Chicagoist

Extra, Extra

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T17:30:00-06:00

Photo by spencewine

Drivers have a few months to prepare for the next prolonged traffic snarl: resurfacing of the Eisenhower (I-290) will begin in April 2010.
Prosecutors have alleged Tahawwur Rana, one of the men arrested last month for allegedly plotting overseas terror attacks, was in possession of a pair of al Qaida videotapes.
The Gold Coast building that used to serve as a home to the Three Arts Club could soon be the home of the ashes of 15,000 deceased Chicagoans.
Kraft and Cadbury are hunkering down for a take-over bid that could last a while.
So exactly how do you refer to street addresses in Chicago?

Chicago Current Goes Live

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T16:40:00-06:00

Chicago Current, the successor to now-folded local news website Chi-Town Daily News, has gone live and you can read the web-edition here. There's not a whole heck of a lot there and some of the stories seem a bit stale - the CTA budget story doesn't offer anything new and Geoff Dougherty's op-ed about Daley seems is just managing to catch up to where several other outlets went a month ago when the city's Olympic bid failed. But there are a few pieces worth reading through and CTDN featured some great content that was hard to find anywhere else, so we're giving Current the benefit of the doubt as it is, after all, just starting up. And there's still the print issue to consider.

Speaking of the print issue, you can send in your email address for more information when home-delivery of the print edition becomes available. We've heard rumblings that the print edition is also available at a few places around town, but haven't managed to track down exactly where yet.

Chicago Booting Goes 24/6

Prescott Carlson — 2009-11-09T16:20:00-06:00

A heads up to those of you parking law scofflaws out there with the fortuitous work schedule that allows you to not be parked on Chicago streets during the prime Denver booting hours of 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. -- your luck has just run out.

Parking Ticket Geek points out that you'll no longer be able to go to sleep at night with the comfort of knowing your car will be available to drive to work in the morning. Without much fanfare, the city's Department of Revenue added a third shift to the boot patrol last week, and 10 new crews are prowling the streets between the hours of 9:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, scanning for cars eligible to have their front wheel encased in yellow steel.

PTG estimates that this additional window of enforcement could mean an increase of booted cars upwards of 100,000 next year -- significantly up from the approximately 65,000 cars estimated to be immobilized in 2009. Not surprising, given that the two places that previously implemented 24 hour immobilization -- O'Hare and Midway airports -- have the highest number of boots installed out of any area in the city. And while booting hours have been extended, payment and releasing hours haven't, so if you find your car immobilized at night you're going to be SOL until the next morning. But hey, don't complain -- the Mayor has to balance his budget somehow. [via Beachwood Reporter]

Chicagoist Podcast 11/9 - The Windy City Rollers are Nationals Bound

Karl Klockars — 2009-11-09T16:00:00-06:00

Greetings, citizens of the Chicagoist Podcast Nation. The Chicagoist Podcast Series returns clad in elbow pads, helmets and spandex, prepared for the verbal assault that's about to take place.

Chicagoist has become the defacto destination source for Windy City Rollers coverage over the past few months. We've spoken with Roller Belle Diablo previously, and this week on the podcast, we sit down with Shocka Conduit (get it?) to talk about their upcoming asskickery on a National Level. Our beloved WCR are taking their skates to the superhuge Declaration of Derby for the chance to bring home the Woman's Flat Track Derby Association championship.

Since it's been a while since we pounded it into your head, you can get all the Podcastery goodness forcefed into your iTunes by clicking here, and shove the square peg of our RSS Feed into the round hole of your favorite reader. Thoughts/concerns/questions/inquries? Ask and ye shall be answered here. Thanks for listening, leave us a review on iTunes, tell your friends, and pass it on like swine flu.

Chicago Goes To Broadway. Again.

Suzy Evans — 2009-11-09T15:40:00-06:00

We really hope the Nederlander Theatre isn’t cursed, like we said last week. After the fateful closing of Cromer’s plays, another Chicago show will fill the theater. Million Dollar Quartet, which celebrated its one-year anniversary at the Apollo Theater last Thursday, is making the Broadway transfer in the spring.

This power-packed show is a huge Chicago hit, but can it successfully move to a theater almost three times its size? Another Memphis-set musical just opened on Broadway last month, and Million Dollar Quartet thrives on the intimacy of the space at the Apollo. Tribune critic Chris Jones thinks the book needs a few tweaks, and we have to agree. The story is a little bit flat, and the amazing music acts as a bit of a crutch for a weak plot.

Based on a real night in the 1950’s, four superstars - Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Cark Perkins - get together at legendary music producer Sam Phillips’ Sun Records recording studio for one final night of good cheer before drama ensues. But who really cares about the drama when you know everyone is just going to sing again anyway?

