Recipes from The Fifty/50

2047 W. Division

773-489-5050

www.thefifty50.com

The Fifty/50

After working together at Joe’s Prime Steak & Seafood, owners Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner combined their ideas and favorite foods to create a casual and hip venue this past March.

The menu at The Fifty/50 features smoked foods, fried foods and simple, high quality sandwiches. Signature dishes include smoked baby back ribs, fried chicken and honey-orange teriyaki marinated skirt steak on garlic bread. Several dishes, including the “Triple Secret” Burger, even boast Mohr’s and Weiner’s own “secret” recipe. They can’t tell what’s in it, but they guarantee happy customers.

The Fifty/50 also offers a variety of beer-based cocktails, top shelf liquor and beer. Greg and Scott brought in a mixologist to create the perfect balance of beer, alcohol, sweetness and spice for these beverages. Whether a guest craves something fruity or spicy, they are guaranteed to be wowed by one of these concoctions.

This summer, The Fifty/50 is hosting its very own weekly Monday movie night, complete with complimentary popcorn. Guests can enjoy their favorite classics outside on the flatscreens. The restaurant is even leaving the movie selection up to its guests! Movie night attendees will get to vote on what the following Monday’s film will be.

                                              
 

SKIRT STEAK SANDWICH:

The Fifty/50 Signature Skirt Steak Sandwich comes from an old hippie recipe that was passed on to me when I was a kid. My friend’s parents used to follow the Grateful Dead on tour and in order to pay for travel and tickets they would buy grocery store skirt steak and marinate it overnight in Kikkoman teriyaki, minute maid orange juice, and honey. I was always fond of this preparation, especially the way, the natural sugars from the marinade would caramelize on the grill and create a great summertime aroma. At the Fifty/50 we buy hand butchered, center cut skirt steaks and make our signature honey, orange, teriyaki glaze from scratch with fresh squeezed orange juice and fresh minced ginger.

6 ea                                        8 oz. Skirt steaks

10 cups                                 Honey, Orange Teriyaki (recipe to follow)

6 ea                                        8” Rustic Italian Bread or Ciabatta- sliced

1 cup                                     Garlic Butter (recipe to follow)

1 ea                                        Medium Red Onion- thinly sliced

1/4 stick                               unsalted butter

4 T                                          Kosher salt        

2 T                                          Cracked Black Pepper                   

 

One day prior to serving, marinate the skirt steaks in the honey, orange teriyaki glaze. 8-12 hours in the marinade is preferable. Preheat grill on high heat. Brush each bread roll with the garlic butter and lightly toast. Remove and plate. Place red onion slices in foil pouch with the unsalted butter and any remaining garlic butter and place on grill. Season each steak with kosher salt and cracked black pepper and place on grill. Cook to desired temperature and let rest off the heat for 3-5 minutes. Remove onions from grill.

Place steaks on garlic bread and top with the sautéed onions.
 

Honey, Orange, Teriyaki               Yield: about 10 cups (enough for 6 steaks)

3 cups                                   Soy Sauce

1 cup                                     Rice Wine Vinegar

1 cup                                     Peeled, fresh minced ginger

1 cup                                     Peeled, fresh minced garlic

1/4 cup                                 Toasted sesame seeds

1/3 cup                                 Pure clover honey

1/2 cup                                 Fresh squeezed orange juice

1 lb (1 pkg.)                        Dark Brown Sugar

Whisk all ingredients together. Set aside 1 cup for basting during grilling.

Garlic Butter

                1/2 lb.                                   Softened, unsalted butter

                2 cloves                                                Peeled, fresh minced garlic

                1 tsp                                      Fresh, chopped Italian parsley

                1 T                                          Extra Virgin Olive Oil

                1 tsp.                                     Kosher Salt

                ½ tsp.                                    Cracked Black Pepper

 

Lightly sauté garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Just when first pieces of garlic begin to brown, pour over the butter. Fold in chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Recipe can be made day prior to serving.

===========================

Start Your Engines...It’s NASCAR Time!

Kyle Petty

Talks About the NASCAR 60th

Anniversary Limited Edition Motorcycle Series

Kyle Petty is a name synonymous with stock car racing and NASCAR in America. He is third in the only four-generation family of sports. He does what his grandfather, the legendary Lee Petty did -- he races cars and he follows in their winning ways.

This year, NASCAR is celebrating its 60th Anniversary. One unique part of this celebration is the creation of the 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Motorcycle Series. The last motorcycle, #60, will be auctioned off at the upcoming Cup Series race in Daytona, FL on July 4th weekend. The proceeds will go to support the Kyle and Pattie Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp, a camp for sick kids.

Kyle Petty, former NASCAR champion will be LIVE from Daytona. They can discuss the 60th anniversary and reflect on how far the sport has come over the past 60 years.

Kyle Petty is an American NASCAR driver, the son and grandson of racing legends Richard Petty and Lee Petty. In 1979, he announced that he wanted to race Winston Cup cars. In 1997, he started his own team, PE2, in conjunction with the team his father owns, Petty Enterprises. In June of 2004, Victory Junction Gang Camp proudly opened its doors. The Camp was founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty, in honor of their son Adam.

The shootings continue in Chicago.  No strategy yet emerges. No general is using maps to point volunteers, donors and needed resources to all of the high poverty areas where media stories use images of kids and quotes like "You guys have been so nice to me. When I die, I'm going to miss you" , which is what Josue Torres, a 2nd grader at Lafayette Elementary School in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, told doctors after he was shot in a drive by shooting.

We created a map showing where this shooting took place, to draw attention to non profit youth serving organizations in the area who are working to prevent such tragedies.

We added overlays showing Catholic, Baptist and various Christian Churches in the area, along with major access routes like Grand Avenue, to illustrate how a faith based strategy might emerge to help support existing tutor/mentor programs, or help new ones form throughout the neighborhood, or in o ther parts of the city where poverty and violence are as related as fireworks and the 4th of July.

As you celebrate freedom with friends and family, we hope you'll spend a few moments looking at these maps and this information, so that you can begin to take a larger role in making freedom from violence be available to kids living in inner city neighborhoods.

BRISTOL RENAISSANCE FAIRE

Saturdays & Sundays Through August 30 & Monday, Septmember 1

Off at the Russell Rd. Exit of 1-94 in Kenosha, Wisconsin (follow signs)

for information and directions go to

www.renfair.com/bristol

or call 847-395-7773

  I understand that someone at The Defender is working on a story regarding Parker House.     I just spoke at length with 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell regarding saving the historic Parker House Sausage as a Black owned institution and even discuss the possibilities for expansion of the business. I told the Alderman that I am publicly committed to convening and challenging other civic, business, and political leaders to make a priority issue in directing the proper resources to sustain Parker House as Black owned business. I have specifically contacted Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr at The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Cheryle Jackson, new President of The Chicago Urban League.

