soderberg isn’t just a successful author. He has two honorable discharges from the United States Navy, has been on the silver screen in Basic Instinct and the Rock, has made a small fortune selling exotic cars, and has toured the world with the merchant marines.
How has he achieved every dream he has ever wanted? “Setting goals. That really has been the secret of everything.”
Here are six tips to earn a successful life - one half hour at a time:
1. Identify What You Want – And When You Want It
“Figuring out your dream can be the hardest part,” says Soderberg. “So if you can’t be specific, that’s fine.” You don’t need to have a whole plan in place, says Soderberg. You just need a firm idea in your mind of what you want – and a solid idea of when you want it by.
2. Schedule 30 Minutes For Your Goal – Every Day
Set aside a half hour every day to do something to get closer to your dream. Every day you build on the progress you made the day before. “You don’t expect to do the whole thing in a day or in a week – but a little bit every day, that really is the key to being successful.”
3. Make Goal Setting A Lifestyle
“The key here,” says Soderberg, “Is to make sure it’s at the same time every day.” If your ‘goal time’ becomes part of your daily routine – you’ll be less likely to blow it off. Your scheduled goal time with yourself is as important as any commitment you’d make to someone else. You wouldn’t dream of blowing off a half hour meeting with your boss – make 30 minutes with yourself just as much of a priority.
4. Divide Your Goal Into Bite Sized Pieces And Tackle Them One At A Time
You can’t expect to reach your goal without accomplishing the smaller steps building up to that success. “If your working on a big dream, break it down into little bite sized dreams along the way.”
5. Congratulate Yourself For Each Step You Complete
Half of keeping motivated is remembering what you are working toward – the other half is acknowledging yourself for the work you’ve already done. Soderberg insists you pat yourself on the back at least once a month. “If that means buying yourself a flat screen or just nodding to yourself in the mirror, that’s up to you.”
6. Finish Up One Goal And Get Ready To Tackle A New One
At some point you’ll accomplish whatever goal you’ve set out to achieve. So why stop now? If you stop dreaming of new goals – your life will get boring again. Build on the goal you’ve achieved, or write down a whole new adventure.
Investing 30 minutes a day in your future can change your life. A few months from now you could be thinner. Maybe you could have a retirement plan in place. Maybe your life story could be written. It all comes down to deciding what you want out of life – and taking the action to make it happen. “Once you have the dedication, and the half hour – the only question is: what do you want to achieve?”
About Theodore Carl Soderberg
Theodore Carl Soderberg is the Author of the new novel, “Uncharted Waters.” He was born and raised in New York and Connecticut. His vast resume includes a brief stint in the navy in 1967, followed by commercial fishing in Alaska, and working as a Hollywood extra on films such as Basic Instinct, Clint Eastwood’s The Deadpool and the Rock. The water called him home at the age of 38 after a motorcycle accident that left him un-scarred, but changed. In 1989 he joined the Merchant Marines and continues to go to sea to this day. www.authorsden.com/tcs
April 24th, 2008
About once a year I like to do a song parody and tie it to a topical issue.
When we were a print-only product, you only read the lyrics that I came up with. (Songs sung in the key of Rockford; ‘Twas the night in downtown Rockford).
Then when we added audio you got to hear me sing “9-to-5″ about the Rockford City Council’s vote not to put home rule on the ballot.
Now, we have video capabilities and I’m working on my next song. When it’s done, I’ll let you know. It won’t be MTV, but it won’t be the worst thing you’ve ever seen/heard (I hope).
April 23rd, 2008
I saw this story on the Tribune’s Web site this morning: Bear that wrestled Will Ferrell in movie kills trainer.
I’ve wrestled a bear twice. Once in 1977 when I was in Champaign, young fit and ready to take on the world, and once in Rockford at the MetroCentre, older, not as fit, ready to sit at a desk, in the mid-’80s.
It was the same bear both times. He weighed a bit more than 500 pounds during the first match and was well over 600 when I wrestled him a second time. I was never worried that the bear would hurt me. I remember my son took a ride on the bear’s back after the match and my daughter was thrilled to pet him.
I guess you never know what an animal will do. Siegfried and Roy can probably relate to that.
April 22nd, 2008
The Energy Information Agency says gas consumption has declined 0.2 percent compared to last year and expects gas demand to be down 0.4 percent this summer, and 0.3 percent for the year.
That doesn’t sound like much, but gas demand usually increases 1 percent to 2 percent a year.
None of us like the high prices. I think it went up a dime from the time I left for work yesterday to the time I got home. Naturally, I was riding my bike and saving money.
Not everyone can ride their bike to work. I’m lucky because we have showers here and I keep a few changes of clothes in my office.
But everyone can do a little bit to decrease demand and, if the laws of supply and demand hold true, decrease prices.
Drive less. Consolidate trips. Drive slower. Use public transportation, etc, etc. etc.
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