However, we doubted Letts could reshape Superior Donuts for Broadway, and that seems to be doing quite well. And in the end, we really didn’t care much that the music made up for the weaker elements because the sound was electrifying. It was one of the most lively and entertaining nights we’ve spent in the theater in a long time. We kind of wish we hadn’t been confined to our seats and could have gotten up to dance.

The actors portraying the famous foursome could give the originals a run for their money. Chris Jones called Levi Kreis (Jerry Lee Lewis) “a star ready to pop,” but he’s really ready to explode. His piano playing in one of the final songs was more of a back-bend, balancing act, and somehow, he still got all the notes right. Seriously, the galaxy should watch out. And Lance Guest’s Johnny Cash is better than any we’ve ever seen, and Guest is one of the stronger actors in the group who does manage to evoke our sympathy.

Governor Pat Quinn made an appearance for the anniversary on Thursday and also plans to go to the New York opening in April. (At least it’s not Blago. Then the curse would really set in.) Producers say the show will keep running in Chicago, but who knows if the cast will stay the same. We’d be surprised if at least of few of the main players didn’t make the New York move.

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(dis)abling conditions

Lauri Apple — 2009-11-09T15:20:00-06:00

Tonight is the only night you can catch this year's Site Unseen: a site-specific performance event featuring theater, dance, music, and visual art by local and international artists.

Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, this year's event focuses on disability — a theme that emerged from curator Julie Laffin's personal battles with environmental illness and complications from chronic Lyme Disease. To chronicle her experience, Laffin collaborated with Assistant Curator Clover Morell and Chicago DCA Theater Director Claire Geall Sutton on a piece that will be part of tonight's event. Other participating artists include Mike Ervin and Rahnee Patrick, Judith Harding (in collaboration with Still Point Theatre Collective), James Kubie and Katrina Chamberlin (in collaboration with Joseph Belknap), Marissa Perel and Madeleine Bailey, Debra Tolchinsky, Unreal-estates (Annette Barbier and Drew Browning), and Project Onward.

Tonight, Monday, November 9, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 . Washington, FREE

Monday Afternoon Diversion: Real Life Pac-Man

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T15:00:00-06:00

We're all about being nerds today, what with Vanilla Ice and Harry Potter already being referenced on the site today. So let's go all-in with this pretty sweet video of how some folks way smarter than us got some Roombas to play a real-life game of Pac-Man. [via]

Thanks, Lauren!

Local Writer Goes Missing Found

Veronica Murtagh — 2009-11-09T14:55:00-06:00

Local musician, zinester and Quimby's mainstay, CT Ballentine went missing last Friday afternoon from his McKinley Park apartment. Friends and family reported Ballentine going through some hard times and a missing person's report was filed over the weekend when he dropped off the grid. The efforts of concerned Chicagoans seems to have paid off, as a recent update by Ballentine's mother to the Facebook page started in tandem with his disappearance claims he has been located. While the details surrounding his reappearance are hazy, it's good to know that CT is safe and sound.

We'll add updates when/if they become available

Beware, Internet Commenters: Justice Is Watching

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T14:40:00-06:00

Image via

The practice of posting nasty, anonymous comments on the Internet is as old as the Internet itself. We imagine the very first thing on the Internet ever went a little something like this:

I HAVE CREATED THE INTERNET! by user AlGore: "Hello, there, I have created the Internet. Enjoy!"
Re: I HAVE CREATED THE INTERNET! by user CartmanRulz:
"n00b!"

But being able to get your snark on while hidden behind the barrier of a (mostly) secret identity could (maybe) be a thing of the past if the precedent set in Buffalo Grove today is allowed to stand. Buffalo Grove trustee Lisa Stone had been involved in what's been described as a heated campaign earlier this spring and the day before the election, a comment was posted on a Daily Herald story that said "deeply disturbing" things about Stone's 15-year-old son, who had gone toe-to-toe with the commenter in the story's comments section (several comments, which we assume are the offending comments, have been removed).

So Stone turned the tables on commenter "Hipcheck16" and went to court to fight for the right to learn that user's real name. Today, Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Lawrence ruled that, yes, Stone is "entitled" to learn Hipcheck16's real identity. Judge Lawrence had previously required Hipcheck16's internet provider, Comcast, to turn over the necessary information to him before reaching today's decision. The decision means only Stone and a process server will learn the identity should Stone decide to proceed with a threatened lawsuit against Hipcheck16, whose lawyer has promised an appeal.

