Liv Tyler

liv-tyler-02, originally uploaded by ecb29.

There are naughtier photos out there, but this one shows off her elfin beauty. I first noticed her back when she and Alicia Silverstone were doing the fake lesibian thing on MTV (back when they actually had music videos). But I fell in love with Liv in Lord of the Rings.

Technorati Tags: Liv Tyler, eye candy

Scarlet Johansson

Scarlet-Johansson-03, originally uploaded by ecb29.

Technorati Tags:
Scarlet Johansson, The Island, Lost in Translation, eye candy, Ghost World, In Good Company, Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Last gasp ...

Since it might be a while till I'm up and running again -- assuming I lose access today -- I thought I'd leave something nice -- yet perfectly safe for work -- to look at.



What did I tell ya?

It's this girl's small imperfections that make her so attractive.

Technorati Tags: scarlet johansson, eye candy

Does this make sense, por favor?

In the interest of encouraging diversity (and boosting hit counts) I'm trying to make my site more accessible to Spanish speaking (and reading) Peorians. I've used Alta Vista's Bable Fish to generate a link to a translated version of Peoria Pundit. Because I barely speak a work of the language, I need someone to tell me if this site make sense. If it does, I might consider a couple Chinese-language versions for people in our beloved Sister City of Benxi can read it.
Technorati Tags:
spanish, babelfish, alta vista, spanish blogs, chinese, benxi, china

I have issues

• I've added "Day by Day" to my sidebar. I still have a bit of tinkering to do, I think.

• To make room, I've dumped the pics from my Flickr site. Judging by the uttler lack of comments, no one was visiting it anyway.

• I've increased the size of the text. I've also switched to the serif font "Georgia" for enteries, and went back the the san serif font "Lucida Grande" for blockquotes. It mirrors the approach found in most newspapers. I think it will be more readable this way.

• And on the job front: I interviewed for a sales job yesterday. I'll find out Thursday. And I have many many resumes out there. I like to keep my readers informed because so many of my fans find such amusement in these details.

• And finally, and this is the biggie: I can't justify keeping my cable television and Internet connection. It's just too difficult and there are too many people and businesses having to take late payments from me. So, I'll be making do with my parents' Internet connection for the time being.

I'm due to be shut off soon, perhaps this weekend or next. As soon as that happens, posting will be light (to say the least) and will pick up after the job situation improves.

Technorati Tags:
site issues, unemployment, pay pal, donations, hint, hint, hint

Bingo's a blood sport

I am reminded of a joke:

Q: How do you get 50 little old ladies to swear at the same time?

A: Yell "Bingo!"

Heh. Via the Journal Star:

The fight started about 11 a.m. at Human Service Center, 228 NE Jefferson Ave., when Roslyn D. Moore, 45, of 1014 W. Hanssler St. allegedly moved items belonging to another player before the game.

Osceola A. Bowers, 45, of 403 NE Perry Ave. had placed belongings on a table in preparation for the game, left momentarily, and when she returned found Moore had moved them, police said.

The two women started arguing, causing facility staff to break up the fight and move each woman to opposite ends of the room.

The women, however, continued to exchange words, causing Moore to attack Bowers with her cane, reports said. Moore struck Bowers hard enough on the arm to break the cane.

I have one question: What the Hell are they doing playing organized Bingo in a government building? Peoria police just raided a place in Peoria where people were gambling on video poker machines. Apparently, only the government and churches are allowed to gamble.

Technorati Tags:
bingo, human services center, gambling, peoria

Truancy center not exactly Attica

Kudos to the Journal Star's Clare Jellick for her report on a day at the District 150 Truancy Center. It's hardly the chain gang that some people predicted it would become.

Technorati Tags:
truancy, clare jellick, district 150, peoria

Peoria Civic Center's failure: Bad leadership or simply a bad idea?

One of three situations is true:

1. The Peoria Civic Center was a wonderful idea when original conceived, but the people running it on the Peoria Civic Center Authority obviously are not up to the job.
2. The people running the PCC are up the the task, but there was never any chance in the world it could have become self sufficient to the point its doesn't need taxpayer subsidies.
3. Not only was the PCC doomed to failure from the very start, the people running it don't know what the Hell they are doing.

