Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I - Chicago's Worker Archbishop

 

Juravit Dominus et non paenitebit eum/
Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech./
Dominus a dextris tuis,/
confregit in die irae suae reges.
(The Lord swore, and will not repent:Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.The Lord upon thy right hand,shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.)

Those are some tough words for hymn. The lyrics come form Pslam 110 and the tune from George Fredrick Handel ( Mr. Messiah). This Baroque hymn is sung at the ordination of priests.  I sang with with my pals Mike Kelly, Willie Bigane, Bobby Ryan, Kevin McEldowney, Phil Panatera, Tommy Walsh and other scapegraces from Little Flower Grammar School following weeks of training from Miss Alice Doney and beat downs from high school age choirmasters, like Terry McEldowney.  We got it right for a young guy's First Mass - I think his name was Corrigan.  I remember the beauty of hymn and sense of the sacred that got through to 7th & Grade miscreants aborbed with growing hormones, scatological humor and physically violent pranks.  We were told by Sister Mary Doralese and Sister Mary Gertrudis (RSM) that we were destined to 'die on the gallows. or worse.'  Well, you can't kill a man born to hang.

Nevertheless, our choir carried off the First Mass of a young priest from the neighborhood . . .splendidly. I recall that we were treated to a five spot ($5) each by the father of the priest and that was in 1965 dollars.

I though about the Handel hymn all weekend - every time the Chicago media announced that Francis Cardinal George will end his leadership of Archdiocese of Chicago on Tuesday, November 18th.

I though about the lyrics of Juravit Dominus and how real the words of the Psalm match the tenure of Cardinal George's stewardship of the Church in Chicago.

Cardinal George caught a bum rap from the newspapers, activist priests who play to the OP ed pontiffs from Oak Park to Englewood, gutless elected officials pandereing for more LGBTQ hozanahs and Planned Parenthood lucre and the blow-dried ninnies on Chicago television  I can think of no churchman who withstood more ambush activism and journalism than Francis Cardinal George for speaking the truth.  The truth runs counter to desires and impulses - always.

Cardinal George cleaned up the clergy abuse mess tolerated by his two predecessors, the racial animus inherited from Cardinal Cody's singular role in making Chicago a genuinely 'segregated' city and Cardinal Bernadin's enegetic closing of schools, churches and social institutions.

Even institutions run by the Church follow idiotic policies of goo-goo of State, County and City progressive one-size-fits-all procrustean policy.  Policy is for . . . .persons without the will to good for others.  Sometimes, it is necessary to work things like Catholic Chicagoans - outside of preening policy.

Cardinal George found time to counsel Leo students who came from horrible situations (abusive parents, crime addicted families, drug addled parent with legal custody & etc.)  and to call about their progress.  I have yet to pick up the phone to report back to Neil Steinberg, Carol Marin, Mike Flannery and Dane Placko of Fox News 32 on the condistions of an apartment at 40th & Wallace and how a kid manages to maintain a C+ average with running water and a diet of Cheetos.  The kid refused to abandon his little brother and suffered dysfunction, squallor, rats and loneliness.  Cardinal George partnered with Leo and helped - Old School Chicago.   Cardinal George calls about hurting kids all of the time.

Cardinal George is a working man's priest, bishop and Cardinal. An intellectual giant and ecclesiastical scholar of international reputation, Cardinal George never lost tough with the carpenters, electricians, cops, school teachers, firemen, or skilled tradesmen who remain in the Catholic pews of Chicago and who also shooulder the abuse from prentencious asses like Carol Marin, Eric Zorn, Michael Sneed, or Dane Placko with modest good humor.

Cardinal George is a great shepherd and a great guy -Order of Melchisedech notwithstanding.

Baby Got Back! Leo High School Ads on CTA Bus Fleet

Leo High School has once again purchased signage for the back end of the CTA Bus Fleet.  You can get a generous eyeful of Leo High School information while cruising your way through Chicago traffic on smartly targeted routes - 79th Street; Western Avenue; Dr. Martin Luther King Drive; Hyde Park Routes; 111th and 115th Street Routes.

Leo High School is a school of opportunity.  Since 1926, Leo High School has been the choice of working families for sons who want to succeed beyond imaginary and genuine social and economic barriers.

Leo Men are in front ranks of business, religious, legal, civic, military, skilled trades and public service professionals, because their common core Catholic value education challenged them exceed expectations.

Read up, Chicago and drive with couretsy.

Putin the Moves on Peng - Randy Ruskie Hits on Red Chinee First Babe

While Obama distracts Xi with yarns about his days as a community activists, Vlad goes all-in for some International Dim Sum Yum, Yum.

Ride a Bear, Check
Kill a Tiger,Check
Take Crimea, Check
Yank Down Obama's Britches Repeatedly, Check
Hit on Xi's Old Lady, Check and Mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Old Vlad is Bad! That borscht slurping, poisoned umbrella swordsman got it goin' on!  Oriental chicks swear that Occidental horn-dogs are obsessed with them and Vlad Putin is not about to put that notion to bed, Sisters!

It seems that Vlad Without Borders went after the Head Red's toothsome wife, Peng.

