I will be in Mac's area for a fantasy football draft this weekend. I hate to be an ugly American so I want to familiarize myself with some of the local customs. I understand that leaving a loaf in the toilet is seen as a high complement. Is there anything else I should be prepared for when drafting in Indiana.

I might be up for a pre draft drink at on Calumet if anyone is interested.

Johnny's Tap in Munster seems like it'd be your type of hangout.

Kenny May's might be more entertaining though.

All your Indiana stereotypes tied up in a nice little bow and if you have a few extra quid, perhaps a toothless BJ might be in your future!

While I'm originally from south Florida I moved to Hoosierland some 20 years ago, moved to Illinois for 4 years and just recently moved to Indiana. I got tired of living in a state that looks just like Indiana, where the people talk just like they do in Indiana and where the weather is the same as in Indiana all while paying outrageous property taxes, gas taxes and utility bills. Then there's the wonderful corruption and graft from the likes of George Ryan, Blago, Daley and Little Stroger to be so proud of. The only thing the state really had going for it was the cost of license plates but I hear Quinn is about to ruin that too pretty soon.

Make fun of Indiana all you want guys. You can pay for the privilege of living there. I'll take my 35 mile move eastward and enjoy the savings here in Illinois carbon-copy, next door neighbor.

While I'm originally from south Florida I moved to Hoosierland some 20 years ago, moved to Illinois for 4 years and just recently moved to Indiana. I got tired of living in a state that looks just like Indiana, where the people talk just like they do in Indiana and where the weather is the same as in Indiana all while paying outrageous property taxes, gas taxes and utility bills. Then there's the wonderful corruption and graft from the likes of George Ryan, Blago, Daley and Little Stroger to be so proud of. The only thing the state really had going for it was the cost of license plates but I hear Quinn is about to ruin that too pretty soon.

Make fun of Indiana all you want guys. You can pay for the privilege of living there. I'll take my 35 mile move eastward and enjoy the savings here in Illinois carbon-copy, next door neighbor.

While I'm originally from south Florida I moved to Hoosierland some 20 years ago, moved to Illinois for 4 years and just recently moved to Indiana. I got tired of living in a state that looks just like Indiana, where the people talk just like they do in Indiana and where the weather is the same as in Indiana all while paying outrageous property taxes, gas taxes and utility bills. Then there's the wonderful corruption and graft from the likes of George Ryan, Blago, Daley and Little Stroger to be so proud of. The only thing the state really had going for it was the cost of license plates but I hear Quinn is about to ruin that too pretty soon.

Make fun of Indiana all you want guys. You can pay for the privilege of living there. I'll take my 35 mile move eastward and enjoy the savings here in Illinois carbon-copy, next door neighbor.

Lake County Indiana is more corrupt than anyplace in Illinois. And after the property tax recalculation, it's no cheaper either.

Are you a fan of MAC football by any chance?

More evidence for....you know.

I will be in Mac's area for a fantasy football draft this weekend. I hate to be an ugly American so I want to familiarize myself with some of the local customs. I understand that leaving a loaf in the toilet is seen as a high complement. Is there anything else I should be prepared for when drafting in Indiana.

I might be up for a pre draft drink at on Calumet if anyone is interested.

Prepare for:

Stoners born in the early 1960s.

Or 50's for that matter!

While I'm originally from south Florida I moved to Hoosierland some 20 years ago, moved to Illinois for 4 years and just recently moved to Indiana. I got tired of living in a state that looks just like Indiana, where the people talk just like they do in Indiana and where the weather is the same as in Indiana all while paying outrageous property taxes, gas taxes and utility bills. Then there's the wonderful corruption and graft from the likes of George Ryan, Blago, Daley and Little Stroger to be so proud of. The only thing the state really had going for it was the cost of license plates but I hear Quinn is about to ruin that too pretty soon.

Make fun of Indiana all you want guys. You can pay for the privilege of living there. I'll take my 35 mile move eastward and enjoy the savings here in Illinois carbon-copy, next door neighbor.

I've heard all these arguments in the past and probably will hear them again this weekend. One of the key components in the value of property is location...and you don't have it. There is a reason Indiana is a cheaper existence than Chicago, and I assure you that it is not because it is a carbon copy.

Now if you would like to argue that NWI is the equivalent of some of the bland, mid 20th century vintage, middle middle class suburbs, I'd agree with you...but living in those locales is close to equal in cost as NWI.

I have had this discussion with Dan and others on this site before. There is nothing wrong with NWI, but don't tell me it's the same as living in Chicago, because that is simply not true.

And the people do not look the same...

Indiana is a mixing pot of the well to do and trailer trash all within a 20 minute drive in any direction.

There are honestly parts of NW Indiana that even people from NW Indiana are embarassed about: Black Oak area, Cedar Lake, South Haven and to certain extents Lake Station certainly promulgate the "trailer trash" image that we get labeled with. Then there are areas like St. John, Munster, certain areas of Dyer, certain areas of Valparaiso and Chesterton among others that are as high class and ritzy as any I have seen in the affluent suburbs of Illinois.

Indiana is a mixing pot of the well to do and trailer trash all within a 20 minute drive in any direction. I blame WALMART.

I never said the people are trailer trash, but NWI does not have a single municipality that is the equivalent to Lake Forest, Kenilworth, Glencoe etc.

My first hand observations are that it is the equivlanet of places like Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village and Buffalo Grove. There is nothing wrong with that, but they are not priced so differently that it would send me running for the state line.

As far as city living, I really don't think you could argue that any of the places you mentioned is the same as living in a Chicago neighborhood, for better or worse. Chicago may not be better, but it is not the same.

I've heard all these arguments in the past and probably will hear them again this weekend. One of the key components in the value of property is location...and you don't have it. There is a reason Indiana is a cheaper existence than Chicago, and I assure you that it is not because it is a carbon copy.

Now if you would like to argue that NWI is the equivalent of some of the bland, mid 20th century vintage, middle middle class suburbs, I'd agree with you...but living in those locales is close to equal in cost as NWI.

I have had this discussion with Dan and others on this site before. There is nothing wrong with NWI, but don't tell me it's the same as living in Chicago, because that is simply not true.

And the people do not look the same...