Manuel Excel
@colintj.bsky.social
“A mainstay of charts and graphs twitter” - MGo “Top-notch, safe, family-friendly heckler” - Benetti
Mars/Wrigley on Goose Island is replacing this open space with a 90% increase in surface parking City planners: no adverse impact detected
Seems like an A+ hire that I’d be hype about if Dusty made it under the best possible circumstances. This was not that.
Alejandro Zúñiga@byazuniga.bsky.social · 5d agoMichigan men’s basketball is hiring Dylan Murphy, most recently the head coach of the Osceola Magic NBA G League Team, as an assistant coach, I’ve learned. 247sports.com/college/mich...
Rough estimate is that plumbing and electrical codes in Chicago that are not present in other large cities or even the inner prewar suburbs of Chicago have added about $50,000 - $75,000 to the commercial build-out costs for my bar.
William Skudlarek@willskud.bsky.social · 6d ago“In the second category of reducing the cost of construction, we need to update our building code to make it cheaper to build while ensuring safety. Every building does not need copper pipes when PVC is much cheaper."
Interesting that the Michigan weights stuff is capturing so much of the imagination bc we saw guys being put on the field constantly who had no idea what was going on. OL, QB, and RBs are the only position groups who didn't struggle to understand playcalls and responsibilities on a regular basis.
Over at A City That Works: It should not take 2+ years to consider studying the possibility of potentially upgrading a Metra Station.
Local governments need better feedback loops
It is not in fact enough to know that you have a problem
citythatworks.substack.com
This is a bummer but understandable to decide that Giannoulias' war chest occupying your lane makes it worth sitting out.
Frank Calabrese @frankcalabrese.bsky.social · 6d agoAfter some speculation, Bill Conway is not running for mayor of Chicago, and will instead run for re election as alderman of his downtown ward.
A guy who absolutely always understood what was needed of him. Always delivered.
Sitcom People@sitcompeople.bsky.social · 7d ago
One thing that I think we’ll notice immediately is that Whitt and Hill want to be gapped out and stopping the run is the first priority. That’s going to come with tradeoffs against the pass. But given the personnel we expect this year, it’s a reasonable one.
Manuel Excel@colintj.bsky.social · last wk.I mean yeah both units underperformed last year and lost their best players. I think the talent exists to be at least pretty good though. And philosophically Hill and Whitt believe in being gapped out and stopping the run first that’s different from ‘21-‘25.
ICYMI some all 22 on BYU’s D last year that I expect will help Michigan fans get used to what they’re seeing this fall.
Manuel Excel@colintj.bsky.social · last wk.Obviously it is now football season. So I wanted to illustrate quickly how I expect Michigan’s defense to be fundamentally different (but with certain recognizable ideas) than what we saw the last 5 years via the first 3 plays from scrimmage by BYU vs TT in their first matchup.
Obviously it is now football season. So I wanted to illustrate quickly how I expect Michigan’s defense to be fundamentally different (but with certain recognizable ideas) than what we saw the last 5 years via the first 3 plays from scrimmage by BYU vs TT in their first matchup.
nbd seeing the greatest band of the 90s ergo the greatest of all time
Illinois an obvious competitor here with Northwestern and DePaul topping the list
Mid-Major Madness@mid-majormadness.bsky.social · 2w agoThere's good mid-major basketball across the country, but which state has the best? We want to hear from you....
The Crime Index has now been updated through May 2026. Data from nearly 600 agencies nationwide covering more than 122 million people shows murder down 18% through May with smaller drops in violent & property crime. Check out the new and improved site! crimeindex.org
Another way Spain wins: reasonable subway construction costs
New from me: Mayor Brandon Johnson's top criteria for NITA is not relevant skills. It's better to be a friend than be an expert. He makes a mockery of the positions advocates spent years fighting for. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/19/o...
Nik Hunder: Brandon Johnson shows us again that he doesn’t value transit but rather cronyism
Two of Chicago’s representatives on the Northern Illinois Transit Authority don’t ride the system enough to know its problems.
chicagotribune.com
Everyone I’ve brought this up with including me has INSISTED their band cannot possibly be regarded as a one hit wonder which makes it very clear this is actually a thing
Mr. Nick Beaudrot@nbeaudrot.bsky.social · 3w agoBand of Horses has at least two hits!
Is there an aughts indie one hit wonders playlist out there? I need Postcards From Italy and The Funeral on there at a minimum.
Chicago’s got the prettiest Odyssey. (And, I legitimately think, as a longtime Odyssey reader who has read several translations, the best. Daniel Mendelsohn’s translation is gorgeous, faithful, and clever, the notes incredibly helpful and interesting.)
Shout out to the dude at the coffee shop who saw my Silver Jews t shirt and let me know the Random Rules video was shot inside Rainbo Club and that they used to play there all the time. Dk why I didn't make the Drag City connection earlier. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPD0...
Silver Jews "Random Rules" (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Drag City
youtube.com
An incredibly disappointing outcome. Whatever goodwill that may have remained between transit advocates and the admin is gone. This feels like an act of direct hostility and antagonism to the organizers that worked so hard to get NITA passed.
Star:Line Chicago@starlinechicago.bsky.social · 3w agoBarclay's appointment to NITA/CTA is approved, 25-19