Like It This Way ...

1. I cross the street
2. I reach the bus-stop
3. Immediately a bus pulls over to pick me up.

What timing! Thank you CTA ! 😉

On Today's Sunday Walk

Picture of me taking a picture of ...

Our Holy Chant

"Mustard, Relish, Grilled Onions & a Pickle..." Repeat after me !!!

Virtual Tour Featured in CRL News

This is nice. The introduction and tour of the Newman Library (Baruch College CUNY) which we did way-back when (2000) using Flash, etc. The project was featured at the time in College & Research Libraries News (link). Who knew?

What High School Did You Go To?

What high school did you go to? -- That's a question that someone asked on one of the Facebook groups I'm in. Now for me, it's a complicated question since originally I was 'sposed to go to Lane Tech. But I didn't -- I went to Lakeview instead. Why? Well, first, because two friends I knew were going to Lakeview and second, because Lane Tech at the time was all boys and that seemed a bit weird. After a few more years Lane Tech let girls in as well but by then I was far gone.

Newspapers in Decline - Continuing Story

The Chicago Suntimes ran a rather disturbing article on the decline of newspapers, 'As Newspapers Close Across The U.S., Study Finds Illinois Is Hard Hit' (link).

Some of the disturbing information:

Since 2005, more than one-third of U.S. newspapers — 3,300 outlets — have closed. In that time, Illinois has lost 36% of its newspapers, or 232 outlets, and Cook County has lost 40% of its newspapers.

Illinois has also lost 54% of its newspaper workers, or about 4,600 positions, in the decade ending in 2023.

There are a few positive developments including a "net increase of 81 stand-alone digital news sites" -- still it's clear: one of our most valuable resources is running into serious difficulties.

Long-Underwear!

Please, please -- will somebody buy me some long-underwear!
[Posted while on my afternoon walk -- temp. in the low/mid 20's]

Google's Throat

Not sure how to feel about this ...

Ashley Belanger: 'Welcome to Google’s Nightmare: US Reveals Plan to Destroy Search Monopoly'; DOJ goes for Google's throat with 'staggering' remedies to end search monopoly', Ars Technica, (11/21/2024)

Outside the Window ...

Don't think I'll be going out:

About an hour later... Got cleaned up pretty quick:

Pretty Pretty Chicago Skyline

Skyline as I walked downtown. Nice day!

Hoo, Packed Around Wrigley...

Baseball game between two colleges -- still the place was packed!

Street-Walking

So nice! Someplace where I can do my business! Wish they had these on every block :-)

Old Friends :-)

Shooting the breeze with an old pal of mine... 🙂

35th Anniversary -- Berlin Wall Comes Down

35th Anniversary Berlin Wall Comes Down (11/9/1989) -- Actually the Wall didn't come down but rather (and just as well) it opened up. East Germans, formerly prevented from going over (or going pretty much anywhere) were finally allowed to go. We on the free side (i.e. West Berlin) cheered their crossing.

A Few More Details:
I was there, had been there since '84 and knew what it was like to have a police state just a block or two away. I was working construction in those days. I had finished up and had taken a nap. When I woke up one of the people living in the house told me the extraordinary news that while I was asleep, the Wall had come down.

Of course, the person exaggerated. The Wall which surrounded the entire western half of the city hadn't come down. Rather an opening had been made at Checkpoint Charlie and also at the Brandenburg Gate where people from East Berlin -- the 'Ossies' -- could cross over. What followed were three days of absolute euphoria as tens of thousands of East Germans came over, swamping the local public transportation, waiting in long lines in front of banks to pick up their "Begrüßungsgeld" (i.e. welcome money) of 100 DM with which they bought items absolutely unavailable in their part of the city such as cassette radios and bags of oranges.

The downfall of that Wall and the regime it represented was the most positive experience of my young adult life.

Today's Found Item : Street Vehicle

Wow, today's found item : street vehicle! It was just lying on the sidewalk -- couldn't pass it up. I've got everything!

