Watch the Chicago City Council in Action in June 30

For the third consecutive month in a row, the Windy Citizen will be hosting Chicago's place to be to watch the Chicago City Council Meeting, in politics, in MeterGate and anything else that goes on there. The City Council meetings are broadcast live via streaming video on the City Clerk's Website.

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If you are a City news junkie, or love politics, come join us at the Windy Citizen as we watch our City Council in action (or inaction, depending on what is going on).The next meeting of the City Council will be held Tuesday, June 30th at 10:00 AM.

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You can catch the proceedings here: http://www.chicityclerk.com/ and join us at the Windy Citizen where Brad Flora will open up a new page for comments and group participation on that day. See you all there!

The Barbie Group and a little breakfast with Carlos

One of the things I liked about grad school was meeting friends and staying in contact with them. One of my most memorable teams in grad school was what we all still call, The Barbie Group. This was team developed for a course in Integrated Marketing Communications where we developed a plansbook. Overall, we had a intense but fun group. Besides myself, we had Carlos, Jennifer (no, not Lopez!), Erik and Kelly.

One of the first things we would do at our Saturday morning team meeting was to decide where we were going to lunch. This was important because by the time we finished our meeting, we were so fried that we couldn't think about such an important decision. So we became a team that also bonded over food. Even after the Barbie Project was over, Jen and I would joke around about having a Barbie meeting, which was code for breakfast, shopping, walking, lunch, walking, walking, a snack or two, walking and finally "lunch" would end.

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Our overall course project was to develop an IMC Plansbook as well as define a product. Our professor gave us latitude, and since Mattel had purchased the Learning Tree (software company), we created a Spanish language software product that tied into Barbie and what Barbie was all about.

Being all Type A's and workaholics, we did well in the coursework, and our Professor was eagerly awaiting all team final presentations, after which three outside judges from a well known IMC firm in Chicago would be the judges. Our professor had worked on Hispanic Marketing campaigns for McDonalds, and saw our presentation, and she was sure we would clinch First Prize.

Well, we did not win because the lead judge, a gringa, was a self appointed expert in Hispanic Marketing. Ironically she decided the winning group was the one which everyone in the class knew was struggling to grasp the concepts. It was obvious she had issues with the professor and did everything to undermine her. But I digress. First off, I have to share some of her gems as to why our campaign would not work.

According to Gringa Jueza, "Those people don't use computers."

I asked her what she based her conclusion on, and she responded that she was an expert in this field and did her fieldwork in Pilsen and Little Village, where ALL Hispanics lived. Shocked and surprised that this newsflash hadn't reached a lot of Latinos that didn't live in the barrios, I pointed out that Latinos, or her parlance, Hispanics, lived all over the city and state.

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I also pointed out that duh (well, I omitted the duh) that Pilsen and Little Village are largely Mexican and Mexican American immigrants, and that in Little Village we're talking about a major port of entry for recent immigrants. I also said the obvious, that there are other Latino groups who live here. Albany Park or Humbolt Park, anyone? Or did she even know that at one time, Lake View boasted one of that largest numbers of Mexicans and Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans?

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She said she focused on Mexicans because they were the largest group and "NO, THEY ALL LIVED IN PILSEN AND LITTLE VILLAGE." Of course this was confusing since we knew there were many Mexicans who, gasp, lived outside these neighborhoods, and duh, they used computers.

Needless to say, nothing would change her mind, but after we cooled off (okay, a few weeks later) we always had a good laugh about that type of mentality. It didn't effect our grade and our professor announced that winning that "award" would not change any team's grade. Such was the bonding of the Barbie Team.

Sunday morning Carlos and I got together for a breakfast and quick catch-up. Sadly I was severely lacking sleep so I spaced out easily and was struggling to be semi-focused. Clearly I don't do well on 5 hours of sleep. I even forgot we were meeting for breakfast and I made a full breakfast, so there was no way I could eat a full meal.

Fortunately the waitress at Cafe Selmarie took pity on me and allowed me to order the little breakfast for kids 12 and under. Hey, what can I say, it was exactly the amount of food that I needed.

It had a cute portions, doesn't it!??

Carlos had their chilaquiles and said they're good. To quote him (well, sort of), 'You can write that on your blog, that a Mexican said their chilaquiles are good.' There ya go.

And yes Jennifer, your name came up. When are you coming to Chicago??? We think you should stay with your cousin and we can all hang out for at least one day, and you and I need to do our food fest!

Saluki Dog with Pet Rejuvenizer and Military Chip Found

While normally we only cover Chicago related topics, there's a dog in California who needs to be reunited with his owner.

A friend of mine who is a telepathic healer was contacted by the San Diego Department of Animal Services. One of the products her business sells is something called the Pet Rejuvenizer, which is to help protect pets from the harmful negative effects of man made electromagnetic frequencies to which we are all subject to. The dog had an implanted microchip which was not working; the chip indicated that it came from Saudi Arabia and the chip was sold to the US Military Training Mission headquartered in Riyadh. The dog was found on June 15 near Escondido, California.

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Since this dog's owner probably served in the US Military, Animal Services would like to reunite him with his owner before giving him up for adoption. "In our hearts and minds, we know this dog belongs to someone in the military. For all they've done for us, it is only fair we try to get the dog reunited," DeSousa, of the San Diego Department of Animal Services, said.

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The NBC News article can be found here:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/World-Traveler-Ends-Up-Far-From-Home.html

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If you are the owner, or know the owner, email us here or contact Dr. Phyllis Light, Ph.D at http://www.lighthealing.com/.

