Best of the Internet: Can you handle 12 minutes of it?

[VIDEO] I suppose from the YouTube channel Daily Dose of Internet we get a year end edition right after the Christmas holiday and we're yet days away from the New Year. Over 12 minutes of videos of education, scientific, newsworthy or even entertainment interests. I hope you enjoy.

I also hope you either had or will have an enjoyable holiday.

"No Safe Spaces" with Adam Carolla and Dennis Prager

[VIDEO] I saw this documentary over the weekend which features two figures one more in the entertainment realm who has a well-known podcast named Adam Carolla  a comedian who in a different time hosted The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel. And the other figure is a man named Dennis Prager who not only has a popular YouTube channel and he's also a conservative radio host.

This documentary takes aim at what's going on college campuses. It especially notes the disturbances on college campuses and it seems the lack of diversity of thought on college campuses could threaten our larger society. Indeed as one professor noted in this documentary the college students of today will become future leaders of American society whether in business, entertainment, or even politics.

I suppose we could talk about the issue of free speech when it comes to these campuses. It's definitely one thing to attack issues that most Americans do believe are troubling such as racism or sexism. It's utterly troubling when using those isms that many of us consider abhorrent as a way to attack other ideas.

So to find students deciding to take over a campus in search for a professor they take issue with, to tell a professor that you want his job taken from them because a student doesn't want to have a discussion about some of their ideas, to engage in rioting on a campus because a speaker you take issue with is coming to campus or to outright assault someone who's part of a group to which you're opposed. We're exploring most of that in this documentary.

Ahh safe spaces, I'm unclear on the concept to be honest. I suppose if these are for groups who might want to advocate for themselves that's fine. However for the purposes of this documentary what is being conveyed is that there are safe spaces from some ideas. Should we be safe from different and new ideas?

I think about this now, when I was at Morehouse I reflexively had an issue with communism. My frame of reference was the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, or Cuba which are basically oppressive authoritarian dictatorships. I was caught off guard when one of the young men I met at school had to ask me if I read The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx which I did before graduating. I suppose I couldn't be safe from having to actually read up upon that subject which has a number of adherents.

When it was time to graduate from high school, I had no idea of the point. It was in my head to go to college and get a good job. College is the time to explore different ideas especially if you plan to study a field that allows you to academically look at different ideas. That's what this documentary explores, however, if the students and some of the professors are effectively only trying to promote some ideas is college actually serving its purpose?

I recommend you check out this documentary.

Marquez Brownlee: Retro Tech

[VIDEO] Marquez Brownlee does a retro tech episode on a retro all-in-one camcorder. A JVC GR-C1 which is said to be the first camcorder of its kind. It's amazing how far video recording has come.

I still have a mini-DV camcorder which made roughly the same noise - mostly mechanical - as the JVC did when Marquez put in a tape. The camcorder seems like a very large and unwieldily piece of tech. Unless you have what they used to call a pro-sumer camcorder such a device this large is not something you really see anymore.

The mini-DV camera I have at home is relatively small and even then its consider obsolete as the rage these days are hard drive camcorders. If you want to record video it can be stored digitally not need for a medium whether tapes or DVDs. Now it's just a matter of where you choose to store video that you want to edit into more of a feature presentation.

NFL Thanksgiving football tradition

[VIDEO] Well we looked at the Bears' throwback uniforms used in a game this season and then the evolution of NFL rules. Now we get to see the evolution of NFL Thanksgiving football. Another tradition perhaps once a family is done with their Thanksgiving dinner.

According to NFL.com three games will be played today on Thanksgiving which includes Bears vs. Detroit Lions with kickoff at 11:30 AM Chicago time (will edit with score). Also Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys at 3:30 PM Chicago time.

Well the Bears, Lions and Cowboys have been frequently features in Thanksgiving games according to the video above.

Happy Thanksgiving...

[VIDEO] Happy Thanksgiving to all! USA Today has a live feed of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC. So I wanted to share that with you all this morning.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe one! 

CPS bond ratings upgraded

Bond ratings for Chicago Public Schools upgraded by Moody's after the strike via CapFax

Citing improved liquidity, Moody’s upgrades CPS a tick https://t.co/E5lo0N2o2F

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) November 26, 2019

Speaker of the House elected January 2017

[VIDEO] This video from Artistmac on YouTube is over two years old and shows a roll call vote to re-elect Michael Madigan as Speaker of the state House of Representatives. Madigan has held this job since 1983 - except for a two year break from 1995 to 1997.

It's been in the news lately that we will have to elect a new leader to the Illinois state Senate in January because of the retirement of state Senate President John Cullerton. I get the feeling it wont get great coverage in the Chicago media though it's something I'll be looking for by January once the process is started.

Since being the state Senate President is a significant legislative leadership position I would be curious would would throw their hat in the ring for that position. The new Senate President would be up there with Speaker Madigan and the Republican minority leaders of both chambers of the state General Assembly.

I'm sure there will be further posts about that seen over at Rich Miller's CapFax.

BTW, I still have some time to schedule myself a quick trip to Springfield, Illinois in the future. Something that I would like to document for this blog.

New YouTube rules could harm content creators

[VIDEO] Wrestlelamia is one of my favorite sources of professional wrestling news and to see this video is disheartening. Claiming that YouTube's new rules with regards to children being under the age of 13 to insure no information for child users will be collected by anyone.

I've learned having really followed YouTube consistently over the past two years about how many YouTubers have lost money on the platform. One primary way of making money on YouTube is with advertising usually from Google Ads. BTW, YouTube is owned by Google as are a number of other platforms such as what I use to publish this blog.