 

 I was very upset and read with total disbelief, an e-mail (attached) from a Parker House employee who alleges that Parker House representatives have not been able to get the attention of The Chicago Urban League or Rainbow/PUSH, two organizations that the late Daryl Grisham, former Parker House President/CEO was an active member and totally committed to financially during his life. Grisham and Parker House has been connected too deeply with these two organizations and their Black empowerment agenda's for me to believe that they would not respond to any request that involves sustaining it as Black owned, and helping find resources to improve the existing facility as well as expand the business to provide even more jobs for Black community and increase the Black economy and provide a new generation of civic responsibility.  

 

 I have been on staff at The Chicago Urban League and Rainbow/PUSH and I cannot remember and major events that I was involved in organizing that did not enjoy the support of Mr. Grisham and Parker House employees. Alderman Dowell told me directly that she will immediately put an end to any rumors that she has not responded to any request to help Parker House and she instructed me to have my contact at Parker House to contact her directly, which they did today, and she will host a meeting to officially hear whatever specific requests from the current Parker House ownership.  

 

As a co founder of The Chicago Black Wall Street Economic Summits, I am going to seek the support of the over 300 people that have attended the summits and committed to our campaign to sustain and increase Black businesses. And that includes our outreach campaign to create Black consumer clubs like the old days of Operation Breadbasket where we trained people at the very grassroots community levels with ongoing campaigns on the purchasing of Black owned products. We must not lose another historic Black business for I am convinced that we have the collective resources from our various levels of leadership to save, sustain and even expand Parker House Sausage.  

 

I am humbled that the Parker House employees reached out to me, and I am making a public commitment not to let them down. I am glad that Alderman Dowell responded quickly to my call and personally called me repeatedly until she got me after she heard my call. So I hope that this the first step in our leadership to support the current owners of Parker House, and let them know that The Black community and it's collective leadership will support them, and they can tell those who have made overtures, that Parker House is not for Sale.  

 

Mark S. Allen Founder of The Black Leadership Institute, BLDI and a Cofounder of The Chicago Black Wall Street Project 773-392-0165  

 

Mark,
I don't know how much of that rumor is true..however, I have been
working for months for Mr. Maurice McFolling, the current owner and
stepson of the founder Colonel Parker in trying to get Black clergy,
the Chicago Urban League, the City Council's Black Caucus, Ald. Pat
Dowell(in whose ward Parker House is located), Reverend Jesse Jackson
and several other Black prominents to step forward and speak up and
speak out on behalf of the Parker House Sausage Company. 

 

To date, no one has felt the need to go to bat for a company that went to the wall
for many a Black civil rights group.  As you well known from your days
at Rainbow(Breadbasket) former Parker House CEO Daryl Gresham
sustained that organization, often paying the payroll when no one else
would.  Gresham's leadership also spawned the first merger of two
major Black lending institutions.  He was a pioneer Black businessman
who blazed a trail for the Bob Johnson's and the Earl Graves' to
follow. For years, the city's land-hungry and social engineering elite
have salivated over the thought of driving Parker House from South
State Street.  If the Black community does not stand up and speak out
to save Parker House, then no Black business anywhere in the city of
Chicago is safe.  Give me a call.





On 6/20/08, Marksallen2800@aol.com wrote:
> Friends:
>
> I just got a an anonymous voice mail allegedly from an employee of  Parker
> House Sausage asking me to look into the fact that they may be up for  sale
> and
> if they are looking at Black buyers. So I figured I'd put out this  heads up
> just in case we may be about to lose yet another historic Black owned
> institution.
>
>

Chicago Celebrates FreedomFest with Ernie Banks

The 4th of July is just days away, and T-Mobile is inviting Chicagoans to get in the spirit by donning Unlce Sam costumes and participating in a free indepenence day party at Navy Pier. In addition to free snacks, festival games, and Uncle Sam costumes, T-Mobile will be inviting all Chicagoans dressed as Sam to run in a fun run race to win a free mortgage or rent for a year. To enter to participate in the Grand Prize race, Chicagoans just need to register at Gateway Park at Navy Pier by 3 p.m.

888-866-0644

www.t-mobileathome.com

========================

WEEKEND STUFF!

GRAND OPENING OF HUB 51
51 W. Hubbard
This weekend marks the grand opening of the highly anticipated River North bar/restaurant from the sons of Lettuce Entertain You founder Richard Melman: R.J. and Jerrod Melman. It's a fund-raiser for the Midwest Chapter of Starlight Starbright. Thursday, July 3, from 10pm to 2am. $30 per person for all-you-can-drink.

FREE FOR ALL: 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-3428
312-595-7437
9:30 p.m.
Patriotic music accompanies the annual display over Lake Michigan on July 4. Addition fireworks shows on July 2 (9:30) and July 5 (10:15).
(Note: I can bring Navy Pier hot dogs to the set if you want this one).

RED, WHITE AND BLUE-B.Q.
BROWNSTONE (3937 N Lincoln) and WEST END (1326 W MadisoN) are hosting a Red, White and Blue.B.Q. from 9pm - 1am on the Fourth of July. All you can drink draft beer, domestic bottles (miller lite/bud light) and call cocktails for $20 and BBQ food specials will be offered. Specials are available both on the inside and on the patio.

GET ON DECK: CITIZEN BAR ROOFTOP
364 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312-640-1156
July 3 : 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.
July 4 : 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Price: No cover
Head up to the rooftop to hear a DJ spin and order grill specials. Watch the fireworks from the rooftop patio on Thursday.

A CHANGE OF TASTE: African-Caribbean International Festival of Life
July 3 -6: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
$10-$15; $5 for kids 7-11; $30 fest pass
312-427-0266
Washington Park / Woodlawn
5500 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637-1414
The 16th annual celebration of ethnic cultures features more than 100 performers, food, arts and crafts, games, kids' activities, exhibits and vendors.

LAKE VIEW MUSIC FEST
July 5 -6: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
$5 suggested donation
773-868-3010
Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street
3600 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613
The fifth annual event features live music, merchant booths and food tastings from area restaurants.
On Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Liquid Soul performs.

CHAMPAGNE WISHES: Made in the USA Sparkling Wine Festival
July 2 : 3 p.m. - 1 a.m.
POPS for  Champagne
601 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312-266-7677
Features 15 domestic bubblies with tasting portions beginning at $6 per glass.

