Chicago's Jody Weiss Gang Meet 'N Greet of Last Summer Goes Soho with Crime Carny Dr. Dave Kennedy!

Gang crime and mayhem ended in Chicago immediately after last summer's Gang Summit with Jody and Dr. Dave! Remember? Now, Old Blightey is getting the Boston Tune-up!


"It's easy to say that the approach won't work here because of this difference or that difference," Kennedy said. "The one thing we've learned is that the differences don't make a difference."

Now, who can argue with that?

In our Hegelian politico/activist/agenda media world of nonsense, Harvard anthropologist turned criminolgist David Kennedy arrives at the perfect conclusion posed by his inquiry and gets public money for his Gang Summits Erase Urban Misery series and travelling show.

David Kennedy convinced Chicago's last non-cop Superintendent Jody Weiss to call a gang summit. Weiss did and shortly reaped its harvest, took his unused vaction days, and found another job.

Murders and gang violence? You Betcha! Still here and burgeoning. David Kennedy has a book coming out in October that is sure to get him plenty of face-time on PBS and more than a few low decible chats of NPR. Not only that David Kennedy has crossed the pond with his Hug-A-Thug methodology and will pick up Pounds and Crowns and Guineas, but not his heart away, from British tax-payers and riot victims.

Get a load of this!

Britain's Cameron has just recruited the Los Angeles Police Department's former commander, William Bratton, to be his adviser on anti-gang tactics. Bratton previously commanded the police in Boston and New York, where his tactics were credited with greatly reducing gang-related bloodshed. Cameron and Bratton are expected to promote ideas pioneered 15 years ago in Boston by Harvard academic-turned-crime fighter David Kennedy.

Kennedy's "Boston strategy" seeks public meetings of police, probation workers, welfare providers, community residents, and a target audience of gang members. The discussions have been credited with delivering sharp drops in gang-related killings in Boston, Chicago and Cincinnati.

You see David Kennedy is a trained Hegelian scientist and, therefore, can not lose an argument or a future booking. In Cincinnati, murders and crime continue just like it do here in Chicago, and Dave's methods only fail because of someone else. Pure John Dewey!

I hear tell, that there is yet the odd bit of murder and mayhem in the Queen City on the Ohio River. Nevertheless . . .

A new book by the nationally known criminologist who helped develop Cincinnati's gang violence crackdown says he found dedicated, enthusiastic activists here - but that the city's politics were more petty here than anywhere else.

David Kennedy's "Don't Shoot," to be released in October, delivers a behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence. It tells tales that didn't come to light at the time about the personalities involved and the process toward setting up the program.

To demonstrate, Dr. Dave points to people who thought that he and his program were full of it and to the very good hearted folks agreeing with him and who applauded him and his efforts anyway. There. Hegelian inquiry. If one inquires, it concludes nicely on ones own terms and conditions. Failure is not an option; nor is it a possibility in the Hegelian World built by John Dewey. Listen to President Obama's every utterance on anything - e.g.! Listen to Dr. Dave in AP feature!

"It is now absolutely demonstrable that there is a better way to do this. There is a 15-year history in the United States in city after city after city. We don't think that London can fix its gang problem. We know it can fix it," Kennedy said.

While England has been slow to address its growth of gang culture, the gang-infested capital of Scotland — Glasgow — has already imported the Boston method.

Karen McCluskey, a director of Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit, in 2008 held her first Boston-style mass meeting with gang members in a Glasgow courthouse. She said gang members were shocked to learn the wealth of intelligence police held about them, appeared unaware of the range of help on offer, and were shamed by stories of how their behavior had terrified their neighborhoods

McCluskey said her colleagues were skeptical that American anti-gang techniques could be imported meaningfully to Scotland, then watched Glasgow's gang-related violent crimes fall 46 percent in the past three years because of them

It can work? That was 2008.

In 2011, why only two weeks ago gangs, shamed by the intelligence shared with them about their misdeeds, lit not only Glasgow, but London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Shiney Sheffield.

Way to go Dave! Make mine a Boston!

We Chicago Rubes enjoyed Dave Kennedy's summit with our home-grown cads, bounders, blackguards, miscreants and scamps and are thoroughly delighted with our resultant Chicago Arcadia! Demonstrable, Old Chap!

Not.

Dr. Dave gets paid anyway.

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110814/NEWS0108/108150310/Book-calls-Cincinnati-politics-pettiest-?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Get Your Fat Ass Out of Church! Nutrition, Progressive Nanny State Goats and the Need for Speed

My Considered, Albeit Unscientific, Retort to a Progressive's Research on my Nutritional Lifestyle, at North Ave. Beach on Recent Sunny Day in the Company of a Woman I Love.


A new study has found that young adults who frequently attend religious activities are 50 percent more likely to become obese by middle age compared with those who don’t take part in any religious events. Chicago Sun Times Stephano Esposito March 25, 2011

Again, when men commence an undertaking, they always are prepared to show that the absolute necessities of the world demanded its completion . . . ( think of High Speed Rails between Peotone and Custer Park; Fois Gras Bans, Reversing the Chicago River, Homosexual Puppets and Personalities on PBS for Toddlers, Eating only the Foods We Say One May ) . . . One or other of these points at least is incontrovertible: the public wants a thing, therefore it is supplied with it; or the public is supplied with a thing, therefore it wants it. William Makepeace Thackeray The Book of Snobs: Parenthetical contemporary commentary my own.

Thus, it was in the waning days of Regency England and the Advent of Victoria Regina and so remains in this our Progressive America - the one cork screwed into the loam by the forced free mortgages crafted by Barney Frank and Fannie Mae; The TARP magic that averted a debt crisis unprecedented until the one bubbling up around our butts; the Federal Platform for Planned Parenthood's American Abortion Industry; Public Schools; Gay Marriage and Civil Unions; Our On-going Op-ed Obesity Kristallnacht.

Once the Public is Force Fed, the public is sated. Now, to the War on Lardasses!

Sunday's Chicago Sun Times offered another heaping plateful of juicy caveats with regard to our fat co-workers and group health insurance. Incentives for Healthy Lifetsyles encouraging comrades of the workforce to exercise and forgo the cheese melt sandwiches from the roach coach and canteen vending machines. Likewise, educational cheerleading about nutritional foods that are actually medicine is offered in which one man of science and math from the research organization offering the morning's portion shouts this!

“The IFIC defines functional foods as “foods or food components that may provide benefits beyond basic nutrition.”

People are 1,000 percent more conscious of the fact that food can act as medicine and help prevent lots of diseases,” says Jean Carper, author of several best-selling books about functional food."Well, how about that for science, Fat Boy! That's 10 times the 100% in your CPA scribblings. Just like them dead polar bears floating snouts to the globally fatal sun, we got us some science!

Why, only last March, The Sun Times proved with equally impressive lab-coat certainty that going to Christian Church, not a Mosque mind you, added unsightly and probably breeder poundage.

Check out this opening sentence!

“We don’t know why frequent religious participation is associated with development of obesity, but the upshot of these findings highlight a group that could benefit from targeted efforts at obesity prevention,” said Matthew Feinstein, the study’s lead investigator and a fourth-year student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “It’s possible that getting together once a week and associating good works and happiness with eating unhealthy foods could lead to the development of habits that are associated with greater body weight and obesity.”

The study tracked 2,433 young men and women for 18 years in Chicago, Minneapolis, Birmingham, Ala., and Oakland, Calif.

In the study, “frequent” religious participation meant attending at least one event per week. Most, but not all of the participants, were Christians — reflecting the dominant religion in the United States, Feinstein said.

The natural huffing and puffing that follows Evangelical Trencherman Tom as we waddles out of the corporate cubicle to the snack canteen, inspite of the fact that Tubby Tom heaps profits to the shareholders by dint of his talents for investment, gets on the nerves of his svelt bicycling vegan atheist compeers who have the ear of the Boardroom, though they do but little corporate good. You see Tubby Tom munches and works, while his svelt peers preach Progressive memes all shift and beyond.

Our Progressive Lard Snobs have a smorgasbord of 'scientific' Gobble-Dee-Gook from which to pile it on the people that they want to vacate their Green Planet. One such bucket of thought-lard is Obesity-in-America.org. Announce a crisis and get back-up for Crisis Management.

Smokers, Breeders, Church-goers, and Tubbies had better watch out and better not cry. Stay out of Church, drop that 'Baccy, March or Die!