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You can also contact:

Daniel E. DeSousa

County of San Diego Department of Animal Services

5480 Gaines Street

San Diego, CA 92110 619.767.2624 (office)

Who wants air conditioning?

The photo above is from http://www.flickr.com/photos/7177180@N07/2683678816

I've heard many people complain that June was too cool and that they couldn't wait for the hot weather to arrive. Not me. Why rush a miserable thing, when you already have July, August and much of September bestowing many hot days upon us? But wait, I speak for many people who do not have the luxury of being in an air conditioned place during the day, either at work or at home.

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I live in a brick building that gets a LOT of sun. In winter this is great. In summer? Not so great. One of my neighbors has great windows. They reflect the hot sun away, and right into my place. The windows in my place aren't all that great. They are relatively new, but not the high grade thermal ones that block out most of the heat from the sun. In fact, it's quite the opposite - my windows seem to suck the heat in. I have thermal shades to let light in but keep most of the heat out, but it still gets through.

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One of the great things about brick buildings is that they are sturdy and strong. They also act like big kilns. After multiple days of scorching heat, the brick gets quite hot. I noticed this as I was returning home from the wonderfully air conditioned train. As soon as I approached my building I felt the warmth of the brick hitting me. When I opened the door to the vestibule, I felt a blast of hot air. I was home.

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I had WBEZ on when I heard a story about a woman who had issues with having air conditioning on at home. She did acknowledge that, "...I know that people suffer with the heat. That cool air is appropriate for those who are ill, or fragile. I know heat waves can be dangerous." Well, I am sure that there are plenty of people in the city who would gladly change places with her and be subject to artificially induced cold air.

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I've known many people who do not handle heat very well, but they deal with it, not because they like to suffer, or that are doing this as a social statement and want to opt out. There are many people in the city who don't have air conditioning because they can't afford it. I had a friend who was offered an air conditioner, but she had to turn it down because she could not afford the extra cost to run it. She had to be very careful of where she spent her money, since she did not have health insurance and her rent and food were already her highest expenses, accounting for 85% of any income she had.

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Anyone who is in a hot apartment 24/7 for multiple days in a row can tell you that cleaning house and cooking is not pleasant when it begins to swelter. Having done it myself, I'd say that for a real fun time, start vacuuming! One of my friends said her cats head for the bathtub to sleep for a cooler place. Sounds like a plan, although unless you're under four feet tall, you might be in for back problems.

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Personally, I think that saying that air conditioning is unnecessary when one can afford it borders on the bourgeois. Tell a mother who slaves over a hot stove to feed her kids in a hot apartment building on the near or west sides of the city, away from the cool lakefront breezes, that air conditioning is unnecessary when you are a person who can afford it should probably not be done in person, unless you can dodge a flying pot or two.

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For a real treat, I suggest not only living in a hot apartment in the center or west part of the city and after 3 days of sweating all day and all night (don't cheat now and try to go to an office with air conditioning for relief!), start ironing 7 or 8 shirts and blouses in the kitchen while you are cooking a pot of rice or beans. On the up side, if you don't pass out and end up creating a fire hazard, the amount of sweating will probably equal what one might get in a sauna for a health club that you otherwise could not afford.

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My fondest memories of air conditioning was when my ex and I lived off of the lakefront and we had central air. Back then, I worked in an air conditioned office. Being in a cold place during the work day left me with plenty of energy to come home and often opt out except on the hottest days, although I always turned it on when I cooked. Being in a cold place during the work day allowed me the luxury of enjoying sweating when taking a walk or riding a bike and being able to be productive while sweating, when I wanted to.

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Do I have air conditioning now? Sort of. I live in a flat which has very little in the way of electrical accommodation. I have one window near an electrical outlet that can accommodate an air conditioner without requiring me to unplug the refrigerator or my computer other electrical devices. It's not a great a/c since my electrical on this one available line can only handle a small unit, hardly sufficient for cooling more than two contiguous rooms. Even if it had the oomph to do so, the floor layout prevents my bedroom or office from receiving any such benefit.

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Even so, I am grateful I can get respite from sweating 24/7. My place does not have ceiling fans, so I use table and floor fans. Is the combination good enough? Well, it's better than having sweat pouring down my face and back consistently. Having toughed it out and only having a/c at home except for 2 years out of my entire life (my parents didn't have it either), on the hottest days, I now flee to Starbucks in order to work. I have no problems being in an air conditioned place when it's hot outside.

Ambrosia Fresh Fruit Salad - Almost all Healthy

I don't have central air. In fact, the wiring in my place is so old and out of date that there is only one room, the sun room, where I can put an air conditioner. All other available outlets near a window would compete with the line that my computer and other electronics are on, or my refrigerator, and since I need both, the little a/c unit stays in the worst room possible, which is also the hottest.

This means that their is cool air relief in my sun room where the bodywork table is, and to some degree in my living room. My office is cooled the old fashioned way: table fans. Despite the lack of total cool comfort, one thing for sure about any a/c unit is that it helps draw the humidity out. With consistently high dew points here in Chicago, that is a big plus.

Cooking in a hot kitchen isn't a big attraction for me. Being summer, it's also a great time to do cold and refreshing foods. I've always liked fruit ambrosia and here's one I "cooked up" that is filling and healthy, except for maybe the ice cream. ;-)

That's shredded coconut on the left, and small pineapple chunks on the right, surrounded by Julie's Vanilla Ice Cream. These three items I bought at Whole Foods. Julie's has one of the best vanilla ice creams that I've tasted.