Of course, now we reach that point of the slippery First Amendment slope. If such the ruling is upheld, it could set the precedent for future lawsuits and, quite possibly, a flood of needless lawsuits as a result of people getting their feelings hurt on a message board. Even if the courts were to pick-and-choose which one is worthy and dismiss the rest, just that extra workload would bog down the courts even further. Or a judge could rule the responsibility is with moderators rather than the commenters themselves. If Stone's son engaged the commenter as the DH reports, is he at least partly responsible? Where do we draw the line? Does this carry over to real life where one can be sued for saying something nasty on the playground? The can of worms that's opened by this whole mess gives us a headache and the idea of trying to moderate the entire internet is something that isn't even remotely possible, which makes our headache worse.

CONTEST: Meat Puppets at Schubas

Tankboy — 2009-11-09T14:20:00-06:00

Photo by Matthew Rodgers from the band’s MySpace page

Most folks are familiar with The Meat Puppets' hit "Backwater," but those in the know are more familiar with the band's more out-there sonic explorations across sun-bleached desserts and murky swamp haze.

The group splintered in the early '90s after Cris Kirkwood left the band due to drug problems, leaving his brother Kurt Kirkwood to soldier on with various other players under the Meat Puppets name. The group released a number of serviceable albums over the next couple of years, but none recaptured the dynamic fury of earlier discs. By 2006 Curt had conquered his personal issues and rejoined his brother for a series of triumphant reunion shows along with an album that heralded a return to the band's classic form. We've caught the band a few times since then and never walk away unimpressed.

Meat Puppets return to Schubas later this week for a three night stand at the venue, abnd we have two three-day passes to the show and a signed copy of their latest album for one lucky Chicagoist winner! Enter after the jump by tomorrow, November 10, at 5 p.m. CST for your chance to win.

Meat Puppets play November 12 at 9 p.m., and November 13 and 14 at 10 p.m., at Schubas, 3159 N Southport, $16, 21+

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City of Borders Explores Lives of Gays & Lesbians in Israel

Joseph Erbentraut — 2009-11-09T14:00:00-06:00

As seen in the rhetoric employed against the LGBT community in recent political struggles here in the States, including the recent striking down of gay marriage in Maine and the right's attacks on safe schools czar Kevin Jennings, religious traditions often play a very active role in any conversation on gay rights. But this is far from a U.S.-only issue, obviously. Perhaps nowhere are the rifts between the conservative and progressive, Orthodox and atheist, gay and straight more evident than in Jerusalem, center to the world's three major religions. City of Borders, a new documentary playing tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 10) at the Landmark Theater at 9 p.m. as part of the Reeling Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, takes a look at these rifts.

City of Borders, directed by Yun Suh, follows the lives of five LGBT peoples' attempts to live and love freely in Jerusalem and Ramallah. Sa'ar, the first openly gay man elected to public office in the Holy City, is also proprietor of the city's only gay bar, Shushan. The bar serves as the gathering point for the city's small but mighty community, including Boody, a devout Muslim Palestinian and charismatic drag performer; Samira, a Palestinian lesbian in a long-term relationship with her lover Ravit, who is Jewish and Adam, a secular Israeli who is an active proponent for gay rights.

The stories of these five individuals' lives unfold amidst a backdrop of rampant persecution from conservatives. Sa'ar receives numerous death threats, people interviewed on the streets say they would like to see homosexuals killed and the city's gay pride demonstrations, labeled "beast pride" by the opposition, are countered with garbage-burning, shouts of disapproval and even violence. The documentary includes footage where, during the 2005 parade, Adam is stabbed by an Orthodox protester. The images are horrific and heartbreaking.

Despite the near-constant opposition to their mere existence, the individuals in this film fight on, refusing to give up the place they call home and the identity they hold dear. As Samira says, when accosted by a conservative at a pride demonstration: "I prefer to die my life than live my death."

This is a phenomenally intimate documentary which challenges its audience on multiple levels. To observe these peoples' lives is to observe systems of oppression, misunderstanding and intolerance with roots going back thousands of years. These systems' impact on these individuals' lives is tremendous, granting new perspective to the many borders that continue to stand in the way of true equality for so many worldwide.

Also playing in Tuesday's double feature is Shunned, a documentary specifically exploring the experiences of gay Palestinians in Israel. Reeling continues through Nov. 15 with over 150 shorts, features and documentaries being screened throughout the festival. Be sure to visit the festival's full schedule and keep an eye out for one more, zombie-rific film preview later this week.

City of Borders/Shunned, Tuesday, November 10, 9 p.m. Landmark Theater, 2828 N. Clark. Tickets $10, 773.293-1447 or here.

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Only The Good Die Young

Veronica Murtagh — 2009-11-09T13:40:00-06:00

The late, great Jerry Fuchs. Photo via The Juan Maclean's MySpace.