The media helped us into our economic swamp by offering clarion calls for the raising of debt, the bad mortgage give-aways and the Civil Rights of homosexual intercourse, free health insurance and in no time at all High Speed Rails that will ban transporting Fat Asses.

From the good Folks at Obesity-in-America.org for our Too-Lazy-By-Half young journolistas and all of us affable dopes who find it a strain to work on common sense Your Fat-Ass Research on Health and Nutrition Clearing House

The Endocrine Society

The Endocrine Society is an international body with more than 14,000 members from over 80 countries. The Society is the world’s largest and most active professional organization of endocrinologists in the world. Founded in 1916, the Society is internationally known as the leading source of state-of-the-art research and clinical advancements in endocrinology and metabolism. The Endocrine Society is dedicated to promoting excellence in research, education and clinical practice in the field of endocrinology. In addition, the Society works to disseminate new knowledge leading to the prevention, treatment and cure of disease. The Endocrine Society also serves as an advocate for fundamental and clinical research and the practice of endocrinology.

The Hormone Foundation

The Hormone Foundation, the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, is a leading source for hormone-related information for the public, physicians, and allied health professionals through its public education campaigns, Web site, forums, toll-free number, and free literature. The Foundation has developed educational materials on menopause, pituitary imbalances, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), testosterone and men’s health, and is currently developing programs on hormone abuse, prostate disease, obesity, childhood (pediatric) obesity, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disease, and osteoporosis.

The Endocrine Society and The Hormone Foundation are dedicated to helping reporters accurately cover all areas of endocrinology. The staff of both organizations strives to help reporters locate the latest endocrine research as well as experts in all areas of endocrinology

http://www.suntimes.com/4490719-417/religion-and-obesity-study-links-church-and-being-fat.html

http://www.suntimes.com/mobile/6882437-463/americans-understand-that-food-can-act-as-medicine.html

Chatham's Edward Alexander Tunes-up Our Later Day Yummy Sandifer

“From his hospital bed Friday, the retired probation officer of 32 years says he has no regrets.

You’ve got to make a stand one way or the other in life,” he said from his room at Advocate Trinity Hospital. “And if you don’t you’ll be run over.”

It happened in a flash.

“This gentleman comes around 81st Street, he said, ‘Give it up,’ and put a gun to my stomach,” said Alexander, who took a swipe at the man’s gun-wielding hand.

The bullet went clean through Alexander’s left leg at around the same time he landed a blow square in the robber’s jaw.

“He stumbled and went off running,” Alexander said, noting that he didn’t immediately realize he was shot. “That’s a thing you don’t have happen often. You can’t prepare for it.”

The suspect then ran to a car parked nearby, where he and a driver fled north on the Dan Ryan Expressway, police said.

The robber didn’t get away with any cash. But neighbors say what Alexander went through is part of a broader rise in Chatham crime that has picked up over the years.

God Bless You, Mr. Alexander!

Last week, an elderly gentlemen who works on the buses at Leo High School confronted a bust-out thug as the crumb rifled through one of the buses at the end of the working day. There was a scuffle and the mechanic, whom I will not name, had gotten the better of young Felonius Punk. The punk managed to get his cowardly mitts on a chunk of concrete and beat Leo's motor pool wrangler several times in the head. Leo's football coach and several varsity players burst out of the school and the thug beat it south on Sangamon.

The elderly working man is hospitalized at Christ Advocate in Oak Lawn and thanks to Mike Holmes and the Leo Men Gresham (6th District) police identified the thug.

Yesterday, Edward Alexander, 82 was watering his lawn when a bust-out thug stuck a gun in his belly and ordered Mr. Alexander to 'Give it Up!' Sounds good on Law and Order and bad movies, but it translated differently to Edward Alexander, 83 a home owner working man in the Chatham neighborhood. 'Give it up!' was prelude to a solid punch in the chops.

Sadly, our later-day Yummie Sandifer got off a stray round that hit Mr. Alexander in the leg. Mr. Edward Alexander, like Leo's Bus mechanic, is an elderly, proud working man with gallons of proud testosterone. Thugs are not born, they are made. They are made by excuses and entitled do any thing that they damn well please.

The punks are armed and the media has been doing their press and public relations in Chicago for decades. Remember Yummie Sandifer?

The late Yummie Sandifer was the template for players, bust-outs, thugs, dope-slingers, rapists, and thieves who all manage to have family albums filled with mug shots ( witness last weeks Chicago River Bridge Miracle Baby Boy who took one in the head from a member of his own fraternity. The News media featured only the hospitalized cranial marvel's mugshot from one of his more recent arrests).

The American media, following the journalistic dance steps of our geniuses of the Chicago Media, crafted a template equating a useless gene-pool to a social icon. In the 1930's Communist naturalist novelist created Bigger Thomas in Native Son and our lesser talented journalists gave us Yummie Sandifer with his very own posthumous Wikipedia entry.

Robert "Yummy" Sandifer (March 12, 1983 — September 1, 1994) garnered national attention in September 1994 after his murder by fellow gang members in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2][3][4] He appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in September 1994.[5]
Nicknamed Yummy because of his love of junk food, Sandifer was a young member of the street gang the Black Disciples. After committing murder, arson and armed robbery, he was executed by fellow gang members who feared he could be turned snitch. Coverage of Sandifer's death and retrospectives on his short, violent life were widely published in the American media, and Sandifer became a symbol of the gang problem in American inner cities, the failure of social safety netting, and the shortcomings of the juvenile justice system.

Early life

Yummy's mother was a prostitute and a crack cocaine addict who had her first son at age 15. Yummy was a victim of abuse from an early age, and was sent to live with his grandmother by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) after one of his brothers, Victor, went blind from a neglected eye infection. His grandmother's residence contained as many as 19 children on some occasions. Sandifer, at age 8, quit regularly attending school and took to the streets stealing cars and breaking into houses. The year before his death he was removed to a DCFS shelter on Chicago's north side, which he ran away from.
[edit]Criminal behavior

Yummy was known for bullying and extorting money from local children and the community in the Chicago neighborhood of Roseland. He liked luxury cars such as Lincolns and Cadillacs and, remarkably, was able to drive them despite his small stature (he was still beneath the height limit for many of the rides at nearby amusement park Six Flags Great America). Many of his 23 felonies and 5 misdemeanors were committed in the course of running errands for street gangs. The penal system had no way to keep him out of trouble and the courts were helpless to lock him away because he was too young for juvenile detention and too dangerous to be placed with children his age.[citation needed]
[edit]Homicide

On August 28, 1994, Yummy walked up to 15-year-old Kianta Britten and asked him to which gang he belonged. Kianta responded that he did not belong to any gang, and Yummy opened fire on him with a semiautomatic pistol, hitting him in the stomach with one bullet and also catching a nerve with another bullet leaving Britten partially paralyzed. Later on that same day, Yummy shot at some rival gang members. One stray bullet hit Shavon Dean in the head and killed her as she walked home from a friend's house.
For the next three days, gang members from the Black Disciples kept Yummy on the move, evading the police investigation of the shootings. Yummy was last seen by a neighbor on August 31, waiting for his grandmother to pick him up, but instead two brothers (14 and 16 years of age [Derrick and Cragg Hardaway]) from his gang arrived. Telling him they were going to take him out of the city, he was brought to a viaduct underpass and executed. He was found later in a muddy pool of blood with two gunshot wounds in the head.
[edit]

Yummy was on the cover of Time Magazine and has his own posthumous bibliography.

Kirby, Joseph A. "The Death of Dantrell Davis". Chicago Tribune. October 13, 1992. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-chicagodays-dantrelldavis-story,0,6132262.story
^ Long, Elizabeth Valk (19 September 1994). "To Our Readers". TIME. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
^ Gibbs, Nancy R.; Grace, Julie; Hull, Jon D. (19 September 1994). "Murder in Miniature". TIME. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
^ Grace, Julie (12 September 1994). "There Are No Children Here". TIME. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
^ Hewitt, Bill (19 September 1994). "Death at an Early Age". People: pp. 52–54. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
^ "TIME Magazine Cover: Robert (Yummy) Sandifer". TIME. 19 September 1994. Retrieved 30 March 2011.

Yummy had a smile that could light up a room is the working media template and our racist society is the only reason this useless little monster was hogging oxygen from 1983-1994. In reality, all Yummy cared about was a Glock that could light up everyone in a room.

