Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As you may know, I spent New Years 2006 freezing in Times Square with half a million of my closest friends.

After vowing to never freeze on New Years again, I spent New Years 2007 on the Copa Cabana beach in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. There, along with 85 degree weather, and 3 million of my closest friends, I sported the traditional white wardrobe and rang in the New Year Brazilian style.

This year, continuing on the warm New Years' trend, I will be enjoying the New Year down in beautiful sunny Mexico. But do not worry, my friends Hope and Change are here enjoying the warm 80 degree weather with me!

Can we ring in the New Year in style? YES WE CAN.

I hope you enjoy your New Years bash wherever you are and best wishes to you and yours this upcoming year.

The Ice Man Cometh

Ice paralyzes area roads
December 26, 2008 at 8:51 AM



Some of the worst icy driving conditions in years hit the Chicago area early this morning, causing crashes too numerous to count.

"If we had the manpower, we'd close down every expressway in the area," a harried Illinois State Police dispatcher said this morning. State police called out day-shift troopers two hours early to handle the crisis.

Every expressway had multiple crashes in both directions -- even with many drivers creeping along at 5 to 10 m.p.h. Those going any faster often found they couldn't control their vehicles. The most recent incidents involved a jackknifed semi blocking all lanes of the outbound Stevenson near Ill. Hwy. 53 and icy conditions blocking all lanes on I-80/94 between the Illinois state line and Indianapolis Blvd.

And conditions were bad enough that officials closed the entire Indiana Tollway -- from the Illinois border to the Ohio border for a time. It's open again now -- but conditions remain icy.

CTA and Metra were reporting substantial delays on buses and trains, as well as some service suspension.

Police in southwest suburban Lemont took the unusual step of closing the entire village to traffic for about two hours, then reopened some key thoroughfares.

A freezing rain advisory elapsed at 6 a.m. The system started moving into the area around 2:30 a.m. and quickly spread over the entire metropolitan region, coating all roads with a thin, treacherous coat of ice.

The problem is expected to end as temperatures climb this morning, reaching the 40s later in the day. But until then, police warned drivers to slow way down or, better yet, to not even go out.


Complete Story

Good thing I made the midnight trek last night!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!
I wish you and your family the very best this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I spent the day entertaining the crowd at Church Creek - Independent and Assisted living facility today. Here are some highlights:

Bundled Up and Headed Back to Chicago

I am leaving sunny 30 degree Washington, D.C. en route for Chicago today. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, but not looking forward to the single digit temps! Over the weekend, the wind chill in Chicago was reported as -30. Oh my!

Where'd the bailout money go? Shhhh, it's a secret

Dec 22, 9:52 AM (ET)
By MATT APUZZO

WASHINGTON (AP) - It's something any bank would demand to know before handing out a loan: Where's the money going?
But after receiving billions in aid from U.S. taxpayers, the nation's largest banks say they can't track exactly how they're spending the money or they simply refuse to discuss it.

"We've lent some of it. We've not lent some of it. We've not given any accounting of, 'Here's how we're doing it,'" said Thomas Kelly, a spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, which received $25 billion in emergency bailout money. "We have not disclosed that to
the public. We're declining to."

The Associated Press contacted 21 banks that received at least $1 billion in government money and asked four questions: How much has been spent? What was it spent on? How much is being held in savings, and what's the plan for the rest?
None of the banks provided specific answers.

Complete Story

Mug Shots of the Year

More Pics Here

Racial Jokes are Out of Bounds - But to Senator Arlen Specter, Polish Jokes are Still Ok

Polish American Congress Washington DC, 12/16/2008 -- During the evening hours of December 15, 2008, Frank Spula, the president of the Polish American Congress, received a phone call from US Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in regards to the recent "Polish jokes" made by the Senator during his remarks addressed to the Commonwealth Club, a Pennsylvania Republican group that met in New York on Friday, December 12.

After exchanging pleasantries, Senator Specter expressed his regrets and said that he was "out of line" in his remarks and that he "apologizes profusely".

President Spula explained to the Senator the deepest concern voiced in recent days by the members of the Polish American community, as well as by numerous Americans with no Polish heritage, and who considered the remarks equally offensive.

Spula emphasized that the concern cannot be eased by mere words and urged that a written statement of apology and explanation be issued by the Senator's office. The Senator confirmed that the written apology would be issued shortly.

The Polish American community nationwide, more than 10 million strong, as well as Poles in Poland who found out about the incident from the media, felt deeply insulted by the Senator's words.

"It would be equally unthinkable if any elected official made similar remarks in regards to any other group," said Spula. "It really does not matter which group is targeted– all jokes ridiculing people based on their ethnicity, religion or race are unacceptable!"


The following day, December 16th, 2008, Spula received the following letter (also attached):

Frank J. Spula
President, Polish American Congress
5711 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60646

Dear Mr. Spula:

I apologize for the comments which I made Friday at a Republican State Committee luncheon in New York.