SunTimes Article on Lack of Librarians at Chicago Public Schools

Surprising and not-to-mention disturbing article about the lack of librarians in the Chicago Public School system: 'CTU Pushes for Libraries, Librarians in Every CPS School'. We get the count in the subtitle: '... just 107 librarians for more than 500 schools'.

Lemme do some math: So we're talking about almost four fifths of Chicago's public schools without access to research help? Disturbing!

So Pretty Outside ...

Out for a really nice walk! The streets are full of colorful trees. So pretty!

2 Days Later... Wow, it happened again: walk down any street -- so pretty !!!

New Books on Table at Taco Bell

Looking over this week's literary purchases (from Salvation Army) while chomping down on lunch at Taco Bell. Life is beautiful -- at least on Friday afternoons ...😀 !!!

OK, Voted !!! #DemocracyInAmerica 😉

The papers were lists of endorsements, etc. from various sources which I was able to find online.

So Nice They're Cleaning Up Old Friend Abe

Passed by while walking home from downtown. Thank you, thank you to the cleaners! Abe is a friend of our's!

Pretty, Pretty

Pretty, Pretty view outside towards the lake.

Stopped by Ye Olde 'Circle Campus' This Afternoon

P.S. Of course we all know it's called 'UIC' (for the past 30 yrs or more)...

P.P.S. It was during classes when I was there today so not too many people out in the Quad...

Happy #EuropeanDayofLanguages!

Happy #EuropeanDayofLanguages! I think I'll do French, German & Italian -- and oh yeah, English too :-) ...

Money on the Street

Wow, money on the street! I'm rich!

Outhouse in the Alley

Oh wow! Can do my 'business' out in the alley!

Couple days later: Bedroom in the alley -- places-to-sleep ??? :-)

Most Happy Moment This Week (MHMTW)

Most happy moment this week: when I found a quarter on the sidewalk! Happy Days are here again 🙃🙃🙃

Also found this new friend (again just lying on the sidewalk) ...

Berlin Wall -- I Knew It Well

Berlin Wall -- I knew it well! I lived in West Berlin for over five years -- back when West-Berlin was an island of freedom surrounded by the awful police-state of East Berlin and East Germany. Life in our part was totally wild and free -- full of things to do all night especially for boys and girls in their twenties.

One thing I enjoy doing nowadays is going through pictures of the Wall itself. You see, one evening after a few drinks back then, we went over and I painted my name ('Leo') in large letters on our side of the Wall. I haven't found it in any of the pictures online -- but I'll keep looking!

Two Days Later

So after all that talk, I think I may have come upon a photo of the Berlin Wall showing where I painted my name ('LEO'). It's on the round top part of the Wall:

Fridge Konks Out

Darn, the fridge konked out. It was my storage point for all those tasty things I acquired (often on sale). What I could save, I moved to the small ice-chest. Yup, living off that till I figure out how to bring the old baby back to life :-( ...

Employment Opportunity :-(

Job Board forwarded me a position for 'High School Math Teachers'. Me? Math Teacher? Are they nuts?

Life's So Difficult!

Life's so difficult -- can't decide whether to go for the fried-chicken on the left or the hamburger (from FiveGuys) on the right ...

Hoo Baby! Pretty! Pretty!

Hoo baby! Pretty-Pretty Flowers (on Sheridan near Grace)!

Library All-Star Award (2016)

Wow, I was going through some old blog entries (switching everything over to my new website) when I was reminded of the really nice award I got a couple years ago from library admin at Depaul. It was an acknowledgement of how I handled a rather urgent research question by faculty -- basically tracking down all relevant information during my weekend shift at the library's research desk. Here's the whole entry.

Concert at Wrigley

Concert going on at Wrigley Field -- heard the music and the crowd inside while walking by 🙂...

Not-Nice Publishers : Edwin Mellen Press

So because someone on the blog The Scholarly Kitchen writes a post or two criticizing publisher Edwin Mellen Press (EMP), EMP sends their lawyer after the blog with the equivalent of a 'cease-and-desist' letter -- not just to the blog but to a person who left a comment on one of the offending posts. Huh?

I know diddly-squat about Edwin Mellen Press and even less about the quality of their work but this way of reacting to criticism does nothing but lend credibility to the arguments of their detractors.

