I'm about to use the south shore line for the first time, all the way from South Bend.  I'm familiar with where to go after I get into town (regular Metra user) but I was wondering what everyone thought about the south shore line itself.  Any advice both coming in, and going out on the last train that goes the whole distance (7:10pm I believe)...

  I know it's a long ride at 2.5 hours, but for $11 one way the price can't be beat.   Just fishing for general info on what to expect.  I assume there's a bathroom or they'd have drunks hanging their junk out the windows....

Can anyone tell me:

a) why the only game that cant be watched as an archive right now is todays cubs/pirates game (listed as "coming soon") and

b) does this happen often ?

 every other game is either on now, or archived game is available, except the one i want.

trying to decide if I should cancel after this first month. 

other opinions:

I find the 800 stream to be ugly, but it's usable when Im traveling and have no other option.  the 1200 doesnt seem like much of an improvement, and lags contstantly.

Paul Sullivan has a piece on Bud's comments regarding the MLB - DirecTV deal.  It's obvious Bud only cares about the money and is turning his back on thousands of avid fans.

full article :

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070303cubsbrite,1,3160905.story?coll =cs-cubs-headlines

Bud quotes from within :

"I've heard for years we have too much product out there"

what ?  MLB is better off by being less visible?  no wonder Bud the Dorkus hasnt done anything about insane blackout rules.

"As for this deal, what fascinates me is I have spent a lot of time going over it and trying to find out who can't get [DirecTV].

"We're down now to such small numbers, that I'm really wondering [about the fuss]."

WHAT?  you wanna pull MLBEI off my cable/dish operator with 4 weeks to go before the season starts.... forcing me to scramble and change my provider.. a provider I am very happy with and may have a bundled TV/internet/phone deal which saves me a lot of money... and you don't understand THE FUSS?

It's simple.  Bud doesn't care about me.  He doesn't care about you.  He only cares about the money.

Out of towner looking for suggestions on killing about 3 hours time after a cub game while waiting on transportation out of town.  Keep in mind that I'll be saucy (but not a drunken idiot) after the game.  Anything within a couple of blocks of any red line stop between Addision and downtown.  Suggestions?

Tonight's game is on WCIU and also on ESPN.  Does this mean those of us within the Chicago market (as defined by MLB) that don't get WCIU will be blacked out of the game on ESPN and miss it completely?

If it weren't on ESPN I wouldnt ask because I know the answer.  I think I know it anyway.