It's one of these three choices. There is no fourth choice: Competent people managing a facility that is capable of raising an adequate amount of revenue on its own. If this was the case, they wouldn't be begging -- once again -- for even more taxpayer dollars.

At-large Peoria City Council member Chuck Grayeb says there not six votes on the council in favor of giving the authority even more money. And for that, we can credit the last election when three "progressives" were kicked out and replaced with at least two "essential services first" people.

Democracy works.

Technorati Tags: peoria civic center, civic center authority, opera, ballet, HRA, hotel restaurant amusement tax, chuck grayeb, essential services

Another handout for the Civic Center

Here comes the Peoria Civic Center Authority with its hand out again. Seems they've gone ahead and started a massive construction project and then discovered that the bids are higher than they have money to spend.

Oops.

Why does this stuff keep happening? The Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement (HRA) tax was supposed to be temporary to pay off the bonds. But the damn thing keeps falling apart. And they can't make money without expanding. Again.

Proponents talk about hotel occupancy rates and the number of dollars that are pumped into the economy by visitors. Yet the damn thing cannot pay for itself. If taxpayers keep having to foot the bill through higher taxes, it obviously isn't benefiting taxpayers. The PCC was supposed to raise money for the city, not drain the taxpayers' wallets. Because of that, the Civic Center obviously and without question is NOT a financial benefit to the city as a whole. Perhaps there are some businesses who benefit, but not the people who are working minimum wage jobs who subsidize a high-end opera and ballet venue every time they buy a burger and fries.

Technorati Tags:
peoria civic center, civic center authority, opera, ballet, HRA, hotel restaurant amusement tax

Peoria firefighters at risk

Wisely, a group of Peoria firefighters are getting ready to evacuate themselves should Rita take a turn toward Louisiana. That looks to be what is happening.

Be careful guys. We are proud of you all, but upu need to mind your own safety as well.

Technorati Tags:
peoria, fighters, local 50, Roy Modglin, rita, katrina, hurricane, fema

Leave God out of it

I find myself in the position of agreeing with Vonster about this post:

I think God is punishing Texas for producing such feeble-minded, selfish choads as our president. It's like God is saying, "Mr.'s Bush and Cheney, how about YOU go {expletive deleted] yourselves." Heh Heh. You response, Mr. Bush? "We must keep fighting science in the church, so that science will keep kicking our asses everywhere else."

God didn't send Katrina or Rita to to punish anyone. God didn't send AIDS to kill homosexuals and He certainly didn't send roadside bombs to kill soldiers because our nation fails to stone homosexuals to death.

This kind of comment is ridiculous whether it's coming out of the mouth of Pat Robertson, Fred Phelps and Peoria bloggers.

Technorati Tags:
A Storm in the port, rob, vonster, katrina, rita, god, punishment, Pat Robertson

The race is on to replace Sen. Shadid

UPDATE (5:22 a.m.) : The Journal Star's Jennifer Davis reports that Dave Koehler is rumors to be Shadid's pick to replace him. I wouldn't be surprised if Shadid resign early and let the powers-that-be appoint Koehler.

WEEK is reporting that long-time State Sen. George Shadid plans to retire. That's sad news for his fans, but understandable. Shadid has spent most of his adult life in public service, from being a city cop to Peoria County Sheriff to the state legislature. Why not kick back and watch from the sidelines for a while, and enjoy being honored as an elder statesman?

Now, on the the speculation on a replacement:

I do have a few minutes to catch up on personal business, so ...

I hate my current bank (actually a credit union, but they are going to remain nameless). I'll be moving my account to a new location as soon as circumstances permit. I used to have an account at Busey Bank from back when I lived in Rantoul and Tolono (north and south of "Chambana", respectively). Now that they've bought out a Peoria bank and changed the name, I'll call them and see if the account is still open or if I closed it completely when I moved back to Peoria.

