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

Billy Don Moyers Goes Goo-Goo for Dithering Dick Durbin!!!! And He thought Pastor Wright Was Dreamy

SEIU Illinois Comic Book Progress Illinois handed me this chuckle in the AM "On his great PBS program this past weekend, Bill Moyers sat down with Sen. Dick Durbin to discuss his ongoing battle with the banking industry and his efforts to create a public financing system for congressional campaigns" That's Billy Don Moyers with an 'S' Kiddies!

Bill Moyers has an on-going 'battle with the banking industry?' We all know Dithering Dick Durbin has absolutely no problem -whatsoever -with the Banking Industry that he helped purchase with my unborn grand kids' pensions.

Billy Don Moyers is a PBS hack. LBJ came to detest Moyers for his lack of 'intestinal fortitude' and rat nature when he jumped ship on Johnson back when Vietnam was no longer a part of the Great Society. Morons are captivated by Bill Moyers' folksy weasel-boy charms. Billy Don Moyers was such a weasel that LBJ had Moyer build the Vietnam war and sell it to the American Voter and the kids going to war.

Dithering Dick Durbin is a Solid Illinois Home-grown Hack Wholly-owned by Planned Parenthood, SEIU and ACORN for years!

The Obama Glorious Revolution

"The powers that the Obama administration claimed in order to arrest the financial crisis and mitigate the recession are being used and abused in ways that are undermining the legal and financial stability of the United States. Investors: You are warned." [2009]

Barack of Orange?

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/05/10/david-fum-quick-fix-today-crisis-tomorrow-in-obama-s-white-house.aspx

THE passions which had agitated the Parliament during the late session continued to ferment in the minds of men during the recess, and, having no longer a vent in the senate, broke forth in every part of the empire, destroyed the peace of towns, brought into peril the honour and the lives of innocent men, and impelled magistrates to leave the bench of justice and attack one another sword in hand. Private calamities, private brawls, which had nothing to do with the disputes between court and country, were turned by the political animosities of that unhappy summer into grave political events.

http://yarchive.net/macaulay/history/chapter_XXV.html#General_Election

The 100 Days indicate a political revolution by the Obama Administration ( William & Mary) unseen since the 1688 defeat of the last Stuarts (Bush 1 & 2). That 17th Century Glorious Revolution was purely ideological and one that harbored only a concern that no Catholic sit upon the throne of England -ever. It led to a the arrival of the House of Hanover from Germany - the family that currently sits upon England's Throne and the very blood that moved American Patriots to Revolution.

This Obama Revolution of 2009 is purely an ideological revolution and one that harbors the concern that no Capitalist serves as the Chief Executive of the United States. Political Action Committees control government through their baptized candidates who will collectivize all government, all labor and social institutions.

The parallels seem to be set in The History Of England From the Accession of James II. By Thomas Babington Macaulay.

The Stuarts v. The Revolutionaries

Our cast looks like this:

Charles I - George Herbert Walker Bush

Oliver Cromwell - William Jefferson Clinton

James II - George W. Bush

William of Orange - Barack H. Obama

Andy Stern's Payout of SEIU Dues for Political Clout

We spent a fortune to elect Barack Obama — $60.7 million to be exact — and we're proud of it.

Andy Stern SEIU


John Rubery, Illinois' own Marathon Pundit has been monitoring Andy Stern's moving and shaking of dues taken from SEIU members.

Remember SEIU's dues do not go to benefit the membership but to seed Amdy's harvest of more members through political blackmail and intimidation of gutless politicians.

Members of SEIU remain low-skill and no skill workers*.

Unlike the Trades Unions -Real Labor - there is no intention on the part of SEIU to move workers into the American Middle Class. Andy Stern's efforts will eliminate the American Middle Class.

The target of SEIU, it seems to me , is take over of Trades Unions Apprenticeship Control, through the elimination of Bureau of Apprenticeship Programs(BAP), like here in Illinois which determines membership qualifications, examinations and schools, in each State.

Andy wants each State to adopt a State Apprenticeship Council (SAC) which will eliminate drug testing, residency requirements, and standards for skills, as well as control over all Apprenticeship Programs.

The Race Card is the Trump Card. Emil Jones attempted such a move, while President Obama was in the Illinois Senate - it failed. Andy Stern pumped millions into SEIU's effort ensure an Obama Presidency - beholden to Planned Parenthood,ACORN, ACLU and SEIU.

If you are a Union Woman or Man, get over to Marathon Pundit. Get wise to SEIU - the Media is in Andy's vest pocket.


