By Steve Rhodes
“Trustees of Chicago’s failing public pension funds have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into highly speculative investments that not only have failed to realize outsize returns but also saddled them with underperforming, long-term assets that can’t be sold off, a Tribune investigation has found.”
What, they invested in Sam Zell’s Tribune?
Sam’s Club
“Federal authorities are taking a closer look at the stock transfer at the heart of billionaire Sam Zell’s disastrous leveraged buyout of Tribune Co., after a U.S. District Court last week determined a portion of the 2007 deal was a ‘prohibited transaction’ under federal law,” the Tribune reports.
Rahmfather
Rahm doesn’t need no stinkin’ election laws.
Socialist Mayor
“Delivering on a promise made to Chicago’s financial exchanges in 2007, Mayor Daley proposed a $15 million tax subsidy Wednesday for CME Group Inc., owner of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade,” the Sun-Times reports.
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Well, I guess somebody’s gotta keep the free market free – even if it’s the government.
Game Ball
“A boy aged nine who devised a board game is in line for a top inventor’s award in the US,” England’s Scotland’s Daily Record reports.
“Scott Ballantyne came up with the Adventure Boardgame aged just seven last year while off school with a serious illness.
“Now he’s at the Chicago Toy Fair where he is up for the Young Inventor award.”
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“While in Chicago, he’ll be interviewed on TV by George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson in Cheers.”
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The Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
Healthy Mouths
“A northwest Indiana hospital system is asking a judge to stop a woman from criticizing its care,” the Tribune reports.
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Similarly . . .
“The next time three of Dr. Jay Pensler’s patients could be seeing him will be in a court of law,” Fox Chicago News reports. “But it’s probably not what you’re thinking. Pensler’s patients aren’t suing him – he’s suing them.
“Pensler is upset about negative remarks they made about him on Yelp and Citysearch, two websites where customers can anonymously post reviews about almost anything and everything.
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Of course, readers can post comments anonymously on Fox Chicago’s website too.
Hardly Epic
“How bad is student partying at Northwestern?”
Not bad enough, trust me.
Eight Loko
“While Google refines this product offering, Google Boost is currently limited to testing in Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco,” ClickZ reports.
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Mixes alcohol, caffeine and search in one can.
Chicago Tonight’s Science Survey
Seeking your advice.
FOIA Reform Fading
Who to blame.
Czar of the Playbook: Bears at Dolphins
It’s all about the red zone, baby.
Chicago Magazine Is 40-Something
An exclusive look at their anniversary issue.
New Enemy Front In Chicago!
The basil gimlet sounds delish.
Julian Lennon and Crystal Gayle
In our new edition of Trivial Pursuit.
Coinoscopy
Best farting butt bank ever.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Deposits insured.
Posted on November 18, 2010