I added the above to freshly cut up mango, bananas, and strawberries.


It ends up looking like a nice, creamy fruit salad that can also double as a desert.

Cool Summer Spelt Wrap Sandwich

When it gets hot out, there's little incentive to heat up my kitchen. Even a dual window fan does little to keep me from nearly passing out if I turn on my toaster oven for too long, much less the big oven. So what's a girl to do when she wants more than a salad and she wants some zinga zinga zow?

I finally started to use Wasabe Mayonnaise, available at Trader Joe's, for that whack of hotness in a cool meal. Wasabe is horseradish, and for those sashimi sushi lovers out there, this is that glob of culinary torture that will blow out your sinus ailments faster than you can say, de repente! It's also great on either bread or wrap sandwiches.

Here are my fixings:

These I picked up at Whole Foods. The Rudy's Organics provide substantial whole grain goodness and I do organic cheeses because conventional ones put something funky in it that makes me want to say, gagola. The wraps come in either spelt or whole wheat. Any thin sliced deli meat will do, and as for cheeses, I prefer the mildness of provolone but I have used Swiss and muenster. Smoked Gouda would probably be great but if you're feeling lazy, that's extra slicing.

Yes, that's how much wasabi mayonnaise I use. Yes, it's a lot. Yes you can smell it a mile away. And yes, yes, it will leave you with open sinuses and a no-caffeine post wake up experience.

Now this is the recommended amount of deli meat, but I also had a little leftover so I threw another slice in.

Throwing more than 2 slices also throws off the rolling up of the roll-up. Normally it's a much tighter roll and no toothpicks are required to keep it from returning to it's one with the counter look.

It's an easy to make sandwich and if you only use 2 pieces of meat, the proportions are just right for a filling sandwich that does not leave you feeling like a beached whale. I think it's time to make another one with some cilantro in it.

Pilsen West of Damen, East of Western

I love working class neighborhoods. While often they don't offer a Starbucks on every block, nor any cute trendy boutiques that we expect to see peppering the north side all lined up and down the same streets, often there is the sublime, the outrageous, the fun and the wild in terms of decor and color. I've yet to find a Chicago working class neighborhood that didn't have the color that makes this city well, 'the city.'

Last week when Rosa Anna accompanied me to Pilsen to meet with artist Robert Valadez at Casa Aztlan, we took a bit of a walk between Western and Damen. Right there on 18th Street was this colorful store front for Angel's Gifts and Tire Shop. If it were night, we'd have been able to catch the full effect. In Pilsen, there is artwork everywhere and of all types!

Amid the brightly painted storefront was this nicely painted planter box.

And another one around the corner:

But nothing made me smile as much as the decked out Volkswagon bug.

Since Cafe Aorta closed, I'm on the lookout for anyplace at this part of Pilsen where one can get a quick bit to eat. Here's a place that serves sandwiches at 18th and Leavitt. It was open in the early evening, perhaps for the rush hour crowd, but it wasn't open at noon.

I love walking in neighborhoods where there is clear evidence of families and quirkiness. Here's a photo of an old Red Flyer wagon in the vaulted first floor patio area.

And on the same street, an old cash register!

In this area, I have no idea what they are doing to Harrison Park but the stench coming out of the ground was nasty, nasty, nasty! I can't imagine living down the street and having your windows open, PU!

This sign really made us laugh, not so much for the merchandising effort but the product being offered.

And no trip to Pilsen is real unless you see at least one Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Perez Restaurant Revisited

Wednesday Rosa Anna drove me to Pilsen so we could walk around and I could meet with one of the artists at Casa Aztlan. After our walking around and prior to the meeting, we decided to have lunch as Perez Restaurant on 18th Street. This was the second time I had lunch there, and their food was consistently good from the first to this visit.

They have fresh squeezed orange juice, and it was delicious. They did not serve it partially filled, I needed to drink some before I remembered there was a camera in my hand.

Their salsa is slightly smoky and has more punch than many others. It is highly recommended if you have any sinus issues, or you'd like to just blow out what ails you. We both perked up after being heated up by the chilies in it, which at times could be a bit painful but it was definitely worth it!

Besides the framed artwork, the restaurant has artwork drawn directly on the walls, including this Olmec head here.

Rosa Anna ordered the chilaquiles, which she said were the best she has ever had. I was either ordering that or the Huevos Mexicana, and I opted for the latter. We both agreed the food was excellent. Having been there before, I was pleased for a solid repeat performance and I look forward to yet another meal there in the future.

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The waitress was the same gal who served my food the first time I was there. It's nice to see the same servers and have them recognize you! There is also a small stage for live music for the evening or weekend crowd.

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There are more photos and a review from the first visit here.

Perez Restaurant
1163 W 18th Street (between May and Racine)
312 / 421-3631

Casa Aztlan in Pilsen

The mural and artwork you see above is from Casa Aztlan, in Pilsen. Casa Aztlan is a community center located in Pilsen, and is home and heart to many Chicano artists and muralists. Not only are many community events celebrated at the center, but the center also reflects the hub of the many people who live and work in Pilsen, providing cultural activities and community services for adults, teenagers and children. Casa Aztlan also serves as a nexus for other community organizations who share their concern for the future of Pilsen and how to better serve the primarily Mexican Latino populations. Every year the center sponsors the Viva Aztlan Festival. More news on that to come...

Looking at the entrance way, on the left, the man featured on the top is Benito Juarez. Benito Pablo Juarez Garcia was the first full blooded indigenous national of a non military background to serve as the President of Mexico. The man in the center is the leader of the paramilitary group in the State of Chiapas. His name is Subcomandante Marcos.


