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!!!

[Note (2/6/26): They've recently switched back to monthly (link)...]

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 had just gotten 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...

Trashcans Filled Up

Trashcans need to be emptied -- saw a couple of these on the walk home from downtown.

Another one a bit further north...

Sorry But Ketchup?

Sorry but ketchup? Only on my fries!!! Got the usual 2 polish with mustard, relish, grilled onions and pickle. (Outside the world-famous Wiener's Circle.)

UIC Chancellor Investiture

At UIC for the Chancellor Investiture ...

Opening Day at Cubs Park

Opening day at Cubs Park -- kind of rainy. Cubbies were up by 3!

Crowded Downtown Chicago

Pretty crowded downtown yesterday (particularly north of the Chicago River). Water Tower Place was packed.

Did My Civic Duty!

Please, Repeat After Me!

Sign Says: 'No Poop? No Pee?'
No! No! No! That's Just Tyranny! :-)

Gift of Nature?

Wow, unopened bottles of booze on the sidewalk! Anyone got a glass?

Heavenly Existence

Sitting at Manny's Deli, chomping down on a corned beef, reading this week's ChicagoReader ... How heavenly!

Um, 60 Degrees? You call this February?

Temperature in the 60s? In February? I think I'm headed to Alaska ...

Book Bargain (History)

Yesterday's purchases from Salv. Army -- couldn't resist and only cost a couple bucks! (One cost $2 and the other $3...)

Free Booze !!!

Wow, free booze under the EL tracks (Diversey, Brown Line)! Should be available at all El stops!

Sunny Day!

Sunny day -- walking along the park on Clark & Lasalle. Made it all the way to downtown!