It is with heavy hearts that music fans mourn the tragic weekend loss of drummer and all around loved guy, Jerry Fuchs. Fuchs lent his percussive talents to a long list of bands over his career including Maserati, Turing Machine, !!! and The Juan Maclean.

Gothamist were the among the first to break the news that the drummer had been attending a benefit party in a mixed use loft building at 338 Berry in Williamsburg, Brooklyn when he was reported unconscious shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Fuchs was allegedly trying to jump out of a stalled elevator when his clothing snagged and he fell five stories down the elevator shaft. More details have begun to surface surrounding the incident, including reports of multiple elevator violations on file for the building and a mysteriously absent on-duty elevator operator.

As the tour drummer for The Juan Maclean, Fuchs would not have been present for the act's Friday night DJ set at Smart Bar, but we are certain the mood will be one of somber remembrance. We suggest fans and friends of Fuchs come out and show their support for one of the many acts he helped make great over his too short, but nonetheless prolific career.

[Ed. note: Chunklet's Henry Owings has written an especially moving memorial to Fuchs that we highly recommend reading.]

More Hodgman Than You Require

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T13:20:00-06:00

Not that that's a bad thing, actually. Writer/humorist/actor John Hodgman is everywhere these days. Hodgman, a Daily Show correspondent and contributor to both McSweeney's and This American Life (and, yes, the PC in those Apple ads), is also now promoting the paperback of his 2008 book More Information Than You Require, a follow-up to 2005's The Area of My Expertise.

And now you can see him live and in person as he heads back to Chicago for a (not so) "secret show." Hodgman will be at the Second City's ETC stage tomorrow night for an appearance and, best of all, the price of admission is FREE if you already own a copy of More Information. Present it as your ticket for admission or, if you don't own it, copies will be available for purchase in the lobby. Hodgman is speaking at Northwestern University earlier in the evening as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival, but that appearance is already sold out, so this is your next best chance to see him. But with someone this popular and free, expect the line to be long so be sure to get there early.

John Hodgman, Tuesday, November 10, 9:30 p.m., Second City ETC Stage, 1616 N. Wells Street, FREE with a copy of More Information Than You Require

Around Town

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T13:00:00-06:00

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Beyonce To Testify In Copyright Case

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T12:40:00-06:00

Beyonce is coming back to Chicago but this performance will be in a courtroom, not a concert hall. Chicago songwriter and performer Rickey Allen filed a copyright infringement lawsuit a few years ago about one of his songs, "Cater 2 U" and a Destiny's Child song by the same name. Beyonce's lawyers claim she was "the source" for the Destiny Child's version of the song and she'll likely testify when the trial gets underway in a federal courthouse here next month. [WBBM 780]

Northwestern's Quidditch Pitch

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T12:20:00-06:00

Image via

Even with Northwestern's football team bowl eligible after a big upset win over Iowa, some (more bookish) folks may be looking for a non-football opportunity. Lucky for you, those clever NU students have the answer: Quidditch. Yes, Quidditich: the (until now, apparently) imaginary game from the Harry Potter universe. The Sun-Times spoke with NU student Marc Bourgeois who's in charge of getting the Quidditich team up and running: "We're gathering equipment and organizing meetings and practices and all that. We should start having pickup games in the next two weeks or so." Bourgeois hopes to get NU's team involved with the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association - yes, it's real - to compete against teams from other schools across the country.

Here's a brief look at the game: Each player needs a broom. One hand must be kept on the broom between your legs at all times as players run around trying to throw a slightly deflated volleyball, known as the "quaffle," past a goalie and into one of three goals, which are essentially Hula Hoops attached to PVC piping -- all this while trying to avoid being hit by rubber kick balls, or "bludgers."
"It's also a contact sport, so it gets pretty intense. You can't tackle somebody, but you can hip check and run into people while trying to steal the quaffle," said Bourgeois, who added that players wear cleats -- and mouth guards and athletic supporters are recommended.

Sure, there's an urge to yell, "NERDS!" at things like this. But that'd be completely misguided and hypocritical of us - many members of the Chicagoist staff have read and are fans of the Harry Potter books. Example: several of us noticed the Sun-Times article completely fails to mention the Golden Snitch, the most important element of a Quidditch match. And as Marc points out, "The people who are in college now are really the ones who grew up in the prime time of Harry Potter." So go for it, Wildcats. Don your capes, grab your bats, and ride those brooms. We just don't expect the Northwestern-UCLA Quidditch highlights to appear in the Morning Box Score.

[Sponsored]

2009-11-09T12:20:00-06:00

Fall Dinners - Get Inspired!