Anyway to be able to make some money on their YouTube channels in addition to Google Ads many use merchandising (one of my favorite YouTube channels Mousetrap Money has their own merchandise for example). Others depend upon donations from such services as Patreon (such as Mr. Beat if you enjoy the content he produces).

So either way, pro wrestling is something that does appeal to young people. I started watching wrestling in the 5th grade and though I've hardly stayed away from the "sport" the pattern really hasn't ceased. Back in my day the wrestlers portrayed on TV in WWE and WCW - back in the early 1990s - mostly were designed to appeal to children. By the late 90s the trend was creating characters and storylines that appealed to those over the age of 14.

If you ever had dreams of starting a successful YouTube channel that gets a significant enough of a following the rules will begin to make it harder and harder. That's not to say if you have an idea or a plan that you want to share, get started anyway. Also recognize YouTube is the most popular video sharing service in the world so you can't go wrong there anyway. You just never know! 

#ABeautifulDayMovie Thumbs up :)

I saw the Mr. Rogers film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoood on Friday. It was actually based on a long ago Esquire magazine article about Fred Rogers.

This movie gave me a greater appreciation of Mr. Rogers' contributions to children's entertainment. As stated in a post back in August on this blog where he was shown in a segment on Late Night w/ David Letterman I truly believe him to be a very genuinely decent man. Rogers ended production of his long time public TV program Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood in 2001 and died in 2003.

Not a huge spoiler but a segment seen on Late Night before Letterman introduces his guest was a scene in this movie. It depicted Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers attempting to set up a teepee on the set of his TV program. It also depicts the journalist assigned to interview Mr. Rogers. Hanks truly did this iconic personality justice.

BTW, another scene depicted in this film was Mr. Rogers' appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show. You may have also seen that in the David Letterman post.

I have to admit it never occurred to me until watching this movie that Rogers has some eccentricities going on in his personality. Then again as a genuine person as I do believe he is, I have more respect for him now. I just wish today's children can see his awesomeness on TV again.

Also, I wanted to leave you with this article sharing 15 heartwarming facts about Mr. Rogers from MentalFloss.com. Fascinating look at a man who was part of so many childhoods

Here's a trailer for the movie that''s out in theaters now! [VIDEO]

Why do we have to go to school?

[VIDEO] I've been wanting to share another Mr. Beat video here. He's got a YouTube channel who's basic subject is social studies which is what he teaches in real life. In this video published over two years ago talks about the history of school in the world.

I started a blog named for a school - and an elementary school at that - it never occurred to me to look at the history of school in human civilization. Why do we have school? At what point did government mandate that children must attend school?

Here's another thing in the video that makes sense governments had a vested interest in children going to school. Not only that what model did governments around the world use for their own education systems?

I had written on this blog before that I hated school, but that's only to speak for myself. Bottom line is that I support the fact that our young children must be in school. School in many ways can benefit you and I'm not just talking about socially, perhaps at some point in your studies there is a subject that interests you in more ways than one.

Regardless what I would state differently now than I had in that past post is what ways could school be better? How could school at least in my younger days could've been better for me?

Capitol Fax: CPS receiving about three adult sexual misconduct complaints per day

Rich Miller writes in today's post about this: "Sounds like it’s time to revamp the vetting process." Referring specifically to 4.7% of CPS security guards.

CPS receiving about three adult sexual misconduct complaints per day https://t.co/raOqJ3b5cT

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) November 21, 2019

Late Night w/ David Letterman Chicago remotes May 1989

[VIDEO] Here's yet another infrequent late night post on this blog. This time we see David Letterman take his Late Night program on the road to the Chicago Theater on State Street. The remotes we see here involve not only the Museum of Science and Industry which was quite hilarious to be honest. He also tours the city with Bozo the Clown. This aired back in May 1989 over 30 years ago.

I only visited the soon to be Kenneth Griffin Museum of Science and Industry a handful of times on a field trip while still in elementary school. And Bozo was a constant presence on school days when Bozo's Circus would air on WGN for an hour every weekday morning. It was nostalgic to see the last Bozo the Clown a man by the name of Joey D'Auria tours the city with Letterman.

I don't remember if I even saw either of these segments on the show, although with the subject matters involved this is something that I'd have gotten a kick out of. The trip to the museum although I never paid a visit to that former German submarine for example. It makes me want to pay the museum a visit after decades.

Train Odyssey: Amtrak's Crescent train

Youtuuba cut his second part of his train video into two days continuing from his trip aboard the City of New Orleans train. The first day leaves New Orleans and then ends once he arrived in Atlanta, Georgia and then the second day his train continues through Virginia; Washington, DC; and finally Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I took Amtrak's Crescent train last year leaving a family reunion in the Atlanta metro area and left from ATL's Peachtree Station to take a connecting train from DC back to Chicago on board Amtrak's Capitol Limited. A few observations that match some of what Youtuuba noted in his videos from the Crescent.

We were late in departing Atlanta waiting at the Amtrak station for just about three hours due to freight traffic. I understand that there was a single track up to Atlanta and unfortunately Amtrak is at the mercy of the freight railroads. Usually freight railroads have precedents over passenger trains. Also bear in mind that most Amtrak routes save for those in the northeast from DC to Maryland through at least Massachusetts are owned by the freight railroads.

With this said I know something was said about giving passenger trains precedence in some instances but I can't attest to that. What I can say is that unfortunately Amtrak does have issues with on-time performance and one of the reasons for that is the precedence of freight trains on some of the railroads that Amtrak must run on for their service.

With this said while my mother and I were waiting for our train we heard a man who was on his way back to Charlotte, North Carolina talk about getting a credit from Amtrak because as a regular user of this route the Crescent often has issues with being on-time. He knows to call Amtrak and talk about the delay and like any business the "National Passenger Railroad Corporation" will try to keep customers as happy as possible.

