I managed to salvage these posts that I’d lost while updating my hosting service.
by THOMAS PACE on DECEMBER 5, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Wednesday 12/5/18
Headline
Wanted: Alderman to play ball.
Looks like the Ricketts family, owners of the Cubs are looking to back an Aldermanic candidate to challenge Tom Tunney. The Ricketts say Tunney has been standing in the way of the development surrounding Wrigley field.
Watching the political maneuvering of the Ricketts family (including donating hefty sums to President Monorail) and rooting for the Cubs is sometimes a difficult circle to square. At least they picked up Torreyes.
Article of Interest
The Old Town School of Folk Music has agreed to postpone the sale of their Lincoln Park building until spring to provide time to explore other options. Long time executive director Bau Graves has taken a medical leave of absence which, one would guess, foreshadows his exit from the position.
My Two Cents: I can’t understand the way this was handled. The executive board seemed to make the decision to sell without any input from the Old Town community. It’s good to see the power of the people on display
Facepalm
The USDA has recalled 12 million pounds of raw beef they believe may be contaminated with salmonella. This comes on the heels of a warning not to eat romaine lettuce for similar fears. Did you ever notice that they never recall cookies?
A&E
Kanye West, again, has to apologize to continuing to act like a douche bag, this time for being on his phone at a Broadway performance of “The Cher Show.” In my opinion this should be a bailable offense. Put your fucking phone away.
Comics: Bliss
Sports
Northwestern fell to Michigan by two. After Hoibergs firing long-time assistant coach and former Bulls player Randy Brown has resigned. That’s a bad sign.
Business
The Dow fell 800 points yesterday. Today the markets are closed for GHW Bush’s funeral.
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by THOMAS PACE on DECEMBER 4, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Tuesday 12/4/18
Headline
Charter School movement may decelerate
In-coming Governor JB Pritzker has promised to curtail charter school expansion. At the same time, charter-happy Rahm Emmanuel will soon be gone from the mayor’s office.
Good riddance.
While I’m not convince that the charter school system was destine for failure here in Chicago it seemed pretty clear pretty quickly that there were people that intended to make a lot of money through these schools and that they had the mayor’s ear.
Article of Interest
CPD will be adding 50 new sergeants in the coming year to help improve the rate of shootings that they manage to solve. In 2017 police make arrests or identify suspect in less than 20 percent of fatal shootings and just over 7 percent of nonfatal shootings.
My Two Cents: At some point there was a private/public consortium that planned to pump 50 million into the Southside to spurn economic development. Haven’t heard anything about it in a long time. I’m all for solving these shootings but what can be done to diminish the number of shootings?
Facepalm
The Puerto Rican government has issued a report saying the economic impact of Hurricane Maria on the US economy was 42 billion. So far the insurance payments and federal aid have covered only 24 percent of the 100 billion dollars in damage done by the storm.
A&E
The Double Door is reopening. This time in a more-convenient-for-me location at Wilson and Broadwayish. The iconic live music venue was shuttered at it’s Milwukee/Damen/North Ave location a couple years ago. The new Uptown spot puts them in proximity to the Riviera, the Aragon, and the Greenmill as well as the Uptown Theater which, is finally going to get the attention it needs to return to it’s former grandeur.
Comics: Today is a feast of hilarity.
Sports
Fred Hoiberg is out as coach of the Bulls. Hoiberg’s an Iowa boy so I’m naturally a fan but I’m not surprised. He was not a great match for the Bulls. Should never have fired Thibs.
There’s also an article about speculation that the Packers will consider Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald to replace McCarthy. Also not a great match.
Business
A woman with Parkinson’s, diabetes was left abandon in an airport until the early morning hours. The 67 year-old woman was left sitting in a wheelchair after her flight was canceled to Detroit was canceled. Sure, sitting in a wheelchair at the airport all night sounds like it sucks but at the same time, have you ever been to Detroit?
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by THOMAS PACE on DECEMBER 3, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Monday 12/3/18
Headline
Preckwinkle Targets Mendoza petition.
Chicago’s maoral election is finally heating up. Toni Preckwinkle is planning to challenge 14,000 of the signatures on Susana Mendoza’s petition to get on the ballot for the February 26th election.