L. Stolpman — 2009-11-09T12:00:00-06:00

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We recently enjoyed a Fall dinner with friends and family. We decided on foods that would capture the season and, of course, respect the dining preferences of our guests. Not only that, but to maximize time with guests, many of the foods could be prepared in advance of their arrival. Inspiration for the menu came not only from the season but even the last episode of Top Chef in which kale was used. We captured some pictures to show how we put together our menu. Details in each caption are light, meant to inspire you to get creative in your kitchen with some Fall flavors - Enjoy!

Laser Gun Speeding Tickets Questioned

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T11:40:00-06:00

Image via

The City's law department may have to tinker with the way speeding motorists are ticketed as more and more tickets based on laser gun readings are being dismissed by traffic court judges. The Tribune explains:

Within the past year judges in Cook County Traffic Court in Chicago determined that speeds captured by lidar were not admissible because the devices had not been proven scientifically reliable in an Illinois court, said Jennifer Hoyle, spokeswoman for the law department, which prosecutes most speeding tickets in the city.
The judges brushed aside the office's position that such a legal hearing was unnecessary because lidar devices, which use a light beam instead of radio waves, have been used by police departments across the country with no problems for a long time and because some courts outside Illinois already had found them to be scientifically sound.

City officials have been reluctant to conduct what's known as a Frye hearing to prove the laser guns' reliability because such hearings can be long and expensive. According to Hoyle, if the state's attorney's office can't set up a Frye hearing, another course of action would be to try to implement a state law which legally recognizes the scientific validity of the laser guns.

Essential Cinema: True Stories

Rob Christopher — 2009-11-09T11:20:00-06:00

I'm stepping away from the Chicagoist "we" for a moment, because there's no way I can possibly be objective about True Stories. It's my favorite movie.

When I was about 13 we used to rent movies from King Soopers, the local supermarket. Jammed between the greeting cards and the candy aisle were two red metal shelves which held empty VHS cover boxes. While Mom did the shopping I would browse the tiny selection of cinematic offerings. One day I picked out a box that had a sharp-looking man in a tailored cowboy suit and sunglasses on the cover, reading an oversized tabloid. The back cover promised a joyous musical romp in the vein of Help! (which I loved) but set in Texas and featuring such characters as the Laziest Woman in the World and a voodoo shaman, struttin' his stuff while casting a love spell.

We got home and I popped it into the VCR. And it changed my life forever. It was the first time I realized that a movie could do more than just tell a story. Co-writer/director/narrator David Byrne does present a "plot" of sorts, centering around the small town of Virgil and its Celebration of Specialness honoring Texas' sesquicentennial. But as Byrne later wrote, "The story is just a trick to hold your attention. It opens the door and lets the real movie in."

The real movie is a bunch of vignettes, weird ideas, musical numbers, and observations about Reagan-era America inspired by Weekly World News articles. It's about shopping malls, highways, technology, conspiracy theories, religion, and even love. In other words, it captures 1986 like no other movie. The soundtrack includes songs performed both by Talking Heads and various actors in the film (the track "Radio Head" inspired a certain well-known band.) John Goodman even croons a country tune. In the wide open spaces of True Stories' Texas there's room for an avant-garde fashion show, a discussion of urban sprawl, a parade featuring 50 sets of identical twins, and a music video incorporating actual TV commercials.

The movie is beautifully photographed by Ed Lachman, who has worked with everyone from Werner Herzog to Todd Haynes and Steven Soderbergh. The only DVD available is an execrable pan & scan version that makes tomorrow night's screening that much more unmissable. If you're a fan of Slacker, Raising Arizona, Zizek!, or early Tim Burton, you should definitely check it out. As the poster's tagline says, it's a completely cool, multi-purpose movie.

True Stories screens Tuesday night, 7pm at Doc Films, The University of Chicago, 1212 E. 59th St.

W Plans Windy City Visit

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T11:00:00-06:00

AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama

Former President George W. Bush will be entering rare personal territory when he visits later this month for a fundraiser. It'll be one of the few speaking engagements for the ex-prez since he left office in January. (In America, anyway; the former president recently made a few speeches and diplomatic appearances in Asia.) So why is W coming to the city of his successor? He'll be speaking at a private function of the Turnaround Management Association, filling in for former GE CEO Jack Welch who had to back out due to illness. The November 19 appearance is closed to the public and media, but reservations jumped by 50 percent when the announcement was made.

Meanwhile, another public appearance for Pres. Bush, a "discussion" with former President Bill Clinton, was announced but then almost immediately canceled due to a hyperactive press release that billed the event as a "debate."

DOWNLOAD: The Hood Internet

Tankboy — 2009-11-09T10:40:00-06:00

The Hood Internet -- the DJ duo of STV SLV and ABX -- has come a long way since they first started to drop their inde / hip-hop mash-ups, and even further since they played their first live show at an event put together by a certain local website. (O.K., we admit it, we're a little proud of the fact that we were on-board with the boys back before they started their jet-set lifestyle and became a household name in the music blogosphere. Sue us.)

