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* The Pope has arrived in America, but I was raised a Lutheran, so here’s a link to Lutheran Day in Illinois, which is today.

* Consultant releases study claiming low racial minority levels in DuPage County results in low crime rate, then claims…

MGT partner Karl Becker acknowledged the report was lacking supporting data regarding the minority population assessment, but said he stood by the report’s conclusions.

“I have no data, but I’m sure I’m right.” I wonder how much that one cost?

* Unless somebody comes up with a very large (and I do mean large) pile of cash, I promise that I will never use those sneaky pop-up ads like the Tribune and Sun-Times have. The ads are activated when you highlight text on a page. It doesn’t happen every time on every page, but it’s supremely annoying because they get around my popup blocking software in my browsers.

* Google follows through on a public pledge to make sure a new airwave spectrum is open to all by making a huge bid, is then outbid, auction brings in record amount of money, yet Google is accused of gaming the system by congresscritters like Illinois’ own John Shimkus. Seriously weird.

* The Reader and Frank Coconate are being sued by James Sachay, the former assistant commissioner of the Chicago Aviation Department…

James Sachay alleges in court papers that Coconate posted blog comments under Sachay’s name, including one that said: “I am voting for Frank Coconate. I am sorry I challenged his petitions under false pretenses. I am sorry I stole money from Roman Pucinski. I am sorry I got illegal contracts for my son and acted criminally at O’Hare.”

At the time, Coconate was running against Ralph Capparelli for 41st Ward committeeman; Sachay worked for Capparelli. (Both lost to caterer Mary O’Connor, president of the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce)

Coconate denies that he posted the items, but the Reader’s blogs have a horrible reputation for allowing all sorts of ugly stuff in their comments. The courts have already ruled that we’re not responsible for what’s said in our comment sections, as long as it doesn’t violate copyright laws, but the Reader really needs to clean its act up. I hate linking to stories over there because of that situation.

* This means nothing, but he ran for Senate here once, so I guess I ought to link to it.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 8:09 am

Comments

  1. The Sun-Times pop up ads are the only ones that can blast through my mighty Mozilla Firefox. So in addition to good coverage of City Hall, they do that well.

    The Reader’s online comments section is totally out of control what with people posting under other peoples’ names, taking nasty shots at Mick and Ben… It’s just lame. They needed to rein that in a long time ago. Maybe replace that comments section with some nice American Apparel (or even Admiral) ads or something…

    Comment by PC Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:13 am

  2. Put in down in favor of the pop up ads. They are easy to disable and if they make Miller some money, that’s fine by me.
    “Remember to turn on pop-up blocker” is a small price to pay for great state coverage.

    Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:15 am

  3. Skeeter, you miss the point. They get around the popup zappers, as PC noted.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:18 am

  4. Rich - stick to your guns! I hate looking at either Chicago paper any more for that reason. More bad news - St Louis Post-Dispatch has the same pop-ups.

    Comment by Smitty Irving Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:20 am

  5. Have a Happy Lutheran Day!
    Do you know how Lutherans celebrate Lutheran Day?
    With a MARTINI! Get it!

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:21 am

  6. Still, a minor inconvenience. I can live with that. I vote for the sell out.
    On the other hand, I also would vote for stricter controls over content at Illinoize, but that is another matter. I almost missed a great Yellow Dog piece yesterday since I was reluctant to wade through the GOP “stuff.”

    Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:33 am

  7. It’s much shorter than it was. Give him that much credit.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:34 am

  8. A Lutheran and a Sox fan. Wow. I would move your blog up even higher on my favorites list, but your already at the top.

    Comment by Leigh Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 9:37 am

  9. Another weird pet peeve (not nearly as annoying as the pop-ups) on the Tribune site: Why are all the headlines now all of a sudden links? That means if you accidentally hit one, it refreshes THE SAME PAGE all over again. I can’t imagine any practical reason for it.