I have always been a big fan of Preckwinkle who took over as Cook County Board President after the John and his son Todd Stroger has mismanaged it for years. I admit I find this tactic kind of lame but this is Chicago politics. Something tells me that the curtain has only just opened on this drama.
12,500 signatures are required to get on the ballot.
Article of Interest
Sixty years ago at fire broke out at Our Lady of Angels school is Chicago’s Humbolt Park neighborhood. 95 people people perished including 3 nuns and 92 children. Although the case of the fire has never officially been determined the tragedy created a call for tighter fire safety regulations in schools. Survivors and friends and family met for a memorial at a Hillside cemetery.
My Two Cents: The scope of this tragedy is simply impossible for me to fathom. It’s hard not to compare it to the modern day school shooting. I guess the big difference is that building fires don’t have a powerful lobby it the NRA to keep politicians from taking action to prevent shootings schools.
Facepalm
Trump adviser Roger Stone insisted he had no contact with Julian Assange of Wikileaks pertaining to the hack DNC emails in the run up of the 2016 presidential election. If he’s telling the truth it would be a first for Trump’s cohorts. I think what he probably means is “I don’t think you have evidence that I had contact with Assange”…yet.
A&E
Chance the Rapper (who also has an op-ed in the paper today regarding school closings) has apparently posted a comedic skit. Along with Hannibal Buress, the skit address the shady side of Chicago politics. Buress, if you’ll remember, was the one that thrusted the allegations of Bill Cosby’s sexual abuse into the spotlight. I must check it out.
Comics: Argyle Sweater, Mr. Boffo, Zits
Sports
Bears lose to the lowly Giants in OT, Packers fire MaCarthy
Business
On this day in 1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union as the 21st state. In 1947 “A Streetcar named Desire opened on Broadway.
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by THOMAS PACE on DECEMBER 2, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Sunday 12/2/18
Headline
Leader Defined By Win and Loss
More on the death of HW Bush. Senator’s son, WWII hero, congressman, GOP party chairman, envoy to China, Director of the CIA, Vice President, President, father of President. To be sure he lived a most amazing life. He personified much of what is right about the United States. And much of what is wrong.
Article of Interest
Angie Leventis Lourgos writes of how access to abortion has been so limited in many surrounding states that many seeking clinics that provide such procedures are coming to Illinois. In 2017 19 states passed 63 new restrictions to abortion such as Iowa’s 20 week limit and 72 hour waiting period. Wisconsin is down to only 3 facilities that provide abortion. Missouri is down to only one.
My Two Cents: While many anti-reproductive rights activist will insist that abortion is one of societies most insidious ills, to me, it is merely a symptom of such ills. Activists of this ilk would be better off advocating for universally available birth control, family planning and sex education. There’s no doubt that politicians love to use this wedge issue to drive their base to the polls.
Facepalm
There are an estimated 250,000 Go Fund me campaigns to help people pay for medical expenses every year. I’ll never understand why people in this country are clinging so tightly to such a terrible healthcare system.
A&E
Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer has written a book about his experience running one of the great independent music label that specializes in blues artists like Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, and Albert Collins. The book is titled “Bitten by the Blues”
Comics: I got nothing.
Sports
Wildcats go down to the Buckeyes, Bulls down to the Rockets, Ramblers over UIC.
Business
Illinois doctors are claiming that Trumps new immigration proposal that threatens a person’s ability to get a green card if they receive government assistance such as Medicaid, food stamps or housing vouchers is scaring away patients that need medical care. More red meat for the conservative base.
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Quick Skim of the Trib
by THOMAS PACE on DECEMBER 1, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Saturday 12/1/18
Headline
The 41st president. Oversaw the end of the Cold War, presided over 1st Gulf War
George HW Bush passed away at 94 years of age. He was maybe the only Republican President of my lifetime that had any business serving in the oval office. It’s no wonder they voted him out after one term.
Article of Interest
Dallas ex-cop indicted for murder in neighbor’s shooting
Amber Guyer has officially been charged with shooting a man in his apartment after mistaking it for her own.
My Two Cents: It’s insane to think how long stuff like this has been happening. Now, with the prevalence of video camera, police misconduct is finally being exposed for what it is, an all-too-common occurrence for minorities. Let’s hope it leads to better accountability.