All weekend STV SLV has been teasing via Twitter that their next mixtape would drop today and lo and behold, it appeared on their website bright and early this A.M. No word on whether the duo set it to publish so early or if they uploaded it after yet another night of getting the kids to dance to their uniquely infective soundtrack. Grab it, give it a listen, and get your Monday off to a turbocharged start.

DOWNLOAD: The Hood Internet - The Mixtape Volume Four

Attempted Murder Charges For Ear Biter

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T10:20:00-06:00

A man is being held on one count of attempted murder and one count of aggravated domestic battery after an early morning fight yesterday with his girlfriend that included him trying to bite her ear off and partly succeeding. Not much else is known about the fight but police say they were able to recover a portion of the ear that was bitten off though it's not known how much or what part of the ear was bitten. The woman was last reported in serious condition last night. [CBS 2]

Morning Box Score: Bears Fall to Cards 41-21

Benjy Lipsman — 2009-11-09T10:00:00-06:00

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Maybe the Bears aren't who we thought they are. While we thought this team was certainly among the top few in the NFC, they are proving to be mediocre at best. Playing against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field on Sunday, the Bears got killed 41-21 by a team who entered the game with an identical 4-3 record.

The game got ugly right from the start, when Tommie Harris was ejected for punching prone Arizona guard Deuce Lutui in the face. The 15 yard penalty helped the Cards drive and score a touchdown on the game's opening possession. The Bears countered with a touchdown drive that covered 90 yards on just six plays, and had fans momentarily thinking we'd be witnessing a shootout. But, like Cincinnati did two weeks before, the Cards managed to find the end zone on each of their first four possessions and a field goal on the fifth, while keeping the Bears off the board for the rest of the half -- score at intermission was an ugly 31-7. While slightly better than the 31-3 deficit to the Bengals, the "Monsters of the Midway" have allowed more than 30 points in a half for the second time in three weeks after just five such games in nearly 90 seasons. With Urlacher already done for the year, Harris likely to face a league suspension, and shoulder injuries suffered by both Charles Tillman and Al Afalava, this defense doesn't look capable of turning things around anytime soon.

On offense, Jay Cutler and team were able to move the ball with some success -- at least through the air. Cutler threw for 369 yards on 29 of 47 passing, and found tight end Greg Olsen three times in the end zone for touchdowns. But his interception midway through the fourth quarter quickly turned into an Arizona TD and all but ended any hopes for a comeback. Because they were playing from so far behind, the Bears didn't have much opportunity to use their running game -- Matt Forte carried the ball only five times for 33 yards.

With the loss, the Bears fall to 4-4 on the season and we all now realize that this team is not going to the playoffs. Any high hopes after the Cutler acquisition have been tempered by an awful defense and sub-par offensive line. Head coach Lovie Smith took over the defensive play calling this year, but it's had little effect. The team is 22nd in the league in points allowed. The offense has had trouble running the ball all year and the team's inability to score in the red zone is astounding. As much as the McCaskey clan hates paying two coaches, they seriously need to consider firing Lovie Smith before his contract is up, and bring in a new head coach. Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan are all available. Somebody at Halas Hall need to keep them on speed dial.

Nothing is likely to happen this week, however. The Bears have just three days to prepare for their next game as they face the San Francisco 49ers in San Fran on Thursday night.

Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T09:40:00-06:00

By now, you've got your coffee, settled at your desk, or you're preparing for those dreaded Monday Morning staff meetings. If you're a Bears fan, the morning is even gloomier. You need a pick-me-up. We hope this stop sign graffiti, located at the corner of Monroe and Sherman in Evanston, will give you the Monday morning chuckle you need.

Marcus Gilmer/Chicagoist

Davis Chooses Congress Over Cook County Prez

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T09:20:00-06:00

With today being the drop deadline for next year's elections, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis has announced he will forgo a run at Cook County Board President and instead focus on getting re-elected to his current position, Congressman of Illinois' 7th District, and office he has held since 1996.

There had been some controversy in the Cook County Board race as some black leaders expressed concerns over the possibility that Davis and three other black candidates - incumbent Todd Stroger, 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, and Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Dorothy Brown - would split the black vote in February primaries, clearing the way for Terrence J. O'Brien, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, to win the Democrat primary. Regardless of race, with Davis' exit and Brown's ongoing issues, it seems to be a three-way contest between Stroger, Preckwinkle, and O'Brien. Meanwhile, Davis has his hands full with 10 other competitors in the Democratic primary for his 7th CD spot.

