Pass This Line Around

Via Talking Points Memo, a spokesman for a Democratic congressman.:

Toyota has more credibility on car safety than [congressional Republicans] have on ethics

I want to hear this come out of the mouths of multiple talking heads by the end of the week.

Worst Job in the World

Former Vice-President Dick Cheney's international travel agent.

Research Silently Affects Discourse

Since a recent UIC study (via Gapers Block and Chicagoist) showed that the Wal-Mart on the West Side saw no net gains in local jobs, and that the wages earned locally actually decreased, politicians and news articles aren't mentioning the "more jobs" aspect of Wal-Mart stores anymore. Instead, as in this Sun-Times article, they're touting Wal-Mart Superstores as a solution to the various Food Deserts in the city.

Signing off on the Chatham Wal-Mart won't solve the problem, another Daley adviser said. "We need several" supercenters in Chicago's food deserts, the adviser said.

What would be nicer than the research silently affecting the discourse would be for the city to try to find a retailer who is not as toxic to its local environment to come in and sell food in Chicago's deserts. Apparently that's a bit much to ask of our elected officials, though.

It's a Rumor, But...

It's about time that DePaul athletics did something about the Men's Basketball team, which performs dismally for a school that only has one revenue sport. Hopefully the rumors are true and the school will get a new head coach soon. It's being reported by multiple sources, so it's likely true. As things stand right now, I only bother to root for Illinois even though I'm entitled to two schools now.

Something for that Special Evangelical in Your Life

What with the holidays coming around (which were heralded by Christmas ads on November first...), I bet you're looking for the perfect gift for that hard-to-please Fundamentalist Christian on your list. Well, look no further, as Teresa Nielsen Hayden has found for us some Vaccine Waivers for Creationists - just print the pdf on an appropriate page of stickers and you have an instant gift as well as a means to pitch in and conserve the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines for those who need them!

Disconnect in Perceptions

I realize that Cecil's already covered this, but I still have to marvel at how people think that Rogers Park is a lot more dangerous than other places on the North Side. I mean, sure, the area around Howard isn't terribly great, but I don't see stories in the newspaper about that area. Instead, I keep reading about horrible things that happen in Lincoln Park.

Me thinks it's more about who one see's upon stepping off the L, rather than any real crime statistics, that gives the area its reputation.

How Bad is It?

How bad must it be to be the president whose successor is given a Nobel Peace Prize mostly for not being his predecessor?

A bunch of Bush Administration proxies were stressing that history would judge them best.

Well, the historical viewpoint is beginning, and it's not off to an auspicious start for Bush 43.