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Morning Shorts: FYI for blog readers

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Rich has decided to extend his vacation another week. Thus, I will be in charge of running the blog again this week. I am a poor man’s ‘Rich Miller’, but beggars can’t be choosers.

I was not able to plan for this, however, and as a result I scheduled a lot of hours at my other job this week.

So I will do posts where I can, but unfortunately the blog will make heavy use of the format I have used for today’s posts. (I.E. More round-ups on issues and less analysis)

* 12:21 pm - I have added some additional articles to the elections section since I first posted it this morning…

posted by Mike Murray
Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 10:39 am

Comments

Don’t forget the Moolah for BigMurr drive is still on….as Capt Fax lolls around “resting” before returning to the mostly boring state fair events, let’s clog the BigMurr mail box with moolah to reward his truly excellent job.
p.s. BiggMurr’s organization of the shorts is genius.
Any live reports on Commando Kirk’s downstate visits?

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:26 am
Mike Murray, change the passwords and lock the doors. You are more than capable to handle Ricardo’s responsibilities! Good for him, I didn’t think he’d ever get a break with the election, then Blago’s mess, then the annual budget overtime session, so on and so forth.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 11:56 am
Squad, your tireless efforts to gin up $$$$ for me is much appreciated.

That said, I am not planning quit my day job just yet, lol.

Maybe my mail box will overflow, but I won’t hold my breath. (And in no way is this a negative reflection on anyone. Just the way of the world) Still, you never know I guess…

Mike Murray
309 E. Green St.
Apt. 801
Champaign IL, 61820

Comment by Mike Murray Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:18 pm
I am glad that Rich is getting some time off to rest and rejuvenate. The older I get, the more important I relaize that is because sometimes it creeps up on you and you don’t even realize that where you were once able to easily declare victory, you may now find that with greaer frequency the daily grind is winning more often, and the result simply sucks life’s positive energy right from your soul.

4M, you are doing a great job, and keep up the good work. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed though either.

Remember; that as a fail-safe Rich has built in automatic continuity of operations plan which triggers itself based on a pre-determined period of post volume-divided by moderator inactivity. Once the threshold ratio has been met, the plan kicks into gear, just like the back-up battery on your sump-pump.
Wonkish exposed the plan recently, and we initially mistook his ascendance to power as a coup, which we were uncertain as to whether it was bloodless for sure or not, until Rich re-emerged. It was only after his return that we were able to determine that the episode was merely a disaster exercise to test the continuity of operations plan and that Rich was really being held in an undisclosed safe location during that time of his absence in order to test the plan.

Now that we all know that Wonkish has the keys to the castle, and is hard-wired to the red alert system through Homeland Security, we have all been able to rest easier at night; including Rich (I think) because the plan worked flawlessly when activated.

So don’t over burden yourself, and have no fear that Wonkish will be there to save the day again if necessary.

Also; despite the need, or the customer desire to replenish the 4M Happy Hour Slush fund, I would caution against setting up some kind of diversionary Pay Pal Account. Aside from a man’s woman and children, perhaps other than one’s secret stash, the energy source is a sacred cow. If he somehow finds that someone may be attaching a siphon to his fuel supply the punishment could be severe enough to result in lifetime banishment and given the stingy nature of the subscriber base, you may find that despite it being appreciated, the little sum you actually receive will render the crime; not worth the punishment.

Instead, let me suggest an alternative vehicle to meet your needs and allow readers to show their appreciarion at the same time.

Simply publish the 4M Pre State Fair tour schedule here, so that people know where you will be appearing on a daily basis, before Pat Quinn kicks off the opening parade, and those so inclined can then show up and shower you with “in kind” contributions, such that your whistle will never run dry. You might even be able to get proprietor matching contributions, based on volume, given the widespread promotional value of the free blog advertisement here. Any expense of the proprietor would certainly be offset by the corresponding patronage that would result. Generally speaking there was an enormous drop off in saloon keeper capabilities since the premature (prior to 125; at least I think) death of Francis McCuddy, but even today’s weaker brand of post prohibition entrepeneurs will recognize the promotional value of a CAPFAX mention and celebrity appearance, and while they might try to drive a hard bargain, in the end you are the tour operator, and you have all the leverage you need to strike a deal that is most favorable to quenching your thirst with only the finest products from the best locations.

