CTA doomsday survival guide

If the CTA doomsday actually does happen, consider riding a bicycle for at least part of your commute. Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF) has a page of suggestions for some bus route substitutions. If you usually take a bus to a train, you might use a bicycle for that portion, as there are now bike racks in and around many CTA and Metra stations.

For everyday or year-round use, a beater bike might be appropriate. Working Bikes and Uptown Bikes are good sources for used bikes. Police auctions are another source. When buying a used bike from any source, it's worthwhile to take it to a bike mechanic you trust to check it out and make sure that all is in safe operating condition.

The Chicago Bike Shop Directory is a good source for finding dealers and mechanics near you. It includes user reviews.

The Bikewinter web site has lots of useful tips for riding in winter, and if you want to meet folks to ride with, there are plenty of events.

Cheers!

bedtime for Blago?

Looks like the feds are closing in on our chief crook, I mean gov. Could they have a special gift for Blago, too? Please, Santa, do you have a special lump of coal in your stocking for Blago. ;)

our work isn't done

Warm up your typing or dialing fingers again. The transit funding mess still isn't resolved, and the hole keeps getting deeper. If you need the names of your legislators and their contact info, click here to look them up.

Get ready to kiss billions of federal matching funds for transit capital improvements goodbye unless the folks in Springfield come up with the state matching funds soon enough to claim that federal $$$$.

Meanwhile, Monday's threatened walkout by CTA workers has been called off, but the underlying problem still not solved - boneheads in Springfield still need to agree on funding. For all the hard work Julie Hamos has done, I'd like to see Santa reward her (and all of us) with an agreement on funding that will actually last a while and not be another band-aid.

Let's take time out from the holiday rush to call, e-mail or fax our legislators one more time, then hope for a Christmas miracle.

score one for the taxpayers

On Wednesday, Cook County board members voted against Todd Stroger's mega tax increase proposal. I put in my $0.02 with the board members on that one, and I know plenty of other folks did, too.

But Stroger doesn't give up. When is this clown going to get a clue that he needs to make some cuts closer to home before people are willing to throw more money his way?

Mr. Wiggles

An oldie but still funny from Sesame Street

automatic confessional machine

The Catholic Church has installed a new automatic confessional machine.

nothin' but net

For your amusement – invisible 3 pointer

Yay, it's Caturday!

moar funny pictures

dig it!

It's time to break out the snow shovels. Even if you just go from your door to your car, you need to shovel the sidewalk across the front of your property. Many of your neighbors depend on having clear sidewalks to walk to and from the train or bus, school, etc. It's also required by Chicago law. Please be a good neighbor and keep your sidewalks clear and safe, especially if you live on Longwood.
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Chicago Municipal Code10-8-180 Snow and ice removal.

Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground in the city abutting upon any public way or public place shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of such building or lot of ground.

If the sidewalk is of greater width than five feet, it shall not be necessary for such person to remove snow and ice from the same for a space wider than five feet.

In case the snow and ice on the sidewalk shall be frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without injury to the pavement, the person having charge of any building or lot of ground as aforesaid shall, within the time specified, cause the sidewalk abutting on the said premises to be strewn with ashes, sand, sawdust, or some similar suitable material, and shall, as soon thereafter as the weather shall permit, thoroughly clean said sidewalk.

The snow which falls or accumulates during the day (excepting Sundays) before 4 p.m. shall be removed within 3 hours after the same has fallen or accumulated. The snow which falls or accumulates on Sunday or after 4 p.m. and during the night on other days shall be removed before 10 a.m.
(Prior code § 36-19)

10-8-190 Liability for civil damages.

Any person who removes snow or ice from the public sidewalk or street, shall not, as a result of his acts or omissions in such removal, be liable for civil damages. This section does not apply to acts or omissions amounting to wilful or wanton misconduct in such snow or ice removal.
(Prior code § 36-20)

green for Christmas

As more people considering the ecological implications of various choices in their lives, they are presented with more dilemmas. This article in the San Francisco Chronicle raises some good points about the pros and cons of real vs. artificial Christmas trees.

I love the smell of a fresh tree, and I've occasionally gone to a tree farm to cut one. I think it's an ecological extravangance. There are enough decent looking fake trees out there to offer us some good options. A good fake can last many years if it's treated gently. Buying a real wreath can give the scent of a real tree with a much smaller ecological impact.

What's your $0.02 on the issue?