Chicago Mayoral Elections - Not Much You Can Do, But Vote.

I voted for Jerry Joyce.  

Bill Daley will be the next mayor, because we live in a 'fixed' City.

Bill Daley, Gery Chico. Toni Preckwinkle and Susan Mendosa are oligarchs.  They are the ruling class in this Banana Republic.

Illinois, Cook County and Chicago are all rigged by the monied interests and there is not a damn thing my vote can do about it.

The GOP - formerly a political party for the privileged progressive few became nothing more than a name a few decades back under Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.  Since then, The Illinois, Cook County and City of Chicago GOP has been an irrelevancy.

ILLINOIS GOP Clowns like Senator Mark Kirk stooge'd for the Daley family and helped shore-up its Russian investment empire that the Chicago media ignores.

Senator Mark Kirk appointed Efimova chair of the Eastern European Advisory Board. Three years later, she was appointed vice president (Midwest) of the U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce. It’s a 501(c) nonprofit established in 2009 to “promote business between Russia and the United States of America.”Through her work with Kirk, Bob Dold (Dist. 10, R-IL) asked her to help with his outreach to the Russian-speaking community for his 2012 campaign. She’s “participated in numerous interviews and promotions…and on mailers that were sent to every Russian-speaking household.” She’s worked on his last three campaigns.
Efimova was one of 70 prominent Chicagoans on the committee to host the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago. The hosting committee was headed by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s wife, Amy Rule. That same year, Rahm sent a delegation of the World Business Chicago and CSI on a trade mission to Russia to “ establish relationships with Russian companies and spur new business development opportunities.”

Fred Eychaner's Terry Cosgrove and Planned Parenthood control erstwhile Catholic Democrat State Senators and Representatives like Bill Cunningham, Kelly Burke and Fran Hurley with such force that all common sense anti-abortion statutes will be eliminated from Illinois law. 

In Chicago, labor caved to the oligarchs when the pipe-trades wildly endorsed Rahm Emanuel for his disastrous second term and doubled down with Governor JB Pritzker.

I am not cynical.  Just reporting.

Vote.  Believe.

The fact of the matter is this.  Bill Daley will be Mayor.  Abortion will rule Illinois, just like legal weed.

We can move elsewhere.  We can hunker down and take it.

OR we can step away from the all you can can eat buffet of bullshit put out by the oligarchs' media stooges and start to listen to good people like

• Jerry Joyce - Get him in the Run Off

• Jeanne Ives - Help fight two evil pieces of legislation :HB 40 & SB 1407 i

• Rev. Corey Brooks - Demand that genuine voices of the African American Community get equal time against grifters and clowns like Blonde Jesus Pfleger and Jesse Jackson. 

I plan to demand a town hall in the very Catholic parishes of each self-claimed Catholic Illinois legislator to ask why, Fran Hurley, Kelly Burke and Billy Cunningham offer fealty to Personal PAC Illinois that trumps Catholic doctrine on abortion and why their pastors aid and abet their hypocrisies.  Just to keep them honest, or least outed in public.  Hell, I admit my many manifold personal and public sins. 

It is a small thing and the least that I can do; that and cast my vote upon the waters. 

A Bunch of Things You Might Or Might Not Have Known About Fred Chopin and George Sand, BUT Got Compiled Anyway So You How Smart I am

I hate lists.


I really hate lists.
Commies compile lists - for future exile or execution.



People who admire Commies imitate them and make them mainstream


Americans are too tolerant of Commies and the people who admire the Reds - they'll be sorry some day. Me? I'll be dead and long judged by God. God don't make lists.  He takes you individually.
The only guy who should make lists is Santa.




One Christmas I received the Book of Lists from three different people, who thought like millions of others that I would want to know about

• Famous Freemasons with flatulence 
• Whigs murdered on Christmas Day 1853
• Cumquat eaters of Connecticut
• Democrats who sneezed
• Popes who break-danced for Lorenzo Magnifico
• VD Victims of Cole Porter
• Hemingway's Beat-Downs by Better Writers

Likewise, I detest TOP TEN ( or any number)  Lists of anything.


Psychologists used to warn us about people who never recovered from potty-training - the anal retentive like the passive aggressive rules our world.


I go to restaurants and if the food is good and prices, as well as the service is good, I return for another meal.   Then, if asked by anyone, 'have a good meal anywhere?' I might mention the place.


People no longer tend to communicate with other people. They refer to pre-caste lists, or worse, go to an APP.


Why is it import to compile things like

• 866 things we know about Donald Trump's inner ear infections
• 5 Things We Do Not Know, But Will Guess about Race Relations in Cairo, IL
• 7 Explanations for Michael
• 9 Steps to Good Grooming That Do Not Involve Soap, Water and Alcohol

Santa is the only one who should continue to compile lists of any type.


Oh, by the way - Chopin dated George Sand for nine years and then died.


