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That ridiculous bag ban that would criminalize tiny baggies has hit a bump in the road to useless legislation. Health Committee chairman Ed Smith is holding the ban in committee until everyone can air his or her concerns about how stupid the idea is, and what a waste of time and energy and resources it would be, about how people use those baggies for all kinds of things, and transport and keep drugs in a wide variety of vessels, etc.
6th Ward Alderman Fredrenna Lyle says she's against the ban, telling the Sun-Times, "We've got enough laws we can't enforce. We don't want to make any more or criminalize legal conduct." Lyle isn't on the Health committee, but here's hoping aldermen Smith, Cardenas, Fioretti, Dowell, Harris, Thompson, Dixon, Burnett, Mell, Austin, Colon, Reilly, Shiller and Moore listen to her. [S-T]
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Joe Moore is the king of useless legislation.
Moore introduced this?
"Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd), sponsor of the plastic bag ban, which has been the subject of nationwide ridicule, could not be reached for comment."--from the Sun-Times.
Does this mean Moore still introduced it? Not sure about parliamentary rules.
Hey Moore: Whatever the fuck happened to those CTA hearings you promised, you useless windbag.
I thought Fioretti introduced this, Kevin, at least according to everything I have read.
But more importantly, where does Chicago stand on the Beer-in-a-BROWN-BAG-in-public laws?
I meant that since Moore is on that committee, he'll be all over it. Since he's all about unenforceable, symbolic legislation.
Just a little Friday morning sarcasm folks....
Too bad. I was looking forward to leaving those baggies on my co-workers desks and then dropping a dime on them.
Free advice for internet writers, as so much of writing in the future will be published primarily on the net and I have a strong interest in good, clear writing:
Sarcasm and irony rarely translate well in the Web--hell, they rarely work unless the sarcasm and irony are really good to begin with, and even then, the audience usually has to be like-minded enough that you are preaching to the choir. Such a thing is an enemy of good writing, as the best, most enduring writing englightens, informs and/or motivates those who may not agree with you in the first place.
I know our sarcastic, ironic culture can make many people think they are nearly as good as Swift or Twain (not talking about anyone in particular, by the way, just a general observation), but the vast majority just don't have the talent.
And in any case, simple wit usually is stronger, and often translates better on the Web for whatever reason.
Me on cell to Chicago police: "Hi...I'm walking down State Street. I just wanted to let you know, I think I passed a man with a tiny baggie a while back. And he looked crazy."
25 times a day.
oh man that would be funny.
call the police anytime you find a small plastic baggy!
haghaha!
It would be awesome! I would stop by every police car: "Officer--I think I saw a small baggie blowing down Michigan Avenue. If you hurry, you can probbaly catch it."
Matilda:
Not worth your time. They will never listen. Or care.
Also: you are an asshole.
chill the fuck out matilda.
Mich: I just made a comment about writing and how it translates into blogs. What the hell is your problem? Christ, some of you are very, very senstive.
Oh yeah, we just talk about trivia and pat each other on the back and make meaningless comments because that is what our culture's about. Sorry, didn't get the memo.
Spav: Thanks. I take that as a compliment. Really.
Perhaps our illustrious aldermen might consider a two-for-one compromise: require tiny plastic bags to carry a warning that indicates the contents may be hazardous to one's health.
When little plastic baggies are outlawed, only outlaws will have little plastic baggies. *
(Disclaimer: The intent of this statement may differ from its actual wording. Hope no one freaks out about that.)
Matilda:
I really don't understand your problem with Trivia?
Also: you are an asshole, and if you came to Trivia, no one would like you EVER. No matter how many drinks bought me.
And, along those lines, don't you have bigger battles to fight than commenting on local ordinances that we all agree on ridiculous?
Don't you have a march on Washington to go to? Or a cow NOT to eat?
You are a a fucking bourgeoisie hypocrite.
Cat fight at Sheffield's next Thursday night. Followed by Trivial Pursuit, of course. Spook is buyin', but only if you're crazy and/or homeless...
Spav: Yet you still love me.
matilda:
I absolutely do not. Unless it is opposite day.
Don't lie, Spav. I can read your thoughts through those Scientology eyes of yours.
UTV: Uh, yeah, that's original. It's not even irony anymore, despite your claim. It's just cliched riff on a cliche. Gold star for effort, though. I mean, even the slow kids need to feel appreciated sometimes.
Thank you Matilda. I'm glad someone who is always 100 percent right could stoop to my level. Drinks all around!
UTV: I'm not 100% right, just 74.6% right, actually. Can't you do math? And yours was not a fresh use of irony, proving my earlier point.
Seriously, though, I amazed when certain people get mad when I point out their facts are wrong. Spook, Kevin, etc. Or when I challenge flimsly opinions. People today have such thin skins, and often react like spoiled children when challenged. This trait will bite us all in the ass within a generation or so as our society becomes ever more wussified and idiotic, and more inclined to groupthink.
Matilda:
Ever heard that saying "better to use honey than vinegar?"
People hate you because you are a spiteful, vicious, petty, SINCERE bitch.
There are a BILLION other ways to influence people and opinion than the vile, condescending shit you spew here day after day.
I suggest you take a week off to gain some perspective. It certaintly helped me.
Nice to know I can agree with you on that. The "everybody wins" culture certainly is making our younger generations into a bunch of nacho-bloated crybabies. I think it's good for people to get pissed off once in awhile - hopefully it kick-starts something upstairs.
Spav: Hate? If anyone hates someone on the internet, that person needs to review his/her priorities.
Yes, I've heard the saying, but I think we need more pissed-off people in our society, especially on civic matters. We are too busy pretending to be nice to each other, and not trying to make a gaffe or something that will haunt us later, that real debate is often tossed aside.
You said one thing right: I am sincerce. Too many people detach themselves from civic culture and hide behind cheap cynicism or irony. I think that is dangerous.
Spav: Tell me, though: What have you offered but smart-ass asides that, most times, lack significant ideas or insight? You basically riff of other people while offering few ideas of your own. You remind me of nothing so much as a heckler.
I am absolutely a heckler.
It is like that "End of History" idea where everything has a thesis and an antithesis and then they merge into a synthesis and on and on until the best idea possible is formed.
My ideas don't lack SUBSTANCE, just clarity. And I am working on it.
And "passionate" doesn't HAVE to mean "pissed off". How do things change? By building coalitions. How do you build coalitions? By neing NICE. Check out the Supreme Court, idea is the same there. I guarantee you Scalia doesn't get Kennedy to join his opinions by calling him an idiot or otherwise berrating him.
Think about it.
Spav: Substance leads to clarity.
And the end of history idea came from Hegel, as I am sure you know,.
Pissed off people have started a lot of changes-look at unions and abolitionists, or the progressives of about 100 years ago, including some in Wisconsin--but you are right about coalitions, at least to a point. I think you need a wider view of history.
But I am sorry, if someone is an idiot--someone gets basic facts wrong, or cannot support a flimsy view, no matter whether I agree or not--that person deserves to be called out. That is part of living in a healthy society, and its better than just giving everyone a fucking gold star for effort. Too few people engage in critical thinking, and such an ability is being lost, especially as we drown in and celebrate trivia, or engage in groupthink.
Think about that.
bitch fight
@Matty:
If Matilda had a nice rack too, this would be epic.
Also, Matilda can go die in a fire.
@3sides: "there's never been a paper bag for drugs."
I still stand by my assertion that the city should require it's drug fiends to be environmentally responsible by issuing or selling tiny canvas bags that they can reuse every time they cop some rocks. It's only common sense, people. Save the earth.