"Let me get through today, and I shall not fear tomorrow." - St. Philip Neri

The Roman Catholic Church was on the canvass in the late 16th Century, because the clergy had become secularist - priests, bishops, and even Popes more interested in promoting political action than in Doctrine.

Martin Luther threw the hay-maker when he challenged the Church theologically by nailing his 95 theses for debate on the Church door of Wittenberg.

All of the smart money was on the Protestant reforming factions and the Islamist threat posed by Suleiman the Magnificent.

The Catholic Church was not knocked out, but it did hear the ref doing the counting.

Before the ten count, it got off the canvass. The Church went back to its corner, swished some holy water around its choppers and spit the bad blood in the bucket - at the Council of Trent. The Church returned to its roots.

However, Catholics more so than the Red Hats seemed to make the practical difference - Ignatius Loyola - a Dog Faced Wounded Vet - formed the Jesuits and set about actually doing what the Apostles were told to do.

Another gent, Philip Neri worked up the lay people.

Neri was a rich kid from Florence. He decided to put business aside and work to help the Church and moved to Rome. For three years he toyed with idea of being a priest, but determined to work with lay people.

He amassed a group of like minded lay people and through conversations during the business day sought to live lives that would strengthen the Church. It worked. He developed a concept called the Oratory - a place where lay people could pray and discuss their Faith.

Philip Neri's Oratory became so popular that Neri's Confessor urged him to get himself ordained a priest - he did.

Neri used humor to poke fun at false assumptions doctrine and the practical life of most people.

There are Catholics out there concerned with the sad state of Church and continued lap-dogging of some in the clergy - like the President of that PR Driven School in Indiana, gutless 'catholic' politicians who go to Pancake breakfasts with the Knights of Columbus and then do the bidding of Planned Parenthood to kill more kids.

John Powers and Tom Roeser are two of the most public Philip Neri's in Chicago.

My neighborhood is packed with people who live the Gospel, while the chaps being paid to say Mass act like bitchy little girls.

There are priests like Father C. Frank Phillips,C.R. of St. John Cantius Parish at Chicago Ave. & Sangamon on the north side who have sparked devotion through the beauty, grace and dignity of the Traditional Latin Mass ( Novus Ordo & Tridentine) and he has helped attract more Americans to Holy Orders than any seminary. Go to St. John Cantius and witness a Church alive! Packed. Every Mass.

http://www.cantius.org/

The Catholic Church has been on canvass many times in history.

There always seems to be a Philip Neri to help the Church spit out its busted teeth and get back in the fight.


http://stbarbara.blogspot.com/

http://tomroeser.com/

Tales of the South Side - Bubs Murtaugh's Shrimp Snack

"Hey, Hickey! What's going on there, son? I hear you been hitting the 8:30 Masses with the roll-outs from Wrong's Tap*. Last time I was in that bucket o' blood was after Janey graduated from Queen of Peace. I was in there with three guys from the Assessor's Office and was still handcuffed to Mr. Booze. Twenty years. I miss it not. Saw your cousin Willie at that benefit for the Madden kid that got hit on his bike over by Monroe Park. Tommy, the fourth grader at St. John Fisher - he's Okay but he has to wear that Halo Gizmo for his neck. Willie's boy is in Paraguay with the Peace Corps, I hear . . ."

Mass on Sunday, coffee salons at Kean Gas Station on 111th, grocery stops at County Fair on Western Ave, Kennedy Park softball, and Mount Greenwood Hardware trips invariably get sauced by piquant tales that eventually and satisfyingly meander to a point. Yesterday, at 10:30 Mass on the Feast of the Ascension provided this yarn from a former Cook County insider, Vietnam War hero, member of AA, and practitioner of the dying art of south side giggle weaving. Allow me to pick up the thread. I merely punctuated the yarn with nods of assent or stutters of laughter; therefore, this should be taken as a soliloquy.

". . . Big Boy. Hell, of a football player and I can not understand why he did not get a ride somewhere, but his brain works OK, I guess. I'll bet the CIA or NSA is grooming the kid to be spook. True. That's why all the spooks doing the spy stuff seem to come from the Peace Corps. Didn't know the kid had Spanish. Like I was saying, the last time I was in Wrong's Tap was twenty-five, or thirty years ago. Remember Bubs Murtaugh? Murtaugh with U. He was a few years older than me, when you and Willie and Terry played Irish tunes in Sons of Reilly's Daughter at Boz's joint? Bubs went to St. Lawrence and played with Neusback. He was from St. Dennis Parish and lived near the tracks on 83rd and the Southwest Highway.

Bubs got full ride to St. Procopius, well it was St. Procopius and it's now Benedictine out in Lisle. He was an animal; started boozing in 5th Grade and sniffing Bell's Cleaning Fluid. His Old Man threatened to send him back to the Old Country and work the farm and shit. Bub's finally got tossed in his senior year at Proco and his Dad got him on Streets and San. Old Man Murtaugh was a Raw Jaw from Mayo, who had some drag with Jackie Daley and Kellam when he was alderman in the 18th.

Bubs was a good earner for the Ward and got a job after a few years in Finley's Office, just when all that money grabbing crap hit the papers. Bubs had only been on the job for year or so and G had eyes on him and three others and it looked like he might get tagged and have to sit for a few semesters up in Club Fed, Wisconsin. We went out to forget his troubles and Bubs marinated his brain, along with the rest of us Mike Quinlan, Traffic Cosgrove, Bubs and me.

We're at Wrongs after closing Touch of Green and Chez Joey and I got polio of the brain from the pitchers and the Happy Cossack shooters, so Mike Quinlan takes me home . . .I think. Quinlan could have taken me back to my old house in Visitation and I would of woke up to breakfast with the Washington family, but he was not yet the mean bastard that he is today. Quinlan goes back to Wrong's, after slowing down to thirty and dumping me on the lawn and Bubs is blubbering to Traffic and Q-Dog, like a fat girl not going to prom.

