Mr. Right's latest caption contest with New York's biggest crook

And that crook is Kofi Annan. Click here to enter the contest. Clash of Civilizations has a contest too. Yours truly placed first in that tourney last week.

Technorati tags: humor funny humor caption contest Kofi annum UN New York

Junk yard art in Sag Bridge

At the corner of Archer Avenue and Ill. Route 83, you'll find the unincorporated town of Sag Bridge. Also there is this great use of old vehicles. The Cosby Kids from the old Fat Albert cartoon would be proud.

UPDATE: Since I'm heading out of town, check out more great photo blogging at WindyPundit's blog.

Technorati tags: Photos Photos Junk
Illinois

Pajamas Media's Politics Central podcast and video with Senator Joe Lieberman

I just got back from a mid-afternoon run. I had my iPod with me, and I listened intently to this great podcast of Pajamas Media's Roger L. Simon interviewing self-professed "JFK Democrat" Joe Lieberman for Politics Central. Lieberman of course is running as an "independent Democrat" in defense of his Connecticut senate seat this fall.

Lieberman speaks quite philosophically about the extreme partisanship in Washington today, and is quite grateful that he "didn't have to wear his pajamas" for the interview.

Listen or download the podcast here. Free subcriptions to Politics Central are available at the iTunes web site.

And obviously there is a video too, filmed by Andrew Marcus.

Technorati tags: Current Affairs Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central Fox News Lieberman YouTube Connecticut

Support for fired DePaul professor Klocek growing

Since my Thursday post on the Reinstate Thomas Klocek (have you signed it yet?) three more blogs have joined the chorus in support of the fired DePaul University instructor.

They are:

Third Wave Dave
Shadow of Diogenes
The Radio Patriots

And one more...
Fellow Illinois bloggers Freedom Folks.

When people find out about his story, and how Klocek got the shaft from his employer of 15 years, they typically get angry.


Technorati tags: Illinois Chicago DePaul Academic freedom Free Speech Thomas Klocek College Education

Chapter 61 on the Dems' uselessness in using Wal-Mart as a political issue

Today's chapter comes from USA Today, whose editorial board is not exactly similar to that of the Wall Street Journal. For those unfamiliar with the anti-Wal-Mart jihad, it's a union inspired drive by the Democratic Party.

From a USA Today editorial:

Running against Wal-Mart looks like a losing political strategy. The chain's low prices have made it enormously popular with shoppers, as many as 127 million a week, including many low-income voters.

Hat tip to Marshall Manson for the USA Today op-ed.

Scroll down a few posts to read about the well-received grand opening of Chicago's first Wal-Mart.

Technorati tags: business big box Wal-Mart Chicago Illinois Democrats Unions

French teacher receives death threats for writing anti-Islam article

As long as liberals are going to keep demanding that Americans refer to Islam as a "religion of peace," it would be a big help if Muslims would stop killing people.
Ann Coulter, 2002

Here we go again. Once again France is a battleground in the Clash of Civilizations.

From AFP:

A French philosophy teacher was under police protection Thursday after receiving death threats over an article he wrote in a national newspaper that accused Islam of "exalting violence," school and police officials said.

Robert Redeker has not attended classes at his secondary school near Toulouse in southern France since September 19, when his opinion column appeared in the right-wing daily Le Figaro.

"He received written death threats in the form of emails. On the face of it they were pretty serious," said the lycée's headmaster Pierre Donnadieu.

More...

Likening Islam to Communism, he said that "violence and intimidation are the methods used by an expansionist ideology ... to impose its leaden cloak on the world."

On the other side of the world is Australia. I found interesting paragraph from Mark Steyn's column in the October 9 National Review:

Step forward, Andrew Robb, parliamentary secretary to the Australian minister of immigration. Speaking to 100 A-list Aussie imams the other day, he told them to shove the victim mentality and quit trying to pass off all criticism as "Islamophobia": "We live in a world of terrorism where evil acts are being regularly being perpetrated in the name of your faith," said Mr. Robb. "And because it is your faith that is being invoked as justification for these evil acts, it is your problem."

Michelle Malkin has more.

Technorati tags: France Français Islam Australia Muslims Religion Steyn

Pajamas Media's Sanity Squad on Bill Clinton, liberalism, and narcissism

Of course Pajamas Media couldn't overlook Bill Clinton's anger (or was it a performance?) during that Chris Wallace interview on Fox News.

This week, "Bubba" is stretched out on the Sanity Squad's analyst couch. The Sanity Squad consists of four mental health professionals (and bloggers): neo-neocon, Dr. Sanity, Shrinkwrapped, and Siggy. Joining the panel this week is another analyst/blogger, Gagdad Bob of One Cosmos.

Part of Clinton's narcissism is his obsession about his legacy. As Siggy notes:

Mr. Clinton himself understands that his legacy will not be one of greatness but of mediocrity, which is quite unfair since he was quite a good President. But if he can't have what he wants, he's going to be a victim. He had to know that within hours his own record of deceit would be put up for all the world to see.

Politics, the panelists note, attracts narcissistic types. And Bill Clinton, in my opinion could be the most narcissitic president ever.

I can think of another president who was campaigning in regards to his legacy, and it's one Clinton doesn't want to be compared to: the nearly impeached Richard M. Nixon. Dick Nixon had to do it because no one else would. Clinton, being perhaps the most in-love-with-himself president ever, has no choice either. Narcissism is central to his being.

Liberalism, as a quasi-religion, is also discussed among the panelists.

It's great podcast. Listen or download here.

Technorati tags: Current Affairs Mental Health Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central Bill Clinton Fox News

ABC News on Pajamas Media

Julie over at Pajamas Media e-mailed me this Michael S. Malone article from the ABC News web site. An excerpt:

That's why, longtime readers of this column will remember, I cheered the arrival of Pajamas Media, the first real aggregator of the blogosphere.

Pajamas got off to a shaky start — stumbling just enough to satisfy those who had predicted it to fail but eventually finding its legs.

Now that the mainstream media have moved on to other stories, Pajamas is pulling in hundreds of thousands of readers each day, all drawn to its attractive mix of stories, viewpoints and, increasingly, videos.

Right now, especially on the big international stories, nobody covers events from more perspectives and with greater nuance than Pajamas Media.

Okay, as I'm with Pajamas, I'm not an unbiased source, but what "shaky start" is Malone referring to here? It's been quite smooth as far as I'm concerned.

Technorati tags: Pajamas Media blog media journalism news Politics Current events

CNN story covering illegal immigration leads to more illegal immigration

Sometimes covering the news means making more news; this is such a story.

From the Grand Forks Herald. Free registration required.

When CNN came to cover a story on Minnesota's Northwest Angle recently, it apparently led to some illegal crossings into the United States an official says.

"CNN within the last two or three months visited the Northwest Angle and did a story on crossing access," said Glen Schroeder, chief patrol agent of the Grand Forks Border Patrol Sector.

The Northwest Angle, part of Lake of the Woods County, juts north out of Minnesota, but it is mostly water, with some land bordering Manitoba and some adjacent islands.

Since CNN's coverage of the area, U.S. Border Patrol has reported an increase in illegal border crossings, according to Schroeder.

Technorati tags: Minnesota Canada illegal immigration border

Have you signed the "Reinstate Thomas Klocek at DePaul" petition?

Support the cause of free speech on college campuses by signing the Reinstate Thomas Klocek at DePaul petition. Click here to read and sign. So far, there are 1,768 signatures, the goal is to have 2,000 signatures to present to the administration of DePaul University.

Technorati tags: Illinois Chicago DePaul Academic freedom Free Speech Thomas Klocek

Musharraf: Bin Laden in Afghanistan

Well, if he's alive, he has to be somewhere.

From the Times of London:

President Musharraf dismissing a French intelligence report that Osama bin Laden had died of typhoid, said yesterday that he believed the al-Qaeda leader to be hiding in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, possibly with the help of an Afghan warlord. "It's not a hunch," the Pakistani President told The Times. "Kunar province borders on Bajaur Agency. We know there are some pockets of al-Qaeda in Bajaur Agency. We have set a good intelligence organisation. We have moved some army elements. We did strike them twice there. We located and killed a number of them."

Technorati tags: Bin Laden War on Terror Current Affairs Pakistan اسلامی Musharraf

"Obama's candidate" Giannoulias needs to explain alleged mob ties, says state house speaker

Alexi Giannoulias was an unknown candidate for state treasurer until US Senator Barack Obama agreed not only to endorse "Mr. G.," but "St. Barack" went further than that by appearing in a Giannoulias television commercial. Alexi went on to thrash the state party's endorsed candidate. However, the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, Michael Madigan, refuses to back "Obama's candidate."

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

But Giannoulias, 30, became engulfed in controversy. The Chicago Tribune published articles about millions of dollars his family-owned bank loaned to two convicted felons and an alleged money-launderer.

Broadway Bank is not accused of anything illegal, but it has been a political embarrassment for Giannoulias, who first called one of the men a "very nice person," then later said he had been too "cavalier."

The bombshell from Madigan recalls his cryptic comments in 2002 about never-explained "indiscretions" of then-Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rod Blagojevich. This time, Madigan is being more pointed.

"I mean my history in politics, if you were alleged to be connected to the mob, you were done, but life seems to go on," he said.

The Sun-Times article is by Carol Marin, who somehow leaves out Obama's role in getting "Mr. G." onto the fall ballot. Obama hasn't backed off from his endorsement of Giannoulias, but said in April:

What I have said is that it is important that all this information come out in a clear, straightforward way and that the voters of Illinois know exactly what was taking place.

But why did Obama endorse Giannoulias? Obama said Mr. G. did a lot of work for his 2004 senate campaign, and prior to that, Obama used to play basketball with the young banker. Giannoulias describes Obama as "a mentor." I'm not claiming Obama had any knowledge of the loans in question, but maybe, maybe, Obama's judgement isn't perfect.

Technorati tags: Obama Barack Obama Politics Congress Senate Giannoulias Illinois

Lines of people greet first Chicago Wal-Mart

The retail chain Alderman Joe Moore and other city council members don't want in Chicago was enthusiastically greeted by West Side Chicago residents earlier today at the grand opening of Chicago's first Wal-Mart.

From AP:

Lines snaked around the mega-retailer's West Side building long before it opened, filled with residents excited to welcome the store, its bargains and its jobs to the area.

"I love this store," Edwards said. "It's about time we get nice stores in this neighborhood."

Bringing Wal-Mart to Chicago was a four-year journey that pitted unions and small business owners against politicians and activists eager to bring jobs to the city's economically depressed West Side.

More than 15,000 people applied for the 400 jobs at the new store, where an estimated 98 percent of workers live in the neighborhood, said store manager Ed Smith.

Technorati tags: Joe Moore business big box Wal-Mart Chicago Illinois

Dershowitz clobbers Finkelstein, "Rabbi" Lerner

Professor Alan Dershowitz gets his meat hooks out for DePaul's University's Norman Finkelstein, as well as "Rabbi" Michael Lerner in today's FrontPage Magazine.

Finkelstein is a political science professor at DePaul, and he's the Chicago school's resident holocaust minimizer.

Last month I wrote an article called "Norman Finkelstein’s Obscenities," a response to Finkelstein’s latest screed, "Should Alan Dershowitz Target Himself for Assassination?" As the title of the article suggests, Finkelstein puts forward in his article what he believes to be a justification for my assassination as a war criminal, based on my support for Israel.

Nor was this the only obscenity in the article. Not by a long shot. As I wrote in my article, Finkelstein piece was accompanied by a:

cartoon drawn by "Latuff," a frequent accomplice of Finkelstein. The cartoon portrayed me as masturbating in rapturous joy while viewing images of dead Lebanese civilians on a TV set labeled "Israel peep show," with a Jewish Star of David prominently featured.

And now over to "Rabbi" Michael Lerner. Using a broad definition of the term, he could be a rabbi.

From Discover The Network:

Though Lerner identifies himself as a duly ordained rabbi, many of his critics dispute that claim - on grounds that he was given a controversial private rabbinic ordination by "Jewish Renewal" rabbis, whose ordinations are recognized only by those within the Jewish Renewal community and Reconstructionist Judaism. Orthodox Judaism, the Reform movement's Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly all consider such ordinations invalid.

Now back to Dershowitz:

I found out recently that Rabbi Michael Lerner, founder and editor of Tikkun magazine, has been circulating the Finkelstein article from his Tikkun e-mail account and under Tikkun letterhead. Lerner apparently didn't have the stomach to attach the cartoon, despite the fact that the inspiration for the disgusting cartoon comes directly from what Finkelstein writes in the article circulated by Rabbi Lerner, as I showed in my previous article:

Finkelstein, as Dershowitz has noted, is a big pal of Noam Chomsky, Hugo Chavez' favorite author.

Technorati tags: DePaul Chicago Dershowitz Norman Finkelstein Michael Lerner Noam Chomsky Jewish Israel

Blagojevich barbecue in Illinois part three

Dan Curry over at Reverse Spin is skewering scandal plagued Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Click here for the next course of the Blagojevich barbecue.

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption Illinois 2006

Obama gets first bill enacted into law, Oprah supports presidential run

Well, St. Barack has done it. Senator Barack Obama, who's being mentioned as a 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, got the monkey off his back of not seeing legislation of his become law when President Bush signed his "Google for Government" bill. The bill will allow taxpayers to track federal spending, and could be a useful tool to track pork barrel waste.

Meanwhile, fellow Illinois resident Oprah Winfrey is supporting the state's junior senator if St. Barack does decide to run for president in 2008.

Technorati tags: Obama Barack Obama Politics Congress Senate 2008 Democrats Oprah Television

Chicago's first Wal-Mart to open Wednesday

This opening of Chicago's first Wal-Mart has been planned for a couple of years, so Alderman Joe Moore's efforts to keep Wal-Mart from expanding into Chicago wouldn't have effected this store on Chicago's West Side. The store's grand opening is tomorrow.

Moore tried to put a "living wage" ordinance into law. Moore's bill would've only applied to large retailers with stores with floorspace over 90,000 sq. ft. Viewing it as a job-killing machine, Mayor Richard Daley vetoed the bill, and more Wal-Marts will be coming to the city.

It's better to have a low-paying job than none at all.

Technorati tags: Joe Moore Restaurants business big box Wal-Mart Chicago Illinois

Obama family made $1.67 million last year

I was hesitating on posting this story, until I remembered that Barack Obama accepted the terms of his book deal just before he was sworn in as a senator last year, pulling the same sleazy move Hillary Clinton did with her book deal.

From AP:

According to joint tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service and released to The Associated Press, the Obamas, with their two girls, had $1.67 million in total income last year — about $70,000 more than the total for all of 1998 through 2004.

Book royalties and advances brought in about $1.2 million for the senator-author whose first book, an autobiography published about a decade ago, became a best-seller during his 2004 campaign.

