Saturday Soap Box

Do something about it: Vote

So voters in other states like Illinois are a little fed up with the attention shown Iowans and residents of New Hampshire? Both earn lots of early political notice because of their early primaries. We've got a suggestion for those whining about this: Go to the polls for a change. On Feb. 5, to be exact. Are you even registered? The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and voters have no one but themselves to blame for the silence -- and the inattention.

Chilly start to new year

The new year got off to a chilly start for employees of Countrywide Financial, R.R. Donnelley and Home Depot, all of whom were listed in the state's Warn Report of impending layoffs. The mortgage industry's sub-prime mess, consolidation or operations and a call center closure will reduce jobs by 127, 55 and 110 at those three firms' suburban operations. Those lost jobs were in addition to the previously announced 1,096 to be slashed at Chrysler's Belvidere assembly plant at the end of this month. Here's hoping the new year brings new jobs for those who've been laid off.

Make old phone a gift

Get a new cell phone for Christmas? Consider turning in your old one (along with its charger) to your local police department. Police departments like the one in Elgin clear the phones, make sure they can call 911 and distribute them to needy area senior citizens. The Elgin department has distributed 600 such phones already but needs more. To donate, drop it off at the police department or call (847) 289-2626 for more info. Or check your local department to see if it is doing something similar.

Right of passage gone

For those who remember their driver's license photos making them look more like felons than newly minted drivers, there's a certain disappointment in learning the kids and grandkids won't have to suffer such photographic indignities. After all, complaining about license photos was almost as much a right of passage as the driving itself was. Alas, technology has finally found the driver's license office and the quality of the pictures is much improved. Too bad!

Call that could have waited

University of Illinois football coach Ron Zook didn't look too happy in our Jan. 2 front page photo, taken during the Fighting Illini's disappointing loss in the Rose Bowl. But the saddest sports photo on that same day was on the front page of our sports section. Lloyd Carr is being carried off the field after his Michigan Wolverines upset Florida in his last game as head coach. It's a moment to savor. And what is Carr doing? He's talking on his cell phone! Who in the world could he be talking to? Who could be so important that they couldn't wait to talk to Carr until, say, the coach climbed off his players' shoulders and went into the locker room? It's the ultimate moment of the cell phone age: Even victorious football coaches would rather be somewhere else talking to someone else than celebrating with their own players.

Pollution from puffers

Has anyone thought of the consequences of the new state law that is forcing hundreds of thousands of smokers outside to light up their cigarettes? That is a lot of tobacco fumes being released into the atmosphere. Could be the making of a new Al Gore documentary.

Cold reason to go cold turkey

Then again, if standing outside in below-zero temperatures to smoke a cigarette held between fingers frozen to the texture of dinner plates isn't enough to make a smoker quit, what will?