Archive for May, 2008
May 15th, 2008
I received this note, through the syndicate, from Washington Post columnist David Broder.
Dear friends:
I want to give you a heads-up that later this week, The Washington Post will be making an announcement that, along with many other longtime employees, I am taking the buyout offer — and to tell you what it does and does not mean.
The column you have been running will not change at all, and you will continue to receive it from The Washington Post Writers Group. I will continue to write from the same office in the Post newsroom and will continue to travel the country to wherever politics is happening. You will find me at the Democratic and Republican conventions this summer and on the campaign trail this fall, just as I have been this winter and spring.
As of Jan. 1, I will become a contract employee of The Washington Post Company. For the last two years, the bulk of my reporting has gone into the column, rather than the news pages of the Post. This change will allow me to focus entirely on the column, while freeing up the Post to use its budget for other news-section salaries and expenses. It will not diminish my ability to be out where news is happening.
I look forward to being part of your paper for many years to come.
Many thanks,
David Broder
May 13th, 2008
I’ve had an interest in space and whether there are other life forms somewhere other than Earth. I’ve written about the Muons from the planet Myton, Billy Meier and UFOs. I was never sure what the Catholic Church thought about those kinds of stories, then this moved on the wires today:
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican’s chief astronomer says that believing in aliens does not contradict faith in God.
The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, says that the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.
In an interview published Tuesday by Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Funes says that such a notion “doesn’t contradict our faith” because aliens would still be God’s creatures.
The interview was headlined “The extraterrestrial is my brother.” Funes said that ruling out the existence of aliens would be like “putting limits” on God’s creative freedom.
May 13th, 2008
This is something that has bugged me for a long time. At some businesses, especially banks, when I get done with a transaction, the person says “Thank you, Walter.”
I come from an era where you called everyone Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. and if you called anyone by their first name it was presumptuous at best or disrespectful at worst.
It doesn’t feel right for someone I don’t know to call me by my given name instead of my surname.
What do you think? Am I just a curmudgeon or do I have a case?
May 12th, 2008
Probably not.
We objected to Illinois lawmakers proposed pay raise in an editorial May 2. Today, at least four other newspapers had editorials saying what a bad idea it was for Illinois legislators to allow their pay to increase.
Both chambers of the General Assembly must reject the increase. The House did, but the Senate, ruled by Emil “I need a raise, I need a raise” Jones must also reject it. If the Senate does nothing, lawmakers get the extra money.
Illinois needs to change this system.
May 9th, 2008
This is becoming an epidemic in Chicago. A 51-year-old man was killed while riding his bicycle Thursday.
May 8th, 2008
Alex Gary, our database guru, sent out this note yesterday:
Karen Lytwyn, who tracks crime for the University of Illinois College of Medicine just called. She saw this again in the paper and said it’s a common mistake that even Rockford Mayor Morrissey makes.
Rockford does NOT have the highest crime rate in the state. Winnebago County has the highest crime rate among the state’s counties.
In terms of cities, Rockford usually ranks third or fourth to the annual leader — not Chicago — but East St. Louis.
May 7th, 2008
This cartoon sums up the way a lot of people feel about suspending the federal gas tax.
May 7th, 2008
I like Barack Obama and I dislike Hillary Clinton — immensely. Still, I think she should continue to seek the Democratic nomination for president.
Americans love underdogs and come-from-behind stories, but hate quitters. If Clinton ever wants to revive her presidential hopes, quitting now could work against her the next time.
Or there may not be a next time. So why shouldn’t she fight for what she wants until the bitter end? Party unity? Please, we’ve seen how well that works in Illinois. (That’s sarcasm, folks.)
Besides, I’m afraid Clinton has a few tricks up her sleeve that she’ll use before and during the Democratic National Convention. The super-delegates are still in play and Clinton may yet find a way to steal the nomination.
Stay tuned, folks. This political drama may be better than anything else on television this summer.
May 6th, 2008
An AP story about a new version on OxyContin ended with this paragraph:
“OxyContin is a time-release version of the old narcotic oxycodone, designed to be swallowed whole and digested over 12 hours to keep a steady state of the painkiller in the bodies of seriously ill patients. While doctors call it an important option for many patients, abusers rapidly discovered the tablets can produce a heroin-like high if crushed to get the dose all at once.”
So, a pill that can give you a heroin-like high is legal and medical marijuana is not. That doesn’t make sense.
Legalizing medical marijuana in Illinois is not dead yet. Maybe this is the session lawmakers will make it legal. Thousands of patients hope it will be.
May 5th, 2008
A story in this morning’s Tribune looks at the two recent deaths of Chicago bicyclists.
There’s a guy quoted who says bicycle accidents are going to increase simply because more people will start riding.
I’m afraid he’s right even if new bicycle-friendly laws are enforced.
Just after I finished writing those sentences, this release came from the governor’s office.
Gov. Blagojevich announces campaign
to educate drivers about new law to protect bicyclists
IDOT and League of Illinois Bicyclists team up to remind drivers
of a new law that they must give bike riders at least 3 feet
SPRINGFIELD – As the weather warms up and more and more bicyclists are taking to the roads around the state, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today launched a public awareness effort to educate drivers about a new state law requiring motorists to pass bicyclists with at least three feet to spare. The effort – called “Please Don’t Squeeze” – starts today and is funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Traffic Safety to the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB).
“This is the time of year that more and more bicycle riders of all ages will be taking advantage of the warmer weather to get out on our roadways. Sadly, two recent fatal crashes in Chicago remind us how vulnerable bike riders can be,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Today, we’re launching a radio campaign to educate drivers about a new law requiring motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing. If you see a bicyclist up ahead, remember to please slow down and give that cyclist plenty of room.”
Bicycle fatalities decreased in Illinois from 24 to in 2006 to a provisional count of 18 in 2007.
“The message of our radio spot is ‘Please Don’t Squeeze,’” said IDOT Secretary Milton R. Sees. “We want the motoring public to be aware of the new law and to observe it. Our goal is to make the roadways safer for bicyclists and reduce crashes and injuries.”
Ed Barsotti, executive director of LIB – a statewide advocacy group - said, “The purpose of the radio campaign is to inform public before the height of the bicycling season about the new state law, which took effect last Jan. 1.”
Barsotti said the previous law only indicated that motorists must pass bicyclists and others safely but did not specify the distance. Illinois has joined nine other states with similar safe passing laws.
The new law was sponsored by Sen. Edward D. Maloney (D-Chicago) and Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D- Des Plaines).
“We hope that when all motorists see bicyclists ahead, they know to pass them safely by affording at least three feet of space,” Barsotti said. He said the public service announcement also urges bicyclists to do their part for safety by obeying all traffic laws.
LIB received a grant of $33,373 from IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety to produce the radio spot and purchase airtime. The 30-second spots will air on 10 stations starting today through May 30.
LIB and IDOT worked together on a May 2007 radio campaign that urged drivers and bicyclists to obey traffic laws and share the road.
IDOT and LIB have teamed up on number of safety efforts in recent years. In 2006, IDOT provided funding for LIB to produce a bike safety video, “Share the Road – Same Road, Same Rules, Same Rights”, that was distributed free of charge to 2,000 Illinois high schools, private driving schools and law enforcement agencies. The video educates drivers on how they should share the road with bicyclists.
IDOT and LIB have also developed a “Safe Roads for Bicycling” program that involves teaching a class to Police Departments that makes local police more aware of bicycle safety issues.
The new radio spot can be heard at www.bikelib.org or www.dot.state.il.us.
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