Do You Have a Need for Speed?*

Officers Poncherello and Baker and Sgt. Getraer will not be this "CHIPper" when they pull you over.

If you've got a need for speed and you're driving in Illinois, you'd better have a wallet overflowing with cash because starting September 15th, giving into that need is going to cost up to 60% more.

Here's a small breakdown of the increased fines, thanks to NBC5Chicago and ABC7.

• Get a ticket for speeding up to 20 mph over the posted speed limit and you'll pay $120 (up from $75 - that's a 60% increase!);
• If your lead foot is going 21-30 mph over the speed limit, you'll be out $140 (up from $95 - a 50% increase);
  
• And if you're doing your best Dale Earnhardt impression going 31-40 mph over the limit (and the cops can catch you), you'll be $160 poorer (up from $105 - a 52% increase);
  
• No seat belt? That'll cost you $60 (up from $55); and
• If you're caught driving on a suspended license or if you permit someone to drive under the influence, starting September 15th, you'll pay $1500 (a $500 increase).
  

So remember kids: always buckle up, drive the speed limit, stay off the roads when a court orders you to, and always have a designated driver if your night includes alcohol, no matter what the fines are. Don't be like Sammy Hagar; drive 55 and stay alive.

*Apologies to Goose and Maverick from Top Gun. In spite of it clearly being 70s and 80s day at LMS, this is a very serious topic.

Are You Missing Some Money?

No, that's not a rhetorical question. Actually, you may not know it, but you may actually be missing money. Really. And how cool would that be? Especially in this economy!

The State of Illinois has a whole bunch of other people's money and some of it may be yours. In fact, they're sitting on $1.4 BILLION that belongs to 60,000 Illinoisans! I don't know how long they have to hold it for you, but what I do know is that as long as the money is sitting in their coffers, it's not earning interest for you, it's not paying down your debt, it's not helping to pay for junior's college education or pay for the new furnace and it's not funding your dream vacation.

Believe it or not, the State wants to give us our money. All we have to do is claim it.

To find out whether or not the State of Illinois has any of your forgotten about money (or that of your less tech-savvy parents - seriously, I'm going to search for my parents), just visit the State's Cash Dash website. You can search the website without creating a login.

When you find that you're owed money or other property, you can file your claims online. And then, once you receive your check, don't forget to thank Little Merry Sunshine for helping to reunite you with your money.

Want more information? ABC7 had a great story about the Dash for Cash.

Blago vs. Jon Stewart

In case you missed it last night, here's the complete unedited interview former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Convicted Felon Party) did with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. It's worth your 12 minutes.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Rod Blagojevich Extended Interview Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Exclusive - Rod Blagojevich Extended Interview Pt. 2
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Wahoo! It's a Sales Tax Holiday!

Starting today and running through August 15th, the State of Illinois is running a Sales Tax Holiday on specific back-to-school items. Granted, it's not a full holiday on sales tax because it only applies to 5% that the State of Illinois collects (and not the other county and municipal portions of the sales tax), but 5% is 5% and every little bit helps make a difference in these economic times.

ABC7 ran a great story about it and provided the list of what's included in the Sales Tax Holiday.

Back-to-school tax holiday in effect
by Evelyn Holmes, August 6, 2010

August 6, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Starting Friday morning, back-to-school shoppers can save money as the state rolls back its portion of the sales tax to help parents.

The 5-percent tax break takes effect at stores, such as Sears, that sell back-to-school supplies. It is one more back-to-school event that parents are more excited about than their kids.

Eligible items include binders, glue, pencils, notebook paper, supply boxes, writing tablets and much more. Shoppers will not get the discounts on sports equipment, art supplies, computers, computer supplies or electronics.

The 5% rollback of the state's portion of the sales tax also applies to clothing as long as each item costs less than $100.

More details on what qualifies and what doesn't:

Qualifying: Most clothing items under $100, including jeans and pants, shirts, dresses, jackets and coats, belts, etc. Bathing suits. Rain coats. School backpacks, book bags and lunch boxes. Most shoes, sandals and boots under $100, including sneakers. Many school supplies, including binders, notebook paper, pens, crayons, rulers, etc.

Not Qualifying: Umbrellas. Hair bows and barrettes; jewelry and watches; non-prescription sunglasses. Handbags, wallets and briefcases. Spiked athletic shoes. Computers and computer accessories and cell phones.

(Copyright ©2010 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

For more information on the Sales Tax Holiday, read the Illinois Department of Revenue Informational Bulletin regarding the Sales Tax Holiday. It's a little technical, but gives all the specifics.

