I hope there will be an opportunity for those of us who've left Chicago to participate in Songs of Good Cheer--either buying a ticket to a broadcast or a video after the fact.
The Mincing Rascals was very enjoyable this week. I especially enjoyed hearing Carol Marin. There were a few times where she was not buying what Austin Berg was selling. Thanks to everyone involved in producing the podcast. I do miss the days of John asking everyone for a recommendation on something to consume. That segment provided some good suggestions.
I think the "sexy" tweet in the poll is demeaning. Sexiness is subjective and that kind of comment suggests that there is some standard attribute that defines sexiness and anyone who doesn't meet it deserves ridicule.
The Northwestern U tweet entry made me laugh thanks to a memory. Years ago I managed NU's 150th anniversary celebration; in the process acquiring a ridiculous amount of NU factoids. The name is from the founders' intention to serve/draw students from those living in the NorthWest Territory area of the U.S. at that time, 1850.
On the day of the opening festivities of NU's Sesquicentennial Celebration, I was asked who had the powerful connection in television to the Jeopardy Show, but we had none. Turns out, we were getting credit for the Final Jeopardy question that day -- "What university was founded to serve the NorthWest Territory?" and apparently no contestant got it right! LOL
Eric- re. the Northwestern tweet. I'm SURE you remember the last phrase of "The Victors"- "Champions of the West!". In this case, I believe in the stone age U of M was a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Since the school was founded in 1817, I suppose Michigan was a rather western state.
What I remember most after reading this is blah blah blah Trump blah blah blah Hitler, and the Mona Charon quote, but the Charon quote is quickly fading from memory.
As a two-time essay winner for Songs Of Good Cheer, I miss the contest. But as I have now moved to Bloomington IN, I will miss attending the concert more.
Who would be interested in reading news from anonymous sources? Why would anyone trust the accuracy of their reporting? Maybe I'm missing something but I need to know who the source is, what are their journalistic credentials before I would give them the time of day.
Eric and readers - for a real hoot, check out this hair-on-fire vulgarity-laced yelp review rant about a limo service, reportedly from our model of decorum Mayor Lightfoot.
And the reply from the limo service which refutes most of her major complaints further heightens the entertainment value of this. And yet, a good number of people, Will vote for her again. And that is why Chicago is Chicago.
(I would be interested in your reaction to this Eric.)
in the Well Said section of the Thu 10/6 PS, mona charen writes: Arizona surely takes the highest honors for the sheer concentration of ranting incompetents who threaten the democratic process. i'm a michigander [former long-time chicagoan/evanstonian] - and while i can't argue against the alleged unfitness of arizona candidates [republicans, i'm guessing] at the top of the ballot, i invite comparison to the michigan GOP [goof-off party] candidates for gov, sec'y of state and atty gen'l - dangerous, Big Lie-infected wackos all. i'm not a democrat - but i'll be voting mostly Dem this election cycle.
"Omitting the purely ad hominem invective, I’d sum up the views of my inflamed critics this way... ." --Zorn.
After reading the 10/4/22 article on CWBChicago where Eric confronts them for a lack of transparency and accountability in their reporting on crime in Chicago -- as a journalist he is acrimoniously bashed by them in reply. To me, Eric’s confrontation seems reasonable, especially with respect to public interest and verity in reporting, and it is an indignity to vilify him simply for his position on the issue. To me, denouncing him seems not only wrong on principle, but it is obviously a form of verbal abuse.
Eric, you're spot on about uncontextualized reporting. As far as I'm concerned, there are too few reporters like Ben Joravsky and Dave Glowacz's. Providing context is not too much to ask for. For example, you write:
"I mean, sure, the often horrifying stories of random predation make us angrier and more paranoid. But on a larger scale, what needs to change?"
We need long form reporting for most issues and when reporters simply make a comment about crime with no other concerns, for example, it's more like a partisan throwing their feces to own their opponents. The press' function is to help democracy identify potential causes of problems that would help lead to solutions to try.
My guess is that few of those who whine about your discussion are not concerned with having a discussion with the goal to solving complicated problems. They are here to throw their feces. This is the level to which we've fallen to.
"Shaun, 'It is an indignity to vilify him simply for his position on the issue. To me, denouncing him seems not only wrong on principle, but it is obviously a form of verbal abuse.' You don't think journalists, including EZ, earn a living by vilifying people simply for their position on an issue? Just go back and read past PS's. People who live in a glass house shouldn't throw stones." -- David O.
I'd like to believe that journalists (including EZ) exclusively attack the arguments writers make, which are fair game as much as I see it. Normalizing in any way the malicious attacks some have made on writers themselves is basic incivility; I've seen Eric make conscientious attempts at reflecting the dignity of writers by avoiding ad hominem attacks completely, but who is altogether blameless?
Listening to "Wait Till the Clouds Roll By" for the first time here immediately reminded me of the Irish song "The Fields of Athenry" (minus the political slant of the latter.) Both songs speak of a man leaving his home via the sea and longing to return. The similarities also reminded me of the fact that American folk music is in so many ways derivative of Irish and Scottish music. Thanks for posting the song.
I hope there will be an opportunity for those of us who've left Chicago to participate in Songs of Good Cheer--either buying a ticket to a broadcast or a video after the fact.