'I ain't took a dime! I woulda. . . but them tight, fixed bastards that is . . . never gave me chance a the gelt and, now, my Old Man is pissed at me for killing a good job and I told him I DIDN'T DO NOTHING!' And on and on, I guess, . . .like I said, I'm at home sleeping in my clothes on the basement couch and awaiting the for-sure execution from Marnie, when she sees the cut of me in the morning.

Now, Bubs has been named on TV by Ron Magers and his name was even mentioned in Royko and he's a public figure now. He's an innocent, drunk lard-assed public figure. A giant sized Victim and Patsy all set for the shafting to come.

So Bubs, a practiced Drunk Driver, who has taken out more than several sections from the fence that eats cars on 111th over by Mount Olivet, gets in his Pontiac and listens to the little wizard in the brain control tower telling him it's a great idea to go buy a dozen shrimp and off he goes to the Calumet Shrimp Shack on 95th & Chicago Ave**. by the bridge on the Harbor.

The Angel F#$%ing Gabriel takes the wheel for Bubs and drives the Ponty over east without killing anyone.

Bubs and the Guardian angel drive the shrimp back, somehow, back to the neighborhood to dine je suis ivre behind the steering wheel and Bubs shoves the greasy catfish bait loaded with coctail sauce into his hole and tosses the sauce heaped tails!

Now, Bubs has gallons of Old Syle, about a pint of vodka shooters and a good pound and change of sauce-soaked shrimps packed into him and he goes 'night-night' with his giant buffalo head on the driver's side window.

'OH SWEET MERCIFUL MOTHER! He's BLOWN HIS BRAINS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's about ten neighbors and his Old Man yanking Bubs out of the drivers seat.

It's Daylight and Mrs. Higgins was walking her dog Chappie over to the tracks on Southwest Highway for his morning constitutional and sees Bubs' Giant Head covered in red! With Red smeared all over the driver's window, because Bubs never opened the window while tossing his shrimp tails! There's cocktail sauce all over the window and bits of shrimp! They thought Bubs pulled the Dutch Act because of the spotlight on him!'

Never, was charged. His Old Man beat the living shit out him for the scare he tossed into him, and he had a hangover that would kill a Polish girl. Bubs retired two years ago and still lives in his folks' house over in St. Bede's near Durkin Park.

Yeah, I stay out of Wrongs Tap. How's your kids, Hickey?'

* Click my post title for Wrong's Tap

**
http://www.centerstagechicago.com/restaurants/calumet-fisheries.html

Pentecost,Memorial Day and a Young Man's Death

Veni, Creator Spiritus is the hymn that Terry McEldowney will sing at today's 10:30 Mass for Sacred Heart Church at 116th & Church here on the south side.

Terry McEldowney has one of the most powerful and rich baritones in Western Civilization - he is especially poignant when remembering our Fallen Veterans and in reminding weak Catholics like me of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Max Weissmann is the Director of the Center for the Study of Great Ideas at University of Chicago. Mr. Weissmann, an architect and philosopher, helped Mortimer Adler develop the Center. Max sent me the photos posted above.

Terry and Max know loss. Terry and Max know the power of Faith. I am proud to call each man my friend.

This is the Feast of The Ascension of Christ.

Next Sunday is the Feast of the Pentecost, which memorializes the Descent of the Holy Ghost upon Mary the Mother of God and the Twelve Apostles. This might be considered a more powerful Feast than Christmas or Easter to Christians, as it recounts the sense of loss experienced by the Apostles and Christ's Mother following the Ascension of Christ. All of us lose those we love. The saddest of us are the ones who lose themselves - forget our roots, our family, our obligations and our place in God's Hands.

Tomorrow, we also celebrate the loss of men and women who have given their lives for our Country. My Dad was a seventeen year old who went to the Solomon Islands in 1943 with the 3rd Marines, and then fought at Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima and mopped up Guam some more until he was mustered out of the service. He is now a seventeen year old octogenarian, who has witnessed the ascension of his mother, father, brothers and sisters, friends, and daughter in law ( my wife Mary). He will be at 9AM Mass in Orland Park with his bride. He will hear Veni, Creator Spiritus

A family near me, lost their baby. Jack Callahan was a big strapping eighteen year old Marist football player who died following a seizure hours before his graduation from high school. ( click my post title for Mark Konkol's touching story)

My baby son, who worked at Di Cola's Fish Market until late last night, is sleeping. My baby girls are sleeping.

On the Pentecost, God sent his Spirit to revive us. On Memorial Day, we as a nation recall the babies who sacrificed themselves for Liberty.

Tell me God does not know what He is doing. Tell me that God not only sent the Holy Ghost, but also Terry McEldowney and Max Weissmann, outside of His Plan. Faith happens, when we let go of what is meant to return to Him according to that plan and also, when we try to make sense of the beautiful, as well as the terrible, sent as a gift to each of us.

Veni, Creator! We'll remember.

Veni, creator Spiritus
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia,
quae tu creasti pectora.

Come Holy Spirit, creator, come
from your bright heavenly throne,
come take possession of our souls
and make them all your own

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. Was Right to Pay His Wife - Sandi Jackson is Smart, Experienced and a Winner.

Congressman Jesse Jackson has enemies. Many of them hate his Old Man. Some of them see Jackson as a political threat. A few of them fear his motives. Rahm Emanuel wants to send a message. Jan Schakowsky is Samantha's Mom.

Hell, I have given Congressman Jackson a few tickles - called him Kid Staples over the Tummy Tuck Nuance, but he has kept the lard off. I think his Pops is an Old Timey Stick-Up artist. I think that Congressman Jackson is dead wrong on the Peotone Airport. Hey, big deal. I got McCain three votes - unless Conor and Nora fibbed and went for Obama. What the hell do I know? I know this about Congressman Jackson - I like him.

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. knows history and is a serious student of 19th Century American History -especially the Civil War. He was member of the board of a Holy Cross Brothers school in Indiana back in the late 1990's and brought a tough-minded eye to the school's future that eventually closed after Jackson helped keep the school viable long after it became evident that it's days were numbered.

