A friend of mine just reminded me of a great organization called Operation Support Our Troops-Illinois. Founded in 2003 by Debi Rickert, OSOTIL sends out care packages to our troops deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. They follow Department of Defense security standards and guidelines. Most of the items they send are not available through the military supply system and are … [Read more...] about Operation Support Our Troops – Illinois
Eternal Copyright
In an op-ed entitled "A Great Idea Lives Forever. Shouldn’t Its Copyright?" in last Sunday's New York Times author Mark Helprin tries to make the case for eternal copyright. Once the state has dipped its enormous beak into the stream of your wealth and possessions they are allowed to flow from one generation to the next. Though they may be divided and diminished by inflation, … [Read more...] about Eternal Copyright
Divine Sarah Meets the Wizard of Menlo Park
I'm pretty comfortable with technology, complacent even, but every once in a while some commonplace thing about our modern world just amazes me. One day about 120 years ago, French actress Sarah Bernhardt left the Broadway theater where she was performing and set out on a journey that took her over the Hudson River into New Jersey. She was the most famous actress in the world, … [Read more...] about Divine Sarah Meets the Wizard of Menlo Park
Friday Catblogging: Minky!
Fans of this blog, or at least of this blog's catblogging, may have noticed that most of the pictures are of sleeping cats. What can I say? I am surrounded by lazy kitties. However, I recently paid a visit to my friend Cindy to take pictures of her new kitten. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...Minky!Minky!!!Minky!Minky!Minky!!Minky! … [Read more...] about Friday Catblogging: Minky!
Des Plaines TIF: A Strange Mix
Right on the south edge of the central triangle in the Des Plaines Five Corners/River-Rand TIF zone is a small group of odd buildings.Odd Group of Buildings This is the only part of the inner triangle (and the only part of the TIF district I've shown you) that looks like a common-sense definition of blighted, especially when seen from behind:Rear of Run-Down … [Read more...] about Des Plaines TIF: A Strange Mix