The state of the world - the onion can't make this up

disclaimer - this is not a political thread. Please feel free to share in my laughter.

I was on the cook county assessor office website today (cook county IL is Chicago's county).

There is an ad banner at the top, promising me a free duffel bag if I join the NRA.

Can't. Make. This. Up.

That's funny right dere...

A FREE duffel bag? I'll be right back!

Hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut, hut

That's where they got that Picasso.

"Attention all units. Use of unnecessary force in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers, has been approved."

Like free t-shirts when you buy magazines.

Actually, lots of web sites have no idea what ads are shown in the space they provide for that purpose since the ad provider serves them up as they see fit. You can choose to control some of it - but they are not all pre-approved by site owners.

I'm not sure what the problem is.

Why would't they run advertisements that paid for it.

What, no Stripper Scent?

It's viable

I just walked underneath that Picasso today.

If I had to live in Cook County, I would join the NRA. I'm not getting why this is strange or worthy of a thread?

mtn wrote: I just walked underneath that Picasso today.

I rode my bike on it about 30-years ago.

A big bag with NRA all over it is a red flag even for Cook County guys, go with someting more discreet.

This is funny to me on multiple levels, the irony is so deep:

1. This is the official website of a government service*. The county with literally the highest property taxes in the nation has to support its website with revenue from banner ads?
2. I'm not sure there is another US county with more gun problem talk, gun control proponents, and VERY anti-NRA legislators. This certainly makes it look like the government of cook county supports the NRA.
3. The cook county assessor is Joseph Berrios. A long-time IL democratic lawmaker (his daughter is also a democratic lawmaker). The "join NRA" is inches from his face on the screen.
4. *Notice this is a ".com" site - maybe this "official government site" is actually profiting for Berrios' personal account. He's been accused of similar improper use of public control before.

Robbie wrote: 2. I'm not sure there is another US county with more gun problem talk, gun control proponents, and VERY anti-NRA legislators.

That right there is exactly WHY those banner ads pop up.

It's all automated. More talk about the NRA means more likelihood for NRA banner ads.

Might want to close the youp*rn tab when posting screen shots .
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Made you look

Robbie wrote: This is funny to me on multiple levels, the irony is so deep: 1. This is the official website of a government service*. The county with literally the highest property taxes in the nation has to support its website with revenue from banner ads? 2. I'm not sure there is another US county with more gun problem talk, gun control proponents, and VERY anti-NRA legislators. This certainly makes it look like the government of cook county supports the NRA. 3. The cook county assessor is Joseph Berrios. A long-time IL democratic lawmaker (his daughter is also a democratic lawmaker). The "join NRA" is inches from his face on the screen. 4. *Notice this is a ".com" site - maybe this "official government site" is actually profiting for Berrios' personal account. He's been accused of similar improper use of public control before.

So, what we have is a politician that is willing to sacrifice his principals for a buck.

Still not news.

In reply to Toyman01:

More like a prerequisite...

Enyar wrote: Might want to close the youp*rn tab when posting screen shots Made you look

well played.

A corrupt politician in Illinois? Nah...that would never happen........

Funny story about how things work in Chicago.......

A friend of mine was a bar owner in Cook county. He and his partners were in the process of opening another bar, and had filed for a liquor license. I called him late one night to see how he was doing.

friend--"Doing well--- just preparing 200 ham dinners...."

me---"Wha..... for who?"

friend ---"Well, the alderman's office called.... they are hosting a ham dinner for the local old-folks home, and they asked us if we'd like to help prepare the meals---- we want that liquor license, so it was wise for us to say yes....otherwise it could be a long, long time until we get approved"

So there he was, preparing ham dinners at 2am. The alderman knows old folks vote--- he also knows they like free ham dinners. Free dinner= vote. My buddy also knows it pays to "grease the pan" a bit in order to get things done.

They got their liquor license promptly. Funny how that works......

Joe Gearin wrote: ...They got their liquor license promptly. Funny how that works......

No. No it isn't.

In reply to Joe Gearin:

That's a tough way to do it. It's much easier to invite the guys over for poker on a night you have really bad luck. So I've heard anyway.