The Chicago Media has been pipe-lined a story that adds fresh manure to the growing desire of some political sneaks to end Jesse Jackson's career. News creatures are the pets of political wizards who toss them nuance like Bits of Ritz to squirrels in the park- e.g Burge Sank the Lusitania! or TIFS IS BAD, rolled out when Mike Quigley fed his University of Chicago crafted policy study du jour to Ben Joravsky at the Chicago Reader and Mark Brown at the Sun Times and still rolling for the Granta and Redaction Readers of Hip Chicago. These niche story lines become the shingles on the political roof that covers Chicago. A story becomes a paradigm in Nuance ( BS ) Chicago, where every reporter thinks he's Emil Zola and every columnist firmly believes that every reader is a dope with no memory. However, there are more than a points of view in every circumstance. Life is NOT poetry ( not neat and tidy and brief); Life is Prose ( messy, quotidian) and as long as a Studs Terkel anecdote.

Tamara Holder* and I agree on a few things and one of them is that Congressman Jackson seems to be getting smeared by political hacks, their pet Watchdog groups and the compliant purse-puppies in Chicago's Media. Ms. Holder and I have had a few tussles over the Ickes Riots last summer when Pops Jackson had his Rainbow Jammies Sleepover and recently over my misunderstanding of Parole Violators and the Expungement work being done by Tamara Holder. I tend to believe Cops work to protect and serve the public and Ms. Holder, as criminal attorney, might be advocate for some bad guys. She is stuck between two immovable forces - Legal Louses like Flint Taylor and oafish Law Enforcement. There is a wide field in between and sometimes I miss that fact.

Criminal Attorney and Record Expungement expert Tamara Holder, with whom I have crossed thoughts ( she was classy and I was my Mick-minded Jerk Self, of course) questions the charges against Jackson - He paid His Wife out of His Campaign Funds!
Merciful Maxwell House, Murial!

Tamara Holder, who has had her battles with the Congressman's Pa herself, sees the same nuance that I see in the attacks on Jesse and Sandi Jackson -

The witch hunt against Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. must come to an end. Today, it was reported that Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has paid his wife approximately $250,000 for her assistance in his campaign. Article here.

Most importantly, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee states that at least 40 members of Congress, from both parties, employ spouses or family members in their campaigns. As for Illinois, the practice is very very common.

This is issue spinning at its best.

1) The reason for the Congressional Ethics inquiry into Jesse Jackson, Jr. was specifically to determine if he was involved in any quid pro quo with then-Governor Rod Blagojevich for the Obama's vacant senate seat. Congressman Jackson was not the subject of an inquiry for any other reason.

2) The Congressman's wife, Sandi, has been his #1 supporter. She is not a stay-at-home wife but instead a highly educated lawyer with real practice experience. She brings great talent and expertise to the campaign.

3) The amount he has paid his wife, has been for real consulting work. She has been at the forefront of his campaigning and her work has always been publicly known.

4) All payments to Sandi have been pre-approved. Congressman Jackson never paid her without full disclosure of his intent to do so.

5) Congressman Jackson fully disclosed to the Ethics Committee all payments to Sandi upon their request of his financial records.

6) From Rick Bryant at Congressman Jackson's office:

"There is nothing wrong and nothing new here.

"The fact is the Congressman sought and received written permission from the FEC to pay Sandi as a consultant. He also sought and received written FEC permission to contribute to her campaign. They both honor the practice of transparency.

"Sandi was paid on average $27,400 a year to regularly file FEC reports and advise his campaign. She has enormous experience -- a lawyer, former congressional chief of staff, former vice president of the U.S. Export/Import Bank, a former deputy director of the DNC. She's paid fair market value for bonafide services as the FEC stipulated eight years ago.

There are some real beauts doing the chumming for the lazy ink-sharks here in Chicago. I suspect Rahm Emanuel and Jan Schakowsky, because Rahm wants Fitzy to quit looking at ANYTHING that could tar-brush his boss. SEIU Illinois was all over the Criminal Complaint against Blagojevich, but that has been quieted up. Rahma -Lama Dang Dong would have no problem getting Chicago Dems give him a hand in tossing poop Jackson's way. As for Jan Schakowsky, the Congress Critter who looks like the Mamma Witch on the Old Bewitched Show, Jan was whining for the Obama Senate Seat from the day that Obama announced Change We Can Believe In in Springfield. Not only that, Jan Schakowsky knows all about the jackpot that can be tossed on spouse. Hubby Bob Creamer kited 501(c)3 checks and Jan, it seems helped blow the ink dry.


The thing is Jesse Jackson, Junior married the right girl. Not only is Sandi Jackson a beyond fetching young lady, she happens to be political professional with more of resume than the current Commander in Chief.

Early in Jackson's political career she served as press secretary for United States Congressman Mickey Leland. After the 1988 Democratic National Convention, she began working for Michael Dukakis who had become the Democratic party's nominee for United States President in the 1988 United States presidential election.[9]

Jackson's political career prior to her election as 7th Ward Alderman included the following positions: Deputy Director of Training for the Democratic National Committee, Director of Scheduling Operations for Rev. Jesse Jackson, Vice President of Congressional and External Affairs for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (appointed by Bill Clinton), Director of VIP Relations for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, National Outreach Coordinator for the Clinton/Gore 96 Campaign, and campaign manager and chief political strategist for many other politicians.[6]

"If Bill Clinton's wife can run for the U.S. Senate, if Bob Dole's wife can run for the Senate and for president, then why can't my wife be an alderman?"
——Jesse Jackson, Jr.[25] (December 2002)

While Jackson was serving as the Export-Import Bank's director of congressional affairs, she lobbied in opposition of her husband's proposal to tighten the restrictions on the activities in Africa of the Export-Import Bank. She did so successfully, as her husband's amendment failed.[26]

Jackson considered running for public office during the 2003 Chicago municipal elections.[25] At the time, Jackson, Jr. discouraged his wife from running for public office.[27] However, he felt his wife should be eligible to run for Alderman, despite the controversy surrounding such a candidacy.[25]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandi_Jackson

* Click my post title for Tamara Holder!

BGA - Tell Andy Shaw What Floor You're On!

Sneed hears former Channel 7 political reporter Andy Shaw is this/close to becoming the new head of the Better Government Association, an independent government watchdog group.