"While Xi was distracted talking to U.S. President Barack Obama, who was sitting on his right, Russia's tiger-shooting, horseback-riding president made his move. After a brief exchange -- you can almost imagine Peng making appropriately cliché small talk like "my, isn't it chilly in here" -- Putin abruptly stood up, grasped a tan coat in both hands, and wrapped it chivalrously around the first lady's shoulders. She smiled gracefully, thanked him, and sat down -- only to surreptitiously slip the coat from her shoulders moments later into the waiting arms of an attendant."

Here is Boris Badinoff being Bad enough at the China Meet-Up.



OOOOOWWWWWW, Baby!

"Chicago's Own" Medal of Honor Firefighter Hero - Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy

Heroes are people who have worked at it all of their lives. Leo High School celebrated heroes on Friday November 7th.  The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines participate in our Veterans Observances each year. 2/24 are Chicago's Own - A Marine Reserve Unit founded in WWII.  A pioneer of that hallowed unit was Col. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy ( Englewood High School Alumnus).  It is safe to say that very few Chicagoans know his name. Equivalency has killed our honor of valor.  

Teachers, community activists, academics and even certain sanctioned criminals and murderers are called 'heroes,'  but they are merely doing what they want to do.  Heroes do the very opposite.  Fools are fearless; heroes know fear and act according to the values they have practiced all of their lives that are rooted in doing the extreme to help other people.

Real heroes have vanished from the classroom, the textbook and public conscience.  We live in a culture that demands 'equality,' gives universal trophies, ribbons and atta boys.  Inflated praise is empty and meaningless; life must have value.

Heroes are born, to be sure, but every action and inclination taken in a hero's  life must be rooted in a pious recognition of valor and faith in the value of service to others. Capt. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy earned the Medal of Honor for actions on Iwo Jima in 1945, his herosim began much earlier as a student athlete, Chicago Fire Fighter and serving U.S. Marine enlisted man. His life should be text book lessons for our young people. 

Pat Hickey

Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy was born in Chicago Illinois on April 10, 1911. An excellent athlete, he was an all-state guard in football and hit the game winning home run to capture the city’s baseball championship for his high school. McCarthy joined the Chicago Fire Department and was assigned to the city’s Truck Company 11 before enlisting in the Marines on February 20, 1937. McCarthy served for four years and had been discharged, but was recalled to service as a Gunnery Sergeant just prior to the attack at Pearl Harbor. McCarthy was soon noted for his leadership ability and experience, and was selected for an Officer’s commission.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
CAPTAIN JOSEPH J. MCCARTHY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines, Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 21 February 1945. Determined to break through the enemy's cross-island defenses, Captain McCarthy acted on his own initiative when his company advance was held up by uninterrupted Japanese rifle, machine-gun and high velocity 47-mm. fire during the approach to Motoyama Airfield Number two. Quickly organizing a demolitions and flamethrower team to accompany his picked rifle squad, he fearlessly led the way across seventy-five yards of fire-swept ground, charged a heavily fortified pillbox on the ridge to the front and, personally hurling hand grenades into the emplacement as he directed the combined operations of his small assault group, completely destroyed the hostile installation. Spotting two Japanese soldiers attempting an escape from the shattered pillbox, he boldly stood upright in full view of the enemy and dispatched both troops before advancing to a second emplacement under greatly intensified fire and blasted the strong fortifications with a well- planned demolitions attack. Subsequently entering the ruins, he found a Japanese taking aim at one of his men and with alert presence of mind jumped the enemy, disarmed and shot him with his own weapon. Then, intent on smashing through the narrow breach, he rallied the remainder of his company and pressed a full attack with furious aggressiveness until he had neutralized all resistance and captured the ridge. An inspiring leader and indomitable fighter, Captain McCarthy consistently disregarded all personal danger during the fierce conflict and by his brilliant professional skill, daring tactics and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, contributed materially to the success of his division's operations against this savagely defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His cool decision and outstanding valor reflect the highest credit upon Captain McCarthy and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

t=4

Lt. Col. Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy, “A hero at every campaign and everything he did”