 

 

51 years of marriage

 

Minor J. Allen, Sr. and his wife Ollie Evans Allen celebrated 51 years of marriage in Chicago, Illinois

 

Mrs. Allen is retired from the Montgomery Ward Company Corporate Office as a Telecommunications Manager. Her devoted mate is retired from the former McCormick Center Hotel as Banquet and Conventions Services Manager. The Allen's are currently part owners of the Dixie Kitchen Restaurant founded in Chicago's Hyde Park Community. They have three children and two grandchildren.

 

 

 

Anniversary Date:  June 29, 2008

 

 

Humbly submitted by their children Michele (Allen) Marsh, Mark Allen and Minor J. Allen Jr.  and grandchildren Dania Allen and Markus Allen

 

Our investigative team at Fox Chicago does some outstanding work.  I hope you have seen some of the most recent reports. 

We have looked at some of the most powerful institutions and figures and asked some tough questions.   

Some of the best ideas for these stories come from you.  We want to make sure you know how to reach our investigative team.

You can call the Fox Investigates Tip Line at (312) 565-8076.

F r e e S c h a p e l l e . n e t   When I flew to Bali on 8 October 2004, I imagined my biggest problem was going to be deciding which sarong to wear with which bikini… - Schapelle Corby. Schapelle Leigh Corby, a 27 year old Australian was traveling to Bali Indonesia to celebrate her sister's birthday. But her dream holiday ended up a waking nightmare when on October 8, 2004, Schapelle was arrested in the Denpassar airport after 4.2 kilograms of marijuana was found in her boogie-board bag. Though completely innocent, Schapelle was forced to face the consequences of someone else's crime. Her fate would be decided on May 27 2005 in the Denpassar District Court. Schapelle's trial and conviction became one of the biggest news stories of the decade in Australia. An entire nation watched in horror as she was sentenced to twenty years in jail. Despite legal appeals and a whole nation calling for her release, Schapelle Corby remains in the squalor of Kerobokan Prison [Bali]. Every day is a struggle for survival but Schapelle is determined in her fight for justice. She steadfastly maintains her innocence! Schapelle Corby is a kind and compassionate young woman, a loving sister, a loyal friend and faithful daughter. She does not deserve what's happened to her but will keep fighting against insurmountable odds until freedom is hers! 'I long to be free and live again outside these walls… I will never understand why this happened to me. Why my bag… Right now I'm empty, lost and numb... It's been so long since I've felt peaceful and happy. So long since I've smiled and laughed on the inside and out… I sound like a broken record but I will keep saying it: I'm innocent, I'm innocent, I'm innocent.' - Quotes from Schapelle's book 'My Story'. 'There is no chance, no fate, no destiny that can circumvent, or hinder, or control a firm resolve of a determined soul.' Schapelle Corby 'could work her way free' Potential leader ... Schapelle Corby is a very good prisoner, the outgoing head of her jail said. CONVICTED Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby may be up for a prison job that could shave years off the 20-year sentence she is serving in an Indonesian jail. The outgoing head of Bali's Kerobokan Prison today said Corby should be made an inmates' leader - a role that could see up to 11 months cut from her sentence each year. Corby, who last month lost her final appeal against her sentence, was a "very good" prisoner, Ilham Djaya said. He said she should be considered for the role of Tamping, where she would lead a small group of prisoners, or the key role of Pemuka, who oversees the Tamping leaders. Should Corby make the rank of Pemuka, she could be eligible for sentence cuts of up to 11 months every year, Mr Djaya said. Smaller remissions apply to Tamping leaders. Mr Djaya offered his support for Corby despite the former Gold Coast beauty student's controversial stint at Kerobokan. Since her detention almost four years ago for cannabis smuggling, Corby has written a book describing the prison as a "disgusting slum". She missed out on a sentence remission last year after she was found with a mobile phone in her cell. I just want to go home, says Schapelle SCHAPELLE Corby fought back tears yesterday as she told how she wants to go home as soon as possible, joking with the departing Bali jail governor that she "would like to be leaving" with him. It was the first time the 30-year-old has spoken publicly since her last ditch appeal was dismissed by Indonesia's highest court last month. At a farewell ceremony for the popular jail boss Ilham Djaya, Corby's lawyer Erwin Siregar spoke with her briefly about the lost appeal and about the next steps in the fight to have her freed. Corby's despair and tears at her failure to beat a 20-year jail sentence for possession of 4.1kg of marijuana came just a day after two highly ranked Jemaah Islamiah terrorist leaders were jailed for less time - 15 years - for possession of a massive cache of weapons and explosives to be used in terror attacks. Corby has final appeal rejected Schapelle Corby has had her final appeal for a sentence reduction rejected by the Indonesian Supreme Court. Court officials are yet to make the formal announcement, however they are tonight expected to confirm that Corby will be required to complete a 20-year jail sentence for drug smuggling. The former Queensland beautician was caught trying to import just over 4 kilograms of marihuana into Bali's Denpasar Airport in August 2004. Through a series of appeals, Corby has failed in her bid to reduce the overall jail sentence. Recent speculation has pointed to the possibility that Schapelle Corby may be transferred to an Australian prison, where she would serve out the remaining time in her sentence. With the sentence confirmed as 20-years, Corby is now likely to be in prison until at least 2020. SCHAPELLE CORBY Sentenced to 20 Years in Bali for what? The Facts are… Schapelle checked in her bag at Brisbane airport and neither she, nor her travelling companions, had any contact with it until after it arrived in Bali. Schapelle's travelling companion's luggage and Schapelle's own luggage were also never searched. Neither the Indonesian nor the Australian governments wanted to, or did investigate this case. There was no investigation into where or how Schapelle intended to sell the marijuana, if indeed the Bali police truly believed her guilty. The Bali Police refused to analyse the marijuana that convicted her. Hair from those who grew it would be in the resin. They didn't want anyone to investigate. Later, this marijuana was destroyed, obliterating any chance it could be used to acquit Schapelle. A Victim of Injustice… It Can happen to You! The Australian Federal government failed to pass on to Schapelle Corby's lawyers a Customs report into drug smuggling at Australian airports. It said it never knew the document existed. The report revealed that baggage handlers were diverting bags containing large amounts of drugs from incoming international flights to domestic baggage carousels. Schapelle Corby checked her luggage in at Brisbane airport and that was the last contact she had with her luggage until she arrived in Bali. In Sydney, her boogie board had been too big for the conveyor, so Qantas baggage handlers loaded it on a trolley, hauled it to Pier C where it was left unattended for 97 minutes, until half an hour before the Bali flight's departure. It was then loaded into a baggage canister which contained two other bags. This canister was closed by a canvas flap but not locked. The CCTV recorded images that might have shown Schapelle's boogie board loaded into the canister were wiped after 72 hours. Australian Federal Police (AFP) now openly admit that drug dealers are known to use innocent travellers as unsuspecting drug mules. 9.9kgs of cocaine was smuggled into Sydney airport from Argentina on the 8th October 2004, the same day, within minutes of Schapelle Corby's flight to Bali. AFP confirmed that trafficking through airports does happen. The drugs are inserted into a piece of luggage at one airport, a photograph of the target bag and its tag are sent [emailed] to the destination airport, where baggage handlers remove the drugs before the passenger collects the bag.