*SEIU is a leftist troika that poses as a labor union. SEIU is run by a Leftist Social Worker whose 1960's radicalism found a profitable and powerful home in a labor union that expands membership numbers, intimidates gutless politicians, and operates the most massive redistribution of wealth scam in America. 1-2-3- that's how you dance to a troika -1. Expand 2.Intimidate 3. Redistribute Wealth!

Taking over the weak and corrupt janitors union in Chicago in the 1970's, Andy Stern and fellow University of Pennsylvania School Social Work colleague Anna Burger help radicalize and consolidate locals of building janitors, bringing thousands of unskilled to low skilled health care industry workers, security guard locals, menial office task workers and others into a political intimidation political action force.

Using a very complicit and lazy news media, Andy Stern deftly crafted a cult of personality unparalleled since Mao. The Purple Gang of hundreds of thousands of low-skill to no skill workers intimidated their way into public service employees and nearly match AFCME in tax-payer salaried workers. If you are somewhat taken aback by my analysis of the threat that I see from SEIU, please do take a look at Andy Stern's frequent trips to Red China and read Newsweeks's glwoing accounts of Stern's agenda to help one of the most oppresive regimes on the planet 'control their workers.' Take a look at Andy Stern's similar control that he exercises over local SEIU 'thought criminals.' Andy gets great PR from the press and the other mediums, but occasionally the real story gets out.

Like this one:

Sal Rosselli had been hardened by nearly three decades of front-line unionism. Time and again he staged insurgent organizing drives and do-or-die strikes, staring down major corporations. Now he blinked away tears as he huddled with supporters in his Oakland headquarters, a sooty-windowed, bunker-like building strewn with leaflets and picket signs, a place suddenly under siege.

Rosselli was describing his latest battle, his toughest ever: a face-off against a comrade in struggle, Andrew Stern, whom many view as the most powerful labor leader in America.

The two are locked in a nasty, often personal fight over how to make the nation's fastest-growing union -- 1.9 million members -- even bigger. Stern, its president, has sought more common ground with employers as a means to unionize entire industries. Rosselli believes building membership first requires getting the best deal for workers already under labor's tent.

"If you stick your head up, if you question what he's doing, you'll get whacked," said Rosselli, 58, head of the second-largest California chapter of Stern's union.

Wiping his eyes, he insisted that Stern, through a trusteeship, is determined to oust him from his elected post as part of a long push to centralize authority.

Stern and his allies in the Service Employees International Union dismiss the allegations and downplay the significance of the rift.

"It's not open warfare, it's a debate," said Pennsylvania union official Thomas De Bruin.

"It's David and Goliath," Rosselli said.


http://theunionnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/seiu-andy-stern-is-issue.html

SEIU was solidly behind John Edwards. Edwards tanked. SEIU is solidly behind Obama.

Anna Burger sits on Obama's Economic Advisory Board. A radical Marxist is telling Obam how to shape America's economic path.

Obama like Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from whom Obama crafts many of his rhetorical hits in the media, depends upon Andy and SEIU.

Andy Stern is making sure that Race is the pivot point of Obama's Campaign.


Leaders of the AFL-CIO met this week in Chicago to decide how to deploy some 250,000 volunteers and more than $250 million for its grass-roots campaign on behalf of Obama and 500 Democratic candidates vying for other posts.

The fast-growing Service Employees International Union, which has successfully organized lower-wage workers, has $85 million to spend. The AFL-CIO said it has set aside its rivalry with the SEIU and other unions that left to form their own labor federation in 2005.

CONFRONT RACISM

Unions pride themselves on their racial diversity and plan to confront members about any biases they have.

"You go straight at our people and talk about the difference between McCain and Obama and the fact that race could be an issue -- you go straight at it," said Gerald McEntee, head of the AFL-CIO's political committee.

"Once people get in the booth, if they won't vote for a black man ...," he said with a shrug. Continued...



If you do not vote for Obama, You are a racist. Stalinist and simple. That's Andy Stern and all who do his bidding.

American Labor was built upon the principles of the right to work, the right to organize, the right to engage in collective bargaining and the right to strike for wages and benefits. American Labor made the American Standard of Living and the Middle Class. Unions taught the unskilled skills - moved the poor into the middle class. SEIU uses the poor and the unskilled to eliminate the American Middle Class.

The more unskilled and impoverished Americans, the more powerful Andy Stern's SEIU becomes.

Andy Stern's SEIU is for redistribution of wealth, global identification over American values, salaries mandated by legislation and the elimination of the American Middle Class.

