Just a few transport-policy articles
Anyone who has read The Daily Parker knows I desperately hope the US and Canada get over their suburban growth pattern psychopathy sometime before I die. Any actuarial table you consult will suggest...
View ArticleRobert Reich predicted today's world
In a speech to the Democratic Leadership Council 29 years ago today, then-Labor Secretary Robert Reich warned of the coming inequality:We knew the world was changing, and we knew how. But the band...
View ArticleHouseguest
Some friends have gone out of town, and I'm traveling in a week, so we arranged a dog swap. This is one of Cassie's friends, Butters Poochface:Butters is quite a solid beagle. Cassie met Butters...
View ArticleMorning Butters report
Yesterday's full day with our houseguest went fine. As one might predict, the dogs have discovered each other's toys, and have stolen them. Cassie started it:Butters definitely has an "oh, yeah?" look...
View ArticleMorning Butters report, penultimate edition
Butters goes home tomorrow. If she understood the concept of "future," she might look forward to seeing her family again. This morning, however, she did not like getting snowed upon, will not like...
View ArticleArts patronage at all-time low
Crain's Chicago Business reported this morning on the precipitous decline in performing-arts audiences (sub.req.) since March 2020:Chicago arts and cultural organizations emerged from COVID-19...
View ArticleToday's depressing stories
I guess not all of the stories I read at lunchtime depressed me, but...well, you decide:Writing in the Atlantic, Rogé Karma weaves together the threads of white backlash to civil rights laws, the...
View ArticleFlying out tomorrow
Tomorrow I have a quick trip to the Bay Area to see family. I expect I will not only continue posting normally, but I will also research at least two Brews & Choos Special Stops while there....
View ArticleConstitutional amendments we'd like to see
A while ago, I posted two constitutional amendments I'd like to see, to set term limits for the Supreme Court and for Congress. I also proposed an amendment to make the Justice Department independent...
View ArticleI come to bury Henry, not to praise him
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has died. Of course every news outlet has an obituary, but Spencer Ackerman's in Rolling Stonepretty much nails it—"it" being a nail in Kissinger's...
View ArticleSandra Day O'Connor dead at 93
The universe, following up on the death of one controversial right-wing figure in American politics, continued tidying up with the death of former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (I/r), the first woman...
View ArticleNot all of California is pretty
I just got back from a 35-minute walk around downtown San Jose, Calif., including a 1-km stretch of the Guadalupe River trail. My Garmin track gives you hints about how it went, particularly the 300...
View ArticleCatching up
The weekend was exceedingly busy, so I haven't had time to post the two Brews & Choos reviews from California as promised. I hope to get to that today. Stay tuned.
View ArticleFox Tale Fermentation Project, San Jose, Calif.
Welcome to an extra stop on the Brews and Choos project.Brewery: Fox Tale Fermentation Project, 120 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, Calif.Train line: Caltrain, San Jose DiridonTime from Chicago: about 4½...
View ArticleOlfactory Brewery, San Francisco
Welcome to an extra stop on the Brews and Choos project.Brewery: Olfactory Brewery & Blendery, 2245 3rd St., San FranciscoTrain line: Caltrain, 22nd StTime from Chicago: about 4½ hours by...
View ArticleIt's the gloomiest time of the year
Forget Christmas songs: Chicago does not have the most wonderful time of the year between mid-November and the beginning of January. We haven't seen the sun all month (well, I have, but I was in...
View ArticleTuberville finally sits down and shuts up
US Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), top contender for Dumbest Person in Congress since taking office earlier this year, finally released his hold on over 400 general and flag officer promotions he's...
View ArticleFinally saw the sun
I complained yesterday that Chicago hadn't seen sunlight in almost a week. Ever the fount of helpful weather statistics, WGN pointed out that it made it the cloudiest start to a December since 1952....
View ArticlePost-concert fun and enjoyment
Our performances at Holy Name Cathedral and Alice Millar Chapel went really well (despite the grumblings of one critic). But part of the fun of serving as president of the chorus meant I got to go back...
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