In late 2004, Obama landed a three-book deal worth $1.9 million with publishing houses under Random House Inc. The first book under the contract, Audacity of Hope: Reclaiming the American Dream, is scheduled for release in mid-October and is to focus on his political convictions and how he became the Senate’s only black member.

I'm sure the book will do well. But why the big advance? Obama has a full-time job, and didn't have to leave it to write the book.

Technorati tags: Obama Barack Obama Politics books Congress Senate

USS Enterprise deployed in Indian Ocean; Iran a target?

Perhaps the Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise is in the Indian Ocean for routine maneuvers. Then again....

From Channel Newsasia:

The USS Enterprise aircraft carrier is deployed in the Indian Ocean and "prepared for all contingencies," its top commander said on Monday, as speculation rises over possible US military action against Iran.

"We're always prepared for any contingency," said Rear Admiral Ray Spicer, speaking to reporters in Washington via teleconference.

Spicer commands the Enterprise Strike Group, which includes the nuclear-powered Enterprise and its warplanes, the cruiser Leyte Gulf, the destroyer McFaul, the frigate Nicholas - the last three armed with guided missiles - as well as the attack submarine Alexandria and a combat support ship.

He spoke to reporters as US news media speculates on US military preparations for a possible conflict with Iran.

Jimmy Carter will be the first person to protest any military strike against Iran. Of course, the Iranian mess was of his creation.

Technorati tags: Navy Military Iran خبر فارسی News Farsi Jimmy Carter

Blagojevich barbecue in Illinois, part two

Rich Miller's Capitol Fax does a good job keeping track of Illinois politics. In today's Southwest News Herald, Rich throws Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Chicago Democrat, back onto the fire.

An excerpt:

If you think Gov. Rod Blagojevich gets bad press now, imagine how harsh the coverage would be if we knew what he was hiding.

For instance, we know from sources that the governor’s own office and his various agencies have been served with dozens of federal subpoenas involving countless criminal allegations, but Gov. Blagojevich won’t even confirm receiving a subpoena. He won’t say how many subpoenas he’s received. He won’t say what the FBI is looking for.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan (My note, another Chicago Democrat) is supposed to issue a legal opinion on whether the governor has to comply with reporters’ Freedom of Information Act requests on the subpoenas. As of this writing, though, her office has been silent.

Just think of the nuclear explosion that would result if voters could finally see the details of what the feds are looking for and who they’re looking at.

Blagojevich is running for re-election this fall, he's opposed by State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a suburban Chicago Republican.

The latest poll has "Blago" leading Topinka by 10 percentage points, but the poll was taken before JBT's latest ad blitz focusing on the $1,500 birthday check to Blago's then seven year-old daughter.

Related post: Blagojevich barbecue in Illinois

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption Topinka Illinois 2006

"Blues Brothers church" damaged by fire in Chicago

Remember the religious conversion, the "message from God" in the classic 1980 film The Blues Brothers?

The church where that memorable scene was filmed was damaged in a fire earlier this month.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

The Southeast Side church made famous by its appearance in the movie "The Blues Brothers" -- Pilgrim Baptist Church of South Chicago -- had planned a big celebration for its 89th birthday Sunday.

The church -- where James Brown sings a spirited rendition of "The Old Landmark" in the 1980 movie -- had undergone major renovations over the last few years.

But last week, an electrical fire at the church so badly damaged the sanctuary that it can't be used for at least six months. Two rooms in the church were badly damaged by smoke, flames and water. Firefighters had to break out eight new stained-glass windows to fight the fire. The pulpit and pews were taken away for repair from smoke and water damage.

"All the work we had done is gone," said pastor Hilliard Hudson. The church has spent about $165,000 on the renovations, raised solely from member donations.

Technorati tags: Blues Brothers Film Movies EntertainmentNews current events religion

Pope meets with Muslim leaders, alludes to rights of Christians in Muslim nations

The Pope had that much anticipated meeting with Muslim diplomats today. Did he apologize for his controversial comments about Islam? Of course not. But in a subtle fashion, he's laying down the law to the Muslims.

From AP:

Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim diplomats Monday that "our future" depends on good relations between followers of both faiths as he sought to put to rest anger

The pontiff also quoted from his predecessor, John Paul II, who had close relations with the Muslim world, calling for "reciprocity in all fields," including religious freedom. Benedict spoke in French to a roomful of diplomats from 21 countries and the Arab League in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

"Reciprocity in all fields." Muslims in living in the West expect, no, make that demand that we not only respect their faith, but that we change our ways to accommodate it. However, Christians, Jews, and members of other religions living in the Muslim world face widespread if not institutional discrimination.

Pope Benedict XVI wants that to stop.

Technorati tags: Islam Muslims Pope Religion Christianity Discrimination

Anarchy in the UK: Muslim cleric declares area off limits to infidels

In the latest Pajamas Media podcast--scroll down one post--Mark Steyn talks about the problem of the failure of Muslims to integrate into Western European society. Here's cites two examples, here's a third for that sure to growing pile of incidents.

From a Philip Johnston op-ed in the Daily Telegraph:

When Abu Izzadeen, the firebrand Islamist militant, berated John Reid last week for "daring" to visit a Muslim area, the Home Secretary bridled, as did many others, at his suggestion that part of London was off limits for a British minister of the Crown.

There was nowhere in this country from which anyone should be excluded, Mr Reid said; nowhere that could be called exclusively Muslim.

The Bosnianizing of Europe continues. But good for Reid for standing up to the extremist. Others, I fear, aren't so resolute.

Technorati tags: Islam Muslim Religion Current Affairs Politics UK London Labour Muslims

Pajamas Media Blog Week in Review with Mark Steyn

British educated Mark Steyn is perhaps our nation's best newspaper columnist, his latest Chicago Sun-Times column is here.

Steyn joins moderator Austin Bay and regular panelist Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit for the latest Pajamas Media Blog Week in Review.

The continuing Muslim over-reaction to the Pope's comments on Islam is discussed in detail, as is Steyn's upcoming book release, America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. The book probably doesn't have a happy ending.

As always, Pajamas blogger Ed Driscoll produces.

Technorati tags: Islam Muslim Religion Current Affairs Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Pope Papa Mark Steyn books

Bears beat Vikings in field goal fest

In the early days of the old NFC Central--before Tampa Bay was added to the division--the Central was nicknamed the "Black and Blue Division." Games between the teams were known for tough defensive battles with low scores.

The Central is now known as the NFC North, and Tampa Bay was sent to the new NFC South, where they belong.

Two Black and Blue Division veterans, the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, faced off today in a game that featured hard hitting, sacks, and a low final score--but a lot of field goals, four three pointers by the Bears, three for the Vikes. The final score was 19-16, with the visiting Bears on ending up on top.

The Vikings were leading late in the game, until Bears tackle Tommie Harris forced a Vikings fumble that led to the only touchdown scored either offense today, a 24-yard touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Rex Grossman to wide receiver Rashed Davis.

The Vikings fell to 2-1 for the season. The Bear are now 3-0, with all three wins coming against their NFC North foes.

It was the first Bears victory in Minneapolis in five years.

Technorati tags: Chicago Bears Minnesota Vikings nfl Football sports Minnesota Illinois

Blagojevich barbecue in Illinois

My good friend Dan Curry at Reverse Spin is doing a great job keeping both of his eyes on the debacle that's known as the Rod Blagojevich administration.

The Democratic governor, who bragged to the media last year about having the "testicular virility" to make tough decisions, has been dodging the media so he wouldn't have to answer questions about a $1,500 birthday gift his seven year-old daughter received from Michael Ascaridis, whose wife took a state job two weeks after the generous present was received. Beverly Ascaridis flunked the civil service exam for that position. Oh, the job she got was located in remote Whiteside County, but it was moved to the Chicago area, presumably for her convenience.

Fishy? I think so

The media did catch up to "Blago," and Curry found two embarrassing Blagojevich performances on YouTube, where the viewer hears repeatedly from "Virility Boy," about how Michael Ascaridis is a "lifelong friend," along with attacks mixed in on his Republican opponent, Judy Baar Topinka. But there are no solid answers from Blagojevich on that check.

"Deer in the headlights" comes to mind. The first video is here, the second here.

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption Topinka Illinois YouTube

Kitty Myers' mother passes away

Blogger Kitty Myers, who blogs at Kitty Litter, has some sad news: her mother passed away. She has my prayers.

As many of you know, my mother had a very close call earlier this month--she broke her hip in a very bad fall. I visited her yesterday afternoon, she looks great, and only when she struggles out of bed can you tell she's been badly injured.

Technorati tags: blog Blogs Bloggers

Mr. Right's new photo caption contest with Hugo Chavez

Noam Chomsky's favorite Venezuelan, Hugo Chavez, is the object of Mr. Right's scorn this week. Enter the metaphorical tomato-tossing here.

Technorati tags: humor funny humour caption contest Chavez Venezuela

200 years ago today: Lewis & Clark expedition ends

America's greatest earthly exploring journey ended 200 years ago today when the Lewis & Clark Expedition returned to St. Louis.

America and the world would never be the same.

Technorati tags: History missouri st. louis americana on this day

One day one of these reports will be correct...

France looks into bin Laden death report

I hope it's wrong. Personally, I'd rather see him dragged back to the "Land of the Infidels" in chains and an orange jumpsuit.

Technorati tags: Bin Laden War on Terror Current Affairs France

Autumn Almanac

As regular visitors to this blog know, I'm a huge Kinks fan. And today I began to see evidence--leaf color change--that fall, or autumn, is almost here. (I didn't take the photo today, that's from my archive of photos from last fall. That photo was taken at Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska.)

Below are the lyrics to "Autumn Almanac," a 1967 Kinks single.

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar,
When the dawn begins to crack.
It's all part of my autumn almanac.
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow,
So I sweep them in my sack.
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

Friday evenings, people get together,
Hiding from the weather.
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun,
Because the summer's all gone.

La-la-la-la...
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

I like my football on a Saturday,
Roast beef on Sundays, all right.
I go to Blackpool for my holidays,
Sit in the open sunlight.

This is my street, and I'm never gonna to leave it,
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine,
'Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away,
Because it's calling me, (come on home)
Hear it calling me, (come on home)

La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.
La-la-la-la...
Oh, my autumn almanac

Lyrics courtesy of Dave Emlen's Unofficial Kinks Web Site.

Technorati tags: Autumn Fall Nebraska Photos Photography Kinks Nature

Friday was "Protest the Pope" day in the Muslim world

Thanks to the Sanity Squad (scroll down a few posts), I have the cycle of protests in the Muslim world figured out. Friday is mosque day for Muslims, and after being fired up by an extremist cleric, Muslims protest their current "hate," which is now the Pope's speech on "violent" Islam. Previous "hates" of 2006 were those Danish Muhammad cartoons, Israel (the thing to hate when there is nothing new to hate), and President Bush, particularly after his "Islamic fascist" comment.

And today their were "hate-protests" across the Muslim world, with the the Pope of course still the target of that hate.

Have a nice weekend!

Technorati tags: Islam Muslims Pope Religion Christianity

Tom Ciesielka to be on WGN Radio's Bill Moller Show

In the early days of the getting-the-word-out phase of the Thomas Klocek affair, one of the key people was Tom Ciesielka of TC Public Relations. On Saturday you can hear Tom on Chicago's 50,000 watt powerhouse, WGN-AM 720.

And if you live outside WGN's signal, you can listen in live on the internet.

From TC Public Relation's press release:

Tom Ciesielka from TC Public Relations will be Bill Moller’s guest on WGN radio’s “The Money Show” on

Saturday, September 23 at 1:30 pm Central. Bill and Tom will discuss how to:

Use Past Successes to Drive Your Future Career or Business Goals

Work with Others to Advance Your Dreams

Recognize that the Road to Success is Paved with Appreciation

Be Honest with Yourself Before Promoting Yourself to Others

Avoid Short Term Gains that Could Hurt Your Long-Term Life

Hope you can tune in!

Technorati tags: Bill Moller Thomas Klocek DePaul financial planning money radio chicago

Prescription drug wars: Target to match Wal-Mart's $4 generic drugs

This is how capitalism is supposed to work: competition bringing low cost goods to customers. And it looks like it's working.

Target announced earlier today that it would match its chief competitor's price cut on 150 generic prescription drugs in Florida. Wal-Mart started rolling the price ball downhill yesterday, and the world's largest retailer plans to take its pricing strategy to all of it's USA stores next year.

Will others join in? Where I live, Chicago-area based Walgreens dominates the pharmacy market. If Wal-Mart and Target make the generic pricing strategy a nationwide policy, Walgreens and others will be hard-pressed not to follow suit.

As for union-funded Wal-Mart Watch and Wake Up Wal-Mart, they need to know that in terms of the overall economy, a "living wage" isn't the only answer to any real or perceived problems.

But look for the jabs against Wal-Mart to continue. Last night during Jay Leno's Tonight Show monologue, Jay quipped that Wal-Mart's price cuts still mean that Wal-Mart employees can't afford prescription drugs.

However, Jay did get in a very funny joke about Willie Nelson's tour bus being a giant bong, with the tail pipe being the the inhalation port.

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Retail Target business big box Walgreens pharmacy marketing Jay Leno Willie Nelson

CAIR's Saudi connections

See that building? According to a Robert Spencer FrontPage Magazine article, it was built with the help of Saudi money. It's CAIR's headquarters, conveniently located a few blocks from Capitol Hill on New Jersey Avenue.

From FrontPage:

A few days ago Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American Islamic Relations was on Tucker Carlson's MSNBC show to discuss Pope Rage, and Carlson did a fairly good job pressing him on some points -- although Hooper was so combative that Carlson twice had to calm him down and reassure him that he agreed with him.

At the end of the segment, however, after he got Hooper to tell the Saudi government that execution for apostasy was wrong, Carlson challenged Hooper on CAIR's receiving money from the Saudi government. Hooper declared: "To my knowledge we don't take money from the government of Saudi Arabia."

Well, I know that Ibrahim Hooper words his statements as carefully as the Pope does, as in the memorable incident when Hooper told Rachel Neuwirth about allegations that CAIR supported Hamas and Hizballah: "CAIR does not support these groups publicly." So I'm not quite sure how to take this new statement. Does he mean that they don't take money from the Saudi government, but from individual Saudis? Or that CAIR may take money from the Saudi government, but if it does, no one is telling Ibrahim?

Spencer goes on to quote passages from Frank Gaffney and friend of the blog Daniel Pipes, who note that money that originally came from Saudis, but maybe, maybe not from the Saudi government, does end up in CAIR's bank account.

It's a tough task to make sense of financial dealings from the Islamic world, but to be sure, some of CAIR's cash was really at one time Saudi riyals.

Technorati tags: fatwa CAIR Washington Islam Muslims Syria Radical Islam Saudis Saudi Arabia السعودية

Pajamas Media's Sanity Squad on Islam and the Pope

I don't know what the rest of the world is waiting for, but The Sanity Squad podcasts are something that should be on any sane person's "must-download" list.