Obama swims in Andy Stern's Tank.

http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/search?q=SEIU+-China

Maloclussion Means Exclusion in Chris Kennedy Bid for Illinois Senate Seat

Rhambo says 'Chris Kennedy a Go for Illinois Voters!!!' Really. What did he run for again? Oh, that's right -Nuttin'!

Scads of Cash-Dough. Dude ain't Tapioca! ( see Mike Houlihan's great Comic Film!).

Chris Kennedy runs the Merchandise Mart -that magnificent massive reminder that Joe Kennedy could put the fix in here in Chicago.

The guy is the son of Robert F. Kennedy who is most often linked to President Obama in spirit, but not in reality.

Robert F. Kennedy was and would be staunchly against a woman's right to to kill her child.

Rahm Emmanuel says Kennedy is the Guy and that means that Dave Axelrod will shuffle the race cards and get to dealing them out for Kennedy in bid for the U.S. Senate.
The trouble is that Illinois voters tend to take the dental appearances of their candidates very seriously.

Harold Washington had a great set of Buckers. Obama's Immaculate! Pat Quinn wonderful! Rich Daley -Yeomanlike. Mike Madigan- Ditto!

Now, Chris Kennedy is a Kennedy and all that, but his Choppers could bite a pig's ass through a picket fence*.

Take a look up thar! Lisa Madigan - Mike took wonderful care that little girl's Corn-grabbers.

Tom Dart - now there is a set of Ivories that any Senator would be proud to gnaw on the wallets of tax payers!

Rahm. Get the man to a top Molar Mechanic.

*Deep Overbite (also referred to as Deep Bite), a specific type of malocclusion. In the technical sense within dentistry, however, overbite describes or measures the extent of vertical overlap between the upper and lower teeth, especially the incisors, in occlusion.

Drew-ing Dead! All In and Nothing

Drew Peterson seems to be the face of the age of the World Series of Poker. He has been to the big table (World-wide attention); face-off with the Rounders ( Larry King, Geraldo & etc.). He strutted and studded his way around tormenting the families of his victims. The Morons in the Media gave Drew what he demanded.

Now Drew is drawing dead. Didn't care to muck the cards. The Bluff is called. Pay up.

Let's see. Can anyone remember who won the World Series of Poker in 2007? I can't. Nor, do I care to do so. It will be the same with this goof.

The exception being the many, many people to whom this self-absorb louse brought anguish and sorrow.

Illinois State Police Capt. Carl Dobrich said investigators tracked more than 1,100 leads in Savio's death and the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, amassing some 500 gigabytes of digital information.

"Our journey has been far and wide; it has been exhausting," Dobrich said at a Thursday night news conference.

Thursday's arrest was coordinated by state police to take place when Peterson was away from home, where his four children were staying. But it also occurred shortly before an 18-month term expired for the special grand jury investigating Savio's death and Stacy Peterson's disappearance.

Glasgow denied the grand jury's time limit had anything to do with the timing of the arrest or the quality of the evidence against Peterson.

"We moved when we felt the time was appropriate, and we're very confident in our case," Glasgow said.

A major concern in the case was the issue of violence against women, an undercurrent that had driven national interest that only grew stronger as Peterson's antics grew more bizarre.

"Clearly we've had a serious situation with violence against women ... and we want to send a strong message that that is a grave and serious matter. It's not a laughing matter as has been made with this case."

Glasgow said he will prosecute the case himself.

Police arrested Peterson at 5:35 p.m. in a traffic stop at Lily Cache Lane and Weber Road in Bolingbrook.

Senate Democrats Fear Arlen Specter To be Mole Man! Go with the Feeling Lads!

"His actions over this past week have done nothing to curry favors with either party," said Penny Lee, a former senior adviser to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and now a Democratic consultant. "He needs to show some willingness to be a Democrat."

Another Democratic strategist who follows Senate races closely was more blunt about the damage Specter has done to himself over the last week. "Do you think that any right-minded local Democratic elected official is going to stick his neck out for Arlen?" the source asked rhetorically. "Or any member of the Democratic Senate caucus?"

The People Who Get into Public Service - John Daley Showed the Way and So Did Forrest Claypool!

Conclusion: We can all whine about Stroger and the board and taxes until our skin is wrinkled and we're ready for diapers and the old folks home.

If you don't like the direction of your government, run for office and change it. K. McQueary

Kristen McQueary in today's (click my post title) Southtown Star gives a blunt summary to all the beefing about our political Straw-Persons in public life, be it Blago, Burris, or Todd Stoger.

