robinr's Blog

      Insanely long lines outside Garrett's Popcorn shop on Michigan Avenue are as much a part of this city's festive while frustrating traditions as those absurdly unoriginal evergreen necklaces on the lions outside The Art(!) Insitute. The perennial excuse for ignoring calories and dental work, it's been the divine ending to marathon shopping for years.

       I know there are still 4 shops downtown (where the poppin started nearly 50 years ago), but there was something about having one of the world's most common grains hold its own among the ritziest retailers. Many a $500 pump has cooled it's heel on line outside Garrett's during the holiday rush. If you couldn't afford one, or most, or any of the fine items at nearby shops. as little as a buck and a half bought a taste of sweet or savory (or the famous Chicago mix) fresh popped, still warm corn. I have coaxed hours more patience from accompanying children and men (ball and chain of any serious retail mission) with the promise of "Garrett's when we're done". When they're smart enough to stay home, I can show up hours late for dinner toting little wax paper bags -- all's quiet but the crunching.

      I hear Garrett's lost it's lease on the Mag Mile, On the former site, it appears a big condo development is underway. I imagine the long lines of customers waiting to buy one of those -- while they're hot.

"Can you use that in a sentence?", responds my 6th grader when I asked if she had heard anything about the proposed boycott of the first day of school. She has an idea that it involves protesting something wrong. Once I explained the injustice at issue here -- the extreme differences in funding between city schools and some schools in wealthy suburbs -- she simply stated, "that sucks". Don't say 'sucks', honey. Right. But it does. Not quite as bad though, according to her, as missing the first day of school. She is looking forward to seeing the friends she's missed over the summer, maybe meeting some new kids, showing off then scuffing up her new gym shoes, and she's especially excited to be in a classroom with the favored teacher she's been stalking since the 4th grade! She is not down with the boycott.

Obviously, the Chicago Public School we attend is not one of those where the joy has been 'sucked' out of the learning experience by fear, inadequate supplies, poverty stricken/gang infested surroundings, overwhelmed and under-qualified teachers, untreated mental health issues, disproportionate percentage of students who are wards of the state.... just some of the crushing burdens faced by many inner city schools. These extra problems will not simply disappear by the magic of more funding, but right now they are moving unchecked through the dreams of our youngsters, preventing a love of learning, creating classroom nightmares that no child would look forward to -- schools they would, in fact, gladly boycott!

This was Bernie Mac’s famous demand of fans during his many years of live performances on Chicago’s club circuit.  Translation:  “Who are you with?”  And the audience, without fail, was with Bernie.  The mix of music, jokes, dancing and improv was set to an exciting tempo, amplified by his amazing talent and authentic southside personality.  Bernie and the “Mac-a-ronis” put forth a non-stop performance choreographed to his exacting standards and delivered with flawless timing and gleaming smiles.  What looked easy and free-flowing to the crowd was actually honed to perfection through countless hours of rehearsal, with Mac as producer, writer, choreographer and definitely in charge of wardrobe – he was, to my knowledge, never seen in public in a t-shirt and jeans! The Mac Man was the boss and a man with a plan.  He told me years ago that every show, no matter if the stage was in a neighborhood joint or the Regal Theatre, should be fit for Carnegie Hall.   He planned for the Big Time.  When the plan finally worked, he was ready.   After so many years toiling on the fringes of fame, it seems a fickle twist that his star should shine for such a short time.   At least millions more had a chance to experience an entertainment perfectionist, to know the correct answer to “who you wit?”  For as long as we could be, we were with Bernie Mac.

Youth Violence and ways to stop it. That was the topic of a meeting hosted by the Clergy Coalition for Peace last week. It was also an example of why people in positions of authority often do not accept invitations to townhall meetings. Of the couple hundred people in attendance, all it took was a half dozen disruptive individuals to create chaos and nearly destroy the agenda.

With trauma and violence devastating so many neighborhoods, it is understandable that emotions run high on this subject. But that does not explain the motives of people who show up only to engage in combat with people who are committed to creating strong families and safe neighborhoods. Shouting down the speakers and demanding the floor, insulting the pastors and even hollering while a panel of young people tried to talk about their experiences. It was frustrating and sad.

I'm told by other reporters that this same group shows up at many press events, particularly those involving the African American community. I wonder now if they should have been removed early on (they were rude from the start, but the whole point of a "townhall" meeting is that it is open to all interested citizens. Unfortunately, these citizens only seemed interested in preventing everyone else from meeting.

Great thanks to the overwhelming majority who attended with sincere interest in exchanging ideas, insight and action.  And a promise, more to come ...

Has people searching for the "why"  and the "how" to stop it.  As we demand a police response and a crack down on firearms, let's stretch our view just a bit.