Here is a Lis. . . .catalog of Chopin's greatest works. That cat could tickle them 88s! Compiled by the good people of Wikipedia - I have no time for such nonsense . . .far too busy,

• Op. 10, 12 Études:

1. Étude in C major, Waterfall (1830)
2. Étude in A minor, Chromatic (1830)
3. Étude in E major, Tristesse, or L'adieu (1832)
4. Étude in C♯ minor, Torrent (1832)
5. Étude in G♭ major, Black Keys (1830)
6. Étude in E♭ minor, Lament (1830)
7. Étude in C major, Toccata (1832)
8. Étude in F major, Sunshine (1829)
9. Étude in F minor (1829)
10. Étude in A♭ major (1829)
11. Étude in E♭ major, Arpeggio (1829)
12. Étude in C minor, Revolutionary (1831)

• Op. 25, 12 Études:

1. Étude in A♭ major, Aeolian Harp, or Shepherd Boy (1836)
2. Étude in F minor, The Bees (1836)
3. Étude in F major, The Horseman (1836)
4. Étude in A minor (1832–1834)
5. Étude in E minor, Wrong Note (1832–1834)
6. Étude in G♯ minor, Thirds (1832–1834)
7. Étude in C♯ minor, Cello (1836)
8. Étude in D♭ major, Sixths (1832–1834)
9. Étude in G♭ major, Butterfly (1832–1834)
10. Étude in B minor, Octave (1832–1834)
11. Étude in A minor, Winter Wind (1834)
12. Étude in C minor, Ocean (1836)

• Trois nouvelles études (1839):

1. Étude in F minor
2. Étude in A♭ major
3. Étude in D♭ major

Impromptus[edit]

• Op. 29: Impromptu No. 1 in A♭ major (1837)
• Op. 36: Impromptu No. 2 in F♯ major (1839)
• Op. 51: Impromptu No. 3 in G♭ major (1843)

• Op. 66 (posth.): Fantaisie-Impromptu in C♯ minor (1834)

Mazurkas[edit]

Main article: Mazurkas (Chopin)

• Op. 6, Four Mazurkas (1830–32)

1. Mazurka in F♯ minor
2. Mazurka in C♯ minor
3. Mazurka in E major
4. Mazurka in E♭ minor

• Op. 7, Five Mazurkas (1830–32)

1. Mazurka in B♭ major
2. Mazurka in A minor (1829, revised 1830)
3. Mazurka in F minor
4. Mazurka in A♭ major (1824, revised 1830)
5. Mazurka in C major

• Op. 17, Four Mazurkas (1833)

1. Mazurka in B♭ major
2. Mazurka in E minor
3. Mazurka in A♭ major
4. Mazurka in A minor

• Op. 24, Four Mazurkas (1835)

1. Mazurka in G minor
2. Mazurka in C major
3. Mazurka in A♭ major
4. Mazurka in B♭ minor

• Op. 30, Four Mazurkas (1837)

1. Mazurka in C minor
2. Mazurka in B minor
3. Mazurka in D♭ major
4. Mazurka in C♯ minor

• Op. 33, Four Mazurkas (1838)

1. Mazurka in G♯ minor
2. Mazurka in D major
3. Mazurka in C major
4. Mazurka in B minor

• Op. 41, Four Mazurkas (1839–40)

1. Mazurka in C♯ minor
2. Mazurka in E minor
3. Mazurka in B major
4. Mazurka in A♭ major

• Mazurka in A minor (No. 50; "Notre Temps"; 1840; pub. 1841 in Six morceaux de salon, without Op. number; B. 134; KK IIb/4; S 2/4)

• Mazurka in A minor (No. 51; "Émile Gaillard"; 1840; pub. 1841 in Album de pianistes polonais, without Op. number; B. 140; KK IIb/5; S 2/5)

• Op. 50, Three Mazurkas (1842)

1. Mazurka in G major
2. Mazurka in A♭ major
3. Mazurka in C♯ minor

• Op. 56, Three Mazurkas (1844)

1. Mazurka in B major
2. Mazurka in C major
3. Mazurka in C minor

• Op. 59, Three Mazurkas (1845–46)

1. Mazurka in A minor
2. Mazurka in A♭ major
3. Mazurka in F♯ minor

• Op. 63, Three Mazurkas (1846-7)

1. Mazurka in B major
2. Mazurka in F minor
3. Mazurka in C♯ minor

Published in Poland during early years[edit]

• Two Mazurkas (unnumbered; 1826; pub. 1826, without an Op. number; B. 16, KK IIa/2-3, S 1, No. 2):
  • a. Mazurka in G major
  • b. Mazurka in B♭ major

With opus numbers[edit]

• Op. posth. 67, Four Mazurkas (Nos. 42-45; pub. 1855):

1. Mazurka in G major (1833)
2. Mazurka in G minor (1849)
3. Mazurka in C major (1835)
4. Mazurka in A minor (1846)

• Op. posth. 68, Four Mazurkas (Nos. 46-49; pub. 1855):