Doing something for other people, whether you are a nurse, cop, firefighter, teacher, priest, rabbi, soldier, or government official puts a target on your back. Hell, you get the same troubles in the private sector, but public service folks get the infamy of Media second-guessers and stooges with barrels of ink.

There truly is no good deed that goes unpunished. However, the only option is to turn-up the music, drink more, sedate yourself, golf, play X-Box and expect a paycheck.

In public life the majority works hard. In public life cheats, bullies, clowns, thieves, sexual predators, and morons blend in because they too are the public.

Policy often dictates that we suffer the useless gladly even when they are stealing, preying on people, screwing up the works, or just collecting a paycheck. They are the reason for Political Action Committees. The stronger the policy the more cover for the dopes.

Getting the job done requires more work these days because of false tickling Policy.

He/She/It are a mandated quota numbers; cousins need work too; the odd clouted prince or princess; and the all too human 'What are going to do? Sure they can not read a spreadsheet or a blueprint or draft a lesson plan but they are dues paying members. We must follow policy and policy requires seven written notices and severance package.'

To stick your neck out and seek the vote to genuinely make things happen takes a special click in the heart.

John Daley sparked this challenge by confronting Todd Stroger! The members of the County Board ( politically ambitious and also drifters) challenged poor Todd to do something. That is the glory of our Republic. People elected by us are doing exactly what we bid them to do.

I can criticize Forrest Claypool but I must admire his courage to take his fight into the public arena. God Bless Him!

Kris McQueary gave us a nice sound byte. Teddy Roosevelt draws blood:

Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength. It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who "but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier."

http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trsorbonnespeech.html

John Daley Tries to Talk Sense to Todd Stroger -Good Luck With That

I always liked John Daley. I still do. John Daley is a gentleman. John Daley is loyal. John Daley is a very, very, very smart man.

Yesterday, he tried to talk sense to County Board President Todd Stroger who is the best friend Forrest Claypool has in the world, now that Quigley is in D.C. and out of his way.

Claypool has friends in WTTW,NPR and the Chicago Media.

That is about it. Forrest Claypool is friends with folks who can appoint him to a government spot, or manage to get others to build votes for him.

He pretty much shot his wad. Now, with all Progressive forces dancing the Dionysian jig no one is paying Forrest much attention. Vallas is coming back. Peraica won a Pyrrhic victory in the Repeal. That is as good as it will get Tony.

John Daley tried to talk sense to Todd -do not challenge the vote and give Forrest his wiggle room - 'We can not all be Elizabeth Brackett for Crissakes.'

Welp, Todd don't hear so good. Forrest will gump it up on Public TV and Airwaves. The tin-foil hat crowd will get all knit cap and soul-patch hot for Forrest.

He will lose, mind you, but we will have Claypool white-noise for the next few months.

Thanks Todd.

You tried John Daley. My God how you tried.

John Daley sparred with Stroger during a debate that turned angry at times, telling the president he "might want to listen for a change." Daley said a Stroger veto "would be a mistake, because of the strong vote of the board."

The Daley family backed Stroger in his 2006 run for the spot once held by his father, John, but Daley on Tuesday said Stroger has "been wounded" and might not get his support for his anticipated re-election effort.

In changing his stance, Daley cited the lousy economy and said the county had "to make adjustments." At least one commissioner, however, clearly acknowledged a desire to distance himself from a tax vote that was widely panned by civic groups, editorial pages and suburban leaders. "We've been getting beaten up, and I'm tired of it," said Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno (D-Chicago), who voted for the tax hike but supported the effort to repeal.

What the GOP Needs to Do!

Wait. Chill. Chow Down. Cracka Rack. Dip the Line! Q. Quaff. Chill!

Supremely Courting Empathy!

J.D. Trout ( Doctor of Law Trout?)at Loyola University Law School wants our next Supreme Court Judge to empathize!

I feel your pain.

Really.

I care.

Alot.

No Kidding.

Really.

On the Square.

Empathetic imagination isn't as necessary when you are looking at the real thing. So, high-minded theoretical debate can be window dressing. The real question is why injustice, suffering, illness and indignity has to touch us personally before we take it personally?

Let's have a Supreme Court Justice who was a police or fireman passed over on an exam because of Affirmative Action, or a middle class tax-payer saddled with three Catholic school tuitions.

Think that'll happen?

I feel not.

David Brooks Gets the Wrong Westerner - 'That's My Ruling!'