In retrospect, I can see that they were inappropriate and I regret having made them. You may be sure I will never make the same mistake again.

In my 28 years in the United States Senate, I have always values my strong relationship with the Polish community. I have traveled to Poland on several occasions, most recently in 2007. Following my visit, I returned to the floor of he United States Senate to share with my colleagues that, "the relationship between the Untied States and Poland is strong." I also recognized Poland's important contribution to the war on terrorism: "Poland is20 putting forward a number of troops to assist the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, with 900 in Iraq and 1,200 in Afghanistan."

To my knowledge, I am one of the few, if not the only, Senators who has hosted a Polish national on my Washington, D.C. staff who returned to Warsaw to serve his government.

As the son of Russian immigrants, I keenly appreciate that one's heritage is a matter of intense pride and identity. I look forward to working with the Polish-American community in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter


Complete Story

Jackpot! 6 to 10 inches of snow in Vegas!

A rare winter storm swept through Southern Nevada Wednesday, dumping the most snow on the valley in nearly three decades, grounding flights at the airport, forcing the closure of major highways and closing schools for today.

"This is the most snow we've had in Las Vegas in almost 30 years," said Chris Stachelski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "It's a significant historical event."

At 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, the weather service measured a record-breaking 3.6 inches of snow at its office location southwest of McCarran International Airport. It was the highest snow accumulation recorded in the month of December in Las Vegas since the start of official records in 1937. The previous record was 2 inches of snow, which fell on Dec. 15, 1967.

The weather service dubbed the storm as "the eighth greatest snowstorm ever in official Las Vegas weather records for any month."
The heaviest snowfall hit the southeast valley, where about 3 inches had accumulated by 7:45 p.m., with unconfirmed reports of as much as 6 inches in Henderson, Stachelski said.

Between 6 to 10 inches could fall in that area by the time the storm tapers off this morning, and the northern and western parts of the valley could receive up to 4 inches of snowfall, he said.

Frozen Friendly Confines

Would you pay $10 to skate at the Friendly Confines?

If you're a neighbor of the Cubs, you're about to get that opportunity.

The Cubs sent e-mails to neighbors and neighborhood groups last week announcing a community skate on the hockey rink soon to be installed at Wrigley Field for the Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Detroit on Jan. 1.

The skate will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 4, just before the temporary rink is to be dismantled. Cubs neighbors will be given a chance to skate in one-hour shifts for $10 apiece, with proceeds benefiting Cubs Care.

Complete Story

Late Night News - No Bailout

Late Night News - No Bailout

Auto bailout talks collapse over union wages
December 11, 2008 - 10:30pm

Auto bailout stalled; negotiations into the night
November video game sales near $3 billion
Some autoworkers can get paid without leaving home
Inaction on Big 3 would cost taxpayers billions
Finger-pointing begins as Senate nixes auto vote

WASHINGTON (AP) - A $14 billion emergency bailout for U.S. automakers has collapsed in the Senate after the United Auto Workers refused to accede to Republican demands for swift wage cuts. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was "terribly disappointed" about the demise of an emerging bipartisan deal to rescue Detroit's Big Three.

Reid also said he was sorry, and was not looking forward to the stock market tomorrow.

Dow futures were down -120 at 6pm at 10:30pm after the Senate announced they do not have a deal they jumped to -245

Update as of 11:00pm Dow futures are now down -329 - dow back to 8240

Update 11:10pm ET

Motion for cloture fails - only received 52 votes

Senator Reid - no more work until the new Congress - I hope the President considers using the TARP money to help the auto companies

Amazing Arcola - Zany Lawn Rangers Rev Up for Obama's Inaugural Parade

They aren't politically correct and they aren't very presidential. But somehow, the World Famous Lawn Rangers from Amazing Arcola (Illinois) - a longtime staple of beer-drenched St. Patty's Day parades in America's heartland - have secured a spot in President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural parade.

Pushing mowers and wielding toilet plungers and broomsticks, the Lawn Rangers have entertained rowdy crowds from the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago and the Indy 500 parade in Indianapolis to the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix and the Holiday Bowl parade in San Diego. They've also participated in countless community parades throughout the Midwest, including Arcola's Broom Corn Festival parade, where they first marched 28 years ago, bonded by their only talent: pushing mowers.

And now, they'll get a chance to wow the millions of Americans expected to descend on the nation's capital for Obama's inauguration next month.

"We're greatly honored," the zany troupe's co-founder, Pat Monahan, tells the Sleuth, having been chosen above hundreds of other applicants. "I have to think it was diversity."

Sure, if you call middle-aged white guys diverse. Though, to be fair, the Lawn Rangers and their "Banner Babes" - who will be called "Banner Abes" in the inaugural parade, in keeping with Obama's Lincoln theme - now range in age from 21 to 80. And they include union workers, lawyers and business people alike.

