August 21, 2009

We Can't Believe It!



Two years and counting -- time sure flies when we're having fun!

460 posts, including this one --

On average, 2000 unique visitors per week --

Happy Birthday to us!

We thank our faithful readers for their continued interest and participation.

As we opened this blog, we restate here --

"Leave your prissy tasseled loafers at the door - we'll loan you a pair of Doc Martens. We are, as our header says, irreverent and unrepentant in our opinions. If hard driving sentiment with a dash of twisted humor is not your cup of venti caffé mocha then don't let the cyber-door hit you in the ass as you exit. And don't forget to take your prissy tasseled loafers with you!"

For PRU.ADMIN and those long nights of reading and writing --

33 comments:

Machiavelli said...

Did Howard send you a birthday present yet?

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Is that what that is? We been ducking the special delivery -- thought it was a process server.

Anonymous said...

Lionel Ritchie is from Joliet - "The city of Love"

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Maybe Lionel was on a visit back home when the video was made -- that would explain his absence.

PublicWatchdog.org said...

To PRU:

Happy Birthday!

From PUBDOG

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Thank you Pub-dogs! The whole Crew appreciates all your work too!

Anonymous said...

I was referring to the real Commodores, not this awful bastardization.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

By the way, a most excellent piece today. Outstanding observations. We're sure Adams is aglow if he reads the blogs and we do think he checks in every now and then.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@1:49 --

-- every party has a pooper. Welcome.

Anonymous said...

Not pooping. I love fuzzy synth in the afternoon. And Lionel Ritchie.

Machiavelli said...

At least you didn't link to "Once, twice, three times a lady." That song made me want to kill myself because it was on the radio every five god damned minutes.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday PRU CREW! Thank you for all you have done to raise issues and give out information.

I haven't always agreed with you but I think your hearts are in the right place.

Keep up the great work!

gypsy said...

Machiavelli---more like, "Dancin on the Ceiling" for all the excitement in the celebration of the birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to the PRU Crew!

Anonymous said...

Major kudos for the two year run... keep it up and who knows what PR might look like in another two! Or you for that matter!!!

Anonymous said...

Congrats to the Crew and thanks for all you do.

MIKE said...

Congrads for 2 long years.


To answer why Lionel wasn't with them in this vid, from what I understand he left the Commodores a few years earlier.

Also perhaps you might know this was a tribute song to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson who both died in 1984. You can certainly tell by the song references they used, but I have yet figure what they meant by Nighshift? which of course a term for those who work nights but I don't get what they mean by that in the song.

Anonymous said...

To PRU,

I can't believe it either. It doesn't seem like this blog and the Watchdogs have been at this for 2 yrs already.

I think the people of Park Ridge are better for having more sources of information even if not everyone likes your style.

I continue to learn more than I ever thought there was to know about our town and what takes place at meetings. I am also thankful that Mayor Schmidt bought the video camera and that we have people in town willing to give of their time to make sure the rest of us can view the meetings when we can't attend.

Thank you to those who keep dragging the rest of us into participation in this great system we call our democracy.

Long live free speech too!

Have a pleasant weekend.

Anonymous said...

Happy 2nd birthday. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:15,

I agree. I just wish PRU could be a little more civil in discussions. Calling the Aldermen nasty names doesn't seem to add to bettering the discourse in debates about public policy. These people are giving up their personal time too for the benefit of service to our community. I think they should be treated respectfully for their wililngness to serve.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@8:43 --

In case you missed it --

"Leave your prissy tasseled loafers at the door - we'll loan you a pair of Doc Martens. We are, as our header says, irreverent and unrepentant in our opinions. If hard driving sentiment with a dash of twisted humor is not your cup of venti caffé mocha then don't let the cyber-door hit you in the ass as you exit. And don't forget to take your prissy tasseled loafers with you!"

We've seen for too long, too many of these so called civic minded volunteers hide behind broad smiles and exuberant handshakes while demonstrating the epitomy of good manners, all the while they have gone to lengths to screw us all for personal gain or out of sheer stupidity.

We find the expectation that everyone should bend over and grab their ankles, saying "Thank you sir, may I have another!" because that's considered civil, far more offensive than anything we've ever written here.

But that doesn't mean we won't thrill you with something truly offensive in the future. We strive to do our best.

Anonymous said...

PRU, no blasphemy intended, but if you did not exist, it would be necessary to invent you. As a writer myself, I am awed and thrilled at the true-life drama that unfolded here in the past few years, in which you sounded the alarm and then led repeated charges to fell a tyrant. Truly, the tongue is mightier than the sword. You are not always right, but you are always intelligent and always on the job, which is more than we can say for the so-called "real" media around here. Long may you wave!

Anonymous said...

PRU Happy Birthday and may you have many more.

Anonymous said...

Anybody notice on the Planning and Zoning agenda a developer is looking to build condos at Touhy and Rose. He is asking to change the zoning from single family to the highest density R4 which would allow for 12 units, he wants 32. He also wants less open space than required and more height than required. So exceptions to height, density, and open space. I don't think he wants to follow the setback requirements either. Here we go again!

gypsy said...

Blllllahhhhhhhhh!!!!
WHY oh why oh why are developers building all these condos? While I agree that the area where the proposed condos could use some spiffing up, what is the attraction to that location? WHO will purchase these condos, which we all know will be overpriced?

There are two apartment buildings within 1/2 mile of that location that are in foreclosure right now (hmmm...wonder if the renters in those buildings know that?).

Can P&Z see that this is not a necessary project? THAT is the multi-million dollar question!

Anonymous said...

They can build if they want to according to the height, density, open space, and setback requirements...NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

The next thing I expect to hear is they will offer the city money to allow them to do whatever the hell they please.

John Galt said...

Fasten you seatbelts folks. That Touhy/Rosedevelopment may be Section 8 or "affordable housing." The developer may make the pitch that the tradeoff for increased density is "doing the right thing" for humanity. Who cares if it is the right thing for Park Ridge.

Anonymous said...

so...PRU's welcome to flophouse season was not a myth?

MIKE said...

Where exactly are they gonna built it?

On the site of the Town Of Maine Cemetery?

Hopefully not but I certainly hope enough of the neighborhood people take a stand at this.

Anonymous said...

Pseudo Senior Housing perhaps?????

Anonymous said...

I'm not really sure what they could offer the City. Even IF they were to be granted the extra units from 12 to 32. This doesn't really measure up to the more recent and bigger deveopments one of which offered 50 units for "senior housing". Sec8 or low cost? What could they offer 10% or 2 units? Pffftt I'm sure the million dollars in sales is far more desireable than giving up those units to low income. So the 64 million dollare question is....what could they possibly offer up in trade for more height,desity, and less open space? HMMMMMMM I guess we'll find out soon enough.

gypsy said...

no, silly, not on the cemetery. Look at the address. You can drive by. A few rundown homes to tear down and replace.
hopefully it won't be like the imaginary Heinz project at Greenwood / NW Hwy. those vacant homes have been there waiting to be torn down for a long long time.

Anonymous said...

PRU, Congrats on hitting the 2yr mark. Hope you're around for many more.