Recycle your old stuff

The City of Naperville is planning a recycling day. Bring in all your old electronics, books, scrap metal, eyeglasses and hearing aids (sponsored by the Lions), bicycles, cell phones and ink-jet cartridges. The recycling day is next Saturday, June 6, at Alcatel-Lucent on Lucent Lane. See the details from the Naperville Sun here.

Please note: Computers are destroyed before being recycled. Information CANNOT be retrieved from them so make you've pulled off all you need before bringing it in.

Friday night Fun - Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Kicking it off tonight with a very cool video of 'Monkey On a Wire' by Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson from their terrific album 'Rattlin' Bones.' Shane is Kasey's husband.

Friday night Fun - Whiskeytown

This is another of my all-time favorite bands, Whiskeytown, in a live performance of 'Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart' from 1997. This is a song from their debut album 'Strangers Almanac,' a classic. If you don't own it, you should. Yep, that's Ryan Adams before he grew his hair down into his eyes and married Mandy Moore. And that's Caitlin Cary, too! Don't know who the dancing guy is.

Friday night Fun - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Here's a great song from one of my favorite albums of 2008, Raising Sand. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with 'Please Read the Letter.'

Buh bye Blackhawks

Yes,the Red Wings have defeated the Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final. Young Blackhawks had a great season, you just found out (as so many have) that if you want to win a Stanley Cup, you have to go through Detroit. Blackhawks are young and talented but green; but they won't be that way forever. Congratulations on your best season in years.

And take turns on the golf course tomorrow.

Ferris Bueller's best pal's house for SALE

The Highland Park home that was used as the location for Cameron Frye's beautiful but cold house in the movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is now up for sale.

According to the Sun-Times a North Shore Realtor has posted the home for sale for $2.3 million.

The Ben Rose home at 370 Beech St. in north suburban Highland Park -- site of an iconic moment of cinematic teen angst when Cameron catapulted a Ferrari through a cantilevered glass window -- is on the market.

Built in 1953, the property features two glass and steel buildings totaling 5,300 square feet.

"It's not just about the car going in the ravine," said Meladee Hughes, the Sudler Sotheby's International Realtor listing the property. "It's just a wonderful property."

Freaks and Geeks - Mathlete power!

Freaks and Geeks was a short-lived NBC drama about high schoolers in Michigan in 1980. Lindsay has rejected the freaks and rejoined the geeks and kicks some mathlete ass. But she finds out the freaks might appreciate that she's got more than one side to her...

Hey red Element driver on 80 west today

It's called tail-gating and in this case it's not what you do before a football game. If I can clearly see that you're Asian, YOU'RE TOO CLOSE.

Thanks.

Friday night Dance Party - 80's night with M

So it's 80's night here at Naperville City Desk and I couldn't resist leading off with this pure pop confection. It's 'Pop Muzik' by M.

Friday night Dance Party - 80's night with Peter Schilling

Earth below us
Drifting falling...

Major Tom

Friday night Dance Party - 80's night w Rick Springfield

So when I was 16 years old 'Working Class Dog' had just been released and I was sure I was going to grow up and marry Rick Springfield. Or become Mrs. Randolph Mantooth.

Jessie's Girl

Trolling the east coast tollways

Yeah, it sounds funny, but not when a nice old lady gets in a heap of trouble.

Zelpha Mitsch, an 89-year-old woman from Georgetown, IN, has been getting hate mail from the company that runs the tollways on the east coast for blasting through toll booths without paying. She's received 24 letters so far and the fines are several hundred dollars already.

But the Hoosier has not traveled out east for decades and is not the one blowing through the tolls.

Zelpha Mitsch says she thought she removed the plate from her truck when it expired three years ago.

Her attorney says law enforcement agencies nationwide have been alerted. He suspects that someone visiting Mitsch’s livestock farm stole the plate.

Nice, you jackasses.

Trixie lived out east briefly and refused to get an EZ-Pass transponder. I was traveling to the NJ shore one time and got in the wrong lane and accidentally went through a toll without paying. A couple weeks later I got a fine for $42 on a $0.60 toll. Illinois uses the same system but signs are posted everywhere letting you know if you missed a toll you can pay it online. Not so out east or at least not when I was living out there.