Update to "Disabled Doesn't Mean Unabled" or A Hand Up Isn't a Hand Out

This story just keeps getting better.

What I love most about it is the reminder that just because Winfred Cooper received a hand up to help him achieve his dream, it wasn't a "hand out" and it didn't guarantee him success. HE caught the ball and HE ran for the touchdown. Yes, there was some help facilitating both of those things, but the ball could have slipped through his hands or he could have tripped on his way to the end zone. There are a host of variables that could have resulted in Coop not catching the ball and not scoring a touchdown. But at the end of the day, Coop did the work he had prepared to do in countless practice sessions over the years. He probably worked harder than many of his peers to achieve football skills many of them mastered with ease.

When discussing disability services, I hear so many people try to argue that it's not "fair" to give someone extra time to take a test or services to help them with activities of daily living or whatever "hand up" they need to give them a shot at success because this gives the recipient an unfair advantage.

People with disabilities, whether physical, neurological, developmental or mental disabilities, are just like everyone else. They want to feel good about themselves. They want to contribute to society in whatever way they can. They don't want things just handed to them or to be treated as incapable. They aren't looking to be coddled or to be pitied, but they often need just an extra hand to get them to the same starting point you and I take for granted everyday.

We Must Have Human Services in Illinois

About an hour ago, I read a story in the Chicago Tribune titled "Parents cope with child with schizophrenia - Jani's at the mercy of her mind." It was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.

According to the story, 6-year old January Schofield has schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects 1% of adults and usually appears in the late-teens or early 20s. Of those, 10% commit suicide. Childhood-onset of schizophrenia affects about 1 of 30,000-50,000 kids under the age of 13, but when it happens in children, it's 20-30 times worse than in adults.

Although Jani's IQ is 146 (high IQs are not uncommon for people with mental illnesses), January is controlled by the voices in her mind - animals and people. Anti-psychotic drugs that work for most adults don't come close to helping control her illness. Her parents have tried everything they can. They've been passed from doctor to doctor without a diagnosis and even accused of bad parenting, until recently when they finally received the schizophrenia diagnosis. The schools aren't equipped to help Jani and the residential programs for kids serve abused or neglected children, but not severely mentally ill ones.

There are no respite care programs to help the Schofields and family has pulled away. Mrs. Schofield was fired from her job last year and they are struggling financially, but she can't look for another one because Jani needs constant supervision.

This family is barely hanging on. I can only assume that they went to the press with their story in an effort to help other families, but also in the desperate hope that someone might see their story and be able to assist Jani and her family.

Yes, the Schofields live in California, but their story is typical of countless families across the country, including Illinois, who have developmentally disabled or mentally disabled children and struggle to provide the best care for them and mantain their own sense of family while not bankrupting themselves.

As a society, we owe it to the Schofields and all the families they represent to help ease their burdens. It's time for Illinois politicians to get off their rear-ends and guarantee that human services funding will not be cut and that human services will never be held hostage in budget wars again. The time for excuses is over.

That which we do to the least of us, we do to ourselves.

Pillow Fight!

I LOVE this! I love this because it proves that kids (of all ages) don't need fancy, expensive toys to have a great time. It's creative, fun, an excellent solution to cabin fever, and gets everyone outside for some (much needed) exercise.

When was the last time you had a pillow fight? I think it's high time I had one and may get motivated to organize my friends for one.



Thanks to my good friend who sent me the video. Don't worry, I'll invite you to the pillow fight!

It's A New Day!

Today is a significant day.

First, it's the 3 week anniversary of the end of our long national nightmare known as the Bush Administration. That's right. As of today, President Barack Obama has been the Commander in Chief for 21 days. In that time, he's done some amazing things for women. First, he repealed the Global Gag Rule which prevented nongovernmental organizations around the world that accepted aid from the US from discussing birth control options with women. Second, the first bill he signed into law was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Seriously. "That one" has done more for women in the last 21 days than our former Idiot in Chief did in 8 years. On behalf of women all over the world, thank you Mr. President. Of course, I'd be happier if the women's health provisions hadn't been stripped from the Stimulus Package, but I'm going to focus on what's good right this minute.

Second, today is also the 2 year anniversary of the date on which President Barack Obama announced his campaign for President of the United States. I remember watching his speech on CNN (CNN and CSPAN are my porn, in case you didn't know) and crying. Yes, I do a lot of crying where Barack Obama is concerned. I already knew what many folks were just beginning to learn: Barack Obama is the real deal.