1. Mazurka in C major (1829)
2. Mazurka in A minor (1827)
3. Mazurka in F major (1829)
4. Mazurka in F minor (1849; Last composition)

Without opus numbers[edit]

• Mazurka in C major (1833; pub. 1870; B. 82; KK IVB/3; P 2/3)
• Mazurka in D major (1829; pub. 1875; B 31/71; KK IVa/7; P 1/7)
• Mazurka in B♭ major (1832; pub. 1909; B. 73; KK IVb/1; P 2/1)
• Mazurka in D major "Mazurek" (doubtful, 1820?; pub. 1910; B. 4; KK Anh Ia/1; A 1/1)
• Mazurka in A♭ major (1834; pub. 1930; B. 85; KK IVb/4; P 2/4)
• Mazurka in D major (1832; pub. ?; P 2/2)

Nocturnes[edit]

Main article: Nocturnes (Chopin)

• Op. 9, Three Nocturnes (1830–32):

1. Nocturne in B♭ minor
2. Nocturne in E♭ major
3. Nocturne in B major

• Op. 15, Three Nocturnes (1830–33):

1. Nocturne in F major
2. Nocturne in F♯ major
3. Nocturne in G minor

• Op. 27, Two Nocturnes (1835-6):

1. Nocturne in C♯ minor
2. Nocturne in D♭ major

• Op. 32, Two Nocturnes (1836–37):

1. Nocturne in B major
2. Nocturne in A♭ major

• Op. 37, Two Nocturnes (1838–40):

1. Nocturne in G minor
2. Nocturne in G major

• Op. 48, Two Nocturnes (1840–41):

1. Nocturne in C minor
2. Nocturne in F♯ minor

• Op. 55, Two Nocturnes (1843–44):

1. Nocturne in F minor
2. Nocturne in E♭ major

• Op. 62, Two Nocturnes (1846):

1. Nocturne in B major
2. Nocturne in E major

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus number[edit]

• Op. posth. 72 (No.2 and No.3 are works other than Nocturnes):

1. Nocturne in E minor (1827–29)

Without opus numbers[edit]

• P. 1/16: Nocturne in C♯ minor, Lento con gran espressione (1830)
• P. 2/8: Nocturne in C minor (1837)
• A. 1/6: Nocturne in C♯ minor (Nocturne oubliée) (spurious)

Polonaises[edit]

Main article: Polonaises (Chopin)

• Op. 26, Two Polonaises (1833–36)

1. Polonaise in C♯ minor
2. Polonaise in E♭ minor

• Op. 40, Two Polonaises (1838–40)

1. Polonaise in A major, Military
2. Polonaise in C minor, Funeral

• Op. 44: Polonaise in F♯ minor, Tragic (1840–41)
• Op. 53: Polonaise in A♭ major, Heroic or Drum (1842–43)
• Op. 61: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A♭ major (1846)

Published in Poland during early years[edit]

• KK IIa No. 1: Polonaise in G minor (1817; First composition)

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]

• Op. posth. 71, Three Polonaises:

1. Polonaise in D minor (1825)
2. Polonaise in B♭ major (1828)
3. Polonaise in F minor (1828)

Without opus numbers[edit]

• KK IVa, Five Polonaises:

1. Polonaise in B♭ major (1817)
2. Polonaise in A♭ major (1821)
3. Polonaise in G♯ minor (1822)
4. Polonaise in B♭ minor, Adieu à Guillaume Kolberg (1826)
5. Polonaise in G♭ major (1829)

Preludes[edit]

Main article: Preludes (Chopin)

• Op. 28, 24 Preludes:

1. Prelude in C major (composed 1839)
2. Prelude in A minor (1838)
3. Prelude in G major (1838–1839)
4. Prelude in E minor (1838)
5. Prelude in D major (1838–1839)
6. Prelude in B minor (1838–1839)
7. Prelude in A major (1836)
8. Prelude in F♯ minor (1838–1839)
9. Prelude in E major (1838–1839)
10. Prelude in C♯ minor (1838–1839)
11. Prelude in B major (1838–1839)
12. Prelude in G♯ minor (1838–1839)
13. Prelude in F♯ major (1838–1839)
14. Prelude in E♭ minor (1838–1839)
15. Prelude in D♭ major, Raindrop (1838–1839)
16. Prelude in B♭ minor (1838–1839)
17. Prelude in A♭ major (1836)
18. Prelude in F minor (1838–1839)
19. Prelude in E♭ major (1838–1839)
20. Prelude in C minor, Chord or Funeral March (1838–1839)
21. Prelude in B♭ major (1838–1839)
22. Prelude in G minor (1838–1839)
23. Prelude in F major (1838–1839)
24. Prelude in D minor (1838–1839)

• Op. 45: Prelude in C♯ minor (1841)

Posthumously published[edit]

• P. 2/7: Prelude in A♭ major (1834, published 1918; ded. Pierre Wolff)
• A. 1/2: Prelude in F major
• Prelude in E♭ minor, Devil's Trill (recently found)

Rondos[edit]

