NOVEMBER STORIES

WHY I WRITE THE BLOG

I happened upon this quote, and I realized that it describes exactly why I write this blog.  It is from Lord Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, a writer during the French Renaissance in the 14^th Century.  Five hundred years later, I feel the same way that he did. “I write to keep from going mad from the contradictions I find among mankind --and to work some of those contradictions out for myself.”

Funny, I have a jacket just like his in my closet.

RED LIGHT CAMERAS

I love red light cameras that catch people who go through a red light.  I have written of my support many times. According to the Chicago Department of Transportation in 2010, the fines from people blowing through red lights produced $61 million in revenue for Chicago.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel is currently lobbying for legislation in the Illinois General Assembly which would allow Chicago to utilize its red light cameras to also issue $100 speeding ticket to vehicle owners accused of exceeding the speed limit by more than 5 MPH in designated "safety zones" within an eighth of a mile of schools, parks and colleges. 

A CDOT study predicts that the fines collected could reach more than $100 million a year but Mayor Emanuel says "I hope I get no revenue from this." CDOT chief Gabe Klein claims the goal is just to get drivers to slow down.

I don’t run red lights, so red light cameras won’t nail me.  In fact, CDOT is so fair about sharing information on red light cameras that they list every one of them on their website at chicagotraffictracker.com.  Just click on the red light cameras link and you get a map of Chicago with every red light camera listed.

So if you have a lead foot, just avoid those intersections!

MICHAEL MOORE NOT A REGULAR JOE

Michael Moore has made himself the unofficial spokesperson for Occupy Wall Street, yet he consistently denies that he is part of the 1% who earn more than $593,000/year that OWS is protesting against.

According to www.celebritynetworth.com he has a net worth of more than $50 million.

1) Moore’s biggest three movies have grossed over $300 million at the box office worldwide.
2) Fahrenheit 911 made $230 million in theaters and $3 million in DVD sales. After the theaters take their 50% cut, we’re left with $130 million. Take out another $50 million for marketing, production and distribution and Moore is left with $80 million.
3) Moore negotiated a deal with Miramax which guarantees him 27% of all of his film’s net revenues.
4) Moore was also given 50% of all profits from Sicko
5) Moore is a bestselling author who receives 7 figure advances.
6) Ironically, Moore’s film Sick was actually financed by none other than Goldman Sachs through a $500 million investment fund set up for Harvey and Bob Weinstein’s film company.

Michael Moore cannot pretend to be a regular Joe, Joe the Plumber or Joe Six Pack.  He does not even look Joeish.