After two days of waiting for ComEd to remove a fallen branch from our power line, my brother and I determined that the safety of our neighbors is more important than our own safety and carefully removed the branch from the power line. Despite ComEd informing us that it is potentially dangerous to remove a fallen branch from a power line, we determined it would only be a matter of time before the line came down and created a critical situation where someone could be electrocuted. When the branch fell, it landed on the line about 2 meters from the house. If we allowed ComEd to handle the situation, the live power line would still be stressed under the weight of the tree limb. When the power line disconnects because of the weight, it would do so from the house because all the weight was centered close to and near the house and not near the main pole line. Being the line would still be live, the live wire would land in the yard and across a metal fence which is shared by my neighbor as well as would dissect the alley, creating a hazard and danger for anyone who would be walking or driving through.

Removal of the tree limb was not an easy task and was heavy enough where took both of us to lift it and remove it from the live power line. I do know how potentially dangerous removing the limb from the power line was, but, after two days of the weight and stress on the live power line, we felt that it was imminent the limb be removed. At the time of this writing, the only danger is a low-hanging live wire that is contained within the boundaries of my yard. The power line is not low enough where someone can walk into it, but, if standing in the yard,  if someone were to reach  up, they can grab the power line without any difficulty. There is also still the potential hazard of the power line disconnecting from the house after the connections being weakened by the stress and weight of the tree limb.

I do realize that I never lost power, I do realize and agree that restoring power to selected residents is truly a high priority because of health issues and I do realize that restoring power to residents is a "higher priority" to ComEd, but, the danger that was faced by the power line under stress and the weight of a large tree limb was far more serious.  If  ComEd had assigned the incident to a technician when I first called and like they promised, the power line would have been freed several hours before a thunderstorm occurred. My initial call was approximately 3:00am on Saturday morning. It was dark and about 60 degrees outside. Most of my neighbors turned off their air conditioning and had windows open. This was a perfect and optimum time for ComEd to remove the branch and re-tension the power line. I stressed the severity of the situation to the customer service representative. She stated; “A technician will be out as soon as possible. If a technician does not come within two hours, call back to check the status”. I waited until 6:00am and phoned back. The telephone representative I spoke with stated; “ The engineers are aware of the problem, but, a technician has not been assigned as of yet”. Again, I stated the problem and the severity, but, my request feel upon def ears as the telephone representative stated; “I can not give you an ETA of a technician or when the problem will be assigned to a technician”.  I waited until 1:00pm and telephoned ComEd customer service again. By this time it is mid-day, the temperatures are in the 80’s and people are using air conditioning. Unlike when I made the initial phone call, this is NOT the optimum time for ComEd to shut off the power to remove the tree branch and re-tension the power line. The telephone representative stated she agreed that the situation was dangerous and stated the initial call was only classified as a “when convenient” call and the order was issued as such. The representative stated she listed the call and work order as a “priority one” which is just below an emergency situation. Again I waited for a technician and at 6:00pm, I decided to telephone ComEd once again. Again, my request fell upon def ears. I was regaled with a story of “13,000 customers without power” and how “ComEd views power restoration more of a priority than removing a tree limb from a power line”.  By this time I was extremely angry at the situation ComEd is subjecting me, my neighbors and the general public to. Several times I tried and almost pleaded for a technician to be assigned to remove the branch. No such luck. That branch we to stay there for the duration or until ComEd sees fit to remove it.

At this point I felt it was better to keep making phone calls and pleas to remove the tree limb and get the telephone calls recorded in the event the line DOES fall due to the weight placed upon it. As with all customer service phone centers, all the calls are recorded and therefore documented. If the line falls due to the weight of the tree limb and someone gets electrocuted, it is on record I called several times to request ComEd remove the limb. All the liability is on ComEd as they did not r4espond to a hazardous situation in a timely manor. At 6:00pm Saturday evening, I made my normal phone call and plea for a technician. Again, I was regaled with stories of customers without power and how I should be happy I still have electricity. Again, as with each telephone call I placed, I stated; “I don’t care if I do or don’t have power. My concern is the pubic and not if, but, WHEN that line is going to come down! The tree limb is VERY LARGE and looks VERY heavy!! That power line can only take so much stress before it breaks or comes disconnected! When it DOES come down, it won’t be from the alley side, it will be from the house. THEN there WILL be a REAL danger as a live power line will be lying across a metal fence and bisecting the alley”. You would think that explanation would help, not one bit. ComEd customer service representatives must have written scripts to follow as I received the almost same verbatim answer I received the previous calls. After I received the ComEd apology and a “promise” a technician would be assigned “as soon as possible”, I made one last comment; “I am glad the phone calls are recorded. As soon as that power line comes down because of the weight on it, I guarantee, I will bounce it back into ComEd’s lap and make sure the media knows how many calls I placed and how many requests and pleas I made to have the tree limb removed from the live power line. I am REALLY glad city services are not handled the same way ComEd treats dangerous situations. If the fire department handled calls the way ComEd does, they would arrive at their convenience, after the fire was smoldering embers and sate; “what do you need us for, the fire is out”. The customer service representative was quiet for several minutes and finally stated; “We will have someone out as soon as we can”.

I didn’t make any more phone calls that evening as four were already on file and recorded with requests for assistance. The following morning which was Sunday, I placed another phone call to ComEd customer service. As with each time I selected the option for power outage or downed power line. I explained the situation to the representative and stated I really don’t expect anyone to be dispatched as I originally made the first notification at 3:00am Saturday morning and this phone call  was just precautionary so when the power line breaks or comes undone from the house, I won’t be held responsible and I can put the full blame on ComEd. I was informed; “We have teams working in the field, we are aware of the problem and we will address the situation as soon as a crew is available”.  Two hours later, unbeknownst to me, my brother shows up and begins to remove the limb from the tree. I did make a plea to let ComEd remove it, his comment was pretty much the same as my several; “ComEd will remove it after someone is already dead”. (Isn’t it strange how “ComEd” and “dead” rhyme)? My brother is very stubborn and seeing he was not going to wait, rather than he get a hernia or drop the limb attempting to remove it and breaking the power line, I assisted him in the safest way possible. Between the two of us, the limb was removed and we estimated the weight to be about 200 to 250 pounds. (We didn’t have a scale readily accessible so we had to go with a rough estimate. If ComEd would like to donate use of a scale, please feel free).  Between the two of us we started to saw up the downed limb and put it aside for removal.

