More Nanny State-ism
Motorists who take their hands off the wheel — and their eyes off the road — to surf the Internet or send a text message would pay through the nose, under a crackdown proposed Wednesday by the City Council’s most powerful aldermen.
Three years after striking out in his attempt to add all forms of distracted driving to Chicago’s ban on the use of cell phones without a hands-free device, Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) is trying again.
The great debate about the danger that metal baseball bats pose to young players has arrived at a new playing field: the Chicago City Council.
Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) wants to follow New York City’s lead and ban the use of metal bats in Chicago by kids under the age of 18.
And isn't there some alternative way of "deadening" metal bats for youth games? Let's face it - metal bats are lighter, hold up better, and are cheaper for cash-strapped parents and organizations teaching kids the fundamentals of team sports.
We're pretty sure the City Council really ought to be trying to fill the $500 bajillion budget hole created by political mismanagement or whatever the hell it's up to now.
Labels: dumb ideas
posted by SCC at 12:31 AM
61 Comments:
To the corrupt political scum...Please stop embarassing us and making Chicago look stupid!!! You have destroyed what was once a great city, so don't make it any worse. Stop wasting time and money on non-sense and work on fixing the city and the budget. You guys are a JOKE! Stop trying to fix things that aren't broken. Get over yourselves and act like you have common sense! P.S The olympics will bankrupt the city we don't need them.
Is it just me, or did Ald. Robert Fioretti sound a lot like shortshanks at the press conference when he tried to explain the reasons for his proposed ban on metal bats?
It's a shame that many now laugh at Chicago and the silly things that the politicians come up with and at the same time voting themselves raises. We can no longer be proud of Chicago and are embarassed to say where we're from.
Honestly the best bumper sticker I have seen in awhile:
Do It Today,There Might Be A Law Against It Tomorrow!
Wait until smoking,eating or drinking nonalcoholic beverages while driving are made illicit acts.
The travesty is that there are enough softballs out there who will write up this nonsense and actually believe they are supercop.
Sorry SCC, wood bats are still cheaper. The technology is better for the metal/aloy bats, but wood is still cheaper and safer.
But I do agree that the government, especially, that of the wayword nation of Chicago, should never legislate anything to do with children.
They fuck enough adults to ruin the lives of children as it is.
That's all this is. Lats say we are going to outlaw Easton for kids under 18 in Chicago. Now, the contract that Bill has with Lousisville is now GREAT. Once the contract is over an the legeues realize that it is teir legue and they choose what is best for the children, that's when the idiots will see the light.
For all f you naysayers, I know a ball from an aluminum bat leaves the bat at a faster rate. Look at the statistics though. More injured pitchers in college per game than in adulthood/minors/majors who all use wood.
Good night and God bless!
Burke is still a P.O. He should check out a ticket book!
You have to admit though, every teen out there seem to be texting while driving. I was behind a kid on the Kennedy the other day who was all over the road...dumbass was texting at 60 mph!
Right, because that is what we need, another asinine law passed by moronic Chicago Alderman for the police to enforce.
I don't write 98% of the violations now, another one will just be added to the list of violations never being enforced.
How about just one general catch all ordinance: Driving While Doing Stupid Shit.
Wait, wait, I just remembered, there already IS a violation for negligent driving. I think that about covers it all.
Its all knee jerk bullshit to someone getting hurt and lawyers getting involved. There is no statistical significance that balls leave metal bats faster than wood bats. There is no statistical significance that metal bats cause more injuries than wood bats. Its urban legend.
"http://www.littleleague.org/media/USA_Youth_Baseball_012507.asp
PERCEPTION: Aluminum bats are more dangerous than wood bats.
The National Consumer Product Safety Commission studied this issue and concluded in 2002 that there is no evidence to suggest that aluminum bats pose any greater risk than wood bats. Multiple amateur baseball governing bodies, including the NCAA, National High School Federation, Little League International, PONY, et al, all track safety statistics and have concluded that aluminum bats do not pose a safety risk.
PERCEPTION: Balls come off aluminum bats faster than wood.
Since 2003, all bats are required to meet the “Bat Exit Speed Ratio” (BESR) performance limitation, which ensures that aluminum bats do not hit the ball any harder than the best wood bats.