Funniest 'SNL' sketch of the year

Sean Connery is totally trolling Alex Trebek.

59 expansion study due by end of 2009

The city of Naperville is working on an engineering study of a needed expansion of a 3 mile stretch of Route 59 that is finally expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The study has been ongoing since 2004 and is looking at a stretch of road from the I-88 interchange to Aurora Road which serves 50,000 cars a day, according to the Naperville Sun.

The city will host a public hearing this summer to present the preliminary design and provide interested parties with an opportunity to comment on the plan. The date for the public hearing will be announced in the coming weeks.

Through the study, significant progress has been made in developing solutions to address traffic congestion and safety along this stretch of Route 59. Improvements that have been identified include widening the roadway to three lanes in each direction and adding additional turn and through traffic lanes at key intersections, including the I-88 interchange.

Following the completion of the engineering study, the next steps are to acquire right-of-way for the improvements, prepare the construction documents and construct the improvements. However, without state funding, which has not yet been allocated, these next steps cannot occur. The Illinois Legislature is currently deliberating the state's 2009-2010 budget and a vote is expected by the end of May. All interested parties are encouraged to contact their local legislators and show support for funding for the Route 59 Expansion Project.

To learn more about this project and the proposed solutions, visit www.naperville.il.us/Route59expansion.aspx. Interested parties can also sign up to receive the latest news on the Route 59 Expansion Project at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.

No doubt once construction starts it will be a huge pain in the tuckus for motorists who want to get through this stretch and especially for residents who will have to negotiate it on a regular basis. That being said, this expansion is necessary. Let's hope the road crews can work with haste and complete the project as soon as feasible.

Where's my automobiiiiille? edition of CCC

Chicks Committing Crime: Some heavily-influenced driving resulted in an early morning arrest for a Batavia resident according to the Naperville Sun. Abbey Potter (no relation to Harry),24, had a little too much fun early this morning and got behind the wheel of a Hyundai. She crashed the car through a 7-foot section of fencing, also knocking a fire hydrant off its base, before ending up another 500 feet beyond the fence on Centennial Beach. Witnesses called the police and when they approached they found Potter attempting to pull out of the sand.

Potter was uninjured but that is the only break she caught:
- her blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit and she was charged with two counts of DUI
- the police charged her with possession of cannabis and other drug paraphernalia
- the Hyundai was uninsured
- the registration was expired
- and finally she was charged with driving on the sidewalk

We dedicate the following video to Potter. Though she didn't quite make it to the water, she did try. Despite the poor video quality, you get the idea.

Friday night Fun - Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Ryan A with the Cardinals doing Come Pick Me Up, though it's not on the record he did with them... Sanitized for a viewing audience.

Friday night Fun - Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels

w Emmylou Harris. Performed live on radio in 1973. Did you know the Everly Brothers did it first, in 1960?

Your next 'hawks goal, brought to you by ClearChannel

Well, it's not really that bad, but in what passes for news these days the Sun-Times reports that the sound system guys at the United Center have taken to playing The Fratellis' "Chelsea Dagger" whenever the Blackhawks score. So, okay, the song is getting more of a workout than a song would have in years past since the 'hawks have extended their season significantly but let's not lose sight of the work that needs to be done to keep playing at a level required to take it to the end.

Recipe night!

I tried this recipe yesterday and it came out great. This would make a great side dish at your next dinner party or Memorial Day festivities...

CHIPOTLE RICE CASSEROLE
½ cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1 cup water
1 jar 7.5 oz roasted red bell peppers , drained and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 can 15 oz black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can Mexicorn (corn with red & green peppers) drained
1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, drained
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, chopped
1 cup shredded pepper jack or Mexican blend cheese
3 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
½ cup chicken broth
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic salt
Cook rice in water as directed on package. Meanwhile heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix roasted peppers, beans, corn, diced tomatoes, cilantro, chipotle chilies, ½ cup of the cheese and the cooked rice.

In 2 quart saucepan, heat oil over low heat. Stir in flour, using wire whisk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth & bubbly. Gradually stir in milk, broth, cumin and garlic salt. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir about 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Stir into rice mixture in bowl. Spoon mixture into baking dish.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly around the edges. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese. Bake 5 to 8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

51 years is too long

Naperville City Desk read recently that defense lawyers for ousted governor Rod Blagojevich have said it would take one lawyer 51 years to read the mountain of documents turned over as evidence against the hair-challenged politician.