As of this writing, ComEd has yet to call or assign a technician to the problem, even though the danger has already been alleviated and averted. It is July 01, 2008 and ComEd has yet to make an appearance for this potentially hazardous incident. The danger that ComEd subjected my family and my neighbors to be incomprehensible. The thought that an incident such as the one I was faced with is not a major priority to ComEd. The potential danger of a power line disconnecting or breaking is not a priority. They would rather the power line break and someone get electrocuted and assign their media department to claim; “We were not aware of the potentially dangerous situation. Maybe if the customer had called earlier, we could have averted the power line breaking and someone being electrocuted”. ComEd would attempt to perform damage control and blame the customer rather than take responsibility themselves and admit they screwed up. This approach is very common for utility companies. Enron executives were embezzling from the utility company and were initiating black-outs to make it appear that the power supply was being over worked and strained by the demand consumers place. ComEd/ Exelon wants rate increases because they state they are losing money. I have an idea, increase the service and maybe we won’t complain about rate increases.

When I was a private investigator, several times I was assigned a surveillance detail regarding a ComEd worker who claimed to be disabled. I recorded several hours and several days of video of this guy lifting 20lb bags of dog food, riding a Harley Davison, working on friend’s houses, working on friend’s cars and working on his own house. He was supposed to have had bad knees, but yet, he can lift a 20lb bag of dog food into his vehicle. On doctor appointments, he would limp into the clinic and limp back to his vehicle, but when he returned home, he could walk normal. He was not the only Exelon employee I investigated for fraud. Another employee claimed she was disabled due to electrical shock. I obtained over 8 hours of this woman walking, running bending, lifting, sitting at a picnic bench and alternating lifting feet up onto the bench seat. Another Exelon employee called off at least once a week, but was observed out shopping and running personal errands. Not once did this employee visit the doctor in all my days of surveillance and investigation. As far as I know, these employees are still employed by Exelon and are still collecting worker’s compensation and calling off work due to injury or alleged illness. These are the employees that our payments support. The same employees who fail to view a 200lb tree limb stressing a live power line as a “dangerous and critical situation”. The same employees who view power restoration a higher priority than removing a shock hazard.  ComEd/ Exelon will continue to operate business as usual. Maybe one day they will re-evaluate their priorities and determine a shock hazard really is a higher priority than some power restoration calls. Then again, they may never learn and continue to do “damage control”.

           Yesterday when I watched the 9pm broadcasting of the news I'd seen commercials for the news at 9 and the newscasters said "Beware Chicago we're getting another tax hike! More news at 9." I couldn't believe what I had heard! Another tax hike?!! As if we're the most expensive city to live thus far out of the nation, now lets make it more affordable for only the rich to live here in Cook County and drive everybody else to the suburbs or Indiana or to another state perhaps.

            It's great the minimum wage went up too today but will that really help with the high gas prices and now the higher tax increase. This city will now loose even more revenue and probably flounder in the next couple of years if the state doesn't do something about it. Living here, I might as well move into Sarah Jessica Parker's apartment in New York being that I am a native from New York and lived there 21 yearsw of my life before I came to Chicago in the winter of 2000. WOW!!!

            Chicago needs Robin Hood to steal from the rich and give back to the poor. This state is getting ridiculous with having their hand in evey body's pocket. When the homeless hand out their hand for spare change we'll be handing out our hands to them. Pennies and every "2" dollars counts now, sarcastically speaking but now is the truth.

             I'm calling out to Robin Hood to come save Chicago from the evil Sherriff of the state of Illinois.

CHICAGO'S ULTIMATE TUMBLERS

James Jordan Boys and Girls Club
5pm Tuesday

2102 W. Monroe

==================

Six Vacation Spots Threatened by Global Warming

1.) Glacier National Park Montana

Over the past 40 years 12 glaciers have disappeared.

By 2030 all of the parks namesake glaciers could be gone.

2.) Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Since 1912, 82% of the ice fields have disappeared.

By 2020 all of the ice fields could be gone.

3.) Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

A U.S. Geological Survey shows that two-thirds of the entire polar bear population could disappear in 50 years.

Global Warming has shortened the polar bear's seal-hunting season and leaves them with less food.

4.) Lake Mead, Nevada

The water level is at its lowest in 40 years.

There is a 50% chance that Lake Mead will be dry by 2021.

5.) Mauritius

The island is surrounded by coral reefs that escaped the 1998 heat wave that killed most of the corals in the Indian Ocean.

One more hot year could finish off its reef fod good.

6.) The Maldives

The climate change continues to push sea levels higher, the government fear that the island could become submerged.

After the 2004 tsunami only nine of the 200 inhabited islands didn't flood.

i think its wrong 2 pass that type of law here in chicago mi comment  have they forgotten the laws that the lord have put in the holy bible where does it say that a man and a man can get married together if it does say it in the holy bible then tell me because i sure cant find it!

 

                                                    
                                                       
                    THANK YOU!

                                                    
                                                       
                    4RM BESOS22!

For a while I have been thinking about and considering options for the State of Illinois to consider in regards to issuance of Firearm Owner Identification cads, (FOID) and a form of gun control.

 

Recently, I have been considered for a very "influential" position. With any "influential" position, a detailed background check is required. One part of the background check is allowing exclusive access and disclosure of any and all medical records. If a candidate refuses access, they are automatically disqualified for any and all positions offered.

 

Owning a firearm is a huge responsibility. A motor vehicle operator is tested to ensure the operator is qualified enough to operate a motor vehicle as well as knows all of the laws that apply to driving. I do realize with the way most people operate their vehicles, it would appear that they put a quarter in a vending machine and received their license. I do agree that tighter restrictions should apply to operating a motor vehicle and should also include operation of pedal operated vehicles, (AKA; bicycles), but, I will reserve that for another entry.

 

Just as a motor vehicle is required to know laws and the ability to operate a vehicle, a forearm owner should be required to know a firearm and the laws in regards to firearm ownership. With incidents such as Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University in mind, I started questioning and thinking how can we tighten restrictions on firearm ownership. Taking the Northern Illinois murderer into consideration, I would have been suspicious just by the tattoos which were displayed on his arms. How and why mental capacity wasn’t questioned with a tattoo that portrays the puppet from the horror/ slasher movie “Saw”. Yes, this is a free country and anyone does have the option of having any tattoo they wish on their own body, but, the way I view it, someone who has a demonic sign or a character like the puppet from “Saw” raises serious mental questions. Portraying those types of tattoos should raise serious question and reason enough to investigate a person’s background. Those types of tattoos are like gang tattoos and represent something evil and or demonic. If someone is warped enough to idolize a killer from a slasher movie should not be allowed to own a firearm.

