68 Comments - How Ironic - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:01 am: What are these “haircuts” that you speak of? Us bald folks are not bothered by such nonsense. - Formerly Known as Frenchie M - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:03 am: Yes — how quaint. I miss the old “hey, I have to get a haircuit because I really need one days.” That ended when the last barber I went to took one look at me and said, “Okay, I can’t charge you full price for this. I’ll do it for half.” And by the time he was done — a few minutes later — he said it was on the house. I tipped him — and that was that. - Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:06 am: Recent fundraiser for a friend of the family down in Springfield. Tremendous support from Travis Woods(and wife),Jake Arrieta (and wife), Jon Lester. Your kindness and generosity was tremendous. School district 186 employees. Wow! So much love and compassion for someone in need. Old Blue cried most of the day. There still is something about Americans that amazes me each and every day. Thank you. - Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:07 am: Thinking of bringing a picture and asking my barber for ==the Oscar== for mine today. - JoanP - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:16 am: I need a haircut, too, and am getting one later today. Great minds, and all that . . . - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:19 am: Illinois taxpayers are about to get a “haircut”. - Saluki - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:21 am: Top Ten Things I Love About Illinois 1) Buddy Guy’s Legends. Especially the Old Club. 2) The Capitol Building 3) The ability to fully experience all 4 seasons 4) The abundant hunting and fishing opportunities. 5) Galena 6) Full Rack of Ribs at 17th Street in Murphysboro 7) An Old Style at Wrigley 8) The never ending political theater (guilty pleasure I admit) 9) Garden of the Gods 10) Bald Knob Cross - pool boy - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:21 am: I thought you had a flowbee. Haven’t seen any White Sox comments lately. - HangingOn - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:30 am: ==3) The ability to fully experience all 4 seasons== Sometimes in one day! XD - Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:31 am: Haircut? It is summer no one….absolutely no on needs a haircut. but it does give you a chance to get out for a few snorts before we get another dose of BigBrain wisdom - Prayers - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:32 am: Prayers to ISP Director Schmitz. His 17 year old son, Jacob, a junior at Brother Rice High School, passed away June 13 after a valiant struggle with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:34 am: Congrats to the Cubs for doing so well this year. Not a surprise given their talent. Yet my Cards have the 4th best record in all of MLB in spite of all their injuries and roster changes. Still a long way to October! - Anon221 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:41 am: There are good and caring people in this world. Not too long ago a mama wood duck with about 12 babies travelled safely across 6 lanes of heavy traffic. People stopped and waited. It was a good day:) - LINK - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:41 am: Hopefully the PRESS will have seen the questions several on here recommended be asked of Rauner AND actually ask him today…hopefully. - Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:41 am: @ Illini… Shhh… - Way South of I-80 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:45 am: Need to add Allerton Park to the list of top things to love about Illinois. - Juvenal - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:56 am: Rich - I wanted to make a small request. For summertime atleast, for those of us that don’t have time to read the full blog every day, multiple times a day, could you add a banner reporting the “political weather” conditions in Springfield. Yesterday I’d say was partly sunny with scattered showers. That way we can just check in to see if there has been any change in the forecast before we head to the beach, literally. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 11:58 am: Go Cubs! - lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:00 pm: With respect to Rich’s travel ad for Illinois earlier: Anyone been to Nauvoo? I was fascinated to find out not only the LDS history, but that it was once one of the biggest cities in the nation (we’re talking 19th Century, but still…) Worth a visit, just go in Spring/Fall when it’s not as crowded with LDS pilgrims. - Rabid - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:02 pm: Is there an official state haircut style? - Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:03 pm: Saluki. You really are an Egyptian dog! Ya ever been to Trails End? - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:09 pm: Hair cut? The Rauner people want to shave your head. It’s the only option. Nothing happens until your head is shaven. The Democrats demand dreadlocks. Any cut is an affront to their core beliefs. How about a Miller haircut working group? - Ghost - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:10 pm: We need more microbreweries! - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:14 pm: ===Is there an official state haircut style?=== Yes. Yes there is: http://www.trbimg.com/img-505d207a/turbine/lat-jim2_dm5ytrgw20091103122742 - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:20 pm: Last Sunday night, I took 17-year old son and a friend to Tinley Park to see the Florence & the Machine & of Monsters & Men concert and the weather was Chicago summer beautiful, the venue was perfect, music was great, the crowd was respectful. On a down note, last night was my last meeting as president of Friends of [CPS high school] and the principal still has no budget for next year (normally he gets his budget in May). - Saluki - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:22 pm: Blue dog, I love Trails End Lodge. Great food, and good atmosphere. Love the multi level deck out back. The only thing I don’t like is the 90 degree slope on the driveway, meeting another vehicle on the way up or down can be a bit hair raising! - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:22 pm: ===Congrats to the Cubs for doing so well this year. Not a surprise given their talent. Yet my Cards have the 4th best record in all of MLB in spite of all their injuries and roster changes.