Debt

It was such a weird, seemingly off-the-cuff remark by Mitt Romney in the first debate: that of all the items in the budget an axe-wielding privatizing plutocratic president could hack away at, he pointed to a children's television show and the debate moderator, Jim Lehrer (who certainly deserves to be fired from something). PBS being about the most infinitesimal line item in the budget, and about the silliest way of attempting to control the federal debt - like stealing from your child's piggy bank to buy Exxon-Mobil.

Most of the coverage of the economy this campaign season will revolve around the question, “Is the economy doing well enough to get Barack Obama re-elected?” And to be sure his chances are just a little better than a coin flip given our current electorate. However, when historians look back at this period 25, 50, 100 years from now, they will be telling your children and grandchildren how Obamanomics worked. For proof, look no further than Europe , which in response to debt crises in a few of the Eurozone's members (Greece being everyone's favorite example)

** (out of four) Shame on 2-star movies for the indifference they cause. For the mild successes that quickly fade and for the flaws that could have been avoided with a simple change of procedure. For the fact that bad movies stir up some impassioned reaction. All a 2-star movie inspires is, “Eh.” That's the long way of saying that “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” a dramedy about a group of elderly British folks who retire to a not especially luxurious senior spot in India, unfolds with all of the expected highlights from its great cast and lowlights from its obvious-yet-contrived story.

** (out of four) Close the nominations. Contest over. The worst musical score of 2012 goes to “People Like Us,” which delivers such manipulative twinkle-twinkle-jangle-string-section compositions that even the few moments of this melodrama that would have felt authentic turn to corny mush. Cue the dramatic orchestration to express my discontent for composer A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”). On the plus side, the movie's two-star rating belongs almost exclusively to a four-star performance from Elizabeth Banks, breathing vibrant personality into a movie suffering from a major case of spell-out-absolutely-everything.

** (out of four) If “Killer Joe” is about anything - and it barely is - it's about how a bunch of amoral fools ignore the wishes of the only pure person among them. The NC-17-rated movie's own crime is being more interested in the sins of the guilty than their effect on the innocent. Adapted by Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicagoan Tracy Letts from his play, “Killer Joe” stars Emile Hirsch as Chris, a low-life constantly catching up to his own mistakes. He'll be killed if he can't pay off a $6,000 debt soon, so he has an idea: Hiring Dallas detective/murderer-for-hire Joe (Matthew McConaughey)

The Miami Marlins' losses might wind up being the city of Chicago's gain, specifically when it comes to the millions in taxpayer dollars the Ricketts family is eyeing to help fund Wrigley Field renovations. That's because Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria all but ensured the end of taxpayer-funded stadiums last week by holding a fire sale. For years, Loria had said the team needed a new ballpark if it was going to be competitive in free agency, and the Marlins were initially. Heading into their first season in a new stadium that will eventually cost cash-strapped Miami-Dade County billions (that's with a "B")

The process to apply to fill the aldermanic seat in the 7th ward vacated by Sandi Jackson began Monday. Residents living in the communities of South Shore, South Chicago, Calumet Heights and South Deering can click here to download an application, submit it online and check their residency status to make sure they live in the ward. Applications also can be emailed to 7thwardcandidate@cityofchicago.org or mailed to 7th Ward Aldermanic Screening Committee, City Hall, Room 406, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602.

 **1/2 (out of four) The National have staked out a reputation as some of America's preeminent sad indie rock bros, an impression they've nurtured through being the kind of band that wears dark colors and records videos of themselves looking incredibly serious. The group also has, particularly following 2010's “High Violet,” risen to the status of being one of the country's best, most beloved rock bands, placing them in an awkward position: The sad indie rock bro makes an uncomfortable rock star.

Marcos Ceniceros, 25, is part of a growing movement - back to Mom and Dad's house. In November, Ceniceros moved into his parents' Brighton Park home after living on his own for two years in Albany Park. Ceniceros said he's trying to save money to finish his sociology degree at DePaul, and the best way to do that was to take on two new roommates: His folks. "It takes some getting used to again," said Ceniceros, who first moved out at age 23. "[My parents] don't want me to be drinking in the house.

You know how these popular political shows like “Scandal” and “House of Cards” are always trying to keep the hokey out of their political characters? For instance, my roommate is obsessed with re-watching “The West Wing” on Netflix right now, and it got me thinking, if any of these shows introduced a character as flamboyantly cruel, simple-minded, and ideologically right wing as Paul Ryan, the producers would have to say, “C'mon, let's not be a bunch of Hollywood liberals making a cartoon character Republican who wants to steal from the poor to give to the rich.” Yet Ryan does the work for them every time he releases a budget.