By Steve Rhodes

The biggest inconvenience of the NATO summit this weekend to me personally is that I’m too tied up this week to properly digest the coverage along with the rest of the news; it may be a light week here depending on productivity gains in other pressing areas. Unfortunately, the news doesn’t wait for me.
1. Democrats Form Third Party To Challenge Derrick Smith.
It’s called the Not Indicted Wing Of The Democratic Party.
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“People interested in the new 10th District Unity Party can go to www.10thdistrictunityparty.com according to David Druker, spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White. Forty-seven questions are asked, ranging from whether a person has committed a crime to what potential candidates’ legislative priorities would be.”
Including: Have you now or have you ever been shown the money?

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Posted on May 15, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

“Facing administrative turnover and a growing number of vacancies in recent years, the UI has increasingly turned to outside search firms to find new leaders,” the Champaign News-Gazette reports.
“The price tag? Almost $6 million over the last nine years, paid to nearly two dozen different consulting firms. In one of the most recent instances, the UI paid $90,000 to one firm for three weeks of work to recruit men’s basketball coach John Groce.”
What hyena says.

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Posted on May 14, 2012

By Natasha Julius

Too bad we won’t have the extra three seconds in time to run the fuck out of here next week.
Market Update
Depending which analysis you believe, JPMorgan’s profits either evolved or took a haircut. Either way, Truth seems to be the biggest loser of the week.

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Posted on May 12, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

Let’s catch up with the week’s news. Some of these items will receive expanded coverage in the days to come; some will not.
1. Bring Us The Heads Of C.J. Watson, Omer Asik And Carlos Boozer.
2. Obama’s Gay Marriage Gambit.
3. Company that lies about its circulation reportedly buying the Reader.

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Posted on May 10, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

I’m working on a post about President Obama’s declaration of support for gay marriage, so be patient on that one.
Meanwhile . . .
“NATO summit protesters will get a chance to debate officials representing the military alliance in the week leading up to the May 20-21 gathering of world leaders in Chicago,” the Tribune reports.
“Protest organizer Andy Thayer says he and anti-NATO blogger Rick Rozoff will debate the merits of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on May 17 with a NATO spokesman, James Appathurai, and Nicholas Burns, former U.S. ambassador to NATO.”
Good.

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Posted on May 10, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

Our man in fantasyland Dan O’Shea delivers his usual weekly installment of excellence in Fantasy Fix: The LaHair Conundrum, but the rest of the Beachwood is off today and will return tomorrow.

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Posted on May 9, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

Another day, another spin through the news.
1. “A family favorite, the Chicago Kids & Kites Festival moves to a later date this year taking place on Saturday, May 19, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park (Lake Shore Drive and Montrose),” the city announced last month. “As this year’s festival is scheduled to coincide with the arrival of representatives of the NATO countries, why not take inspiration from their visit? NATO will provide pictures of flags and fun facts about the countries they represent, and will also be providing this year’s free kite kits.”
In the shape of drones.

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Posted on May 8, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

“A witness in the David Koschman case was visited last month by a private investigator he says claimed to be working for Koschman’s mother,” the Sun-Times reports.
“The man actually was working on behalf of Richard J. ‘R.J.’ Vanecko, the nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley who’s under renewed investigation in Koschman’s 2004 death.”
Stay classy, Daley family!

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Posted on May 7, 2012

By Natasha Julius

Special Kentucky Derby Edition
Hey, remember last year when we were all so excited about that female jockey? Yeah, well, this year it seems even the horses’ names are hopelessly masculine.
Bet The Alpha Male
We’d ordinarily say this one is a lock, but these days no one really seems to know exactly which horse we’re talking about.

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Posted on May 5, 2012

By Steve Rhodes

Trying to keep up with the madness.
1. Chicago Has A New Tourism Anthem, And it’s Beyond Awful.
2. Vikings To Give Tryout To Son Of Linebackers Coach Mike Singletary.

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Posted on May 4, 2012