Commie Lawsuit Lotto Lawyer G.Flint Taylor continues to amass a fortune with his cadre of convicted Yummies. The media have helped lazy, shiftless, self-indulgent, careless alcohol and drug dependent entitlement Mommas become community activists when their Yummies pull a 9 on the cops. The police and the courts and working people like Mr. Edward Alexander become the targets of lawsuit lotto lawyers, for trying to defend themselves.

The media provides an endless buffet of bullshit and thugs have the freedom of the city.

Thank God for working men like Edward Alexander of Chatham. At least Mr. Alexander got in a good one. I sure hope that Lawsuit Lotto Lawyer Jon Loevy has not taken up the cause of the louse that Mr. Alexander punched in the chops, because Mr. Alexander was, after all "a retired probation officer."

Irish Coffin Rests in County Kerry

'Take a good grip on it,now, so. You've a long scamper up that cnoc beag beyond the Church and she's a Fat Heiffer at that, so. You rest it down half a mile on the cónra cloiche (Coffin Stone)above that mile.'

We Chicago Irish carry the coffin for about eighteen inches from the back of Bob Sheehy's Hearse to the coffin gurney - sometimes if the occupant were a career lard ass that heft is more than enough. However, our Irish Cousins ( invest in Mike Houlihan's New Documentary) continue to employ the full force of six men and true all the way to the Church and the Parish graveyard.

Here is an interesting oddity, learned in the pages of The Kerryman Newspaper.

"I also came across the fascinating phenomenon of coffin rests while interviewing people in Bonane outside Kenmare. If, say, a woman married into a neighbouring parish it was the custom that she would be buried with her own people when the time came. So the coffins were carried back on foot and the cortege made use of specific rocks as coffin rests," he explained." The Kerryman




"Thank God, she was a thin one. 'Tis a long hike up hill, so"

Mike Houlihan's Our Irish Cousinshttp://documentaries.org/cid-films/our-irish-cousins/

Time for Slumgullion

Trendy and very good restaurants make presentation one of the cornerstones of great dining -the old feast for the eyes. Les Nomades* on the near north side of Chicago is one of the truly great restaurants.

The items are presented with all of the grace and dignity of the Three Magi before the Infant Jesus on the Epiphany. The very attentive stewards wait in anticipation of the seated's Oooos and Ahhhs. Succulent portions of fish, foul and hoofed cohabitants of our planet, are presented over a sauce that were it poured over my son Conor's aged Nikes, I would devour with relish.

Vegetables are roasted and or steamed to perfection and align the plate edges like Georgian footmen - attendant to crown roasts of lamb or the imperial lobster.

The elegant and beautiful woman who deigns to be seen in public with me is always appreciative of an evening's diversion at Les Nomades. The portions match her tiny alabaster frame and gustatory instincts.

I, however aesthetically charmed by Les Nomades wizardry, leave the front door with a desire to plunge my face into an Al's on Taylor Italian Beef and Sausage Combo smothered in hot Giardinara.

De Gustibus Non Est Disputandem.

Give me a bucket full of slumgullion any day and I will be as happy as the fabled swine in saga'd slough most noted.

After a day on 79th Street in the service of my God, Country and the heroic young gents of Leo High School, this lad is looking for a rib-sticking, back-to-school, double sessions, and working man's plate full of eats.

My Aunt cooked for the Augustinians at the Old St. Rita High School Monastery at 63rd & Claremont - the monastery actually butted up against Western Ave. She was a brilliant cook. She could satisfy a crowd of thirty or more black cowled priests and brothers with a feast at every meal. One her masterpieces was a variation on the Irish concoction that stands in for Mulligan Stew - Slumgullion.

The word evolved from the Irish word for mud -goilín and it may be prepared with any assortment of meats, pastas and vegetables. It is a rich, wholesome, tasty and satisfying meal.

Here is one such example of Slumgullion with a Polish twist. Prior to dining -put on your eatin' pants ( loose fitting sweats always a splendid idea)

Ingredients
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 onion, roughly chopped almost to the consistency of hamburger
3 cloves of garlic crushed
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 green bell peppers, cut into 1 1/2 inch long strips
2 Red Bell Pepper,cut into 1 1/2 inch long strips
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (16 ounce) package Bobak's kielbasa, roughly diced and chopped almost to the consistency of hamburger - that's almost. It goes to kielbasa hamburger you screwed up.
Six pan fried pierogis




Six Sauerkraut Pierogis pan fried in butter
Sour Cream
Chopped chives for garnish

Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium low heat, and stir in the onion.

Cook onion until tender and golden brown, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Place potatoes, salt red and green bell peppers into the skillet with the onion.

Cover and fry for 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in ground black pepper.

Place the kielbasa pieces on top of mixture, cover and let cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add garlic

Stir kielbasa into the mixture and cook an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.

Allow to sit covered for an additional 15 minutes before serving.

Portion each serving with a topping of pierogi and dollop of sour cream
Garnish with nicely chopped chives.

Eat until you sweat; breathe deeply and if possible take a brisk walk to the couch and channel surf.

*Do get to Les Nomades if not for you, for the woman you love! It will set you back at least Three Yards ( $300) and change if you order wine, but who's counting? You are I know, the economy bites and all, but crack oen the wallet, at least once this year.

Les Nomades
222 E Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60611-3258
(312) 649-9010

Gabby Obama's Real Genuine Arab America!

Ladies and Gentlemen, The President:

Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life.

Well, Folks round about here in Illinois, where I come from, after Hawaii and that's all, folks like to recall the Old Frail Splitter - Abe Amir lived over to Kaskaskia along the Mighty Mississppi -Father of Waters, the Gathering of Waters, Big River, Old Man River, the Great River, the Body of a Nation, the Mighty Mississippi, el Grande (de Soto), the Muddy Mississippi, Old Blue and Moon River..

Yes, Sir Old Abe -short for Ibraihaim Ibn Ben Swallee Amir - settled in right 'round the Blackhawk War in '32 and darnation if'n he wouldn't take that big ol' long curved hunting saber and spilt Hussies, Jezebels, Jades and Bawds from the Gums to the Gams. Nary a gal yup to some funnin' anywhar 'bouts Kaskaskia. Why to this day Kaskaskia only numbers the fingers of one-armed thief in Bahgdad. Proud Heritage!

Well, Sir, in about Ohhhhhh,'49, Ol' Abe packed up the Tribe an' headed West, cross the Mississippi with thoughts of making camp beyond the High Lonesome -the Rockies. Maybe, get a pipe-tabaccy business or maybe peddle some pelts.

Long about the Colaradda, Pawnee and Sioux began makin; medicine -bad medicine. The Ol' Frail Splitter warn't used to hackin' and scrappin' regular Injun fashion and didn't cotton to ways of the Blue Coat Crusaders.

W'alp, Ol' Abe strapped on a big ol'keg of black powder, lit him a big Ol'Fuse an' went a chargin' into them Red Devils.

Yep, proud heritage - made its mark and an awful big hole twixt the Miss and the Rockies. You folks call it the Grand Canyon -folks will callit جراند كانيون! Jus' wait a spell.

Great Britain's Media as Loopy, Phony and Arrogantly Blind as Ours

Kevin Myers is as sound a writer as Jonathan Swift, but with actual skin in the game. Kevin Myers became a fearless critic of the IRA and Sinn Fein, having spent much time with IRA gunmen.

Here is some of the work of a real journalist:

In 1974 Myers was approached by the Official IRA who, aware of his contacts, requested a meeting with their loyalist counterparts. A meeting was arranged between Jim Hanna, an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) leader and a representative of the Officials. The Europa Hotel, Belfast was chosen because its supposedly tight security would ensure neither side could be armed. Yet both sides managed to smuggle in armed men and Myers described their comical attempts to blend in. Further meetings followed and agreements were reached for the safe return of unfortunates who accidentally found themselves in the other's territory.[17]
Later, at a secret meeting arranged by Myers at the request of the Provisionals. Dáithí Ó Conaill and Brian Keenan had talks with UVF leaders Hanna and Billy Mitchell near Lough Sheelin, County Cavan. Myers summarised the purpose of the talks: The IRA simply wished to discuss the terms of the loyalist surrender and the loyalists wished merely to assure the IRA they had no intention of surrendering. The meeting lasted four hours. Mitchell later recalled that "We just wanted to get to know one another. And we thought we could find a way to call an end to everything." "I really liked David. And neither of us accused the other of anything."[18] That night the two sides had dinner together, followed by a drinking session. Keenan and Mitchell fell asleep, drunkenly in each others arms.
Following the meeting Myers discerned a brief lull in the IRA targeting of UDR soldiers.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article608437.ece


Today, American journalists are wringing their chubby hands over the possibility of London style riots here in America. Open your friggin' eyes Cupcakes -Americans riot on the installment plan -teen flash mobs and daily shootings. The Revolution will not be televised, but it will be an HBO documentary by Spike Lee.