On the right side of the entrance, the man on the top is Emiliano Zapata, a rebel during the Mexican revolution who fought for the rights of farm workers. In the early 1900s in the days of the haciendas, your average Mexican did not own farm land. They all worked for rich hacienda owners who controlled crop prices and paid their workers 'peanuts'. Zapata fought for their right to own the land that they farmed.

The man in the middle is Che Guevarra, in case anyone missed the Motorcycle Diaries. And the woman on the bottom is of course the artist, Frida Kahlo.

On the main floor, in the large hall are various other murals, including these:






Inside the entranceway, the area near the ceiling had been turned into a canvas of art and messages, including the one that reads: "Human beings are not aliens."

Since its foundation in 1970, Casa Aztlan has been involved in human rights issues, participated in organizing the power of the Pilsen community, and providing both summer and year round programs for neighborhood youths between 7 and 14 years of age.

The center also is crucial to various annual events, including The Viva Aztlan Festival, and also works with the Pilsen Alliance. The Pilsen Alliance is a community project focused on questions regarding public transportation, employment development, and other aspects of life that are important to the community.

A vital part of the Pilsen Mexican American community, this beautiful but old building was built in 1900, and is in need of new electrical work. The Electricians Union has been providing apprenticeship work for free, but the center needs money for electrical supplies. It is a 501.c organization, so donations are tax exempt and they would be much appreciated.

Casa Aztlan

1831 S. Racine Ave

60608

Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli Exists!

Last year after class I decided to go to the Whole Foods in Boystown to pick up a couple of items. There, in the produce department, were bunches of Lakeside Organic Garden's Organic Sweet Baby Broccoli. I purchased two bunches. They were delectable. While they reminded me of Rapini, which I've never found in organic form, these were scrumptious. The best thing about these baby broccoli is that there is virtually no waste. Usually purchasing organic broccoli ends up being very expensive because some of the stalk (and there is usually a LOT of it) is inedible and more suited for a door jamb than the dinner table.

A few days later I made a special trip to my regular Whole Foods and sadly, they did not carry it. Soon after, Roseann was up for errands, so we went to the Boystown Whole Foods and they didn't have it, either. A friend of mine tried on several occasions to find this item at one of three different locations, and nada. All I had left from last year was the memory of how good it was and the saved label.

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Okay, I'm an easy girl (hold on I am NOT finished with my sentence!!) to please when it comes to basic things in life. I love good food, and good food does indeed please me. Well, you can imagine how happy I was when a friend called me earlier this afternoon, and said, "I'm at Whole Foods and they have that organic baby broccoli -- do you want any???"

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I photographed the goods for evidence. It is not Photoshopped, it is the real deal!!

Another End of Watch

Chicago Police Officer Alejandro “Alex” Valadez's End of Watch occurred on June 1st after he was murdered while on duty, responding to a report of gunfire in the south side Englewood neighborhood. May he rest in peace.

The Uptown Update quoted Uptown resident and Police Officer Michael Carroll of TRU (Targeted Response Unit), "I was approached to do an on-air essay for Chicago Public Radio's 848 morning show a few weeks back and I was finally able to record it yesterday. The essay has to do with police officers being killed in the line of duty."

Click here to listen to Officer Michael Carroll's essay

Watch Chicago's City Council in Action on June 3rd

Come join us on the Windy Citizen for the second ever virtual citizen's City Council meet where we participants watched live streaming video of the City Council Meeting.

Last month, on May 13th, the Windy Citizen hosted the first ever meet up. We were able to make comments as well as to contribute more information on the topics that were being discussed.

So once again, if you are a City news junkie, or love politics, or horrors, are both, then come join us again at the Windy Citizen as we watch our City Council in action (or inaction, depending on what is going on).

The meeting will be Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 10:00 AM.

You can catch the proceedings here: http://www.chicityclerk.com/ .

The thread will be at http://www.windycitizen.com.

See you all there!

Are Chicago Police just friendlier?

I was telling this story to my cousin, who lives in Los Angeles, and she responded, "... funny that people feel comfortable coming up to a (Chicago) cop and talking to him. Not here in LA. We stay away from them..." This isn't the first time I've heard comments of this nature, yet there have been times where I'll be walking with a friend and there may be Officers walking by and they'll usually turn and say "Hello" to me. Okay, maybe I have a tattoo on my forehead that only they can see that says, 'PO Friendly' or something. Well, that would certainly be better than, "BO Plenty." And I do live on the north side so there are some geographical and demographic issues that contribute.

Wednesday I'm having my friend Sean over for dinner, so today I walked over to Jewel to pick up a few items. I was just leaving and on my way home when I received a text from Mr. Novio. He said today was a slow day so he drove up to say, "Hi" on his break. He's in one of those areas that has citywide access, so he's not restricted to any one geographic district.

I was three quarters the way home already when he found me. He gave me a lift the rest of the way, and we sat out in front of where I live so we could talk. Since he was on duty he couldn't leave and come in. No sooner did we take off our seat belts than the headless woman showed up. All I can tell you was that she was a tall, skinny girl who had a Pink Blackberry Pearl, a light grey tee shirt, a medium gray hoodie and tight sweats on, since she never bent down to talk to my friend but preferred to look down into the car. Since I was sitting in the passenger side, I never saw her head. She said she locked herself out, and did he, as the Police, have some way of breaking into her place?