• Op. 1: Rondo in C minor (1825; arr. piano 4-hands 1834)
• Op. 5: Rondo à la mazur in F major (1826)
• Op. 16: Rondo in E♭ major (1832)

Posthumously published[edit]

• Op. posth. 73: Rondo in C major for two pianos (1828; arr. piano solo 1840)

Scherzos[edit]

• Op. 20: Scherzo No. 1 in B minor (1831–35)
• Op. 31: Scherzo No. 2 in B♭ minor (1836–37)
• Op. 39: Scherzo No. 3 in C♯ minor (1839–40)
• Op. 54: Scherzo No. 4 in E major (1842–43)

Sonatas[edit]

Main article: Piano sonatas (Chopin)

• Op. 4 (posth.): Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor (1828; pub. 1851)
• Op. 35: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B♭ minor, Funeral March (1839–40, Funeral March composed 1837)
• Op. 58: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor (1844–45)

Variations[edit]

Main article: Miscellaneous compositions (Chopin)

• Op. 12: Variations brillantes in B♭ major on "Je vends des scapulaires" from Hérold's Ludovic (1833)
• B. 113: Variation in E for Hexameron (1837; pub. 1839)

Posthumously published[edit]

• B.9: Variations in E for flute and piano on "Non più mesta" from Rossini's La Cenerentola, KK. Anh. Ia/5, (? 1824; pub. 1955) ^[1]
• KK. IVa/6: Introduction, Theme and Variations in D on a Venetian air, piano 4-hands (1826; pub 1965)
• B. 12a: Variations in D major or B minor on an Irish National Air (from Thomas Moore) for 2 pianos, P. 1/6 (1826)
• B. 14: Variations in E major on the air "Der Schweizerbub: Steh'auf, steh'auf o du Schweitzer Bub", a.k.a. Introduction et Variations sur un Lied allemand (1826; pub. 1851)
• B. 37: Variations in A, Souvenir de Paganini (1829; pub. 1881)

Lost[edit]

• KK. Ve/9: Variations, (January 1818)
• KK. Vb/2: Variations in F, piano 4-hands or 2 pianos (1826)
• KK. VIIa/3: Variations on a Ukrainian Dumka for violin and piano, by Antoni Radziwill, completed by Chopin (by June 1830)

Waltzes[edit]

Main article: Waltzes (Chopin)

• Op. 18: Grande valse brillante in E♭ major (1833)
• Op. 34, Trois grandes valses brillantes:

1. Waltz in A♭ major (1835)
2. Waltz in A minor (1831)
3. Waltz in F major (1838)

• Op. 42: Waltz in A♭ major (1840)
• Op. 64, Three Waltzes:

1. Waltz in D♭ major, Minute Waltz (1847)
2. Waltz in C♯ minor (1847)
3. Waltz in A♭ major (1840, some sources say 1847)

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]

• 1852: Two Waltzes, Op. posth. 69:

1. Waltz in A♭ major, L'Adieu (1835)
2. Waltz in B minor (1829)

• 1855: Three Waltzes, Op. posth. 70:

1. Waltz in G♭ major (1832)
2. Waltz in F minor (1841)
3. Waltz in D♭ major (1829)

Without opus numbers[edit]

• 1868: Waltz in E minor (1830), B. 56, KK IVa/15, P. 1/15
• 1871–72: Waltz in E major, B. 44, KK IVa/12, P. 1/12
• 1902: Waltz in A♭ major, B. 21, KK IVa/13, P. 1/13
• 1902: Waltz in E♭ major, B. 46, KK IVa/14, P. 1/14
• 1955: Waltz in A minor (1843–1848), B. 150, KK IVb/11, P. 2/11
• 1955: Waltz in E♭ major (Sostenuto), B. 133, KK IVb/10 (not always classified as a waltz)
• 1932: Waltz in F♯ minor, Valse mélancolique, KK Ib/7, A. 1/7. Reattributed to Charles Mayer as Le Régret op. 332^[2]

Miscellaneous pieces for solo piano[edit]

Main article: Miscellaneous compositions (Chopin)

• Op. 19: Boléro in A minor (1833)
• Op. 22: Andante spianato in G major (1831–4)
• Op. 43: Tarantelle in A♭ major (1841)
• Op. 46: Allegro de Concert in A major (1832–41)
• Op. 49: Fantaisie in F minor (1841)
• Op. 57: Berceuse in D♭ major (1844)
• Op. 60: Barcarolle in F♯ major (1845–46)

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]

• Op. posth. 72:

1. Nocturne in E minor (1827)
2. Marche funèbre in C minor (1827; B.20)
3. Three Écossaises (1826; B.12)
   1. Écossaise in D major
   2. Écossaise in G major
   3. Écossaise in D♭ major

Without opus numbers[edit]