The recent HBO Mini-Series The Pacific has brought a long overdue recognition to the sacrifices and hardships endured by the U.S. Marines in the Second World War. These battles were fought on isolated islands that one would struggle to locate on a map: Guadalcanal, Roi-Namur, Saipan-Tinian, Peleliu, Okinawa. Combat was often at point blank range; not only did the men involved battle the enemy, but poisonous snakes, insects, disease and the climate. Nowhere was the fighting harder than the Battle of Iwo Jima, a battle where Admiral Nimitz later observed “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.” No one typified that valor more than Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy.
Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy was born in Chicago Illinois on April 10, 1911. An excellent athlete, he was an all-state guard in football and hit the game winning home run to capture the city’s baseball championship for his high school. McCarthy joined the Chicago Fire Department and was assigned to the city’s Truck Company 11 before enlisting in the Marines on February 20, 1937. McCarthy served for four years and had been discharged, but was recalled to service as a Gunnery Sergeant just prior to the attack at Pearl Harbor. McCarthy was soon noted for his leadership ability and experience, and was selected for an Officer’s commission.
As a member of the 4th Marine Division, McCarthy was deployed overseas in January 1944. At Saipan while leading a rifle company, he earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for carrying two wounded Marines to safety while under enemy fire. In his book Iwo Jima: Legacy of Valor, Historian Bill D. Ross Described McCarthy as “… Irish and he looked it: husky, red complexioned, pug nose. Superior officers sometimes found his manner abrasive… (while) his men called him “the best damned officer in the Marine Corps.”
It was at the battle of Iwo Jima that McCarthy’s courage and leadership really came to the fore. If there is an entrance to Hell from Earth, then it would be Iwo Jima. The volcanic island constantly emitting brimstone fumes, the surface lifeless, waterless and covered in black choking ash. Even such basic protections as a foxhole were denied, for under the ash was impenetrable obsidian. What nature had created the Japanese General Kuribayashi and his command perfected: they had created a labyrinth of interlocking defense including concealed pillboxes which could be accessed by a maze of tunnels blasted into the Island and all but impervious to bombing and bombardment. Finally, there was the resolve of the Japanese themselves. They knew that it was impossible to defeat the Americans. Their goal was to sacrifice themselves to inflict as many American casualties as possible in hopes of gaining an advantage in peace negotiations. General Kuribayashi forbade the suicidal Banzai charges that had marked early Japanese defensive tactics; he gave orders that each man was to hold his position and kill at least 10 US Marines before dying himself. When the invasion began, he had his men hold their fire until the beach was crowded with US Marines who mistakenly believed that the pre-landing naval bombardment had silenced all opposition. Then General Kuribayashi unleashed hell.
It was in this maelstrom that now Captain McCarthy and his men found themselves. On the third day of the battle, 21 February 1945, McCarthy and his company were pinned by uninterrupted Japanese rifle, machine gun, and artillery fire. McCarthy quickly organizing an assault team which he then proceeded to lead across 75 yards of open ground under constant enemy fire. McCarthy personally charged a heavily fortified bunker, hurling hand grenades into the emplacement completely destroying the enemy position. McCarthy then led his team in an assault on a second pillbox which was similarly destroyed. Entering the ruins, McCarthy found a Japanese soldier taking aim at one of his men whom McCarthy disarmed and shot him with his own weapon. McCarthy then rallied his men and proceeded to capture the entire ridge. Of the assault, McCarthy in his characteristic no nonsense style stated “I was scared all the time”… “Any man tells you he wasn’t scared was an imbecile. But you dealt with it.” McCarthy and his men would continue to fight on Iwo Jima for another 33 days. Of 347 who served in McCarthy’s company during the battle, only 35 were able to walk off the Island when the battle was over.
For his heroic actions at Iwo Jima, Joseph J. McCarthy was awarded the Medal of Honor in addition to a second purple heart.. When presenting the Medal, President Truman told McCarthy, “I’d rather have one of these than be President.” McCarthy viewed the award unromantically, saying in later years “I would hope and pray there never be another Medal of Honor issued, I hope and pray there’s never any more wars. But we’ve got to remain strong.” McCarthy was discharged with the rank of Lt. Colonel.   After the war McCarthy visited many of the families of his Marines who had been killed in action on Iwo Jima. Each one of them, he told the families, had been just as brave as he was, just not as lucky.
Joseph McCarty returned to the Chicago Fire Department where he became the Superintendent of Ambulances in the Chicago Fire Department, a position he held till his retirement in 1973.  In 1959 McCarthy was honored by the Chicago Irish community by being named the Grand Marshal of their Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.   Joseph McCarthy passed away on June 15, 1996.  As one of his fellow Marines stated, “(McCarthy) was not a one-shot hero, he was a hero at every campaign and everything he did.”

Historian – Neil F. Cosgrove
Please help us improve the history article by giving it a rating [ratings]

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Did You Know That

• Concurring in the assessment that Lt. Col. McCarthy was “one of the best damned officers in the Marines” is Division III’s own Iwo Jima Veteran Frank Duffy, who knew McCarthy personally.  Frank was also decorated for bravely at Iwo Jima.
• Of the 82 Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in the entirety of World War II, 23 were for actions in the Iwo Jima campaign
• When the US Marines stormed “the shores of Tripoli” it was under Irish American Presley O’Bannon
• The pivotal amphibious invasions of WW II, both in Europe and the Pacific, were made possible by the Higgins Boat landing craft developed by Irish American Andrew Higgins
• The Marine Corps Pipes and Drums Band traces its traditions to the 1st Provisional Marine Battalion that landed in Derry Northern Ireland on May 12, 1942 to help secure naval bases that were vital to the battle of the north Atlantic.

Leo High School Veterans Observance 2014

Jim Furlong and Jim Farrell immediate left to right served heroically in Vietnam.  

 Young Talen Goodwin (9) met four Marines who fought in Korea and Vietna,

 Alumnu President Dan Stecich explained the dedication of Leo Men

 Leo Men are dedicated at the gate.