PERCEPTION: Injuries from aluminum bats are more severe than with wood bats.
Two out of the three deaths from a batted ball in the last decade came from wood bats. Dr. Frederick Mueller, Director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, has indicated from his studies that catastrophic injuries from wood bats may be more frequent than aluminum bats. "
Some coppers sister or girlfriend will get written for this and start another angry thread on why do police write any of the immediate and extended family of police officers.
I've always wondered where exactly does this impervious shield of police family immunity for minor traffic offenses extend? Wife and girlfriend? Sons and daughters? Grandchildren? Cousins? In-laws? Friends of in-laws? Neighbors? Ex-wives? Drinking buddies? College roommates? Paper boy?
How about this, if all police officers who expect extended immunity for their family and friends please write a letter saying as much and have it duly witnessed and notarized, signed sealed etc. and pass multiple originals to your extended family so we know exactly who is asking for the free pass. Sort of like a letter of transit in the movie Casablanca.
That would save a lot of time and awkward moments on traffic stops.
"...Sorry SCC...wood bats are still cheaper..."
A free and public education is cheaper still. Why didn't you take advantage of it.
Spellcheck my friend, spellcheck.
how about?
NO TACKLE FOOTBALL ALOT OF PEOPLE R HURT FROM THIS SPORT.
FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
OK, well all little league games will be played outside the city now... How about that?
I have to disagree SCC,
Wood bats are much cheaper than metal bats. Alloy bats are expensive as hell. I've had my share of them. I don't agree with a "Ban" from city council but I do understand the concern. More players have been injured from metal bats than wood bats. The ball leaves a metal bat at a much higher rate of speed than wood. That's why the majors won't aloow them. Pitchers would literaly get killed on the mound.
what a bunch of idiots. they want to ban the bats for kids under 18? that's when they should ban the metal bats at 18, because the kids are stronger and can swing harder and make the ball come off the bat faster. many of these college kids are as strong and as talented as professionals, THEY shouldn't be using metal. kids under 18 dont have enough power to hit the ball hard enough. either why are these overpaid under producing douchebags wasting time on this? balance the budget and give us a good contract!
Metal bats cheaper? Go visit a sporting goods store, many over $200. Go with the classic, the Louisville Slugger!
Lets not forget that not to long ago j-fed testified before the city council that the department was short 1400 police officers. Heaven forbid our elected officials tackle any real issues dealing with rising crime rates. we got the government we deserve.
I say we ban politicians from this city. We'd be better ruled by anarchy. Who on earth is going to even be able to catch distracted people driving?! I ride a motorcycle (okay okay, it's really a scooter), and as anyone else that does knows damn well that NO ONE is paying any attention to anything on the road - especially not to anything on two wheels. Every day I go to work, I could issue a hundred tickets. The problem is not punishing people for doing stupid shit, it's educating them on why they shouldn't, and when they do and cause an accident, holding them accountable. It's like drunk driving. You can make the penalty for getting caught 20 years in jail and a 2 million $ fine, but people will still do it, because they just don't get it. And the politicians who make the laws, will keep on getting off the hook because as we all know THEY NEVER GET BUSTED WITH THE LAWS THE MAKE. Not that they don't break them, they just don't get nailed like everyone else does.
What would it take to organize a legion of police/citizens to surround City Hall and demand the resignation of all Aldermen and the Mayor and his machine..and force elections? With the cops on our side, there's not anything he could do to stop us. We don't even have to shoot anyone (although that would be a bonus). I'm serious...what would it take to throw these people out on their ears? People are getting really tired of the bullshit.
the funny thing is, that these alder idiots cant agree aon anything thats important and relevant to the city, but theyre now going to take on the great bat debate, come on, i say lets vote all these useless politicians, who get paid for doing nothing, out of office and put some new ones in that can at least try. motherf-ck-rs are gonna waste money on a debate on bats, hell any bat will harm you if used as a weapon, or not used properly. there i solved it all. now how much money did i just save the city?
Holy Exempt Me Batman!!!
Just like cell phones on duty.
Will the police texting and blackberry messaging be exempted for the exempts too?
did burke qualify
I see the alderfucks are really hard at work again. How about getting to the real issues or are you scared?