This is now a twice told tale -

True story, this one! Remember Terry Teele, Mayor Daley's go-to-guy on all things Planning and Development? Get this.

When Terry Teele was forced to resign from his position in Daley's Office, I happened to be sitting in the Planning and Development waiting room - a breathless Andy Shaw Charged In - 'The Teele resignation - I'M here!'

The lovely middle aged black woman informed this Profound Newshound - 'Fifth Floor, Sir. Mr. Teele works on the Fifth Floor. We are on the 10th Floor?'

http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/11/abc-7s-andy-shaw-takes-stupid-national.html


So the Better Government Association is giving Andy Shaw a job! That's Great!

Now Here's a D'Andy Shaw Yarn ripped from the pages of Chicago Police Homicide sheaves of wholesome potboilers!

I recall an account by a famous Chicago Homicide Detective who encountered the Truth Bloodhound Shaw at a crime scene in Chatham.

It seems that a gang-banger had run afoul of some like-inclined chaps who decided to 'Ride the 9 Down on the . . .' mmmm . . . Oedipal Fellow!

The 'victim' was 'broken up' so to speak due to the proximity and impact of the 9mm calling cards tossed his way. The victim was in about eight pieces truth to tell.

Ignoring police protocol and warnings Andy persisted in jamming the microphone under the nose of the lead detective -'I Demand to Know What Happened! The People Demand it, Detective!'

To which the world weary investigator responded to the not-to-be-ignored Andy Shaw,
'We suspect foul play, Andy.'

Yes, Yes! Andy Shaw will have the Truth!

Thus one might say - Andy Shaw meets Doyle Brunson and Phil Helmuth at the World Series of Poker -'Playing Cards, Fellows?'


Again from Sneed

-• • Background: Shaw, who was once an education reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, retired earlier this year after 35 years in Chicago television and print. Congrats Andy!

Scoop 'em!

SEIU Lobbyists Stuff The Lobby of Illinois Capitol

I was in Springfield on school business and took a stroll over to the State Capitol. The joint was jumping!!!

I ran into Terry Peterson, my old Alderman and the guy who managed Mayor Daley's last landslide and my State Representative Kevin Joyce both grinding the stone in the People's Interest! These two gents are what public service should be all about!

Stuffing the halls were the heavyweights of the SEIU Purple Gang!

I saw Progress Illinois poster boy Keith Kelleher, looking svelt in SEIU ppppp-purple! But the rest of SEIU crowd? Man! Eat a salad at Augie's Front Burner folks!

I gotta ask. Who has the concession for the Triple X and Up -Purple T-Shirts?

That Dude could buy a Kennedy.

Interesting to note that SEIU leadership tends to be Imperially thin almost emaciated and dues paying folks seem to fill out the Purple T's hugely. Keith and the Council must spring for some heavy lunch-boxes on Lobby Day.

A.P. Chicago Media, Ron Howard, Bill Maher, MSNBC,Hollywood and Progressives Agree - Stomp Catholics and End Abuse!

Let's see:

1. Catholics should not be offended that America's most strident Abortion Advocate in History received an award from a PR Driven School in Indiana.

2. Catholics and the Catholic Church do not care for Opie's new movie

3. Catholics and Catholic Church make a regular habit of abusing children, horses and baby ducks.

4. Police Officers accused of Torture look like, walk like, talk like, and worship, like . . .Catholics.

5. The South Side Irish Parade ( now closed) was begun because Catholics are Racists ( STNG - Columnist Phil Kadner)

So with Opie's new movie about how the Catholic Church hides the fact that Jesus was a secret member of Father Perez Council Knights of Columbus 1444 and played 16" softball, when he was under-age and drinking beer ( purchased by Jon Burge) at O'Halleran Park, while leaving a trail of Cheese Cheetos ,in HIS Image and Likeness, at historically significant places in Rome ( because HE is Omnipresent)in order to unearth the Popish Plot to Assassinate JFK and 'fix' the Florida Ballots, so that George W. Bush could win ( Brother Jeb is a . . .Catholic), the A.P. and it's outlet The Chicago Tribune needed an extra Catholic pile on.

Time to Gin Up some real oooooooold fashioned Anti-Catholic Hate! There is no end of the possiblities here in Chicago, with its great Catholic demographic.

There are enough gutless Catholic lick-spittles ( politicians, academics and journalists) who will agree whole-heartedly with people like Bill Maher, Planned Parenthood, MSNBC and the editorial boards of Chicago's papers.

It is easier to develop a go-along attitude than it is to nurture a sense of history.

Lawyers sue Catholic dioceses all over the country, because it is easy to do. More stories about horrible Catholics and their close-knit atttitudes will follow.

Today, there is a story about abuse in Ireland that occurred as the result of the Irish Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy operating homes for thousands of orphans and children of parents who could not care for them. Click my post title and get that story.

It seems that so long as the Catholic Church and Catholics remain true to their Faith, they can expect a regular landslide of abuse from Progressives and their Media Mopes.

Progressives Hate Catholics - always did and always will - From Thoreau to Jane Addams to Roger Baldwin to Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann to Bill Maher to Bill Ayers, Catholics - American Catholics are a halt on their march of Nuance ( Bullshit).

I would stack the charity and giving of those Catholic Orders over the myths about Jane Addams Settlement House with the odds given any day. DCFC in Illinois is responsible ( or should be) for the deaths of more children than any Catholic institution - no big outrage there. What was it a few years back? How many deaths? No prosecuation of the Executive Director. What is old Bryan Samuels** doing these days? Somnething Progressive, no doubt.

In the late 19th Century, 19th Ward Alderman John ( Johnny De Pow) Powers did more for the improvement of lives of Italian, Jewish and Greek immigrants, in the most densely populated Ward in Chicago, than the crop-haired Sapphist Jane Addams, who at most sold baloney sandwiches and put on amateur productions ..

It was Alderman Powers who appointed Addams to her post in government as Health Officer, which Addams returned with Progressive Courtesy by having Powers ( Horrors! A Saloon-Keeper!) with corruption - which he beat. Addams stole the Sttelement House concept, already up and running from the Sisters of Mercy and the Daughters of Charity, but credited British twit Toynbee with the idea. Don'cha Know.