Judge Roy W. Bean: Shad Wilkins, you've been tried and found guilty of the most serious crime west of the Pecos, to wit: shooting a steer. Do you got anything to say for yourself before the sentence of the court is executed?
Shad Wilkins: I told you they shot at me first. I didn't mean to kill that steer on purpose. I was aiming at the man.
Judge Roy W. Bean: It's your bad luck you missed him. That's the trouble with you sodbusters...you can't shoot straight. Shad, may the Lord have mercy on your soul.

Yep, that's what happens when grassroots meets the citizen.

David Brooks is one of those really smart guys who writes about politics and how 'real folks' need to listen to him.

Brooks got his start by writing fan mail to William F. Buckley at an age when he might have done better to learn how to crack a rack of eight-ball, smoke Luckies with the guys in front of Kiley and Kalina's drug store, and figure out how to lure Tess McGuffins into the balcony of the Highland Theatre - but that's just me.

David Brooks was a huge help in getting President Obama elected, while pretending to be a rock-ribbed conservative at the very core of his manly essence. Kind of like George Will and baseball, as genuine as the lard transplants in middle aged women's lips.

Today, Regular Guy Dave goes to the Classic Western for his lessons to the GOP, now dog-paddling at the bottom of Davy Jones' Locker.

Today, if Republicans had learned the right lessons from the Westerns, or at least John Ford Westerns, they would not be the party of untrammeled freedom and maximum individual choice. They would once again be the party of community and civic order.

They would begin every day by reminding themselves of the concrete ways people build orderly neighborhoods, and how those neighborhoods bind a nation. They would ask: What threatens Americans’ efforts to build orderly places to raise their kids? The answers would produce an agenda: the disruption caused by a boom and bust economy; the fragility of the American family; the explosion of public and private debt; the wild swings in energy costs; the fraying of the health care system; the segmentation of society and the way the ladders of social mobility seem to be dissolving.

Dave looked at My Darling Clementine by John Ford:

For example, in Ford’s 1946 movie, “My Darling Clementine,” Henry Fonda plays Wyatt Earp, the marshal who tamed Tombstone. But the movie isn’t really about the gunfight and the lone bravery of a heroic man. It’s about how decent people build a town. Much of the movie is about how the townsfolk put up a church, hire a teacher, enjoy Shakespeare, get a surgeon and work to improve their manners.

Nope. Regular folks liked William Wellman's The Westerner*
and took more notice of the theme of an entrenched political infrastructure that doled out money to political action committees - Judge Roy Bean ( read the Democratic National Committee) robbed farmers and bribed the Cattlemen ( read ACORN/SEIU/MOVE0n Dot Org)to maintain political hegemony.

In this film the Regular Guy Cole Hardin (Gary Cooper) does Okay so long as he sucks up to Judge Roy ( Walter Brennan) and when he runs afoul of the Judge and his Grassroots PAC guns start a blazin'!

In the end the PACS prove no match for common sense and the American Work Ethic. We'll get there, again.

Until then Dave Brooks needs to bone up on his studies. As the Judge told Cole,

Judge Roy W. Bean: Don't spill none of that liquor, son. It eats right into the bar.


*Cole Hardin just doesn't look like a horse thief, Jane-Ellen Matthews tells Judge Roy Bean as she steps up to the bar. Cole says he can't take it with him as he empties all of his coins on the bar to buy drinks for the jury. He notices two big pictures of Lily Langtry behind the bar. Sure, Cole has met the Jersey Lily, whom the hanging judge adores, even has a lock of her hair. Hanging is delayed for two weeks, giving Cole time to get in the middle of a range war between cattlemen and homesteaders and to still be around when Lily Langtry, former mistress of Edward VII who became an international actress, arrives in Texas. Written by Dale O'Connor {daleoc@interaccess.com}

Mr. Spec-tater Spies a Specter

Specter added: "If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. Fox News

Thus is Fame a thing difficult to be obtained by all, but particularly
by those who thirst after it, since most Men have so much either of
Ill-nature, or of Wariness, as not to gratify sooth the Vanity
of the Ambitious Man, and since this very Thirst after Fame naturally
betrays him into such Indecencies as are a lessening to his Reputation, and is it self looked upon as a Weakness in the greatest Characters.

In the next Place, Fame is easily lost, and as difficult to be preserved
as it was at first to be acquired.

And so this Tribe of Rakehells who gambol and cavort upon the Tidal Basin that is this Republic's Capitol, is thickened by the aged presence of a Silkie, who knows no Shame and has trod the halls of Senate among the Conscript Fathers, who daftly pen away the expected entitlements of babes and conjoined cytoplasms yet wombed in Mother's Loins for genrations to come and then some.