 They never drop that dedication

 They Honor God and Country

 They Give - Alumni President Rich Furlong reminded us of those who gave all John Fardy (CMOH:pos) and Joe Auman ( Navy Cross post) WWII Marines and Leo Class of 1940.

 Mr5. Cleveland Holden served in Vietnam and honors all who serve with his bugle

 Leo Freshma Vidal sang the National Anthem

 Honor.  When an old man dies, a library burns down - African Proverb

Leo High School thanks the following wonderful people

• Chicago's Own - The Marines of 2nd Batallion, 24th Marines whose battle ribbons are rooted at Iwo Jima.
• Bugler and Vietnam Hero Mr.Cleveland Holden
• The Officers of the Sixth Police District
• The Montford Point Marines
• Windy City Veterans
• Purple Heart Veterans
• Mr. Pat Roberto of Calabria Italian Imports who has treated our Veterans with refreshments for 12 years running.
• The Great Steuber Family and staff of Steuber Florists who have donated memorial wreaths for years.
• The Leo Alumni Association

Putin's "Dreamers" Crossed the Border Declaring Armored Amnesty - God Save the Ukraine

Vlad's Dreamers!

Putin understands that elections of consequences.

He just invaded the Ukraine.

KIEV (Reuters) - A column of 32 tanks, 16 howitzer artillery systems and trucks carrying ammunition and fighters has crossed into eastern Ukraine from Russia, the Kiev military said on Friday.
"The deployment continues of military equipment and Russian mercenaries to the front lines," spokesman Andriy Lysenko said in a televised briefing referring to Thursday's cross-border incursion.
The report of a new Russian movement of armor across the border follows a charge on Thursday by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine that Kiev government forces had launched a new offensive - which Kiev immediately denied.

Planned Parenthood's President Barack H. Obama is a planning a similar border bridge in the post election near future.

Congressman Luis Gutierrez could nort be reached for comment -yet. 

Bruce Rauner's Illinois - No Irish Need Apply

 I saw Bruce Rauner's transition team for Rauner Illinois and thought that maybe Dave Axelrod drew the line-up, because it sure looked like Richie Daley's End of Days on Five.  He's got Jim Edgar the butterless, humorless scone-eating doily crushing former Guv, who created the Secretary of State Payolla DMV before George Ryan sold a single stack of George Ryan & Friends golf-outing tickets; LGBT Big Government Calendar Boy Ron Huberman, All Star Little Brother Friendly FIRE (Finance, Insurance & Real Estate) go-to-guy Bill Daley.  and a pair of  high quality African American Reverends Meeks and Booker who will push Charter Schools, but demand real School Choice - vouchers.

I saw no one even remotely associated with the 19th Ward Regular Democrat Organization. As Bruce Rauner would say, " Whooooooooooooooooooooo?  Or What are They?"  They (19th) went Madigan.
Total Votes - 22383 or 100%

19the For Quinn-, 14302 or 63.90% for the vote

19th For Rauner -,  7566 or  33.80% of the vote

19th for The Stalking Horse -515 Unitarians, Quakers, Free Masons and Homeless Dudes getting some Walking Around Money, or 2.30%



The 19th Ward will find no cool pastures in the State of Illinois Building.  In fact, Bruce Rauner has already modified the application process to match that of .Rahm for Chicago 2015

Here's how the test works.

Examiner -   "The first question is, without using any numbers, represent
the number 9".

  So Murphy says, "Dat's dead easy" and proceeds to draw three
tree's.
  The Examiner says, "What the hells that?"

  Murphy says "Tree 'n tree n' tree makes nine".

  Fair enough, says the Rahm vassal. "Second question, same rules as
before, but represent the number 99".

  Murphy stares into space for a while, then makes a smudge on
each tree. "Der ya go sir" he says.

  The Quiz Master scratches his head and says, "How on earth do you
get that to represent 99?"

  Murphy says "Each tree's dirty now! so it's dirty tree,
n' dirty tree n' dirty tree, dats 99".

 Master Quid Nunc is getting worried he's going to have to hire the Spud eater,
so he says "All right, question three. Same rules again but
represent the number 100".


  Murphy stares into space again, then he shouts "Got it!" He
makes a little mark at the base of each tree, and says "There
ya go sir 100".

 Magister Ludi  looks at Murphy's attempt and thinks, 'Ha! got him
this time'. "Go on  Mr. Murphy, you must be mad if you think that
represents a hundred".

 Ginger Murphy, Mount Carmel '01 leans forward and points to the marks at the tree
bases, and says, "A little doggy comes along and craps by each
tree, so now you've got, dirty tree an' a turd, dirty tree
an' a turd, an' dirty tree an' a turd, which makes one hundred,
when do I start me job?"

When Winston products serve as drones.

Ristéard Cul Renifleur - Analysis of Tuesday's National Progressive Democrat Victory

 

"Worst Election Map since Ike and the best year ever for Progressives since 1929"

Ristéard Cul Renifleur is a very frequent voice in all media  that really count - Salon, New Republic, Hollywood Update, Frock Magazine, Mother Jones, MSNBC, CNN and . . .well, it is endless. Few could forget his barbs and banter and back and forth with Mother Theresa and Lech Walensa.on PBS when the twin saints of NeoCons argued that Planned Parenthood is Eichman in Pearl Izumi smartwear. " Get over yourselves, my dears, I know that I have,"  wagged the Prog watchdog.