In the last century, there were Chicago Tribune 'hints' at horrific treatment of kids and tale that grew into a Chicago Legend*.



*THE DEVIL BABY OF HULL HOUSE

Hull House received its greatest notoriety when it was alleged to be the refuge of the Chicago "devil baby". This child was supposedly born to a devout Catholic woman and her atheist husband and was said to have pointed ears, horns, scale-covered skin and a tail. According to the story, the young woman had attempted to display a picture of the Virgin Mary in the house but her husband had torn it down. He stated that he would rather have the Devil himself in the house that the picture. When the woman had become pregnant, the Devil Baby had been their curse. After enduring numerous indignities because of the child, the father allegedly took it to Hull House.

After being taken in by Jane Addams, staff members of the house reportedly took the baby to be baptized. During the ceremony, the baby supposedly escaped from the priest and began dancing and laughing. Not knowing what else to do with the child, Jane kept it locked in the attic of the house, where it later died.

Rumors spread quickly about the baby and within a few weeks, hundreds of people came to the house to get a glimpse of it. How the story had gotten started, no one knew, but it spread throughout the west side neighborhood and was reported by famous Chicago reporter Ben Hecht. He claimed that every time he tried to run down the story, he was directed to find the child at Hull House. Many people came to the door and demanded to see the child, while others quietly offered to pay an admission. They believed the wild story to be absolutely true!

Each day, Jane turned people away and tried to convince them that the story was fabricated. She even devoted 40 pages of her autobiography to dispelling the stories. Even though most of the poorly educated immigrants left the house still believing the tales of the Devil Baby, the stream of callers eventually died out and the story became a barely remembered side note in the history of Hull House.

Or did it?

As the years have passed, some people still maintain the story of the Devil Baby is true... or at least contains some elements of the truth. Some have speculated that perhaps the child was actually a badly deformed infant that had been brought to Hull House by a young immigrant woman that could not care for it. Perhaps the monstrous appearance of the child had started the rumors in the neighborhood and eventually led to Hull House.

Regardless, local legend insists that at some point, there was a disfigured boy that was hidden away on the upper floors of the house. The stories also go on to say that on certain nights, the image of a deformed face could be seen peering out of the attic window.... and that a ghostly version of that face is still seen by visitors today!

( Emphasis my own)

Nuance! Go to the old Chicago Tribune archives and get some real historical context.

Jane Addams does not come off all that great.
http://www.prairieghosts.com/hull.html


**The decision comes three weeks after DCFS Director Bryan Samuels placed [Robin Staggers] and two of her aides on paid leave after reports said Staggers was under investigation in a federal grand jury probe of potential wrongdoing in state government hiring. The two aides also will return to different jobs.


http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/news02.txt
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/927471941.html?dids=927471941:927471941&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+17%2C+2005&author=John+Chase+and+Ofelia+Casillas%2C+Tribune+staff+reporters&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Suspended+DCFS+exec+reinstated+in+new+job+%3B+Department+chief+told+removal+wasn't+legal&pqatl=google

Friday Night Feature With Mike Houlihan -Tapioca at Beverly Arts Center May 22nd

'I took my gal to the picture shows and pleasure I was seekin'/I went for her mouth, but kissed her nose and the Goddam thing was Leakin'!'

The art of the Friday Night Show with your best honey is lost on America, given the sorry state of CinaPlex Movie Ikeas. However, you and your Steady Betty can link arms and glide to the Beverly Arts Center and thrill to Renaissance Man Mike Houlihan's Comic Opus Tapioca.

Beverly Arts Center
2407 W. 111th St.
Chicago, IL 60655
773-445-3838
www.beverlyartcenter.org

Contact: Grace Kuikman, 773-213-7531 or grace@beverlyartcenter.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beverly Art Center to Screen Mike Houlihan's Indie Film 'Tapioca'

(CHICAGO, Apr. 29, 2009) -- Emmy and Tony Award winner Ben Vereen and Saturday Night Live alum Tim Kazurinsky headline a Chicago cast of comic characters in Mike Houlihan's independent feature film "Tapioca," screening at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago, on Friday, May 22, 8 p.m.
The film also features Second City veterans Greg Hollimon, Jimmy Carrane, David Pasquesi, as well as the entire Houlihan family. The screening marks a homecoming for many of the cast members. Back in March of 2004 the Houlihans presented their "sketch comedy experiment" on stage at the Beverly Arts Center. "The stage show was the mustard seed which became this independent feature film," Houlihan said. Most of the performers from the show have roles in the film.
"Tapioca" the movie premiered in Park City, Utah during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was also screened at the Texas Black Film Festival, First Take Film Fest, and The Other Venice Film Festival. It won "Best Feature Film" at the Geneva Film Festival.
The film features an original score by Chicago jazz composer Ryan Cohan, with additional music from Gospel legends Lena McLin and Otis Clay, as well as cartoons by Chicago Sun-Times Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Jack Higgins.
Titled for the Chicago slang for being broke, "Tapioca" tells the story of Pipes McGonnigle (Mike Houlihan), a bigoted blowhard who makes the mistake of abusing a Streetwise vendor named Nuts (Ben Vereen). Nuts puts a hex on Pipes, rendering him homeless and turning his world upside down.
Local performers featured in the film include comedians Paul Kelly and Bill Brady, John Spellman, Frank Moran, and rapper E.J. Hott. The film was shot at locations around the south side including the Cork & Kerry Tavern, St. Margaret of Scotland Church and the Barrel of Laughs comedy club.
Tickets for the May 22, 8 p.m. BAC screening of "Tapioca" are $7 ($5 for Beverly Arts Center members). Cast members will be on hand for discussion and a reception after screening. For tickets call the BAC box office, 773-445-3838.


For more information visit www.TapiocaTheMovie.com or www.mikehoulihan.com.

George Ryan Should Come Home!

George Ryan has served time in Federal Prisons -in Oxford, Wisconsin and Terra Haute, Indiana -because people wanted him to be guilty and Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was specifically tasked with putting George Ryan in Federal Prison.

