Photo by Tripp (Flickr pool)

Top story: The  CTA will be testing a new policy called “Don’t clean the buses and trains til we get more money.” What’s next? Dudes can set up tents on the train? Let’s go back to allowing big boom boxes, too. I’ve got a great idea: instead of always telling us but never enforcing the “no smoking, littering or radio-playing on the CTA” rule, why not let people do it (above photo) and just tax them? If you want to eat on the train? $1. If you want to play that boom box? $2. If you want to rub up on someone without their permission? Well, that still gets you arrested. This is going to get ugly. Smelly, then ugly.

B story: Earlier this week, Teachers’ Union Prez Marilyn Stewart shot back at CPS Chief Ron Huberman about his ‘Doomsday’ budget scenario for the Chicago Public Schools. Stewart claims the budget situation is dire, but that the panic and scare-tactics don’t help and that Huberman should know better. Maybe Stewart has more clout and relationships than the CTA union because all those years of Doomsday at the CTA seemed to be Huberman v. Illinois legislature, not CTA union (although they were a player, certainly). But the Teachers’ Union is no slouch. Stewart herself knows how to manipulate the media and get the teachers side out. She may be the most high-profile union leader in Chicago. So this could be a big ole’ pissing contest between two leaders who use the media to get their message of doom/gloom to the masses. Oh, joy.

C story: The new Toyota sign has been digitally proposed for the left field bleachers. I was all ready to make this about “Hey, Wrigley should have an electronic billboard” argument, but this is just a crappy Toyota sign, making the park look more like a dealership off the expressway rather than the Friendly Confines. I hate to say it, but I’m with Alderman Tunney on this one. That sign is very un-Mark Cuban, Mr. Ricketts.

Weather: God love Tom Skilling. Nice write-up getting us prepared for 70 degree weather into wet, cold snow.

Sports: Today starts March Madness! We have six big flat-screen TVs in the City Room. Every year I have to appeal to Torey (GM) to put one of those TV’s to college basketball. He doesn’t like sports and thinks it is a distraction. My argument? We work hard and deserve the ability to look up once in a while to watch a very close game between two colleges that we could care less about. Can you at least give us that?

Kicker: Chatroulette is taking over the world. The international phenomenon gives you the chance to chat with any random stranger at any time. If you are intimidated, this filmmaker did the work for you. It’s a great introduction to what will probably be the future of telephones.