NCD is sincerely hoping it doesn't take 51 years to prosecute Blago. He's caused enough embarrassment to the state of Illinois between appointing Roland Burris, scandals, political appointments meant solely to increase the pensions of retiring state employees - god knows what else.

Doesn't 51 years worth of evidence sorta let you know where there is smoke there is FIRE?

Friday night Fun -Barenaked Ladies The Old Apartment

It's Canada night at NCD and Trixie's busting out the Barenaked Ladies.

The Old Apartment always made me want one 42 steps from the street and to stomp on the floor just for fun...

Friday night Fun - Barenaked Ladies and millions of dollars

Barenaked Ladies break down what they'd do if they had a million dollars. (Remember, it's their funny Canadian money.) This is a live version and they play with it, playing fast and loose with the pop musical canon. Who doesn't want a nice Chesterfield or an ottoman? And haven't you always wanted a mon-key?

Friday night Fun - Barenaked Ladies

Canada's own Barenaked Ladies doing 'Brian Wilson' live. Was sorry to hear Steven Page left the band but wish him the best of luck and continued success for BNL. For all you haters who hated 'Brian Wilson' back in the day, listen to it now. It holds up.

Drew Peterson accused of murdering his third wife

Drew Peterson has been arrested on murder charges in the death of this third wife, Kathleen Savio. Illinois State Police stopped Peterson in his car this evening as he was about to leave his home and he was taken into custody without incident.

Savio, 40, was found dead in a dry bathtub in her Bolingbrook home in March 2004 and the death was originally ruled an accidental drowning.

After Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy, then 23, disappeared in October 2007, officials reclassified Savio’s death as a homicide and gave the state police another opportunity to figure out who did her in.

Savio’s body was exhumed from its grave. An autopsy conducted in November 2007 determined Savio was the victim of a homicide.

You can run, Drew, but you can't hide.

Naperville resident punished for being popular with his friends

No, it's not oregano... A Naperville resident has been sentenced to probation and 80 hours of community service after police found 12 marijuana plants growing in his basement according to the Sun.

In addition, Thomas Lekan, 52, was ordered to pay fines and legal fees of almost $4,200.

Now, we here at the Naperville City Desk don't even smoke the stuff, but we respect an adults' right to inhale (or not). Mr. Lekan claims he was growing the weed for his own use and we'll buy that. The economy is in the toilet, times are tough and maybe he got sick of having to cough up serious scratch for some good sticky. We also don't see it as a gateway drug - most of the pot smokers we know limit their vices to just weed.

Sure would like to see a day where pot consumption is decriminalized. Hell, legalize and tax it. Any little boost to the economy sure would help right about now...

Mr. Lekan, we hope your community service is not strenuous. But if it is, you could always go home and roll a nice relaxing... oh, never mind.

Burglar REALLY has something against the third floor...

The Naperville Sun reports local police are investigating a break-in at the Southwest Crossing apartment complex.

The burglaries happened Wednesday morning. The thief broke into the locked exterior door and then had access to the shared hallway and made a beeline for the third floor where the good loot must have been. The burglar or burglars kicked in the doors of three apartments and ransacked them taking various items.

Witnesses to the break-ins or those who believe they have information about the case were asked to call Naperville police at 630-420-6665.

Grammar Bitch is in. Cough up five cents!

IRREGARDLESS. Still not a word. Heard it again this week. Will the madness NEVER end??

Friday night Fun - Beastie Boys

It's Old School night at Naperville City Desk and gotta kick it off with Beastie Boys in this homage to 70's cop shows directed by Spike Jonze.



Shout out to Johnny - remember listening to this at your house many times as Mrs. Johnny cringed... Good times!

Friday night Fun - Cypress Hill

Old School night continues: Cypress Hill in the hoooooooooouuuuuuuuussssseeeee!

Friday night Fun - House of Pain

Inspired by the Bridgestone commercials you can see on VS. during the Stanley Cup playoffs (official tire of the NHL!).