The [Rainbow] Weekend Desk Report

Sure, the marriage equality ruling was huge news on Friday. But the media missed the bigger story: Justice Antonin Scalia thinks the Supreme Court has no role in a democracy and is subjugating the People! Congressional hearings, at least!

Or maybe Scalia ought to step down, if he thinks he's participating in a tyrannical exercise.

Scalia:"A system of gvmt that makes the People subordinate to a committee of 9 unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy."

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 27, 2015

I am guessing Al Gore is chuckling at that line by Scalia.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 27, 2015

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From: Steve
To: Tim
Re: New sitcom idea

Scalia!

The tales and travails of a put-upon Supreme Court judge who just can't get relief at work or at home ... where his wife and kids are moving into the modern world and he is left behind. His catch phrase:"Oh, for Jiggery Pokery!"

Sort of like All in the Family. Each episode begins with Antonin - Anti for short - walking in the door and hanging his hat on the hat rack, home from another exasperating day at work. His wife always says "How was your day, Anti?" and he always groans "Arghpfft!"

Sits down in his favorite chair, wife brings him a cocktail, and he begins that week's episode talking about some dumb new case before the Court.

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From: Tim
To: Steve
Re: New sitcom idea

Nino Knows Best!

And most of the original scripts still hold up for him.

"Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again"

"Daddy, handguns killed 10,000 people last year!"
"Would you feel any better, little girl, if they were pushed out of windows?"

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Nature Is Agnostic
I don't mean to be the skunk at the garden party, but I'd like to remind everyone on social media that a rainbow would have appeared "above" the White House on Friday even if the Supreme Court decided the other way. Sorry.

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Pride Ride
The Stanley Cup is returning to the Pride Parade on Sunday and I have nothing funny to say about it because it's so damn cool.

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Wrong-Way Rahm

#Pride flag flying with Chicago flag outside City Hall. They hung it upside down, but we'll forgive it. pic.twitter.com/T2HE2RmxBl

— Kris Vire (@krisvire) June 26, 2015

Debating whether to go with Rahmcompetence or inrahmpetence.

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Later:

They flipped the flag right side up. I'm going to assume I can take credit.

— Kris Vire (@krisvire) June 26, 2015

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Seattle, FTW

Another reason why I love Seattle: rainbow sidewalk and street sign! http://t.co/tlWj10lxkq pic.twitter.com/PcVnT4M7hs

— Izzy Galvez ™ (@iglvzx) June 23, 2015

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Change
The real cynics are those who think nothing can or will ever change. Things change every single day. If things didn't change, we'd still be living in caves. The history of the world is littered with change - most of it massive. Those who say things - bad things - can't change are those who most wish to preserve the status quo they benefit so greatly from. They want you to believe things can't change; they want you to feel powerless and alienated from the political process. They don't want your participation. People have called me a cynic my whole life and I hate it, because I'm actually an idealist. You can't solve a problem if you live under illusions, though. We have to identify reality in all its horror - and then strike against it. A black man as mayor of Chicago was once nearly as unheard of as a black man as president. And yet. We went to the damn moon, for godsakes. The Cubs, one day, will win another World Series. Maybe. I mean, it's possible. Change happens every single damn day - just not always to the benefit of the public. But change for the public good can happen and is best when it is built on an appeal to people's humanity. Look at this week. The Confederate flag is coming down - and that's not just symbolic. It's a victory over revisionist history and, quite possibly, an acknowledgement in the South, finally, that the right side won the Civil War. And now, marriage equality. Both happened because of appeals to people's humanity. Real lives, not caricatures or abstracts. I hope we can soon use the same appeal to honestly address poverty and, in particular, the urban black underclass. They are people too, deserving of every right to pursue their own happiness. A lot of claptrap has been spewed about education as the next civil rights issue, but it's really much deeper than that. We have to stop separating ourselves - both by race and class. After all, that's what the law of the land calls for.

* The Devastating Effect Of Poverty On Illinois Classrooms.

* Illinois Auto Museum To Keep General Lee On Display.

* Marriage Ruling Leaves Us Free To Rejoice Or To Move On.

* Ex-Baltimore Cop: I Saw Colleagues Shit On People's Clothes During Raids.

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Party!
This is where I live and also the home of Beachwood HQ. I'll be there - everyone is invited.

Help make the #CommunityMural Happen! #HouseParty Benefit is in 2 weeks! @flashabc @Kate_is__great #logansquare pic.twitter.com/DnsIuLlHLn

— AnySquared (@AnySquared) June 14, 2015

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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: "Sound Opinions is celebrating its 500th episode. To mark this milestone, Jim and Greg share highlights from the show's history and look ahead to the next 500 episodes."

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BeachBook
* Adorable Teen Rappers Are Rhyming The News In Uganda.

* Illinois Barge Captain Sent To Prison For Fatal 2005 Explosion.

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TweetWood
A sampling.

The Phils are so bad, a guy who spent 20 years as a Cub couldn't take it anymore

— jsaquella (@jsaquella) June 26, 2015

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We are outside @TheJusticeDept getting ready to start our protest of inaction on CIA torture pic.twitter.com/g1HopzVzP4

— Naureen Shah (@naureenshah) June 26, 2015

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Has anyone made a montage of pictures of dead Yemeni and Afghan children to Amazing Grace yet?

— fire tom friedman (@firetomfriedman) June 26, 2015

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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: The monsters are among us.

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