Cul Renifleur predicted the rise of Ronan Farrow, Jan Schakowsky and the  Guardians, . . . who ever.  Cul Renifleur is cutting edge - he hourly tweets Cul-ing the Herd. 

I managed to take down a few bonmots from  Ristéard Cul Renifleur, or a composite of him,  and his reaction to the signal disasters that fell upon the Republicans, the Tea Party and Old Timey Democrats like me. We lost HUGE, says, Cul Renfleur.

Some foolish Fannies have bleated that the Romneybots swept a wave over Dear Barack, and L'il Debbie's DNC - Pooh.  Pooh, I say and again. This was a priceless victory of heart over head and spike through the black pumping heart of Wall Street.  Remember, Edward Snowden is slurping borsht because Bush wanted to avenge his Papa's name. No disaster befalls a people that had not been formed in the serpent's egg of American exceptionalsim. The only exceptional American is Katrina vanden Hueval - that bitch makes leather jackets works.

So, the American people went to the polls punched the pad on the nuclear launch codes that will spring Hillary into the White House, grant millions of darling undocumenteds amnesty and finally bring some wholesome threesomes to prime time television. Here's my $250,000 worth -
                             Tuesday's Five Biggest Losers?

• Number One!!!!!!!! Sarah Palin . . .because she's Sarah Palin
• Number Two - Scott Walker of Wisconsin . . .love the tom-toms.
• Number Three - That Texan in the Wheelchair 
• Number Four - Custer Park, Illinois My God!  Have you ever been there?
•  Number Five - Red China and Putin's New USSR President Obama stared them down

                                            My Five Winners!

• Number One - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

• Number Two - President Barack 'Redline' Obama - watch his poll numbers sky rocket! 

• Number Three -Selena Gomez and Hillary Clinton - Say Amnesty and Keys to the White House

• Number Four - Netflix and Planned Parenthood the momentum is palpable

• Number Five - Ronan Farrow, Chris Hayes and that South African who runs on steel bands. Watch for him to host Dancing With the Stars.

 Ristéard Cul Renifleur, Ladies and Gents!  From the same Zipcode as Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow.

Former Governor Pat Quinn: Total War on Class

 

Little man, you've had a busy . . .time's up;  say good-bye; exit stage Left; take it on the heel and toe; Vamoose . . . Blow! . . . 

.“This is a historic time in Illinois,” Rauner told cheering supporters. “The voters have spoken. The voters have asked for divided government for the first time in many years.”
But a defiant Quinn declared, “I don’t believe in throwing in the towel” with votes uncounted.
“We will never, ever yield to a result until all the votes are in,” Quinn said, suggesting a complete count could take days

Ladies an gentlemen, the former Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn . . .there's the exit, Pat . . .take some of the left-overs . . .now, how about some of that lawn work? . . .  this your top coat? . . .  we'll cklean up.. . . .  . . .

Pat!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Time to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The Car's out in front!  Let them clean up.  Call security!  

Election Day: SOS -It's What's For Dinner, Voila!

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/2 lb dried Carl Buddig Beef about six packages. Use Buddig only!  Do Not use any substitute.

1 cup all-purpose flour

3-1/2 cups whole milk or half-and-half

Freshly ground black pepper

Fresh flat-leaf parsley, choppedMelt the butter in a pre- heatedcast-iron skillet.

Using the kitchen scissors,( having boiled same for an hour, because your twenty three year old son recently cut his toe nails with it) shred the chipped beef  , and add it to the melted butter. Cook over medium-high heat just until the edges of the meat curl, about 10 minutes.

Stir in flour and mix thoroughly. Then add the milk, reduce the heat to medium-low, and stir constantly until the mixture is thick, smooth, and bubbly. (Depending on your desired consistency, this could take 20 minutes or up to 1 hour.) My kids love it thick, I like thick, thin, soupy, or steamy and poured over toast, roasted spuds, or pasta.

When the sauce has thickened, turn up the heat and boil it, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Use the whisk - really.  You may be tempted to use a fork, or wodden spoon, but use the whisk.

Remove from heat, season to taste with black pepper, and serve over toast or baked potatoes with parsley sprinkled over top. Also, serve with fresh peas cooked in a non-stick skillet mixed with cooked diced pancetta and fresh mint.

Forget about politicians.  Bastards!  SOS will never treat you like a slutty ATM Machine

Saints Preserve Us and Don't Go Rockin' the Boat!

"A boat's gonna rock; it needs no further assistance from the likes of you saintly sinners. Did you all vote before we left port?"

Leo Grey Van Stop # 3 is "O" Block - Well I'll Be Dipped and Rolled!

67th & Martin Luther King Drive:  Coming up on "O" Street from the South!