This Methusalan Specter can be seen hopping the Lily-Pads of Talk-Fests Broadcast by the Peacock on the Sabbath!

Who this Priest of Apollo, Casandra in Reverse, prophesied that Kemp might yet live had the Patricians been Plebs! Eutychia be with us!

The Tribe of Worthies welcomed Hypnos to Dionyisan Rites! This Carbuncle will Lance Itself!

Paul Vallas Calls for Front-Loading Political Accountability

The Progressive Think Tank!

Paul Vallas will be a great County Board President - you can be sure of it by this sign - all the goofs are lining up against him! To Nuance Old Jackie Swift.

"In the absence of a viable two-party system, the only accountability you have rests in the U.S. attorney's office. That's accountability at the back end," Vallas said. "No one is ever held politically accountable."

'Accountable? Accountable, Sir?!! Why I am an elected Official in the Land of Lincoln and Should be for life!'

Accountable. Yep. Meant something back in the day - even with political jobs. A guy would reach out and seek help to get a job and then his clout, or Chinaman, or Rabbi was held accountable for his work ethic and value to commonweal. It was up and down.

Then, along came the Whistleblower Culture. A goof could not or would not fulfill his vocational obligations and got in the jackpot with his supervisor - Voila! Pam Zekman appears and questions get asked like . . .'Mr. Polecatz, why was Mergatroyd Fuzzdyke required to sell Ward tickets?' Mergatroyd spent the previous twenty four months sleeping off hangovers in a nice, quiet cemetery, during his work hours for which he was handsomely paid, but failed to bring that to Pam's attention. The bigger the skunk shooting the eau d'cologne the better the 'Investigative Journalist' embraces the tale.

Accountability is a chimera.

Now Paul Vallas comes up from the Swamps and Bayous to the Cess-pool that is Cook County and brings back that old world notion of Accountability - People Actually doing the work for which they are paid.

Believe it or not . . .some kind soul who listens to Zanfir CDs? . . .please wake Forrest Claypool up . . .County Supervisers and most workers actually work hard.

It is the doughy dreamboats like Forrest, who was appointed to 90% of the jobs he has held in government, who get the Camera Face-time and play Atticus Finch for the nit-wits in the political audience who stir up the cess that has killed Accountability.

True facts. Old School Accountability in County and, yes Muriel, City government as well, rows hard against the Progressive currents, roiled by the oars of Reform Coyotes like Claypool and Preckwinkle and the now Congressional Quigley.

I needed some County work done to help kids here in Auburn Gresham at Leo High School and went to the right guy, and he introduced me to the righter guy, who had just the right guys and things got done - no quid pro dough; for which no moolah or services were exchanged; no grease; no trouble and I ain't sayin' nothin'!

I did not seek the help of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. Please. The Wee Lad is busy enough with Kin. I would have reached out to his Pop. That gent was a master of grace and accountability. Guys that Stroger Pere trusted? You bet. I explained what was needed and with three conversations and follow-up. Things are moving.

Ask the help of a goof like Claypool and he would trot out the swell study done for Mike Quigley at the University of Chicago. Nope go to the hard-working people in government who actually perform and always seem to be the first people smeared by Pam Zekmans or have their jobs cut by the people doing the real stealing in the name of Reform.

That is Accountability. Not a Press Conference, or a WTTW Gush Glamorama with Phil Ponce by a self-absorbed flannel mouth who never does one thing to make government do anything for anyone. If the poor kids at Leo needed anything to make their lives better, safer, or more accountable, the last person one should ever see is a Reform goof like Claypool at County or Progressive Pirate like Preckwinkle.

Paul Vallas has it right front-load accountability. Paul Vallas ( GOP or Dem) is the right guy for the Cook County Presidency, because he is always accountable. Everything Old is New Again!

Catch Amanda Crumley at The Drake's Coq d'Or!

This south side kolbold was transformed into a sensitive urban sophisticate by a young girl and a guitarist at the Cog d'Or in the Drake Hotel last night. Amanda Crumley and guitarist Kregor are two young artists with a powerful understanding of artistic intent - they actually honor the songwriter.

The Beautiful Woman, who allows me to carry her books, was delighted to see her date not play with the silverware, the candle wax, or trowel handfuls of the peppery snack assortments from the bowl into his chop hole and instead morph into a Brooks Brothers jacketed gent - all due to Amanda Crumley's and John Kregor's respect for lyrics and lines of notes formed by Brazilian genius Jobin, Cole Porter, or Crumley herself.