Yesterday, Myers lambasted the PC Press in England, as they have helped stoke the riots in the same manner as American journalistas do Class Warfare as opposed to reporting the news.

This is a must Read:
By Kevin Myers
Wednesday August 10 2011
The duty of journalists is to tell the truth. If we don't do that, it's the equivalent of a nurse comfortably chatting over a nice cup of tea while an empty saline drip feeds air into a patient's artery. The moment that we think it's more important to protect some comfortable ideological dogma is the moment when our particular patient, truth, begins to die. I take no pleasure in what follows; but there is a job to be done, so here goes.

Perhaps the most astounding element in the British television coverage of the riots over much of England has been the steadfast refusal to mention the race of most of the rioters. They are clearly, and overwhelmingly, Afro-Caribbean, the descendants of immigrants, though such has been the utter British failure to integrate so much of the immigrant population that many have retained something of a Caribbean accent. Admittedly, not all of the rioters are "black": clearly, some white youths have joined in.

But where they have not got race is common, they probably have another feature that joins them: absent father-figures. An astonishing number of young males in London are the sons of single mothers. They have been raised without the presence of a male authority figure to impose familial order, and furthermore and most vitally, to promote the patriarchy.

Contrary to what the feminist mantra of recent decades has proposed, the patriarchy was not invented to oppress woman, but devised by Abraham to control men. Adolescent males, without an imposed order, are as feral as chimpanzees. This is why all societies have adopted rigorous means of imposing authority on teenage boys, and which always requires male authority-figures: either sergeant-majors or patriarchs or that unfashionable thing, "dads".

But Britain, like Ireland, went down the insane path of encouraging single mothers to have children: indeed, both societies actually created additional incentives for unmarried women to reproduce. It is social lunacy, delinquency turned into state policy, to encourage women to bear a population of young males without fathers. Yet that is what our two islands have been doing in a weak-minded, abject capitulation to the feminist ideological dogma that men are really redundant in the family. Yet the statistics across the world show that the single mother is far more likely to raise a criminal, a thug or rapist, than the married mother. No fewer than 70pc of young offenders in Britain are from single-parent families. It is not mere "poverty" that produces the socially dysfunctional male, so much as father-free families.

Moreover, in all societies in the world where Afro-Caribbeans have settled, there is a problem with male teenage gang culture. That being the case -- for whatever reason -- it makes no sense whatever to "reward" single mothers of that background for having boys without a father-figure to control them. The facta are known: black children of single mothers are twice as likely to commit crime as black children with two parents. Nearly 60pc of London's Afro-Caribbean mothers are single. If the allure of the male hierarchy in a gang on the street proves irresistible, then ahead awaits social disaster.

There is a third element. Immigration: not of the parents or grandparents of the young males currently dismantling London and other cities, but more recent immigration, much of it white, that prevents young natives, of any ethnic background, getting jobs. There are some 10,000 unemployed in Tottenham -- though the moronic oxymoron term "jobseeker" is now the fashionable term to describe the unemployed. No doubt many want jobs -- for every job vacancy in Tottenham there are 54 applications -- but it is surely gilding the lily to describe every single dole-taker (whether he is in Britain or here) as someone really seeking employment. But that aside, in the past 10 years under the egregious and depraved policies of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, an already overcrowded Britain took in over two million immigrants. Where have the jobs gone? That's where.

Six years ago, I wrote a column for 'The Irish Times' about the riots then erupting across immigrant areas in France and Britain. Michael D Higgins TD issued a statement in which he said: "The contents of his column today go beyond his usually crafted cowardice, staying one step on the safe side of prosecution for incitement to hatred or racism."

"Usually crafted cowardice", eh? Is cowardice really a characteristic of my journalism? And that's before we even come to the delightful implication of racist intent. So, is it remotely surprising that we never had any proper discussion about immigration, if a future presidential candidate of this Republic could feel free to use such vile and actionable language about a critic of our immigration non-policies?

Immigration did not cause our collapse, but the refusal to create an immigration policy was an intellectual companion to our populist failure to control our banks. And no one can deny this unassailable truth: our unemployment figures have been made immeasurably worse by the large numbers of immigrants who poured unchecked into the Celtic Tiger economy. Finally, if you want to know what a combination of failed immigration and social policies can produce, why, just watch the TV news from London tonight.

- Kevin Myers

Irish Independent

England in Flames: The Arrogance of Entitlement

Guardian photo




I'm in London now, I am sad and literally devastated by the riots and the turn of events that has gotten it to this place. The emerging youths that are getting involved in looting need to stay away as it is only a matter of time for someone else to get hurt or go to jail senselessly. Urging the families and the parents of the young kids to keep them home. Communities need to stick together to keep them away. Not just London but nationwide, please keep them home and safe.
Idris Elba, The handsome east London-born star of Luther, The Office and The Wire, has told the Guardian:

I do not believe that Mr. Elba became a fine actor because of his race, his good-looks, or any sense of entitlement. God Bless this fine gentleman.

I spent some time in Great Britain and Ireland. The British custom of the queue is unlike anything here in America. The Queue is the lining up of passengers, or customers for transportation, entertainment or goods. It is an example of what is best in man -manners, courtesy and humility. People wait in line, or rather they did.

Americans need signs posted and a contest recording on modes of transportation to allow the disabled, expectant mothers and the elderly, first passage aboard buses and trains. Americans do not queue - they position.

I worked as a janitor and as a dock worker for Gateway Transportation and Shipping, while I was in high school and college. As a janitor, was would clean toilets and use a sifter to clean sand filled ash-trays (remember them). Very often, I might be seen by friends and neighbors at my menial unskilled tasks for which I was paid the prevailing wage, because I paid union dues. The prevailing wage for a janitor was about $2.85 in 1970. Janitors were largely immigrants from eastern European countries and college punks like me. The immigrants worked like dogs and sad to confess too often this college punk dogged the work, because was only paying my tuition at Little Flower and Loyola. The Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian, Russian, Greek and Croatian DPs were earning the rent, the groceries and saving what they could.

I worked like a dog on the docks at Gateway Trucking originally located near Western and Cermak and later out in Chicago Ridge on Harlem at about 106th. Gateway was the largest trucking dock in the Midwest at the time. It went bankrupt in the 1980's, was taken over by Yellow Trucking and is now a rust-belt ghost town. I was a casual -non-union freight humper. We were on call and when called in you showed up, or you didn't work again. The Teamsters were the highly skilled truckers and fork-lift drivers. Some Teamsters supervised the casuals. In the winter the dock was brutally cold, but you kept warm by staying busy. You were entitled to one bathroom break every two hours and a twenty minute lunch each eight hour shift. You were entitled to your pay, which was more than a union janitor made, back then - about $ 4.25 an hour.

When not working I was reading American, Russian, British, Classical Latin literature and studying the core curriculum for a bachelor of arts degree. The education I received at both Little Flower High School and Loyola University was priceless. On the wall of Marquette Center at the Rush Street Campus were the Latin quotations of The Great Jesuit Thinkers, Ignatius Loyola, Aloysius Gonzaga, Saints. and Scripture.
One that struck me the most was this one -Initium sapientiae timor domini est: The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.

Like the United States, Great Britain has turned God into a guest on Bill Moyers for PBS - God is, if He must Be at all, a champion of diversity, Gay marriage, Abortion, and a Class warfare firebrand. The Archbishop of Canterbury has come out in favor of Sharia Law and embraces diversity.

Diversity erases any and all crimes - assault, arson, looting, the odd rape here and there.

London and other cities in Great Britain look like the Blitz Reenactment - not because of poverty, Class, or oppression. The diverse youth are looting because diversity is the father of entitlement. Entitlement means you are a God!

In Chicago demi-Gods kill with impunity, because they may do so without fear.

The Media has portrayed murdering, gang-banging thugs as victims and heart-tugging urchins. Ever since the media played Yummie Sandifer as a martyr to 'not not doing enough for thugs' Chicago has enjoyed a willful slide into Apocalypse. There is no respect for Law, because there is no fear of anything. God?

