What Are Your Favorite Chicago Places?
January 9th, 2012 by Shorty
I’m expanding Shorty to include all of Chicago. I know what I’d like to cover, but let me know what you would like see. What are your favorite Chicago places? What do you like about them? Let me know.
Image: datacenterchicago
Remembering Troy Davis 7 Days Later
September 28th, 2011 by ShortyMy feelings are still hurt, and I just needed to share. His death will not be in vain.
Troy Davis’ Case Exemplifies Everything Wrong with America
September 22nd, 2011 by Shorty
If you are not familiar with the Troy Davis case, educate yourself by going doing a Google search. In the meantime, allow me to share my thoughts after following it for a few months and watching reports of his last hours on earth. Many thanks to Democracy Now for their courage to cover this story, because we would not have known what was happening by watching mainstream media.
- Racism in America will never end. There is no such thing as “post-racial.” The only thing we can do is pray that enough people care to try to fight all of the systems created to keep people unequal. Start by voting in this upcoming election.
- Lives of poor people are dispensable.
- Lives of black people are not valued. If they were, the black prison population would not be over 50% when they are only approximately 13% of the population. And there were several people on Twitter who pointed out that Casey Anthony, a white woman who had evidence that she murdered her child is walking free while Troy Davis, a black man, died via lethal ejection with little or no evidence.
- What does “innocent until proven guilty” really means in America?
- America is not longer a democracy, it is a plutarchy. This means that things are run by the wealthy and will continue to benefit the wealthy. Middle class (what’s left of it) and poor people be damned.
- The United States justice system is just a more sophisticated form of slavery. The justice system as whole does not begin with the prison system. It starts with social, education and employment control which usually somehow ends in some aspect of a person’s life being controlled, and ultimately determined by the government.
- The justice system works for people with money on so many levels. But here are four ways this happens. First, people with money can afford good attorneys to represent them. Second, rich people can slip a few dollars to a few key people to throw out or rule in their favor. Thirdly, some of them are private investors in the prison system. Fourth, many are profiting from the cheap labor provided by prisoners.
- American government at all levels is operating from personal power is more important than the people who pay me through their taxes to represent them. We don’t need Troy Davis to tell us that. Just watch news reports very closely.
- We all need to wonder: How many more Troy Davises have lost their lives, are sitting on death row or who are currently waiting to be sentenced? And how can their cases be heard before their lives are snuffed by people who could care less.
- We are ALL Troy Davis. If they can kill an innocent man with very little evidence, people with power can snatch us up at any time for something we did not do and try to charge us “just because.”
I just needed to share my thoughts. It gets deeper than this, but this is all I can stomach for now. What do you think?
Remembering September 11th
September 11th, 2011 by Shorty
It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the America was attacked and thousands of lives were lost. Let’s continue to keep the families of those who lost loved ones and our service people in our prayers.
Image: nothing right
Shut up and Do Something!
September 8th, 2011 by Shorty
This message is written out of frustration, and I’m going to try to keep it short. Everyone is experiencing challenges these days. Heck, even Wall Street is feeling it. Anytime an individual billionaire offers rescue funds to save one of the greedy banks that helped create this mess, you know times are hard.
I think that the only way to make things better, even in these challenging times, is to stop complaining and criticizing, and to start doing something.
The first two excuses that people are quick to spit out are “I don’t have time” and “I don’t have money.” First, allow me to say that’s some bull! Money could well be an issue, but everyone has time. Nowadays, people have more time on their hands than they claim to do.
Consider the following:
- National unemployment is looming at 9.1% with black unemployment rates well above 60%. There are very few new jobs being created, and you don’t spend 40 hours per week looking for one. You have time.
- Higher unemployment rates translate into higher crime rates which have increased over the past 3 years. And what’s up with all of these people robbing seniors?? These people have time.
- Let’s not forget all of the time spent on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google + and other social sites.
- Facebook has “more than 750 million active users,” and more than half of them log on to Facebook in any given day.