=== That’s mighty gracious of you illini. Thank you - Saluki - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:23 pm: Ghost, Take a trip to Southern Illinois. I think you will find the microbreweries doing well. http://southernmostillinois.com/places-to-visit/attractions/breweries/ - Illinois Bob - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:27 pm: What I missed the most about Illinois when I was living year round in Arizona: 1) “Interesting” politics-having competent, term limited members of the GA just doing sensible, credible jobs instead trying to steal everything they can for themselves and their cronies regardless of the damage to the state. 2) NOT having public and teacher strikes. Life can be so boring when teachers show up for school on time and don’t continuously whine about being “underfunded” when they have 18% per student above the national average with which to work. 3) The restaurants in Chicago and the burbs. Seriously, you don’t realize how good they are until you don’t have them anymore. 4) The lakefront. It really is spectacular and far better than any major city I’ve seen outside the left coast in Orange County. When you’re away and come back, you realize how great it is. 5) Green forests. I love the Saguaro Cacti and mountains near Sedona, but the rolling hills and forests of Southwest Cook County are really something to appreciate. 6) Tom Dart as County Sheriff. I’m being sarcastic. Someone with the guts sheriff Joe in Maricopa County would be a heck of a lot more effective with gang violence than he is. I’ve gotta be a resident here until next Spring when I sell my last piece of Illinois real estate (tax rules). There are things I’ll miss. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:35 pm: Saluki - don’t forget about the Wine Trail. My personal favorite. - BBG Watch - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:45 pm: Looks like the Illinios State Museum will be opening again! - Anon - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:47 pm: Just learned that the AG represents the ILRB in the Appellate Court. This may be how we win this round. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:47 pm: In MLB, Cards are second in runs scored at 352, Cubs are third at 340. Cubs are first in runs allowed at 180, Cards are fourteenth at 281. - DuPage Don - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:48 pm: Glad to hear Arrieta, Wood and Lesrer are genuinely as good a bunch of guys as they appear……Fly the W!!!!! - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:51 pm: So much for any Cubs fans supporting Pete Rose. Quoted as saying they are the best team in baseball, but “[t]he Cubs will find a way to screw it up.” - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 12:53 pm: ===In MLB, Cards are second in runs scored at 352, Cubs are third at 340. Cubs are first in runs allowed at 180, Cards are fourteenth at 281.=== Thereby giving credence to the old baseball adage that teams win with pitching and defense. - Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:04 pm: Nobody wants to hear my rant about how Bud Selig ruined baseball, but this former White Sox fan thinks what the Ricketts are doing with their ballpark is pretty impressive. I’m not sure what I think about the plaza yet, but the facade of the ballpark facing Clark looks wonderful. They still need to get rid of the 60s era junk on the Addison facade. - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:07 pm: ===So much for any Cubs fans supporting Pete Rose. Quoted as saying they are the best team in baseball, but “[t]he Cubs will find a way to screw it up.”=== He also made a snarky comment when asked about Ichiro’s hit total (MLB and Japan combined). Something to the effect of “What, are we gonna start counting hits during high school next?” The guy makes it real tough to root for him… - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:10 pm: =Anyone been to Nauvoo? I was fascinated to find out not only the LDS history, but that it was once one of the biggest cities in the nation (we’re talking 19th Century, but still…) Worth a visit, just go in Spring/Fall when it’s not as crowded with LDS pilgrims.= That’s a good time to go to Nauvoo, have non-Mormon family from there. There’s also other things there like a vineyard and the river which has some of there own unique charms. The gunshop is pretty good as is the blacksmith. - OurMagician - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:12 pm: =Anyone been to Nauvoo? I was fascinated to find out not only the LDS history, but that it was once one of the biggest cities in the nation (we’re talking 19th Century, but still…) Worth a visit, just go in Spring/Fall when it’s not as crowded with LDS pilgrims.= Better time of the year to go is fall, you also get the colors of the river. Have non Mormon family there so been a lot, gun shop is nice, so is the blacksmith. - Dee Lay - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:20 pm: Hawks traded Bickell and Teuvo for Draft Picks. Bickell was a bad deal from Jump Street. We’ll be kicking ourselves when Teuvo turns into the next Martin St. Louis or better. - Saluki - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:22 pm: Things about baseball that make me enjoy the game less than ever. 1) the countdown clock for visits to the mound 2) instant reply in all it’s forms 3) the never ending parade of relief pitchers 4) elimination of home plate collisions 5) the disappearing art of the knuckleball 6) the discussion of bringing the D.H. to the national league 7) the disappearing art of the stolen base 8) squeeze plays 9) manager / umpire arguments 10) pitching inside. - blue dog dem - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:25 pm: The Shawnee Wine Trail is one of Illinois’ greatest accomplishments. Yo doggie. Been to Scratches yet? Won’t be long and I will be giving away my secret identity. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:29 pm: Saluki - don’t necessarily agree or disagree with all your points, but it is what it is! And, other than politics - what else is there to follow and talk about until October? - Jose Abreu's next homer - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:30 pm: DH to the National League needs to happen. I’m not paying money or wasting my time watching a pitcher bat. Haven’t we suffered enough? Kids don’t go to a game hoping to see a manager make a double move. - Johnny Pyle Driver - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:34 pm: Picked up this beauty today: http://imgur.com/lPJWPjG go cubs go! - Indochine - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:45 pm: No DH in the National League. Ever. - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:49 pm: ===No DH in the National League. Ever.=== I agree. What’s next, courtesy runners? Pitcher is just a position same as shortstop. They’re all ballplayers. - Johnny Pyle Driver - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:49 pm: ==No DH in the National League. Ever.== Agreed. I love the strategy involved. Love the double switch. As much as it’s kinda boring to watch a pitcher flail away, it’s similarly as boring to watch some aging out of shape dude do nothing but bat every third inning. Heard an interview with Rob Manfred before the season and he said he has no interest in bringing it to the NL, thankfully - doofusguy - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:53 pm: Bringing the baseball discussion back to Illinois - taking the red line to catch a day/night doubleheader when both Cubs/Sox are in town! Seeing four MLB teams in one day - July 5th-6th is your next chance - - Jose Abreu's next homer - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:57 pm: When everybody knows the strategy, is it really a strategy - Joe Biden Was Here - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 1:59 pm: Four governors in a row? How are you calculating that??? - LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 2:03 pm: DH compromise for both leagues: You get a DH but that player gets 3 at bats and then you’ve got to make a move. He can go into the field or be replaced by pitcher spot directly. You still get late game strategy and we don’t have to watch pitcher at bats all game. - Saluki - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 2:25 pm: Blue Dog, I have been to Scratch. Love the Dragon/monster chalk art on the board behind the bar. I am not in love with their beer however. I like the concept, just not crazy about the taste. Call me too old fashioned, but give me a Corona and a lime any day. - altoids - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 2:39 pm: Hopefully, the Timberwolves are dumb enough to give us Wiggins for Butler. We were dumb enough to effectively give them Thibodeau. - Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 2:49 pm: Speaking of the Cubs, if they just play .500 ball from this point on, they would still wind up with 93 or 94 wins for the season. They are about a lock to get in, even if something bad happens…knock on wood. - Johnny Pyle Driver - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 2:58 pm: you’d rather have Wiggins and a question mark over Butler? I dunno about that. I thought we were going to rebuild around Buckets - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 3:13 pm: True story. There was a barber in downtown Kankakee 50-60 years ago that had a hand written sign above his entry door - Haircuts. .50cents. Good haircuts .75cents. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 3:25 pm: Kids? Who you calling kids, kid? - Lester Holt's Mustache - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 3:26 pm: But what about the White Sox? My God man, won’t anybody think of the poor White Sox?!?!?!? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 3:41 pm: –My God man, won’t anybody think of the poor White Sox?!?!?!?– I’m thinking since May 1 they’ve lost 25 of 37. - illini - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 3:54 pm: Sorry, Lester. I noted as well that the Sox were absent from this discussion. But I don’t start following the AL until later in the season - strictly a fan ( mostly ) of the NL until later in the season or until inter-league play which is starting now. I appreciate good competition and respect good play but I am and always be a Cards fan first and foremost. We are just having a little bit of a “finding the right combination” now to be competitive for the remainder of the season. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 3:58 pm: ===since May 1 they’ve lost 25 of 37.=== Yes, but now they have James Shields. The only question with Shield is, which will be higher: the amount of money the Padres still have to pay him or the number of earned runs he allows this year? Promotion idea: “Shields for Shields.” The first 10,000 fans receive cardboard shields to cover their eyes when he’s pitching. - Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 4:03 pm: ===Promotion idea: “Shields for Shields.” The first 10,000 fans receive cardboard shields to cover their eyes when he’s pitching.=== Or actual shields for the fans in the outfield bleachers to protect them from the opposition’s home runs. - Lester Holt's Mustache - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 4:38 pm: ===since May 1 they’ve lost 25 of 37.== The organ-I-zation would appreciate y’all keeping us in your prayers - illini - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 5:01 pm: @ Lester - I would like nothing better than to see the Cards and Sox still playing in October. But you have to do better than play .500 ball which is where I think you are now. Cards need to improve as well! - MyTwoCents - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 6:17 pm: If you’re an AL pitcher and your teams offense stinks there is nothing you can do about it. If you’re an NL pitcher at least you have the opportunity to help out your own cause occasionally and the Cubs pitchers happen to do that a good amount. That alone is a good reason to never have the DH in the National League. - WIUOblivion - Wednesday, Jun 15, 16 @ 7:48 pm: Dee Lay 1:20 – You’re far more optimistic about Teuvo than I’ve ever been: good talent, slow head. Besides, he was likely gone in the expansion draft anyway. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.