Amanda Crumley is a soprano. She can coax a note into the empyrean without drawing attention to herself as most singers seem to do - the Jennifer Hudson 'it's all about me' quality that has destroyed the National Anthem and most liturgical music as well as the Great American Songbook.

John Kregold takes a standard solid-body Parler guitar and delicately shapes chords and notes into a framework of musical gossamer for Crumley.

Get to the Drake's Coq d' Or on Sunday nights and catch these artists.

Amanda Crumley's manner and caressing voice could make a warehouse full of Trappist Monks give a second look at their vows.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Amanda grew up singing in school choirs, writing songs on piano from a young age, (forming a short-lived but prolific rock band in the 3rd grade), and doing anything musical she could get ears on. She was formally introduced to jazz when she first attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music education. While studying classical voice, she performed in the school’s top vocal jazz ensembles and was exposed to several master artists who came through town. Around the same time, she became captivated by Brazilian music, and has continued to cultivate her understanding of the music, the language, and immerse herself in the gorgeous sounds of the culture as much as possible. Before she finished college it became clear where her heart was and this beautiful, spontaneous element of improvisation that had always been part of her made her desire to pursue jazz a natural one.

Amanda moved to Chicago in 2003 upon receiving a scholarship to study jazz voice with Patricia Barber at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University from where she now holds her Master’s degree. New to the Chicago jazz scene, she feels privileged to make music with some of the greatest musicians in the city. Having cultivated a unique repertoire of Brazilian music, jazz standards and original arrangements, Amanda can be seen at many fine venues in the Chicago area. She performs every first Friday of the month at Katerina’s in Chicago. Other venues Amanda has performed at include Pete Miller’s Steakhouse, Gigi’s Jazz and Supper Club, the Smoke Daddy, Uncommon Ground, Wise Fool’s Pub, the Heartland, and the Drake Hotel.

Click my post title and link to each of these songs by Amanda!

mp3s:

Vivo Sonhando (Jobim)
I Loves You, Porgy (Gershwin, piano arr. by Jarrett)
Retrato em branco et prieto/ Pictures in Black and White (Jobim, arr. AC)
I Didn't Mean to Turn You On (Harris/ Lewis; arr AC)


Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Coq d'Or @ the Drake Hotel w/ guitarist John Kregor
Chicago, IL 8:30 PM
140 E. Walton Ave.
18:30-12:30pm
no cover or minimum
http://www.thedrakehotel.com

Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Coq d'Or @ the Drake Hotel w/ guitarist John Kregor
Chicago, IL 8:30 PM
140 E. Walton Ave.
8:30pm-12:30am
no cover or minimum
http://www.thedrakehotel.com

Friday, May 22, 2009
Mandy & Bandit(s) @ Lizard's Liquid Lounge
Chicago, IL 6:00 PM
6-8pm
no cover + fantabulous drink specials
3058 W. Irving Park Rd.
http://www.lizardsliquidlounge.com

Polska ! Polska Jest Pobłogosławione Przez Boga!

The Chicago Tribune tucked a burp of information in a weather report. Thousands of Chicago's Poles celebrated their love of Freedom in Grant Park and the Chicago newspapers ignored them.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-kc-kite-festival-03may03,0,2185910.story

The Chicago Sun Times tucked news and reportage in with a 'What to Do' weekend and beyond guide along with Cinco De Mayo and news about the Kingston Trio.

http://blogs.southtownstar.com/entertainment/2009/05/this-weekend-
beyond-cinco-de-m.html

As of the 2007 Census Poles constituted the third largest portion of Chicago's non-minority populations -

As of the 2007 US Census American Community Survey the largest white ancestries were:

Irish: (201,836)
German: (200,392)
Polish: (179,868)
Italian: (96,599)
English: (60,370)

Culturally the Polish form a bed-rock Chicago's identity in labor (real labor), education, civic and religious life and in the performing and literary arts. Mike Royko would never have allowed such slight by the onion-skinned scions of his trade and it sure as hell seems to be that every Royko wannabe ink-slinger coos, gushes and cuddles to that Polish American Chicago icon.

The Nuance in this town is hip deep and smelly.

ABC Channel; 7 TV did its usually fine bit of coverage.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources/inside_station/station_info&id=6786985

I saw thousands of proud, sober, patriotic and dignified Polish Americans and Polish immigrants celebrate their love of freedom all along the Grant Park public peninsula.
No drunks, no idiots, no incidents, no Prgressive polemics and no News Coverage. If three gay bias loudmouths or one recognized Advocacy Activist shows up anywhere, Chicago newspapers shout a gathering of thousands.

