Siftings
Oct
31
Introductions, Part II
Bob Babcock stops by City Hall, unannounced, to discuss yesterday’s meeting. We’ve never met, and exchange brief “how we got here” bios. He scans my bookshelf and makes some assumptions.
I tell him I try not to use the “P word”. The Council was courageous to put an initiative on a ballot in...
Oct
31
Craig’s Friday Countdown: Gas station candy bars
Gas Station Candy Bars
20. Zagnut – never had one, not buying anything called Zagnut
19. Whatchamacallit – never had one, opposed to buying something the company which sells it is too lazy to give a name to (also applies to most luxury car brands)
18. Payday – a bag of nuts is better
17. ...
Oct
30
Introductions
I’m invited to attend a meeting to discuss ways to help kids overcome poverty. It’s the fourth meeting of the group and when I read the minutes of the first three meetings to prepare, I find the meeting gets underway with introductions. When the intros get around to me I simply say, “I’m Craig...
Oct
24
Paving Materials
Paving Materials
16. Stamped / Colored Asphalt – lame and useless, should never be used in any public project
15. Grasscrete – have never seen it work as advertised
14. Hot Coals – at least better than stamped or colored asphalt
13. Stamped / Colored Concrete – over used, but has its...
Oct
22
Rithmetic
The math skills of the customers may be sketchy, but the calculations of the casino industry in Iowa are anything but. It’s a $1 billion annual industry, employing more than 9,000 people and generating $384 million in taxes on a voluntary for most, but addictive for some, activity. A handful of...
Oct
18
Vantage point
The bands marched into Brady Street Stadium, full of energy and enthusiasm. The stands were packed for the day long IHSA Marching Band competition. Well, half the stands were packed. The stands facing east were chock full, while the stands facing west were empty.
Was it violating some social...
Oct
17
Turn around
“Where you stand depends on where you sit”, Rufus Miles once famously stated, suggesting our perspective is molded by … our perspective. My corollary to the maxim halves the word count to “Go to the problem”. It’s the first rule of leadership. Go to the problem. Don’t let it be described to you...
Oct
17
Craig’s Friday Countdown: Cars I’ve owned
Cars I've Owned
#12 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe
Brother Gene gave me a great deal on his car. Worked ok for a few years as I was starting out in Vernon Hills. Then the mid 1980s Chrysler build quality catches up with paint flaking off in sheets and electronics failing at inopportune...
Oct
16
Farewell Frank
“Say your peace, and get out”, I said jokingly to Chief Donchez as he stood before the department heads collected for our typical Thursday meeting. The Chief and I had just finished our exit interview, and we were a few minutes late to the meeting. Frank was looking to say his last farewell and...
Oct
14
Day of Days
Before the earth travels once more round the sun, she’ll have been part of my life longer than not. Everything past August 8, 2015 just tips the scales ever more in my favor. All the bad breaks through my youth and adolescence were just karmic balance for everything that followed our first...