Facepalm
The Marriott chain of hotels announced that data on as many as 500 millions guests had been compromised by computer hackers. I was relieved to learn that all my information is still safe and sound at Hotel 6.
A&E
Greg Kot has a great piece about the owners of Chicago’s live music venues teaming up to stand their ground against real estate developers like those behind the Lincoln Yards which threatens the existed of one of the city’s finest live music clubs, The Hideout.
Comics: Bliss, Dilbert, Peanuts
Sports
Trubisky probably out for the Giants game. Markkanen is getting better. Addison Russell will be walking a tightrope back from his suspension for abusing his wife.
Business
Another article about the Lincoln Yard’s development. This is a $5 billion series of projects all told. Plenty of feed for the pigs at the trough.
Quick Skim of the Trib – Friday, 11/30/18
by THOMAS PACE on NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Friday 11/30
Headline
“FBI Agents raid Ald. Burke offices”
Ed Burke is pretty much synonymous with the Chicago political machine. With a half century in politics, Burke may be the city’s most powerful alderman. While this is not the first time Burke’s been investigated by the feds, but he’s never been indicted.
Seems no one in the FBI was talking about why exactly they were searching Burke’s city hall offices but there is speculation that it might be connected to the Trump/Russia investigation. Seems Burke represented the Chicago Trump Tower in a property tax appeal.
Article of Interest
Cohen Admits Ling to Congress
People seem eager to connect the raid on Burke’s office to Trump’s ex-minion Michael Cohen’s admission that he lied to congress about Trumps real estate dealing in Russia. Trump basically admitted that negotiation for development continued into the campaign but said they were not secret and not illegal.
My two cents: Remember when Trump was saying he had no dealings in Russia? That no one affiliated with his campaign ever met with Russia? Everyone knows, it’s not the crime(s), it’s the cover up(s).
Facepalm
Southwest airlines apologized for making fun a 5-year olds name. The gate agent laughed when she saw that the child’s name is Abcde. The agent posted a picture of the child’s boarding pass on social media. The mother was outraged, I guess, that someone pointed out how stupid it is to hang such a mockable name on to your child. Sounds like someone loves to receive apologies.
A&E
The Stones are back on tour.
This week the Gene Skiskel Film Center is going to be playing “The War at Home.” Originally released in 1979, the documentary chronicles the anti-war turbulence at the University of Wisconsin in the 1960’s and 70’s.
Comics: Frazz, WuMo
Sports
Northwestern Wildcats vs Ohio State in the big ten Championship. Go Wildcats!
La Stella traded by Cubs.
Business
Miller-Coors has reached an agreement to continue to brew Pabst Blue Ribbon. Effective saving the swill from extinction.
In a related note Amazon wants to sell alcohol. Just another reason to never leave the house.
Quick Skim of the Trib – 11/29/18
by THOMAS PACE on NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Quick Skim of the Trib
Thursday 11/29/18
Headline
SEXUAL VIOLENCE CLAIMS FLOOD CPS
Today’s top story is about the more than 600 claims of student on student sexual violence within the Chicago Public school system. This story is just one among many stories coming out about the way CPS has been failing their students regarding sexual harassment and violence. Seems to me something is rotten at the administrative level of CPS.
Article of Interest
COP SAYS OFFICER IN COVER-UP TRIAL LIED
CPD Officer Dora Fontaine is refusing go long with a police cover-up stemming from the conviction of Officer JasonVan Dyke for the murder of Laquan McDonald by shooting him 16 times.
My two cents: We should be celebrating this American hero for doing the honorable thing that has only served to earned her the label of rat and outcast among her fellow officers. I would hate to think that this kind of courage might go unnoticed in a world with a 24 hour news cycle.
Faceplam
Chicago Mayoral candidate Bill Daley suggests a commuter tax. And you thought the soda tax was a dim witted idea.
A&E
Rita Moreno is going to be in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story.
Comics: Zits and Hagar the Horrible
Sports
Cubs get Ronald Torreyes!
Bulls lose again (by 1).
Business
Edward Lampert continues to steer Sear toward extinction.
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