God is for gun-hugging, toothless breeder hillbillies.

I don't buy that sorghum. I was educated by real scholars who understood that learning is a two-edged sword - it cuts its way to wisdom, or to hubris. Wisdom requires humility. Hubris requires only entitlement. Nothing is free. Education is costly -then, now and always. The more one invests in pursuit of that end, the more one values it as a whole.

My tastes in literature run to sensibilities developed between John Dryden and William Makepeace Thackeray - it often called in the canon of literature Augustan or Neo-classical. It holds that science is a tool and not an end. That understanding that Man is a creature and not a God is wisdom.

Alexander Pope's Essay on Man presents this little fire extinguisher:

Of systems possible, if ’tis confest
That wisdom infinite must form the best,
Where all must full or not coherent be,
And all that rises, rise in due degree;
Then in the scale of reasoning life, ’tis plain,
There must be, somewhere, such a rank as man:
And all the question (wrangle e’er so long)
Is only this, if God has placed him wrong?
Respecting man, whatever wrong we call,
May, must be right, as relative to all.
In human works, though laboured on with pain,
A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain;
In God’s one single can its end produce;
Yet serves to second too some other use.
So man, who here seems principal alone,
Perhaps acts second to some sphere unknown,
Touches some wheel, or verges to some goal;
’Tis but a part we see, and not a whole.

I worked as a janitor and on a loading dock in order to become an English teacher. I hope that was an adequate one. Sifting ash-tray sand for cigar, cigarette butts, wrappers, wads of used tissue, unplugging toilets, mopping up everything imaginable, dumping trash into rat-happy gondolas is not humbling. Humping freight is not humbling. I was blessed t learn that I am entitled to nothing; therefore, I am not terribly inclined to bump the queue, smash windows and grab Reboks. Study and work are part of the whole.

Arrogant Man is burning the cities of Great Britain and shooting anyone on the streets of Chicago.

On Wisconsin: Sit Down, Drop the Drums, Have Nice Cup of Tea

Our Progressive Americans

John Kass has another wonderful fable that sums up DNC ( I will not say Democrats, as I remain, along with nearly all of my neighbors, a Democrat)Grassroots/Planned Parenthood/SEIU/Daily Kos/Progressive political sensibilities. It is a scatological far . . .heart warming juxtaposition of Greek workingman sensibility when confronted with bovine leavings as rhetorical conceits. Click my post title, do, for Gianni Kass' fable.

Within the context of the fable lies an observation not lost on helot Democrats and most Americans concerning the villainizing of the Tea Party and those not hugging the Progressive group-think.

A year or so ago, the grass-roots tea party conservatives were just called weird. When weird didn't work, they were called crazy. When crazy didn't work, they were called racists.

All the donkeys making noise because the tea party doesn't want the government to grope you at airports or spend your money? Amazing.

John Kass Chicago Tribune

John Kerry's recent spiel on Sunday chat shows identifying the Economic Disaster that is Progressive dilettante control of the National Democratic Party sparked John Kass to remonstrate the voice of meme David Axelrod.

Axelrod jumped the shark in making a handsome, affable mixed race back-bench Illinois State legislator a national darling and eventually President of the United States. Since the inauguration of our 44th President, things have not gone all too well for the Nation and the President.

President Obama does teaching moments, American Exceptionalism apologies, accepts Nobel Prizes, vacations, parties, snaps a good salute, and takes credit for the Navy Seal with his finger on the trigger and a Somali pirate, or Islamist madman in his crosshairs, pretty well.

Other than that, not so hot.

President Obama and the DNC are very good at crafting enemies - us; well me anyway. Shoot, I'm harmless. I do self-inflicted mayhem.

President Obama's folks make war on States: Arizona and Alabama for being mean to illegals and Wisconsin and New Jersey for being mean to Teachers Unions, AFCSME, and especially SEIU.

Wisconsin in particular got the full Axelrod. All through the waning winter, Morbidly obese Progressives Big Ed Schultz and Michael Moore led the kids who missed the 1960s, but saw the PBS and History Channel shows on the 60's into exercises of painlessly obnoxious antics in Madison, Wisconsin. I say painlessly obnoxious because the later-day Trotskyites avoid whacks on the fannies, let alone saber cuts from Cossacks in Law Enforcement.

Bongos and Gongs and Drums of all nomenclature were Gene Kruppa'd by dweebs under the Capital Rotunda in Madison. MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS and Journolistas did a months long Spanish Civil War reenactment, until their little arms got tired.

Then the RECALL!!!!!!!!! Not of the Democratic mopes who fled the State for an extended Illinois vacation, but the GOP reps who actually worked for their constituents.

Dang.

MILWAUKEE -- Democrats failed to gain control of the Wisconsin Senate, winning two seats Tuesday but losing four races to Republican incumbents in recall elections that both sides said are a precursor to next year's fight for the White House and Congress.

Two of the six seats contested went to Democrats, but the most obnoxious and almost surrealistic goof in the half dozen Nancy Nusbaum was clobbered.

A union coalition, We Are Wisconsin, used former Green Bay Packers player Gilbert Brown in a last-minute calling campaign urging voters to defeat 24-year Republican Sen. Robert Cowles. Cowles had nearly 60 percent of the vote, defeating former De Pere Mayor and Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum..

Nancy Nusbaum, and "Ain't She Great-er*" in the mold of IL Rep. Jan Schakowsky, had two at bats in the Cheese State -one for the Supreme Court and one for the legislature. Nancy 0; Wisconsin 2.

Illinois goofiest Congress critter Schakwosky also took a whack between the eyes with an electoral two-by-four:

Underscoring the national implications, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Chicago, a member of the House Democratic leadership, traveled to Pasch's campaign headquarters Tuesday, where the two exchanged hugs. Schakowsky and some of her political workers were assisting in getting voters to the polls.

Hugs are good, but from Jan?

Sandy Pasch got bashed -

The last race was one of the highest-spending, in the north Milwaukee suburbs, where Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch fell to Sen. Alberta Darling, a 19-year incumbent. Darling, co-chair of the Legislature's budget-writing panel, was a key target for unions.

The Progressive who can not win friends and influence others, generally gets a lawyer and sues their asses. If Progressives lose a referendum, or election, like the Gay Marriage BS in California, or the great hanging chads of Florida, they grease in a friendly Federal Judge, or go to court for a recount. I expect the Progressive army of ambulance chasers will pick up some dough, following the road killing in Wisconsin.

If Wisconsin is the national barometer that clown opera MSNBC and dirigible Michael Moore bray it to be, looks to me, like its time for some Tea.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-us-wisconsin-recall-scene-080911-story,0,7741550.story

* Ain't He/She Greaters in Illinois Politics ( usually placed into elected office by vacancies or chicaneries -no opponent on the ballot and generally have acreers due to PAC influence and Shakman friendly clout:

Forrest Claypool
Mike Quigley
Sheila Simon
Jan Schakowsky
e.g.

Chicago River Bridge Assassin - Dressed to Kill in Chicago's Thug Comfort Zone: Every Girl Crazy 'Bout a Sharp Dressed Man!

Clean shirt, new shoes
And I don't know where I am goin' to.
Silk suit,black tie,
I don't need a reason why.
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
Coz' every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man. ZZ Top

The gunman was described as black with a thin build and short Afro, wearing a light blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black shorts. He also may have worn a raincoat. Police said they found a shell casing and a backpack believed to belong to the gunman.

Gary Reidy was eating at the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse nearby when he thought he heard a car backfiring but later learned it was gunfire. "You don't expect this kind of thing on a Monday afternoon in downtown Chicago," he said.

Carl Burson Jr., 32, was on his way to a movie. "This is not a war zone, this is downtown Chicago," Burson said. "We don't do that down here."

Chicago Tribune

A brace of points:

1. The mope shooter "was described as black with a thin build and short Afro, wearing a light blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black shorts." Not exactly an Adolph Menjou and certainly hardly a blend-in set of habiliments. Blue Dress Shirt and Black Shorts with a Raincoat?

2. "This us not a war zone, this is downtown Chicago. We don't do that down here."

What do you mean We, Carl? This is and has been a Thug Comfort Zone. Imagine, if a cop had premptively stopped our Beau Brummel with the Nine just short of his victim. The Tribune, reporting on this shooting, would have a full-force editorial war on the individual police officer with Jon Loevy, G. Flint Taylor and Locke Bowman standing ramrod straight like scowling, four-eyed Chinese-triplets in front of ninety microphones and hundreds of notepads bringing suit against the City, the police officer, Brooks Brothers, ZZ Top and GQ for Fashion Racism.



