See why I moved out of the city???

Drivers stuck in the slow laneChicago's commute among worst in U.S.
By John McCormickTribune staff reporterPublished March 31, 2005

Chicago remains the Second City when it comes to commute times, a gas-guzzling and time-wasting distinction that city officials recently vowed to try to change.But for now, city residents face the second-slowest commute among the nation's largest cities, behind only New York, according to new rankings released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.The average one-way commute for Chicago residents is 33.2 minutes, essentially unchanged from the 33.1 minutes recorded in a 2000 census survey. Several area counties also reported average commutes of more than 30 minutes.The latest figures come from the American Community Survey, a relatively new census program that is expected to provide more frequent updates for certain questions that had traditionally been asked only once a decade.

Great article written by a colleague of mine

Let Someone Else Squeeze Oil's Last

http://thestreet.com/options/futuresshocktsc/10214281.html

Short snip:

Everyone is familiar with the evolution chart, showing the path from a diminutive tree-swinging primate through various knuckle-dragging beefcakes and on up to the present-day pinnacle of homo economicus. Economies evolve as well.
The energy economy is still in the hunter-gatherer stage. We hunt deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal and uranium, or to a much lesser extent, we gather sunshine, wind, hydroelectric and other non-fossil sources.
One consequence of hunting and gathering, as noted in last week's mention of Hubbert's Curve, is diminishing return on investment. This is the dilemma faced by the current oil and gas industry. The futures market expects prices to continue to rise, and prices must continue to rise if we are to stimulate both new production and increased efficiencies of demand. However, the inescapable consequence of diminishing returns is that the present high returns for oil companies simply are not sustainable, for reasons enumerated last week.

They are FINALLY admitting that their own "Stability Pact" is coming back to haunt them!

I do not need to offer a link, as this story has been all over the place. The 3.0% Deficit/GDP ratio and 60% total debt outstanding to current fiscal year's GDP rules that France and Germany have enforced so strongly on their much smaller neighbors, is now causing major problems for their own economies. What is sad is that these smaller and frankly, economically distressed countries, fought to fit France's and Germany's rules, only to see the enforcers back out themselves! The European community has lagged the US so badly that even the people of France want to back out of the EU (poll of 802 people showed that 51% will vote NO to the May 29th referendum).

The "Stability Pact" was the single most important reason for the Euro becoming a "reservable currency." The Euro is now slowly losing its status as the second most reservable currency.

Maybe its time to hedge those shorts by shorting Berkshire Hathaway, Buffet has a $21 billion bet against the dollar. Note that he has NEVER gotten a single currency bet right!

Its here... March Madness!!!

The NCAA tourney pools have begun, so its time to start thinkin' about how to fill these damn things out. Ive put $100 into pools every year, only to lose horribly, yet still be able to choose the ultimate winner.

To me, Illinois looks all to beatable (Im a badger, there is no way I want to see them in St. Louis). UW-Mil will upset 'Bama. UNC could go all the way.

Click here if you too need help filling out your bracket.

Sorry for the lack of posting... Ive been ridiculously busy.

Quick Update:

Training is going great
The woman is doing fantasically in school
My dog is eating away my home
I need to do some travelling, or else Ill explode

Pro-Syrian steps down as leader of Lebanon

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/28/news/lebanon.html

See... It's working....

15,000 troops will soon be removed from Lebanon. As goofy as Bush's tactics are, be it going on a solo mission or employing force, democracy is beginning to find its way to the Middle East. It has never, ever, been like this. I am simply getting frustrated with the media and diehard liberals who refuse to recognize this.