It seems to me that that was his job description and mission statement - later nuanced into 'giving the citizens what they were told to want.'

The Media tried Ryan and Judge Pallmayer seemed to follow their script.

I like and admire George Ryan as a man and I love his wife Lura Lynn.

I never voted for George Ryan, as I tend to vote Democrat.

George Ryan served his time - much more than too many much more larcenous villains and sneaks. His Party was defeated by the wildly corrupt Blagojevich who made Illinois the National Poster Child of political corruption. George Ryan, as pointed out in his trial, never took a nickel. He was convicted of being an 'old time politician.'

Dollar for tax-wasted dollar give me that old time corruption, because the Reform Version represented by Blago and his troops is a Tsunami compared to a fart in a bathtub.

Governor Jim Thompson, for whom I never cast a vote, is a good friend to the Ryans and he is hammering at George Ryan's cell door, until a right-minded person swings it open. Godd for you Big Jim!

"Frankly, I think, there's nothing gained by requiring him to stay in jail," said Thompson. "He's been there for almost two years now. He's been punished. He's lost his office. He's lost all his means of support. He's not a completely well man. ... A merciful president would let him come home."

"President Obama knows Governor Ryan, worked with Governor Ryan when the president was in the General Assembly, and my hope is that this fall if we file a petition to ask the president to commute the sentence to time served, that we could get a favorable answer," said Thompson.

1998 - Illinois Governor
George Ryan (R) 51%
Glenn Poshard (D) 47.5%
Lawrence Redmond (Reform) 1.5%
1994 - Illinois Secretary of State
George Ryan (R) 61.5%
Patrick Quinn (D) 38.5%
1990 - Illinois Secretary of State
George Ryan (R) 53.5%
Jerry Cosentino (D) 46.5%

Israel is No Golden Dome - Bibi WILL ' Shake Down Some Thunder'

There will Thunder A'Plenty when Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu gets intimate with President Obama and opens his heart about Iran's plans to 'wipe Israel from the face of the earth.' Should be some OT lightning coming along with that thunder.
Netanyahu lost a brother (Yonathon) to terrorism. President Obama reads talking-points about 'man-made disaster events.'

Unlike the Cottage Cheese Spined P.R. Driven School in Indiana, Isreal will be here long after President Obama makes a Jimmy Carter-ish exit from history.

Prime Minister Netanyahu will take care of Iran.

America, eventually, will take care of Abortion.

Alright! President Got His Honorary Degree -No Sweat - From PR Driven School! No Thunder Shaken Down!

A Public Relations Driven School in Indiana gave President Obama an Honorary Law Degree yesterday.

The leader of the PR. Driven School greased the way. The Media Loved it and got their collective undies in a twist when American Catholics objected to giving such an honor to the most strident abortion advocate in American History.

The grease is nuance.

The President got his trinket.

The PR Driven School shook down no thunder.

It never will.

The Divine Comedy of Steinberg's Shallow Mind -'Why Abortion Frenzy?' Read More Than Dante's Cliff's Notes, "Sprite."

Sun Times "Sprite" Neil Steinberg has the giggles - the rubes and helots are upset about the renewed anger over abortion. It brings out the Sprite ( "Hey, It's a Joke!") in Neil.

The sprite in me is tempted to focus on something, anything, else -- bottled water, what SHALL we do about it? -- but the abortion issue seems to be heating up in a way beyond the flap of a prominent Catholic school conferring an honorary degree upon a president who supports a woman's right to end her pregnancy.

According to the latest polls, suddenly more Americans call themselves "pro-life" than "pro-choice" -- 51 percent vs. 42 percent -- a dramatic shift from just last year, when 50 percent were pro-choice and 44 percent pro-life.

What does this mean? Well, I suppose if you are pro-life, it means the nation has had an unexpected moral reassessment. As if waking from a dream, it gazes down and suddenly sees the blood on its hands, and recoils in moral horror.

For a gent who flashes Dante, like a Visa Gold, Steinberg might have . . .might have, mind you, . . .realized that Dante ( the 13th Century Italian poet) was disgusted by the Catholic Church that turned secular during the late Middle Ages. This is the Catholic Church trotted out by the American Media and Progressives as the Scarlet Whore of Babylon - the one where priests became political hacks and stooged for the secular powers.

Yep, old Neil, it seems is pie-tin deep reader who does not drink too deep from the Pierian Spring ( that's an allusion there, Son!).

Well, Neil, Old Dante's epic takes a dim view of a Church that turns a blind eye - like our hot-topic PR Driven University taking up real estate in Indiana.

Except the soul divine.
Place in this Heaven is none; the soul divine,
Wherein the love, which ruleth o`er its orb,
Is kindled, and the virtue, that it sheds:
One circle, light and love, enclasping it,
As this doth clasp the others; and to Him,
Who draws the bound, its limit only known.
Measured itself by none, it doth divide
Motion to all, counted unto them forth,
As by the fifth or half ye count forth ten.
The vase, wherein time`s roots are plunged, thou seest:
Look elsewhere for the leaves. O mortal lust!
That canst not lift thy head above the waves
Which whelm and sink thee down. The will in man
Bears goodly blossoms; but its ruddy promise
Is, by the dripping of perpetual rain,
Made mere abortion: faith and innocence
Are met with but in babes; each taking leave,
Ere cheeks with down are sprinkled: he, that fasts
While yet a stammerer, with his tongue let loose
Gluts every food alike in every moon:
One, yet a babbler, loves and listens to
His mother; but no sooner hath free use
Of speech, than he doth wish her in her grave.
So suddenly doth the fair child of him,
Whose welcome is the morn and eve his parting,
To negro blackness change her virgin white.

Canto XXVII


Yep, them Old Timey Popes and Bishops got a good tune-up from Dante. Progressives ( Huge Sanger Fans) like to pick at scabs and keep the bleeding going . . .except when it comes to a person's Right to Murder a Kid -Reproductive Health Issues and such.

Dante excoriated ( kicked their fat asses in poetry so to speak) Popes and Bishops and corrupt clergy, because they kissed-up to politicians and turned a blind eye to abortion and every other manner of sin.