This one man Clown Posse shot and intended to kill, because he can -not could - anywhere, anytime and anyone. Not downtown? Really?

This ain't no movie, Carl.

Thank You to NBC's Sharon Wright and The Sun Times Media Group for the Fine Coverage of the Tribute to Cpl. John P. Fardy

Leo Alumnus Bernie Pepping, Class of 1957 watches members of Chicago's Own 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines solemnly fold the flag for the relatives of Cpl. John Fardy, USMCR and Leo Class of 1940 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. ( photo NBC 5 Chicago)

It's been more than 65 years since Marine Corporal John Fardy was killed on the beaches of Okinawa in a battle with Japanese forces, but his brave actions were remembered at a gravesite ceremony in Alsip Monday.

Fardy is considered a hero for throwing himself onto an enemy grenade and absorbing the blast, therefore saving the lives of his comrades while sacrificing his own. Then President Harry Truman posthumously recognized him with the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor, for his bravery.

Fardy's living relatives, some of his fellow soldiers and classmates from the Leo High School Class of 1940, gathered at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Alsip Monday for a rededication of his gravesite.

Many of the gravesites for the WWII soldiers dubbed the "The Greatest Generation" are modest at best, and don't begin to describe their many accomplishments. The hope is to place a Medal of Honor designation on Fardy's marker to fully honor a hero who gave his life for his country.

"This ceremony is so meaningful because we see how his life impacted so many people," McGuire's niece, Anne Thomas McGuire, said. "It really makes me realize how important it is for all of us to really appreciate what the men in service are doing for our country." Sharon Wright NBC Chicago

Hannah Kohat's feature in today's Southtown Star links the Leo Men of the 1940's to the young Lions of 2011. Sgt. Jauwan M. Hall, USMC ( Leo '04) who is now the Marine Corps Recruiter at the station at 712 E. 87th Street, following his multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan paid tribute to fellow Marine and Leo Lion and the family of John Fardy along with Leo seniors. The Southtown Star story follows in full.

When the telegram came notifying Martin and Mary Fardy that their son had been killed in action in World War II, there were no details about his death.

There was no mention that Marine Cpl. John Peter Fardy — a South Sider who had left to fight in Okinawa, Japan, just months earlier — had jumped on a live grenade, sacrificing his life to save those of his men.

The Fardys wouldn’t know until later that their son, his life cut short at age 22, was up for a Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroics.

Through the decades, there have been others who had no way of knowing Fardy was a Medal of Honor recipient, either. That’s why his story was being recounted Monday by military historian and writer Dr. Terrence Barrett.

There had been nothing on the headstone of Fardy’s grave at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth Township to mark his sacrifice until Monday, when the headstone was rededicated at a ceremony with full military honors. More than 200 people attended, including nieces, nephews and cousins of Fardy.

“My mom, grandma and aunt would be thrilled,” said Fardy’s nephew, John Martin, of Tinley Park. “The first time I brought my grandmother here, she hit her knees and started crying.”

According to Barrett, after Fardy’s death in Okinawa on May 7, 1945, his body wasn’t even returned home in time for his memorial service. The Leo High School graduate’s family was presented with his Medal of Honor in 1946, according to the U.S. Marine Corps website. His body didn’t come home from Okinawa until 1949, Barrett said.

For decades, no one walking past Fardy’s grave could tell an American World War II hero was buried there. When fellow Leo High School grad Jim Furlong found that out, he and his fellow alumni and members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart made it their mission to get Fardy the recognition he deserved.

They had the Medal of Honor inscription added a couple of weeks ago, leading to Monday’s ceremony.

“It’s amazing how many people showed up today,” said Rich Martin, another of Fardy’s nephews, also of Tinley Park.

Martin said that although his uncle died before Martin was born, he remembers visiting the grave while growing up.

“He was my mom’s brother,” Martin said. “We used to come here to visit and clear his gravesite.”

The sacrifice

Barrett said Fardy was a quiet, modest and hard-working kid whose parents had emigrated from Ireland. He was drafted by the Marines in 1943 and became proficient with a Browning automatic rifle, which, Barrett said, meant he was destined for the thick of the war zones.

On May 7, 1945, in Okinawa, Hardy and his men came under fire, and he huddled them into a drainage ditch. When a hand grenade was thrown in, Fardy covered it with his own body to absorb the explosion.

Fardy’s cousin, Ann Powen, of Oak Lawn, remembers the day she and her family received the news of his death. She said they were all waiting for him to come home, and “got that call instead.”

Barrett said Fardy’s platoon commander recommended Fardy for the Medal of Honor.

The Medal of Honor citation written by then-President Harry Truman was read to the crowd Monday by John Martin. The citation said that “Corporal Fardy, by his prompt decision and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death, had rendered valiant service. … He gallantly gave his life for his country.”

Fardy apparently had been proud of his service. A high school classmate, John Hanlon, of Chicago’s Beverly community, said Fardy joined the Marines after high school, but “he came back to class one day to show off his uniform.”

The ceremony

In keeping with Fardy’s Irish roots, the Irish national anthem was performed at Monday’s ceremony. Veterans presented the colors, there was a 21-gun salute and “Taps” was played by bagpipers. When “The Marines’ Hymn” was sung, the eldest of veterans stood up straight and tall and belted out the tune.

“This is a plain and simple ‘thank you,’ ” said Illinois Military Order of the Purple Heart Cmdr. Dan Finn, who lost his left leg in the Vietnam War.

“It’s a great honor that we can give to one of our fallen heroes,” said Ray Perison, a World War II Army veteran who said he fought in Europe from 1944 to ’45 and was imprisoned in Nuremberg for five months.

Tony Matkovich, another former prisoner of war who fought for the Army in Germany from 1943 to ’45, said, “I’m honored to be here. It’s too bad they waited so long to honor him the way it should have been done.”

“God bless his soul,” said William Stefanu, a World War II combat engineer. “He did his duty for us.”

Seniors from Leo High School’s football team also were on hand, standing out in their black and orange jerseys and saying they were proud to honor an alum.

“I just want to say thank you,” Eric Owens said.

“I’m just happy to see alumni sticking together,” Jamal Boulden said. “We have a lot of vets.”

The crowd sang the Leo High School fight song to close the ceremony.

( emphases my own)

The Oak Lawn Patch covered the ceremony as well and will appear shortly.

Leo High School thanks Sharon Wright of NBC 5 Chicago and Ms. Hannah Kohat of the Southtown Star for their poignant and fitting tributes to Cpl. John P. Fardy.

God Bless All Who Serve and Have Served.

My Photos of The Cpl. John Fardy Memorial at Holy Sepulchre

And where is MacArthur? Well, we don't like to tell
But he's in a place that Marines all know very well
For he's now down in Dago and trying hard to be
Promoted from a general to a Jarhead PFC author unknown


Marine Corps 2011 and The Old Corps - this spry be-medaled Full Colonel was everywhere at the Memorial.
Two Korean War Marines Avoiding the Shade.
Marine League and Patriot Riders inspected by the Colonel.
America's Most Exclusive and Precious Fraternity -The Purple Heart Veterans - Jim Furlong who conducted this tribute to Valor is a fully paid up member of the Purple Heart Warriors.
Vietnam Marine and 11th Ward Alderman Jim Balcer pays tribute to the family of Cpl. John Fardy and inspects the Medal of Honor bestowed upon Cpl.John P. Fardy.
Leo Football Coach Mike Holmes and author of the forthcoming book on John Fardy and thirty three fellow Medal of Honor Marines, Dr. Terry Barrett -the event's keynote speaker flank our Leo Lions who helped provide comfort and care. Thanks Men!
Chicago's Own the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Marines Present the Colors and begin the tribute to Cpl. John Peter Fardy, CMOH and Leo Class of 1940 - Semper Fidelis and Facta Non Verba!

These Old Hands by Cpl. Robert L. Cook
Jan. 42~Sept. 45

These old hands
Have gone the distance,
These old hands
Have felt the pain.
They have borne
The heat of jungles,
They have caught
The falling rain.

They have held
An issued rifle
Given to me by
The Corps.
They have pushed
And pulled
And hoisted,
And they seldom
E'er complained.

They have built
And have destroyed,
They have worked
For war and peace.
And when 'tis all
Said and done
And they are laid away,
They have served me
And the nation.
What more
Can I say?