 

If the U.S. Government requires complete disclosure of background and medical records, why can’t the State of Illinois require the same? When a firearm is purchased, the buyer must wait a mandatory 3 day waiting period and must complete a firearm ownership form for that firearm. Considering the purchaser already has a FOID, the dealer is taking for granted the purchaser is legally as well as mentally capable of ownership. However, the background checks required for an FOID is very vague and doesn’t go deep into a person’s background. An applicant is checked for a criminal history, but that really is the extent of the background. The Illinois State Police should not only perform a criminal background check for an FOID, but, should also allow complete disclosure of all medical records as well as a questionnaire in regards to ownership, family history and medical background. If a person discloses they have psychological assistance, their application should be “red-flagged” and investigated more thoroughly. A person who refuses to or fails to disclose a medical background will be cause for reject of an application.  An applicant must also sign a release allowing full disclosure of all and complete medical records and disclose every physician, psychologist and doctor who has examined the applicant. If an applicant is found to have falsified any medical information including psychological, the FOID is immediately revoked and all firearms are seized. If the applicant is found competent by a medical professional selected by the Illinois State Police, the FOID may be returned at the discretion of the Illinois State Police.

 

I also believe all states should require a similar form of identification as the FOID. If all states require an FOID, then a person from Illinois who was denied an FOID can not go to surrounding states to purchase a firearm. If all states require a form of ownership identification, a purchaser can not go to Tennessee and purchase a firearm and bring it back into Illinois. I also believe all firearm purchases outside of the state of residence should be investigated by The Illinois State Police, especially if several firearms were purchased at the same time or on the same date. I believe all serial numbers as well as twist and muzzle print filed for ownership with the state police. If a firearm is registered at the time of purchase with muzzle twist and striations, if the firearm is used in a homicide, a bullet with twist, striation and muzzle print is already on file. I guess one can view it as an AFIS for firearms, as each firearm has a unique and distinct print. If a barrel is replaced, the state police or ATF is automatically notified by the manufacturer or gun smith and a new print and bullet sample is refilled for that particular firearm. If an owner sells a firearm, the Illinois State Police and or ATF must be notified so ownership records are updated and the new owner can be traced.

 

My idea is only a rough draft. Anyone who wishes to modify it, please feel free. If The Illinois State Police and ATF believe my proposal or ideas show merit, or wish to initiate any form of my ideas please feel free to do so. I do realize that there are holes in my proposal, alteration and  some adjustments will need to be made, but, I believe if a thorough background check is performed, including medical and psychological, if all states initiate a form of firearm owner authorization, if federal dealer requirements include verification of state of residence as well as the knowledge of ownership laws and requirements,  if a firearm is registered with the state of residence and ATF, if ATF sets up a database similar to AFIS specifically for firearms and bullets fired from the firearms, I do believe we will not only be able to track firearms used in homicides, but also reduce the amount of illegal firearms on the street as well as owners who should not possess firearms.

I have been so frustrated.  This past month has been insane.  My husbands' identity gets stolen.  He goes back to work after surgery from an injury on the job and finds out that he only has a few months to find a new position.  Then we get a new set up for TV and we get ripped off!

Here is a copy of the letter my husband wrote to the Federal Trade Commission:

RE: Direct TV

I responded to an ad that came thru the mail for satellite service for $29.99 (for one year), so I called the "800" number to sign up.  The man on the other end said there was a 150 channel offer for the same price.  He also claimed that I would receive coupons worth $300.  I accepted and set up a day to bring it in.

The service man who came did NOT hook it up correctly, did not meantion a form for any rebate program, did NOT give me a copy of the paperwork or workorder.  He gave me NOTHING.

My wife, while reviewing my credit card account noticed a bill set to be paid to them for $63.97.  I immediately got on the phone and began to argue the charge.  Finally I was told that I didn't fill out the rebate form.  I told them I hadn't received anything from them or the technician.   I argued that I had been ripped off and they had to make the offer good.  Finally, the CS rep said she'd fill out the form for me right away, but it would take 2 to 3 months for the billing to catch up.  I told her, "You BETTER NOT CHARGE ME the full price!"  I still hadn't been told what happened to my $300 in coupons.

One June 26, 2008 I was again looking over the credit card statement and saw that they HAD charged the $63.97!  I called my credit card company and told them what happened and I wanted to dispute it.  They told me I couldn't dispute the charge while I was still getting the service, so I called Direct TV to dispute it a second time. 

I told them the same as I told them the first time.  They told me NO ONE had filled out the form like promised, they couldn't do anything about it, and if I cancelled, they would charge me $400 for cancelling! I told them I would dispute that too!

 At that point I demanded a supervisor. I explained everything to him and that "Bait and Switch" is illegal and he ignored my comment and said the ONLY thing he could do was to fill out the rebate. Then he says it would take 3 TO 4 months to get settled!  Then I told him I wanted the charges to be $29.99 NOW and to credit my account for the difference.

He again said he could only fill out the rebate form for me.  I also told him about the rotten installation and the rudeness of the tech and he ignored that comment as well.  I told him, "Fine, if you can't satisfy me now according to your salespersons' promise, then disconnect me and I would dispute ANY OTHER charges you put on my account.  I also told him that I was recovering from spinal/neck surgery and I couldn't lift the equipment, so they had to come out and get it down and take it themselves.   He told me they don't do that, but that the service would be shut off as of midnight that night and I would have to find a way to return the equipment.

As soon as I got off the phone, I called my credit card company and told them the story AGAIN and told them I wanted to dispute any and all charges coming thru from that company.

What is happening these days?  Is the almighty buck THAT important?

I have a mulberry tree in my back yard. It has been a part of our family since we purchased the house and has grown with the family. The tree has always stood fast and strong and has always endured all the weather Mother Nature throws at it. On June 15, heavy thunder storms roiled through the Chicago area with winds in excess of 65mph. Two large branches from the tree across the street were broken off and were laying in the street, but, other than a few misplaced Mulberries, our strong tree seemed to whether the storm, at least that is what I thought. At 3am this morning, I could not sleep and was watching a movie on Starz when I thought I heard something fall in the yard. I looked outside and everything seemed to be fine, so, I didn't worry too much and chalked it up to someone throwing trash away, or, something in the alley. I decided to walk outside to make sure everything was in order and no one had thrown a brick through the windshield of my car again. As I walked through the yard, I observed a LARGE branch that had apparently been weakened by the thunderstorm on the 15 and finally broken off lying across the yard with the power line bowed underneath it. The power line is not the main power line, but, the power line leading from the pole to our house. I checked the alley to make sure there was no danger to drivers and made sure the tree branch and power line was not affecting my neighbor.

