HEY! What's goin' on in Chicago?? Unofficial yK2 liveblog...

HEY YOU PEOPLE!  What the heck is going on up there in Chicago?  Did you all forget your laptops??  There are 500,000 of us out here who want-- nay NEED! -- to know every single thing that's happening at yK2!!

It's Friday, oops, Thursday already.  Some of you have been there for days.  C'mon, we're dying out here!  Look, we're SORRY we couldn't make the conference this year.  Really, we are!  And we're envious --- dripping green envy here -- that you're there and we aren't.  But Lordhavemercy, send us some NEWS.  Send us some GOSSIP!  What's the haps?  Whom have you met?  Did you see jotter yet?  Is Armando there?  Did mcjoan get her own table placard yet? Have you met Bob Johnson and did he ride his bike to the McCormack Center?  How was the Cubs game?  Have you run into Markos yet?  Did you see the new baby?   Who have you hugged?  Does this outfit make me look fat?    

Send us some pictures! Send us something, for cryin' out loud!

Use this diary to fill us in or write your own.  But WRITE, dammit, or we're sending Mike Stark to your hotel room with placards!

Last year's unofficial tin-foil hat workshop:

And here I sit, all alone and forlorn, missing you all.

Love,
Eddie

Pea Ess:  I hear it's hot in Chicago.  Oh, look!  It's actually cooler in New Orleans!  Fancy that.

•  OK, so I wish I was there.

  Humor me, will ya?  What's going on?

  by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:43:41 AM PDT

  •  A heat index of 100 degrees.

    Chicago in August is a delight. :)

    by Yoshimi on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:44:44 AM PDT

    •  Get up early, rent a bike at Millennium Park,

      ... and ride the lakefront. Before it gets too hot.

      by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:49:36 AM PDT

    •  Oh, and bring your bathing suit.

      The Lake is wonderful on days like this. Many great beaches.

      by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:18:15 AM PDT

      •  Or no swimsuit

        if you want to hang at Hollywood Beach. ;)

        by Yoshimi on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:23:57 AM PDT

        •  Now you're talkin'!

          Bring a camera, ok?

          We'll be on the national news for sure!

          by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:42:19 AM PDT

  •  If you're not here, I'm not goin'.

    Period.

    by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:48:16 AM PDT

  •  Not to nitpick but it is

    "Magnificent Mile" :)

    by Yoshimi on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:57:33 AM PDT

    •  Ach! More administration revisionism.

      I say we rename it and hope for impeachment.

      by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:01:17 AM PDT

•  Hey, I bumped into Jerome a Paris

  Oh wait, that's me. Except that I'm a Chicago.

  I'm sad to learn I won't be meeting you, Eddie.

  by Jerome a Paris on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:44:51 AM PDT

  •  Onjourbay, Jerome!

    Oooh, a celebrity!  Thanks for stopping in!

    It was fun to meet you in Vegas last year. Glad you made it this time.  I'll be there in New Orleans, next year, you can count on it.  

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:47:29 AM PDT

  •  haven't seen you yet this year, buddy

    did you remember your cell phone charger this time?

    by teacherken on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:49:21 AM PDT

    •  LOL

      I still have the one that Mark (Devilstower) bought for me then...

      by Jerome a Paris on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 11:05:08 AM PDT

  •  What a coincidence!

    I bumped into Jerome a Paris, too!

    by vicki on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 11:56:12 AM PDT

•  I did not register and I live here.

  Just returned from 12 days in Ireland and I am swamped with work. Though I wouldn't mind meeting a few folks for a beer one of these evenings.

  by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:47:45 AM PDT

  •  If you would've let me crash at your house

    I would've gone this year, too.

    Wow, another celebrity!  I'm cookin'!

    Hey, Bob, ride your bike down there and crash the gates!  I'll bet you get so many beers bought for you you'll need a lift home.

    Cheers, and welcome home.

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:50:21 AM PDT

    •  I was thinking of riding down there this evening

      ... after work, around 5:30.

