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“Downers Grove” On TV - Who Knew?

Sometimes I get unusual press releases, but this is a first (my commentary in brackets):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IT’S ALIVE!

[This sounds dangerous - should we release it?]

THE WB IS OFFICIALLY BACK IN BUSINESS, WITH THE PUBLIC LAUNCH TODAY OF THEWB.COM

New Destination Features Original Series From Top Hollywood Creators and
Digital Mavens, and Fan-Favorite Shows That Shaped Popular Culture

Interactive Mash-Up and Sharing Tools Complete TheWB.com Fan Experience

BURBANK, Calif. (August 27, 2008) – The WB is back in business, with the official public launch today of TheWB.com – a premium, ad-supported, video-on-demand, interactive and personalized network – to the public. Announced in April, TheWB.com had previously been in private beta and now transitions to an open, public beta.
….
Two previously announced original series – “Downers Grove” and “High Drama: Against All Oz” – now have premiere dates.
…..
“Downers Grove” (premieres September 29): Alden, Brett, Pudge, and Jodi never grew up. When everyone their age went away to college, they stayed in the suburbs, always on the prowl for the next party and never far from disturbing the peace. In Downers Grove, you can never go home again. So they never left. “Downers Grove” stars David Horwitz, Michael Blaiklock, Justin Becker, Elisha Yaffe, Anne Gregory, Heidi Heaslet, Ashton Grant and Kasia Szarek.

[Wonder who ‘grew up’ to write this. As one former Clarendon Hills native wrote me: “too funny.”]

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § DuPage Politics § Technology ‡ Comments (0) °

Senator Dick Durbin’s Interactive Attempt To Get Olympics In 2016

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin has a new website, www.PickChicago2016.com, to gather petition signatures urging the International Olympic Committee to pick Chicago for the 2016 Olympics. The site allows visitors to submit a video saying why Chicago should host the Olympics. A winning video will be selected and featured on Senator Durbin’s website.

Beyond organizing supporters of the Olympics, Senator Durbin and his staff deserve credit for harnessing the energy and ideas of the public to make their case. The site has almost 8,000 petition signatures so far.

Here’s Dick Durbin telling you about it

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Illinois Political Campaigns § Illinois Politics § Political Communication § Technology ‡ Comments (0) °

Blagojevich Signs Expansion Of Free Public Transit

Here’s what I’ve recently written about expanding free public transit in Illinois. The Chicago Sun-Times reports Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law a major new expansion of free public transit yesterday for low income people who have disabilities. To qualify individuals must enroll (or already be enrolled in) Circuit Breaker - for information see www.illinois.gov/transit or call 800-624-2459.

I don’t know the particulars, but between the law providing free public mass transit for seniors and this law, I wonder if municipalities like Naperville and Lisle will have a little bit more money left over from their “Ride DuPage” attempt to provide mass transit for seniors and people who have disabilities. Actually what we see happening at the state level is what I proposed long ago as a mass transit solution - ‘mainstreaming’ these special rides with normal mass transit to the benefit of all. It’s nice to start seeing it happen.

[Additionally note: I was remiss in not crediting the General Assembly for this too - “Senate Bill 1920, sponsored by Sen. Susan Garrett and Rep. Kathleen Ryg, received strong bipartisan support in the Illinois Senate, where it passed 55-1-0 and in the Illinois House where it passed 95-15-0.” They deserve a lot of credit for doing the right thing.]

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Dollars and Social Sense § DuPage Politics § Economic Development § Illinois Politics § Political Communication § Transportation ‡ Comments (1) °

Masterstroke

Jesse Jackson Jr.

[Also read Rich Miller’s roundup here.]

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Democratic Party § Illinois Political Campaigns § Illinois Politics § Media Watch § Political Communication ‡ Comments (0) °

McCain Peanuts And Georgians

The situation in the country of Georgia appears terrible - and the U.S. is extremely unlikely to exert military force to save their ally from the Russians, who have taken control of the country and seem likely to divide and annex a portion of it. A lot of people, myself included, thought John McCain was going over the top when he told the Georgian President two weeks ago, “Today we are all Georgians.” Right now ‘being a Georgian’ is to be insecure and under threat of losing life, property and maybe country. But perhaps Georgia’s President and others misunderstood McCain. Maybe John McCain was expressing solidarity with Newt Gingrich, Jimmy Carter or some other Georgians?

You decide:

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Foreign Policy § Political Communication § Presidential Election 08 § Republican Party ‡ Comments (1) °

Obama Could Offer A Progressive Perspective

Paul Waldman says it well.

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Democratic Party § Dollars and Social Sense § Economic Development § Political Communication § Presidential Election 08 § Republican Party § Working Hard - Living In Poverty ‡ Comments (0) °

“I Think I’m A Great Governor”

Today in Denver Governor Rod Blagojevich recognized the problem. It’s a good first step.

[I heard the quote first on NPR - but Margaret Lyons in the Chicagoist has her take on it too.]

Posted 27 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Illinois Governor Race 06 § Illinois Governor Race 2010 § Illinois Politics § Political Communication § Satire ‡ Comments (0) °

United By What You Oppose

Matt does a nice job with this.

Posted 26 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Democratic Party § Political Communication § Presidential Election 08 § Republican Party ‡ Comments (0) °

Quick Thoughts On Biden For VP

Few commentators I’ve read have mentioned (and none really emphasized) Joe Biden’s utility as a way of pacifying (and perhaps co-opting) the Washington, D.C. inside opinion leaders and the press. Biden was the only person on the public short list that combined that appeal with the ability to land a punch, and then another, while smiling.

What I’m talking about is the influence Joe Biden offers - the power and perception of his reputation - which in turn will allow Barack Obama to blunt criticism and possibly shape the debate. That’s different than the merits of Joe Biden’s policy positions, which a lot of commentators have discussed.

Posted 25 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Democratic Party § Foreign Policy § Political Communication § Presidential Election 08 ‡ Comments (1) °

“At Least Four….”

Like many Americans facing the housing crisis, John McCain apparently doesn’t know if he still owns his home. Unlike almost all Americans, that’s because John McCain has lost count of how many homes he owns.

When asked by Politico how many homes he has, John McCain said, “I think - I’ll have my staff get to you.” That’s embarrassing and out of touch. But it gets worse. Politico then checked with McCain’s staff, and they came back with “at least four.”

“At least four.” Even those people paid to know the ins and outs of John McCain’s life and history don’t know how many homes he has - but it’s “at least four.”

I still don’t know how many homes McCain has - although it looks like the number is between six and eight - but I am happy for John McCain. At a time of economic uncertainty for many Americans who are just scraping by, and sometimes losing their home, at least McCain has a place (or “has places”) he can call home. Now, if he can just remember where they are….

Posted 21 August 2008 † Hiram Wurf § Economy § Housing § Political Communication § Presidential Election 08 § Republican Party § Satire ‡ Comments (9) °