Incidentally we also were held up once we arrived in Washington, DC in this case is was due to equipment issues. We were about to be taken to our train by a red cap from the first class lounge and he was about to ask where our train was. He was told over his radio that our train wasn't ready and at that point it wasn't that long before we were to depart. We were delayed in Washington for just about two hours as a result. And thus we could get another credit from Amtrak as a result.

So in any case that was my experience with the Crescent train, let's follow Youtuuba's journey from New Orleans to his final stop in Philadephia.

Here's day one of this journey from New Orleans, Louisiana through Mississippi, Alabama through to Atlanta, Georgia [VIDEO]

And there here's day two from Atlanta, Georgia and he seems to start recording in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, and to his stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylania. He shows some footage of himself driving back south after he arrives in Philly. [VIDEO]

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Daily Dose of Internet: Surgery on an egg

[VIDEO] Been a while since I shared a video from Daily Dose of Internet. Today this video starts off with a surgeon who shows his prowess stitching a piece of fabric on an egg membrane. Of course this vid among others seen around the internet of an education or entertainment interest. Enjoy!

Teacher's strike over, students go back to class Friday

I will refer you to The Sixth Ward as I posted some updates about the most recent developments earlier today.

You can read details about it in the Sun-Times. Here's a post from CPS ig!

NFL Rules: The evolution

[VIDEO] Since later tonite football fans will be tuned into Thursday Night Football on FOX I found this recent video talking about the evolution of rules within the National Football League. Believe it or not this year we're celebrating the 100th anniversary of the NFL, and it's fitting to see the evolution of professional football especially with the rulebook.

Believe it or not you can read the NFL rules here. I understood that NFL play was based on college rules, however, what doesn't always occur to me is how much different the college game is from the professional game. Besides you want to drum up interest in professional football as that's where the big bucks are! 

Springfield's response to the Chicago teacher's strike #twill

It's interesting to not only see some news about negotiation, especially about trying to negotiation issues that don't belong in a collective bargaining contract. However, the all powerful speaker of the state house of representatives is demonstrating that while he support CTU he won't attempt to advance any bills for them during this strike. Via Capitol Fax

Madigan defers consideration of CTU-backed bills until spring session https://t.co/fOlMBzNKzM

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 30, 2019

BTW, I do have to add I had no idea the mayor opposes an elected school board. It was noted in the post linked above.

Meanwhile today marks 10 days out of school for CPS students.

CTA Red Line extension update

Rendering 103rd Street Red Line station - CTA 

Over at The Sixth Ward on Tuesday I shared a tweet to a Curbed Chicago article with regards to various upcoming transit projects throughout the city. One project that many who live near the 95th terminal is the planned CTA Red Line extension. One reason that Curbed article was of interest to me is the seeming progress in which case is to merely fund engineering & design work.

Of course the reason for this interest is mainly the safety and activity of the area. The 95th terminal is one of the busiest of the CTA. The CTA Red Line connects with not only CTA and Pace suburban bus routes, also intercity bus services with Greyhound and Indian Trails buses. So there's definitely a lot of activity there especially during the week.

The main thing is building this extension further south to the city's southern limits might mean less activity at 95th. Or perhaps hopefully for local leaders in the community less opportunities for criminal activity. Either way another stated and important purpose for this extension is to cut commuting times for those individuals who must use public transit who must travel to other parts of the city.

No CPS classes in 8 days

This was on the Capitol Fax blog yesterday, Rich Miller isn't buying whatever numbers the teacher's union has been using.

Why I’m not buying the numbers that the CTU is selling https://t.co/u6bFh5bozS

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 28, 2019

Meanwhile CPS has a struck a deal with SEIU over the weekend as they still continue negotiations with the teachers.

Also I've been using social media to keep up with the strike to the best of my ability. From CPS's FB page to the Chicago Teacher's Union ig in addition to CapFax. My apologies for not keeping up with any updates with regards to negotiations between CPS and CTU on this blog.

Today marks the 8th straight day of cancelled classes for CPS students and this is considered the longest strike since 1987.

My hope is that classes will resume for CPS students and soon! 

Train Odyssey: Amtrak City of New Orleans

[VIDEO] One of my favorite YouTubers is youtuuba who likes to make videos about his various train odysseys on the Amtrak system. Recently he took a trip south on board The City of New Orleans train which he documents for us. This three hour video is only a part one, presumably part two shows us his journey on board Amtrak's Crescent train from New Orleans to Philadelphia. I will show part two once it's available.

As a frame of reference using some of my own YouTube videos. This train when it leaves Union Station backs out of the station and heads west on tracks that are a few blocks from 18th street. Or the tracks it heads west on will take you towards Cicero, Berwyn, Naperville, Aurora. Once the train backs up the train moves forward heading through the Sloop and then moves south along Lake Shore Drive through McCormick Place.

The train continues south eventually going through the neighborhoods of Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, Grand Crossing, Chatham, Roseland, and Pullman. Basically as it goes along Lake Shore Drive eventually the train will be coasting along Stony Island then Cottage Grove until leaving the Chicago city limits. The train will continue to go south going diagonally through the state of Illinois making stops in Kankakee, Champaign-Urbana, and Carbondale before leaving the state into Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and then to its final destination in New Orleans.

Here's some video I shot about my last trip on The City of New Orleans during the summer of 2018 as we ride through Bronzeville, Hyde Park, and Woodlawn. [VIDEO]

Capitol Fax: Must-see CPS strike videos

[VIDEO] The first video you see above was shared Friday on CapFax is of strike teacher's mocking Michael Jackson's thriller. I' giving them credit for making this strike entertaining at least. That video among other teacher's strike fun.

