Chicago -
By Natasha Julius
I would be more interested in both spectacles if a blindfolded Nik Wallenda walked across the Great Chicago Fire Festival.
Elite Exceptionalism
Why doesn’t Wallenda have to conform to the city’s law requiring tightrope workers to wear a safety harness?
Because “he belongs in a unique and elite class of performers,” a city spokesperson told the Tribune’s Eric Zorn.
Two Chicagos.
Posted on October 4, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“Nik Wallenda to Wear Blindfold for Tightrope Walk Between Chicago Skyscrapers.”
Big deal. The city council does its job blindfold every day.
Posted on October 3, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“The Chicago Police department has finally acknowledged that it had purchased cell-phone interceptor devices back in 2008, raising serious privacy concerns among activists who question how they are being used,” CBS2 Chicago reports.
And also among non-activists!
“The devices, known as IMSI Catchers and sold commercially under names like Stingray, mimic a cell phone tower and connect to mobile devices without the user’s knowledge.
“The existence of the eavesdropping device, which is basically a small electronic box and a laptop, in Chicago was reported by CBS Chicago earlier this month. It can sweep up data on texts, calls, technical details and more.”
Here’s my favorite part:
“Ten months ago, the CBS 2 investigative unit asked whether CPD had such devices. The department denied it, even though the purchase orders clearly indicate the devices were in the department’s possession for several years.”
Posted on October 2, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
The Papers will return on Thursday, along with a bunch of other stuff on the site.
We can tell you, though, that Scary Face Pancakes Are Back!
Posted on October 1, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“I have it on good authority that Bruce Rauner the GOP candidate for governor, is outsourcing part of his campaign to Michigan,” Bernie Schoenburg writes for the Springfield State Journal-Register.
“That’s because when I was at home Thursday, I got a call from a woman who said she was with the Rauner campaign. My clue that she was not from here was that she did not know how to pronounce ‘Blagojevich’ and even messed up the name ‘Cullerton’ on the first try.”
If she was really “with” the Rauner campaign, she’d know you pronounce those names “Quinn.”
Posted on September 30, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
I’m not as quick to acquit Jay Cutler for his role in Sunday’s debacle as our very own Jim “Coach” Coffman and many of his sports media brethren, but you have to wonder why the Bears had absolutely no answer for at least mitigating Aaron Rodgers.
Coffman has more in SportsMonday: The Rivalry Is Dead.
Coffman also talked Bears on WBEZ this morning; we’ll bring you the audio on Tuesday as it isn’t available yet.
Posted on September 29, 2014
Taking care of all your weekend needs.
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The Beachwood Radio Hour #25: Beat Up On Brucey Week is here:
Just Another Empty Carhartt Jacket. Including: Nursing Homes On Trial. The Cross-Purposes Of Tax Avoidance. Ghost Killers On The Run. The Political Odds. Lovable Losers. Memoir Of A Skinhead.
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The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #19 is here:
Rodgers Playing At Cutler-Like Level.
Segments include: Mel’s Bells! It’s Tucker Time. Jared Allen Is Not MIA. A Case Of The Mundys. Keeping Forte Fresh! Is Jay Cutler Bored? Leave The Black Unicorn Alone. The Verdict On Ventura. Wrigley Wrecking Ball.
Posted on September 27, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
This column is in production!
And now, not so much. I’ve been waylaid – waylaid! – by a bunch of other stuff, so the material I was working on will have to hold – and it will – for the weekend or Monday.
Meanwhile . . .
Posted on September 26, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
Rahm Emanuel finally admits a mistake and he apologizes for the wrong part of it.
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“Emanuel said that he will likely try to name a library after the president,” DNAinfo Chicago reports, “saying: ‘My goal is to have a library named after him in the city of Chicago.'”
Isn’t Obama already naming a library after himself here?
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I’m stunned this statement isn’t the lead of these stories and getting more attention:
“We’re gonna continue to meet the needs of the city, all the students, and probably in that area, because that’s where the resources are.”
When I first saw that quote on Twitter, I thought, “Did he really say that?”
First, what does he mean by “that’s where the resources are?” Aren’t CPS resources supposed to spread equitably throughout the city?
Or does he mean that’s where the rich parents are?
Second, does that mean poor and even middle-class neighborhoods will get nothing going forward?
Third, does that mean the city will just pile school upon school – and development upon development – only where “the resources” are?
Oh, wait. I just realized he merely reiterated the status quo.
Posted on September 25, 2014
By Steve Rhodes
“GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner yesterday declined to offer Crain’s editorial board many new details on how he’d get Illinois back on track, giving himself wiggle room on just about every major financial challenge he would face as governor,” Crain’s reports.
In case anyone hasn’t noticed by now, Rauner is running a personality-based campaign based on one notion: I’ll shake up Springfield because I’m one special guy.
How?
Just elect me and you’ll see.
Posted on September 23, 2014
