The [Tuesday] Papers

I have never seen any of the Ghostbusters movies. While I'm a big fan of many of the films Harold Ramis was involved in - as the SCTV of his era - the Ghostbusters franchise never appealed to me. Plus, I hate that song.

Our tribute:
* Harold Ramis Highlights.
* SCTV's Harold Ramis.
* Why Harold Ramis Loved Libraries.

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Reports say Harold Ramis has achieved total consciousness, which is nice.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 25, 2014

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No Comment In Three Dimensions
"Mayor Rahm Emanuel has committed $10 million in city funds as part of a bid that landed Chicago a federally funded digital manufacturing institute, the administration confirmed Monday," the Tribune reports.

"The mayor did not mention the city's contribution as he spent the weekend touting $70 million from the Department of Defense and $250 million from private companies and the state. Gov. Pat Quinn on Sunday mentioned in the first sentence of his news release that the state would spend $16 million on the effort.

"Asked Monday by the Tribune whether any city money was involved, Emanuel spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said in an e-mail that the mayor committed up to $10 million in city funds to be spent over the next five years. Hamilton said the money could come from 'a variety of sources,' including tax increment financing, partnerships with City Colleges and schools or 'other incentives and/or technical assistance.'"

Told you so.

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Hamilton's e-mail was not available for questioning; therefore the Emanuel administration actually refused to comment.

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To be fair, it's a tricky accounting maneuver given that the money is coming out of the non-existent Children's Fund.

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In America, Boeing Taxes Us
"Last year, government contracting behemoth Boeing paid an effective tax rate of -1.4%," JP Sottile writes at Firedoglake.

"Yes, you read that correctly - negative 1.4%.

"According to a new report from the Center for Effective Government, one of America's biggest corporations, with profits ranging from $1.6 to $5.9 billion over the last five years, found ways to whittle down its effective tax rate so much that it became, in effect, a source of revenue as they reaped a whopping $82 million tax refund on $5.9 billion in profits."

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"According to Citizens for Tax Justice research," Ald. Will Burns wrote in November, "[Boeing] paid no net federal income tax from 2008 through 2011 [and] earned $14 billion in profit, paid federal tax rates of -5.5 percent and received $6 billion in federal tax subsidies."

Also, TIF money subsidized its Chicago headquarters.

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And I'm sure readers recall this:

"In 2001 [Illinois] gave $56 million to Boeing to move its headquarters to Chicago from Seattle," Good Jobs First notes.

"The $30 million state portion included $17 million in EDGE corporate income tax credits, while Chicago provided the property tax abatement, worth $16 million, and a variety of other subsidies. The Boeing executive in charge of the search later said that the financial assistance was 'irrelevant' and that what really counted was the city's pro-business attitude."

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Finally, the state of Washington's attitude is way better than ours.

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Jody Weis Rewrites History
In response to my Monday Morning Police Chief item on Monday, retired CPD lieutenant Bob Angone writes:

Jody Weis says he is embarrassed by the Koschman /Vanecko investigation. I might remind him that if he takes a good look in the mirror he can get a pretty big idea who was a very big part of the embarrassment.

Leadership starts at the top and he was the top cop when the second part of that investigation outstunk the first part. How does he think we feel, the men and woman of the Chicago Police Department who are serving and have served the city faithfully for a good part of our lives?

The overwhelming majority of us really took our department's motto "We Serve and Protect" seriously; for him to now come forward and say the investigation is embarrassing is very little and too late.

He and he alone had a unique chance to re-ring the bell. His leadership should have put this stench behind us, and he failed to do that. What are leaders for? They are not there to be just a rubber stamp. The daily headlines practically told him on an almost daily basis that this case needed to be scrupulously looked at by HIS department, the stench of clout so strong it eventually led to a special grand jury investigation.

I know that sometimes it's difficult to judge a leader, but in my opinion he was the leader of that second investigation that gave Mr. Vanecko a "self-defense" defense without ever talking to the man. If the shoe fits, wear it please; don't try to act like a helpless observer.

Thanks, lieutenant.

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Jon Stewart: Obama Is Our All-Time Assassin
At least Bush just tortured.

What The MSM Missed In Sochi
Seven storylines.

Hall & Oates' Rich Girl Is Actually Wilmette Dude
Spoiled Walker Brother of Wilmette pancake fame.

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Lord & Taylor Musical Snow Globe

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TweetWood

Shot their wad RT @wlsam890: Police: Drunk couple had sex in cab, then couldn't pay fare http://t.co/wNnMwcpn49

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 24, 2014

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Really Mayor Emanuel? Contrary 2 what he says, Raise ur Hand survey found 65% skls don't have 2 hrs art weekly. http://t.co/dFMWKHSmle

— Catalyst Chicago Mag (@CatalystChicago) February 24, 2014

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Majority of crack users are white, at least half of arrests are minorities, via @WBEZ #MorningEdition

— Dimitrios Kalantzis (@Dimkal) February 24, 2014

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Daley's pals did better MT @sbg1: Why were Ukrainians so mad? Son of president "won" 50% of state contracts in Jan. http://t.co/KdQRir2zhU

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 25, 2014

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Is it called The Defense of Marriage Act? RT @JonathanLanday: Kerry sez US reviewing relationship w/#Uganda after signing of anti-gay law...

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 24, 2014

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