Must-see CPS strike videos https://t.co/T1IP3tuIXz

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 25, 2019

"The Current War"

Often when I see period pieces such as The Current War I will be surrounded by the elderly. They seem more interested in historic films such as this which is basically a story of the competition between Thomas Edison and his direct current vs. George Westinghouse and his alternating current.

It's amazing to know the history of how homes and businesses receive their electricity. While it's noted that Thomas Edison had invented the light bulb (most of us may remember this from school hopefully), it was essentially Westinghouse who may not be as well known aside from a company that bore his name who won this "current war" with his DC power.

And I was somewhat bothered by the three or so Black men in the movie. One was a reporter, another was portrayed a wealthy man, and the last one worked for Edison. Upon checking out the wiki page the Black man working for Edison is a Black inventor named Lewis Latimer. And somehow I believed he belonged there, the other two perhaps it was just Hollywood being very inclusive in a period movie where Blacks just weren't yet treated as equals.

I shouldn't forget the contribution of one Nicola Tesla. He was portrayed in this film as one odd character. I'm sure he was a genius who made the difference in the competition between DC and AC. Sorry to know that he never profited from his contributions.

A Chicago connection in this film is Samuel Insull who worked for Edison who undeniably resembles Peter Parker as Spider-Man 😛. Insull had some holdings in a few Chicago-area utilities such as People's Gas and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and he definitely had some local transportation interests that includes the South Shore interurban and a predecessor to the Chicago Transit Authority. Alas he was another who ultimately died penniless.

I remember seeing trailers for this film over two years ago and had little idea it got caught up in that scandal involving Harvey Weinstein. I'm glad another company picked this film up and redistributed it. I'm glad to have seen this film depicting one of the great achievements of the late 19th century. It was great to see how the world we we knew it a century later came to be. [VIDEO]

Chicago Teacher's strike updates

I haven't done a great job at keeping up with the strike so far on this blog. Classes have been cancelled all week for CPS students due to this impasse between the city and the teacher's union. Here are some items that might interest you from during the week via CapFax.

Reason: Why 'Free College' Is a Terrible Idea

[VIDEO] This video from Reason.tv talks about alternatives to getting a baccalaureate degree spending money for four years of study. As opposed to taking advantages of different vocational or pre-professional programs that are designed to get you ready for the world of work. One could argue for what colleges expect you to study is what you take these classes for preparing you for day one on the job.

Governor's mansion history from Curbed...

I liked this history of the state's Governor's Mansion and of all the work done to that Springfield house since it was first built. Of course all is noted in light of the renovations that will start this month and end just in time for the holidays. Via Curbed Chicago

After $15 million update in 2018, the Governor’s Mansion will close for more renovations. https://t.co/ktq0b7Th5o pic.twitter.com/Iqjcl1NPJ0

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) October 4, 2019

One thing to remember is that Gov. J.B. Pritzker will pay for these renovations out of his pocket!

No resolution to the teacher's strike yet...

Rich Miller shares a quick response to Mayor Lori Lightfoot's attempt to end the strike and get teachers back in classrooms.

CTU to Lightfoot: Nope https://t.co/Ahlx0zDSOw

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 21, 2019

Teacher's strike started on Thursday

[VIDEO] I shot this video wating for a bus in front of CPS HQ on Thursday morning when the strike started. It's amazing that the crowd grew as the day went on from this small group to shutting down Madison Street on that day. I'll share an IG post of this.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by R.A.G.E. (@rage_englewood) on Oct 17, 2019 at 12:56pm PDT

What's inside of the White House

[VIDEO] After many trips to Washington, DC over the years back in 2006 I was able to tour the White House. The tour I had back then never took me to the West Wing and the Oval Office which would've been cool.

This video above shows you the layout of the White House in addition to both the west and east wings of the complex. I wouldn't mind going on a tour of the White House again in the future. Perhaps this could be another "field trip" for this blog...

Frank I Bennett elementary gets a new electronic sign

I've been wanting to get a pic of the new signage outside of Bennett Elementary and did so this past weekend. Too bad that the electronic sign outside of Bennett's main entrance isn't on at all. Is it even on during school days? What information is presented on this board?

Also this on the front fence of Bennett School near the main entrance. It reflects Bennett's new identity Bennett Pride. Hand made letters which is certainly a nice touch.

However, I'm old school and will continue to consider myself a badger. 😛

Prager U on Frederick Douglass

[VIDEO] This video from Prager U of anti-slavery and civil rights activist Frederick Douglass reminds me of the book we had been assigned in the 8th grade. It was Douglass' autobiography:
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Written by Himself.

Thank goodness for the internet as this book is in the public domain. You can read it off the internet and not get hit because of copyright and probably publish your own copy of his book if you want! 

This vid was presented by Timothy Sadefur author of Frederick Douglass Self-Made Man.

#Grouch and SNL ruins a childhood classic

[VIDEO] Presumably this sketch aired recently on Saturday Night Live and it's based on the long running PBS children's TV program Seasame Street. This sketch actually parodies Joker which is currently out at a theater near you.

This was another TV program that as a child I was able to get away with watching. These days I hardly watch the show, and perhaps it's because I believe the hype about some aspects of their political based humor. It might just be because longtime producer Lorne Michaels doesn't like improv. All the same some aspects of the comedy on SNL is often formulaic and flat. Simply put I feel as if I've seen the same type of sketch over and over again.

Either way, this sketch works in spite of the title. Many of the muppets have human counterparts in this film. The Count, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie, Cookie Monster, and even Elmo makes an appearance in this film. We hear a very dramatic rendition of the Sesame Street theme as it sounds so dark and gritty. 😂

The title character of Grouch is a man named Oscar who fulfills the "Joker" role. Although I don't think of Oscar in the same vein as Joker. I feel like in dark way Grouch is more of a hero than exists in the Joker movie.

If they made this film in real life not just a sketch, I'd pay to see it. Hopefully David Harbour who plays Grouchy in this sketch would become part of it! 

Teacher's strike: Small number of Chicago voters oppose strike

I'm posting this now although this is a late 9:00 AM post because it's important. Rich Miller posted about a poll with regards to whether or not Chicagoans oppose a teacher's strike. Only 38% oppose a teacher's strike.

Poll: Just 38 percent of Chicago voters oppose CTU strike https://t.co/A14GZCDUq4

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 15, 2019

How does Lori Lightfoot as Mayor of Chicago settle this?

Tribune: Mayor says CTU ‘refusing to negotiate in good faith;' union calls city offer ‘half-baked’

The latest update about the talks between Chicago's teachers and the city. The final offer by the city was rejected by the teachers union. Ugh...

Capitol Fax: CTU wants to negotiate affordable housing issues

I'm sorry to have missed this from Wednesday. Chicago's teachers want to address the issue of affordable housing for CPS students and their families. Of course the city doesn't think contract negotiations were the right place to address this issue. Via Capitol Fax

CTU wants to negotiate affordable housing issues https://t.co/eeWL9tFAx1

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 9, 2019

WTTW: What’s Next in Lead-Up to a Chicago Teachers Strike?

Still some more news as we head to an October 17th deadline for a teacher's strike. This is a portion of what's next from Chicago Tonight:

The Chicago Teachers Union has set a strike date of Oct. 17, but the deadline for the city to come to a deal with the 25,000-member union may be sooner.

This year, the union’s 700-member House of Delegates – which represents teachers across the city – passed a resolution requiring CTU leadership to bring any tentative deals back to an emergency meeting of those delegates. Those members would then decide whether to call off a strike.

Theoretically, this means even if a contract deal is reached at the 11th hour, teachers could be on the picket lines Oct. 17, and remain there until delegates have reviewed the contract and decided whether to accept the city’s offer.

Sources in CTU say members were angered when, in 2016, union leadership called off a strike after reaching a deal right around the midnight deadline. Some teachers woke up and went to the classroom – instead of the picket line – without knowing the terms of the deal; others were angered at the content of the deal and the fact that CTU had called off the strike without their input.

Very interesting. I still hope there will be no strike.

It's hockey season...

[VIDEO] Which is my excuse to share this throwback this morning. The station WBKB channel 7 is now WLS and they did a 50 min special about the Chicago Black Hawks back in 1964.

Back then the NHL only had six teams. The Black Hawks had won a Stanley Cup three years earlier. And I'm sure their old home Chicago Stadium features as they show the team's fanbase. It's interesting to see the many old players including one Stan Mikita who passed away last year.

I just wonder how popular hockey was in the 1960s as opposed to now. I'm guessing at this point there was a world of difference.

Chicago's teachers: What are the issues?

I know I've kept on eye on this strike talk for at least the past month. WBEZ has a page that let's you know what the issues are between the city and the Chicago Teachers Union. Perhaps in the posts I've published so far perhaps you've seen some discussion on them.

Mr. Beat presents Plessy v. Ferguson...

[VIDEO] This recent video from Mr. Beat talks about the landmark 1896 case of Plessy vs. Ferguson which establishes the principle of "separate but equal". The decision in this case essentially upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation. This case is over racial accomodations on a train. This case has been referred to as one of the worst decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Until watching this video I was woefully ignorant of this case. It's interesting that a man named Plessy in addition to a conductor and a police detective knew that Plessy was "colored". They knew what law to pick to arrest him as he wasn't in the appropriate accommodations for those who are "colored" or Black. It's also interesting that the railroad didn't really want to spend money to provide separate accommodations on their trains between Blacks and whites. Ahhh I see what's going on, this was "civil disobedience" the arrest of Plessy was staged to provoke a court case.

Another interesting piece of trivia with regards to this case, the lone dissenter in this case is a Justice of SCOTUS named John Marshall Harlan. He's the namesake of a certain high school in Chicago's 9th Ward - GO FALCONS!

If you decide to study pol. sci. you might have to take constitutional law as a course or perhaps even as a requirement for your degree. Who knows you may have to study this case...

Before the strike news...

[VIDEO] The video above is from this past saturday showing CTU paraprofessionals rallying at Rainbow Push claiming they don't make enough to comfortably live in the city.

Meanwhile as negotiations more forward ahead of the set October 17th deadline according to the Tribune:

The CTU has set an Oct. 17 deadline for CPS and teachers to reach a deal on a new contract. If not, they can go on strike, disrupting the school year for thousands of public school pupils across the city.

Lightfoot said she wants to reach an agreement that would prevent that from happening, but she’s concerned that the city has not received a detailed formal response to its proposal.

“We can’t bargain against ourselves,” Lightfoot said. “We need to have them at the table with a comprehensive counteroffer. … If we do that we can get there.”

The teachers union fired back on Twitter, saying: “We were showing urgency about a fair contract before the mayor was mayor. City Hall and CPS didn’t show urgency until 94% of our membership voted to strike.”

When I visit Springfield, Illinois

410 E Jackson Street Springfield, IL

Another stop when I finally pay a visit to Springfield, the governor's mansion which just last year was finally reopened after a period of rehabilitation.

Here's some recent news about the mansion courtesy of Capitol Fax. More renovations are coming so if you plan to visit soon be advised that the mansion is closed

Mansion to close for more renovations https://t.co/kHpQBgCZ2i

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) October 3, 2019

From the state's Governor's Mansion page you can learn most about visiting our state's equivalent of the White House.

Saving Our Boys ... Lost in a Post-Masculine World

ADVISORY: There is one instance of profanity in this video and it does touch upon some uncomfortable subjects one of which shouldn't be how we treat our boys.

[VIDEO] Commentary from the YouTube channel Blue Collar Logic.

I've been sitting on this video since last month. It makes some good points as far as how we treat our boys now. The operative phrase when it comes to this subject is "boys are like defective girls".

How are boys "defective" girls when they aren't girls?

RELATED

• Where are the Black male teachers?
• Does public education ruin Black boys?

Chicago teacher's strike date October 17th

From WBBM-AM:

Chicago Teachers Union leaders have set a strike date for Oct. 17, unless the CTU and Chicago Public Schools can agree on a new contract.

The news came Wednesday night. CTU President Jesse Sharkey said negotiations will continue with CPS and the Lightfoot administration.

Last week, a majority of union members authorized leaders to call a strike.

From Chicago Tribune:

The Chicago Teachers Union, school support staff and Park District workers will all go on strike together on Oct. 17 if they can’t reach contract deals by then.

The joint announcement late Wednesday by the three labor groups sets up the prospect of about 35,000 public employees in Chicago walking off the job at the same time.

It also means that the 360,000 children who attend Chicago Public Schools will be out of class indefinitely if CTU and the city fail to settle their differences by then.

But Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS top brass announced late Wednesday that all schools will remain open during any walkout by teachers and staff.

Here's hoping Oct. 17, 2019 goes by without a strike! 

The teachers could pick a strike day today

[VIDEO] Now that the Chicago Teacher's Union have chosen a strike date, now they need to choose when to go on strike. According to this report the earliest they can go on strike is next Monday. Of course if the teacher's go on strike, hopefully the feeds below will be updated accordingly.

Free expression: How is credibility determined?

I found this article from Reason magazine with regards to a non-profit news outfit in Colorado that is basically under attack from an aide to the Governor of Colorado. It's not that the news published by this publication was inaccurate. It was merely an attempt to portray this publication as non-credible.

Earlier this month, writer Derek Draplin reported that Polis had established a new office—the Office of the Future of Work—to research the state's changing economy and workforce and make policy recommendations to the governor's office. Draplin published the article in The Center Square, a nonprofit media outlet.

The factually accurate story (read it here) quotes Polis praising the creation of the office, as well as a Colorado GOP spokesperson mocking the creation of yet another regulatory bureaucracy with "undefined goals, broad powers, and a name straight from the brain of George Orwell."

The Center Square offers its state coverage up for free reprints by other media outlets as long as they are appropriately credited. This is not an unusual arrangement; as advertising revenue bleeds away from local newspapers to the internet, small newspapers don't have the manpower to cover many state or national stories on their own anymore.


But when two small Colorado newspapers, the Kiowa County Press in Eads, and the Chronicle-News in Trinidad, published the story, they heard from Conor Cahill, Polis' spokesman, who asked them to take the articles down.

Cahill did not challenge any of the facts presented in the story. He, instead, objected to them having run news stories from The Center Square because he does not see them as an objective source of information. The Center Square is a product of the Franklin News Foundation, which offers state-level journalism and opinion pieces focused on fiscal responsibility and transparency. It used to be known as Watchdog.org but relaunched earlier this year under the new brand.

Cahill's argument is that donors to Franklin News Foundation may come from libertarian or conservative backgrounds, and the fact that writer Draplin is also an editor at The Daily Caller, a right-leaning outlet, apparently taints everything The Center Square writes, even if the story is completely accurate. After the editors refused Cahill's request and The Center Square reported what had happened, The Denver Post and even the Associated Press picked up the story.

I published a "Free Expression" page for this blog during the past week and learned from someone who posted a "wet noodle to see if it sticks" that it needs something controversial to really gain some traction. Well the page at first is only designed to inform, but as with most websites it's a work in progress.

I suppose the argument here as far as free expression is whether or not The Center Square is a credible publication. What makes Center Square less credible than say the NY Times or the Chicago Tribune?

Let's go further is this blog with the information shares - even if it's from other credible sources - any less credible than the NY Times or Chicago Tribune?

Also does this mean a government official such as the aide to the Colorado Governor have the ability to determine what outlets are credible? Should a government official tell those outlets who use articles written by smaller outlets to remove them from their publications in order to essentially undermine their credibility?

So many questions here....

CPS daring the teacher's union to strike?

This was over at the Capitol Fax yesterday. That aforementioned law may be something that the teacher's union have a problem with, however, the law is specific over what the Chicago Teacher's Union can strike over.

There’s a reason why CPS appears to be “daring” CTU to strike over certain issues https://t.co/K2ce6SQWgx

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) September 30, 2019

Does this open the door to the possibility of a deal between CPS and the union before there is a strike this month?

Daily Dose of Internet: A really really big bunny

[VIDEO] Let's kick off October with yet another "Daily Dose of Internet" which starts off with a brief look at a continental giant bunny, which I was about to identify as a Flemish. The bunny you see in the video above could be described as a big slow dog. How about a giant domestic bunny rabbit for your pet. A four foot long bunny wow!

Meanwhile other parts of this video are of an educational, scientific or entertaining interest. I also hope you learn something new with this vid. I hope you like what Daily Dose has to offer.

ABC 7 Chicago: CPS students can begin applying to elementary, high schools for next year Monday

One of my own regrets from my time in the 8th grade is that I never got a real grasp of CPS' process as far as which schools I could attend and what programs they offer. Often I was dependent upon my parents or even my teacher. It seems like a nifty process students have to be able to chose where they can go to school.