In case you've forgotten, here's the speech that launched it all on the steps of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.


Watch President Obama sign the Ledbetter Act:

Governor Blagojevich, What Is Your Problem?

Governor Blagojevich, I simply do not understand. I mean, I get that your defense is "Ha! Ha! Ha! I was just having fun and joking around on the phone with my buddies!" but is that really the best way to lead the home state of our President-Elect?

You spoke to us today, almost 2 weeks after you were arrested, and essentially told us nothing more than "I am not a crook."

Maybe you're not a crook. After all, you are innocent until presumed guilty. But, you most certainly are the biggest horse's ass I've ever seen in politics. Public servants should be role models. You are no role model. Public servants should be doing the people's business before doing their own. By your own statement today, you clearly do not understand that.

You say you're going to stay on the job and fight these allegations until your last breath. Well, okay, but how exactly are you going to do your job? You can't appoint a new Senator to replace former Senator and President-Elect Barack Obama. Everything you attempt to do is tainted.

Do you know what I worry about most? I worry that all the people who voted in the 2008 Presidential Election for the first time ever or the first time in many years who voted because they believed they could make a difference and were hopeful. Many of them were previously scarred from lying politicians. Will they be back in 2 years to cast another ballot or have your alleged actions just proven that all politicians are evil?

And what about the black cloud your alleged actions have put over our state? Illinois should be proud (and we are) of the man we are sending to the White House. But your alleged actions have given the Right Wingnuts an opportunity to try to tie him to you. Now, you and I both know that you hate him (we've all heard the colorful language you used to describe him), but the Wingnuts don't believe that.

You owe it to us to step aside, at least temporarily. Let Pat Quinn step in and keep your seat warm while you defend yourself. At this time, you need to be focussed on your defense and on your family. You don't really have the time to devote to us and we desparately need a strong and honest leader in Illinois.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Senator Obama's Thank You Letter to Illinois

From today's Chicago Sun-Times:

Obama's letter to the people of Illinois

November 16, 2008
BY PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA

Today, I am ending one journey to begin another. After serving the people of Illinois in the United States Senate -- one of the highest honors and privileges of my life -- I am stepping down as senator to prepare for the responsibilities I will assume as our nation's next president. But I will never forget, and will forever be grateful, to the men and women of this great state who made my life in public service possible.

More than two decades ago, I arrived in Illinois as a young man eager to do my part in building a better America. On the South Side of Chicago, I worked with families who had lost jobs and lost hope when the local steel plant closed. It wasn't easy, but we slowly rebuilt those neighborhoods one block at a time, and in the process I received the best education I ever had. It's an education that led me to organize a voter registration project in Chicago, stand up for the rights of Illinois families as an attorney and eventually run for the Illinois state Senate.

It was in Springfield, in the heartland of America, where I saw all that is America converge -- farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. It was there that I learned to disagree without being disagreeable; to seek compromise while holding fast to those principles that can never be compromised, and to always assume the best in people instead of the worst. Later, when I made the decision to run for the United States Senate, the core decency and generosity of the American people is exactly what I saw as I traveled across our great state -- from Chicago to Cairo; from Decatur to Quincy.

I still remember the young woman in East St. Louis who had the grades, the drive and the will but not the money to go to college. I remember the young men and women I met at VFW halls across the state who serve our nation bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I will never forget the workers in Galesburg who faced the closing of a plant they had given their lives to, who wondered how they would provide health care to their sick children with no job and little savings.

Stories like these are why I came to Illinois all those years ago, and they will stay with me when I go to the White House in January. The challenges we face as a nation are now more numerous and difficult than when I first arrived in Chicago, but I have no doubt that we can meet them. For throughout my years in Illinois, I have heard hope as often as I have heard heartache. Where I have seen struggle, I have seen great strength. And in a state as broad and diverse in background and belief as any in our nation, I have found a spirit of unity and purpose that can steer us through the most troubled waters.

It was long ago that another son of Illinois left for Washington. A greater man who spoke to a nation far more divided, Abraham Lincoln, said of his home, "To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything." Today, I feel the same, and like Lincoln, I ask for your support, your prayers, and for us to "confidently hope that all will yet be well."

With your help, along with the service and sacrifice of Americans across the nation who are hungry for change and ready to bring it about, I have faith that all will in fact be well. And it is with that faith, and the high hopes I have for the enduring power of the American idea, that I offer the people of my beloved home a very affectionate thanks.