By Natasha Julius
Sorry for the delay, the Weekend Desk computers are also in a permanent slow zone.
Market Report
Apparently the last 100 years of scientific and social progress has also been sequestered.
Hustle And Go
You know, this whole plan to shut down a more than 40-year-old train line for a complete overhaul seems like a pretty good idea . . . until you realize the temporary replacement is more than a century old and has coughed up three derailments in the past five years. No wonder they’re burning the midnight oil now.
On Message
By the way, President Claypool, you may want to take the “Two teams, one thing in common” promo off the homepage of your website.
A Horse Is A Horse?
Finally this week, if a moose can be a pig and a cow can be a horse, seems reasonable that a butt can be a major U.S. city.
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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: Porks and butts.
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Weekend Politics Special: Hearts, Minds And Dollars: Condolence Payments In The Drone Strike Age.
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Related: Anti-Drone Protest Targets Boeing Company
Saturday, April 6th, 12:30 p.m.
Washington & Wacker
From: Joe Iosbaker (Links provided by The Beachwood Added Value Affairs Desk.)
Boeing CEO McNerney Wants to Make Next Killer Drone
When Boeing came to Chicago, most thought the city was gaining a company that made domestic airliners. The sequester brought out the real Boeing: The second-largest arms manufacturer in the U.S., and a corporation dependent on government contracts.
Boeing CEO W. James McNerney is competing with the other top arms manufacturers for the growing budget for unmanned aircraft for the military. This year, the Navy is asking for designs for a new combat drone. Boeing is expected to propose its “Phantom Ray.”
To keep its stock in the black, and to absorb his 20 percent raise this year, McNerney has sought every advantage, including becoming a leader in the lobbying effort called “Fix the Debt.”
Claiming to have a “comprehensive plan to fix our long-term debt and deficits,” the aim of Boeing (with $25.1 billion in defense contracts) is to maintain the spending on wars, estimated at $700 billion in the 2013 budget, or 60 percent of discretionary spending.
In addition, to safeguard their share of domestic spy drone spending, this week Boeing helped kill a Republican proposal in Washington State to regulate drones.
Boeing the corporate welfare recipient gets help from Chicago politicians, as well. To move to Chicago, $63 million in tax breaks were offered up.
Now, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made the Riverside Plaza where Boeing resides a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. As a result, taxes paid on their building don’t go to the benefit of the children in the Chicago Public Schools.
In April, a coalition of anti-war groups across the US.. is holding a month of actions against drone war. Drones became highly controversial because the Obama administration has sent drones to assassinate American citizens in Yemen, for example; and because their use is officially a secret kept from Congress and the people of the U.S.
According to Kait McIntyre of the Anti-War Committee, “In Pakistan where they have been most heavily used, the majority of their victims are not combatants on the U.S. ‘kill list,’ but civilians, including many children.”
Looking at the current crisis of school closings in Chicago, McIntyre added, “We need to cut the Pentagon and the war budget in order to have money for schools, jobs and healthcare; and Boeing is our poster child for military spending.”
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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: “She played the Olympics opening ceremony, and now Emeli Sande takes her soulful pop to the Sound Opinions studio. Jim and Greg talk to the UK songwriter about breaking it big in the U.S. And later in the show, Jim and Greg review the new Jeff Tweedy-produced album from Low.”
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The CAN TV Weekend Viewing Report: CAN TV brings you local, relevant issues from Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities. See what’s happening around the city in education, the arts, government, cultural events, social services and community activities.
My Guest Ain’t Guessing! Rhythm, Blues And Funk Foundation
Dena and Claude Spivey, founders of the Rhythm, Blues, and Funk Foundation, pay tribute to the artists from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s and perform some of their favorite R&B songs.
Saturday at 12 p.m. on CAN TV19.
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Community Forum: Fukushima Lessons Learned
Following the second anniversary of the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, author Cecile Pineda reflects on its lasting impact on local communities.
Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on CAN TV21.
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Combating & Preventing Social Isolation
Experts share how libraries throughout the U.S. are reducing the social isolation of older adults through programs promoting learning, the arts and community service.
Sunday at 9 a.m. on CAN TV21.
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Deconstructing Homelessness: The Face, Culture & Stories Of The Unseen
Homeless individuals and representatives from organizations including the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the Night Ministry and the Broadway Youth Center provide personal insights into the lives and experiences of people facing homelessness.
Sunday at 11 a.m. on CAN TV21.
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A Discussion About The Freedom Of Information Act
Panelists Terry Pastika of the Citizen Advocacy Center, Joe Germuska of the Northwestern University Knight Lab, and Dan O’Neil of the Smart Chicago Collaborative discuss efforts to improve access to public records through policy and technology.
Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on CAN TV21.
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Illinois Pension Reform
Panelists Ann Lousin of the John Marshall Law School, state Sen. Daniel Biss and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin explore why Illinois’ pension plans face an unfunded liability of about $96 billion and examine potential solutions including taxes, reducing benefits and increasing employee contributions.
Sunday at 2 p.m. on CAN TV21.
Watch online.
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Seniors Rally to Stop Cuts To Social Security, Medicare, & Medicaid
Seniors kick off their campaign urging members of Congress to prevent any deep cuts to Social Security and instead get more money for the program by “Scrapping the Cap” on the amount of income that is eligible for federal taxes.
Sunday at 5 p.m. on CAN TV19.
Posted on April 6, 2013