Events

Via The Atlantic's James Fallows, a report that Microsoft's latest round of layoffs means the end of Flight Simulator: [A]s of yesterday, it's the end of development for the venerable FS franchise (and probably the associated Microsoft ESP, the new commercial simulation platform based on FS), one of the longest-running titles in the history of the PC. Sigh.

Trib headline: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lawyers expect his removal from office": "As far as I know, the people in the Senate are more likely than not to convict him, and he will be removed from office," Blagojevich attorney Edward Genson told the Tribune. "I don't welcome it, but I expect it." Genson also said Blagojevich won't mount a defense during the impeachment trial. Duh. Everyone in Illinois knows the Governor will lose his job next month. Everyone, it seems, except the Governor: "What the Senate...

The President has ordered the military prison at Guantánamo Bay closed within a year, directed intelligence services to abide by the Army's interrogation standards, and directed Justice to review an important terrorism case with an eye towards giving the defendant actual Constitutional protections. If he keeps this up, we could restore our standing in the world in less than 20 years, perhaps. In local news, the Chicago Tribune has picked its favored bidder in the upcoming Cubs sale (without revealing...

Yesterday was also a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, which is as good a reason as any to republish this photo:

Life goes on: The Chicago Tribune says farewell to Kerry Wood, who has left the Cubs; Meanwhile, the Cubs have gotten into a shouting match with priest who blessed the dugout to remove the Curse of the Billy Goat (it didn't work); Twenty six people have filed papers to run for Rahm Emmanuel's House seat, primary to be held March 3rd; and Almost as exciting as yesterday's events, Lost returns tonight. Now I'm going back to the NPR story about all the stuff we're not shipping from our major ports.

"President Barack Obama." "Former President George W. Bush." Ahhhh.

Or, at the very least, to the reality-based world. And look at all of those people...I'm now totally happy not to be on the National Mall today. More later, sometime in the next Administration.

Only hours remain until the End of an Error.

Illinois' governor is William J. Le Petomane.

Crain's Chicago Business crows that Chicago businesses will enjoy happy times now that so many political appointees in Washington will be from Chicago: [F]or Chicagoans hoping to do business with the federal government or influence U.S. policy, the key won't be a high-level connection to the White House. It will be the ability to get a call back from the staffers who have direct lines to the powers that be as well as, in some cases, authority over bureaucratic functionaries. So while being from Chicago...