“Berg, of the Illinois Policy Institute, is opposed, so I guess that means I should be in favor.”
EZ🙄
The Mincing Rascals was very enjoyable this week. I especially enjoyed hearing Carol Marin. There were a few times where she was not buying what Austin Berg was selling. Thanks to everyone involved in producing the podcast. I do miss the days of John asking everyone for a recommendation on something to consume. That segment provided some good suggestions.
I think the "sexy" tweet in the poll is demeaning. Sexiness is subjective and that kind of comment suggests that there is some standard attribute that defines sexiness and anyone who doesn't meet it deserves ridicule.
The Northwestern U tweet entry made me laugh thanks to a memory. Years ago I managed NU's 150th anniversary celebration; in the process acquiring a ridiculous amount of NU factoids. The name is from the founders' intention to serve/draw students from those living in the NorthWest Territory area of the U.S. at that time, 1850.
On the day of the opening festivities of NU's Sesquicentennial Celebration, I was asked who had the powerful connection in television to the Jeopardy Show, but we had none. Turns out, we were getting credit for the Final Jeopardy question that day -- "What university was founded to serve the NorthWest Territory?" and apparently no contestant got it right! LOL
And now you all know.
Eric- re. the Northwestern tweet. I'm SURE you remember the last phrase of "The Victors"- "Champions of the West!". In this case, I believe in the stone age U of M was a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Since the school was founded in 1817, I suppose Michigan was a rather western state.
What I remember most after reading this is blah blah blah Trump blah blah blah Hitler, and the Mona Charon quote, but the Charon quote is quickly fading from memory.
As a two-time essay winner for Songs Of Good Cheer, I miss the contest. But as I have now moved to Bloomington IN, I will miss attending the concert more.
Regarding CWBChicago:
Who would be interested in reading news from anonymous sources? Why would anyone trust the accuracy of their reporting? Maybe I'm missing something but I need to know who the source is, what are their journalistic credentials before I would give them the time of day.
Eric and readers - for a real hoot, check out this hair-on-fire vulgarity-laced yelp review rant about a limo service, reportedly from our model of decorum Mayor Lightfoot.
https://amp.barstoolsports.com/blog/1397446/c
And the reply from the limo service which refutes most of her major complaints further heightens the entertainment value of this. And yet, a good number of people, Will vote for her again. And that is why Chicago is Chicago.
(I would be interested in your reaction to this Eric.)
in the Well Said section of the Thu 10/6 PS, mona charen writes: Arizona surely takes the highest honors for the sheer concentration of ranting incompetents who threaten the democratic process. i'm a michigander [former long-time chicagoan/evanstonian] - and while i can't argue against the alleged unfitness of arizona candidates [republicans, i'm guessing] at the top of the ballot, i invite comparison to the michigan GOP [goof-off party] candidates for gov, sec'y of state and atty gen'l - dangerous, Big Lie-infected wackos all. i'm not a democrat - but i'll be voting mostly Dem this election cycle.
"Omitting the purely ad hominem invective, I’d sum up the views of my inflamed critics this way... ." --Zorn.
After reading the 10/4/22 article on CWBChicago where Eric confronts them for a lack of transparency and accountability in their reporting on crime in Chicago -- as a journalist he is acrimoniously bashed by them in reply. To me, Eric’s confrontation seems reasonable, especially with respect to public interest and verity in reporting, and it is an indignity to vilify him simply for his position on the issue. To me, denouncing him seems not only wrong on principle, but it is obviously a form of verbal abuse.
Eric, you're spot on about uncontextualized reporting. As far as I'm concerned, there are too few reporters like Ben Joravsky and Dave Glowacz's. Providing context is not too much to ask for. For example, you write:
"I mean, sure, the often horrifying stories of random predation make us angrier and more paranoid. But on a larger scale, what needs to change?"
We need long form reporting for most issues and when reporters simply make a comment about crime with no other concerns, for example, it's more like a partisan throwing their feces to own their opponents. The press' function is to help democracy identify potential causes of problems that would help lead to solutions to try.
My guess is that few of those who whine about your discussion are not concerned with having a discussion with the goal to solving complicated problems. They are here to throw their feces. This is the level to which we've fallen to.
"Shaun, 'It is an indignity to vilify him simply for his position on the issue. To me, denouncing him seems not only wrong on principle, but it is obviously a form of verbal abuse.' You don't think journalists, including EZ, earn a living by vilifying people simply for their position on an issue? Just go back and read past PS's. People who live in a glass house shouldn't throw stones." -- David O.
I'd like to believe that journalists (including EZ) exclusively attack the arguments writers make, which are fair game as much as I see it. Normalizing in any way the malicious attacks some have made on writers themselves is basic incivility; I've seen Eric make conscientious attempts at reflecting the dignity of writers by avoiding ad hominem attacks completely, but who is altogether blameless?
Listening to "Wait Till the Clouds Roll By" for the first time here immediately reminded me of the Irish song "The Fields of Athenry" (minus the political slant of the latter.) Both songs speak of a man leaving his home via the sea and longing to return. The similarities also reminded me of the fact that American folk music is in so many ways derivative of Irish and Scottish music. Thanks for posting the song.