He assured her that yes, the Police have had to break into places, but she should wait the 3 hours necessary for the locksmith she called to show up. She was somewhat unrelenting, hoping that he'd change his mind and she kept asking him in other ways for help to get in. He assured her that in his capacity, under the circumstances he couldn't help her break into her place and there would be less damage anyway if she just waited for the locksmith to arrive.

She was a bit insistent, thinking that surely my friend had a magical toolbox that he could whip out and gain easy entry to her place from. She inquired about what 311 would tell her. From the way the interaction went, it was clear that she gets her knowledge of what law enforcement can do from watching cop shows. The headless woman walked back the direction from which she came. Obviously she should have called Jack Bauer.

Soon after, we had a parade of neighbors who seemed to come out of the woodwork, leaving their residences, walking by and staring. All turned to stare at us, or rather, him. There's something about seeing a squad car with a Police Officer in it that turns things into a gaper's block, even though the lights weren't on since this isn't official business. One neighbor, an older lady who I recognize from much further down and across the street just had to feed her curiosity.

Just as he turned to me to say, "You sure have nosy neighbors!" this lady walked to one of my neighbor's porches, turned and then headed straight for the squad car. This one was not shy: she leaned in, practically sticking her head in and gave me a good looking up and down before she said to him, "I'm sorry you have to work on Memorial Day." She then proceeded to hang around saying basically nothing, hoping to figure out why he was sitting there or why I was sitting there.

Our annual block party is this coming weekend. I'm sure that I bump into the persistent neighbor, I will be grilled like a Memorial Day food item. Yes we have a lot of busy bodies on my street, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Duty and Honor: WWII Veterans Who Served Beyond the Imaginable.

Memorial Day is when, as a nation, we acknowledge all who served our country, generally during a time of war

Due to advancing age, the US has fewer and fewer WWII veterans in total, and especially a smaller number of veterans who served their country while their families were incarcerated by Executive Order 9066, stripped of the rights that all Americans were supposed to have. While their families languished in wooden shack barracks in the deserts of the US, taken from their homes, taken from the life they had begun to make, taken from the land they farmed (which they developed from poor soil quality to rich fertile lands using organic farming methods they brought with them when they immigrated), Japanese Americans were forced to leave everything behind, taking only what they could carry.

This was a violation of the Bill of Rights, which sent the message that this glorious Bill of Rights was only for White Folk. Economic greed coupled with hatred promoted by California Nativists and the Hearst Newspapers fueled hatred for anyone of Japanese ancestry. Even before this lovely time, laws were in place so that unlike groups of European immigrants, Asian immigrants were barred by Federal Law from becoming US Citizens. During the years from the 1800's to the time WWII broke out, racism against Asians and Asian Americans was legalized. These were not our nation's finest years.

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It was a lousy time to be an American with an Asian face. It was even lousier if your parents or grandparents were from Japan. People you thought were your friends turned their backs on you, betraying your friendship. The Nisei, or 2nd Generation of Japanese Americans, suffered doubly because they saw what was happening to their families yet in school they were taught that they were protected by the Bill of Rights and that we were a free nation. Unfortunately during certain times of our nation's history, laws were upheld for some groups and voided for others.

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It is then almost imperceptible to understand the sense of duty and honor that many Nisei men exhibited by enlisting to fight for their country, the same one that betrayed their families and them. It would seem as if the burden of proving yet once again that they were loyal Americans, despite their incarceration and that of their families, while German and Italian Americans were free to continue on with their lives. Over half of the number of those interned were US citizens.

When the US Government sought volunteers to serve the US war effort, those Japanese Americans who did served in a segregated unit and were sent on some of the riskiest and most dangerous missions, resulting in very high casualties. These soldiers came both from the Internment Camps and from Hawaii. The famous group was known as the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was known for saving the 141st or the "Lost Batallion" from the Germans. Many Jewish survivors of Dachau, still honor the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion of the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, for liberating Dachau. Amazon.com carries a DVD which provides an historical account of these soldiers and the liberation, called: From Hawaii to the Holocaust, directed by Judy Weightman and Ryan Sexton.

Another group of Japanese American veterans who served under these painful circumstances were those soldiers who served the MIS (US Military Intelligence Service). With their language skills, these soldiers played a pivotal role in ending the war in the Pacific and aiding the Occupation in Japan. The Chicago Japanese American Service Community Center will be hosting an exhibit of select photographs, oral histories and other memorabilia which tell the story of the US Military Intelligence Service soldiers.

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In honoring all of our veterans and those who serve our nation, we also need to remember our past so that we can honor the present.

442nd Combat Team

Go For Broke National Education Center

http://www.goforbroke.org/history/history_historical_veterans_442nd.asp

Military Intelligence Research Center

http://www.njahs.org/misnorcal/

Winning the Peace: An Exhibit of the US Military Intelligence Service

Japanese American Service Committee

4427 N. Clark Steet

Memorial Day, May 25, 2009

1:30: to 2:15 PM

In Memoriam

And blessings to Ngarmar "Chong" Chin, a second generation Chinese American who suffered having his platoon leader point to him and tell his fellow troops that, "This is what the enemy looks like" while he served the USA during the Vietnam War. Working as a medic, he returned whole in body but badly wounded and scarred emotionally. May you rest in peace.

Just call me Miss Twinkle Toes - healing fallen arches

Many, many years ago I had a bad accident. One of the many residual problems was that my right hip, among many other areas of my body, doesn't always work correctly. Add to this double duty eldercare for 3.5 years, and grad school before that, and I wasn't getting all the structural therapy that I needed.