It is much more honest to just come out and say that you hate Catholics and their Church. H.L. Mencken would have done that and I believe that he often did so.

Neil, you little Sprite, it is easier just to bad mouth people you don't like and then you can toss that heavy Italian poetry - for all the good it seems to do for you.

Illinois Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D.37th Dist.) -Profile in Courage

Il. Representative Kevin McCarthy is taking a heroic stand to stop the bleeding of Illinois tax-payer money in the face of a Tsunami of Teacher Unions' ads on all media outlets.

Kristen McQueary writes:

The Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and dozens of smaller unions represented by AFL-CIO oppose the most comprehensive pension reform proposal the legislature has seen in at least 20 years.

McCarthy - a former Chicago Public Schools teacher who chairs the House Pensions and Personnel Committee - is the bill's chief sponsor.

Under his bill, that 55-year-old retired neighbor earning full pension benefits would be a perk of the past.

Today, McCarthy will try to get the bill voted out of committee and poised for the House floor, its first major challenge.

The bill represents weeks of negotiation between McCarthy, Gov. Pat Quinn, members of organized labor and House and Senate Democrats. House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1292 would combine state workers, university employees, teachers, judges and General Assembly members under one pension system rather than the five separate systems operating currently.

Labor unions are squawking for two main reasons. The bill reduces retirement benefits for new entrants to the system, and it does not address the state's enormous unfunded liability toward its pension obligations.

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1573558,051409mcqueary.article

The Teachers Unions have flooded the air-waves with a whiny voiced 'Hush-talker' posing as a teacher -" it's a bad idea, Governor Quinn!" The ads beg for more revenue - more taxes.

If not -Illinois will lose quality teachers! Non Sequitur! The ad also whines that Illinois Public School teachers 'only qualify for Partial Social Security Benefits!!!!' Why is that Murial? Could it be that Illinois Teachers opted out of 'paying into Social Security' - their fair share - in order to allow tax-payer to buck up for their retirement? Hmmmmmm.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy is a solid guy. He is one of the quiet heroes who actually make Reform - the old fashioned way - by doing what the voters have tasked him to do.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy stick to your guns. Your constituents are much smarter than the goof whining on the radio.

Surfing? Nice for Girls. Give me Calumet River Bullhead Riding Any Day!

Chicago's Park District will open five (5) Beaches to Surfing.

That will be swell and gratifying for the girls, daisies and dandies. However, real men -19th Ward Variety will continue to make their own Tsunami's on the Cal-Sag Canal and the Mighty Calumet River riding the back of the noble bullhead fish (photo above).

With decades of toxic wastes invigorating the species, men and more than a few lesbians have harnessed the power of Darwinian Increase by leathering up a harness for mansized rides on hungry bullheads. The torpedo has not been built to match the full dorsal power this Fin-Igan's Wake!

Charlie Olson and I tried Bullhead Riding on the Kankakee River but the damn water was too clean and fresh and we crushed the life out of the poor fish by hopping on - that's no sport. Nope, the Calumet or the Cal-Sag are the only toxic water rodeos for real men with a lust for danger, yet see the spark of loving grace in Nature's Bounty - no matter how filthy that Bounty gets to be!

I have gotten away from the cares and woes of this Vale of Tears for a few precious hours by taking the old harness down to the Calumet River, when I lived in Griffith, Indiana and now the Cal-Sag.

I bait up liversausage and onion sandwich onto the lure pole and off we go - Just me and and Old Ameiurus Melas knifing a causeway of water down the center of Cal-Sag that washes over the docks and levies! Wetsuit Be-Damned and Hair ( widow's peak really) awash in the browney foam of the Cal-Sag!!!!

Let the girls surf! The Men will be BullHeading the Cal-Sag!

National Public Television Devastated by 1st Celebrity Swine Flu Death

The Serial Whisperers of Public Television were confronted with the Grim-Reaper! Younger than Pete Seeger and with more spring to his step, Sesame Street's iconic frog appears to have had a much too fatal attraction.

Question would this be considered an STD by CDC? That was piggish of me.

WLS News Man -Bill Cameron! You Can Bank What He Tells You.

The radio, especially News Radio, is tailor made for urban driving. You never get lost in the delicate "Le Portrait musical de la nature," of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony ( Sixth Symphony) or the sweep and majesty of Hayden's Quartet 62 in C Major. Likewise, I will not drop my Dunkin' Donuts 20-Load from Karim's Western Ave., poured will delicacy and grace by the beautiful women who lilt -"Hars Paht-reek of Leo! Get EeeksTrah Large! Good Mornin' Hickey!" in order to crank up Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels when the first chords of Devil With the Blue Dress counterpoint the drum-time!

Nope, mostly you here -"Healthy Trinity - The Triun ( Confounding Arius at Nicea) God's Way to Say Good morning to your Colon - Don and I Cannonball a Quart of Healthy Trinty every morning!" Followed by rants, raves and more "HEALTHY TRINITY!"

Into this static-thick wildness, comes a reporter's voice that sounds like exactly like two guys with whom I had just jostled our loads with out of the doors of Karim's Dunkin' Donuts on Western Ave. - " The IRS has placed a lien on the home of Todd Stroger for his failure to pay $12,000 in back taxes."

Now, that is news. That is Bill Cameron. I met Bill Cameron during Alexi Giannoulias' Campaign and we shared stories of the life political from the 'regular guys' vantage point. Bill Cameron is a Yeoman Professional. He is like Gino Ford the ComEd High Wire Artiste, Capt. Eddie Ryan,CFD, Det. Billy Higgins, CPD (ret.) and Eddie Carroll, The Roofing Contactor to the Stars of Gentleman's Entertainment Venues.

WLS AM - The Big 89 has had 'personalities' - many of them with the personalities of dial tones - come and go but Bill Cameron, like a afore-mentioned professionals is necesary to the safety, surety and sustaining of this Great Republic.

Bill Cameron makes all of the News Posers pale with hard, factual, and honest reportage. Thanks, Mr. Cameron!

Bill is the winner of two Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio & Television News Directors Association, shared in a Peabody, and has received numerous AP, UPI, and Gabriel awards for his work.

He has a BS in Broadcast Journalism from Indiana University. He's the son of an Illinois High School Hall of Fame football coach, Fred Cameron, and has called football and basketball games on radio in addition to working as a trainer and referee in sports.

Bill's daughter Elizabeth is the principal flutist of a symphony orchestra, and son Matt is a nationally-ranked athlete in the sport of fencing.

Detective Commander Jon Burge (CPD ret.) Talks! - The Movie:Starring Aaron Patterson as Jon Burge

Detective Commander Burge (CPD ret.): Friends, I'm going to to tell you of the great mysterious wonderful continent known as Africa. Africa, God's country. And he can have it...Well, sir, we left New York drunk and early on the morning of February second. After fifteen days on the water and six on the boat we finally arrived on the shores of Africa.
We at once proceded 300 miles into the heart of the jungle where I shot a polar bear. This bear was 6 foot 7 in his stocking feet and had shoes on. This bear was anemic and couldn't stand the cold climate. He was a rich bear and could afford to go away in the winter. From the day of our arrival we led an active life. The first morning saw us up at six, breakfasted, then back in bed at seven. This was our routine for the first three months. We finally got so we were back in bed at six-thirty.
One morning I was sitting in front of the cabin smoking some meat There wasn't a cigar store in the neighborhood. As I say, I was sitting in front of the cabin when I bagged six tigers. I bagged them, I bagged them to go away, but they hung around all afternoon. They were the most persistant tigers I've ever seen. The principal animals inhabiting the African jungle are moose, elk and Knights of Pythias.
Of course you all know what a moose is, that's big game. The first day I shot two bucks that was the biggest game we had. As I say you all know what a moose is? A moose runs around on the floor, and eats cheese and is chased by the cats. The elks on the other hand live up in the hills, and in the spring they come down for their annual convention. It is very interesting to watch them come down to the water-hole; and you should see them run when they find it is only water-hole. What they're looking for is a elk-a-hole. One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I'll never know. But that is entirely irrevent to what I was talking about. We took some pictures of the native girls, but they weren't developed.But we're going back again in a couple of weeks...

CPD Detective Verbal Kint Gives Up Jon Burge! 'Attitude, Dude!' Just the Way G. Flint Taylor Scripted it!

Verbal Kint: He's supposed to be Irish. Some say his father was German. Nobody ever believed he was real. Nobody ever knew him or saw anybody that ever worked directly for him. But to hear tell it, anybody could have worked for Burge. You never knew; that was his power. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
One story the guys told me, the story I believe, was from his days in Turkey-bird land (Ireland, I guess.). There was a gang of black persons that wanted their own mob. They realized that to be in power, you didn't need guns or money or even numbers. You just needed the will to do what the other guy wouldn't. After a while, they come into power and then they come after Burge. He was small-time then, just running dope, they say.

(We see all of this in flashback)

They ( the black persons) come to his home in the afternoon, looking for his business. They find his wife and kids in the house and decide to wait for Soze, er Burge. He comes home to find his wife raped and children screaming. The Black Persons knew Burge was tough, not to be trifled with, so they let him know they meant business.

(Flashback: Black Person cuts one of the children's throats)

They tell him they want his territory, all his business. Burge looks over the faces of his family. Then he showed these men of will what will really was.

(Burge shoots two Black persons, then shoots his children and his wife as the last black person watches in surprised horror)

He tells him he would rather see his family dead than live another day after this. He lets the last Black Person go, waits until his wife and kids are in the ground, and then he goes after the rest of the mob. He kills their kids. He kills their wives. He kills their parents and their parents' friends. He burns down the houses they live in, the stores they work in. He kills people that owe them money. And like that, he's gone. Underground. Attitude. It is All Attitude! Nobody's ever seen him since. He becomes a myth, a spook story that criminals tell their kids at night. "Rat on your Cop and Jon Burge will get you." But no one ever really believes.

(We see a shadow-encased figure of John Burge walking towards the camera in front of a huge tower of flame as Det. Verbal speaks about the process of revenge.)


G. Flint Taylor: Do you believe in him, Verbal?

Verbal Kint: Keaton always said, "I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him."
Well, I believe in God -- and the only thing that scares me is John Burge.
Attitude,Dude.

The Reds Killed Poles in Katyn Forest and Americans Need to Remember

Well done Mike Thomas! Mike Thomas is a reporter for the Sun Times.

Thomas reports today about the massacre of four thousand Polish Army Officers in 1940 that too often goes undiscussed by Americans.

Soviet Tyrant Joe Stalin ordered the massacre when the Communists betrayed their neighbor Poland and invaded in conjunction with Adolph Hitler.

American Leftists like to pretend that their co-religionists were the good-guy. Not so.

In April of 1940, on orders from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, more than 4,000 Polish army officers were killed by the Soviet secret police and buried in a Katyn Forest mass grave. Their slaughter became known as the Katyn Forest Massacre.

That same month, thousands of other Poles -- officers and civilians -- were exterminated in surrounding areas. The death toll reached nearly 22,000.

Russians are good people. Communists are monsters.

Let's not forget our history, Kids.

Hitler is the poster boy for change and murder.

Joe Stalin and the Reds take a back-seat to no one.

Militarists in Japan slaughtered everyone within bayonet reach in China, Indochina, Thailand, Malaysia, the Phillipines, Guam and throughout the Pacific.

This is a small world after all and there are louses who will murder to advance their ideologies.

Jazz Genius Andrew Distel and Guitarist Daniel Bruce at Viands Saturday Night!

Think Mel Torme! Think Chet Baker! Go See and Hear Andrew Distel!

Hello Jazz Lovers,
I'll be playing this weekend at Viand with a wonderful guitarist--Daniel Bruce. We'll be playing standards in a quaint room in the heart of downtown Chicago. Good food and a nice relaxed atmosphere too--Hope to see you out and about this weekend!
May 16th Saturday - The day After Friday - Date Night!

Viand Restaurant
155 E. Ontario (1 block east of Michigan Ave.)
6-9pm
no cover
(312)255-8505