The two offending posts have since been removed but both are still available thanks to online archival services (h/t Gary Price):

• When Sellers and Buyers Disagree — Edwin Mellen Press vs. a Critical Librarian (2/15/2013)
• One Down, One to Go: Edwin Mellen Press Blinks One Eye (3/5/2013)

Addendum (7/8): Looks like the original 'When Sellers and Buyers Disagree' has reappeared online: link.

Afternoon Snack

Munching down on a burger #fiveguys #downtown ...

Free Beer at Concert

Was at Millennium Park for the concert -- waiting in line to buy a beer. A woman comes up and promises me a free beer if I let her squeeze in in front of me. I did and got the beer for free!

Parade-time in Chi-town!

Parade-time in Chi-town! Had a great time -- ran into a bunch of old friends! P.S. Happy to see they're generous with the signs, flags and other paraphernalia :-)

Old Hang-out in West Berlin Getting New Street-Name …

Going from well-known (and well-remembered) 'Manteuffel Strasse' to 'Audre-Lorde-Strasse' -- named after Audre Lorde (link)

Goal of an Academic Research Librarian

Goal of an Academic Research Librarian: Teach the student how best to use the library's online research tools (article coming out) ...

My Interview on Dance Music by NPR

Wow, more than 20 yrs since this wonderful interview by NPR host Steve Inskeep on my thoughts (and experience) regarding dance music. Steve, Thank You! Thank You! [link]

Chicago Reader Back to Being a Weekly -- Nice!

Wow, the ChicagoReader announced that they're back to publishing once a week -- and that's once a week in print! All I can say (while sending them a contribution) is: nice!!!

Chicago Blues Festival - Day 3

Chicago Blues Festival - Day 3. Hung out at the Pritzker Pavilion. Great music! Set ended with Buddy Guy.

Audience shot ... (Note, it was somewhat early; As time went on, seats filled up -- all of 'em.)

So Pretty, Pretty Green!

Walking down the streets of Chicago -- it's so pretty, pretty green!

Maifest Chicago

Maifest Chicago - Got there early. Nur nacht Bier fragen 😀 — feeling wonderful.

Belmont Sheffield Music Festival (Day 2)

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest -- Nice weather! Nice band!

Actually for the time I was there, there were at least three bands -- one playing on the north side of the performance area and then another on the south side, etc. Nice!

AI -- So Boring!

Sorry, but that mention of 'AI' practically everywhere -- enough! My goal is to ignore the 'A' and focus on the 'I' -- Gottcha!

My How Time Flies (Election 2004)

My how time flies! I just got back to Chicago (2004) -- after 20 yrs living elsewhere (Paris, Rome, West Berlin & NYC). It was election time so I joined the Kerry campaign as webmaster for Illinois and volunteer. Did the website and banged on doors all over Wisconsin. Incredible!

Note: the site from back then is still up: http://illinoisforkerry.com/

Today's High Point

Today's high point : Haymarket Memorial May Day Plaque Dedication

Sleep on the Streets (Finally)

Wow, finally someplace nice to sleep on Broadway and Foster -- 'bout time!

Me and Some Guy Running Chi-town at the Time

GTOP (Going Thru Old Photos): Me and some guy running Chi-town at the time.

All the World In The Air (1908 & 1922)

Nice Sunday NYT article (written in 1908) about 'what things will be in 1922 or thereabouts, when not only 'all Paris' but all the world will be in the air': The Diary of an Aviator in the Year 1922; Some Things That Happen When All the World -- and Paris -- Is in the Air. Aerial Marriage [link]

Punch 9 for Harold Washington

Nice documentary and follow-up discussion, 'Punch 9 for Harold Washington'. Given at CPL's Harold Washington Library Center (event listing).

Pretty Pretty Day!

Hoo baby, what do you do on a day like this? Why, head out to the park! Apartment buildings and park on the right; lake on the left -- always a nice walk...

UIC Urban Forum

UIC Urban Forum : Chicago Futures, Wednesday, Apr 10 · 12–5:30 PM

Your's Truly with the event brochure...