The Sanity Squad consists of four mental health professionals/bloggers: neo-necon (small "n" is correct), Dr. Sanity, Shrinkwrapped, and Siggy.

Their latest podcast is entitled, The Sanity Squad: A Religion of the Perpetually Paranoid. The four psychology sages put all of Islam on their analysts' couch.

Actually, since it's Islam, there'd have to be two couches, one for each gender--with a partition between the two, but I think you get my point about the couch.

Islam's violent reaction to the Pope's controversial comments about Islam and violence draw the ire of the Squad.

Shrinkwrapped noted that the anti-Pope protests "were well orchestrated," taking place after Friday "inflammatory services."

But Siggy steals the show. Among his brilliant comments:

The Judeo-Christian world civilizes, the Islamic world fantasizes.

And...

The Judeo-Christian world builds things, the Islamic world of today tears things down.

Download here. Free Politics Central podcasts subscriptions are available on the iTunes web site.

Technorati tags: Islam Muslim Religion Current Affairs Mental Health Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central

Pajamas Media's Politics Central podcast with Senator Jim DeMint

Pajamas blogger Austin Bay took part in a blogger podcast with Senator Jim DeMint, R-SC.

Jim talked about his wireless device version of the Emergency Broadcast System, the WARN Act, that will be put into place if the bill is passed into law. The WARN act is part of the Port Security Bill, which the senate approved 98-0 last week.

Technorati tags: DeMint South Carolina Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central wireless Mobile Congress

Milblogger's wife seriously ill with cancer

Military blogger SC Eagle has fought for freedom in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, his wife is fighting for her life--against cancer in Germany.

The Radio Patriots, Andrea and Mark, are leading a rallying cry for SC's wife, Ellicia.

A PayPal account has been set up to cover "Leesha's" home-health care. Hospice care is not covered by their insurance.

Leesha's breast cancer has spread to her brain. She's in a very tough battle against that awful disease.

Technorati tags: Germany Deutschland cancer oncology military Afghanistan

Wal-Mart offering $4 generic drugs in Florida

The company the Left loves to hate, Wal-Mart, is doing what you think the Lefties would be thrilled about--selling generic drugs cheap. The retail behemoth is test-marketing a program in Florida, selling generic drugs for as low as $4 per prescription.

But the anti-Wal-Mart group, Wal-Mart Watch, is tying this good news to their perception that Wal-Mart is stingy with health care benefits with their one-million employees.

Can't they let it rest just once?

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Retail Retail business big box

Ill. Lt. Governor's tea bag protest might lead to jammed sorting machines

Pat Quinn is the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Before becoming Rod Blagojevich's ticket-mate, the Oak Park Democrat was a kind of Prairie State Ralph Nader--a consumer advocate known for using stunts to get his name in the media.

Quinn and Blagojevich are up for re-election this year, and Pat is doing his part by drumming up some media noise. Consumers in Illinois have just been hit by huge rate increases. As a protest, Quinn is suggesting that Illinoisans include empty tea bags with their next electrical payment to show their displeasure with the new rates.

One problem: The US Postal Service is concerned that the empty tea bags could damage sorting equipment at postal facilities.

I have a better idea. If somehow Illinois residents are dense enough re-elect team Blagojevich/Quinn, next April,Illionis taxpayers should enter $1,500 in Monopoly money with their state returns. Why $1,500?

That amount matches the $1500 birthday present check given to Gov. Blagojevich's then seven year-old daughter, Amy, by Michael Ascaridis. Shortly after he sent the check, Ascaridis' wife Beverly obtained a $45,000 a year state job.

When you mail the phony cash, tell 'em you got the idea from Pat Quinn.

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption Illinois

Chicago White Sox: Thanks for the memories

The Chicago White Sox lost to the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers last night on the city's South Side.

Mathematically there is still a chance they'll make it into the American League playoffs. Realistically, with 10 games left to play, the White Sox trail the Minnesota Twins by 5 1/2 games in the wild card race, an essentially insurmountable lead. So the Sox will be spending the first Monday in October cleaning out their lockers instead of practicing for the first round of the American League playoffs.

However, for a little while longer, the South Siders are the defending World Series champions. It's a great feeling for the lifelong White Sox fan. And with a core of talented athletes locked in to long-term contracts for the Sox, "Wait 'till next year" isn't a hollow slogan. However, the White Sox need to do something about that unreliable bullpen. Back up the truck...

Meanwhile on Chicago's North Side, the Cubs are in last place.

What does that have to do with the White Sox?

Everything.

It's a Chicago thing.

Technorati tags: Detroit Tigers White Sox Chicago White Sox baseball MLB Minnesota Twins World Series Detroit Tigers Cubs Chicago Cubs Chicago

Bush says he'd send troops to Pakistan--Pakistani newspaper reports US choppers there

These two reports from today are probably coincidental, but one never knows.

First from AP:

President Bush said Wednesday he would order military action inside Pakistan if intelligence indicated that Osama bin Laden or other top terror leaders were hiding there. "Absolutely," Bush said in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Next, from the Pakistani newspaper Dawn:

Six US helicopters violated Pakistan's air space by intruding into Lawara Mandi area of the North Waziristan Agency on Tuesday morning, officials and residents said.

Eyewitnesses said that the US helicopter gunships had intruded into Lawara Mandi area, about 55 kilometers west of Miramshah after militants attacked allied forces in Pipali area of Afghanistan, close to Pakistani border.

They said that the helicopters violated Pakistan's air space more than six times in the area, but did not take action. Pakistani security forces did not react against helicopters.

The sources said that constant air space violations by US helicopters triggered tension and senior military officers flew in helicopters from Miramshah to assess the situation.

I can't find a story that corroborates this report, but it is an intriguing article when juxtaposed Bush's comments from earlier today.

Techorati tags: Pakistan War on Terror Bush Military Afghanistan

Venezuela's Chavez calls Bush "The Devil"

Venezuela's nutjob leader Hugo Chavez gave a speech at the United Nations this morning. George W. Bush spoke there yesterday, and Chavez made this reference to the president:

The devil came here yesterday. He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world.

Chavez made the sign of the cross when he made that statement.

Although being the devil isn't such a bad thing, as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro have played "Old Scratch" in recent years, so the part comes with a certain amount of penache, something the buffoon Chavez doesn't possess.

Technorati tags: News Venezuela Chavez UN Bush

Poll: Over 80% of Thais back coup

Things sure move fast in Thailand. Already a post-coup poll is complete: over 80 percent of the respondents favor yesterday's removal of their prime minister.

Technorati tags: Thailand News polls ไทย Current events

Ex-Archbishop of Canterbury strongly backs Pope on Islam and violence

Support is trickling in for Pope Benedict. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, is on B16's team in regards to the Pope's recent comments on Islam.

The person who sits in the Archbishop of Canterbury's chair is the spiritual leader of the world's Anglican Christians.

From the Times of London:

The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton has issued his own challenge to "violent" Islam in a lecture in which he defends
the Pope’s "extraordinarily effective and lucid" speech.

Lord Carey said that Muslims must address "with great urgency" their religion’s association with violence. He made it clear that he believed the "clash of civilisations" endangering the world was not between Islamist extremists and the West, but with Islam as a whole.

"We are living in dangerous and potentially cataclysmic times," he said. “There will be no significant material and economic progress [in Muslim communities] until the Muslim mind is allowed to challenge the status quo of Muslim conventions and even their most cherished shibboleths."

Whew...strong stuff from Carey. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is a wimpy chap who is not capable of making such statements. If he had...maybe Muslims would start to listen. Oh, he's talked about it, as you'll read here, but there is no meat in this Archibishop's stew. Besides, if Williams did strongly support the Pope's comments, well, it would mean more churches would get firebombed.

Sorry, but it's the awful truth, in my opinion.

Islam Muslims Pope Religion Christianity Anglican Catholic Rowan Williams UK

Latvian president Vike-Freiberga bidding to become UN secretary general

Picking Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to become the next UN secretary general makes a lot of sense. Which is why the UN will pick someone else. But she's pursuing the job all the same.

Vike-Freiberga speaks five languages: English, German, French, Latvian, and Spanish.

She's lived as a refugee in Germany--in a displaced persons camp--after World War II.

And for a few years she lived in a Muslim country, Morocco, when it was still a French colony.

But the Russians don't like her: Relations between Russia and Latvia are chilly. China is looking for an Asian to for the position--no Asian has been secretary general in over three decades. Both Russian and China have full UN veto rights.

Still, Vike-Freiberga has a chance: No woman has ever been UN secretary general.

Related: News you probably missed: Latvian president addressed joint session of Congress

Technorati tags: Latvija Latvia United Nations Vike-Freiberga UN
News

Fight high cell phone taxes

Disclosure: I work in this industry. But no one asked me to post this information.

Actually I heard about this organization when I was in Washington in July, I saw a billboard for My Wireless.org at a few subway stops.

Oh, if you don't support putting a lid on taxes, then you're visiting the wrong blog.

Here is the site for My Wireless.org. And as they say on TV, tell them Marathon Pundit sent you.

Technorati tags: mobile phones Cell Phones wireless phones congress taxes

The Pope, Islam, and dialogue

I just read five or so op-eds about the importance of dialogue between the Vatican and the Islamic world.

None of these articles touched on one sensitive point. Christians who convert to Islam can pretty much do it.

On the flipside, Muslims, in accordance to their faith, are not allowed to leave Islam. Apostates can face a formal or informal death sentence, but in more generous circumstances, ostracization from family and (former) friends is the end result.

Achieving dialogue between Islam and the Vatican won't be easy. It may not even be possible.

Islam Muslims Pope Religion Christianity

First fall DePaulia is out, no mention of Klocek controversy

After a summer hiatus, the new DePaul school newspaper is out. Ever since the outside-DePaul world started taking notice of the Thomas Klocek free speech controversy, the school paper, The DePaulia, has for the most part ignored the case.

That pattern continues. Until this issue, there has been no DePaulia published since May. Since then there have been two major revelations in the Klocek case. Wesley Thompson, the former DePaul Student Government Association president, backed Klocek's version of what happened during the 2004 cafeteria discussion with the Students for Justice in Palestine and United Muslims Moving Ahead.

And the role of CAIR Chicago, the local outpost of the Chicago Council of American Islamic Relations, became public. CAIR, which touts itself as a civil rights organization, recommended that DePaul fire Klocek.

Aren't real civil rights groups supposed to expand rights and employment opportunities?

CAIR Chicago has a big presence at DePaul, something the DePaulia is not likely to report on anytime soon.

Ironically, the DePaulia did report on the cafeteria encounter shortly after Klocek was suspended by DePaul. The DePaulia piled-on the professor, going to print without getting his side of the story. The article does note that the DePaulia did contact Klocek, but that he failed to respond before the paper's deadline.

Klocek told me that the DePaulia did not contact him for that story at all.

In fairness to the paper, the following spring the DePaulia did publish an op-ed by Klocek outlining his side of the story.

In the blogosphere, however, the Klocek affair is still a big story. But not in the DePaulia.
Technorati tags: journalism Thomas Klocek DePaul Illinois Academic freedom Chicago blogging CAIR

Iranian supreme leader: Pope part of US-Zionist conspiracy

After being told by an advisor that the Pope was outraged by one of many Soviet atrocity, Josef Stalin reportedly replied, "How many divisions (of troops) does the Pope have?"

The correct answer to that question is none then, none now.

But leave it to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's boss, to see things differently:

From the world's greatest newspaper, the Tehran Times:

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said (in Tehran) on Monday that Pope Benedict XVIÂ’s offensive remarks were part of a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy to create a conflict between religions.

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the comments were part of the same conspiracy that started with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which was devised by great powers intent on creating crises between religions to "pursue their evil objectives."

"Leaders of the global arrogance have already defined the links of the chain in this U.S.-Zionist project by attacking Iraq," he observed at a meeting with members of a committee responsible for promoting prayer.

"The issue of the insulting cartoons and the remarks of some U.S. politicians about Islam are different links in the chain of conspiracy to begin a crusade, and the Pope's remarks are the latest link in this chain," he added.

Clarification: Israeli troops were not part of the coalition of troops that invaded Iraq in 2003. Nor were the Vatican's Swiss Guards. Although not all of the Swiss Guards are guys in pretty uniforms--many of the guards are perform similar functions in less flamboyant clothing--that the US Secret Service does here.

Technorati tags: Iran خبر Pope Vatican Pope Papa Israel Khamenei Middle East

Latvia's big 2006 event: NATO summit

Since Mrs. Marathon Pundit was born in Latvia, I keep a close eye on the Baltic nation.

Latvia will be a big story later this year: The annual NATO summit will be held in late November the Latvian capital, Riga, on what was once Soviet occupied territory.

Of course with the increased attention will come risk: Jihadists view the summit as an opportunity to cause havoc.

Of course history does tend to repeat itself, and Latvians are having their nation become a battleground in major wars, such as the early 18th century conflict between Russia and Sweden--the Great Northern War, as well as two more infamous conflicts: World War I and II.

Technorati tags: Latvija Latvia NATO War on Terror History

One reason why Obama for president in 2008 makes sense

Unlike Senators Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and a few others, Barack Obama doesn't have to answer for his 2002 senate vote to authorize force against Iraq. Barack was a state senator then.

On the bottom of the ticket--if Hillary gets the nomination--there is no way, NO WAY another 2002 Democrat hawk on Iraq can take that spot.

That helps Obama too if he chooses to sit out the primaries two years from now. Or next year, if New Hampshire follows through on its threat to put on its Democratic primary in 2007 to spite the DNC.

Technorati tags: Obama National politics 2008 Democrats Hillary Kerry

Blagojevich kiddie check story catching fire in Illinois

Scroll down a few posts to see my take on Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Rich Miller at Capitol Fax has an excellent run-down of the latest write-ups on Rod Blagojevich and the $1,500 birthday check given to his seven year-old daughter. People who don't ordinarily pay attention to politics are watching this story.

On a different front, a Chicago Sun-Times/NBC 5 Chicago poll shows Blagojevich far ahead of his Republican challenger, Judy Baar Topinka. This poll not only has Blagojevich above the coveted 50 percent mark, but Blago leads Topinka by 30 points. All previous polls I've seen have "Blago" below 50 percent, with an average 10 percentage point lead over Topinka.

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption Topinka Illinois

Revised: Disbar Fitzgerald, David Corn may have said in latest Pajamas Media Blog Week in Review

For the second time in four days, I listened to David Corn in a Pajamas podcast.

The latest podcast is Pajamas Media's Blog Week in Review, where Corn joins regulars Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit and moderator Austin Bay--Ed Driscoll produces.

Social-networking sites such as My Space, Wal-Mart's new The Hub, and others are discussed in relation to how such sites might effect the political process.

The fireworks start when Corn and Reynolds discuss "Plamegate." David has a new book out, co-authored with Michael Isikoff, Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War. There's a chapter on the Plame-Wilson imbroglio. While talking about the Special Prosecutor (and US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois) Patrick Fitzgerald, Corn says Fitzgerald should be disbarred, because he continued to prosecute the case for two and-a-half years, even though Fitzgerald knew Richard Armitage was the leaker.

It's possible that recently convicted former Illinois Governor George Ryan agrees with Corn on that one.

UPDATE 7:00PM CDT commnenter has posted that Corn may have been quoting the conservative arguement that Fitzgerald should be disbarred. I'm unaware of any conservative call for that to occur. Still Corn deserved the benefit of any doubt. If I erred, it was out of irresponsibility, since I listed to that portion of the podcast at least five times before I wrote this post.
Technorati tags: Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media News books anti-war iraq PlameGate My Space Wal-Mart Patrick Fitzgerald Richard Armitage Illinois law The Nation

Little Marathon Pundit's 10th birthday party

Here's Little Marathon Pundit with her party guests, with magician Frank Kay, who entertained them this afternoon.

Technorati tags: Magic Magician birthday

Marathon Pundit makes National Review's Phi Beta Cons

Here's the post from John J. Miller on the still fairly new National Review Phi Beta Cons blog:

Klocek Two Years On
[John J. Miller 09/15 11:48 AM]

Today is the second anniversary of the incident that led DePaul University to fire instructor Thomas Klocek, who had the gall of questioning anti-Israeli activists on his campus. Marathon Pundit offers a good overview of what happened.

Here is my summary post from Friday.

Technorati tags: Thomas Klocek DePaul Illinois Academic freedom Chicago bloggingNational Review

Still more bad news for Ill. Gov. Blagojevich

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-IL, got more bad news this morning when he picked up his Sunday Chicago Tribune on the doorstep of his Chicago home.

Blagojevich broke tradition when he was sworn in as governor by not moving into the Governor's Mansion in Springfield, but that's another story.

From the Chicago Tribune, free registration is required:

Skirting state hiring rules, Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration gave jobs to at least 360 people whose applications were sent through back channels by the governor's office and other political heavyweights, a Tribune investigation has found.

More than 70 workers with political pedigrees were hired through internships meant for college students--even though all were older than 35 and a few were in their 60s.

In addition, Blagojevich's administration nearly doubled--to more than 740--the number of high-level state jobs he can fill without following hiring rules.

In a broad examination of hiring across state agencies, the Tribune found that these maneuvers and others were used to systematically subvert a process that is supposed to be free from political influence.

Federal invetigators have been looking into the hiring practices of Gov. Blagojevich since last year.

Last week, the Tribune disclosed that the governor's daughter Amy, then a seven year-old, received a $1,500 birthday check from Michael Ascaridis. Beverly, Michael's wife, took a state job shortly after the gift was received. Blagojevich didn't report the gift until two years later, when the FBI asked him about it.

In a race that mysteriously has received little national attention, Blagojevich is running for re-election this year. His opponent is Republican Judy Baar Topinka--her chances to unseat "Blago" continue to improve.

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption

Tehran Times: New crusade being planned

As I've remarked before, the Tehran Times is to good journalism what the Jerry Springer Show is to quality television programming.

The Farce-eys are at it again, getting their robes all tangled up over the recent (scroll down a couple of posts) comments by the Pope about Islam.

When Muslims aren't whining about "Islamophobia," it's only because they're screaming "Crusade."

From a Tehran Times article by Hassan Hanizadeh:

The increasing wave of Western offensives against Muslims, which began with U.S. President George W. Bush’s remarks and continued with the publication of disrespectful cartoons in a Danish newspaper, is part of a plot to start a new crusade against Muslims.

Undoubtedly, this propaganda is not accidental and purposeless, but rather within the framework of a comprehensive strategy to implement the theory of clash of civilizations put forward by U.S. theorist Samuel P. Huntington.

Regrettably, following the suspicious 9/11 attacks, the West is increasing the psychological and propagandistic pressure on Muslims to prepare the ground for the expulsion of Muslims from the United States and European countries.

The Pope’s rude remarks are actually code words for the start of a new crusade, heralding a dark future in relations between Islam and Christianity.

Relations right now are pretty darn dark, in my opinion.

Later in the article, there's the spurious claim that the "Zionist regime" (always blame the Jews) is part of the crusade, since it's scheming to become the Hong Kong of the Middle East.

And Hanizadeh moans about a Daily Telegraph piece about how Muslim soldiers in the early days of Islam used to behead prisoners of war.

The more things change....

Technorati tags: Iran خبر زنان UK Denmark Danmark Islam Muslims Pope Papa

Mr. Right's new photo caption contest features that Iranian jerk in the windbreaker

Holocaust denier, Jew-hater, doomsday nut, as well as Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahamadinejad is the target of Mr. Right's sarcasm missile via his photo caption contest. Yes, Moody Mahmoud is wearing his trademark windbreaker in this pic.

Click here to enter.

Technorati tags: humor funny humour caption contest Iran خبر زنان Ahamadinejad

Pope's comments about violence of Islam leads to violent protests

Pope Benedict quoted a Byzantine emperor in a speech a few days ago:

Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.

This offended many Muslims, some of whom responded with violent protests.

And earlier today, two West Bank churches were struck by firebombs. The assailants said the reason they bombed the churches was the Pope's recent comments about Islam.

Technorati tags: Pope Papa Islam Muslims violence

Female crotch art show coming to the West Coast

You keep all your smart modern painters,
I'll take Rembrandt, Titian, Da Vinci and Gainsborough
The Kinks, 20th Century Man, 1971

No, this is not a hoax. From Portland Indy Media.

The Travelling VULVA MUSEUM Exhibit and Speaker Series is coming to town!
* Learn about Vulvas in Art, History, and Mythology
* Explore Political and Religious Vulvic Relations
* View a rich collection of vulvic items including 3 different designers' vulvic prayer flags, vulvic jewelry, vulvic postcards, zines, pillows, religious/ritual items, and more!

More...

We plan on visiting Vancouver, BC, Seattle, Wa., Portland, Or., Eugene, Or., San Francisco, Ca., Santa Cruz, Ca., and Los Angeles, Ca. during the Fall/Winter 2006.

Hat tip to Dr. Steven Plaut.

Technorati tags: art paintings artist Left Coast weird strange bizarre

A couple of Pajamas Politics Central podcasts

I downloaded a couple of Pajamas Media Politics Central podcasts today. The first one I'm going to discuss is the Sanity Squad's view of 9/11 five years later. And I'm glad to know that I'm not insane to think that the nihilistic creed of moral relativism is, well, insane. Four blogger/therapists, neo-neocon, Dr. Sanity, Shrinkwrapped, and Siggy take part.

On the other side of my political rainbow is David Corn and his podcast. Corn has a new book out, co-authored with Michael Isikoff, entitled Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War. I was driving while I was listening, and managed not to get into a car accident. The podcast is available here.

Free Politics Central podcast subscriptions are available on the iTunes web site.

Technorati tags: Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central 9/11 War on Terror News books anti-war iraq

Oriana Fallaci RIP

Journalist Oriana Fallaci died today in Italy. The world is a lesser place without her in it. She was a foe of political-correctness, and late in her life she was not afraid to confront the intolerance of Islamo-fascism.

From Michael Leeden of Pajamas Media:

Oriana was one of those bigger-than-life personalities who dwarf everyone around them, and there wasn’t much grey in her world, things were always sharply defined. This made friendship a challenge, since at any given moment you were either dearly beloved or this week’s dolt. But it didn’t really matter, since she prized friendship, and last week’s idiot was invariably destined to return as tomorrow’s beloved; you had to accept that it would happen, and it would pass, and we were fortunate to know her and be provoked, stimulated, embraced and insulted. She was a hell of a lady.

She was a hell of a writer, too, one of the greatest of our generation. Her tirades against Islamic Nazi-fascism appeared in thirty different languages and sold more than three million books. In hard cover. And her earlier books, especially the incredible interviews in which she managed to provoke powerful, brilliant, and evil people to totally expose themselves, are still must-reads. You just can’t comprehend the history of the past thirty years without Oriana’s guidance.

And she was a hell of a woman. I only knew her when she was older, and marked with the deep lines of her long fight against the “alien,” but she was still a vivacious and flirtatious gal who delighted in the flow of her powerful pheremones and very much enjoyed being around men who appreciated her considerable charms. Just look at some of those photos from her younger days. Wow.

Very late in her life, Fallaci faced a lawsuit for defaming Islam, or I should say, allegedly defaming Islam, by an Italian court.

From Tunku Varadarajan in the Opinion Journal, June 23, 2005:

Oriana Fallaci faces jail. In her mid-70s, stricken with a cancer that, for the moment, permits only the consumption of liquids--so yes, we drank champagne in the course of a three-hour interview--one of the most renowned journalists of the modern era has been indicted by a judge in her native Italy under provisions of the Italian Penal Code which proscribe the "vilipendio," or "vilification," of "any religion admitted by the state."

In her case, the religion deemed vilified is Islam, and the vilification was perpetrated, apparently, in a book she wrote last year--and which has sold many more than a million copies all over Europe--called "The Force of Reason." Its astringent thesis is that the Old Continent is on the verge of becoming a dominion of Islam, and that the people of the West have surrendered themselves fecklessly to the "sons of Allah." So in a nutshell, Oriana Fallaci faces up to two years' imprisonment for her beliefs--which is one reason why she has chosen to stay put in New York. Let us give thanks for the First Amendment.

It is a shame, in so many ways, that "vilipend," the latinate word that is the pinpoint equivalent in English of the Italian offense in question, is scarcely ever used in the Anglo-American lexicon; for it captures beautifully the pomposity, as well as the anachronistic outlandishness, of the law in question. A "vilification," by contrast, sounds so sordid, so tabloid--hardly fitting for a grande dame.

Rest in peace.
Technorati tags: Oriana Fallaci Italy Italia Islam Muslims

Always getting talked about...

I'm not sure what this blogger is saying, but I'm glad it's being said.

Or should I be worried?

I believe it's in the Tamil language:

தமிழ்ப்பதிவுகள்
Quillpad - Badri
One Night @ Call Center - புத்தக விமர்சனம் - விக்னேஷ்
Cong. Danny Davis received paid trip from terror group - John Ruberry
ப்ளேனில் பாம்புகள் - முகமூடி
Oh.. Jeez - Boston Bala

Tamil Sri Lanka blogging

How you can help Klocek, part two: Sign the Reinstate Thomas Klocek at DePaul Petition

If you'd like to help Professor Thomas Klocek in his free speech struggle with DePaul, please read, then click on the link below to sign the Scholars for Peace in the Middle East petition supporting the former DePaul University instructor:

To: Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D., President and Susanne M. Dumbleton, Ph.D., Dean of the School for New Learning, DePaul University

We, the undersigned faculty members from around the world, stand solidly with Professor Thomas Klocek, a Roman Catholic, who was dismissed by DePaul University for allegedly offending Muslim students when discussing Christian interests in Israel, disputing that Israeli treatment of Palestinians was akin to the Nazi treatment of the Jewsand then terminating the discussion when it appeared that the students were more interested in Israel-bashing than discussing the issues.

We believe this case sheds serious questions on the commitment to academic freedom and civility in academic discussion with this egregious termination. We further believe that this action by administration has separated DePaul from the academic community.

It is our understanding that Prof. Klocek alleges:

1) He was never allowed to meet with his accusers.

2) He was never presented with a written list of the complaints or charges against him.

3) He was suspended by the Dean of the School for New Learning in clear violation of the University's own stated Faculty Handbook procedures.

4) He was never given a hearing.

5) A vote by the DePaul Faculty Council affirmed that the same rules that apply for a formal academic hearing apply to all professors, full-time and adjuncts alike.

As a result, we believe that Professor Klocek, a faculty member with a 15-year history of excellent evaluations and no prior complaints, was dismissed without due process and should be reinstated without penalty or prejudice and with back pay, restitution of benefits and compensation for his legal and other expenses incurred as a result of his being improperly terminated.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Click here to sign.

Technorati tags: DePaul Free Speech Academic freedom Thomas Klocek Chicago Illinois law

How you can help Klocek, part one: The Thomas Klocek legal defense fund

As I've note before, there are quite a few expenses involved in the legal work involved regarding Professor Thomas Klocek in his battle for his free speech rights against DePaul University. A fund has been set up to pay for some of the costs of justice.

Send contributions to the below address:

Thomas Klocek Defense Fund
C/O Cole Taylor Bank
PO Box 88481
Chicago, IL 60680

Technorati tags: DePaul Free Speech Academic freedom Thomas Klocek Chicago Illinois law

Sept 15: Second anniversary of the beginning of the Thomas Klocek affair

Here is some background as well as some related posts on the Klocek case.

Neil Steinberg and the Chicago Sun Times: In September, 2004, Professor Klocek read this Steinberg column. What Neil wrote was the intellectual basis of Klocek's ill-fated discussion with the Muslim students at DePaul.

That column was based on this op-ed by Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, the general manager of the al-Arabiya television network. This is the opening sentence of that article:

It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims.

March 1, 2005: My first posting on the Klocek case. That post was based on an ABC 7 Chicago report of a press conference organized to draw attention to the Klocek's predicament.

Later that night, Michelle Malkin became the first big blogger to cover the Klocek story.

About two weeks later, the Chicago Jewish News published this excellent account of the what happened in the cafeteria at DePaul's downtown campus between Klocek and the Muslim students.

On March 19, 2005 Roger L. Simon, another big blogger weighed in.

The next day, mega-blogger Little Green Footballs made the Klocek case its "Outrage of the Day." Many LGF visitors, 447 of them in fact, added comments to the Klocek posting.

The story was now everywhere in the blogosphere. Since then, Simon, Malkin, LGF, and Marathon Pundit all became part of Pajamas Media.

On March 22, Israeli Professor Steven Plaut published the first of his several articles about Klocek and DePaul. Plaut brought up DePaul's resident holocaust minimizer, Norman Finkelstein, in that column. Yes, Klocek, who defended Israel is gone from DePaul, but there is a professor who the Anti-Defamation League called a holocaust denier among the DePaul faculty.

Around this time, Jay Ambrose of the Scripps Howard News Service wrote several columns about Klocek. Here is one of them, "A Question of Decency." Ambrose e-mailed me recently that he is still closely watching the Klocek case.

Chicago writer Richard Baehr has been a great supporter of Thomas Klocek, his well-circulated American Thinker piece hits DePaul hard.

Associated Press joined in on May 14, in this article by Nicole Dizon. It was published by many news sources--this reprint is from FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. That organization has been very supportive of Professor Klocek--and equally tough on DePaul.

Klocek filed his defamation suit against DePaul a month later.

On June 20, the Klocek case was briefly mentioned on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor.

September 15 marked the first anniversary of Professor Klocek's discussion with the Muslim students at DePaul.

On October 10, John J. Miller's detailed account of the Thomas Klocek case appeared in the National Review.

Later that month, the hero of the extreme left, Ward Churchill spoke at DePaul. Churchill was paid about $5,000 for a 90 minute speech at the school's Lincoln Park campus to exercise his free speech rights. We all know what happened to Klocek when he tried to express his....

Ward Churchill's visit to DePaul gave the Klocek story new momentum in the blogosphere, as this press release points out.

Churchill's appearance, ironically, took place just a few hundred yards from the site of the Klocek press conference.

On December 20, 2005, millions of blogging keystrokes later, the Chicago Tribune became the first--and still only--major Chicago daily newspaper to report on the Klocek case.

June 1, 2006: Former DePaul Student Government Association President Wesley Thompson backs up Klocek's version of the incident in his deposition.

It gets curiouser and curiouser: July 5, 2006, CAIR-Chicago recommended that DePaul fire Klocek.

The battle for free speech rights continues.....

Technorati tags: Thomas Klocek DePaul Illinois Academic freedom Chicago blogging Ward Churchill Pajamas Media CAIR

Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson on the Andrea Shea-King Show Sunday night

Upon his successful appearance on Constitutional Public Radio, Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson will be a guest on the Andrea Shea King Show Sunday night at 9pm Eastern Time (8pm Central).

The Andrea Shea King Show can be heard weekly on WDBO AM 580 in Orlando. If you don't live there, you can listen live on the internet here.

On Sunday and Monday evening, much of America watched to ABC's Path to 9/11. A source for that show was Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson's book, Dereliction of Duty.

Listen to Buzz on Sunday night!

Technorati tags: Florida radio books 9/11 Path to 9/11 Television Terrorism

Eight DePaul professors sign "Unfire Ward Churchill petition"

Tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of the Thomas Klocek incident at DePaul University. Klocek, a 15-year adjunct at Chicago's DePaul University, was fired after engaging some Muslim students in an out-of class discussion.

Free speech at DePaul? No way.

The University of Colorado's Ward Churchill, who may be fired soon of plagiarism and fabrication incidents committed by the "Native American" professor, has a tribe (couldn't resist) of supporters who are leaning on the free speech pillar to, in the words of their petition, "Unfire Ward Churchill."

Eight DePaul professors have signed that petition. They are:

Christine Tardy, Professor, Department of English

Matthew Abraham, Professor, Department of English.

Flora Anderson-Chestnut, Coordinator, Department of Student Affairs.

Harvette Grey, Executive Director, DePaul University Cultural Center

(Note: It was Grey's office who invited Churchill to for that disastrous speaking appearance at DePaul's Student Activities Center, pictured, last fall.)

Nicole Perez, Staff Contact, Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Allies

Ann Russo, Associate Professor, Program Director, Women's and Gender Studies

Aminah Beverly McCloud, Professor of Religious Studies.

(Notes: Dr. McCloud was one of the academics listed in David Horowitz' book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America. Also, McCloud has ties to CAIR, the Council on American and Islamic Relations.)

Heidi J. Nast, Assistant Professor, The International Studies Program

As for the Reinstate Thomas Klocek at DePaul Petition, only four DePaul University professors, and no DPU officials, have signed that petition. None of the DePaul people who signed that liar Ward Churchill's petition have signed the Klocek's petition.

Free speech at DePaul? No way.

More on DePaul tomorrow. Huge hat tip to Jim over at Pirate Ballerina!

Technorati tags: Ward Churchill DePaul Free Speech Academic freedom Thomas Klocek Chicago Illinois Metroblogging

Obama presidential watch: Statewide official calls for him to run in 2008

St. Barack, better known as Senator Obama from Illinois, is viewed as presidential material by a former election opponent of his, Dan Hynes, the state comptroller of Illinois.

From AP:

Hynes on Thursday called Obama the "man for these times" and said he hopes to spark a national movement to encourage the freshman senator to announce his candidacy.

Hynes lost the Senate primary to Obama in 2004. Since then, he says he's become convinced that Obama has the qualities needed to unify the Democratic Party.

Now, has Obama gotten a bill passed into law since he's become a senator?

Technorati tags: Obama Barack Obama National politics politics Illinois Illinois politics

Chicago Tribune spanks Chicago Federation of Labor on "big box"

Personally, I prefer to reference news articles instead of editorials, but this one in one of my local dailies, the Chicago Tribune, is too good to pass up. I touches on some of the same points I hit in my "big box" post from last night.

Free registration may be required:

Unfortunately, supporters of the big-box law won't stand down. "... We may have lost this battle with the mayor. It doesn't mean the war is over," warned Dennis Gannon, president of the Chicago Federation of Unemployment.

Sorry, we meant the Chicago Federation of Labor.

The losers have come up with even worse ideas. There's talk of forcing a higher minimum wage on all companies that have at least 1,000 employees.

Yes, let's single out the most successful companies and push them to the suburbs.

Technorati tags: business big box Wal-Mart target Chicago Illinois Politics unions

Lemont City Hall

Sunday I was in downtown Lemont, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago.

Here's the City Hall of Lemont. It generously utilizes the Joliet limestone which is common throughout the Chicago area.

Technorati tags: Photos Photography Lemont Limestone

Air America suffocating from lack of cash

Among the topics that you won't hear about on the liberal talk network Air America in the next few days will George W. Bush's business struggles while CEO of Harken Energy.

Air America may file for bankruptcy as early as Friday.

Technorati tags: Air America Politics radio news Entertainment
liberal

Chicago city council fails to override Daley "big box living wage" ordinance

Well, it's over. For now. The union-driven drive to punish successful "big box" retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Home Depot has failed.

On Monday, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley issued his first veto in his 17 years as chief executive of the nation's third largest city. He vetoed a bill that would have forced "big box" retailers--those operating stores in Chicago with more than 90,000 square feet of selling space--to pay higher wages than the Illinois minimum wage.

Unions have failed to organize workers of the big boxes, and like the teachers unions (Hat tip to Cal Skinner), they've turned to legislatures to achieve, or attempt to achieve, what they're unable to accomplish by utilizing collective bargaining.

In February, municipal elections will take place in Chicago, a city dominated by the Democratic Party. And as ridiculous as it sounds, Wal-Mart and the other big boxes will be a big a big issue this winter. During the ramp-up to the initial vote on the "big box living wage" ordinance, union big shots threatened Chicago aldermen with the promise to endorse and fund opponents of those who voted "the wrong way."

We'll see if they follow through. My bet is they won't. And as others have remarked, running against Wal-Mart is a loser issue for the Democrats. People like shopping there more than other places. No one is forcing consumers to shop at Wal-Mart. Or Target.

But don't tell that to Ald. Joe "No Foie Gras for Me" Moore. He'll never understand. From ABC 7 Chicago:

"Those aldermen will have to answer to their constituents. This is an issue that is popular in every corner of the city," said Alderman Joe Moore, the leading sponsor of the big-box ordinance.

Alderman Moore says it may have been ill-advised to go after only the big retailers, raising questions of legality, so he is drafting a new ordinance mandating higher wages and benefits for employees of all the big companies in Chicago.

"I can assure you that this issue will not go away, that the fight for a living wage and for a just society will not abate," said Ald. Moore.

Moore should stick to cleaning up his part of Chicago, the 49th Ward. Visit here and here for ideas of where Moore can start.

Technorati tags: Joe Moore business big box Wal-Mart target Rogers Park Chicago Illinois Politics unions

Chicago Tribune poll: Illinois is deep blue

The findings of this poll don't surprise me, but the Democrats might be shocked if they wake up the day after Election Day to find a Republican Governor-Elect, and a Cook County (Chicago area) Board President of the red-persuasion--due to weak Democratic candidates.

From the Chicago "free registration required" Tribune:

The percentage of Illinois voters who call themselves Democrats is at its highest pre-election level in more than a decade, posing a problem for Republicans trying to win the governor's mansion and key congressional seats, a Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.

The poll found 43 percent of voters identified themselves as Democrats while a little more than a quarter of the voters identified themselves as Republicans. The 17 percentage point difference ranks among the most polarized partisan spreads in more than 16 years of Tribune surveys taken prior to an election day.

The results of the poll echo surveys taken nationally that show an increase in voters lining up in the Democratic column, a factor attributed to dissatisfaction with the Republican White House and GOP-led Congress on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to economic uncertainties.

The findings of the Tribune poll indicate the potential for trouble in Illinois for Republicans trying to revitalize a political party beset by scandal and infighting. The survey was conducted in the days following the sentencing of former Gov. George Ryan, whose corruption-tainted tenure helped end a quarter century of Republican administrations.

However, the Illinois GOP has not really started its fall campaign push.
Technorati tags: politics Current Affairs Republican Illinois Democrats

Buzz Patterson to be interviewed this afternoon on Constitutional Public Radio

This afternoon, live on Florida radio---and on the internet, Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson!

On Sunday and Monday evenings, much of America was glued to ABC's Path to 9/11. A source for that show was Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson's book, Dereliction of Duty.

Today Buzz will be a guest on Constitutional Public Radio program. CPR runs from 3pm-5pm Eastern Time each weekday on AM 1510 WWBC in Brevard County, Florida. As always, listeners who live outside of Florida's Space Coast can tune in on the internet. And there is a chatroom feature.

Andrea and Mark have a blog, too. It's called Radio Patriots.

Hat tip to Third Wave Dave for the info on Buzz.

Technorati tags: Florida radio books 9/11 Path to 9/11 Television Terrorism

PETA denounces "gay sheep" experiments

Sometimes I come across a story so bizarre, I don't know what to think. But that won't stop me from posting it.

My belief in what makes people "become" gay starts when sperm meets an egg. But I'm not a biologist, so what do I know.

From the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA, web site:

At the heart of these multimillion-dollar experiments, which are funded by taxpayers through the year 2008, is the goal of identifying a biological basis for homosexuality in sheep in an effort to "cure" homosexuality in humans. OHSU experimenter Charles Roselli is killing scores of sheep and cutting open the brains of rams he calls "male-oriented" (homosexual) in an attempt to find the hormonal mechanisms behind homosexual tendencies, so that they can subsequently be changed.

Roselli is also working with experimenter Frederick Stormshak of Oregon State University (OSU (My note, the sports team nickname of Oregon State is the Beavers), who has surgically installed an estrogen implant in the bodies of rams in an effort "to restore tissue levels of estrogen comparable to those of heterosexual rams and affect sexual behavior accordingly."

In a March 5, 2004, news release issued by OHSU, the university admitted that Roselli and Stormshak would "like to know whether sexual preferences can be altered by manipulating the prenatal hormone environment, for instance by using drugs to prevent the actions of androgen in the fetal sheep brain."

Wow. PETA should be a specific about which government agencies are funding the gay sheep experiments.

Also, if there are gay sheep, why aren't there gay sheep parades?

Technorati tags: PETA Animal Rights Farm Animals Sheep Gay GLBT News Oregon current events life weird

Convicted ex. Ill. Gov. Ryan must give up his $200,000 pension

Well, Superman is right. Crime does not pay, nor does it pay your pension, as former Ill. Governor George H. Ryan found out this afternoon. Because Ryan, a Kankakee Republican, was a state representative, speaker of the state house, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and then governor, his yearly pension is just short of $200,000 a year. But his pension, because of his recent conviction of fraud charges, has been forfeited.

Technorati tags: politics Current Affairs Law corruption George Ryan Republican Illinois

Daley speaks on his veto of the "big box living wage" ordinance

Earlier today a rally was held on Chicago's South Side where Mayor Daley, in an uncharacteristic emotional fashion, explained his veto of the so called "big box" living wage ordinance.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

"Not one person objected to any type of store in the suburban area. No one said, 'Mayor, you're wrong.' No one said aldermen are wrong. No one said community or church leaders [are wrong]. Only on the West Side. Only on the South Side," Daley told cheering supporters at 119th and Marshfield, the vacant site of a Target store placed on hold after the City Council's 35-to-14 vote in favor of the minimum wage ordinance.

"It was alright for the North and Southwest Side to get the big boxes before this. No one said anything. All the sudden, when we talk about economic development in the black community, there's something wrong there..It's alright for people to say development belongs in the suburban area. You have to go to get a job there. You have to drive to shop there. That's alright. This is what we're talking about."

One day after vetoing the big box ordinance and finding the crossover votes he needs to sustain it, Daley got a hero's welcome from business, religious and community leaders crowded under a tent in the middle of a muddy, 32-acre site, he said would "stand empty" if the minimum wage is allowed to stand.

"I'm gonna put lipstick on him and then [the mayor's wife] Maggie is gonna want to know where it come from and then, I'm gonna be in a mess," said a euphoric Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), whose ward includes the 119th and Marshfield site.

I wonder how "Wake Up Wal-Mart" and "Wal-Mart Watch" will spin this news?

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Retail Retail Chicago Illinois big box

Bad timing: CAIR press conference scheduled on day of attack on US Embassy

Earlier today Islamic militants (Hey, AP called them that) attacked the US Embassy in Damascus, Syria. The attacked failed, three terrorists, along with one Syrian embassy guard.

Here's the part of the AP story that caught my eye:

Witnesses also said the gunmen tried to throw hand grenades into the embassy compound, shouting "Allah Akbar!" or "God is great!" It was not clear if any of the grenades made it over the walls, which are about 8 feet high.

No one knows if these terrorists were part of al-Qaida. But today CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations, is holding a press conference in Washington at their headquarters (pictured) near Capitol Hill.

Here's an excerpt from that release:

"Al-Qaida does not speak for Islam or for the vast majority of Muslims worldwide who want to live in peace with their neighbors, practice their faith in freedom and raise their children in societies based on justice and mutual respect," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "For the last five years, al-Qaida has offered nothing but a future filled with endless violence and division."

But here's a group--my hunch is they're not al-Qaida--who once again is using Islam in a violent fashion. Forget the phony fatwas: When is CAIR going to tell the world that there is a cancer of terror within Islam?

UPDATE 9:50AM CDT: Syrian authorities are blaming the attack on an al-Qaida splinter group. But this is still a developing story.

From AP:

The al-Qaida offshoot group, called Jund al-Sham, has been blamed for several attacks in Syria in recent years, the Syrian ambassador, Imad Moustapha, said in comments to CNN.

Technorati tags: fatwa CAIR Washington Islam Muslims Syria Radical Islam

Victor Davis Hanson now writing for Pajamas Media

The folks at Pajamas Media caught a big fish yesterday: Author, columnist, historian, and academic Victor Davis Hanson is now writing for Pajamas. Or if you prefer, VDH writes for PJM. Here is his new blog, Work and Days, from the Pajamas site.

Technorati tags: Victor Davis Hanson Pajamas Media
Blog books

The Illinois & Michigan Canal

Although not nearly as famous as New York State's Erie Canal, the effect on Chicago from the building of the Illinois & Michigan Canal was as profound as the Erie Canal was on New York City.

The Erie connected the Great Lakes watershed to the Hudson River, and of course, ultimately, to the Atlantic. The I & M linked the South Branch of the Chicago River to the Illinois River, the waters of which eventually find their way to the Gulf of Mexico.

