Industry Week recently shared an interesting read about two plans to create a “hyperloop” that would connect Chicago with manufacturers in Pittsburgh or Cleveland (depending on final plans for the project) and points in between. The “hyperloop would move freight and people from Chicago to the last stop in the chain in a matters of minutes rather than hours.
Proponents of the two plans under consideration include Elon Musk and Richard Branson.
The proposals promise to improve the distribution of goods and materials, a key goal as online commerce continues to capture a larger share of wholesale and retail markets.
I admit I don't understand all the physics and engineering needed to make the proposed system work, and proponents acknowledge they are a long way from establishing the basic components. Nevertheless, I am excited about the possibilities and grateful for the talented people who are working on the plans.
A mini van for boomers
Perhaps I'm showing my age, but I like what Ford is doing with its efforts to adapt its Transit from a cargo and service vehicle to a mini van for boomers, according to this report from AARP. I was a fan of the Transit when it was first introduced as a cargo van and appreciate how Ford has revised the vehicle's from a small delivery vehicle to a commercial mini bus and now to a mini van marketed to active older drivers. I look forward to following Ford’s effort with the conversion and wish the company well with the effort.
Illinois News Network and Illinois politics
I recommend the Illinois New Network to those interested in reading about public policy and politics. ILNews offers stories covering topics from agriculture and health to schools and the outdoors.
I don’t follow politics as much as I did years ago, but I still enjoy reading a good report from time to time, and I think ILNews does a good job of providing straight, balanced coverage. Visit their website and look them over. Read what ILNews is all about. If you like what you see, register for their daily electronic newsletter. I receive it and enjoy looking at what they're offering, even if I don't make time to read the individual articles.
And speaking about Illinois politics
Amanda Vinicky at Illinois Issues provides this look at the history behind the process for picking lieutenant governors in Illinois. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor today run as a ticket and are elected as a team, following a 2010 change in state election law. Prior to that change, state law allowed voters to nominate candidates for the offices separately, even if the two candidates were not working in tandem. The pre-2010 process produced odd and interesting results, as Vinicky details in her report. It’s worth a read.
I suppose it’s appropriate to have a No. 2 in place in the event the governor is unable to serve, but I think most would agree that Illinois has a strange and mostly dismal record when it comes to its lieutenant governors, regardless of the process used to select them.
– Thanks for reading. Please email comments and feedback to kbottswrites@gmail.com. Savor the coffee and make the most of your day.
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