• B. 17: Contredanse in G♭ major (doubtful) (1827)
• B. 84: Cantabile in B♭ major (1834)
• B. 109: Largo in E♭ major (1837)
• B. 117: Andantino in G minor (arr. of the piano part of the song Wiosna; 5 different MS exist) (1837)
• B. 129a: Canon in F minor (unfinished (1839))
• B. 133: Klavierstück in E♭ "Sostenuto" (1840; sometimes classified as a waltz)
• B. 144: Fugue in A minor (1841)
• B. 151: Album Leaf (Moderato) in E major (1843)
• B. 160b: 2 Bourrées (1846)
• P. 2/13: Galopp in A♭ (Galop Marquis) (1846)
• KK. Vb/1: Andante dolente in B♭ minor (lost)
• KK. Ve/3: Écossaise (? date; lost)
• KK. Vb/9: Écossaise in B♭ major (1827; lost)
• KK. VIIa/2: 3 Fugues (A minor, F major, D minor; arr. from Cherubini's Cours de contrepoint et de fugue)

Piano and orchestra[edit]

Concertos[edit]

• Op. 11: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor (composed 1830)
• Op. 21: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor (1829–1830)

Miscellaneous[edit]

• Op. 2: Variations on "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, in B♭ major (1827)
• Op. 13: Fantasy on Polish Airs, in A major (1828)
• Op. 14: Rondo à la Krakowiak, in F major (1828)
• Op. 22: Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante, in E♭ major (1830–1831)^[3]

Cello and piano[edit]

• Op. 3: Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C major (1829–1830)
• B. 70: Grand Duo concertant in E major (1832; written jointly with Auguste Franchomme)
• Op. 65: Cello Sonata in G minor (1845–46)

Violin, cello and piano[edit]

• Op. 8: Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in G minor (1830)

Voice and piano[edit]

Main article: Polish songs (Chopin)

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]

• Op. posth. 74, 17 Songs (1829–1847; Polish)

1. "The Wish" ("Życzenie") (1829)
2. "Spring" ("Wiosna") (1838)
3. "The Sad River" ("Smutna Rzeka") (1831)
4. "Merrymaking" ("Hulanka") (1830)
5. "What She Likes" ("Gdzie lubi") (1829)
6. "Out of My Sight" ("Precz z moich oczu") (1830)
7. "The Messenger" ("Poseł") (1830)
8. "Handsome Lad" ("Śliczny chłopiec") (1841)
9. "From the Mountains, Where They Carried Heavy Crosses [Melody]" ("Z gór, gdzie dźwigali strasznych krzyżów brzemię [Melodia]") (1847)
10. "The Warrior" ("Wojak") (1830)
11. "The Double-End" ("Dwojaki koniec") (1845)
12. "My Darling" ("Moja pieszczotka") (1837)
13. "I Want What I Have Not" ("Nie ma czego trzeba") (1845)
14. "The Ring" ("Pierścień") (1836)
15. "The Bridegroom" ("Narzeczony") (1831)
16. "Lithuanian Song" ("Piosnka litewska") (1831)
17. "Leaves are Falling, Hymn from the Tomb" ("Śpiew z mogiłki") (1836)

Without opus numbers[edit]

• "Enchantment" ("Czary") (1830)
• "Reverie" ("Dumka") (1840)

Lost works[edit]

• Polonaise for piano, composed 1818. Presented by Chopin to the Empress Maria Teodorowna, mother of the Tsar, on the occasion of her visit to Warsaw on 26 September 1818.
• Variations for piano, composed 1818. Mentioned in the "Pamietnik Warzawski" of 1818
• Polonaise 'Barber of Seville' for piano, composed 1825/11. In 1825/11 Chopin wrote to Bialoblocki: "I have done a new Polonaise on the "Barber" which is fairly well liked. I think of sending it to be lithographed tomorrow."
• Variations for 2 pianos in F major, composed 1826. Listed by Louise Chopin
• Variations on an Irish National Air (from Thomas Moore) for 2 pianos, composed 1826. Stated to be "in D Major or B minor."
• Waltz for piano in C major, composed 1826.
• Andante dolente for piano in B♭ minor, composed 1827. Mentioned in the list of Louise Chopin
• Ecossaise for piano in B♭ major, composed 1827. Mentioned in the list of Louise Chopin.
• Waltz for piano in D minor, composed 1828. Given in Louise's list, with the date, and entitled (? by Louise) 'La partenza' ('The departure')
• Waltz for piano (supposedly) in A♭ major, composed 1830/12 (?).

Thank You and Thank God! Thanksgiving 2018

I wake up thankful everyday for the privilege of seeing, breathing, hearing tasting and touching for another day.


That first glass of ice cold water cascading its refreshing way through my vigorously brushed teeth and gums, down the gullet and sparking awake all of my biological electrical works is a reminder to me that God really knows what he is doing. The guy is a craftsman!


I pray on my knees each morning and try to meditate on my blessings and my sins - which are legion.  Then, I shower up, shave and dress for the day - usually a sport coat and tie, or suit for my day at the old bone orchard.