I spent an hour at WXCL studios this morning interviewing IDOT engineer George Ryan about the Upgrade 74 project. He's seems very certain that we'll be sable to drive across the Murray Baker Bridge right after the "Meet Me In The Middle" ceremony scheduled for Oct. 2. We'll see. The "Behind the Scenes" public affairs show airs Sunday mornings on all AAA Entertainment stations.

I have an interview for a sales job this afternoon. Wish me luck. No call back for a second interview for the sales job I interviewed for last week. Still possible, though. I applied for both through peoriahelpwanted.com.

Poor little B.J. Stone is upset yet again that no one is visiting his site. Go and cheer him up.

I'm going to try to write my Community Word column tonight, so I don't keep poor Debbie Adlof waiting this weekend. And I've got to get that River City Times story done about the ADM stench. The trouble is getting people from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and and Archer Daniels Midland to call me back.

Yes, the comic books are STILL for sale. The entire collection. Best offer. Email me. And if you are short on cash, you can put it on your credit card via my PayPal button on my siderail.

By the way, the new River City Times will be hitting the stands today. The most up-to-date list I have of pick-up locations is here:

Grandview Hotel owner learns punishment tomorrow

The Grandview Hotel trial continues tomorrow, Friday, at 9:15 a.m., Rm. 323, at the Downtown Courthouse. The trial is in the "remedy" phase, and the judge can decide to shut down the hotel for up to six months, now that the judge has ruled in the city's favor. Neighborhood activists who have tried to get the place to clean up its act would like to have as many supporters there as possible.

Technorati Tags:
grandview hotel, neighborhoods, crime, 3rd district, Angela Anderson

Good news for fans of local BBQ

Work is progressing nicely on the new Grandpa John's Rib Shack on West McClure Avenue. I hear that it's going to open for business on Monday. The site is the former Hardees fast food joint at the corner of Linn and McClure.

Technorati Tags:
bbq, ribs, big john's, grandpa john, peoria, restaurants

We're going to be getting another hour of Jamie Markley and Phil Luciano on WMBD 1470 every day. I consider that good news by itself. Even better we're getting an hour less of Sean Hannity. In fact, he'll be on for onely one hour ever day. Why they don't dump the clown all together is beyond my understanding.

Here's the press release:

Riding the wave of increased listenership from recent Arbitron radio ratings, WMBD's Jamie Markley and Phil Luciano are expanding their show one additional hour. The show will now run from 3-to-6pm instead of 4-to-6pm.

“We wanted to expand the show to three hours because of our desire to be more local in drive times” said WMBD General Manager Mike Wild. “After the recent Arbitron results, the decision to expand became a real no-brainer. In the past, our syndicated mid-day shows had easily out-performed our
local afternoon show, but Markley and Luciano have turned that scenario upside down.”

In the key 25-54 demo, Markley & Luciano's numbers are 245 percent higher at 4pm than popular nationally syndicated talk-show host Sean Hannity at 3pm. “The amount of new audience that comes to WMBD when Jamie and Phil go on the air is unprecedented,” said Wild. “At 3pm, we're 10th in the
market with males 25-54. At 4pm, with Markley and Luciano, we're 2nd with a 9.7 share. We're also seeing huge gains in our female listenership during The Markley and Luciano Show.” The gain with females 25-54 on WMBD is over 250 percent from Sean Hannity to Markley & Luciano.

“This is the most fun I've ever had doing a radio show,” said Jamie Markley. “We really are just your common everyday guys doing a radio show. We want people to feel like if they don't turn on our show, they might miss out on something. People get tired of the same rhetoric or the same lame tired songs everyday. We want people to think, 'I don't know what those guys will be talking about today, but I know it'll be interesting'.”

Phil Luciano, who is also columnist for the Peoria Journal Star, had a one word reaction to the announcement of the show's expansion: “CANNONBALL!” -- an apparent reference to the duo's popular “Cannonball Friday” feature. Sean Hannity remains on WMBD from 2 to 3pm. The expansion of The Markley & Luciano Show starts this Monday, September 26th.

I think it's a good thing for the show. These guys talk about a lot of stuff, and sometimes they seem rushed.

jamie markley,phil luciano,wmbd,sean hannity,local radio,peoria

Beyonce

I'm thinking that a pic of Beyonce in a bikini might be what we all need on a cold and rainy day like this.