 They call it “O Block.”
It’s a notorious stretch of South Side real estate known for violence.
On maps, it’s the 6400 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. But it’s just O Block to people there and in frequent references to the street in the blood-drenched lyrics of Chief Keef and other Chicago rappers.
The sprawling Parkway Gardens low-income apartment complex sits on one side of the street. A string of businesses including an Auto Zone, a food mart and the Chicago Crusader newspaper lines the other. Gang members gave O Block the name. The O was for 20-year-old Odee Perry, a gang member gunned down just around the corner on a summer’s night in 2011. His killer? A female gang assassin, police sourcesT say. She later was shot to death not far from here.
Perry was one of 19 people shot on O Block between June 2011 and June 2014. That makes it the most dangerous block in Chicago in terms of shootings in that three-year period, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found." 

Sun Times Photoabove - I am parked right where these gents are standing every AM at 6:40. I usually need to wait a good ten minutes for the lads to rub the sleepy from their eyes and make their ways down to warmth of the Leo Grey Van #7, and vie for already occupied by gents from Englewood and Gresham

Out in the parkway there are parents with little guys and working stiffs coming home from midnights and I have gabbed with many, knowing that the late Odee Perry had shed his mortal husk nearby, but making that fact of little consequence. I wait for my charges and take them to head north to Bronzeville and the siouthbound route through Bridgeport and Canaryville and then Leo High School.

63rd & King Drive Going past "O Street 




Parkway Gardens is "O"Block???
Well, I'll be dipped and rolled!

I did not know that my third stop for Leo students every school day morning is "the most dangerous block"in Chicago. I'd have thought 86th & Morgan, 74th & Western, or 51st and Racine far more fierce. Show to go one.

I

So Long as Candidates Like Jim Oberweis Run, The GOP in Illinois is Done - Toast, Fork Ready

The Illinois GOP is stuck on stupid and regular Democrats from the evaporating middle class are force fed mediocrities every election cycle..  Candidates ( Dem or GOP) for high State of Illinois offices always allow the Progressive ( read nasty, leftist smug cranks) Democrats to define them. As a result, voters must always hold the nose and vote.

There are no Democrats anymore; there are only Progressive scripted worshippers at the altar of the  Illinois Secular Trinity:( Saul Alinsky, Dr. Quentin Young and Abner Mikva)  who control the gold and silver talents in the Temple of Middle Class Doom.  With enough money and a very compliant Chicago media, mediocrities can be presented to the Chicago citizen as later-day  saints, like Jan Schalowsly, Mike Quigley, Dick Durbin and the Governor of Illinois.  The individual gored ox goes a long way in getting middle class worker bees out on the hustings and into the polling booth, to be sure, but nothing works for the Progressive machine like the GOP.

Witness debate number two between Senator Dick Durbin and Notre victime de ce cycle - Jim Oberweis.

Jim Oberweis allowed Durbin to tell Illinois voters exactly what the Prog Dems want him to be = “Jim Oberweis has the most extreme position on gun control of any major candidate in Illinois,”   Gun control?

Again, “It’s so amusing to watch him race to the tea party to win the primary and race as fast away as he can when it comes time for the general election,”  the Tea Party?

The same groups of earnest people who want stay in the middle class and whom Durbin unleashed the IRS upon?  Yep.  Jim Oberweis rolled over like the Chiweenie he happens to be and Durbin did not even give Jim's belly a tickle. “I’ve never been a member,”  Oberweis whimpered.   Durbin could have called Oberweis a member of the June Taylor Dancers and a Nazi war criminal and allowed the defining to roll.

Until, the GOP develops something like a backbone.  Illinois and the middle class will continue to be the Little Miss Punching Bag of America.  Grow a pair. 

The Oberweiss Campaign and Last Night's Debate

Illinois politics is a dog fight - a fight between two dogs. At last night's debate, Dachshund Dick Durbin showed up and Chiweenie Jim Oberweiss submitted.

Hence: 
In the Primary Dachshund Dick went unopposed and Chiweenie Jim outspent a man who stands on two legs

This political minute was brought to you by the Illinois Combine

So long, Jim!

Fight The War on Women! Don't Lecher. Let's Move. . .to the Kitchen.

 



 Lechery -noun: "excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness." Webster's Dictionary

Kinkiness comes from low energy. It's the substitution of lechery for lust. Germaine Greer: "A groupie's vision" (October 1969),

I detest lechery.  There is nothing more unbecoming a man void of Christian backbone, manly steel and American patriotism, than to act the leering fob and dandy moueing daintily but with an undercurrent of threat at a winsome maid, or mouthing veiled intentions of delights to come. Pathetic.

Thank God, for all of the daughters of Sappho who happen to be the leading voices Feminism, pitching up the tone of battle-song in this our current and eternal War on Women.

Hell, I surrendered to the superior gender decades ago.

To Ms, Greer's point cited above as the last refuge of us lazy scoundrels. Lechery is a lazy man's lust.  Lechery begets the objectification of women. I'll have none of it!  I am an energetic satyr!!!!  A good natured goat and a randy roisterer.

To fight lechery I stay brisk with the spatula, bowl and whisk!  Cook baby!

Here is my cooked offering.