I take  Holy Communion at St. John Fisher with the usual baker's dozen of regulars, Lizzie, Joanna, Bill, Barbara, Carol, Ray, the two Mikes ( Tall and not so tall) , the other Bill, Mary Beth, Tall Mike's wife Patricia, Theresa, and Mr. Carroll.  


Aside from the regulars there is the constant - Mrs. Terry F, the most devout and generous woman in God's house.


I am thankful for this daily congress of Memorare saying saints.


Christ is for breakfast and sustains me and battles with my natural and unnatural demons all day long.


I am thankful for my large and extended family, especially my three healthy and productive children, my son-in-law and my beautiful granddaughter.


Then I am thankful for the following

• People who never say "Veggies" despite the thoroughly exhausting necessity of saying tables
• Men from countries like Ireland, Poland, Mexico, Greece, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Ghana who never, ever wear Greek Fisherman Captain's hats, berets, or Alpine hats.
• Women of all races, ages, sizes and temperments who still manage to like men
• Food, with the notable and discerning exceptions of beets, cauliflower and Zagnuts
• Pets - normal pets like dogs and cats and the odd rabbit
• People who maintain beautiful lawns and gardens, unlike me
• Men who keep up with household tasks, chores, updates and projects, unlike me
• First Responders
• People of all political persuasions who know that it is all bullshit and politicians will screw you like a 40 Watt at every turn
• People who like to cook for others, like me
• Good writers
• Jazz - America's greatest art form
• People who can play the bagpipes and don't
• Four Seasons - the year and not the hotel
• Clancy's Pizza Pub's Pot Roast Eggrolls
• Halloween
• Real poetry - Milton, Yeats, Chaucer, Johnson, Pope and Horace
• Real prose - Conrad, James Salter, Faulkner, Ralph Ellison
• The day after Christmas
• People who do not give me Christmas, Birthday, or whatever Hallmark scam holiday's requisite gifting day
• People who ignore snobbery
• Overtime pay
• WDCB - 90-5 FM Chicago's Home for Jazz
• A woman with the tolerance to be see in public with me these past ten years - go figure.
• Turkey, corn bread dressing, cranberry sauce jelly, turnips and sweet potatoes.
• Knights of Columbus Miserecodia Candy Sellers
• Brother Rice Football 2018
• Cable without news - Western Channel, or old movies
• Joseph Epstein's prose
• John Kass's courage
• Shelby Foote's multi-volume Civil War narrative
• My students ( 1975-2018)
• Day's when I do not disappoint someone

Happy Thanks Giving Day!    Try that every day.

The Decline and Fall of the American Republic - Actors and Political Power

The first actor activist to appear in a starring role in American history was John Wilkes Booth.  He was the Resistance after Little Mac lost 1864 election to the Donald Trump of 19th Century divided America.  The man was an activist and shot Lincoln, stabbed Major Henry Rathbone when he attempted to stop the assassination, leaped to the stage of the Ford Theatre and shouted " Sic Semper Tyrannis!"  Michael Moore could not have staged it better.


Actors were considered social pariahs generally in the mid-19th Century: drunks, sexual predators, lay-abouts and spongers.  With exceptions of the few matinee idols, like Edwin and his brother Jogn Wilkes Booth.  Actors were treated much like Mark Twain's rascals the King and the Duke in Huckleberry Finn ridden out of town on a rail after a judicious tar and feathering.


John Wilkes Booth adapted the Byronic attitude toward the southern states succession as an act of heroic Republicanism and labeled Lincoln as an ape man intent on destroying the white race. John Wilkes Booth was not alone in his contempt for Abraham Lincoln.


Lincoln got the Trump treatment from both sides of the Mason Dixon line and from Boys in Blue as well as Rebs in butternut grey. The Irish Democrats voted against Lincoln, because they wanted a swift end to the draft and hated the Emancipation Proclamation which put them in hard competition with American blacks.

The majority of the northern Irish-American community were loyal Democrats, supporting the party that had accepted them in the face of widespread discrimination during the 1850s. Short shrift was given to any former community leader, such as Thomas Francis Meagher, who advocated Lincoln’s re-election. Issues such as emancipation and the enforcement of the draft remained emotive for many in November of 1864, particularly in New York. Election day finally arrived on 8th November, with Abraham Lincoln sweeping to a second term in office. The majority of Irish-Americans in the north had voted for what proved to be the losing side, a fact not easily forgotten by many of their fellow citizens in the years that followed Lincoln’s assassination and the successful conclusion of the war.

All that subsequent Rum Romanism and Rebellion that still tweaks Democrats of Irish origin stayed with Paddy and Bridey for generations.  George M. Cohan notwithstanding.



The first Hollywood star to become a political power in American government was dancer/actor George Murphy and Irish American - who ran as a Republican.  Murphy became a United States Congressman and was fierce anti-Communist from California.  Another actor followed his lead into the Party of Lincoln, Ronald "Dutch" Reagan.  Jimmy Cagney and other left leaning Democrats crowded around FDR and Harry Truman.