Technorati Tags:
beyonce, eye candy

New Scarlett

Found: Another batch of Scarlett Johansson pics. I'll be posting one a day until hit counts improve.

Technorati Tags:
scarlett johansson, eye candy

Oktoberfest gal?

I'm a big advocate of putting one's thoughts on t-shirts, and this one says it all about why people need to visit the downtown Peoria event:



Heh. I found this on the Web, not at Oktoberfest. But it's true, isn't it?

Technorati Tags:
oktoberfest, riverfront, german girls, tshirts, safe for work, peoria

Time for a time-out Drew

I think Drew's relationship with the rock musician is to blame for this:

The Charlie's Angels star, her rocker boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti and a group of friends were watching a New York Mets game in a luxury box at the Shea Stadium in Queens, New York City, when the family in the next box began taking photos of her.

Despite Barrymore's claims the family were disturbing her, the family allege the actress burst into their box and shouted at one of their group.

Michael Delvecchio tells PageSix.com, "She was drinking and smoking like a chimney, so we asked the security guard to tell her to put out her cigarette because there were young children present, but she just kept on doing it.

"Suddenly she stormed into our suite with a lit cigarette and berated one of my friends in front of his young daughter for taking a picture of her. Thankfully, one of the stadium staff kicked her out of our box."

Normally, I would dismiss this claim. Drew is a loving soul, wise beyond her years, and is kind to animals and small children.

Alas, there's visual proof:



Yikes.

Drew, Drew, Drew ... you need to take it down a notch. Perhaps your relationship with the rock star is just too high-energy. Perhaps you need a camling influence in yoru life. Perhaps an older man who is wiser to the ways of the world and would be perfectly supportive of your career, especially since you make in one movie about 1,000 times his annual earnings.

But you will have to shave that armpit hair.

Technorati Tags:
drew barrymore, charlies angels, mets, shae stadium

A whole lotta Lil' Kim

I'm not a huge fan of rap, but I couldn't pass this up:

The mother of murdered hip-hop star Notorious B.I.G. - gunned down in 1997, presumably by rival rappers - savages Sean (Diddy) Combs and Lil' Kim in a soon-to-be-published memoir.
---
Wallace accuses Lil' Kim of pilfering her New Jersey home after she let her use it for a magazine interview.

When the magazine hit the stands, "The first picture I saw was Kim wearing my son's mink coat, holding his chain and wearing his hat. I was in shock," Wallace writes. "I felt violated."

Technorati Tags:
lil kim, rapper, rap, eye candy

Time for Scarlett

It's been too long since my last Scarlett Johansson post. Momma will begin to suffer withdrawal pains.



Nice. I like the way she cleans up. Her's is not the typical Hollywood supermodel, beach bunny, cookie-cutter version of beauty.

Here's more:



I have some more, but I'll save them for later.

Technorati Tags:
scarlett johansson, lost in translation, ghost world, eye candy, the island, in good company, A Love Song for Bobby Long, girl with a pearl earring

Calling Paris Hilton; Your 15 minutes of fame were over 3 years ago ...

Paris makes the (NSFW)cover of formerly dignified Vanity Fair:



I mean, seriously ... Is there anybody left in America who hasn't seen her boobies?

It almost makes me yearn for the relatively demure and publicity-shy ways of Madonna.

Technorati Tags:
Paris Hilson, Vanity Fair, Madonna, publicy whore, cleavage, magazine covers, paris naked, paris nude, 15 minutes

Kirsten Dunst

She's become a big star thanks to that rain scene in the first Spiderman movie.

Technorati Tags: kirsten dunst, spiderman, eye candy, girls

Simon sneaks a peek

I always thought he was gay. Maybe he's just British. Not that I ever watch that show. Ugh.

Technorati Tags:
Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, American Idol, cleavage

For Sale: My entire comic book collection -- cheap

I've been buying and hoarding away comic books all my life. I've got a collection that stretches back into the late 1970s. I haven't taken inventory, but I've got 10 full comic boxes (the kind you see used in comic stores) as well as an equal number of plastic milk cartons filled with them.