Leo Man Jim Furlong: Vietnam Hero, Mentor and Host of Cpl. John Fardy Memorial

Jim Furlong lost a leg to a Vietnamese Communist grenade in the late 1960's. Jim Furlong does not expect an electric chair on rail to take him up to Leo's third floor gym when he attends most Leo basketball homes games. Jim has never missed the Leo Veterans Observances held in the War Memorial courtyard on the Friday immediate before November 11th Veterans Day. Jim is a Leo Hall of Fame Alumnus, who not attends every banquet, golf outing or fundraiser, but plunges both hands into the tasks.

The Cpl. John Peter Fardy, USMC Memorial held in a few hours at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery at 10 A.M. today, is due to Jim Furlong.

Jim Furlong and Mark Lee worked to get this operation moving and completed. Here is Jim's report:

About 24 hours now until the August 8 ceremony for Cpl. John P. Fardy, Medal of Honor winner and Leo HS Class of 1940.

Pretty sure everything is checked and double checked. Feel good everything is ready to go.

I am very proud that the 2nd Batallion, 24th Marine Division will provide fine young Marines for the Honor Guard and Flag Presentation to the Next of Kin. An invocation is to be done by Fr. Tom Mescall a fellow Leo 65 graduate We have a very strong voiced young man to sing the National Anthem, Irish National Anthem (in Gaellic), and the Marine Corps Hymn (all a capella). Dr. Terence Barrett, who authored a book about Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients in the latter months of WWII in the Pacific, will be our keynote speaker and I'm sure will be able to put Cpl. Fardy's deeds on that May Day in proper perspective. A great bagpiper will play Amazing Grace during the ceremony and Oh Danny Boy as a recessional. Tom Day, a great patriot and founder of Bugles Across America, will render a rifle salute with an M-1 Carbine which was the weapon used by the USMC during WWII. Tom will then play a verision of TAPS that will probably make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

As for other details, we've got a few dozen chairs lined up, and I have a sign to put on a sandwich board to place at the Cemetery entrance to point you in the right direction and several small American Flags to place every 30-50 feet or so to the gravesite. Over 250 programs are printed up. I have a gross of small American Flags that I would like us to place around the headstone as we leave the Ceremony. I have attached a word document to this email which gives the order of the Program.

Now God willing, if He will grace us with a beautiful day.

One last thing, Rich Doyle could you check with Jenny's and see if they have room for us to gather for lunch after the ceremony. It will be a pay-as-you-go lunch and cash bar.

FACTA NON VERBA.

Jim

That says it all . . .

Jim Furlong:Was with B/2/14 of the 25th from May 68 until I was injured and evac'd to Fitzsimons Army Hospital. WIA January 3, 1969. Was a Sgt on an Eagle Flight on January 3 when I got sideways with a grenade thrown by Charlie. Would be interested with others in my unit at that time. Remember spending a lot of time at FSB Keene.

Keith Jarrett's "Danny Boy" - A Poignant Sense of Loss from a Giving Man

Ecstasy seems to be Jarrett’s identity: not only “follow your bliss” but “here, have a taste of mine!”

He’s one of the greatest storytellers we have!

As an actor I know a little about the subject of leading an audience through a tale of … mystery … and adventure … and … well … yes LOVE.

Is there a more sacred love song in the world than Danny Boy?

My adopted son, Floyd, just lost one of his sons today in a Toronto shooting.

Black on black vengeance.

To me the piercing truth of Jarrett’s rendering of Danny Boy has the agonies of profound loss in them, losses like that of my son.

Within all that pain, the beauty of existence is never more intense. The half-note interval tensions that drift … yes, mysteriously appear and disappear in his harmonies.

Speaking of “never more” … the “nevermore” of life and its fragility … and knowing how a great artist can literally force us to realize just how exquisite is God’s gift to us.Life!

How brief.

How divinely painful.

Bill Evans, one of the most influential jazz pianist of our time, performs Danny Boy in a much higher register … and … as lovely as his version may be … it carries none of the weight of Jarrett’s.

Why?

The stated key, at the very opening, tells us how profoundly serious Keith Jarrett is about Life in general.

The very last chorus of Jarrett’s Danny Boy leads to a brief quintessence of devastating harmonies, tensions that are at once divinely painful yet so deliriously inevitable. You know that this entire call to Danny Boy strikes at the very heart of our impermanence.

It ends with an allusion to the sacred plagal cadence, that all familiar ending to a choir hymn. Only an allusion, however.

Michael Moriarty, Actor, Jazz Musician, Journalist,Composer and Defender of the Unborn.



Today, Leo Alumni, Veterans of America's Wars, a living Medal of Honor recipient, and citizens will re-dedicate the gravesite of Cpl. John Fardy, USMC, a Leo graduate and Medal of Honor hero.

Click my post tite

I Remember 1964 , Little Flower, Clancy the Roller Skating Monkey, Tommy Walsh,and Nailed Rick Kogan's Pop Quiz

Thanks Rick Kogan!

1964, I was twelve. I lived in a two bed room Georgian looking north to the railroad tracks at 1755 W. 75th Place in Little Flower Parish of the Chicago Gresham neighborhood. Little Flower was founded in the mid 1920's to serve the massive Catholic demographic in Gresham. Monsignor Stephan McMahon was a priest, lawyer and real estate genius who built one of Catholic Chicago's most impressive campuses between 79th and 81st Streets/ Honore and Wood Streets. The grammar school was tuition free to parishioners and brand new co-educational high school was filled to capacity.

The Church Rectory had a fruit(Peach, cherry and apple) orchard and underground garage all within view of the two grammar school buildings. A huge convent housed the Religious Sisters of Mercy who operated the school. This was a working man's parish that looked like it belonged to the Gentry. Monsignor McMahon made this happen.

President Kennedy was killed before the start of year. I was in Sister Dorableats's sixth grade class and would end the year in Sister Gertrudas's seventh grade class -both Sisters of Mercy were in the words of Grandpa Hickey - 'hairy-faced old Galway bitches.' My academic preparation for life consisted in rigorous reading and arithmetic drills and understanding that these two particular nuns had no use for the male species whatsoever.

We testosterone pups formed a reactionary Band of Brothers and engaged in minor larcenies in recognition of the Hoods' intense dislike for our smelly, willful, sloppy, curious and energetic selves. I was and remain an affable goof who had the pleasure of the company of great people. The three Mike Kellys (1,2,3), The brace of Bobby Ryans (1,2), Willie Bigane, Freddie Knight, Al McFarland, Jimmy Shea, Jimmy Zach, Larry Fiscelli, Danny Miller, and the great Tommy Walsh* were told in no uncertain terms that we would collectively "Die on the gallows." Yeah, right. For kicking over the Mission Money Monkey?

The nuns won a Clancy the Great Skating Monkey at the Mother McAuley Fair. It was a battery operated roller skating plastic monkey that skated when money was tossed into the yellow plastic hat in its hand. They used this ruse to weasel our dimes and nickles and pay to keep the Congo Catholic. You think I'm bullshiting? Well, I'm bull-truing.



Among us was Tommy Walsh. Tommy was the son of a single Mom in our parish, which was about as common as a Vegan Cannibal. Tommy and his Mom lived in an apartment flat building on Honore Street and Tommy's Mom worked at the Bell Phone Company at 87th & Ashland. Tommy, unlike the rest of us had scads of free time. He was a genius and an Irish Greaser.

Most of us Micks dressed like the little gents that our moms wanted us to be. Tommy Walsh dressed like a tough Dago from 69th & Ashland. He wore Stacy Adams Rat Stabber loafers ( fence climbers with heels) on his feet and a black leather Cabretta coat for all seasons. Tommy was also morbidly obese and walked pigeon toed. Tommy was Outlaw, Baby!

Tommy Walsh was Young Emerson Writ Large! A Concrete and clay Thoreau with a sense of humor. He was as a God to us lesser more compliant male untermensch! He said what was on his mind to his pals and boon chums and to the Black and White hard women with pens and cough drops tucked under their Wimples. When told of his sinful nature in not dropping dimes into the Mission Can, Tommy replied, "What and help the tribes cooking our Missionaries, S'ter? No thank You!"

Again when queried on matters theological, "Hey, I don't ask you 'How Do You Feel About the Immaculate Conception?' Do I S'ter?" Whack! WHACK! Tommy often was sent to see Father Gerrity and after the Clancy Incident, Monsignor McMahon -Himself.