Last summer I started having problems when I'd stand up -- my right heel would, to put it mildly, feel like a knife was going through it. It would get better throughout the day and then the cycle would start anew in the morning. It got worse. At some point, I was totally incapacitated by what graduated into the feeling of several knives being plunged into my right heel with every step I took. Needless to say, it took a lot of time to get from one room to another.

I finally went to see my chiropractor, who told me my arches, especially my right arch, had fallen. The problem was the old injury in my hip, that resulted in my hip not being articulated properly within the socket, thereby screwing around with my sciatic nerve and ultimately my right heel. With the fallen arches, my feet were uncomfortable in my size 6.5 shoes. I went to a local shoe store for a fitting and a pair fo shoes, and to my horrors, I found out that I needed to wear a 7.5. I had gone up an entire size. I'm not tall, so with a leap of an entire size, it felt like I was gearing up for the Bozo Feet competition!

I've been doing three major things to help me. Surgery for me is not an option due to serious medical issues that don't handle almost all pharmaceuticals very well, to put things mildly. As a result, I rely on alternative therapies that are non-drug. One of those was to return to regular chiropractic treatments, as well as working with a telepathic healer and friend of mine. About 4 months ago I added cranial sacral therapy to the mix, and together all three have done wonders.

In fact, I had no idea how improved this was until I started noticing that my shoes felt too loose. Now I'm one of those Zappos shoppers who, when I find a shoe that fits me well, I buy a second or third pair in the colors I like. I tried on one of the unworn pairs and, well, what do you know, the unworn shoe was too large! With all the work I had been getting to help the structure of my legs, it seemed to have corrected some other issues, and I'm now down to a size 7.

I'm not about to run out and buy those cute pairs of ballet flats though -- after going through the pain of a fallen arch and screwed up leg, when I do a lot of walking I only wear shoes with not only cushioning and shock absorption, but they have to have excellent arch support. Lately this has taken me to the land of Pearl Izumi running shoes. They've been leaving all the other shoes I've tried in the dust!

Just call me Twinkle Toes!

The Cost of Politics in the Chicago Police Department

The media reports that morale issues in the Chicago Police Department is low. However, much has not been said about the many causes of morale issues in the CPD. Besides the obvious things like equipment issues and policies that many Officers may find restrictive in their ability to serve and protect, there's that good old something called politics.

Politics. Most all of us have had to deal with it. Sometimes politics is just that grey area as to how things get done, connections are made, alliances are formed, and social change for the better occurs. Sometimes politics is just plain ugly.Politics is ugly when a person in power uses their position to cause harm to another person. It is ugly when an ego maniacal person decides they've been affronted or insulted by some perceived slight, whether true or a confabulation.

It is especially ugly when a person stands up for themselves or another on a matter of ethical principle, and in return they become the object of vengeance. This kind of politics is especially ugly when it messes with many good Officers of the Chicago Police Department.I've heard stories. The names are clearly fictional but the events are not.

Case Number 1: If I don't like you, you are going to Siberia
An "Officer Smith" said something that his superior did not like. The response of the superior was to send him to one of the roughest Districts in the city. This officer, who worked days, eventually moved to a different unit, taking midnights instead. "Officer Smith" filed a grievance and he won - a cash settlement.

Case Number 2: When is an African American Officer not African American?
In one of the most preposterous cases, "Officer Parker" could not get a sworn Affidavit from a potential complainant. In the State of Illinois, a sworn Affidavit is required before an investigation can proceed. Without the Affidavit, legally no action can be taken. However, for some politically hungry ladder climbers, rules are just made to be broken.

The Officer's boss told him to make someone accountable, even though no investigation could legally be performed. Before the complainant decided she didn't want to swear under oath that her complaint was 'the truth,' she specifically said the "offender" was not African American. Color has no boundaries when you are trying to claw your way up the ladder. This political 'boss' gave the orders to jam up Officer Jones, who had written the non-complainant a ticket.

When Officer Parker pointed out that Officer Jones was African American, the boss lady told him to do it anyway. She also made it very clear that she was majorly pissed he did not quietly go along with her plans to screw another Officer. In case he didn't get her drift, she transferred this veteran with 20 plus years on the street to midnights.

Case #3: I was home sleeping, I'm on a different shift.
In another case, an Officer worked a unit where certain names were preprinted on a Watch Command sheet, used for different shifts within that watch. One day the Officer is required to show up in Federal court and is grilled about Officers that never worked for him. After explaining that they just use photocopies of preprinted forms, and to get the information about the Officers involved they need to read the actual times worked and match them to the Officer in charge, he is dismissed from the stand.

Despite this, to this day , well over 10 years later,he still has an infraction listed in his jacket that has no merit, since he had nothing to do with those who were getting disciplinary action.If you've ever wondered why some claim that morale is bad in the CPD, add the above knowledge to the picture that you have about the way the Department treats some of their Officers. Is this how you would want to be treated at your job? Is this how you would want your friends, family or yourself treated? Is this how you would want any human being treated?

Certainly, this is not how the members of the nation's second largest Police Department should be treated when they are here to serve and protect. Not respecting the guys and gals on the street says a lot about not respecting the Office and the ideals that should be serving the department, and supporting those who start their day of work by putting their Level 3 vest on to do what none of us civilians could, would want to, or can even phathom.
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If you really want to know the state of morale as it relates to bad politics, find out how many dollars are paid out in Grievance awards, and look at the number of Grievance cases that had to be filed by Police Officers. These Grievances are filed when Officers basically get screwed by politics, and I've heard that it is quite a substantial sum. when their bosses and others don't honor the job they are supposed to do.