I've been lugging them with me as I've moved from one part of Illinois and Missouri to another. I've always told myself they were an investment. Well, now it's time to cash in. I don't have the time or patience to dicker around with a comic book dealer, who will no doubt explain that the market has fallen out of the market, yadda yadda. So I'm willing accept pennies for the dollar to get rid of 'em all at once. I'm not going to promise complete collections, cause I never worried abotu that. Nor did I spend a lot of time bagging them and sealing them up. Nor am I going to promise they are in pristine or near prinstine condition. I'm selling then for less than cover price, here.

But if you want the beginnings of a great collection that you can complete on your own, this is the way to do it.

I've got thousands of 'them. And I'm selling them all for $300 bucks. The buyer hauls 'em out. Don't even try to low-ball me any further. There's some good X-men and Teen Titans in here. No alternative or undergrounds though, I'm keeping those.

If Kevin Smith could finance the movie "Clerks" with his Daredevil and Spiderman collection, I sure as Hell can make this month's rent. If you are interested, email me their phone number and we'll get together for the exchange. And I can take a credit card payment, thanks to PayPal.
Technorati Tags:
comic books, for sale, cheap, superman, batman, teen titals, justice league, xmen, legion of superheroes, warlord, collectible, peoria

Nice cushions ...

Classy guy, isn't he?

Jessica Simpson seeing red

Jessica Simpson seeing red, originally uploaded by Peoria Pundit.

While I bow to none in my appreciation for the intelligent, seductive and sophisticated beauty of Scarlett Johansson, I've gotta admire the "dumb blonde" act Jessica Simpson has going on.

Let's face it folks, anyone who can make a a career out of portraying herself as a ditzy blonde airhead can't really be stupid, now, can she?

Technorati Tags:
Jessica Simpson, Dukes of Hazzard, Newlyweds, cleavage, dumb blonde

Are you feeling patriotic yet?

are you feeling patriotic yet?, originally uploaded by flwrbabe.

As a matter of fact, I am. Thanks for asking.

Jenny's tongue

Jenny's tongue, originally uploaded by Peoria Pundit.

More gratuitous Scarlett Johansson pics

Over at my Word Press site, I have a regular commenter who drools over Scarlett. "Momma" says she doesn't swing "that way," but any chick who clamors for more pics of this hot lady has some issues.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Aw, what the heck. Here's another:



That's enough for now, children. Let's save some for later.

Technorati Tags: Scarlett Johansson, eye candy, babes

Red Hot

Red Hot, originally uploaded by Kiki J.

"Notting Hill Carnival 2005, London.
The biggest street party in Europe and second biggest carnival in the world.
It was rocking!!!"

A thought it time to put a little beauty on this blog.

John Ashcroft's worst nightmare

Tette spruzzanti, originally uploaded by pecus.

He'd throw a sheet over this statue, but it would probably look like a wet t-shirt contest.

Holly Oaks, site issues

At least I think that's what her name is. Cute, isn't she?

Anyway, for those who haven't noticed, I'm going to start posting eye candy posts here on Blog*Spot instead of my other site. The hits I get via the Blogger NavBar are completely different than the hits I get from Peorians wanting news and information about Peoria.

Since I'm running the same Site Meter and PayPalbutton, as well as BlogAds and Google AdSense strips, on both sites, it can only help my hit counts.

I'll start doing some more cross-posting too.

Technorati Tags: maxim, pay pal, holly oaks, site meter, google adsense, blogger navbar, peoria pundit, blogads, peoria

Counterprotest

I wonder what scorn Cindy Sheehan's supporters would heap upon this woman. No know a few people who think any criticism of Sheehan is a de-facto attack on the 1st Amendment.

Feh. Your free speech right is no guanantee someone won't exercise their free speech right to call you an idiot.

Technorati Tags: cindy sheehan, iraq war, peace, protestors, 1st amendment

Scientists knew New Orleans was doomed

Via Little Green Footballs, I found this link to a National Geographic article that predicted exactly what happened: