Red admiral butterfly and milkweed

A few days ago in Morton Grove I sneaked up on a red admiral butterfly feeding on milkweed blossoms.

(Video) NH Hillary backer says she likes Sanders more

Hillary Clinton has problems with her base. For instance, CNN spoke with a New Hampshire Democrat who is an HRC backer--but she says she likes Bernie Sanders more.

If you were dating this woman--you'd be very worried about being dumped.

(Photos) Strange clouds in the Chicago area

There is a major storm rolling over Chicago's far southern suburbs. The pretty part is up north.

The edge of the cloud mass, a cumulonimbus, as seen at the Ned Brown Forest Preserve--also known as Busse Woods--in Schaumburg a few hours ago.

At dusk this is what the scene was at the Park Ridge Metra Station.

(Photo) 1967 Chevy Chevelle

While in Belle Island State Park in Detroit I was able to find a classic car: a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle.

Chattanooga killer's family described as "really religious"

Belleau Wood US Marines
Memorial, Des Plaines, IL

With no doubt with heavy hearts, the Chattanooga Times Free Press is doing superb work covering today's terror attack in the Tennessee city in which four United States Marines were murdered.

The killer, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, was shot to death by local police.

The paper contacted a former high school classmate of the murderer, Ryan Smith.

From the Times Free Press:

Smith said that Abdulazeez was very religious, and that he would argue "back and forth" with the boys' high school wrestling coach during fasting rituals.

"His whole family was really religious," Smith said. "His family, they all wore the drapes and stuff, all the women in his family wore the little hoods."

Andulazeez became an mixed martial artist after high school, Smith said. Smith did not know what motivated his former friend to attack the military installations in Chattanooga.

(Photos) Detroit's abandoned Fisher Body 21 plant

One of Detroit's largest abandoned factories is the former Fisher Body 21 plant on Piquette Avenue near Midtown. As it's easily visible from two interstate highways, the Albert Kahn-designed building in a prominent reminder of the decline of Detroit.

Fisher Body, formed in 1908, was originally an independent company that made coaches for automobile and carriage firms. It was acquired in stages from General Motors in 1919 and 1926. The factory also opened in 1919. For decades "Body by Fisher" logos were found in the interior of GM cars--but the division was phased out in the 1980s.

Walking inside abandoned buildings is risky. The collapsed second floor dominates this first floor shot. This was one of two buildings were I found someone in side--although the individual inside Fisher Body was about 50 yards away from me.

Outside the old factory a tour guide was explaining the history of the building to a group of German tourists. But they didn't go inside.

During World War II the 600,000 square foot plant concentrated on defense work. The post-war factory concentrated on stamping work for limousines, buses, and ambulances. By this time its height had to have been a disadvantage. Time is lost as work shifts from one floor to another--and elevators break down.

This is the sixth floor of the factory from its roof.

In 2008 asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), believed to be a carcinogen, were discovered at Fisher Body 21. It is considered "open and dangerous" by the city of Detroit.

Yes, there is squalor here.

Also on the roof I discovered some Chiraq graffiti. Does Mayor Rahm Emanuel know about this tag?

"Open and dangerous?" You betcha! Beneath the second pipe on the left is the Renaissance Center, which hosts the international headquarters of GM.

Here's another view from the roof. The taller building on the left is the Fisher Building, an art-deco masterpiece that was built by the Fisher family with funds from the sale of Fisher Body to GM. In the foreground of that skyscraper is Cadillac Place, formerly the General Motors Building--the auto giant's home before moving into the RenCen.

There is much sad irony in Detroit.

Cottonwood trees grow on the roof.

Broken glass and broken dreams--one last look at the Fisher Building, which has it own problems. It is in foreclosure. 

Once again the second floor meets the first floor.

After GM moved out Carter Color Paint used the plant for industrial painting. The firm filed for bankruptcy in 1993. The city of Detroit has owned Fisher Body 21 since 2000.

From my post at Da Tech Guy:

I walked its streets--the tragedy of Detroit.

Chattanooga killer identified as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez

Federal authorities have identified the assassin who shot four US Marines today in Chattanooga as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez. Although Stuart Varney said on Fox News just now that the name could be a pseudonym.

The killer opened fire on a military recruiting office in the Tennessee city and a Navy facility--the terrorist was shot dead by authorities.

The recruiting center is--amazingly--a gun-free zone.

Except for murderers.

All federal facilities are now on high alert.

Four Marines dead in Tennessee shootings

Details are still coming in, but according to AP four Marines are dead in two shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

From the New York Daily News:

A police officer was also shot and the suspected shooter is also believed dead.

The deadly attack prompted lockdowns across the state.

A police officer went "down" at a Navy and Marines reserve center at Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke told reporters around 11:30 a.m.

The Lee Highway Armed Forces Career Center, about seven miles away, was also targeted by a man firing from a car Thursday, officials said.

With Pluto probe, NASA takes break from global warming alarmism and Muslim outreach

This week the New Horizons probe showed our entire planet what NASA is excels in: space exploration. Dwarf planet Pluto is no longer a fuzzy speck of light even from the Hubble telescope. But I'm sure it won't be long before the Obama-ized space agency will be back singing a chicken-little tune about climate change.

Even worse, NASA's chief, Charles Bolden, told al-Jazeera five years ago that Muslim outreach was one of the prime goals of his agency.

Here's something to chew on, America-haters: Only the United States has sent spacecraft to the planets beyond the asteroid belt.

Crook County: Sales tax increased by one percent to pay for pensions

I think it's time that patriots converge on government buildings with pitchforks. Seriously. Once again people who don't have pensions have to pay more for those that do.

From ABC 7 Chicago:

he Cook County Board approved a 1-percent sales hike tax to help fund the county's pension shortfall, effective on January 1, 2016.

Proposed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the hike is expected to generate $450 million. It was approved with a 9-7 vote.

The Cook County sales tax is currently .75 percent, but next year it'll hit 1.75 percent. That would make Chicago's total sales tax 10.25-percent, which would be among the highest in the nation.

Five years ago Preckwinkle ran for her office promising to repeal the one percent sales tax hike put into effect in 2007. She did so. But now she's a flip-flopper.

Preckwinkle has accepted nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from public-sector unions. Which means she is unable enact real reforms--such as eliminating arcane and expensive union work rules. But Preckwinkle has been bought and sold.

Actually if Preckwinkle was serious about reform she wouldn't take a dime from any union.

The higher sales tax will have a devastating effect on retailers located near Cook County's borders. When these businesses close or move far away--it means fewer jobs for Crook County residents such as myself.