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deletedApr 22, 2022·edited Apr 22, 2022
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Free air is a fun idea. But I gave up on gas station air pumps many years ago because they were frequently broken, filthy, or required more change than I had. I bought a couple of little portable compressors for my car and they both broke from cheap plastic components. So, I bought a $60 compressor to keep in my garage. Convenient, works great, always clean and dry, warmer than outside in the winter, and ready for the tools I told myself that I would buy someday.

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I was in favor of legalization of cannabis, but I am opposed to the rampant promotion and dramatic expansion of products. I am quite sure that we will be needing to address the negative effects before long. As to the Illinois rules, I can't imagine getting the entire system more wrong. In addition to the IPI complaints there is the complete failure of the social equity component that has yet to award a single license. The state really could not have done more to overburden and drive out the potential minority participants and to give the previous 'medical' providers a bigger head start. I hope no one buys Pritzker claims of the super job he has done on this.

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I am in favor of abortion rights. As I have said before, a definition of when a life begins is the essential requirement. The Congress must pass a federal law that defines an embryo or fetus as a person after a specific time (24 week or whatever). Prior to that point government would explicitly not have the right to interfere in a woman's medical decisions. In fact, this might be expanded into the more libertarian view that the government does not have the right to interfere in anything that a person chooses to do to themselves - including drug use (where law enforcement has many negative societal impacts).

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Glad to see that the GOP gov candidates will have some debates. Wish there was a way to have Pritzker face a similar forum that might pierce his relentless 'feel good' branding campaign that has already been running since last fall.

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Did not realize that "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" had its origin in black culture. Reminds me how a number of white blues fans reacted to a set by a local hard soul singer Johnny Sayles, who apparently was very fond of "Michael." When he first did sets in the north side blues clubs he always included "Michael." He always turned it into a sing-a-long,, which the crowd easily did because it is simply so familiar, even among hard core blues fans. Now after reading your post I realize why he always used "Michael," because he could always get a rousing response with the most familiar song. However, his use of "Michael" did not last long, as he learned the tastes of the north side blues fans. I confess, I actually missed "Michael" in his later sets.

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The rings video was mesmerizing.

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A year or two after the Highwaymen had their "Michael" hit, there was a radio commercial where a soundalike group sang "Michael wore a Cricketeer" .... Cricketeer being an inexpensive line of suits and jackets for teen boys. The commercial was very popular.

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Eric, I need your advice on how to fill out my tweet ballot. Should I vote for the best tweets, even if they have no chance of winning?

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Apr 22, 2022Liked by Eric Zorn

You killed CNN+! Only a day after you trashing them the parent company pulled the plug. I am humbled by your power and influence. Or maybe your ability to channel the streaming desires of the general public.

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Apr 22, 2022·edited Apr 22, 2022

I read the article in the Trib today about the Reader, the dispute, and the protest by the editors and staff. I understand the principle the editors are standing up for and their desire to move forward to the non-profit model. But I question their pragmatism and judgement. What made them think it was a good idea to pick a fight with one of the two people that controlled their future just four weeks before the paper would be re-established as a non-profit with a new board? And how do they think a protest in front of his house will improve his disposition? I can imagine his perception of their position - "We know you put several million dollars into saving the paper, and preparing a sustainable future, but now you need to shut up and go away. But you can donate more money to the non-profit on your way out because we need it". I agree with Eric's assessment of the situation, but practical businesspeople deal with decision makers as they are not as one wishes them to be. They would have been better served by holding their noses for a month. (I also agree with Eric that protests in front of people's homes are wrong. They are more about intimidation than communication.)

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On reading the '420' article in the Trib today I was reminded of another fallacy sold by proponents of the Illinois cannabis laws - that legalization would reduce the harm to low-income communities. But selling marijuana without a license is still illegal in Illinois. Which means the low income, street dealer still risks significant fines and incarceration (up to 30 years). Holding more than an ounce is also a felony. https://marijuanaandthelaw.com/state-laws/illinois/

The illegal market in Illinois is estimated at $2 billion in 2021 which is 25% more than the much higher priced legal drug, therefore much higher volume. All of the sentence reductions and expungements for past charges, is bizarre social justice pantomime by politicians, since a person could be arrested and jailed for the same actions (holding, selling, growing) today and face the same onerous fines and prison sentences.

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Love the April Hope adventure!

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