The Newspapers of Chicago offering their steady platefulls of cant and advocacy nuance is a disgrace. But as I learned, you can not shame the Fourth Estate.

In 1788, the Polish Parliament began its deliberations to create a government that would defend and honor the rights of its people. The Constitution was then approved by King Stanislaw August Poniatowski on May 3, 1791. Although the Polish constitution did not last due to occupations by Russia, Austria and Prussia, the Polish Constitution of 1791 is commemorated today because it represents justice and freedom.

The State of Illinois shares a longstanding partnership with the Republic of Poland under the auspices of the State Partnership Program. For example, the military forces of the Illinois National Guard and Poland have cooperated in numerous training events, exchange programs, and training exercises.

Polish Constitution Day festivities will continue on May 2, 2009 with a parade at 11:30 A.M. on Columbus Drive, followed by a festival at Navy Pier. For more information on Polish Constitution Day events, please visit Polandonthepier.com.

Click my post titel for more from the Illinois News. You'll get sweet bugger-all from the Chicago papers.


Shëndet Poloni! Mie Sto Lot!

Sto Lot!
Your Pal Irlandisht Hickey

Sears Tower Glass Bottom Deck? Not Gonna Happen! I'm Satisfied Down Here On the Ground -Tell The Truth on 'Em Lou Rawls!

Click My Post Title for the Great Lou Rawls at the Hollywood Palace - 'I'm Satisfied'& 'Down Here on the Ground' - Get the whole Truth from Lou.

Sears Tower, or the Buddy Hackett Pavilion, or the Buck-Up-And-You-Name-It Obelisk, is putting in some kind of a see through plexi-glass Test Your Nuts for Money Gizmo.

Pass. The last time this Daisy went up over eight(8) stories over the concrete was in 1969 when janitor superintendent Art Fry sent my seventeen year old ass up the unprotected ( flat,rusted iron ladder with nothing behind) fire escape -last resort access - on the front of Orchestra Hall ( Now Symphony Center) at 220 South Michigan to pull wet bunting off the front of the building when the elevator system broke-down, to clear off the debris after the ticker tape parade for the Apollo 11 Crew on Michigan Ave. It rained like a cow peeing on a flat rock after that parade and every bit of paper in Chicago seemed to stick to the front of Orchestra Hall -'Get Your skinny Mick Ass Up There! It'll only hurt once.'

I cried and blubbered like Kanye West in a good mood the entire time - got it done though.

Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins I am not!

I was, and continue to be, as Yellow as a Duck's Foot!

Banking ATM Crisis - County Kerry Pintless!

'Tis Dry, Paddy-Mike.' - ' 'Tis so, Mossy-Teague!'

Ripped - From the Pages of The Kerryman!!!!
By SIMON BROUDER sbrouder@kerryman.ie


Wednesday April 29 2009

PUBLICANS were left nursing huge losses and revellers were left with empty glasses on Saturday night after a computer glitch shut down ATMs across the county.

For four hours on Saturday night and Sunday morning, from about 10pm to 3am, the entire ATM network in Kerry was shut down leaving people across the county unable to withdraw any money.

In Tralee the situation led to huge losses for pubs with many publicans reporting that penniless revellers had simply opted to go home.

Long lines could be seen at ATMs with frustrated customers loudly venting their anger.

Taxi drivers too will have been hurting with the number of people seen walking home in the early hours testament to just how many people had been left with empty pockets on what's usually the busiest night of the week for pubs and restaurants in Kerry towns.

There were also numerous stories of revellers from outlying areas who were effectively stranded in Tralee until the banking system rebooted. The Kerryman met one couple from Castleisland who had found themselves with no money and no way to get home.

For drinkers with regular haunts the situation wasn't as bad as it might have been with most publicans running tabs for regular customers. Many publicans who spoke to The Kerryman said they were furious that their takings had been slashed by a banking glitch.

The problem has been traced back to Bank of Ireland who apologised to customers on Monday and blamed the situation on new software installed into its ATM system over the weekend.

A glitch in the software had caused an unforeseen error and BOI ATMs across the country had to be shut down as it was repaired. The problem was made greater because ATMs from all Irish banks are interlinked meaning the problem with the BOI system led to ATMs operated by AIB, Ulster Bank and some building societies also suspending services.

A BOI spokesman on Monday apologised for the inconvenience caused.

- SIMON BROUDER sbrouder@kerryman.ie

Pooh! Swine Flu.