Apparently the politics is such that there are the power hungry who probably haven't been on the street much, and they prefer to have their careers catapulted via collateral damage. That their idea of collateral damage could be those who joined the CPD to serve and protect and not play political games is a tragedy in itself, and it stinks.

Destruction of the Bridgeport Mural and the City of Chicago

On May 15th, a mural painted by artist Gabriel Villa was destroyed when the City of Chicago had their Graffiti Blasters paint over it. The mural was on private property. The destruction was ordered by Alderman James Balcer. There is a good account of this with links to other news sites covering this situation by blogger Shannon Benine , so I won't reproduce what's already been written.

I was out of the office for most of the day, so I couldn't post the news about this that artist Robert Valadez emailed many of us. I did want to share some interesting items of note.

According to some news accounts, Alderman Balcer either inferred or stated that Chicago Police Officers did not like the mural. As many of you know, Mr. Novio is a Chicago Police Officer. As we were having dinner Saturday night, I asked him what he thought of the mural. He commented that the article said that the artist wanted his work to be controversial, and he thought that this was accomplished by his art. Mr. Novio also reiterated that you don't need a permit to paint a mural on private property, and that when the Graffiti Blasters show up, they are supposed to have the permission of the building owners before they remove any "graffiti."

I asked him about the symbolism of the deer head, the Crucifixion and the skull, and he gave me a funny look, the kind that said, 'you know Mexican neighborhoods!' We both agreed that the skull, or death, is obvious since the barrios have long had their problems with shootings and other murders which often plague higher crime areas. Then there is Crucifixion and Mexican Catholics, but what else needs to be said here? Mr. Novio commented in Mexico there are brands of Tequilla that use the deer head as part of their branding. As for the cameras, they tend to plague high crime areas and are ubiquitous in many areas.

I asked Mr. Novio if, as a Police Officer, did the mural offend him. He said, "No, it's art, and it's an expression of art. Besides, it's the (depicts) the neighborhood (the barrios)."

When I told him that many of the articles inferred or stated that Alderman Balcer was responding to complaints by the Police, Mr. Novio, who is a Sargent in the CPD, said, "That's bullshit -- this is a First Amendment issue and the Police would stay away from something like that -- remember there was a big legal case about the CPD and First Amendment issues?" Well, actually I didn't so over dinner he gave me a refresher course.

He said that no Chicago Police Officer in their right mind would get involved in the suppression of First Amendment Rights. When an student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, David Nelson, had a painting displayed that showed then Mayor Harold Washington in ladies lingerie (Mirth and Girth), several Chicago Alderman demanded that the painting be taken down and with the help of the then Police Superintendent, an Officer was ordered to take the painting into custody. In 1994 the City of Chicago settled a lawsuit by agreeing to pay $95,000 in attorney's fees to Nelson's lawyer.

The case that my friend was referring to was a lawsuit filed on November 13, 1974 that was settled in the 1980s (Alliance to End Repression v. City of Chicago). The original defendants included the commanders of the CPD Intelligence Division. According to the Case Study by Lim, Rhoades and Shorr, on April 8, 1982 the City of Chicago Settlement was issued. "The restrictions of the settlement were imposed against any agent or agency of the City of Chicago. The settlement explicitly states that "investigative activity toward First Amendment conduct is entirely prohibited except in four specific types of investigations: criminal, dignitary protection, public gathering and regulatory investigations."

Mr. Novio told me that in the case of criminal investigations related to First Amendment situations, they have 24 consecutive hours to investigate and determine there is something there; if not, it is dropped.

So one may infer that by brown washing a mural created on private property, the Alderman broke a number of laws and has possibly opened our City to a potential lawsuit or lawsuits. Shouldn't the City Government look for ways to bring revenue in, not open the door to pouring revenue out?

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Links related to this post:

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has a fascinating website entitled, "Art on Trial," that discusses the case involving artist David Nelson and the City of Chicago.


For a look at the work of artist Gabriel Villa, and view photos of his murals which are in institutions throughout the City of Chicago, check out the section: public works.

To read a well laid out backgrounder on Case Study of Alliance to End Repression v City of Chicago, visit the Chicago Kent College of Law IIT website.

Watch the Chicago City Council in Action!

On April 22nd, 2009, The Uptown Update had a great post with a link where we can watch the City Council meetings, broadcast via live streaming video on the City Clerk's website.

If you are a City news junkie, or love politics, or horrors, are both, then come join us at the Windy Citizen as we watch our City Council in action (or inaction, depending on what is going on).

The next meeting of the City Council will be held Wednesday, May 13th at 10:00 AM. You can catch the proceedings here: http://www.chicityclerk.com/ and join us at the Windy Citizen.

Check the comments section of this blog and I'll post the url for the WC post or you can visit here: http://www.windycitizen.com/.

See you all there!

We are watching live and you can comment now at: http://www.windycitizen.com/chicago/politics/2009/05/13/chicago-city-council-meeting-open-thread-may-13

How NOT to use Freecycle

I love Freecyle and the concept, which is great for keeping usable things out of landfills. However, the more one posts items, the more one opens themselves up to responses that can be rude, demanding, and in some cases you can receive responses that seem well intentioned on the face of it, but they really say a lot about the person who wants to boss you around and tell you how you should handle your recyclables. The one thing I can say about the latter type is that I am glad I don't live with you!

Several Freecyclers and I have had some discussions about how people interact with others when using this service, and I do mean service -- a great one at that! The lists below are a compilation of comments I've received, based on actual Freecycling experiences.