They usually decorate their mowers with Lazy-Boy recliners, beer kegs and the like. But for Obama's inaugural parade, they're toning down their act - quite a bit. Never fear, they'll still have plenty of the corny shtick that made them famous.

Complete Story from the Post

Federal deficit totals $164.4B in November

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER - AP

Wednesday, December 10, 2008; 3:03 PM

WASHINGTON -- The federal government registered a record budget deficit for the month of November, reflecting the impact of a recession on tax receipts and the mounting costs of the $700 billion financial rescue program.

The country remains on track to hit a record deficit of $1 trillion or more for the entire year, which would be more than double the previous all-time high set last year.

U.S. says latest missile defense test a success

U.S. says latest missile defense test a success
Fri Dec 5, 2008 4:16pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military conducted a successful test of its system built to knock out long-range missiles that could be fired by North Korea or Iran, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The target missile for the test over the Pacific was launched from Kodiak, Alaska and an interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, officials said. The intercept took place at 3:29 p.m. EST .

Boeing Co is prime contractor for the system, called the ground-based midcourse defense.

The Pentagon will hold a briefing on the results of the test at 5:15 p.m. EST (0015 GMT), officials said.

Complete Story

U.S. officials had billed the test as a particularly realistic simulation of a possible missile attack but critics of the system disputed that description.

Before the latest test, the Pentagon said 12 tests of the ground-based system had been conducted since 1999 and seven of them had been successful.

Advisers to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama have said he favors missile defense in principle but the program, a flagship policy of the Bush administration, will face more scrutiny after he takes office.

President George W. Bush has been spending roughly $10 billion a year on all aspects of missile defense, the Pentagon's costliest annual outlay for an arms development program.

The United States and Russia are at odds over a Bush administration plan to extend the Boeing-managed system into Eastern Europe, using 10 silo-based two-stage interceptors in Poland and a related radar system in the Czech Republic.

Clubs in D.C.

Looking to party in DC? Here are some of the best clubs the District has to offer.

Eyebar
1716 I St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Wednesdays: www.PrimoP.com
(Open bar for women from 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.)

Fly Lounge
1802 Jefferson Pl. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tuesdays: www.JetSetMafia.com
Fridays: www.AbsoluteAddicition.com

Fur
33 Patterson St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Saturdays (18+): www.NightlifeAgency.com

Ibiza
1222 1st Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Thursdays & Fridays: www.DCClubHost.com
Saturdays (18+): www.DCClubbing.com

Indebleu
707 G St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Thursdays: www.PrimoP.com
Fridays: www.JetSetMafia.com
Saturdays: www.ELundEvents.com

Josephine
1008 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Thursdays: www.JetSetMafia.com,www.JamieHess.com
Fridays: www.ELundEvents.com

K Street Lounge
1301 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Sundays: www.WeRunDC.com
Wednesdays: www.MadPowerUnit.com

Lima
1401 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Mondays: www.PrimoP.com (open bar for women, salsa lessons)
Tuesdays (18+): www.DCClubbing.com ($3 beers all night)
Wednesdays: www.DCClubbing.com
Thursdays: www.AbsoluteAddicition.com

Lotus Lounge
1420 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Thursdays: www.weownthenite.com
Saturdays: www.NightlifeAgency.com

MCCXXIII
1223 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Fridays: www.NightlifeAgency.com
Saturdays: www.JetSetMafia.com

Play
1219 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Thursdays (18+): www.NightlifeAgency.com
Fridays: www.JamieHess.com

Tattoo
1413 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tuesdays: www.JamieHess.com
Wednesdays: www.JetSetMafia.com
Thursdays: www.ELundEvents.com

Ultrabar
911 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
www.ultrabardc.com
Thursdays (18+): www.DCClubbing.com
Fridays: www.PrimoP.com, www.DCClubbing.com (open bar)
Saturdays: www.AbsoluteAddiction.com, www.DCClubbing.com
(Open bar 9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.)

Albuquerque Police Arrest Ambulance Worker While On An Emergency Call

Complete Story

British may ban 'happy hour' as drink deaths rise

LONDON (AP) - Britain is considering a ban on "happy hour" discounts at bars and restaurants to curb drinking, a spokesman said Saturday, as health advocates warned that a rise in liver-related deaths among young people may signal a future epidemic.

Health officials will decide on whether to ban the happy hours - designated times for discount drinks - once an independent policy review is published in coming weeks, a health department spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

The proposal was one of several aimed at stemming a trend in binge drinking in recent years, particularly among teenagers and young adults. The government also plans to spend 10 million pounds ($15 million) on a new public awareness campaign, and wants to improve enforcement of laws against underage drinking.

Complete Story