- The “average user has 130 friends,” and over “700 billion minutes per month” have been logged.
- “Over 3 billion videos are viewed a day” on YouTube by people ranging in age from 18 to 54 years old.
- To date, over 200 million tweets per day have been recorded on Twitter.
- Think about all of the things you WASTE time on including complaining and criticizing
So, if there is something you think that could be done better or differently, do it! You don’t have to wait for other people to do it. There is always a need, and you have time to dedicate to it. I’m not suggesting to make this a job or even a weekly project; I’m just saying, “Shut up and do something!”
Are Companies More Interested in “Food Deserts” or Their Pocketbooks?
July 26th, 2011 by ShortyI read a story in US Today about First Lady Michelle Obama teaming up with grocers nationwide to bring fresh fruits and other healthy foods to “food deserts” in low income communities. The articles listed Walmart, Walgreens, and SuperValu chains providing stepping up to help in this area. But I have a few thoughts on this.
First, would these companies had actually cared about the health of low income people had the First Lady not made health and nutrition a priority? I would say no! They see an opportunity to make more money.
Second, I’m a little leery about the QUALITY of the fruits and vegetables they are going to bring. Just because they say they are going to provide it doesn’t mean they are going to give low income people good stuff. So, is this a way to exploit low income people in lieu of their pocketbooks?
Third, will their prices will be comparable or lower than grocery store prices? Generally speaking, prices for everything are higher in low income communities. Yes, low income people pay more for everything. Totally bassackwards but so true. So, are these companies going to pimp low income residents on prices even though these foods are needed.
What are your thoughts about big food companies interest in “food deserts?”
Do Those Blue Light Cameras Really Fight Crime? 3 Reasons Why I Say No!
July 25th, 2011 by Shorty
There are thousands of blue light cameras around Chicago and I have to say that they do not work. While I don’t have specific numbers on how many cameras there are and I do not have an exact count on the crime rates, I can say, with confidence, that these cameras DO NOT WORK. As a side note: I can also say that the City could have spent that money more productively, like providing jobs to young people to potentially reduce the need for these cameras
All you have to do is look at any local news station or check out crime statistics on EveryBlock Chicago. I promise, there are at least 50 crimes a day reported and documented in my zip code based on my daily updates from EveryBlock. And I dare not mention all of the personal stories I’ve heard.
Also, if there are thousands of cameras that are functioning as they should, how many are actually manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? With the city’s cut in budget and staff, I doubt if half are covered.
Lastly, if people who think they want to commit crimes know that they are being watched by the camera, why would they do it under these invisible eyes? Some people are bold and crazy enough to do things; most people aren’t.
Those are the three reasons why I don’t think they work? What about you? Do you think these cameras help fight crime?
Image: gobeyondsecurity
Who Has the Best Bar-B-Q on the South Side?
July 17th, 2011 by Shorty
While driving to an event this week, I was enticed by the smell of ribs cooking at Bar-B-Q joint on 76th & Cottage Grove. You know I went looking for that smell, right? Well, it was Barbara Ann’s Bar-B-Q. I plan to go back as soon as I can.
Have you ever been to Barbara Ann’s? How was it?
Also, who do you think has the best Bar-B-Q on the South Side?
Image: bbq junkie
Do Low-Income Individuals Get Too Many Benefits?
July 13th, 2011 by Shorty
A neighbor on Everyblock Chicago made this statement:“Is it not enough that Section 8 pays the rent, link buys the food, green card pays the medical benefits, working tax payers support the schools….”
Let me clarify that this person was referring to people who make a living off of collecting benefits with no intention of working. Ever.
What are your thoughts on this statement? Do you think low-income individuals get too many benefits?
What Are Your Favorite Things on the South Side?
July 9th, 2011 by Shorty
What are some of your favorite things on the South Side? Four things I like about the South Side:
3. The Chicago Independent Bulletin
4. Kids Off the Block Youth Organization
What about you? What are some of your favorite things on the South Side?
Image: jenniferscavone.blogspot.com