Chicagoist: Dude, That's Metal

Ward Up

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:45:26 -0600

OK, I'll check my Dad's closet in Oak Lawn for manhole covers. As for the commuters from the South Side, the last time they caught a burglar on my parents' block, the guy's home address was near 79th and Racine.

I_h8_toyota_and_BT

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:28:00 -0600

yeah, there aren't actually any criminals in the suburbs. god only knows that a criminal is going to drive from the south side to oak lawn to steal a manhole cover. i mean, there aren't any manhole covers on the southside after all. you're a freaking idiot. The thief is probably your old man, ward up.

Prescott Carlson

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:55:27 -0600

Assuming a manhole cover weighs 100 pounds, at the current prices that means the thieves would probably net about twenty bucks each. Seems like an incredibly large hassle for that kind of money -- they should stick to stealing copper from construction sites...

mich

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:50:11 -0600

comment of the day: peteypants.

Ward Up

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:29:37 -0600

Just to be clear, I meant that my folks live in Oak Lawn. Sorry for the muddled writing!

Ward Up

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:28:38 -0600

About that "...in the suburbs" phrase. Oak Lawn is not certainly not Barrington. My folks live there, and there are "commuters" (i.e., thieves) that come over from the South Side for burglaries, shoplifting, etc.

mike_thoms

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:49:06 -0600

Celery...first of all I love your condiment. It's changed the way I've eaten hot dogs. Secondably, I did see that this morning but we could be referring to anything. "that" could be going on anywhere in the city, at any time.

peteypants

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:32:30 -0600

those calculations seem right to me. it usually takes $240 and 4 men to cover MY manhole.

plumbum82

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:31:01 -0600

@Matilda: It's not like I work in a rocket science lab. Or an Economics department. Or a decent restaurant.

jmagic

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:23:04 -0600

hey thoms ... those guys are Todd Stroger's second cousin's removed and they need their cut too!

celerysalt

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:22:58 -0600

@ mike - so you saw that this morning too, then?

smussy

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:22:16 -0600

why don't people crack down on the metal buyers for buying manhole covers? do they think these are just random finds?

mike_thoms

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:14:49 -0600

"Labor costs", aka 4 fat guys standing around while the new guy rolls the new cover off the truck and eases it into place.

I_h8_toyota_and_BT

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:04:37 -0600

I'd love to find a 20 euro bill right now. That's worth, like, $2000 or something. US currency sucks. Thanks republicans.

Spook

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:00:43 -0600

Excuse me while I run and hide in shame, I’ve been out done!

Jess D'Amico

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:46:46 -0600

@Spook: Darlin' I ain't never even been to Elmwood Park. I'm from the NYC D'Amico's not the midwestern ones.

Spook

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:44:07 -0600

D'Amico how you gone have a name like D'Amico and not know what's Hood! I mean even though your more Elmwood Park Hood still you're your suppose to know what’s hood all over Chicago! Brothas are smoking those covers! Well, they're selling them first and then smoking up the profits! If you don't belive me then ask Dave Chappelle's boy "Tyrone Biggums"!

matilda

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:39:26 -0600

"I had to explain to everyone why that rocked." Seriously, people don't know how much the dollar has declined against nearly all major currencies lately? That's sad.

peteypants

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:35:36 -0600

i once got a £20 GBP tip. thats like the EURO squared. that lonely british businessman sure was generous.

Jess D'Amico

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:22:34 -0600

@plumbum: That is indeed awesome.

plumbum82

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:15:17 -0600

Fuck metal, I want to be paid in Euro's. And last week, I got a 20 Euro tip on a $100 bill. I had to explain to everyone why that rocked.

Jess D'Amico

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:12:56 -0600

@Spav: That's absolutely ridiculous, maybe I should cash my paycheck in for metal. Thanks for the link.

Spav1

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:08:56 -0600

I was reading this insane article in The NewYorker about how nickels actually cost a dime to make because of the amount of metal that is used to make...apparentlt the last time metal prices were this high in the 1960's, bank employees and people who had knowledge of exchange rates asked to be paid in dimes and nickels. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/31/080331fa_fact_owen