 

At 3:10am, after all my preliminary safety checks were completed, I returned inside to call for assistance. I called 311, described the situation and I was instructed to call Com-Ed as the fire department is pretty much at the mercy of ComEd, as the power must be cut in order for them to do anything anyway. I immediately called ComEd to report the partially downed wire. I described the situation to the ComEd representative and was informed a technician would be out "AS SOON AS POSSIBLE" to handle the partially down wire. I hung up satisfied that I would see ComEd within a reasonable amount of time given the severity of the incident. 4:00am, ComEd still a no-show and the wire is still bowed under the weight of the branch. 5:00am, nothing, at 6:00am I decided to call ComEd back and find out if they are dispatching the truck from Iowa or from Montana. I was informed; "The technicians are aware of the problem, but no one has been assigned as of yet and I can not give you an ETA for a technician at this time". Great!! I have a partially downed high voltage wire in my yard. All someone has to do is walk into it and they will get the full effect of what it's like to be seated and zapped in "Old Sparky".  Not to mention, the branch is heavy enough where it is lying on the ground, has the wire stretched and weighted down far enough a person can touch it without reaching up. I don't know how much more pressure the wire can take before it completely disconnects from the house, or, breaks where the branch is laying across it.

If the wire breaks, or disconnects from the entry point at the meter, the situation will escalate from serious to critical. I can live with no power and no A/C until ComEd imports a repair truck from Japan. I can find something to occupy my time other than writing an entry on how ComEd maintains we receive exceptional service, charges us for service we really DON'T receive and still wants to increase rates for service. My real concern is the downed power line lying across the alley, or, landing on the metal fence we have around our yard. Instant electric fence. It will keep the neighborhood kids out of the yard, however, I don't think I am ready to accept the liability of someone being fried by my newly acquired property defense.

All joking aside, I notified ComEd at 3am of a potentially dangerous situation. At the time of this writing, I have yet to see or hear from ComEd. No technician has been assigned to the hazard, and no repair time has been specified. 9 hours and ComEd still has not assigned a technician or arrived to resolve the danger. ComEd wants to raise the rates and charge us even more for service. A power line has been partially down in my yard for the upside of 9 hours. This is an extremely dangerous situation. CFD can not do anything because they are at the mercy of ComEd. I REFUSE to go out and try to remove the branch from the power line to keep the line from breaking and possibly electrocuting someone. I really don't understand this. I explained how dangerous the situation is. I told ComEd the power line is under the weight and pressure of the tree branch and is in serious danger of breaking. I was told, "We will have someone out there AS SOON AS POSSIBLE". I NEVER realized in a dangerous situation "As soon as possible"  would be several hours from the time ComEd was called. I am really glad that all emergency situations are not handled in this format. A person's house is in flames, the fire department is called, emergency services states;  "We will be there as soon as possible" . Several hours later the fire department arrives after the house and the rest of the block is smoldering embers and just in time to make the comment; "what do you need us for, the fire is out".

I am sure that there are EXTREMELY important issues that the ComEd technicians need to address, like, which carwash in Chicago is large enough to fit a heavy truck with a extension arm, or, which McDonald's still offers the Indiana Jones action figures. The power line is going to break, and then we will have a critical situation where I WILL have to call the fire department and two police units will have to be removed from service to block off the alley until ComEd decides to finally assign the incident to a technician. Tow units that coals be doing something more productive than babysitting a downed power line because ComEd doesn't understand the concept of "imminent danger".

I briefly paused in writing this entry and attempted another plea for ComEd to assign a technician to the incident. Again I stressed the severity of the situation. The representative enquired how large or heavy is the branch on the power line.  Again, as I stressed at 3:00am, the branch is large enough and heavy enough to be lying on the ground and have the power line extended low enough where someone can reach out and touch it. The representative said she was upgrading the severity of the ticket and will have someone out within the next two hours. The representative also stated the original work order was issued at a "low" status, which translates to; "when you have time and can get to it, there is no emergency". Even though I stressed how severe the situation is, the original representative put the order at a "low" status.

It is now mid-day with the temperature in the 80's and sunny. ComEd will have to cut the power at the transformer in order to remove the branch and re-tension the line in order for it to be high enough so a person can not touch or grab it. Cutting the power at the transformer will cut the power for the entire block. That means my neighbors will be without power and air conditioning for possibly an hour or more. If ComEd had assigned a technician at 3am when I first called, the technician could have cut the power, removed the tree branch and repaired my power line all before anyone was up or realized that there was a short power outage. If ComEd addressed the situation at 3am, when it was dark, with cooler temperatures than at mid-day, it would be fixed and taken care of already. Now at the hottest point of the day, they are re-issuing the work order at a higher level because of the imminent danger or severity of the situation. Now everyone that receives power from that transformer will have to suffer because of ComEd and their foul-up.

It is currently 2:20pm and I am still waiting for ComEd to arrive. I was given a time frame of one to two hours. I am REALLY glad that ComEd doesn't view this as a potentially hazardous condition, especially considering the power line has been stressed under the weight of a large tree branch for over 9 hours. With the service we receive and the response time for a technician in an emergency, I am really surprised ComEd is allowed to raise rates. But then again, Enron was in operation for years. Enron deceived and scammed the west cost for a long time before the federal government found out that the executives were lining their pockets and not meeting needs of the customers. I wonder how long it will take before the federal government finds out about the inadequate service Exelon/ ComEd are subjecting us to.

Anonymous believes The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the illegal Washington D.C. hand gun ban re-affirmed what should have been obvious to every single out-of-touch, bombastic, self-serving politician -- that the U.S. Constitution means what it says and that you actually do have a right to protect yourself.

Got Guns?

by Anonymous

It took long enough, about ten score and 17 years, but finally the nation has some clarity about your fundamental right to own a hand gun and use it in your home to protect yourself from thugs who -- for some reason -- never really pay much attention to the voluminous restrictions that leave law abiding people vulnerable to vicious, murderous criminals.

 

The U.S. Supreme Court cut through the verbal noise that flies from the mouth of pompous, arrogant and elitist politicians in its ruling on District of Columbia v. Heller to say, you have a right to have a handgun in your home. Heller is Dick Heller, a security guard, authorized to carry a handgun, who merely wanted the right to have it in his home. He lost the trial, won on appeal and in the Supreme Court where the Justices re-read the Constitution very carefully and concluded that no where could they find an "the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home."

 

The reaction from Mr. Heller, "I'm thrilled I am now able to defend myself and my household." The staid, tired and predictable reaction from the gaggle of anti-gun ne'er-do-wells, included big city mayors, full of empty words, who did their best to scare you into thinking that this is a harbinger of bloody street-level gunfights, where fire-power settles disputes and bullets ricochet off concrete sidewalks and steel buildings. What a crock.