                                        Hickey’s Don’t Lecher Meatloaf*

Ingredients

·                                 1 pound lean ground beef

·                                 1/2 pound ground veal (or more ground beef)

·                                 1/2 pound ground lean pork

·                                 2 eggs

·                                 1/2 cup fine bread crumbs

·                                 3/4 cup chopped parsley

·                                 1/2 cup finely chopped chives

·                                 3 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped  and 1 tablespoon dried basil 

·                                 Thick cut Bacon slices to cover top

·                                 2 dashes each Tabasco, Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce (long arm dashes)

Directions

·                                 1

Preheat oven to moderate (350°F).

·                                 2

Put on chefs gloves or sandwich bags (disposable and not brown paper) In a clean mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except the bacon slices. Using the hands, blend well - work the hell out of it. You do not want a typical breaks too easy meatloaf.

·                                 3

Line a nine-inch pie plate with aluminum foil and shape the meat mixture into an oval loaf. Place the loaf on the foil and cover with bacon slices.

·                                 4

Bake one and one-half hours. Do not eat !!!!!   Put it in the icebox and eat something else.   Chill over night. Slice thinly and serve over red onion circle on good coarse pumpernickel bread. 

 

Woman can't get enough of my cold meat loaf and rough cut pumpernickel!

* a carnal interpretive hand dance in and through the chuck, pig and baby calf derived from the New York Times Book of Recipes. 

If Quinn Don't Win, Illinois Could Become as Soul-less As Fenwick (Quinn's Alma Mater Not Anymore)

He's a Soul Man.

". . . and I feel that my high school( Fenwick)  has lost its soul," - Governor Pat Quinn March 15, 2013

“We're in the fight of our lives for the soul of our democracy,” - Governor Pat Quinn October 19,2014

Does Governor Pat Quinnhave custody of soul?  The metaphysical matter that is Caused and Causes?  The Immortal human essence?  Let's find out 
Vote Accordingly. 

Governor Pat Quinn - Old Twitters and the Staties

Pat Quinn" Hey Trooper, you're blonde right?"

State Trooper, " That's afirmative, Governor.
Pat Quinn, " I just got a text from Mike Madigan about my polling. What does IDK stand for?"
State Trooper "'I don’t know,' Governor."
Pat Quinn "OMG, nobody does!"

Tours - A Macro-Historical Victory over Islam, A City in France and Home of a Soldier Saint

Macro-history is an attempt to create a model of the cultural-historical process that will explain historical change for all societies-civilizations. The proposed model operates in the spirit of the social sciences, not as a philosophy, focused on patterns of change and not some goal or end of history. It was developed as an alternative to the various myths of progress current in the West from Liberalism to Marxism, and should be tested both empirically and theoretically.

Hey, that's nice.  I see things from a moving vehicle most times.

I drive the Dan Ryan Expressway every morning (southbound) after picking up Leo High School students on my northbound weave through Englewood, Grand Crossing, Bronzevill, Bridgeport and Canaryville.  At 59th Street, the west side view is dominated by the Gothic magnificence of Chicago Embassy Church, formerly known as St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church.

For decades, this beautiful view was magnified by a gold-leaf statue of a horseman with beggar  by his side.  That statue was blown down by a huge of gust of Chicago wind.  The statue represented n event in th elife of Roman cavalryman stationed in Gaul (France) in 317 AD,  The soldier was Martin: Sanctus Martinus Turonensis; 316 – 8 November 397) 

He was still an unbaptized catechumen when he was forced to join the army at 15. The Roman army apparently had a law that required sons of veterans to serve in the military. Still, Martin found this so far removed from his desire to be a Christian monk that he had to be held in chains before taking the military oath. Once the oath was administered he felt bound to obey. He was assigned to a ceremonial cavalry unit that protected the emperor and rarely saw combat. Like his father, he became an officer and eventually was assigned to garrison duty in Gaul (present-day France).
Even in the military Martin attempted to live the life of a monk. Though he was entitled to a servant because he was an officer, he insisted on switching roles with his servant, cleaning the servant's boots instead of the other way around!
It was on this garrison duty at Amiens that the event took place that has been portrayed in art throughout the ages. On a bitterly cold winter day, the young tribune Martin rode through the gates, probably dressed in the regalia of his unit -- gleaming, flexible armor, ridged helmet, and a beautiful white cloak whose upper section was lined with lambswool. As he approached the gates he saw a beggar, with clothes so ragged that he was practically naked. The beggar must have been shaking and blue from the cold but no one reached out to help him. Martin, overcome with compassion, took off his mantle. In one quick stroke he slashed the lovely mantle in two with his sword, handed half to the freezing man and wrapped the remainder on his own shoulders. Many in the crowd thought this was so ridiculous a sight that they laughed and jeered but some realized that they were seeing Christian goodness. That night Martin dreamed that he saw Jesus wearing the half mantle he had given the beggar. Jesus said to the angels and saints that surrounded him, "See! this is the mantle that Martin, yet a catechumen, gave me." When he woke, it was the "yet a catechumen" that spurred Martin on and he went immediately to be baptized. He was eighteen years old.