I thought there would be a backlash when the Chicago Urban League President announced last year that agency was getting out of the social service business after 91 years serving the African American community. Cheryle Jackson tells us she was also braced for some criticism of the new mission of economic empowerment. Instead, she says people were already there ... already wanting a new type of assistance, help in helping themselves. PROJECT NEXT is turning Black owned businesses into bigger, better, more profitable economic engines. Neighborhoods with viable businesses have pride, job chances and role models. Education improves, crime goes down. Is it possible that the bottom line is more important than a police presence or gun control? Every single time I have been covering a story or visiting a school or just visiting friends in a tough neighborhood --and that's been alot of times over the last 25 years -- someone (or two or three) asks me if "they got any jobs down there at Fox?" Of course thats not research, just anecdotal. I also get asked on dates most times I'm in the neighborhoods and I've had a few marriage proposals on the spot as well. But, seriously, seeing businesses thriving, maybe getting a summer job in one, spending your money in your own community ... joining a gang may not be so appealing. Unfortunately, the Urban League plan won't be an overnight solution. You can't pass a new law or beef up patrols to achieve it. But how can we expect a complex, generational tragedy to have a quick fix? Economic power could be the most effective social service yet.

Driving a snow plow in the Chicago area this year had to be a high pressure job! "Everybody's sick of all this snow ... except for the snowplow guys ... they're so happy this winter they don't know what do to with themselves" -- that from our Chief Meteorologist Amy Freeze. Got me thinking about the 'snowplow guys'. Actually, they've crossed my mind quite a bit over the last few months. I've been hailing them as heroes. I've been worried about their lack of rest. I have been trying not to take them for granted. I even gave a corny "thumbs up" to a plow driver who happened to delay my progress on a narrow side street the day after the last big snowfall -- of course I was in a hurry, but that shortcut street would not even be an option without him! He was backing up in the center of a tiny intersection to make a tight turn and scrape as close to the curb as possible -- quite an excercise in precision steering. I'm just wondering, are they really happiest when we have these old-fashioned snowed in winters? If so, is it all about the over time pay? Or, is pride also in play? Just a thought as we finally (hopefully) have the worst behind us!

          I cannot believe we can't find a loophole in the First Amendment to drop this crazy website into! I am a staunch supporter of protected speech, but anonymous authors are hardly standing up to be protected, are they? They remain hidden behind their words which may or may not be true, while the subjects of their writings are named and attached to whatever behavior, situation, quotes, medical conditions, etc. that the writer chooses.  This is the great failing of cyber communication: do you really know who's talking? It really matters when they are talking about real people!

     When websites like this Juicy Campus allow no-names to call names and ruin reputations, I don't find it juicy .... how about slimy?

Since perfection is proving to be so illusive, I'm going to try to celebrate every little blessing.  It 's so easy to fall into a habit of complaint and discontent, might it be harder but more rewarding to try to find the good in the day?  When my son forgets to take out the trash (does he ever remember on his own?), I'll hope he at least fed the dog.  If he didn't (quite possible), I'll be glad the dog didn't get into the trash.   I can be glad to have a (forgetful) son and a (hungry) dog.  If I really work at it, I can spend hours thinking of all the reasons to be glad.   It sounds a bit trite, especially if you are coping with unbearable hardships, loss and need.  Hopefully practicing this affirmative action helps prepare for the inevitable really rough times.    

I've made many other, much more specific New Year's Resolutions in years past.  I've had pretty good success (the smoking is still iffy .. but I'm climbing back on the wagon and this January 1st ban in the city should help).  This rather vague attitude adjustment might be something I could pledge now, yet no one would exactly know if I kept the resolve ... finding the bright side already!

Happy New Year to you and yours~ 

If you have a little space on your Christmas shopping list ..

Some teenaged girls who are "court-involved" in Cook County are fortunate enough to be taking part in some alternative sentencing programs. Either on probation or living in a court-supervised group home, most do not have the family support to create much of a Christmas. Many of the caring adults who work at Juvenile Court and the Juvenile Probation Department reach into their own pockets so that these young women have something new for the holidays. If you would like to help ... coats, shirts, sweaters, anything cute that a teenaged girl would like (by the way, I'm told white and beige are good colors because they carry no gang recognition!). Bathrobes, slippers, shower and bath goodies are also known to bring big smiles. Contact Ginny Caufield in the Department of Juvenile Probation 312 433-6627. Thanks!

Hi! I hope everyone is enjoying the best aspects of this festive season ... focusing on family, friends and the spirit of giving. If GIFTING is part of your holiday tradition, I bet you also like to show generosity to people you don't even know. Since people who need things know where to find me, I recieve a lot of requests for help. How about I share some of the specific "wishes" with you? While you're shopping for the folks on your list, you may come across just the thing that will make all the difference for people not fortunate enough to join the shopping rush.