Hey SCC,
Just got GPS installed in my car yesterday.
I was never one for sitting in a hole doing nothing all day (it just seemed too boring to me) but last night thats all I did. I have to tell you it wasn't that bad.
I just wanted to thank Jody Weis and the CPD and City of Chicago for completly demoralizing me, I used to like to do police work but now I am just content to answer my jobs and sit in a stationary position or drive around with blinders on for the entire tour.
Keep those paychecks coming. Proactive policing died the day the decision to install those things in squads was made.
Singed,
Disheartened in 005
Why does the media always refer to Burke as " the most powerful Alderman "
Anonymous said...
Burke is still a P.O. He should check out a ticket book!
9/11/2008 05:15:00 AM
How about his deatil, they drive around on the phone! Why do they work 2 on 3 off? Why all the new cars for burke? why not gps for "master burke?" Is he going senile nothing to do but dumb laws! Why did he dump his guy to 008 awhile ago and promise "I will bring you back when someone leaves," then he brings another lackey along! How about a law that the elite pay for their own drivers, and vehicles that would show the citizens some responsibility!
I cut my thumb on the screen door...will they ban those next?
"Good luck finding someone to enforce the no texting while driving ban."
Exactly. They better give traffic aides, Streets & San, and Dept of Revenue people some mover books too!
does one of daley's crooked pals have the concession on wood baseball bats?
P.S The Olympics will bankrupt the city we don't need them.
No, no, that's WHY we need them. Chicago is never going to recover until it hits rock bottom, so the faster we get there, the more Chalkie visits the savages the better....
I'd love to be able to get a human brain sent to each of the elected ifficials in the city, county & state with a note attached which states......
Here you go. I'm not allowed to think on my own anymore, so I thought you should have this.
The Taxpayers
Damn metal bats.
Kids througouth the city and suburbs are joining the piles of corpses on the streetcorners. Once only comprised of dead polar bears (from global warming), dead geese (bird flu and murdered for their livers to make pate foie gras); the lifeless bodies of little leaguers are piling up curbside from metal bats!
Add to that the scores of victims who lost their lives due to second hand smoke whafted across the front rows of packed performances of "Jersey Boys".
The horror...the horror...what is this city comiong to? I'm so glad the aldercreatures can finally start to address these issues instead of worrying about silly distractions like funding, decent equipment and a contract for the police.
Perhaps streets and san can drive the streets saying "bring out your dead".
OFF TOPIC BUT;
I hate to admit it but Blago is right about the CTA. No matter how much money you pour into it, they keep spending it on useless stuff.
Overpriced bus shelters, computers to track busses and tell you on the net how late they will be or when and if the bus will arrive, cameras and security systems that show you blurry images of crime, rail inspectors that ignore major track problems because they are improperly trained in their jobs, orders for hundreds of new busses and trains that we will never be able to pay for.
The free rides are not the problem for seniors or (off duty police, who only use the system when they have to), most busses and trains are neer empty during off peak hours.
And worst of all is Mr. Ron H. who is now a transit expert, just as he was in OEMC and police computers?
Shortshanks keeps putting people in charge of stuff who are totally out of their league!
O.K. I'm done rambling, where's my Jamba Juice?
DRIVERS ON CELL PHONES PULL RIGHT NEXT TO MARKED POLICE CARS AT RED LIGHTS OR DRIVE PAST THEM WHILE DRIVING. ITS A JOKE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE TALKING OR TEXTING ON A CELL PHONE AS THEY DRIVE A 2 TON MACHINE DOWN THE STREET. BUT SINCE WE CAN'T GET MANY INNER CITY RATS TO GET A D/L, PLATES OR INSURANCE FOR THEIR CAR, THIS LAW WILL BE AS EFFECTIVE AS PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG.
MBL has a rule of no cork in the bat, see how well that worked.
Sorry off topic but had to comment:
Has anyone see the daily bulletin for 12 Sept 08? There are only THREE car wash facilities CITYWIDE. LOLLOL. The city can't pay the bills.
Here they are:
1231 W Grand
3540 W Halsted
349 W 31st.
Maybe if Carlos Quentin was using a metal bat he's be playing for the rest of the season.
the answer IS to enforce these stupid laws and let the heat fall on the idiots who sponsered them.