Hollywood loved mixing it up with political power.  Frank Sinatra reached out to Sam "Mo-Mo" Giancanna for help in getting Jack Kennedy in the White House.


Our Republic, like the Roman Republic of Shakespeare's cycle-dramas which the Booth Brothers starred throughout the late 1850's to the Civil War, was a proud tradition of manly individualists, until it was beset by a string of patrician demogogues ( The Gracchi, Marius, Sulla, Cataline and Caesar) all intent on one man rule to maintain the oligarchy. They succeeded - the jury is still out on the American - and the Empire took over with actors playing their parts.

Performers were among the infamis, and couldn’t call themselves citizens of Rome or get any of the associated benefits, like the limited form of political representation others enjoyed. This meant that most comedians who acted were former slaves or people who didn’t have any citizenship to lose.

For the rare comedian who worked their way out of acting into writing, there was no promise of keeping that higher social status. In 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar demanded that one of the great mime writers of the time, Decimus Laberius, perform in a sort of stand-up battle of mimes. Laberius would face off against a Syrian ex-slave called Pubilius. Laberius wasn’t overly eager to forfeit his rank, but how could he say no to Caesar? So Laberius appeared, dressed in the outfit of a Syrian slave to mock his competitor, and said “Citizens, we are losing our freedom,” as well as, “He who many fear must fear many.” While Laberius lost the competition, he was actually rewarded by Caesar so that he could buy back his citizenship.

Early 21st Century Americans have witnessed the power of celebrity and rise of the actor, clown, mime and player as political arbitrator and moral censor.  B-List thespians like Martin Sheen lectured the nation on the dangers of the Elector College after the 2016 Presidential Election hurt the feelings of Hollywood. President Obama gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to friendly Hollywood Stars : Sidney Poitier, Robert DiNero, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Ciciley Tyson, Tom Hanks and Director Steven Spielberg. Roman Emperors made Senators of actors when the real rot took hold.


Today,  Mega-stars threaten Americans who support Trump even tepidly in the wake of  The Caravan, Kavanaugh and Comic Opera bomb deliveries of the 'taint' of Trump.




Rome went its way, because everyone sold out.  Actors helped make that purchase.

 

It Was My Pleasure, Ladies!!!!!! Think Nothing Of It! Oh, I see you have already.

This handwritten missive came through my transom this morning.  I must reply.

Dear Girls, Madams, Damsels, Sheilas, Skirts, Twists, Broads, Babes, Ladies, Trollops, Doxies, Shrills, Xanthipes and Harridans,

I was only too happy not to force myself upon any woman - 6 to to 60; blind, crippled or crazy.  It is the very least thing that I can do.




For Sixty-Six years, it has been my policy to regard women with awe, wonder and healthy dose of fear.




Girls, you ain't got nothing to worry from old Patrick Francis.  Unless, of course, I become a movie mogul, a Democratic Senator, GOP Spin Doctor, Fox News Blow-hard, or Left Wing Academic.
You gals send me!


Your Devoted Slave,


Pat Hickey

12 Hopefuls - One Mayor;Uglier Than Homemade Soup This election

Rahm Emanuel realized that the Jason Van Dyke Trial, assorted Expressway shut-downs, more revelations about the McDonald  Shooting Video shell game coming to light in the next two weeks and the cold fact of the matter that voting Chicagoans can't stand the sight of him, brought him to the conclusion that the Chicago News Media and Bahzillions of dollars are not enough to see him returned to the 5th Floor for a third term.


Rahm is out.


Twelve people want to be mayor.


Less than a handful of them are qualified, but that matters not in Chicago. 


The only thing that matters in Chicago, Cook County of Illinois is the question, " How long can the string-pullers and money pavers endure some Yutz in any office?"


The answer to that question bespeaks the long tenures of


Toni Preckwinkle


Dick Durbin


Pat Quinn


Bruce Rauner
Lisa Madigan


David Orr


Mike Quigley


Jan Schakowsky


Danny Davis


Bobby Rush


Dorothy Brown


These marginal people of marginal talents are the current pantheon of political lions.  I would not ask most of them to cut my lawn and my lawn is disgraceful.


Now, Chicago sits on the cusp of another opportunity to wade through media muck and take seat on that celestial shoreline with a qualified human being in charge of an important political office.

• Paul Vallas  is a man of great talent and nice sensibilities who spent the last thirty years fixing other peoples problems in Pennsylvania, new jersey and Louisiana.

• Garry McCarthy was Rahm Emanuel's 'out of town talent for police matters until he wasn't.  Is he a good cop?  Some cops say he was good boss.  Others, just a political hack.  I see that he a genuine talent for remaining relevant and is a smart and cagey interviewer.
• Lori Lightfoot is . . . a darling of the media and should expect and demand their vassalage.
• Dorothy Brown is a whisper from an indictment.
• Willie Wilson is a self-made millionaire with the oratorical and rhetorical kills of Slip Mahoney.