The day that Clancy the Roller Skating Monkey arrived to shakedown each and every classroom, Tommy Walsh was prepared. He sat in the very first seat at front of the classroom, next to the cloakroom.

The Monkey had a hat-ful full of pennies, nickels and dimes that two young nuns would dump into a big metal pail. " Take out your pennies and do God's work! Here Comes Clancy!"

The Monkey made the circuit of rows and ended with his hat-ful of loot on his delightful way to the big money pail, but had to make it past Tommy Walsh. Tommy let go of a convulsive sneezing fit and launched out a large leg at the mechanical monkey. His razor toed Stacy Adams footwear caught the plastic primate under the chops and the toy from the good folks at Ideal went out of commission and clouds formed over the Catholic Congo. Tommy was paddling in the murcky waters of Really Shit Creek! The howling classroom showered coin of the realm to the squeals of delight and approval from the timid showered down like me. Mike Kelly 1. grabbed a few dimes for a post-curricular trip to Millie's Candies and Sundries on 79th & Winchester. Sister Dorableat, who looked like Broderick Crawford with a hangover, twisted Tommy's ear and dragged him to THE OFFICE. He was sent from there to the Monsignor.

Hours later, after Book of Valor essays, we watched out of the classroon windows as Tommy Walsh and Monsignor Stephan McMahon walked among the peach trees in the rectory orchard. Both the Monsignor and Tommy were laughing their asses off.

The Second Vatican Council was wrapping up. The Church decided to self-evaluate. We no longer have builders and priests and like Monsignor McMahon, but there are still nuns like Sister Dorableat -in civvies.

1964! I remember it well. Thanks to the Tribune's best link to genuine Chicago history and the greatest speaking voice in the City, Rick Kogan for today's walk back.

I nailed the quiz.

Chicago Live 1964 Almanac quiz


1. The Southwest Expressway, completed in 1964, was later renamed in honor of whom?
A. Adlai E. Stevenson II
B. Dan Ryan Jr.
C. Dwight D. Eisenhower
D. Bishop Louis Henry Ford
Your answer was correct.
2. What Cubs star infielder and former Rookie of the Year died in the 1964 crash of a small airplane he had been piloting?
A. Ryne Sandburg
B. Ken Hubbs
C. Rogers Hornsby
D. Lou Brock
Your answer was correct.
3. Fill in the blank: 7.1 inches of snow fell on March 29, 1964, making it the snowiest _____ in Chicago history.
A. St. Patrick's Day
B. Ides of March
C. Vernal Equinox
D. Easter
Your answer was correct.
4. What famous Chicago residential complex was completed in 1964 along the north bank of the Chicago River?
A. Lake Point Tower
B. Park Place Tower
C. Chicago Spire
D. Marina City Towers
Your answer was correct.
5. What R&B singer and graduate of Bronzeville's Wendell Phillips Academy High School was shot to death in 1964?
A. Marvin Gaye
B. James Ray
C. Sam Cooke
D. Nat King Cole
Your answer was correct.
You got 100% correct.
Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune

* Tommy Walsh was the only student out the one hundred twenty kids in my grammar school class to attend a Chicago Public High School. I hear that he earned a Doctorate.

Did President Barack Obama Use Mumbo Sauce at the White House Birthday Q?

Several grills were fired up outside the West Wing all afternoon, cooking burgers for the occasion. But before Mr. Obama hits the barbecue, senior White House staff will toast him in the residence, White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

Mr. Obama had no events on his schedule, and Mr. Carney said the public will not see the president at all on this milestone day.

Wall Street Journal

Jay, Jay, Jay! I got one question! What sauce did the President use?

I did not vote for President Obama, not because I am a racist, a right wing nut-bag, nor even a Republican. I have had the pleasure of meeting the President years ago, while he was earnestly seeking public office following his appointed tenure as director of the Woods Fund. In fact, one of the very first grant proposal requests for support of Leo High School was rejected and signed by Mr. Barack H. Obama as director of the Woods Fund.

I did not support President Obama's run for White House, because I believed that he was no where near prepared for the job. I was hoping that Senator Barack Obama might run against Gov. Blagojevich.

That is all blood under the roast.

I was delighted to see that the President had a Chicago-style barbecue at the White House.

I have only one question. Were meats, fish and foul grilled over the embers slathered in Chicago's iconic barbecue sauce prepared and bottled under the name Argia B's Mumbo Sauce?

The Sauce is Boss!

I was introduced to the sauce many years ago (circa 1969 A.D.) by John "Moose" Gilmartin and the late Thomas Foy - Leo Class of 1970 both.

Moose Gilmartin played trumpet in a band fronted by fellow Visitation Parish classmate Thomas Foy* as lead vocalist. They played Motown covers and unpussified garage band rock at sock hops and dances. Born in County Sligo, Ireland, Moose Gilmartin played not only trumpet but Leo Brand Catholic League Football and forged fast friendships with young black men attending Leo High School, during the era that Progressives call 'white flight.' Moose and Foy, who later became a meat cutter for Jewel after Army service in Turkey were fine grill masters and used Argia B's Mumbo Sauce exclusively.

I have a bottle of original and one of fiery in the icebox at all times and several in the pantry. I add Mumbo to homemade pasta sauces, chili and ragouts of all cuts and varieties**.

The Sauce is Boss! Sweet Baby Rays is for toddlers. Open Pit is for the safe and prudent. Kansas City suaces belong there. Chicago was, is and shall be a town smothered in Mumbo Sauce. If not, beat your feet. If you ain't using, you're self-abusing!

If the President used any other barbecue sauce, let's have a look at that birth certificate again.

The history of Mumbo Sauce is an old fashion pull-yourself-up by the boot straps story. It's a story of a young man who left the south and headed for the big city in pursuit of the American Dream.

In the early 1940's after serving in the U.S. Navy, Argia B. Collins landed in Chicago, on the city's west side, where he worked for his older brothers who had opened a local grocery store a few years earlier. All six Collins brothers had a competitive entrepreneurial spirit. Eventually, each one staked out prime spots in different parts of the city and opened rib joints that would make this band of brothers famous across Chicago.

Argia B., as he was affectionately called, staked his claim on Chicago's south side, opening his first restaurant in the renowned Bronzeville area in 1957. He eventually relocated his flagship store to 78th & Halsted in Chicago ( walking distance from Leo High School) and later opened a second location in South Shore at 71st & Yates and then a third restaurant in Gary, Indiana at 11th Avenue & Taft.

A perfectionist when it came to his restaurants, Argia B. was not satisfied with the bland, watered-downed sauces served in other establishments or the tart, over-powering national brands sold by restaurant supply houses. He decided that he'd create a signature sauce that would do justice to the succulent ribs and juicy fried chicken that he served to his growing cliental. His restaurant became the test kitchen for the many brews that he concocted while trying to create the perfect sauce. Drawing on his southern roots, he wanted to create a sauce with the savory flavors reminiscent of the homemade Sunday dinners that he had enjoyed on his family's farm.

Before long, restaurant customers began asking Collins for extra dollops of his delicious sauce as he prepared their favorite entrée from the carry-out menu. Then, they started bringing in jars asking if they could purchase some of his sauce to take home. Collins realized that he had a winner!

* The multi-talented Tom Foy was killed by a drunk driver in 1990's. God Rest this funny, musical and gifted man. His motto was -" Foy Brings Joy! Known from Coast to Coast, like Hot Butter on Toast. All over the world trees make the shade and in Chicago Foy keeps things Cool!"

**From Agia B's Recipes:

Cajun Barbecue Shrimp


1 pound Jumbo Raw Shrimp peeled & deveined with tail left on.
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp Coarsely Ground Pepper
1/2 tsp salt
Butter

Put shrimp in single layer 9x13 inch baking dish. Dot with butter. Combine remaining ingredients, and pour over shrimp. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until sauce is thoroughly hot. Serve immediately with Spiced Rice. Makes 4 servings

Spiced Rice


1/2 cup sliced Green Onions
1/2 cup minced carrots
1/2 cup minced red pepper
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper minced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cups cooked rice (cooked in chicken broth)
2 tbsp snipped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp soy sauce
Hot Pepper Sauce to taste

Saute onions, carrots and peppers in vegetable oil in a large skillet. Over low flame add lime juice, soy sauce and hot pepper sauce to taste. Stir in rice until heated. Remove from flame and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve with Barbecue Shrimp.

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