      Maybe I will. I will meet anyone who wants to hang out at the waterfall/fountain in front of McCormick Place on the Lake Michigan side.

      by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:52:07 AM PDT

    •  Eddie, we should have talked.

      by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:52:39 AM PDT

      •  I should have bought google

        by condoleaser on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:02:41 AM PDT

        •  Ha. I should have married Bill Gates.

          by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:04:53 AM PDT

          •  that wouldn't have been okay, though

            and here's why.

            by condoleaser on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:19:27 AM PDT

  •  been wondering where you've been

    by Buffalo Girl on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:59:36 AM PDT

    •  Family reunion in Ireland.

      What a hoot. Lots of Guinness.

      by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:07:04 AM PDT

•  umm in Chicago it is Thursday Morning

  I have met Rick Noreiga - he is an impressive man.   He has a commanding presence.  If he can win the nomination, were I JOhn Cornyn I'd start to worry - big time.  He is NOT going to want to appear on the same stage with this guy.

  by teacherken on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:48:47 AM PDT

  •  Agreed,

    he stopped by the LGBT caucus to speak briefly - it'd have been nice to chat with him more in-depth, but we found ourselves crunched for time (plus, I got the impression he was making the caucus rounds, and didn't have much time himself).

    That being said, I appreciated his coming by.  We had three candidates/representatives show up to speak to the LGBT group: Noreiga, Jared Polis (openly gay candidate for Congress, CO-2), and a representative from the Dodd campaign.  All of them impressed me, but like I said I wish we'd had more time to go into depth with each of them.

    by pico on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:16:19 AM PDT

    •  I saw Jared!

      In fact, I registered him -- very nice guy IMHO. Didn't realize he was running in the Carbon Dioxide district (CO-2); I'll have to look him up when I get home...

      by Cali Scribe on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:46:47 AM PDT

      •  He is, and

        he's doing a fantastic job fundraising, from what I understand.  If I lived there, I'd be happy to jump on the bandwagon, but I can even shoot him some good press from a distance if possible.

        by pico on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:49:48 AM PDT

•  some of us are still enroute

  I'm sitting in the airport myself. I could diary about that, but I think you'd all fall asleep on your keyboards :)

  by decembersue on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:49:58 AM PDT

  •  Are you taking the CTA in?

    by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:50:31 AM PDT

    •  I'm a bit of a chicken

      and I'm going to splurge on a cab. I have heavy stuff for the arts event anyway.  On the way back I think I'll use the CTA if I can figure it out. It looks like the hilton requires CTA + bus and I'm not sure about doing that with bags...

      by decembersue on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:06:08 AM PDT

  •  Oh, hi to O'Hare

    Meg's field next time.... It's closer!

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:52:09 AM PDT

    •  Mieg's Field is gone.

      Daley destroyed the runway in the middle of the night a coupe of years ago. Now it's an outdoor performance venue.

      by Bob Johnson on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:53:57 AM PDT

      •  And ever since they closed down

        "Scare Illinois" where was the fun, anyway?

        by marykk on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:56:28 AM PDT

•  Hey, really, Eddie

  how do I find out what's going on?  Are there video links?  Who's live-blogging?  It's after 9 here in WA so it's time for some news!!!

  by Tinuviel on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:57:20 AM PDT

  •  Well, ALL The Cool People

    will show up here and let us know what's happening, right?

    I'm hoping for the same thing you are.  

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:03:35 AM PDT

•  Conference? Chicago?

  Is this the blogger ethics conference?

  Anybody gonna try stalking Patrick Fitzgerald?

  by Buffalo Girl on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 08:58:33 AM PDT

  •  I usually see him at the corner of Adams and

    Dearborn around lunchtime if anyone wants to give him a high five.

    by Yoshimi on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:29:55 AM PDT

•  hey...are there t-shirts for sale?

  what do they look like? who will get an XL for me?

  me at gmail

  by condoleaser on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:01:52 AM PDT

  •  yeah

    me too! xl and i'll pay!

    by Spedwybabs on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:22:03 AM PDT

    •  pay goes w/o sayin'!

      cost plus shipping...paypal, check...

      by condoleaser on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:25:38 AM PDT

  •  Yeah they're here

    White, looks roomy (like I can actually get a large), and they're $20.

    by fabooj on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:20:38 AM PDT

    •  well...?

      whaddya say...?

      e me to chat, p'raps...?

      by condoleaser on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:59:01 AM PDT

      •  You need me to get one for you?

        Tell me what size ya need.

        by fabooj on Fri Aug 03, 2007 at 05:57:40 AM PDT

        •  Gah!

