The Great Chicago Fire

On this day, 129 years ago, Chicago's landscape was drastically changed.

That Sunday evening, a fire began on DeKoven Street, between Clinton and Jefferson Streets. It is now the sight of the Chicago Fire Academy, where potential firefighters train for the battles they fight to prevent a tragedy such as that which occurred the evening of October 8, 1871.

The Great Chicago Fire decimated nearly four square miles of South Loop, through Downtown, and on north to Lincoln Park. It is estimated that 200-300 died as a result.

Wabash and Washington, after the Great Fire

Dearborn and Monroe, after the Great Fire

Today, there are many residents of Chicago who know nothing of the Great Chicago Fire--an important point in the history of this city, which immediately began rebuilding itself. They come from far and wide, legally and illegally, to make their fortune in what was once touted as "the City of Big Shoulders" . They care nothing about its history--only what Chicago can give them for free.

When I first moved here in 1999, I drove from Downers Grove--about 30 miles--on Ogden Avenue, which took me to Chicago Avenue, less than a mile from my final destination.

I saw then, and I continue to see, areas that could and should be 'fired', laid to waste--because those who have migrated here do not care about their surroundings and do not understand the history of Chicago.

To me, Chicago is a city of lost souls--and believe me, it is really easy to 'lose your soul' here. Many have done just that, including our current President, and our out-going Mayor, and our new wannabe mayoral candidate.

Occasionally, I reflect upon those terrible two days in 1871; I have read of the great valor of some of Chicago's then-most-prominent citizens and their valiant actions to help their fellow men and women and children.

What would we do, here in today's Chicago, without our firefighting members of the Chicago Fire Department? These men and women work continuously to prevent another Great Chicago Fire.

They deserve our honor and respect.

Thank you--to all Chicago Firefighters!

Because...

...this is exactly what a lame duck prez does! Trying to run, but running scared out of his tiddlywinks!

PRESIDENT OBAMA TOWN HALL, DC

(from Backstage.com)


PRESIDENT OBAMA TOWN HALL, DC MTV, BET, and CMT (prods.) are casting the audience for a town hall meeting with President Obama. Shooting Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Seeking—Audience Members: males and females, 18+.

To apply, email townhallaudience@mtvnmix.com and put "Town Hall" in the subject line. To ensure that the audience represents diverse interests and political views, include your name, phone number, hometown, school attending, your job and what issues, if any, you are...

*********

Soooo, who'da thunk it?

Pre-screening a live audience at a presidential town hall?

Who could be the freakin' genius, but my resident troll Mikey Giovanelli's dear friend--DAVID AXELROD: the slayer of Jews among the Jews.


I mean it: Axelrod has NO scruples, and he's 'leaving Obama' to 'work for' Obama'?

STRAIGHT talk, right? Pile o' chickie doo-doo to me!

And...just where does that leave Rahm "Auerbach" Emanuel?

Somewhere in far, far left field--so far even Valerie Jarrett would not endorse him!

You see, there's something you all have to understand about 'inside the beltway':

ALL LOVE IS LOST!

In a moment! In the twinkling of an eye, or the shimmying of a posterior!

There's more, but I couldn't get access without all the mumbo-jumbo.

And I have no time for the Obamas' mumbo-jumbo. PERIOD!

No apologies to VOO-DOO Granny, Marian Robinson, at all, AT ALL!

A Picture Postcard Day--almost

Downtown Chicago was rather gorgeous today! Clouds and a true blue sky reflected in many of the fine buildings.

"Cloudgate", Stone Container Building and Trump Tower

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building

The Sax Man was playing joyfully outside the Bennigan's at Adams Street and Michigan Boulevard. I stood and listened for about five minutes...and dropped a bill in his tip cup. He thanked me so quietly--without missing a beat!

The parkway in front of the Harold Washington Library has been beautifully planted for autumn. Mums are yet to blossom, but this Ornamental Cabbage really drew me in. These are huge--more than two feet across!

And then there is this:

The EYE!

It's in the newish Pritzker Park, across from the library, at the corner of State and Van Buren Streets. The lovely building behind this monstrosity is the Fisher Building, which I have always thought would be a nice place to live--as the view over Lake Michigan must be fantastic if one lives on a higher floor.

The EYE, courtesy of Chicago artist Tony Tassett

Mr. Tassett apparently thinks he is an equal of Salvador Dali and/or Rene Magritte. The sculpture medium is Fibreglas (TM); the painting is done with a spray gun. This is a very creepy piece which will thankfully 'end its run', hopefully, later this month!

Gifting Rahm Emanuel

A Teary Emanuel Gets Dead Fish At White House Send-off

At the 8:30 staff meeting in the Roosevelt Room this morning, departing chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was given a gift by Council of Economic Advisers chair Austan Goolsbee: a dead Asian carp.

Read the rest here

TIME

This is all the time you have to vote responsibly, in whatever your state or district.

Soooo, you're saying WHAT?

That YOU might be the 'sexy guy'?

Give it up , Bill Morton. You are 33 years old, with a congenitally-defective left eye, and have done nothing in your life but CON others!

Amazing!

It has been a whole 8 days since I have had a visit from this TROLL...

...Michael Giovanelli (sometimes, he likes to call himself 'Mike Harris") --I'll call him the "Axelrod Daughter Whisperer".

Perhaps he's been placed back on his meds, or he has now become a permanent RESIDENT of the Misericordia Home here in Chicago. Either way, he has been a deterrent to my healing!

Cannot we, as human beings, only hope for the 'BEST' for those among us who are, to put it the nicest way, TROUBLED?

Bill Morton

President, Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce

Last known address: 1205 W. Sherwin Ave. #803

Rogers Park, Chicago IL 60626

I was speaking at length, yesterday, with a Chicago Police Department officer, who has become a sort of friend over the past several years.

For the first time, I mentioned I had abandoned the "Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce". He looked at me, and sniffed, as if that idea was stupid...which, apparently it was.

He told me, after I explained about Bill Morton's PERSONAL debt of $1,425, and the Rogers Park Chamber's debt to me of over $1,000, that I should take them/him to SMALL CLAIMS COURT.

I retorted: "I don't see how I can get BLOOD from a rock !" and told him the story of Bill Morton and his NON-neutered mongrel dog being attacked at Sherwin Beach. And how Bill Morton, cheesy president of Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce, "begged" for $450, and thousands more, to save his mixed breed, FOUND dog...which he considers a 'chick magnet'.

My friend, the Chicago Police officer, had this to say:

"He's a con man, and he knows how to con people. He's got it down."

I am going to say this right now: YES, I regret that I fell for this 'ne'er do well' BUM of Rogers Park. I was sooo0 totally stupid to give him more than money. Friendship is a two-way street, but as of now...that 'friendship', I have found, was nothing more than LYING and GREED ON HIS PART!

Bill Morton is, in my eyes, NOTHING! A TOTAL LOSER!

His SHOP LOCAL promotion, of a year ago, has gone nowhere. Why, you might ask? Because Bill Morton is LAZY...and prefers others to do his work.

He now has a preference for Nina Interlandi Bell, the current 'Secretary' of Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce. Nina, honey, it's only Bill Morton 'conning' you into this position. Grow the F&*k up! BTW...How much money have YOU loaned him?

Ah... November!