Hopefully today's students take advantage and of course do their "due dilligence" on those schools and programs of their choice.

Visit go.cps.edu

For pre-k programs chicagoearlylearning.org.

Chicago Teachers authorize a strike

Sorry to have missed this from CapFax yesterday. The teacher's union authorized a strike in a vote that concluded late Thursday.

Of course in sharing this news, Rich Miller made sure to remind of us a state law that requires the Chicago Teachers Union getting 75% of all teachers to vote for a strike. He also notes that such a law didn't stop CTU in 2012 with 90% of teachers cast ballots. This time around it was 94% who cast ballots. Read about it at Capitol Fax.

State strike law is 0 for 2 https://t.co/sfxscoSaw2

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) September 27, 2019

I must also add as I blogged about during the past week the attention Chicago teachers have received from Democrat presidential candidates.

Three days through Big Sky Country

[VIDEO] If you have just over half an hour to watch this video it takes you on one journey I've never taken. It would be cool to take Amtrak's Empire Builder going by rail via Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana into either Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington.

In the above video we're taking this journey from Portland, Oregon back to Chicago and we go through this area of the nation called big sky country. We're following the rail journey of a British national who's YouTube channel is mostly of him traveling around the world.

Sun-Times: Take the deal, CPS teachers. You’ve won

An editorial from the Sun-Times on Wednesday. I wonder what the results of that strike vote from CTU will be?

They should accept the latest contract offer from the Board of Education, a sweet deal that most Chicagoans would just love to get.

They should vote against authorizing a strike. Given our city’s dire financial condition, taxpayers wouldn’t rally around them.

And let’s not forget the 296,752 schoolchildren who’d be sitting at home learning nothing if the teachers walk out.

That’s a locked-in raise every year of 3% to 3.5%, more than what most workers are getting — if they’re getting raises at all.What employee, in any job, would turn down a 16% raise over five years?

Then add in the pay hikes to which teachers would be entitled based on seniority and level of education. With those “step” and “lane” raises, the average teacher would pull in almost $100,000 a year — up from about $79,000 now — by the end of the five-year contract.

But don’t stop there. Consider, as well, how little more teachers will be asked to contribute to their health care. Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s negotiating team is asking CTU members to pay a modest 0.75% more over the entire five years.

Your Daily Dose of Internet: Area 51 raid...

[VIDEO] Today's Daily Dose of Internet shows a woman actually going through the gates to the Area 51 military installation. Of course what's noted is she has to go 10 miles from the main entrance to the base itself. What isn't clear is whether or not she made it 10 miles to the base?

What is clear is that any police who were standing outside didn't even try to stop her.

Other than that we see a number of videos from Daily Dose of Internet of a scientific or educational or entertainment interest. I hope you've learned something new in this vid.

#Bears100 social justice committee talks about throwback 1936 jersey

[VIDEO] The vid above is the only one I could find on this topic. It explains why the "Monsters of the Midway" now has a "social justice committee". Click here for the video from the Bears about the 1936 throwback jersey.

Social justice doesn't necessary have the best connotation with me, however, it's laudable that one of the charter franchises of the NFL have created an internal committee to in some ways address the pressing social issues of the day. Especially to the point of raising money which one of the many things these sports franchises do primarily for goodwill.

In this video from the Chicago Bears' "social justice committee" they are announcing that Black players on the current Bears' roster WILL be the first to wear the 1936 uniform. Bears Chairman George McCaskey acknowledged that back in 1936 all NFL teams excluded Blacks from playing on their teams. The Bears didn't sign a Black player until 1952.

Kyle Fuller in 1936 Bears Jersey

What do you think of this gesture? Did the Bears do right with regards to acknowlegding the past with regards to racial issues?

You can go to college DEBT FREE

[VIDEO] Dave Ramsey does a radio show on personal finance and he does this video recently to help explore families paying for their children's college education. He speaks with Anthony O'Neal and Rachel Cruze. It's possible with some effort to go to college debt free.

A few things to take away. It's great to have a dream school (and I certainly went to mine) however it's OK to go to a school you can afford. You don't have to go to a more prestigious and expensive school (realize that there aren't any guarantees with that) to accomplish the goal of a baccalaureate degree.

I wish I had really made more of an effort to work while in school or better yet start my own business or side hustle. If only I understood using a blog to make money for example. Aside from this blog I had been blogging and got some notice for it during my college years. Undergrad becomes much harder if you have little to no money coming in at all.

Also this is related to working, perhaps you take on a job that helps you pay for college. Perhaps your industry has a trade organization that offers competitive scholarships. Perhaps your company offers tuition reimbursement if you achieve a passing grade in a course. These are some things worth looking into as you figure out college finance.

If you want to cut the cost of college consider staying home and going to school. Of course, not everyone has this option and I can understand if a young person just out of high school feel the need to leave home. If you do leave home room and board is a major expense.

Tribune: Bernie Sanders, John Cusack rally with Chicago teachers as strike vote begins

As it was noted the luminaries spoke at a Chicago's Teacher's Union rally I must have misunderstood something:

The 25,000-member CTU embarked Tuesday on a three-day strike vote, which, if the measure passes, will empower the union’s House of Delegates to set a walkout date as early as Oct. 7. SEIU Local 73, the union for the 7,000 support employees, has already authorized a strike, which could occur as soon as Oct. 17.

Meanwhile, here's what happened as strike voting started:

The Chicago Teachers Union brought some celebrity backing to its push for a new contract Tuesday evening, with actor John Cusack rallying with teachers before the evening’s headliner — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders — called for big raises for local public school educators.