(I'm using past tense because there are some dry patches on the Illinois & Michigan, and I believe, on the Erie Canal as well.)

I took this photo from a bridge on Sunday in Lemont, Illinois.

Since the 1980s, a network of trails--built on the old mule tow-path of the I & M--have been constructed, making the canal a popular fitness destination for runners and cyclists. And nature lovers.

Technorati tags: Erie Canal I & M Canal Photos photography cycling running history Illinois Lemont

Buzz Patterson to be interviewed Wednesday on Constitutional Public Radio

On Sunday and Monday evenings, much of America was glued to ABC's Path to 9/11. A source for that show was Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson's book, Dereliction of Duty.

I've been fortunate enough to have been a guest on Andrea & Mark's Constitutional Public Radio.

On Wednesday, September 13, Buzz will be a guest on their program. CPR runs from 3pm-5pm Eastern Time each weekday on AM 1510 WWBC in Brevard County, Florida. As always, listeners who live outside of Florida's Space Coast can tune in on the internet.

Andrea and Mark have a blog, too. It's called Radio Patriots.

Hat tip to Third Wave Dave for the buzz on Buzz.

Technorati tags: Florida radio books 9/11 Path to 9/11 Television Terrorism

A bad day for Ald. Joe Moore: City Council may vote to repeal foie gras ban

As far as September 11, 2006 goes, I don't think any legislator on any level of government has had as bad of a day as North Side Alderman Joe Moore (49th) suffered through.

Earlier today, the centerpiece of Moore's drive to elevate himself into a national presence, the "big box living wage ordinance," was vetoed by Mayor Richard M. Daley.

And according to the Chicago Tribune, a side front in Moore's drive for political celebrity-hood, the foie gras ban he engineered through Chicago's City Council, might be repealed.

Two other North Siders, Ald. Bernard Stone (50th) and Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd)voted for Moore's bill, but they're now are having second thoughts.

From the Chicago Tribune, free registration required:

Stone contended that Chicago has become a national laughingstock since outlawing the delicacy, which is made from the livers of geese and ducks.

He acknowledged that inserting long tubes down the bird's neck and force-feeding it to produce foie gras is torture to the animal. And "in principle [the ordinance] is probably correct," he said.

But "anybody who has traveled anywhere in this country knows that people are just laughing their heads off at us," Stone said.

Natarus, who said he isn't worried about ridicule, favors repeal as "a matter of logic. It is a matter of reasonableness."

Mayor Richard M. Daley enjoys foie gras and has mocked the ban. He called the it the "silliest law" the Council has ever passed.

If Moore wants to make a name for himself, it's best that he stick close to home and improve matters for the 60,000 residents of his ward. For more on Chicago's 49th Ward, visit Morse Hell Hole and Rogers Park Rake. The former is a "loudmouth" according to a poster on my blog. I replied that Rogers Park, Moore's turf, needs more loudmouths.

Moore gets this consolation: He was named a Wal-Mart Watch Person of the Week a few months ago.

Hat tip on the foie gras story to Rich Miller's Capitol Fax.

Related post: Daley slams Ald. Moore over tying tragic fire, "big box" living wage ordinance

Technorati tags: Joe Moore foie gras Restaurants business big box Wal-Mart target Rogers Park

Muslim restaurant owner killed in Indiana, relatives claim hate crime

The murder of northwest Indiana restauranteur Naseeb Mohammed was the lead story on most of the Chicago newscasts a few nights ago. Although they haven't ruled out "hate" as a motive, Indiana police officials believe robbery was the motive in Mohammed's killing.

In today's Chicago Tribune, that is, in the September 11 edition of the Trib on the front page, a story with the claims of Mohammed's sons that the killing was a hate crime appeared. Free registration is required to access this Chicago Tribune story.

But Mohammed's sons insisted hate must have been a motive because only $150 was taken from the restaurant even though more was available. They also said it does not make sense to rob a restaurant in the morning before it opens, when more money would be available after closing.

"This is someone who wanted to bring grief to the Muslim community, and that's what they did," said his son Bassam Mohammed, 25.

"This is just another act of terror," said his oldest son, Ghassan Mohammed, 28.

More...

Bassam Mohammed said that in the years since 9/11, he and his family have suffered varying degrees of racism and mistrust.

Still, the police say there is no evidence that Mr. Mohammed's murder was a hate crime.

Technorati tags: 9/11 Muslims Indiana Northwest Indiana restaurants crime hate crime news Chicago Tribune

Daley vetoes Chicago "big box living wage" ordinance

I knew this would happen. There is common sense in Chicago.

From CBS 2 Chicago:

Mayor Daley on Monday vetoed an ordinance that would have required Wal-Mart and other "big-box" retailers to pay employees a "living wage" of at least $13-an-hour in wages and benefits by 2010.

"I understand and share a desire to ensure that everyone who works in the City of Chicago earns a decent wage," Daley said in his first-ever veto message. "But I do not believe that this ordinance, well-intentioned as it may be, would achieve that end. Rather, I believe it would drive jobs and businesses from our city, penalizing neighborhoods that need additional economic activity the most."

By filing his long-awaited veto message 48 hours before Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Daley met the legal requirements for an override vote on that day.

Ald. Joe Moore (49th), chief sponsor of the big-box ordinance, said the mayor’s forces have agreed to wait until he returns from the funeral Wednesday for six children who died in a Rogers Park fire. But they are apparently determined to hold the override vote when Moore returns to City Hall.

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Retail Retail Chicago Illinois big box

9/11 five years later

This is the flag that was lowered from the side of the Pentagon a day after the vicious 9/11 attacks on our nation. It's on now on display inside the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington.

9/11/06. Our nation is stronger.

Technorati tags: Photos Photography 9/11 Smithsonian washington dc Pentagon

Sunday afternoon in Lemont, Illinois

For a blogger, it's a good idea to take a camera with you wherever you go. If you don't, you miss out on great photo opportunities such as this one.

Tom's Place is in Lemont, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago.

Blatz beer helped fuel my college years. Although I no longer drink, I'm a bit saddened I don't see Blatz in the liquor section of the grocery story anymore.

Technorati tags: Photos Photography Americana Lemont

"Murder at the Cathedral," Khatami comes to Washington

I had the pleasure of meeting video blogger Andrew Marcus at the DePaul University's Ward Churchill debacle last fall.

Marcus traveled to Washington last week to record a short documentary on the visit of the "moderate" former President of Iran, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami.

Khatami was met, fortunately, by angry protesters outside the National Cathedral--Marcus nicely captures the scene and the video is available on Pajamas Media.

Pajamas Media's Richard Miniter narrates, and interviews New York Sun reporter Eli Lake, who says Khatami is not the reformer portrayed by the mainstream media. Miniter also speaks with Iranian dissident Amir Abbas Fakhravar, who was imprisoned during the "moderate's" eight year term.

Best line goes to Miniter, who states "Any dictatorial regime is essentially a civil war by the government against the people."

Technorati tags: Pajamas Media Iran خبر Middle East زنان Islam Washington Farsi Khatami سید محمد سید

Pajamas Media Blog Week in Review's latest podcast looks at the 9/11 anniversary

The latest edition of Pajamas Media's Blog Week in Review is available for download. Joining regular commentators Austin Bay and Tammy Bruce are Roger L. Simon and Gerard Van der Leun (of American Digest).

The fifth anniversary of the Islamicfascist (Yes, Tammy used the term, one I agree with wholeheartedly) attacks on the Homeland.

Roger L. Simon adds that the terrorist ideology is "The Middle Ages imposing itself on modernerity." I agree with that, too.

The rebellion of users of the Facebook online community is the second topic.

The final point of discussion is Pajamas sister site, Politics Central's coverage of the 2006 election.

Let's hope the overlooked (see below post) Illinois gubernatorial race is a Politics Central topic.

As always, that pariah state Iran gains a mention.

Ed Driscoll produced the podcast.

Technorati tags: Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central Iran خبر Middle East Facebook 9/11 War on Terror News

Illinois' Gov. Blagojevich: When is a gift a bribe?

When I was growing up, I'd get various gifts from relatives and family friends--a bond, maybe a check for $25, but nothing much more.

My father was not the governor of Illinois, however, so I didn't get any gifts like this, as AP tells us:

A published report says federal investigators have questioned friends of Gov. Rod Blagojevich about a $1,500 personal check written to one of the governor's children in 2003.

Investigators were interested in whether the money was linked to Beverly Ascaridis' hiring for a state job that same year.

The Chicago Tribune reported in its Sunday editions that the FBI interviewed Beverly Ascaridis and her husband, Michael Ascaridis, about the check made out to Amy Blagojevich.

The governor's office said the check was a gift for Amy's seventh birthday -- and nothing more.

Michael Ascaridis is described as a longtime Gov. Blago friend. He is Blagojevich's former campaign manager. His wife later joined the staff of the state Department of Natural Resources, where she makes $45,000 a year.

This is the first public acknowledgment that federal authorities are investigating the personal finances of the Blagojevich, a Chicago Democrat.

The hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration are being investigated by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, yes, the "Fitzmas" guy. Fitzgerald said in June that his office is looking at "various allegations of endemic hiring fraud" within state government since Blagojevich, who is up for re-election this year, became governor in 2003.

Here is the longer Chicago Tribune story. The Trib broke the news, but free registration is required to access the story.

In the Tribune report, it's noted that Beverly Ascaridis' job was originally located in Whiteside County, a rural area near the Iowa border best known for the village of Tampico, where Ronald Reagan was born. About a month layer, the positon was moved closer to Ascaridis' Chicago home.

But Beverly is not a fan of the governor, telling the Tribune, "I hate the man with every fiber of my being."

Last Wednesday, Blago's predecessor, Republican George Ryan, was sentenced to 78 months in prison after being found guilty of various corruption charges.

Related posts: Not a Merry Fitzmas in July for Ill. Gov Rod Blagojevich

Ill. Gov. Blagojevich's office hides new subpoenas

Blagojevich video game showboating costs Illinois $510,528.64

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Elections illinois politics Politics corruption Democrats Patrick Fitzgerald

Women could be banned at some Muslim hajj ceremonies

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the hajj, is unfortunately gotten a reputation for unintentional havoc: Many Muslims are injured or killed from stampedes brought un by overcrowding.

The best way to control overcrowding is to have fewer people at the hajj. And in a Muslim way of thinking, the Saudis may have come up with a solution: banning women from some of the hajj ceremonies.

Subjugation of women: It's the Islamic way.

Technorati tags: Saudi Arabia islam muslim Middle East Culture Muslim women hajj

The latest from our Saudi allies: Successful polygamy tips

The Arab News has a story has a story about a Saudi septuagenarian of modest means who passes on tips on how to live successfully as a polygamist.

Here's one pointer:

When asked how he makes ends meet on a relatively modest salary, he replies with an Arab proverb: "Spread your legs according to the width of your mattress."

Eeww!

Related posts: The latest from our Saudi allies: Sale of dogs and cats banned in the Kingdom

The latest from our Saudi allies: Police accuse maid of driving car

The latest from our Saudi allies: Man faces 500 lashes for bowing before dancer

Saudi anti-vice goons disrupt Riyadh book fair

The latest from our Saudi allies: No gym classes for girls

Saudi restaurant owner faces 90 lashes for hiring two veiled women

Technorati tags: Saudi Arabia islam muslim Middle East Culture

AL Central race tightens up

This evening the Minnesota Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-1. The Twins now trail the Tigers by only three games. Meanwhile, the defending World Series champion Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 10-8.

In the American League Wild Card race, Minnesota leads, but the Sox are just a half game behind the Twins.

It will be an exciting September in the Central.

Technorati tags: Detroit Tigers White Sox Chicago White Sox baseball MLB Minnesota Twins World Series Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians

Mr. Right's new photo caption contest with Nancy Pelosi, a "friend" of labor

Fellow Illinois blogger Mr. Right has a new photo caption contest up, this one featuring House Minority Leader (and Progressive Caucus member) Nancy Pelosi.

Enter here!

Oh, I've referenced this book several times in the last year, Peter Schweizer's Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy:.

Did you know Pelosi has a 96 lifetime rating from the AFL-CIO? Did you know that Nancy and her husband Paul have shares of ownership in a number of businesses, none of which are unionized?

Imagine if Nancy Pelosi wasn't a Democrat. Do you think the AFL-CIO and the SEIU would be screaming about her?

Technorati tags: liberals books Hypocrisy Peter Schweizer Pelosi Nancy Pelosi humor funny AFL-CIO Unions

Morning has broken: Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, to release new pop album

For the first time in 27 years, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, now called Yusuf Islam, will release an album of new recordings.

The new album will be called "An Other Cup," Reuters/Billboard is reporting.

Cat Stevens was a very popular artist in the early and mid-1970s, a major force in the folk-tinged singer-songwriter movement. His hits from the era include "Moonshadow," "Peace Train," "Morning Has Broken," as well as the Sam Cooke cover "Another Saturday Night."

The new album, scheduled for a November release, has another cover of a well-known song, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," a mid-1960s hit for the Animals.

Stevens converted to Islam in 1977, changing his name to Yusuf Islam. Outside a scattering of Islamic-themed recordings, Yusuf has been musically silent since 1979.

Don't look for a USA tour for Mr. Islam, as he is banned from traveling to America because of his alleged ties to Middle Eastern terrorist groups.

Technorati tags: Cat Stevens Rock music Music Terrorism News Entertainment Islam Entertainment

Podcast with bloggers querying Sen. Rick Santorum

Pajamas Media's Politic Central has another podcast, this one features bloggers posing questions to Senator Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania.

Iran, the elephant in the room in regards to Middle Eastern politics, is a main topic, as is concern of how Russian weapons end up in the hands of Hezbollah terrorists.

Bloggers participating in the Santorum forum include Andrew Cochran of the Counterterrorism Blog, Paul Mirengoff of Powerline, Tim Chapman of Townhall, Robert Bluey of Human Events Online, as well as Roger L. Simon and Juliette Ochieng of Pajamas Media.

Technorati tags: Pennsylvania Politics podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central Santorum Iran خبر Middle East

Kidnapped!

While I was visiting my mother at her rehab facility in Lemont, Illinois (near the famous Cog Hill Golf Course) this evening, news broke that Air Force Major Jill Metzger had been found alive, a victim of a kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan.

I read e-mails from Occidentality and Third Wave Dave from my Treo after leaving the facility tonight.

Media reports vary on how Metzger was found. This is still a developing story, and since it's now daylight in Kyrgyzstan, I have a feeling there will be some more updates tonight.

The consistent theme among the press coverage is this: She was kidnapped but she's alive.

Related post: Air Force Major (and marathoner) Jill Metzger missing in Kyrgyzstan

Technorati tags: Kyrgyzstan military air force crime Jill Metzger

Campus plagiarism watch: Did Southern Ill. Univ. steal Texas A&M's long range plan?

Hey, if this is true, you can successfully argue that the problem of plagiarism is more widespread than originally thought.
From the Southern Illinoisan:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale has been accused of plagiarizing its plan to become a top 75 research university, "Southern at 150," in the nation's premier higher education publication.

A story that appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education today alleges the planning documents that directed more than 200 people in the SIUC community to craft Southern at 150 are nearly identical to a long-range plan crafted by Chancellor Walter Wendler's superior at Texas A&M University at College Station. Wendler came to SIUC from Texas A&M in 2001.

Documents showing the alleged plagiarism were given to the Chronicle by members of Alumni and Faculty Against Corruption at SIU, a group formed in support of an SIU-Edwardsville professor Chris Dussold, who was fired in 2004 for alleged plagiarism. The group has been using plagiarism detection software, pulling up evidence that others within the university system have plagiarized but not been dismissed, as Dussold was.

While SIU President Glenn Poshard has come to the defense of both Wendler and Edwardsville chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift over previous allegations the group has spotted, this time he has appointed a three-member panel to review the allegations and submit a written report back to him.

Side note to those reading from outside Illinois: Poshard was the Democratic nominee for Illinois governor in the 1998 election. He was narrowly defeated by some Republican named George H. Ryan.

It appears that Illinois native Ward Churchill is not involved in this alleged plagiarism case.

Technorati tags: SIU Texas Illinois Academia college

Jill Metzger, first female finisher in the 2004 Air Force Marathon

For more on Jill Metzger, scroll down a couple of posts.

From Yahoo! News:

In this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, Maj. Jill Metzger is shown crossing the line as the first female finisher of the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio Sept. 18, 2004. Investigators continue their search for Metzger, 33, who disappeared Tuesday after being separated from a group of servicemen while visiting a department store in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Spencer P. Lane)

Technorati tags: Kyrgyzstan military marathon running air force

New York Times grasping at straws with Wal-Mart Foundation

Friend of the blog Marshall Manson of Edelman Public Relation e-mailed me a Michael Barbaro story from today's New York Times (free registration required).

The Wal-Mart Foundation, run by some Walton family members, has given some money to conservative think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

Here's an interesting paragraph:

The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, for example, has received more than $100,000 from the foundation in the last three years, a fraction of the more than $24 million it raised in 2004 alone.

When is there going to be a Times expose on the Ford Foundation (Ford Motors severed its ties to the group years ago), the Brookings Institute or the Center for American Progress? Those liberal (or radical in the case of the Ford Foundation) must have some intriguing donors.

John J. Miller of the NRO Corner has more.

Scroll down a couple of posts for a related story on Alderman Joe Moore, leader of the anti-Wal-Mart jihad in Chicago.

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Retail Retail Media New York Times Fund raising

Air Force Major (and marathoner) Jill Metzger missing in Kyrgyzstan

Third Wave Dave informed me about the story about Air Force Major Jill Metzger, who is a missing person in Kyrgyzstan. Like the other former Soviet Union "Stans," Kyrgyzstan is not a democracy, and tribal loyalties outweigh national allegiance.

As OP-FOR points out, Kyrgyzstan is known for bride-kidnapping. This may not have happened to Jill, but nothing can be ruled out in regards to Major Metzger's disappearance.

The link is gone, but last July, the Chicago Tribune had an long article in its Sunday paper about Kyrgyzstan and bride-kidnapping. A few months ago, I saw a PBS Frontline documentary about the subject.

Kyrgyzstani bride kidnapping goes like this: The prospective bride is abducted, an "offer" of marriage follows, this is forwarded to the "bride's" family. Acceptance to the "marriage proposal," or a ransom buy-out is "requested."

According to Murat Sutalinov, Kyrgyzstan's interior minister, there has been no ransom demand.

A troubling situation--Jill was slated to return to the United States this weekend, which makes it hard to believe she would disappear on her own.

Major Metzger is a marathoner, and a good one. She recently ran a three hour and six minute race in the Air Force Marathon. That's a little over a seven-minute a mile pace for 26 miles. Very fast.

Back to Kyrgyzstan. Just once, and only in the print edition an in a box-summary about the nation, was Islam mentioned in the 2005 Tribune article. Kyrgyzstan is an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. The religion wasn't mentioned at all in the Frontline documentary. Yes, I'm well aware bride kidnapping is not sanctioned in the Koran or the various Hadiths. But since subjugation of women is part of Islamic culture--sorry folks, it's true--somehow, even subconsciously, Islam must play some sort of role in this vile practice.

But the mainstream media won't report on that.

Technorati tags: Islam Muslim women Muslims Kyrgyzstan military marathon running air force

Daley slams Ald. Moore over tying tragic fire, "big box" living wage ordinance

And to think that some Moore sockpuppet, or alleged sockpuppet, in this post (see comments) accused me of doing the same thing--making political hay out of the tragic fire where six Rogers Park kids were killed over the weekend.

I stand by that post.

Meanwhile, Mayor Richard Daley is upset with Alderman Joe Moore, who the other day tried to tie that tragic fire to his "big box" living wage ordinance.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Daley saved some of his ire for Ald. Joe Moore (49th) -- for suggesting during a TV interview about the fire in his ward that the Ramirez family's plight was an example of why Chicago needs the big-box living wage ordinance. "That's a great tragedy, and I regret that someone tried to inject politics into that . . . that's totally irresponsible," said Daley, who has threatened to veto the ordinance.

Moore, who backs the measure, said: "My intention was to talk . . . in terms of the general importance of people having living wages so that people who have full-time jobs are able to pay their utility bills."

Once again I have to point out that the landlord of the firetrap building where the fire occured is a major financial contributor to Joe Moore's political fund.

UPDATE 6:40PM CDT: Here's another story, this one from NBC 5 Chicago, Daley Blasts Landlord In Fatal Fire

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Joe Moore Chicago Illinois Illinois Politics fire news Politics Big box

More Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

As I noted yesterday, Cottonwood trees thrive in disturbed soils, such as the onetime garbage dump at 111th Street and LaGrange Road in unincorporated Palos Township, Illinois.

Unfortunately, European Buckthorn, pictured here, an invasive species, also prospers in such an environment.

Cottonwoods pave the way for such important trees as Oaks and Hickories.

Buckthorns choke out such species.

Earlier posts: New Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

Continued, Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

Technorati tags: nature photography photos Palos environment Illinois cottonwood Buckthorn

Pajamas Media's Politics Central podcast with Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington serves a purpose for me: Her Huffington Post site is a good weather vane for gauging the thought process of the Left.

Huffington has a new book out, On Becoming Fearless. PJM Special Correspondent Andrew Keen interviews Arianna for a discussion of her book.

Among the politicians she views as "fearless," are Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Connecticut's Ned Lamont, the Democratic Party's nominee for Joe Lieberman's senate seat.

Listen here.

Technorati tags: Lamont Chuck Hagel Arianna Huffington Liberals Connecticut Nebraska books podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Politics Central

Ed Koch making sense on terror and Bush-bashing

Hat tip to Dr. Steven Plaut in Haifa.

Ed Koch, a lifelong Democrat and former New York City mayor, voted for George W. Bush in 2004. Koch knows we are at war, and hopefully a few Democrats will listen. Or heck, I'll be happy if one Dem does.

As for impeachment, even if the Democrats take Congress, just a few sober voices among the Democrats such as Koch's should prevent a House majority from coalescing around impeaching Bush.

From the Jewish Press:

Why do so many Americans refuse to face the fact that our country is at war with international terrorism?

The leading terrorist group, Al Qaeda, is fighting us on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Both Iran and North Korea are threatening nuclear war. And yet many Americans, including some Congressional Democrats, denounce President Bush – and in so doing, weaken our country’s ability to resist Islamic fascism. One Congressional Democrat, John Conyers of Michigan, announced his intention to impeach the president when Republicans lose control of both Houses of Congress.

There is something terribly wrong with people seeking to demean and weaken the president in wartime, thereby strengthening our country’s enemies. As a result of the language and tactics of those opposed to our presence in Iraq, our enemies have been emboldened, believing the American public to be sharply divided on the war, and in fact at war with itself.

To other countries, Americans appear pitted against one another not in an election, but in a verbal bloodbath, convincing the world we are impotent – a paper tiger.

Technorati tags: New York Ed Koch War on Terror Terrorism Bush impeachment John Conyers

Ex-Gov. Ryan sentenced to 6 1/2 years prison time

From CBS 2 Chicago:

Former Gov. George Ryan (R-IL) has been sentenced to 78 months, or 6-1/2 years, in prison on charges of corruption when he was secretary of state.

Ryan and co-defendant Larry Warner were convicted of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud and lying to FBI agents.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ryan was ordered to pay $603,048 in restitution.

Ryan was convicted in April of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud and lying to FBI agents. A sentencing hearing for Warner, 67, will be held shortly after Ryan's.

Former Ill. Gov. George Ryan sentencing: Must pay $600,00 in restitution

Illinois' former chief executive, Republican George Ryan, is being sentenced this afternoon after being convicted on various corruption charges. In the first phase of his sentencing, Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer has ordered Ryan to pay $603,048 in restitution, CBS 2 Chicago is reporting this afternoon.

Check back here to see if Ryan receives prison time.

My run-in with Jesse Jackson's Operation PUSH

In 1993, I was a convention service manager at Chicago's Congress Hotel. One of the groups I worked with, or attempted to, was the Operation PUSH annual convention. PUSH of course later merged with Rainbow Coalition, forming Rainbow/PUSH.

My experience with PUSH was a nightmare. They were angry. They were disorganized. And they expected everything for free.

PUSH wanted only African-Americans to work their events, and they were upset that I couldn't meet their demand: Union seniority rules made that impossible. Oh, the blacks we had on the staff didn't like working the PUSH parties, as the PUSH-ees were difficult customers for them as well.

I don't know how close Jesse Jackson, Jr. is to Rainbow/PUSH. But he's bound to have some link to the group, and simply put, the City of Chicago can't have those crazies from Rainbow/PUSH inside City Hall.

Yes, I know my run-in with PUSH was thirteen years ago, but I have no reason to believe that the newer Rainbow/PUSH has changed its stripes. After all, Jesse Jackson Sr. is still in charge.

Meanwhile, today I'm reading that Jesse, Jr. is testing the waters for a possible run for mayor of Chicago.

Maybe I'll move back to Chicago (as many of my critics have called for) just to vote against Junior.

Technorati tags: Chicago Illinois Illinois Politics Rainbow PUSH Politics Democrats African-American

Continued, Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

As I noted in previos posts, the garbage dump at 111th Street and LaGrange Road was in operation until the early 1970s.

That's a cottonwood tree in the center, an important species, because it thrives in disturbed soil, making it easier for Midwestern forest mainstays such Oaks and Hickories to get established.

Earlier posts: New Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

Technorati tags: nature photography photos Palos environment Illinois cottonwood

Kathleen Parker: Religion of Peace, at gunpoint

Columnist Kathleen Parker is one of the few mainstream journalists who is publicly denouncing the "conversions" to Islam by Fox News reporter Steve Centanni and his cameraman, Olaf Wiig.

From the Manchester Union-Leader:

". . . disbelievers will be cast into an eternal fire. But Allah is also ever merciful, and the West can change its ways and turn to the purifying power of Islam . . .''
-- Kidnapped FOX reporter Steve "Khaled'' Centanni, channeling his captors.

We don't often get to watch our media people convert to Islam, so the footage of Fox News' Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig has been riveting.

Some people can't get enough of watching planes fly into the World Trade Center towers; I can't get enough of Centanni and Wiig pledging allegiance to Muhammad, peace be upon Him.

In his role as Khaled, Centanni said he hoped to help Westerners see the light of Islam, which "helps people to love mercy, brotherhood, equality and justice.'' Especially -- we can't help filling in for him -- when a gun is pointed at one's head. Or a knife poised at one's throat.

CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations, is still silent on these forced conversions.

Earlier this month, al-Qaeda's number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, along with American convert to Islam Adam Yehiye Gadahn, called on Americans to convert to Islam.

CAIR is silent on that call to the faith, too.

On a related note, Third Wave Dave found a CAIR link filled with testimonials from various politicians. Surprisingly, the geographic reach is spotty in CAIR's politico roll call. Michigan is well represented of course, as well as California (Sorry Dave), Maryland, and for some reason, Ohio.

Technorati tags: CAIR Islam < Muslims Religion Current Events Religion of Peace

Lewis & Clark 200 years ago: Almost home

The Billings Gazette has a daily feature in honor of the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark expedition. On September 5, 2006, the explorers and their crew are on what later became the Iowa-Nebraska state line.

From the Gazette:

We did not meet with McClellen as we expected at the Creek. the report of the guns which was heard must have been the Mahars who most probably have just arrived at their village from hunting the buffalow. this is a Season they usialy return to their village to Secure their Crops of Corn Beens punkins &c. proceeded on very well passd. the blue Stone bluff at 3 P. M here the river leaves the high lands and meanders through a low rich bottom. Encamped on the S W Side on a Sand bar at a cut off a little below our Encampment of the 9th of August 1804 haveing made 73 Miles to day. Capt. Lewis still in a Convelesent State.

The photograph is from my personal collection, taken on a rainy morning last fall near Blair, Nebraska.

Technorati tags: History Nebraska

Wednesday's big story: Ex-Gov. George Ryan to be sentenced

Tomorrow in Chicago, former Illinois Governor George Ryan will receive his sentence from federal Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer. Earlier this year a jury found Ryan guilty of various corruption and fraud charges.

Outside of Illinois, the Kankakee Republican is best known for clearing out our state's death row.

Technorati tags: George Ryan Illinois Politics

Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

Sunflowers, a fixture of late summer and early fall, have established themselves at the former dump on 111th Street and LaGrange Road in unincorporated Palos Township.

Technorati tags: nature photography photos Palos environment Illinois

Fund established for the Ramirez family

A fund has been set up for the surving members of the Ramirez family of Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. The Howard Area Community Center worked assisted the family prior to Sunday's fatal fire, so this is the fund to donate to, if you care to help.

Ramirez Family Fund, c/o
Howard Area Community Center
7648 North Paulina Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60626
(773) 262-6622 voice

Technorati tags: Chicago Illinois Fire Charity Rogers Park

CAIR introduces new logo

Perhaps they just wanted to do something different, but that apologist group for Muslim extremism, the Council on American Islamic Relations, CAIR, has a new logo.

Click here if you feel compelled to see it.

As far as I'm concerned, CAIR's new logo is nothing more than redesigning a turd by spraypainting it gold.

It still stinks.

However, the new logo troubles me, since it means I may have to travel to Washington again to update my file photo of CAIR's national headquarters.

Related posts: CAIR-Chicago recommended that DePaul fire Klocek

Klocek radio day; Daniel Pipes on CAIR hypocrisy in Klocek case

Technorati tags: CAIR Islam Washington photos Muslims Marketing branding

Pam of Blogmeister USA reports on Lamont & Lieberman parade appearances

Our intrepid woman in Connecticut, Pam of Blogmeister USA, attended a Labor Day parade in Newtown, Connecticut.

Not only does she have pictures, but Pam reports the Joe Lieberman, the independent candidate running for re-election for the US Senate, had more cheers than his chief opponent, Democrat Ned Lamont. And Joe had the smaller entourage.

Click here to get to Pam's blog and Newtown, which is so New England-ey,the mayor there is called "First Selectman."

Technorati tags: Lieberman Lamont Connecticut Congress Senate

New Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

In 1968, my family moved Chicago's South Side to southwestern suburban Palos Heights.

At that time, there was a garbage dump at 111th Street and LaGrange Road in unincorporated Palos Township, a vile and smelly place to the six year old Marathon Pundit.

The dump was capped off sometime around 1972. Around the time to property was purchased by the Cook County Forest Preserve District. For years, methane gas was released from valves such as the one pictured here. To the slightly older but still young Marathon Pundit, traveling past the former dump at night was pretty awesome, the gas was lit, giving the barren field an eerie bluish look at night.

Yesterday I walked through the old dump. The only hints that the spot was a dump are the valves.

Another photograph tomorrow.

Related post: Sign of late summer: Sunflowers

Technorati tags: nature photography photos Palos environment Illinois

Six children die in Chicago fire, building owner a major Ald. Joe Moore contributor

Early Sunday morning a deadly fire swept through an third floor apartment in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, the city's highest fire death toll since 1964. Six children, all from the same family, died.

The electricity to the unit had been shut off for weeks, and according the Chicago Fire Department officials, the unit didn't have working smoke detectors.

At night, family members used candles as lighting, and it's believed a candle caused the deadly blaze.

The Rogers Park building is located in a rough corner of Alderman Joe Moore's 49th Ward, the North of Howard neighborhood.

Here's what Moore said yesterday about the fire, courtesy of NBC 5 Chicago:

I did conduct a visual inspection of a couple of the other units in the building today, they were equipped with smoke detectors, hard-wired. So, I believe the fire department's finding of there being no smoke detectors in that apartment were preliminary.

But the fire department said there weren't working smoking detectors. Who would you believe?

Craig Gernhardt who writes the excellent Morse Hell Hole blog, doesn't believe Moore:

Lie, lie, lie. Then lie some more. This is just another example why the man sitting in the 49th ward Alderman's seat has to go. He's out of touch with his community.

Didn't the Alderman know you need electricity to make these hard-wired smoke detector's work?

Jay Johnson, the owner of the "Death Trap on Marshfield" is a frequent Alderman Moore campaign contributor and has been notified of the tragedy. Mr. Johnson blames the Ramirez family for this tragedy on the news programs. Mr. Johnson also sits on Alderman Moore's rubber stamp - local 49th ward, "community" Zoning And Land Use Advisory Committee. (ZALUAC). He must have known the electricity was turned off to the 7706 North Marshfield #3 unit. (My note, the address of the apartment building where the tragic fire occurred). ComEd is required to tell the property owner when they shut off power to a unit.

More on Moore and his money, again from Morse Hell Hole:

Joe Moore can afford to be "generous" toward the Ramirez family - he's gotten at least $8000 in campaign donations from Jay Johnson. What kind of credibility is this investigation going to have?

I think Joe's campaign fund should donate at least $8000 to the Ramirez family fund, although at that point it would only be breaking even.

Donations from Jay Johnson to Joe:

Cornerstone Residential GR LLC dba CIG Management 350 W. Erie
Ste 100
Chicago, IL 60610 $1,000.00
2/11/2005 Individual Contribution

CIG Management LLC c/o CIG Management to Citizens for Joe Moore

$1,500.00 6/14/2002
$500.00 11/13/2001
$500.00 3/25/2004

Cornerstone Residential Group LLC dba CIG Management LLC

$1,500.00 1/24/2003
$1,500.00 1/24/2003

$1,000.00 2/11/2005

Morse Urban Development to Citizens for Joe Moore
$500.00 4/12/2000

Moore, of course, is doing his best to getting his name out nationally leading the Chicago front on the Democratic Party's jihad against Wal-Mart, as well as his idiotic bill banning foie gras from Chicago eateries.

Moore, however, has a lot of explaining to do in regards to what's happening in his 49th Ward.

CORRECTIONS 2:15PM CDT: Only five of the victims were from the same family, the sixth was a friend.

The information on Jay Johnson's donations to Moore did come from Morse Hell Hole, but from the comments section. That contribution came from another North Side blogger, Rogers Park Rake.

Related posts: Ald. Joe Moore, retail genius

Ald. Moore: Putting the unions' money where his mouth is

Mayor Daley says phooey on Chicago foie gras ban

Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Joe Moore Chicago Illinois Illinois Politics smoke detectors fire news Politics

Still alive, Boris Yeltsin says Latvians should forget word "occupation"

Simply because of its location next to the Soviet Union, Latvia was forcibly annexed by the Soviets and brutally occupied for fifty years. But don't call it an "occupation," says former Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Denial is a common symptom for alcoholics, as well as megalomaniacs. Yeltsin, who somehow has manage to dodge the grim reaper, is probably both of those, so what he says shouldn't be taken seriously. Yeltsin visited Latvia last week, and his visit was undoubtedly another reminder to Latvians as to why they should be grateful they're an independent nation again.

From Mosnews.com:

Latvia should forget the word "occupation," and then its relations with Russia will improve considerably, former Russian President Boris Yeltsin said in an interview with the Latvian daily Neatkariga, quoted by the Baltic Times.

"You are blaming Russia for Latvia's occupation. Do you have any brain? Are you able to look at things in an objective way? Where was Russia at that time? There was no Russia. There was the Soviet Union. There was this monster. The Soviet Communist regime, which we were all fighting, said Yeltsin.

No. Yeltsin was not fighting the Soviet Union. He was nothing but an opportunist who saw Gorbachev's "Glasnost" as his chance to move up the ladder in Moscow. For decades, Yeltsin was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Oh, check out the URL for this story: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/08/25/latvianobrain. Yes, "Latvia no brain."

Technorati tags: Latvia Latvija Russia Boris Yeltsin News Communism Россия

NATO forces kill 200 Taliban

Some good news in the War on Terror this holiday weekend. New such as this won't be among Nancy Pelosi's talking points:

From the Irish Examiner:

Warplanes today dropped bombs on suspected Taliban fighters hiding in orchards and ground troops fired artillery in a major Afghan-NATO offensive that killed more than 200 militants in southern Afghanistan.

Four Canadian soldiers were also killed in the clashes.

Booming explosions echoed above the grape and pomegranate fields in Panjwayi district, about 12 miles from Kandahar city, as planes pounded militants believed to be hiding amid the greenery and dried-mud houses.

Operation Medusa was launched on Saturday to flush out Taliban fighters from Panjwayi and neighbouring Zhari district. Said Nato spokesman Major Scott Lundy.

Technorati tags: War on Terror Canada Afghanistan Military Breaking NATO

Scene from a 20 mile run

A friend of mine took this photo of me with an LG CU500 camera phone this morning in Chicago's Lincoln Park, just north of Addison Avenue. A couple of minutes earlier I finished running 20 miles with the Illinois Runs training group.

Technorati tags: running Marathon LG cu500 camera phones Chicago run

Wildflower caption contest

Does anyone know what kind of wildflower this is? It just started blooming about a week a ago two blocks from my home in Morton Grove, Illinois, where a prairie seems to be restoring itself on an embankment next to Interstate 94.

It's tall, about 6 feet high.

Photo taken this afternoon with my Treo 650.

Technorati tags: Morton Grove Illinois photos wildflowers Nature Treo TREO 650 Photography

Eugene the Bunker Blogger's Pajamas podcast

During the recent Israel-Hezbollah War, Eugene, a Haifa blogger, gave podcast updates from his bunker as missiles landed on his hometown.

Pajamas Media's Roger L. Simon tracked down Eugene, who gives us an update on post-war Israel in this podcast from Pajamas' Politics Central.

As with Pajamas Blog Week in Review, free subscriptions to Politics Central podcasts are available at the iTunes web site.

Technorati tags: podcasts Podcast Podcasting iPod blog Pajamas Media Israel Israeli politics Hezbollah iTunes Politics Central

Duckworth running nationally for an Illinois congressional seat

Despite the delusions of a west suburban Chicago blogger (you know who you are), I don't support Democrat Tammy Duckworth in the race to succeed Henry Hyde in Illinois' Sixth Congressional District, I'm behind Republican Peter Roskam.

For those of you who don't know, Duckworth is an Iraqi war veteran who lost both her legs after the helicopter she was flying was shot down.

As a candidate, Tammy's main talent has been attracting prominent Democrats from outside Illinois to back her candidacy. Tammy lives outside the district she's running in--she resides in the Eighth--but that seat is held by Democrat Melissa Bean, who ousted longtime (too longtime, actually) Republican Phil Crane two years ago. Bean faces a tough re-election challenge from Republican David McSweeney.

Tammy, according to Dan Curry of Reverse Spin, is avoiding local media, but seems to have plenty of time for what seems to be bigger media game for the Hoffman Estates Democrat:

The only way to find out about one of the candidates in my congressional race is to read Time, or one of the other national publications writing publicity stories about Dem darling Tammy Duckworth, who is taking on Peter Roskam in the 6th Congressional District.

She apparently is more comfortable with the big, bad national media than local newspapers like the Des Plaines Journal & Topics, which is being stiffed by Duckworth as this column by Managing Editor Todd Wessell points out.

Duckworth is pursuing a foolish strategy running nationally for a local race. Despite that massive population of the Chicago region, area residents are quite clannish and suspicious of outsiders. Unlike the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, Chicago and its suburbs are not dominated by transplants.

And community papers are closely studied by Chicago area residents who vote.

Technorati tags: Tammy Duckworth peter roskam Illinois Politics Illinois Congress Iraq Democrats

Mr. Right's new photo caption contest....

...this photo caption contest from Mr. Right has two walking jokes in in: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and the Reverend Al Sharpton.

Enter here.

Technorati tags: humor Jokes funny humour Ray Nagin Al Sharpton New Orleans

Update on my mother

After the Constitutional Public Radio show ended yesterday afternoon, I visited my mother in the hospital. As you may know, she broke her hip Tuesday afternoon.

Although she is suffering from pain--a broken hip and major surgery in a three day period is a lot for the body to cope with--she's doing fairly well.

New head of Islamic group criticizes "Islamicfascist" comment at annual convention

Earlier this week Ingrid Mattson, a female convert to Islam, was elected head of the Islamic Society of North America, the continent's oldest Islamic organization.

However, if decides to visit Saudi Arabia, she won't be able to drive a car.

The group's annual convention is taking place near Chicago's O'Hare Airport, and Mattson is off to a predictable start, criticizing Bush's "Islamicfascist" comment.

Which brings to mind this comment from Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, the general manager of the al-Arabiya network.

It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims.

There's a problem within Islam, Ingrid: widespread violence committed in the name of the faith. And blaming Bush, or for that matter the West, colonialism, or the Jews is not solving that problem.

Technorati tags: Islam Muslim Terrorism Bush ISNA Chicago Illinois

Klocek appearance on CPR radio rebroadcast tonight

Click here to listen to Mark and Andrea's rebroadcast of their afternoon show, with an interview with Tom Klocek, former DePaul Univeristy professor; he will be on around 9pm Eastern, 8:00pm Central. Blogger Kitty Myers precedes the professor.

And yes, our old pals at CAIR are discussed.

Technorati tags: DePaul Free Speech Academic freedom Thomas Klocek Chicago Illinois Catholic CAIR

DePaul contacts, the co-chairs of the board of directors

These are people to contact at DePaul about the Thomas Klocek affair, the co-chairs of the Chicago Catholic school's board of directors.

John Simon: jsimon@jenner.com

Mary Dempsey: mdempsey@chicagopubliclibrary.org

DePaul Free Speech Academic freedom Thomas Klocek Chicago Illinois Catholic Muslims

Klocek radio day; Daniel Pipes on CAIR hypocrisy in Klocek case

This post will remain on top until this later this afternoon.

Thomas Klocek will be LIVE! on Constitutional Public Radio this afternoon at 4:00PM Eastern Time, 3:00PM Central. Yes, you can listen in on the internet!

UPDATE! The chatroom is open!

Noted author Daniel Pipes blows the whistle--again--on CAIR, this time revealing (surpise!) hypocrisy by CAIR.

From Front Page Magazine:

But in Chicago’s other high-profile academic-freedom case concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict, and there, CAIR is exactly on the other side, seeking to have the instructor fired.

That would be the case of Thomas Klocek, a part-time adjunct professor since 1991 at DePaul University, the largest Catholic school in the United States. At a campus fair, Klocek expressed pro-Israel views, got into an altercation with two anti-Israel groups (Students for Justice in Palestine and United Muslims Moving Ahead), and, after they registered complaints against him, was suspended by the university. CAIR not only endorsed his suspension but, as articulated by Christina Abraham, CAIR-Chicago's civil rights coordinator (and a DePaul University law student), wanted him more severely punished.

Abraham gave a video interview in June 2006 concerning Klocek’s suspension, as revealed by John Ruberry, in the course of which she, speaking on behalf of CAIR explained the organization’s position on Klocek. About 1/8th of the way into the video, she says: “We were very concerned with the situation and we did request that he [Klocek] be terminated.” She confirmed this, later saying (about 1/6th of the way in) that CAIR-Chicago suggested to DePaul that “if the investigation were to have shown that he did make these statements that and he did act this way towards the students, yes, we did suggest that they should terminate him.”

More...

As Ruberry points out, CAIR fancies itself a civil rights organization, but is it the normal work of a civil rights organization to recommend that a private institution fire an employee, thereby depriving him of his livelihood (not to speak of the health insurance required for his serious kidney condition)? Some might conclude that CAIR is no civil rights organization; that would certainly fit with my own perception since 1999.

CAIR Chicago is pretty cozy with DePaul. Their office is at 28 E. Jackson in Chicago's south Loop, where DePaul has office space, and that building is right across the street from DePaul's downtown campus.

Two DePaul professors, M. Cherif Bassiouni and Aminiah McCloud have ties to CAIR. Bassiouni a regular on the CAIR speaking circuit. McCloud's most recent claim to fame is being named in David Horowitz' 2006 book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America.

DePaul is currently touting on its website the honor bestowed on it by the Princeton Review, which said DePaul had the "Most Diverse Student Body."

Overall however, DePaul, the nation's largest Catholic university, is not diverse enough to keep Professor Thomas Klocek on its payroll.

Related posts: Thomas Klocek defense fund seeking donations

Reinstate Thomas Klocek at DePaul petition nearing 1700 signatures

DePaul DeTritus

DePaul professor to me: "I would never allow you in my classroom"

Technorati tags: DePaul Free Speech Academic freedom Thomas Klocek Chicago Illinois Catholic Muslims Florida radio Diversity Daniel Pipes Aminah McCloud M. Cherif Bassiouni