Events

Remember the three-year-old parking meter privatization that will be former mayor Richard Daley's best-remembered legacy? In another example of how not to negotiate a deal, it turns out the city agreed to pay the parking meter company for lost revenues under what should have been eminently predictable circumstances: Financial statements for the company show that CPM has billed the city an additional $2,191,326 in “True-up Revenue” through the end of 2010. Under the contract, the city is given an 8%...

I'm still banging away at software today—why is this damn socket exception thrown under small loads?—so I only have a minute to post some stuff I found interesting: Chicago and the State of Illinois are planning the largest urban park in the world in the mostly-abandoned Lake Calumet and South Works areas of the south side. It looks like the far-right has hijacked Hungary's government, in the way that right-wing governments do, which should remind everyone who lives in a democracy how fragile the form...

The T-Mobile acquisition is dead, dead, dead: AT&T is ending its $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA, citing fierce government objections. "From the first day that this deal was announced, we have warned regulators, lawmakers, and consumers of the dangerous consequences of this merger," said Parul P. Desai, policy counsel for Consumers Union, according to its website The Consumerist. "Regulators clearly saw through AT&T's claims of better service and saw what we saw - a combined AT&T/T-Mobile would mean...

Swamped with client work, getting ready for Xmas, traveling hither and yon—tomorrow, at least, will be quieter.

In the past day I've seen two movies, both adaptations from really good novels: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Incendiary. The former, adapted from John le Carré's 1974 novel, brought me right into the Cold War and had me transfixed by Gary Oldman's performance. After next weekend—when I think I'll have a couple of hours of free time—I'm queuing up the 1979 version with Alec Guinness. The latter, adapted from Chris Cleve's 2005 novel, disappointed me. Except for Michelle Williams' superb acting, it...

I'm juggling a couple of clients today, so I can't write entire entries on any of these: My favorite steakhouse in Chicago, Morton's, will get bought out by a company in Houston. The deal closes in February, so I'll have to get in there once I finish digesting my Christmas dinner. (Could take weeks.) Christopher Hitchens died last night; Andrew Sullivan has posted great stuff about him today. The President will sign the Defense Authorization Bill into law, even though it contains...

Former Chicago mayor Rich Daley got named to Coke's board of directors today. Coca-Cola said: "Mr. Daley brings significant public policy expertise and experience in creating sustainable growth opportunities for businesses and communities to our Company," said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. "His experience and insights will be invaluable as we continue to work to grow our business and invest in the fabric of the communities we serve." Daley is also a senior...

Even though we still have two weeks to go, 2011 has already experienced the costliest year of weather disasters in decades: From extreme drought, heat waves and floods to unprecedented tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, wildfires and winter storms, a record 12 weather and climate disasters in 2011 each caused $1 billion or more in damages — and most regrettably, loss of human lives and property. The Illinois State Climatologist adds: We also experienced some $50 billion in total losses for the year. And...

Derp. One year ago yesterday I finished my MBA. It doesn't seem like a full year...except when it doesn't seem like only one year.

I forgot to post this photo from the Tsukiji fish market earlier: