Two thumbs up

Those of us who can remember way back to the 1970’s will recall a PBS program called Sneak Previews, hosted by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, film reviewers for the rival Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune. When their opinions diverged, their disagreements were sure to entertain; and when they were in agreement, their assessment was generally a pretty safe bet. Sharp wit and terse critiques aside, many people paid attention because of the simple manner in which they summed up a film: by show of thumbs – either up, or down.

Now, I’ll admit, I enjoy watching a small-screen spectacle as much as the next guy; but unless you subscribe to cable, you miss a lot of the good stuff. I don’t; but a good friend of mine does, and so we’ve established Wednesdays as our weekly “date night,” when we drink coffee and nosh and cackle while watching the D#11 Board meeting on Channel 16.

(aside: The Board should really begin a streaming broadcast of the meeting: 1st, because not everyone gets cable, 2nd, because not everyone has schedule flexibility that permits them to attend five-hour long night-time meetings across town, and 3rd, because with all of their bought-and-paid-for fiber optic infrastructure, it’s well within their ability to do so. Progressive is as progressive does; not all of us enjoy a six-figure income, so stop disenfranchising those of lesser means.)

I was hoping for some real fireworks at Wednesday night’s Board meeting – my anticipation aroused all the more by the executive session that lasted until 7:00 p.m. – but instead, it was the standard drone about this item and that. Some time after 10:00 p.m., Mike Poore introduced a speaker who spent the next 45 minutes talking about math: and trouper though I am, this had upon me an effect identical to chloroform. Mumbling that “they’ll probably save the best for last,” I begged off and lumbered home around 11:30 p.m.

And though I accurately predicted the show’s ending, I was not disappointed when my friend messaged me with a synopsis of what happened next:

When it came time for each of the Directors to address the Board, Bob Null expressed a desire to look closer at possible Board member conflicts of interest. A quiet pause; then came President Hasling’s request for a show of thumbs in favor.

Two thumbs up, from Directors Null and Bobbitt.

Perhaps the others were sitting on theirs?