Martin later refused to use his weapons in a coming battle.  He told his commander that he would not spill blood, but he was no coward.  Martin declared, " I am a soldier of Christ."  To prove so, he offered to be placed unarmed and in the front-center of the infantry.  This impressed his leaders, but the enemy surrendered before battle was given and Martin was allowed out of army when his time was up.  He became a priest and most reluctantly, the Bishop of Tours.

Martin of Tours was St. Francis of Assisi one thousand years before that lovable saint was born.  He was a capable administrator, even though he spent a great deal of time tending to the poor and sick and he was also a tireless defender of Catholic teachings, though most persons tended to be druids, or army camp followers of the cult of Mithra.  Martin, a soldier, led from the front and over time his example changed hearts.  Tours became wealthy center of trade and also philanthropy. For the next 400 years Tours flourished in finance, but more so in faith.

During this time, a great challenge to Christianity swept out of the Arabian deserts, conquered Roman Syria  Eygpt, Carthaginian North Africa and most of Spain.  The Sword of Islam wielded by The Prophet and the Caliphate (his successors) forced all other faiths and folk to submit to the Koran or pay the tax, or face beheading.  Most submitted with no problem, or paid up.  No one knows the exact numbers of the decapitated

A group of Germanic gents, The Franks, had settled in Roman occupied Gaul, converted to Christianity, yet retained their warlike impulses for slaughter with the scientific application of martial strategy from the Romans. One especially fierce Christian was Charles of the Austarasian Franks. When the Caliphate moved into Gaul Charles and his like-minded cousins were having none of it. They adopted a strategy.

The Battle of Tours (often called the Battle of Poitiers, but not to be confused with the Battle of Poitiers, 1356) was fought on October 10, 732 between forces under the Frankish leader Charles Martel and a massive invading Islamic army led by Emir Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi Abd al Rahman, near the city of Tours, France. During the battle, the Franks defeated the Islamic army and Emir Abd er Rahman was killed. This battle stopped the northward advance of Islam from the Iberian peninsula, and is considered by most historians to be of macrohistorical importance, in that it halted the Islamic conquests, and preserved Christianity as the controlling faith in Europe, during a period in which Islam was overrunning the remains of the old Roman and Persian Empires. 

Franks, led by Charles Martel. Estimates of the Frankish army defending Gaul vary, but by most accounts were between 15,000 and 75,000. Losses according to St. Denis were about 1,500.

Muslims, between 60,000 and 400,000 cavalry, (most likely closer to the lower number) under Abd er Rahman; besides source differences, this army is difficult to estimate in size, since it was often fractured into raiding parties to carry out the pillaging and plundering of various richly cultured Frankish centers; however, the entire Muslim army was present at Tours by Arab accounts. During the six days he waited to begin the Battle, Abd er Rahman recalled all those columns raiding and pillaging, so that on the seventh day, when by both eastern and western accounts the Battle began, both armies were at full strength. . . . No later Muslim attempts against Asturias or the Franks was made as conflict between what remained of the Umayyad Dynasty, (which was the Umayyad Emirate and then Caliphate of Iberia) and the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad prevented a unified assault on Europe. It would be another 700 years before the Ottomans managed to invade Europe via the Balkans.

Christianity and Western culture was saved.    Art, music, philosophy and architecture continued to reflect man's debt to God and despite the obvious misdeeds of Christian kings and popes and their minions - beautiful music, magnificent paintings and sculpture and the printed word moved men toward things eternal.  Judeo - Christian man lived to aspire as well as submit to God's majesty.  Name a great Muslim composer.

Martin of Tours gave a beggar a cloak and that act gave us a capella song and chaplains.  Both words come from that deed. Imagine if Charles the Frank had decided to cave to the Caliphate. or parse his submission in surrender?  Charles became known as The Hammer - Charles Martel. From his wild loins came a breed that produced Europe's greatest king Charlemagne, or Karl Der Grosse to our German cousins. Charles The Hammer saved the city of Tours and also knowledge of Martin of Tours.



On the Dan Ryan Expressway at 59th Street, just past the L tracks St. Martin of Tours remains in grey limestone pointing back to God.

Old Schools Football: Mount Carmel v. Leo at the Kroc Center October 10th

It will be Melee Mighty Mangles from every sort of angle, when the Carvan comes into the Lion's House!



The hits will keep happening, of that you may be sure . . .Outcome?  A great game between two Chicago Catholic League traditions when Brown and Cream tries to dominate Orange and Black.

Be at the Kroc Center for two great games

JV - Mount Carmel at Leo 5PM
Varsity - Mount Carmel at Leo 7:30 PM

At the Ray and Joan Kroc Center : Home of the Leo Lions

t's Senior Night at tomorrow's varsity football game against Mt. Carmel at the Kroc Center (1250 W. 119th St., Chicago). Come celebrate our senior class and the last regular home game of the season. Our Frosh-Soph plays at 5:00 p.m. and Varsity at 7:30 p.m.

Take the Dan Ryan from the North or South and exit 119th and go east a few blocks - there is ample parking, so do not be afraid to bring your ample.