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* I’ve been working on a story involving lots numbers and I suddenly hit a brick wall and in the process lost all track of time. Oops. Be kind to each other and keep it Illinois-centric, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:08 pm

Comments

Steve Rosenbloom is leaving the Tribune. What the hell am I supposed to read now?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:11 pm
Maybe if Nick Ayers becomes Chief of Staff to POTUS then Bruce Rauner could get that Ambassadorship to Italy?

Couldn’t hurt.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:19 pm
It’s very odd that early bird parking, at least in the West loop, is getting cheaper with longer hours than before. I wonder if that is being seen that other parts of the city?

Comment by Fav Human Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Also, going down that ambassador road, has Kyle McCarter been confirmed and been sent to Kenya?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Bruce can finally dig out his Mario Brothers costume when he moves to Italy.

Comment by DeseDemDose Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:23 pm
I think it’s silly that you aren’t supposed to sign two petitions for two people to be on the ballot for the same office. I never knew it. I always signed any petition with the thought that anyone who wants to take the time and work to be on the ballot should have the opportunity.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:24 pm
Anyone know any Illinois Pearl Harbor vets still living?

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:25 pm
Thought Capt. Fax sez be nice?
Spoke 2 folks who actually went to GovJunk’s BiCentennial Ball. They had a very nice time. So let’s give him and BTIA a big hat tip for this nearly last stop on the Exit Interview Tour.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:29 pm
Bye Felicia

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:29 pm
Well at least U of I knows how to do non-revenue sports. Women’s volleyball team just made the Elite 8 and will play for the Final 4 at home.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:29 pm
NoGifts. That’s more shenanigans from our present two party system.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:30 pm
More and more talk of 2020 recession. There is widespread belief that Illinois is not in a good position to deal with it - especially after the Rauner debacle. Here’s hoping that JB and Dems realize that now is the time to plan for that possibility and avoid going crazy trying to implement all the costly campaign promises.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:31 pm
Madeleine Doubek is joining Change IL as Executive Director.

https://twitter.com/CHANGEIL/status/1071082992351830016

Comment by peteypablo Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:33 pm
Rosenbloom said he took the Tribs “voluntary separation offer.”

AKA “quit and take the severance, or be fired and get nothing.”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:34 pm
Gotta love cable and the ability to record your favorite shows for viewing whenever you want. The problem is I’m still seeing political ads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOkSvLqkafU

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:35 pm
The Blackhawks have been awful. I’ve been watching when I could, and it’s bad, like last night, giving up two goals in 12 seconds. I feel bad for Quenneville, for being scapegoated for such a bad team. It was such a great team, but shouldn’t the organization be rebuilding and trading if necessary?

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:37 pm
@Oswego, it appears McCarter has not yet been confirmed. (https://bit.ly/2RFUu5b) It appears Amb. Godec is still serving as the Ambassador to Kenya.

Comment by GV Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:43 pm
Anybody want to play where would we be if we were on the cusp of Governor Dillard’s third term?

Also, Go Bears.

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:45 pm
- GV -

Thanks. Appreciate it.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:46 pm
If UofI had actual Co-Ops built into their programs, and a staff of people manning an experiential learning department whose job it was to cultivate companies that are willing to hire their students at various terms throughout the career of the student’s, they would be doing themselves and their students a big favor. Those Co-Ops are interviews in today’s job environment, and the students would be available to have a Co-Op term other than over the summer.

The key here is that the companies know the value of the students that they hire as interns, and get a chance to try students out all throughout the year. The university charges a minimal charge during the Co-Op term, then the student is required to meet with their employer and work out goals, turn in a paper on their experiences, and use those experiences to ask better questions when back in classes on campus. The catch is that a 4 year degree becomes a 5 year degree but then you graduate with a degree

The current system of job fairs is failing everyone. Employers and students alike. Get with the program UofI. Nobody is there for platonic learning. They all want jobs, and all universities need to be better conduits for their students. See University of Cincinnati for a wonderful example of this. So glad I sent my daughter there.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Sorry…but then you graduate with a degree and a year of experience.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:55 pm
@47th Ward, missing SR, you know the sports coverage is better in the Sun Times, right? and not just pro and college but high school and an amazing Outdoors page…an entire page…. every Sunday. anyone who follows hunting and fishing, let alone foraging for the elusive morel and, knows that Dale Bowman in the Sun Times is the goods. he also does a great job of connecting about legislation and regulations and groups re natural resources issues. worth the price of the paper alone.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:56 pm
==I’ve been working on a story involving lots numbers and I suddenly hit a brick wall and in the process lost all track of time. ==

You’re losing articles, too.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Will the bears actually have a chance? I really don’t think with Mitch coming back it’s going to matter that much. That Rams offense is scary good.