Great a chance to break up those illegal t-ball and little league games. This will make a lot more friends for the CPD. Are these alderslugs nuts or what?
The sad part is, the alderslime believe they are improving the quality of life for the citizens of Chicago.
Bwahahahahahahahaha!
Cut down to 25, no 20 aldermen for this joke of a legislature.
They are mostly crooks that's why they are working on stupid things. Crooks are stupid.
Oh My God! Give me a f*in break!
These are prime examples of the mental midgets we have for city counsel officials. These jaggoffs make way too much money to be coming up with shit like this for us to enforce. This just shows that these part time city employee's still have way too much time on their hands.
how about CPS - offering kids money for good grades ?
wtf ?? How about just getting good grades - this is so ridiculous. How democratic. What are they going to do when they graduate and go to college (that 1 in 100 that qualifies) and realize that you don't get paid to go to school.
And is that money going to be taxed ??
That's nice Mr. mayor - way to get future hooked on the democrapic party.
>>>Burke is still a P.O. He should check out a ticket book!
9/11/2008 05:15:00 AM<<<
Really, does he have to "qualify" every year.
When metal bats are outlawed...only outlaws will have metal bats.
Lets distract Burke while he is driving by hitting him in the head with a metal baseball bat, several hundred times.
Complete f-ing idiots every last one of them. Especially, the allegedly intelligent Ed Burke. To this day I find it hard to believe he was ever the Police. Does any old timer out there know how he spent his years on the Department. I'd be willing be wager a considerable sum it was not in a busy district. Probably spent his supposed career in the alley of some politicans house.
What we need is to cut the number of these idiot alderman by two thirds if not more!
That will lesson the stupid and idiotic laws and ordinances they come up with!
In your new tahoe you will be able to look down in a vehicle to see if a person is texting Right? Fuck these morons.
I always liked wood bats.The sound of hitting the ball sounds weird with aluminum bats, besides I like everything from the past better than todays shit.
"Why does the media always refer to Burke as " the most powerful Alderman"
9/11/2008 10:36:00 AM"
It relates to his legendary case of halitosis.
Pathetic...
What these twits should be doing is pouring over the mountains of laws we currently have - and dump the ones that have no use or are completely outdated.
Bats... are you fucking kidding me? I find it hard to believe that there is no other pressing matters in City Hall besides bats & texting....
how about a fine for being a gangbanger. you see shitbird out there wearing his colors and throwing up his flags you pop him with an anov. since this city is loaded with shitbird bangers, we would instantly make up that 400 million budget deficit and maybe get a good raise also. if we can make it illegal to talk on a cell phone and enforce it, why can't we make it illegal to be a shitbird gangbanger and enforce it.
A decent wood bat costs $50, it will break during the season. Yes one can buy a wood bat for $15-$20it will last at most for about 100 hits. So forget about using it for batting practice. It will be destroyed in a batting cage.
Metal bats ( for under high school age) can be puchased from $20 to $200. ( buy top of the line last year's model for $100) In the long run metal is much cheaper than wood.
Yes, practice with wood, it is true that it wood is not as forgiving. But for a game use metal.
Quit worrying about what kind of bat my kid uses, and get me a contract, asswipe.
Anonymous said...
Lets distract Burke while he is driving by hitting him in the head with a metal baseball bat, several hundred times.
9/11/2008 08:02:00 PM
UMM! He never drives has D-3+ cpd drivers and always new black crown vics!
I got an idea. Blogging should be licensed and regulated by the City. Appropriate fines could be rendered against violators.
Just like banning spray paint in Chicago stopped the taggers! Gimme a F*in break!
Anonymous said...
Lets distract Burke while he is driving by hitting him in the head with a metal baseball bat, several hundred times.
9/11/2008 08:02:00 PM
UMM! He never drives has D-3+ cpd drivers and always new black crown vics!
9/12/2008 12:44:00 PM
Yes, he does...I had in-car camera training at the academy today, and there was a blk crown vic w/ a driver sitting out in front and that asshole Burke inside, around 4:00pm. His cheecks were as red as red could be...must've had a few too many at lunch.
<< Home