Ah, old school, war-time propaganda!

       

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Beware if you're heading out to get on I-294 for weekend travel right now. A 15-car pile-up between Willow and Lake-Cook Roads on the I-294 tollway has caused a seven mile long traffic jam, causing a complete highway clusterfuck.

Seven months after they approved Mayor Daley's parking meter privatization deal, the City Council held a hearing to angrily express their outrage over the deal. This from the same City Council that voted 45-5 to approve the deal and, when one alderman complained about the lack of time for review, prompted the classic response from Ald. Mell (33rd), "How many of us read the stuff we do get, OK?. I try to. I try to. I try to. But being realistic, being realistic, it's like getting your insurance policy. It's small print, OK?" Small print, indeed.

It's Fourth of July weekend but maybe you're not into the patriotic stuff. Sure, you love stuff exploding so the fireworks are cool, but maybe you don't dig all the John Philip Sousa that goes along with it. Or kids in big Uncle Sam hats waving tiny American flags. The sound of Lee Greenwood makes you sick. That's cool. We're not here to judge you. What we're here to do is to point you to the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare for this year's G-Fest.

Derek Lee solidified himself as the one Cubs offensive performer worthy of an invitation to the All-Star Game by homering twice and knocking in seven runs as the Cubs raced past the Brewers 9-5. Lee got things started with a three-run homer in the first and was followed up by Jake Fox who hit a solo shot. Mike Cameron hit a two-run shot for the Brewers in the second to cut the Cubs lead in half, but D-Lee responded with a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth as the North Siders blew the game wide-open. Geovanny Soto completed the scoring-only-on-homers night for the Cubs as he belted a solo shot in the fourth as well. Of course, never ones to make things easy, the Cubs pitching staff allowed the Brewers to score runs late, but Lee's offense was enough to pace the team. Ryan Dempster had a good start, allowing four runs (three earned) over 6.2 innings while striking out nine. Aaron Heilman allowed a run in the eighth but the bullpen, which included appearances from Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol, held the Brewers. Don't look now, but the Cubs are only 2.5 out of first. The two teams tangle again this afternoon at 1:20 p.m. (CSN).

If you're one of the few people in an office today...we feel your pain. And you're missing a gorgeous day outside. So what are you waiting for? Get outside! Sunny skies and highs in the upper 70's? No excuse to be indoors. Besides, you can always read our mobile version from the park.

• Police have arrested a man in connection with an attempted assault on a doctor in her office earlier this week; the man was turned in by his girlfriend.
• Has Mayor Daley ditched Stroger for Preckwinkle in the upcoming Cook County Board President race?
• A quick thinking paramedic helped save a woman who suffered a heart attack at the Taste of Chicago earlier today.

At the risk of going overboard on the whole Michael Jackson thing, we had to share one more video from the vaults: the video for "Jam" which paired Jackson with Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan. Below is a behind-the-scenes featurette which includes the awkward "casually shooting hoops" scene. After the jump, check out the video in its entirety.