          Nevermind,just saw above...I'll email you.

          by fabooj on Fri Aug 03, 2007 at 05:58:09 AM PDT

•  Sound Off! Cheers and Jeers' Spankers,

  Wankers, and Pervs! hehehe

  by PhillyGal on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:02:15 AM PDT

  •  p.s. it's Thursday, you numb nut!!! :)

    by PhillyGal on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:02:57 AM PDT

    •  Oh, you're right. I'll fix that.

      Heh.

      by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:04:43 AM PDT

      •  goody; you know, it may be a tad early yet ---

        lots of folks are still en route, and hotel check-in is at 3, I think?? but we should be getting a steady stream soon enuf! yay!!!!

        by PhillyGal on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:17:03 AM PDT

        •  We were open

          at 6am today for registration -- many of the caucus sessions started at 8am.

          (Only reason I'm here is because they were still cleaning my room -- I'll give myself another hour before I give in to the urgent summonings of a nap...)

          by Cali Scribe on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:50:15 AM PDT

•  cooler in New Orleans

  in oh so many ways

  ````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:07:41 AM PDT

  •  True Dat

    I'll be loving some Mardi Kos

    by commonscribe on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:15:07 AM PDT

•  Thanks Eddie...

  Here I sit, checking in regularly to hear about Yearly Kos in between kayaking around Lake Champlain and drinking beers on the beach with my sisters... yes, it's a rough life... but for god's sake... I want to hear what I'm missing in Chicago.

  AND.... NOTHING!

  I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling a bit indignant about the lack of up to the minute updates!! Yes, I'm just jealous!

  I hope everyone at the convention is having a great time... and don't forget us little people who are holding down the fort here "at home!"

  by Wide Awake in NJ on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:14:26 AM PDT

  •  QuickSilver called me last night

    He was hanging out with BiPM, Land of Enchantment, Trashablanca and many more of the rabid lambs who flocked to Chicago.

    needless to say, I'm sort of wishing that I was there too.

    PerfectStormer checked in here.

    ````
    peace
    
    

    by peace voter on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:34:35 AM PDT

•  Sitting on the floor

  behind the registration desk.

  Must. Recharge. Laptop.

  I was sitting next to Chris Bowers, who was also topping off his battery, but he wandered off a few minutes ago.

  -dms

  by dmsilev on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:31:37 AM PDT

  •  so

    what did you have for breakfast, and what are you wearing. :)

    Thanks!

    by OLinda on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:35:56 AM PDT

    •  maybe I should revive this diary

      from last year....

      by Buffalo Girl on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:40:35 AM PDT

      •  LOL

        Very tempting! I guess I've already given myself away. I might try it on another thread, haha. Don't tell!

        by OLinda on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:43:16 AM PDT

    •  Cornflakes, and then a muffin

      And coffee. Can't forget the coffee.

      A shortsleeved shirt, and brownish slacks. Plus a nametag on a bright orange lanyard.

      -dms

      by dmsilev on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:51:09 AM PDT

•  Currently hiding in the back

  of the State/Local blogging discussion, "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (hoorah Irving Stone references).  Right now people are hashing out issues of journalism, blogging, local campaigns, etc.  Decent mix of people who run local blogs and people who want to run local blogs.  This is really where some of the most exciting developments in the impact of blogs on politics is likely to be.

  by pico on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:36:16 AM PDT

  •  I agree

    local blogs can have a huge impact...

    by Buffalo Girl on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:38:21 AM PDT

  •  Good piece of advice thrown out

    for people worried about local blogs being infiltrated by political operatives trying to skew the discussion.  If you note during the username registration process that disclosure of campaign ties is imperative for discussion on the site, you have 1. some people who will disclose and make your life a lot easier, and 2. an easier time justifying deletion of operatives should they not disclose (you may never find out for sure, but sometimes you can make enough of a reasonable guess that you can pressure the user into disclosing or facing a banning).   Not perfect, but a much more practical solution than I've usually heard.

    by pico on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:42:29 AM PDT

•  Yawn...

  No, that's not boredom -- merely exhaustion already; I'm gettin' freakin' OLD, people!