    Comment by Just Sayin' Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 10:05 am

  10. Before being shut down, Coconate’s own message board was about as foul and mean spirited as any I have ever read. His website isn’t much better. I am happy that Sachay is calling him on his BS. I hope it is an example to others to not be afraid of political bully’s.

    Just because you are against someone politically doesn’t mean you are not responsible for what you say about them. I hope Coconate has his insurance umbrella paid up because he may need it.

    Comment by Garp Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 10:05 am

  11. VMan, I get it, but a martini is much too Presbyterian. A proper Lutheran Day celebration requires lutefisk and glogg. After which, you’ll be happy Lutheran Day comes but once a year.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 10:06 am

  12. {* Unless somebody comes up with a very large (and I do mean large) pile of cash, I promise that I will never use those sneaky pop-up ads like the Tribune and Sun-Times have. The ads are activated when you highlight text on a page. It doesn’t happen every time on every page, but it’s supremely annoying because they get around my popup blocking software in my browsers.}

    After the IPO for CapFax; and the ensuing costs for Directors and Officers insurance and the ongoing Sarbanes-Oxley compliance expenses, your non-commercial principles could be put to the test.

    Comment by Ivan Bowsky Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 10:31 am

  13. I would think a beer is more appropriate given Lutheran’s are “Catholic Lite”

    Comment by Pilsner Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 11:44 am

  14. Happy Lutheran Day Rich, I’m Lutheran too! Baptized, Confirmed, Married…

    Comment by kimsch Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 12:53 pm

  15. Low racial minorities=low crime rate. And the guy sticks up for it even if he can’t prove it. I’d fire that guy if I were them. Especially if he wants to be opened up on charges of racism or prejudice.

    Comment by Levois Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 1:08 pm

  16. Lutheran Day, LOL.

    Lutheran and a Sox fan, here too. martin luther rocked it alright!

    Comment by Amy Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 1:23 pm

  17. Luther, talk about a reformer!

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 1:37 pm

  18. Pilsner, you’re thinking of our good friends the Episcopalians. They’re “Catholic lite.”

    Some Lutherans -particularly the Missouri Synod, of which a hearty German Illinoisan might be- can be hard core conservative with the best of the Catholics.

    Of course, when I was a wee lad in school, sister told us Martin Luther fell off of his horse and it left him a little crazy, and THAT’s why he left mother church.

    Comment by JonShibleyFan Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 2:30 pm

  19. Rich, You’re are and have been right and consistent in your criticism of the Reader’s comments section. It is and has been a joke and serves no purpose other than slander as no reasoned discourse goes on there. Coconate’s own website has never been above reproach either and it’s amazing that most writers still use him as a primary source on anything.

    Comment by thomas paine Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:45 pm

  20. Sorry for the grammer mistakes above, damn toll-free call distracted me!

    Comment by thomas paine Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 3:47 pm

  21. The bloomberg story even mentions that the auction brought in more than was estimated. Has John drunk the kool-aid once too often?

    Comment by Trapped In The Metro East Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 4:35 pm

  22. Happy Lutheran Day.

    Comment by ...Phil and Don Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 8:28 pm

  23. Thanks to everyone for their good wishes for Lutheran Day. We had about 200 Lutheran advocates form both of the major Lutheran denominations (the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Just about all our participants were able to meet with both of their legislators and urge them to support an increase in human service reimbursement rates in the ‘09 budget. We also gave our 5th annual “Paul Simon Courage in Public Service Award” to House Majority Leader Currie and our newly-minted “legislative champion” awards to Sen. Mattie Hunter, Se, Christine Radogno, Rep. Naomi Jakobsson and Rep. Rosemary Mulligan.

    Lutheran Day 2008 was co-sponsored by 12 Lutheran social service, health care or advocacy organizations across the state. We had a great day, probably due to the good wishes of so many “friends of Rich.” Thanks, all!

    Comment by Lutheran Lobbyist Guy Wednesday, Apr 16, 08 @ 11:09 pm

  24. The Pope arrived in America? Really? I thought he lives in Springfield…

    Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 17, 08 @ 1:01 am

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