The latest entry into the lists is Jeremiah Joyce, Jr.  I know Jerry and admire him. Mr. Joyce is smart without being a grafter; thoughtful without being a pest and caring without being Phil Ponce. Joyce should be mayor and would do a damn fine job as mayor.  However, like Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the only man who should have been President since Harry S. Truman, Jeremiah Joyce will be treated to Trump-like bile and vituperations from Chicago's Neil Steinberg, Laura Washington, Mark Brown, Ron "'68" Grossman, Eric Zorn, Mary Schmich and the always laughable Rex Hupke.
People will buy what they are selling.


If voters want change, they can vote for a competent Chicagoan.


The remaining months before the mayoral election will be uglier than home made soup.

Jeremiah Joyce Can Expect a Coverage Embargo from Rahm's Chicago Media Pets

The Hardest Working "newspaper" in America ( The Sun Times). . . doesn't.  It takes orders, from Illinois protected oligarchs, sanctioned hacks, SEIU bosses and Billy Dec.


The paper ( Tribune) once regarded as " McCormick's anti-union, anti-Catholic, anti- working man rag"  remains true to its former self with two notable exceptions: John Kass and Kristen McQueary.


WGN television and radio news is whoppie cushion serious.


WTTW - Winnetaka Talking to Wilmette is a government sponsored joke.


WBBM radio seems to take second hand news from the Sun Times.


WMAQ ?  Yeah, me too.  I don't know what they are thinking.


ABC?  Disney and Emanuel Industries.




There you have it. 


Now, about the Hateful Eight running against Rahm?   One is a neighborhood person.  Jeremiah Joyce, Junior. 


He is as smart as David Axelrod pretended Barack Obama to be and has the grades to prove it. Unlike Obama, Jerry Joyce is capable.


Capable?  That is something elected officials tend not to be.


Therefore, the person with a chance to push Rahm Emanuel to one of the coasts again, where he belongs, before he and his omnivorous pals steal everything, is Jeremiah Joyce.

Jerry Joyce, like Jeanne Ives who almost toppled our billionaire Governor Bruce, can expect no coverage of his campaign for Mayor from Chicago's stooge media.


Jerry Joyce should talk to Jeanne Ives about waking up those timid clowns.

John McCain - RIP to a VIP

This photo says it all about the late Senator John McCain, but nothing about the young Naval Aviator who endured the Hanoi Hilton. 

John McCain is an American hero, who laid  his youth, blood and soul on the altar of sacrifice. Nothing can change, or even diminish that fact.

I thought John McCain was on the level, but that was back in 2007-2008, when he seemed to earnestly want to pull America out of the cactus of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as renew the American Spirit.   I was wrong.

John McCain wanted to be President, but he wanted to be fawned over by the corrupt American news media more. 

John McCain would rather be the THE MAVERICK, than President. 

He got that.  

John McCain was tortured horribly by the Communists.

America has been gulled by the Communists on Senator John McCain's watch. 

I lost any illusion about John McCain the elected official in September 2008, when the tanked economy and the Wall Street crisis compelled the laughably unprepared candidate to hand the election over to equally incurious Barack Obama. 

For eight years, McCain twisted like a pretzel for media attention and was rewarded with the election Donald Trump.

I honor Naval Aviator John McCain.

I am saddened by the fatuous, but wealthy late senior Senator from Arizona.

Both personalities will meet God.  

I wonder which one will pass muster. 

Trump Really Has Me Upset? Not Really.

The Helsinki Stinky, President #45, Donald J. Trump has really  upset all and sundry. His remarks that say that he trusts Vlad the Bad more than Jim Clapper and Mullah Brennan have gotten the Old Maverick John McCain back in front of cable camera men and made Butch Maddow grind her gender specfic incisors.

Als de hemel valt, krijgen we allemaal een blauwe pet
(Translation: If the sky/heaven should fall, we will all be wearing blue caps

Me?

I am not a Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggge Trump Fan, for ever, BUT  doing just fine. Thanks so much. I mean it's not like Trump sold guns to a Drug Cartel, or deliver $I.4 Billion cash on air-lifted cargo pallets to Iran.

Update, post Helsinki:

• My teeth did not fall out 
• I Have not had the Miseries, the Twizzles, or the Vapors
• My oatmeal went down without a problem 
• I do not require fundoplication surgery . . . today
• Tinea pedis is not a problem
• My night terrors have turned into 25 Cartoons
• Feel like having me some Clancy's Pub Pot Roast Rolls
• I found a Double Sawbuck in my dryer
• The Boss said I was doing swell work
• The Dutch Club Borrel is August 16th
• Chicago Special Olympics received a donation of $ 100,000
• Lawman  is back on the Western Channel
• David Muir is having no problem with cue cards
• The Zebra Sisters has disappeared
• McNally's and St. Cajetan's are doing great
• Cardinal Cupich has one swell pallium
• My car is almost ready to pass the Illinois Emissions Test!

Helsinki?

Must be some serious, low-down, Trumpolicious bullshot dgoing down!

Oooooo Bing Cherries  $1.99 a pound at Mariano's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!