Today's Weather: Shifty

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-09T08:00:00-06:00

Photo by fotomattic

After a gorgeous weekend, we'll be facing some shifty weather today. While it'll start out warmer than usual, just like the last few days, highs will peak around noon in the mid-60s and begin a drop from there into the mid 50s. Clouds will be the dominant feature in the big ol' sky but there's a chance of some sun mixed in there as well as, later, a chance of rain. Eventually, lows will reach the mid-40s into the overnight hours. Either way, decent weather if you're looking to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down.

Elsewhere In The 'ist-a-verse

Staff — 2009-11-08T17:00:00-06:00

Photograph by James So on Flickr

Gothamist had a week of big stories unfold—Mayor Bloomberg narrowly won his controversial third term while the Yankees won their 27th World Series Championship (yes, suck it, Philly) and celebrated with a ticker tape parade.
Seattlest talked about gay marriage, performing, and the sexiness of the Pacific Northwest with Rufus Wainwright.
Bostonist saw a near death experience on the subway.
Shanghaiist welcomed Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to our town. To prove how Chinese they were, they proceeded to play a game of Chinese chess for us.
DCist watched as a local gay couple got engaged in the middle of a D.C. Council hearing on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the nation's capital.
Torontoist learned what happens a big city paper announces plans to outsource 100 union editing jobs—an editor takes revenge by editing the crap out of the internal memo that made the announcement.
Chicagoist reveled in the beauty of its city in Autumn.
LAist eagerly reported that a prominent doctor was found guilty on multiple charges in a "road rage" incident in which he slammed on his brakes to deliberately block a cyclist riding behind him.
SFist continued to follow the details of the Richmond High School gang rape, where a student was beaten and raped on school grounds over a two-and-a-half-hour period.
Londonist completely geeked out with London's very own periodic table of trivia.
Phillyist didn't dwell too long on the Phillies' World Series loss, what with Philadelphia's transit workers on an unpopular strike, which has forced many Philadelphians to bike or drive to work.

Homewood Soldier Wounded At Fort Hood In "Terrible Condition"

Anna Deem — 2009-11-08T16:00:00-06:00

Photo by: waynegunn

Pvt. Najee Hull, 20, Homewood, is back in Illinois and recovering after being shot three times, twice in the back and once in the knee, in the mass killing at Fort Hood while he was waiting in line to file paperwork for his deployment to Afghanistan. His family told the Chicago Sun-Times that Army officials reported that Hull was the gunman's first victim. "I'm in terrible condition," Hull told the Sun-Times in a phone interview from his hospital room. "[I'm] shocked and surprised...that it happened on post, the place where I get dressed, the place I trust the most in my Army career," said Hull. Despite his injuries, doctors expect Hull to make a full recovery.

Hull was one of the 30 people injured on Thursday in the shooting spree. Thirteen people were killed in the attack, three of which were from the Chicago area. Nate Hull, Hull's brother, told the Dallas Morning News that one of the bullets passed through his brother's chest, nearly missing his heart. "He's in a lot of pain; he could have been killed if the shot was two inches above."

Hull, a 2007 graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, was preparing to go to Afghanistan at the beginning of 2010 to repair tanks, his sister, Nanette Hull, told the Sun-Times. "I talked to him two days before the shooting to see if he was getting scared about going [to Afghanistan]. He said he wasn't," Nanette said. "I thought he would be safe on our own soil."

Around Town

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-08T15:00:00-06:00

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"Knife Salesman" Accidently Stabs Self On CTA Bus

Anna Deem — 2009-11-08T14:00:00-06:00

You can't make this stuff up if you tried. At about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning on a CTA bus near Belmont and Milwaukee, a man claiming to be a "knife salesman" accidently tripped down the aisle of the bus and stabbed himself in the leg with one of his own knives, police News Affairs Office Laura Kubiak said. The man told police that he was a "knife salesman," selling knives out of his suitcase, and the stabbing was accidental, Kubiak said. Fire Media Affairs Dir. Larry Langford said that although the man lost a lot of blood, his injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

Chicago Sun-Times

Is Sammy Sosa Turning White?

Benjy Lipsman — 2009-11-08T13:30:00-06:00

Via Deadspin & AP Photo

Take a look at the photo on the left -- a recent photo of former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa we first came across on Deadspin the other day. It was shot at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas when the slugger attended the Latin Grammys 2009 Person Of The Year Event Honoring singer Juan Gabriel. In addition to the ghostly skin, it also looks like Sosa's had some eye work done, too. The nose still looks to be stock, but we guess each starts their rebuilding process differently. Nobody can deny he looks very, very different from how he did even a couple years ago, as seen in photo on the right, taken when he testified to Congress about performance enhancing drugs. Some speculate that Sosa may be suffering from vitiligo like Michael Jackson but, in this case, caused by years of alleged steroid use.