 

Here's a point that seems to escape those blow-hard politicians -- seems the cities with the toughest gun laws often have the highest crime rates. The laws in Chicago, for example, are among the most stringent. Why then is there so much crime in Chicago? That's an easy one. It's because crooks have the guns and victims do not. Just think about it. You live in a rough neighborhood and the law says you cannot have a handgun in your house. Any criminal who picks up a weapon on the black market can come crashing into your home with little or no expectation that you're equipped to fire back.

 

You want another example. How's this? Just compare the number of murders in Chicago for 2007 with the rest of the county in which Chicago resides. There were 435 murders in the city and about 125 for the rest of Cook County combined. Remember, Cook County gun laws are more lax than Chicago's.

 

Now factor in population figures and apply a little math to the numbers. Here goes. The Cook County population is just under 5.3 million. Chicago's is around 2.8 million. That means Chicago comprises just over half the population of Cook County. Now the kicker -- nearly 80 percent of the murders in Cook County happen in the City of Chicago, where the restrictions on gun ownership are the toughest. Hmmm.

 

Say what you want. Those are the facts, but it's way easier for an uninformed or thick headed politician to stand in front of a crowd, pound a podium and say, "We must ban hand guns and get 'em off the streets." The people cheer, the politician smiles and the beat goes on -- gang members acquire guns illegally and use them to shoot each other and unarmed citizens, who only want to protect themselves.

 

No doubt your naive friends, who see the foundation of their viewpoint crumbling, will grasp at anything to bolster their stance and rail against accidental shootings. When the rant concludes simply say that you support gun rights, not gun proliferation. There's a difference. The anti-gun fanatics want you to believe that gun advocates want everyone to pack heat. You hear it all the time. Anonymous remembers one individual who shouted with red face and neck veins bulging, "Yeah, let's give guns to everyone, that's the answer! We can all just shoot it out when we have problems!"

 

The calm, measured retort -- the Second Amendment merely guarantees your right to have a weapon and the Supreme Court affirmed that reasonable rules are Constitutional. That means that it's perfectly acceptable to restrict gun ownership to law abiding citizens. There is nothing wrong with a law that requires guns to be registered. Heck, how 'bout routine, mandatory safety training. (The government could actually make a buck or two on that idea.) This alone would help prevent accidental shootings. What about background checks? Absolutely and a reasonable waiting period. Why not?

 

No, guns are not suitable for everyone who's entitled to own one. There are certainly plenty of people who do not want them around their children. Others simply do not want to have anything to do with them. You will not find any suggestion here that people with an aversion to firearms must or should have them, but many people who obey the law would be better served and protected if they have access to one.

 

There are millions of Real Estate Agents who ride around with strangers in their cars, or sit in an open house where people they do not know come in and out all day long. Do those men and women have a legitimate reason to carry a pistol? What about a jeweler who routinely transports extremely valuable merchandise? Is that person entitled to have a gun? What about a woman who lives alone in a tough neighborhood? A rapist breaks in and starts to attack. She can have 911 on speed dial and still not have police at her home quickly enough to prevent an assault.

 

One sad example of a murder that should not have happened involves the story of a woman named Ronayle White. She had an order of protection against her estranged husband, but he did not care and in May, 2002 he went to her house and killed her. She called 911, three times, but it took officers 17 minutes to arrive and when they did, she was dead. A 911 tape recorded two muffled pops during the final call. That was the gunfire that killed her. She did not have a gun, never had a chance and left behind a son.

 

The head of the Illinois State Rifle Association said it well. Police are not the first line of defense against crime. Individuals are, and no one, not the anti-gun lobby or anyone else can get around that reality. Justice Antonin Scalia made the point this way. He said the handgun is ideal for self-defense partly because "it can be pointed at a burglar with one hand while the other hand dials the police." You got that right, brother.

 

The idea that you might catch a .44 caliber slug to the chest during a break in would probably make you think twice, maybe even three times about it. You might even consider a career change. All this gets lost on those individuals whose hazy notions about self defense are based on fantasy and the idea that there's some magic bullet that will make guns go away. Thankfully, a majority of the Justices on Supreme Court had more clarity on the matter.

Fans Forever Inc.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone (773) 463-4696

Email:

 

BEYOND THE VINES AN ETERNAL

LUXURY SUITE FOR CUBS FANS

Chicago, JUNE 25, 2008

Fans Forever, a Chicago-based company, has reached an agreement with Bohemian National Cemetery on Chicago's North side, to construct an interment area for cremation urns that is patterned after the famous center field bleacher wall at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

This is the first time in the U.S.; a designated area for cremation interments will be sports-themed. Several European and South American soccer teams have previously constructed fan cemeteries adjacent to their stadiums. A soccer team in England offers to place remains under the playing turf at midfield.

The Beyond the Vines wall will be 24 feet in length and 12 feet tall, adorned with Ivy and featuring a 7’ x 4’ stained glass scoreboard. "We’ve even purchased a few refurbished, box seats from Wrigley Field." said Mascari. "These seats will be available for family services..

During a WGN radio interview I did this morning with Spike O’Dell, earlier today, Spike suggested that I should consider having the Cubs radio broadcast piped into the wall at Beyond

The Vines. "This would insure that our luxury suite holders would never miss a game," Mascari said.

Beyond the Vines is scheduled to be completed by opening day of the World Series in October 2008 – a series that many Chicago baseball fans are hoping to see the Cubs in after a 100-year absence.

Several internment packages will be available to current urn holders and pre-planed arrangements, will be an option to purchase as well. The basic package will start at $1795.00. The ‘Cycle’ deluxe package will include all cremation services, a Cubs themed ceremony and an Official Major League Baseball™ (MLB) urn, manufactured by Eternal Image, a Michigan company, licensed to manufacture urns and caskets which feature MLB team logos.

"It’s true that Cubs fans don’t live forever, but their team spirit never dies," said Dennis Mascari, a lifetime Cubs fan and founder of Fans Forever. "For millions of loyal Cubs fans, Wrigley Field means a lot more then just a ballpark; it’s their shrine and sanctuary. The Cubs are a big part of my family tradition, and I know my dad and his dad would have been honored to be interred at Beyond the Vines," Mascari said. "It would be fantastic just knowing that my loved ones are in their own perpetual luxury suite and skybox… resting in peace."

"If you think about it, people have been supporting the Cubs for 30, 40, 50 years, why shouldn't it be part of their afterlife? This is why I’m constructing a replica of the center field wall at a local cemetery…an eternal season ticket and skybox for 280 loyal Cubs fans."

"I’ve been thinking about doing something like this for the past year." Mascari said. "After working in the cemetery industry, and getting a good first hand view of the business, I knew I wanted to do something different.

Last June, a