Don’t settle for second best!

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 12:44 pm
Wow, how convenient!

Google “bars loc:309 e green st, 61820″

http://is.gd/2aIJ6

(couldn’t help it)

Comment by Anonymous Coward Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 1:18 pm
Coward, u r not telling me anything I don’t already know. Got to love college a college town.

Sential…R u a lawyer dude? LOL

But u r right, this job can be a grind. That said, I -unlike Rich- still have young blood in me so I don’t think it will overwhelm me physically.

My problem is running the blog is a time conflict with my other job. Usually, I do morning shorts from 5am to 8 or 8:30 (The MS I give Rich is much longer then what is published on the blog) After that, I am free of Cap Fax duties - now that session if over anyway.

The problem with running the blog is that I have to work (11-5) during the peak period of blog activity.

So I can check comments and write something every now and then while at work, but posts with substantial/entertaining analysis are much more time consuming, prohibitvely so in most cases.

So Wonkish is welcome to post whenever he/she wishes this week if he/she is up to it. The more discussion on the blog the better, and I too have the keys to the castle and could always just delete a post if it is out of bounds or if I don’t like it. (Unlikely to happen)

As far as a pre fair tour schedule…I will be in Champaign all this week and next week, but I will be at the state fair for Governors Day next Wednesday. If you are there, I would certainly accept a drink.

Also why do u refer to me as 4M?

Comment by Mike Murray Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 1:53 pm
4M=Mike Murray Media Man,

What are they teaching you in college these days anyway for God’s sake? Out here in the real world, its all about image and brand management.

3M has its own registered trademark and has invested a fortune in developing its own brand identity, so for you, its never too late to get started.

Now; we can only hope that your name is not going to surface in the U of I Admissions scandal as being one of those Cat 1 scallywags. That could certainly damage the brand if they had pictures of you sneaking in the back door, while the poor minorities wer being held at bay outside the locked front door.

Thank God for FERPA, and the go along-get along approach of MIKVA I guess; a least for those in power that were concerned about being called out for their roles. That was left to the lowly education administrators who are apparently disposable in comparison to those that we actually elected, who then turned around and abused the system for their own benefit.

I will not likely be there for Governor’s Day unfortunately, but I’ll see if I can’t find a way to arrange for an in-kind donation to be made available for you while you are there. What is your favorite Springpatch watering hole?

If you are ever to make a name for yourself in this business however; at some point you are going to have to make the pilgrimage to the Billy Goat. You might want to speed up the timetable for that however because the last time I was there it looked like there were cracks forming in the walls and I was concerned that was due to the Tribune’s Ivory Tower self destructive implosion. You don’t want to be there when thos walls comes tumbling down.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Monday, Aug 10, 09 @ 9:38 pm
OMG Rod has the balls to promo the following for his new talk show?

Coming up on Rod’s show…
8/09 12:00 pm
What are lawmakers really doing?
How to use a Freedom of Information request to get to the truth.
He has NO SHAME!

Comment by in the know Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 9:46 am
Ah yes, Quinn, now I remember what 4m means. I’ll have to consider it for a bran. Kinda catchy.

As far as me possibly getting ‘clouted in’ to U of I. Not a chance in hell. I was excepted via early admission based solely upon merit. U of I was actually the lowest ranked school that I got accepted to, but was also the cheapest…go figure.

I am a fan of The Alamo. I also enjoy Two Brothers.

I could check out the Billy Goat. I have walked by it many times. But I am a HUGE White Sox fan and avid Cubs hater. No one is perfect.

Comment by Mike Murray Tuesday, Aug 11, 09 @ 12:31 pm