By Steve Rhodes

“Investigators of steroid use in baseball are seeking medical records from at least two of the game’s premier sluggers over the past dozen years, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro, along with records from dozens of other players suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs, a baseball official with direct knowledge of the request said,” The New York Times reports.
“I don’t want to talk about that thing,” Sosa said when asked about the investigation before last night’s game against the Yankees. “No comment.”
Olympic Spirit
* Glasgow 2014 Committee Releases Bid Book Online.
* Vancouver 2010 Committee Releases Balanced Budget.
* Chicago 2016 Committee Won’t Release Revenue Forecast.

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Posted on May 9, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

There will be no column today, I’m swamped with things that need getting done, but if you want a new treat, check out the Mount Lou Alert graphic whipped up by our very own Bethany Lankin at the bottom of The Cubs Factor. We’ll be using this every week to alert you to conditions during the volcano season.
And take this opportunity to check out the rest of the site, as always, and all that good yummy stuff in our archives.
*
The [Monday] Papers
Monday monologue.
***
The Civic Federation of Chicago is calling for a hike in corporate and personal income taxes to solve the state’s budget problems. If that doesn’t work, the Federation suggestions a pay-to-play tax.
***
One budget strategy gaining popularity is for the state let Exelon generate political power while the state would merely distribute it. Without a tax hike, the state could then claim, Illinois would wither away and die.
***
Only in Chicago is it news when thousands of city workers actually show up for work on Election Day rather than attend to the mayor’s political needs on the taxpayers’ dime.

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Posted on May 8, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

Monday monologue.
***
The Civic Federation of Chicago is calling for a hike in corporate and personal income taxes to solve the state’s budget problems. If that doesn’t work, the Federation suggestions a pay-to-play tax.
***
One budget strategy gaining popularity is for the state let Exelon generate political power while the state would merely distribute it. Without a tax hike, the state could then claim, Illinois would wither away and die.
***
Only in Chicago is it news when thousands of city workers actually show up for work on Election Day rather than attend to the mayor’s political needs on the taxpayers’ dime.

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Posted on May 7, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

Filling in for Weekend Desk Chief Natasha Julius, who is rolling the bones in Las Vegas this weekend on behalf of The Beachwood Media Company’s pension fund.
Auditism
Big Skim Thompson has been named audit committee chairman of The Beachwood Media Company’s pension fund.

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Posted on May 5, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

1. “A stretch of Milwaukee Avenue in the Near Northwest Side neighborhood of Wicker Park was granted preliminary landmark designation Thursday by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks 16 years after advocates first proposed the distinction,” the Tribune reports.
The commission wanted to wait until Milwaukee Avenue brimmed with condos, boutiques, and valet parking before calling it a landmark.
2. It will be called the Greater Historic Condo District.
3. A gentrification museum is planned too.
4. Ever get the feeling the fix is in?

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Posted on May 4, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

The regulars at the Beachwood Inn – the bar at Beach and Wood that inspired this site – don’t much like change, but I’m pleased to report that the ‘Wood is now serving Leinenkugel’s, the pride of Chippewa Falls. In fact, Leinie’s is now the Thursday night special – $2.50 a pop. Just say, “I’ll have a Leinie’s please!” and tip your bartender well.
*
Recent jukebox additions of note: “The Millennium Sampler,” produced by Bob Beachwood with no apparent theme in mind, and “The Essential Kenny Loggins.” Apparently there is such a thing. I played “This Is It” last night. Don’t stray too much further from that one or we might have to bar you out.
UPDATE: It’s a real album: “The Best of Various Artists,” ha ha. (Tim Willette)
And now, on to the news.

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Posted on May 3, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

It’s good to see we finally have some innovative thinking at the CTA. New transit president Ron Huberman is promising “a leaner, more efficiently run and customer-focused CTA,” the Tribune reports.
Finally, someone who gets it! No incoming CTA boss has ever promised more efficiency and better customer service before!
“We will be doing a lot of slashing,” Huberman told the Trib.
Maybe just get rid of the trains and buses and keep the rest. Then things would really run smooth and lean.

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Posted on May 2, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

1. Now stocked in my neighborhood Walgreens freezer case: Dwight Yoakam’s Chicken Lickin’s. Chicken Rings Afire.
2. That’s the same Walgreens that Ald. Manny Flores (1st) wants to turn into a humongous condo development, despite his ostensible concern for affordable housing. Maybe we should send Flores to Congress, which he is rumored to be shooting for, to get him out of Wicker Park.
NOTE: The Booster newspaper link has the wrong address for the Walgreens in question. It is at 1372 N. Milwaukee Ave., not 1732.
3. The truth is that Flores is just a smoother and prettier Jesse Granato.
4. Too much money kills the golden goose.

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Posted on May 1, 2007

By Steve Rhodes

Well, it took the entire Washington, D.C., bureau of the Tribune and Hurricane Katrina coverage from AP to beat out The Beachwood Reporter in the Lisagor Awards held Friday night.
That’s who our finalists, Home for the Holidays and Barista!, were up against.
Just think what we’ll be able to do when we actually have some money.
Race to the Bottom
Mancow Muller beat Debra Pickett in the television commentary category.
Is that more humiliating to her or him?

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Posted on April 30, 2007

By Natasha Julius

Here are the stories that will shape our weekend.
Market Update
IBM appears set to weather the storm after the failure of its Big Boris operating system. Investors have expressed confidence in the strength of the company’s flagship Cheneybot brand. Meanwhile, Apple Corp’s plans to corner the youth market with a line of flashy but largely non-fuinctional androids continues to pay dividends.

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Posted on April 28, 2007