From the Chicagoist "tips" inbox (yes, we check it) comes this gem of a Google ad from reader James Chase. more ›

Have to say we feel for Larry, Robin and the gang at WGN Morning News for missing the implosion of that Bridge in downstate Seneca yesterday. But their on-air meltdown made for better fireworks than watching the old bridge go "boom." more ›

The GOP has released a number of virtual Valentine Cards for Republican fans to send to their friend. We think they're supposed to be insulting towards Democrats, but personally we find them hilarious. Instead of stoking Conservative furies we suspect the GOP is just going to end up collecting a lot of useless email addresses from Liberals loving the cards. more ›

The day before another hike in the city's parking rates goes into effect and a day after we looked back on the year that was in the Parking Meter Lease Saga, both the City and the company in charge of the meters have gone on the defensive. The new rates technically begin tomorrow, but technicians won't start phasing the new rates into the meters until Monday and it'll take most of the month of January to get the new rates locked in at all meters around the city. And as the new rates roll out and a new round of complaints get set to roll in, the defense begins. more ›

So as we stare down higher property tax bills and a potential transit fare hike, here's more good news: the parking meter rates are going up, too. As The Parking Ticket Geek points out, when the City Council passed that controversial parking meter lease that Mayor Daley engineered, it also included a yearly increase in rates. These annual rate increases will continue through 2013. $1/hour rates will go up to $1.50, $2/hr up to $2.50, and $3.50/hr up to $4.25. The increases hit January 1, 2010. more ›

We don't enjoy starting our mornings by having a downright hissy fit, but reading the Sun-Times story on Mayor Daley's planned speech in which he'll allegedly admit he made a mistake with the infamous parking meter deal is throwing us into a hulk-out rage. Know why? Well, for starters: more ›

We've gone on and on and on and on about this parking meter clusterfuck in town, but the Chicago Reader's team of Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke has easily topped us and anyone else by offering the most thorough, comprehensive, (and all-around best) look yet at the entire history of this deal gone wrong. more ›

Ugh, moving sucks. more ›