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* I have a quick errand to run. As always, keep it Illinois-centric and be nice to each other. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:09 am

Comments

Anybody else get that nasty flu bug that’s going around? The wife and kids had it on Christmas, then I got it New Year’s Eve. The plus side is that I’ve lost about 10 pounds so far in 2018, way ahead of schedule.

It’s nasty my friends. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:11 am
Happy new year, everyone. A question for fellow lobbyists: Were you, too, inundated with IL SOS “anti-sex harassment training” emails in the wee hours of Jan. 1, each one proclaiming training deadlines of Jan. 1?

Comment by Linus Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:14 am
Congrats to all the Golden Horseshoe award winners. Thanks to all, sincerely, who wrote kind things about me as well.

What happened to that “Chi-Town Rising” thingy for New Years? I was looking forward to watching it… maybe.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:17 am
Did anyone notice that Hans Zigmund replaced Scott Harry at GOMB?

Comment by Precariot Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:17 am
47th -Me too. The antiviral drug helped. Still a bit woozy though.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:20 am
Willy, I’m hoping the organizers of that event discovered that no self-respecting Chicagoan uses the term “Chi-town” and they folded their tents out of embarrassment.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:30 am
===…no self-respecting Chicagoan uses the term “Chi-town” and they folded their tents out of embarrassment.===

Yeah, and that’s what I “liked” about it. The total lack of awareness that calling it “Chi-Town” made any sense in the title or the tens of times they kept repeating it.

Then “Chicagoan” Mario Lopez hosting once… it’s akwardness was just too fun. It’s like they tried to make it as un-Chicago as possible.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:33 am
===IL SOS “anti-sex harassment training” emails===

I got six e-mails at 12:38am. I figured someone had too much champagne.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:38 am
I wonder if “too much champign” is covered in “anti-sex harassment training”.

Comment by Casual observer Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:50 am
“Anybody else get that nasty flu bug that’s going around?” Hit our house two days before Christmas, and is still lingering. Lost 8 pounds before my annual resolution kicked in. Do they still count?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:51 am
Anyone have any info on Tregg Duerson withdrawing? He was not challenged, so I am guessing a deal was made because of the fear that too many candidates means Ken Dunkin wins? Does Tregg get something?

Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:59 am
Yes, Louis. You can bank it and apply it in the new year.

Hit my house on Thanksgiving with my wife. I had it a few days before Christmas. Has been running through my office like wildfire.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 11:59 am
I wonder if Jim Harbaugh is in the hunt for the Bears job. He’s a Super Bowl coach, offense-minded, who’s had success coaching up young players.

If Jim gets the offer, he might want to jump before he’s pushed. Big Blue Nation ain’t happy with his 1-5 record vs. Michigan State and Ohio State. And both games are on the road next year.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:13 pm
======IL SOS “anti-sex harassment training” emails===

I got six e-mails at 12:38am. I figured someone had too much champagne.===

7 emails all at 12:39 AM. Word is there was a glitch in the system. An in-house I know got 24 of them, many for contracts that they no longer employ. SOS is supposed to send out clarifying emails in a day or two I hear.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:15 pm
Got the flu, coughed so much my upper abs really hurt every time I cough. Like a belt of nails tightening around my mid chest. Yeow.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:16 pm
–Has been running through my office like wildfire.–

If it’s anything like what I had over Thanksgiving, it also does that on an individual basis.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:16 pm
WHile Capt Fax was lolling around there is a small sign GovJunk has discovered his own starvation plan for colleges & universities has done damage. Tragic, but typical of Here some tweets…
GovJunk discovers his university starvation plan is impactin’ our path to future prosperity
Bruce Rauner
@GovRauner
Too many engineering & tech seeds BORN & BUILT in Illinois leave for the two coasts. If we could GROW them here, on the “third coast,” we’ll harvest the economic benefits.
11:37 AM - 26 Dec 2017
•Did you know University of Illinois graduates more engineers than MIT, Stanford and Cal Tech combined? And that 10% of the nation’s computer science degrees are awarded here? #IllinoisProud
11:37 AM - 26 Dec 2017
ReplayRetweetFavorite

Comment by Annoin' Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:19 pm
@Annoin’ - Please keep repeating those facts. Not that Rauner cares, but many of us do.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:30 pm
So sorry to hear of the death of SJ-R’s Tim Landis. Great reporter and a great human being. Gone way too soon. -30-

Comment by Wylie Coyote Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:32 pm
1) Had supposed Duerson was the fav in the 5th RGA considering his background and name? Dunkin lost the big cash Rauner and friends gave him? Boy I hate when that happens.

2) whats the latest w Flipperetti running for Cook Board Pres?

Comment by low level Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Managed to avoid the flu - so far. Maybe Cap Fax being down for a while kept it from spreading.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:45 pm
Here’s the one thing I can guess - Tregg Duerson has a financial background.

By pulling out he can run as a 3rd Party candidate for Assessor against Berrios if he wins the primary.

Previously a 3rd party candidate would have to file a full slate, but that was struck down by the 7th Circuit.

Interestingly just by filing his Democratic petitions he can’t run as an independent, but the only people blocked from running as third party candidates are people who were on a primary ballot and lost.

By withdrawing Duerson does’t risk that happening.

With his name and the fact he could get blacks, Republicans and reform-minded white Democrats voting for him - he would beat Berrios

Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:48 pm
My Tregg Duerson scenario of course depends on the Cook County GOP having the sense not to file a Republican if they see an Independent Dem against Berrios

Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:51 pm
“Anybody else got the flu?” My head hurts so bad I can’t see straight. Thought I read Wordlinger was commentator of the year.

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 12:56 pm
Day 4 flu. I think i got it from an infected email. Chicken soup and pbj for festive new years. Coughing so much it feels like cracked ribs. Hopefully, prescription theraflu will help. 25 people in prompt care, almost all for flu. Dont wait to see doc.

Wonder where rauner spent the holidays, but i assume thats a state secret. Probably a working vacay, devoted to the budget. Or hanging w other rich.

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:12 pm
Rest in peace, Tim Landis. Sympathies to his family and the SJ-R and WUIS newsrooms.

Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:39 pm
As I tried to buy wine for NYE, I was reminded again of the influence of liquor wholesalers in Illinois.

It is unfortunate that we can’t simply order what we want.

While I don’t expect either party to move on the issue, it would be nice.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:41 pm
I h8 OW big league. What a boor.

Comment by Haters Gonnahate Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:49 pm
- Haters Gonnahate -

Meh. Everyone’s a critic, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 1:53 pm
Thanks for all the comments and votes.

To whoever commented I must be a writer, I will own up to having been a paid writer (think 5 or 6 books), paid and volunteer editor and volunteer publisher at various points in a past life.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:05 pm
6 hours in and the Invest In Kids tax credit for private school scholarships has allocated 1/3 ($34M) of the maximum contributions. Wide variances, though, with 55% in Cook and 3% in region 3.

https://mytax.illinois.gov/?link=IIK

Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 2:26 pm
Congratulations to Jerry Peck as he begins his new gig at the Community Bankers Association.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 3:14 pm
===Did anyone notice that Hans Zigmund replaced Scott Harry at GOMB?===

Yes. Too much turnover and not enough consistency/expertise in key fiscal positions in state government.

Comment by justacitizen Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 7:27 pm
@justacitizen

Zigmund has gobs of experience and is a good choice.

Your point about the turnover is spot on.

Comment by Blackhawk Boone Tuesday, Jan 2, 18 @ 8:42 pm