Comment by Gohawks123 Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:00 pm
=== you know the sports coverage is better in the Sun Times, right?===

That’s what I’ve heard. The only reason I keep my Tribune subscription is for the sports section. Can’t eat lunch without it.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:00 pm
Just had a chance to read all of the Chicago Mag/FBI opus on the Blagoof pinch. Several points
1. How or how did the Tribbies know of the FBI probe. Uh they were caught on the wire tap traddin’ a new edit board for $100 million tax break for Wrigley.
2. Quinlin got the door knock, but little credit in the piece
3. As of 10 min ago there was exactly 1(ONE)(Uno) comment(s). Guess Blagoof isn’t so newsy anymore. Or Chicago MAG got no following.
This bein’ nice is tough

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:04 pm
Pretty funny Public Servant, please don’t compare the University of Cincinnati to UIUC. Ever.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:11 pm
===Pretty funny Public Servant, please don’t compare the University of Cincinnati to UIUC. Ever.===

… because UIUC is perfect and shouldn’t strive to look to get better at things.

You must “know”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:13 pm
UIUV has eng. co-ops. I dated one when I went there

Comment by Fav Human Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:14 pm
UIUC…

Comment by Fav human Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:15 pm
===Pretty funny Public Servant, please don’t compare the University of Cincinnati to UIUC. Ever.===

1. My son has a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from UIUC. I know what I’m talking about.

2. When it comes to Experiential learning, you’re right, UC is hands down better. But this isn’t a fanboy (Who’s got the biggest Diploma) comparison. It’s a legitimate observation. UofI is failing its students in helping with the transition from the Ivory Tower of university life to the harsh work-environment that exists today for grads trying to get that first job with their diploma hot in hand.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 1:22 pm
A judge just ruled that Michigan’s chief medical executive must stand trial on involuntary manslaughter for the Flint water crisis.

Paging Dr. Shah.

Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:06 pm
Are the Cards the front runner in the NL Central now?

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:09 pm
If you haven’t seen the Joffrey’s Nutcracker you really should.

Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:11 pm
What more could you ask for, da Bears are fun to watch and the Cardinals made a great move.

Comment by pool boy Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:24 pm
=The only reason I keep my Tribune subscription is for the sports section. Can’t eat lunch without it.=
Then your lunches have gotten smaller. Have really gotten obsessed with columns and not reporting scores and stats. Last Sunday did a 2-page spread on the Bears equipment mover. Needed a magnifying glass to find college basketball.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:34 pm
–Are the Cards the front runner in the NL Central now?–

Only if fielding, throwing and running the bases aren’t involved.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:37 pm
Amalia: Dale is great. Sadly, very few left. Les Winkler at The Southern is good too. Peoria had a good outdoor reporter in Jeff Lampe, but he left long ago.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 2:46 pm
A moment of silence for the great John Husar, the great outdoors writer for the old Trib.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:06 pm
There was a thread last week about the AFSCME pay freeze. I said they should have gone on strike instead of signing the agreement with Rauner. People asked me which agreement but my response didn’t go through. I was talking about the tolling agreement. I still think signing that was a mistake.

Comment by Anon Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:06 pm
=If you haven’t seen the Joffrey’s Nutcracker you really should. =

100% agreed. And do it now, while they’re still at the Auditorium.

Comment by JoanP Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:19 pm
===If you haven’t seen the Joffrey’s Nutcracker===

It’s pretty amazing.

Also, I highly recommend “SnowGirls” for your holiday entertainment. It’s a musical. Very campy. Only for adults and only for adults who appreciate this sort of entertainment https://www.theatreinchicago.com/snowgirls-the-musical/10049/

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:27 pm
@PublicServant and @Willy - my nephew had three internships at UIUC while an Undergrad. Two were unpaid and the final was a paid internship with one of the same companies he had previously worked for for “free”.

Bottom line he had a job offer from that company before he graduated and has been promoted 3 times since then. And he will be starting his MBA next semester.

Comment by illini Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:34 pm
“I was talking about the tolling agreement. I still think signing that was a mistake.”

What would have happened if workers struck, Rauner didn’t budge and for a prolonged period millions of state residents had services disrupted and thousands of workers had no pay and benefits? It could have been a real disaster, and Rauner would have loved it. He was daring the union to strike. It was his raison d’etre, to get a strike and blame AFSCME. The union took the strike vote and had the option, but the solution was legal and political: winning the impasse case and Pritzker’s victory.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:38 pm
@Way Down Here, good to know about Winkler. @Six Degrees of Separation, yes, sadly Husar is no longer with us. he was in the Tribune and Dale was in the Sun Times, glory days in Chicago….ironic, the big city….for outdoors reporting. I only buy the Sun Times on the weekend…Miller and Bowman….and I keep hoping the Sun Times keeps Bowman. when he hits on government action or inaction, he’s a pure source of great info.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:56 pm
sorry, that’s me at 3:56 somehow I cannot keep my name in the line and have to put it in the box every time I post.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Dec 7, 18 @ 3:57 pm