I don't know how many people watch CAN-TV, Chicago's cable access channel.
On any given night, I figure there's at least 50 of you out there. Give or take.
Once in a while, I'll check it out — mostly because I like watching kooks on TV, specifically, — 3 Guys Pickin' (Check it out on Channel19, Monday's 10:30 p.m.)
But what CAN-TV is best for is getting a good look at your alderman, especially if you only see your ward boss around election time. For 30 minutes a pop, they tackle important issues in the hood.
That is if you consider the "Dos and Don'ts" of Chicago's trial recycling program super important or even necessary.
It's enough to make you ask yourself, "People really voted for these guys?"
There's a handful of Chicago alderman — Toni Preckwinkle (4th), Freddrenna Lyle (6th), Danny Solis (25th) and Rey Colon (35th) — who use CAN-TV as a venue for their propaganda.
But my favorite is Wicker Park hipster (OK, he's a lawyer, but he's got cool glasses) and congressional candidate Ald. Manny Flores and his 1st Ward Chronicles.
This week I caught a rerun of the guy getting pretty darn excited about, the city's trial Blue Cart Recycling program. It's painful to watch a grown man get all giddy about the "Dos and Don'ts" of properly using the BLUE TRASH BIN.
At one point, I thought he was going to say, "What you do first is lift the lid. Next, gently place the beer can inside. See, it's that easy."
Instead, he reminded us that it only takes a few seconds to crush a cardboard box so it doesn't take up too much space in the bin.
This is the guy who could be the next 4th District Congressman, and he's got the nice suits for the job.
But will Manny fight against Mayor Daley's ridiculous tax increases. Not if he really wants a job in Washington. And I bet he does.
Next week on 1st Ward Chronicles, the do's and don'ts of staying on Daley's good side in an election year. (UPDATE: Due to the Hollywood writers strike, that episode has been canceled.)
Mark Konkol covers city neighborhoods for the 
Great. CAN-TV. Yet another forum we give windbag alderman to hear themselves talk and see themselves on TV. Most of them are just gas-bags who know how to help themselves but don't know jack about really helping the community. Such is life, I guess.