“There has never been a better champion for unions than Bernie Sanders,” Cusack said to cheers from a throng of teachers and other local labor group members gathered at headquarters of the CTU on the first day of its vote to authorize a teachers strike.

When the Vermont senator later took the stage, he thanked the teachers union for “becoming the conscience of the United States of America."

“What we are seeing is teachers standing up and fighting for justice," Sanders said. “... Every problem in society — hunger, domestic violence, poverty — it walks into your doors, doesn’t it? You see it every day and at a time when we, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth.
...
Sanders underscored some of the CTU’s specific demands, calling on the city to “negotiate a contract that substantially reduces class sizes” and to “substantially increase the pay and benefits for the teachers in Chicago and the support staff in Chicago,” as well as address the shortages of nurses and librarians.

Earlier at the rally, CTU President Jesse Sharkey called out Mayor Lori Lightfoot, saying she hasn’t offered staffing levels that would ensure librarians, nurses or social workers in schools on a daily basis.

But again Tuesday, the mayor pointed to a city proposal that offers teachers base pay raises of 16% over five years. She also said new positions being sought by the union are “baked ... into the budget for this year.”

At the rally, Sanders also spoke of working people not being able to afford child care and plugged his proposal for free college tuition. After he said, “Let me tell you something else that we’re going to do,” an audience member called out, “Beat Trump!” At that, Sanders laughed while those in the crowd cheered and rose to their feet.
...
Sanders had already shone a spotlight on the labor strife in Chicago Public Schools, tweeting his support earlier this month for the CTU and another group of workers also poised for a possible walkout, including bus and special education aides, custodians and security officers. Leading up to Sanders’ Chicago appearance, two other presidential contenders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden, made similar statements of support for Chicago educators.

Chicago teachers could vote to strike today

Tribune:

Now the CTU facing that decision once more, with members to start voting Tuesday on whether their leaders can call a strike. If 75% say yes, the 800-member House of Delegates will gain the power to set a strike date. The union must give at least 10 days’ notice, so the soonest educators could go on strike is Oct. 7.

The teachers’ vote comes as their support staff counterparts in Service Employees International Union Local 73 are also moving toward a strike, which could occur as early as Oct. 17. And on Monday, educators at Passages Charter School took a strike authorization vote, in the same calendar year of three other Chicago charter school strikes.

Educators and paraprofessionals have taken up each other’s causes and shown up for each other’s news conferences, in turns pressuring the district to reduce class sizes, add staff, increase pay and benefits, and improve working conditions. That unity will be on display Tuesday, when Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders is to appear at a joint rally.

I wrote this post in the morning so if there is an update I'll either update this post or share in another tomorrow at the same time.

It's interesting to note how Democrat 2020 hopefuls for President are taking an interest in this strike. Also noted in this article is how the optics seemed to have supported CTU as seeing the best interest in their schools and students. Could we see similar optics if the teachers strike this year?

RELATED: #TBT Teacher's strikes

Your "Daily Dose of Internet"

[VIDEO] Today's edition starts off with a blind cat playing fetch with his owner. As per usual videos from Daily Dose are often of scientific or newsworthy or entertainment interest. Just finding various videos around the internet that may have gone viral on social media or videos found that this channel had paid for or through a video service such as ViralHog.

I hope you learned something new with this video as the narrator often states at the end.

Former Johnson Publishing building turns residential

I've been wanting to post about this for a while. The original tenant of this building a skycraper (located at 820 S. Michigan Ave.) designed by Black architect John Moutoussamy has been going through their own issues with the former flagship publication on a "print hiatus". The skyscraper itself formerly the HQ to the famous Johnson Publishing has now found a reuse.

While the logos of both Ebony & Jet Magazine remains at the top of this building now instead  of housing a magazine publishing business it is now a residential building. As the building was designed during the 1970s, it's great the developers have made it a priority to preserve some aspects of this skyscrapers character.

You can read more about at Curbed Chicago

Chicago's iconic former 'Ebony' and 'Jet' magazine headquarters reborn as apartments. https://t.co/bhAOuknJO3

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) September 19, 2019

BTW, yes the skyscraper is 11 stories tall and of course perhaps not as tall as the former Sears Tower or even the former John Hancock Building or even still Trump Tower.

Photo by Lee Bey in 2007

Updates

To continue writing this blog my goal is to hopefully inform or entertain you all. It's probably why I do share some things that I hope you all would be entertained by. Also to share things that hopefully inform you of the issues of the day. Some of you may be parents and my goal is to keep that in mind.

With this said my former elementary school principal dropped by a few months and I had considered this encouragement to keep this blog going. It's become important for me to find ways to draw people to this blog and if you want a blog to grow that will always become a difficult task.

Over the years as something of a public service I used to have an EveryBlock widget on this blog to share any crime reports or any media reports for your convenience. Usually this is for the general area around both Bennett & Shedd schools. Of course EveryBlock no longer exists and thus no widget of benefit to anyone.

I used to have a weather widget from Accuweather (although there is still one at the top of the blog that only shows current conditions). One widget that Accuweather once provided was not only current conditions, a forecast and a radar as well. I'm working on finding a weather widget to attach to this blog to help inform you of the local weather here in Chicago.

Also it's probably time to revamp the about page. Not entirely sure what to put on there, although what you see in this blog could serve as a basis. Also bear in mind I'm looking into creating a domain for this space in the near future which is in keeping of this blog's identity.

Also I'm working on a fb page that hopefully will allow anyone who follows this blog to keep track of updates. That continues to be a work in progress.

I'm planning to make some changes here, hopefully good changes...

Also feel free to let me know what you'd like to see on here as far as posts or even just everyday things that you think would be of great value if you do check this blog. The comments here are always open. 🙆