  It's now 11:47 Chicago time. Got in yesterday an hour late (thanks to American -- Bush's twin must be running that airline), then didn't get to the hotel till 6 something. This morning I put in a 4+ hour shift on Registration before my body started telling me it was due for a system shutdown if I didn't get some food in me. Now I'm camped out on the floor of the conference center, taking advantage of the FREE WiFi.

  Can't think where to start -- have met sooooo many famous (and infamous) folks from this section of the Internets tubes; it's been pretty much a blur. I'm taking today to sort of get my bearings before getting into serious stuff tomorrow; about the only thing I'll be attending today is the Street Prophets caucus, the opening keynote, and probably the Art/Poetry Slam tonight (though the latter is at the same time I'm supposed to call the spouse and his folks).

  Though getting here was a PITA, now that I'm here I wouldn't have missed it for the world! :)

  by Cali Scribe on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:43:24 AM PDT

  •  rest up

    a bit, and tell us more later. Have fun!!

    by OLinda on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:56:15 AM PDT

•  Comb your hair, groom well, be ready

  for primetime.....and 'Candid Camera'......

  And remember: the mission to elect Progressive Dems......It's all about POLICIES.

  Watch out for secret trolls and undercover agitators.....

  by LNK on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:49:11 AM PDT

•  being that kos is destroyed shell of former self

  how will you spend you next four days

  by gaspare on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 09:58:20 AM PDT

  •  Poor man, vacations can be tough.

    Have fun in Chicago ya bums.

    by KenBee on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 11:41:44 AM PDT

  •  I meant it as snark

    at oreilly's blustering, guess it's not taken that way

    by gaspare on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 12:49:48 PM PDT

    •  I got it!

      Have a four.

      by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 06:43:18 PM PDT

•  The weather always sucks in Chicago

  Too muggy, too hot, too cold, wind chill factors in the negatives, heat indexes in the 100s, Ozone watches, heat action days, pollution index, mold spores, pollen counts...I don't know why I stay here.

  by Temmoku on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:09:19 AM PDT

  •  God, I so agree.

    About staying here, I mean.  I guess it's for the theatre.

    by lefthanded on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 02:53:26 PM PDT

•  YearlyKos 2007 photos!

  Let's all be sure to use the dKosopedia YearlyKos 2007 Photos page so everyone can see all our beautiful photos.

  People can't love 'em if they can't find 'em.

  by snorfbat on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:16:43 AM PDT

  •  Thanks for that link!

    I'll check in often.

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:39:20 AM PDT

•  My update

  Went to the Cubs game last night, it was great...the cubs won in the bottom of the 9th.

  This morning I've been at some of the film screening series, which has been very cool.  I saw the preview of "Crashing the States", which will be showing later in the conference, and "Collateral Damage", which talks about cuts to TennCare, Tennessee's health care system.

  It's hot and humid...

  by merp on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 10:27:24 AM PDT

•  FInally made it to the conference

  after spending the morning revisiting the area around the U. Chicago.  For some reason, the only people I met to talk to were law students ... and they both were aware of the Daily Kos convention, though not that all 5 Dem candidates would be here.  

  I'm kind of disappointed that you have to vote with your feet ... you can only see one of the five since the sessions are simultaneous.  I got a wrist band to use as entry ticket.  So .. do you go to the one you support, or to the one you want to see in person?  When I registered only one had sold out: Obama.  That left Edards, who is my current top choice, and Hilary; who wouldn't want a chance to see her in person?  Once again, folks, its the people who stayed home who will have the best seats in the house!  Just like major sports events.

  McCormick center is living up to its reputation.  The place is huge.  It seems to make it harder to meet people, or maybe that's just me again.  I've seen (briefly), Navajo, Raines, and kid oakland since I've been in the building.  But I have to say I haven't partaken of any convening yet.  

  Here's hoping once I make it to an actual session things will get better.

  by jotter on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 02:00:09 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for stopping in

    and for the update!  Have fun, jotter.  Wish you were here.. no wait... wish I were there!

    by Eddie Haskell on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 06:46:17 PM PDT

    •  just back in

      I went to Science Bloggers, the Drinking Liberally Happy Hour, and the evening "event" featuring Sam Seder as host, a couple of comics, Gina, a video message from  Dick Durbin, and a rousing speech from Howard Dean.

      Met a ton of folks.

      It was good!

      Details ... maybe tomorrow

      by jotter on Thu Aug 02, 2007 at 07:53:30 PM PDT