After enduring a full month of insane shopping frenzy at the malls, I usually find that Christmas Day itself feels like the end-of-the-world. I'm not a big fan of black and white photos from a digital camera because it seems like faking—the digital sensor always captures a color image—but I think it works for this spread. That last … [Read more...] about The Post-Apocalyptic Desolation of Christmas Day at the Mall
XMAS in the TIF
This is Pesche's Flowers, one of the many businesses in Des Plaines, Illinois, that the city claims is "blighted" so they can abuse their eminent domain power to replace it with something they like better. The city's materials justifying the TIF show some of the worst views of some of the uglier properties, so I thought I'd break with my usual documentary style to show you one … [Read more...] about XMAS in the TIF
Have a Merry Christmas Everyone!
I think Miss Claus here would like you to have a Merry Christmas. The site I got this from describes it as "a sexy Mrs. Claus." Unless Santa likes 'em really young, however, I think this must be one of his daughters, thus the "Miss" above. Careful guys, he knows when you've been bad. (Why yes, this is sleazy attempt to keep my stats up over Christmas without having to … [Read more...] about Have a Merry Christmas Everyone!
Breathtaking Stupidity in the War On Drugs
Amy Barrilleaux of WQAD reports: "(I was) made to feel like a criminal -- Made to feel low, dirty. Just totally degraded," recalled Tim Naveau, who says he'll never forget the hours he spent in Rock Island County Jail -- he says all because of his allergies. Naturally, this degradation is part of the War on Drugs. Tim takes one 24-hour Claritin-D tablet just about every … [Read more...] about Breathtaking Stupidity in the War On Drugs
An Anti-TIF PAC in Des Plaines
Cal Skinner just sent me an email pointing out a PAC called Des Plaines Residents for Responsible Taxation. Its officers are Scott Olson and Barbara VanSlambrouck, co-owners respectively of Geiser-Berner and Chromatech, both of which are threatened by the Five-Corners TIF in Des Plaines. I spoke to another Geiser-Berner co-owner, Robert Janczak, a while back and he told me … [Read more...] about An Anti-TIF PAC in Des Plaines