1. Respond promptly. You can provide a phone number but if the person only provides an email address, assume that this is the preferred way of being contacted. When in doubt, provide both. If I had $100 for ever response I've received that emails me their phone number and says that's the only way I should contact them, I'd be able to pay off my school loans.
   
2. Read the email offer before responding. So often I'll state a window of pick up times, eg Tues - Friday and I'll receive requests for pickups on Sunday or Monday. I'm online most of the day, so when I respond to someone who asks for the item to be promised to them, why do you not respond for another 24 hours? If you are going offline for hours immediately after responding, letting a person know would be a nice courtesy. After holding an item for someone twice this way, I now just move down the list if I don't hear back from them within 2-3 hours.
   
3. Respond to OFFERS when you actually need an item, not just because you want something. When a Freecycler PROMISES this item to someone who isn't sincere in needing the item and doesn't bother to pick it up, it prevents others from having an chance of receiving it in a more timely manner.
   
4. Do not try to guilt someone who is offering something on Freecycle. You have no idea what their circumstances are, and you may very well actually be in better circumstances than the person offering something.
   
5. Do not insist on meeting the person face to face. That's creepy, even for me who has a friends who are Chicago Police Officers.
   
6. Do not demand that the person promise it to YOU and no one else.
   
7. Do not harass a poster because they did not respond specifically to YOU. I had this happen when I posted an item which resulted in about 50 responses. One person became irate that she didn't receive my email promising her the item. My response was to block her email addresses.
   
8. A post pick up thank-you is always appreciated.
   
9. When responding to a post and your name is not obvious from your Freecycle name, please provide a name so the transaction doesn't seem so impersonal.
   
10. Mistakes can occur on both sides of the donor and the person picking up, so do have some patience and charity before blasting the other person. One Freecycler told me that the person who was supposed to pick up showed up on the wrong date despite the fact that there was a confirming email with the correct dates, and they were rudely blasted when it wasn't even their error.
    
11. If an item is in 'garbage like condition,' be honest about it in your OFFER. Sometimes things really do need to be thrown out.
    
12. If you are giving clothes please make an effort to have them cleaned or washed, and please don't leave food in the pockets!

My favorite "You've got to be kidding responses."

1. If I am listing an item, do not email me to TELL ME that I should donate it to a specific organization and that this is absolutely what you think I should do. If you are so sincere and dedicated, offer to take the item and drive it to the organization yourself. Not everyone has a car or the time.
   
2. Similar to #1 above. Do not tell the person offering an item to take a bus to donate something. You do not know the donor's circumstances. Perhaps they have physical disabilities and cannot carry these items. Or perhaps they don't have 3 hours to take two or three busses. Ordering a donor around is really an indication of how rude and inconsiderate you are, rather than being well intentioned.

My favorite "I really do thank you!"

Once this lady emailed me that she couldn't pick up right away because one of her kids was still sick, and she wanted to know if I could hold the items but if I couldn't she understood. As they say in business, timing and location is everything, and this was no exception. As we chatted it turned out that she had three daughters and between them and herself, whatever I was giving away would certainly fit one of them. I told her I'd make an effort to clean out part of my closet since I had a lot of gift items that didn't suit me or no longer fitted me. She was so appreciative that she not only called me when her family had a "second Christmas" trying things on, but she sent me an email and a thank-you card. I was truly touched.

And in ending this post, I do want to say that I've met some really nice people on Freecycle, including Craig, Kenyatta, Tracy, Katie, Luz and many others. As for myself, I do have a few favorites that I admit, I will give preference to. This happens because they are reliable (they pick up when they said they will, or they contact me when something happens and they cannot pick up when planned), and they are gracious and also follow up with an acknowledgment that they have the items and a thank you.

And no matter what, Freecycle rocks in my book.

Love the Freecycle concept but want to try a system designed differently? Check out Pixielist.

Cinco De Mayo

It's May 5th and if you are wondering what all the hoopla is about regarding Cinco de Mayo, here is a little history:

The City of Puebla, in the state of the same name, has played an important role in Mexico’s history. In 1811 it was won by independence forces, but then soon retaken by Spanish loyalists. It wasn’t until 1821 when it came to rebel hands again, just before the Independence Treaty in Mexico City.

Throughout the 19th century it gained a reputation as a conservative Catholic city where Mexican patriotism was suspect. This was despite two heroic stands against French invaders. In 1847 the city refused to let General Santa Anna defend it against the invading US forces, who captured it without resistance.

In 1862, the French expected a similar welcome. However, the generals appointed by President Benito Juarez to defend Puebla had other ideas. North of the city, Ignacio de Zaragoza fortified the Hill of Guadalupe. On May 5th, 2,000 persons comprised of Zaragoza’s military men and Puebla citizens (armed with home and farm tools), defeated a frontal attack by 6,000 men of the France’s best trained army. General Porfirio Diaz was credited with successfully fighting off the final French assault. In honor of this victory the city is now officially called Puebla de Zaragoza.

Reinforcements of French retook Puebla after several days of artillery bombardment the following year. This involved an unsuccessful infantry attack and a two month siege. Many of the defenders were sent to France as prisoners. The city was occupied until 1867, when it was reclaimed by Porfirio Diaz.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo is the third most important holiday in Mexico, after Independence Day (on September 16) and Revolution Day (November 20). In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is the biggest Mexican celebration.

The history is complements of Eliamar Loza of Artesmias d'Mexico, 1644 W. 18th Street in Pilsen. Check out their store for fine Mexican Folk Art, pottery, tiles, and other lovelies.