According to former Cubs employee Rebecca Polihronis -- who talks frequently with Sosa -- his appearance is the result of a recent spa treatment to rejuvenate his skin, "He is in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin. The picture is deceiving. He [Sosa] said, 'If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture.'"

[Sponsored]

2009-11-08T13:30:00-06:00

Wrigley Heir's Penthouse Listing Is Chicago's Most Expensive Residence

Anthonia Akitunde — 2009-11-08T12:45:00-06:00

In the market for some new digs? Have a couple million saved up for a rainy day? You're in luck: two of the most expensive properties in the Chicago area have just opened up.

A 13,200 square foot Gold Coast penthouse was put on the market by Bill Wrigley, Jr., chewing gum heir and chairman of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. At $14 million, the property is the most expensive residential listing in the city, the Tribune reports. Wrigley also placed his Lake Forest 11,013 square foot mansion on the market for $14.5 million, giving the heir the distinction of trying to sell "two of the five highest-priced properties in the Chicago area."

[Tribune]

U.S. House Narrowly Passes Health Care Bill

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-08T12:00:00-06:00

AP Photo

By a narrow final margin of 220-215, the U.S. House passed the health care reform bill late last night. With the vote almost completely breaking along party lines, only one Republican - Joseph Cao of New Orleans, LA - voted yes while 39 Dems (none from Illinois) voted no. In an email statement, President Obama said, "This is a night to celebrate -- but not to rest. Those who voted for reform deserve our thanks, and the next phase of this fight has already begun.''

Next up is the U.S. Senate, which has its own bill. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is facing an uphill battle due to his supporting a public option, so there's still plenty of work to do. In spite of President Obama's hope that the final reform bill would be passed by Christmas, the Senate still has to negotiate and hammer out its own version of the bill to pass and then the two bills must be merged into on bill that will have to, once again, pass both houses.

Babysitter Critically Burned In Fire Started By Child

Anthonia Akitunde — 2009-11-08T11:15:00-06:00

Photo by stonethestone

A 25-year-old babysitter received second-degree burns in a fire started by one of her charges in the South Side neighborhood of Roseland, Chicago Breaking News reports.

Her charge, a young boy, played with a lighter in the second floor bedroom as the woman slept, the report said. As the flames spread through the bedroom, the boy ran without telling his babysitter. He did however tell his first floor neighbors who called 911.

Fire fighters were able to "quickly extinguish the fire" though it had spread to the two-story building's attic. The home did have fire detectors but none of them had batteries.

The babysitter received burns on 35 percent of her body. According to the report, she was looking after "several children" but no other injuries were reported.

[Chicago Breaking News]

Morning Box Score

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-08T10:30:00-06:00

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College Football

Northwestern rolled into Iowa City and pulled off a big upset win, knocking off #4 Iowa by a 17-10 final. Down 10-0 early, the Wildcats scored a pair of second quarter touchdowns - including a big defensive play on a fumble recovery in the endzone - to take a 14-10 lead and added a fourth quarter field goal to extend the lead. The Hawkeyes seemed doomed when QB Ricky Stanzi went down with an ankle injury on the fumble play in the second quarter. As for the Wildcats, Mike Kafka and Dan Persa split time under center, combining for only 109 yards. In fact, Northwestern only managed 239 total yards, but all that mattered was the final score. Oh, and with the win, the Wildcats are now bowl eligible at 6-4.
For the second straight time, the Navy Midshipmen upset Notre Dame in South Bend, 23-21. The Irish were down 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter but rallied behind Jimmy Clausen, who threw for 452 yards. Down 21-14 in the final minute, Clausen was sacked in the endzone for a safety, giving Navy a 9-point lead. Still, Clausen led Notre Dame back down the field and threw a 31-yard TD pass to Golden Tate to cut the Navy lead to two with 24 seconds left. But the Irish comeback fell short when Navy recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Illinois lost quarterback Juice Williams early to an injury but the Illini defense came up big in the team's 35-32 win over Minnesota. The defense had an interception returned for a touchdown and got seven sacks as the Illini held off Minnesota who put together a 22-point fourth quarter. Jacob Charest threw for 185 yards in relief of Williams.
Northern Illinois picked on the hapless (and winless) Eastern Michigan Eagles, rolling to a 50-6 victory. The Huskies got 418 yards on the ground, including 174 yards and two touchdowns from Chad Spann and QB DeMarcus Grady threw for 119 yards and ran for 104 yards, scoring a total of three touchdowns.

Fire Burn Rev, Advance in MLS Playoffs
The Chicago Fire needed to beat the New England Revolution by two goals to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. They got that victory, burning the Revolution 2-0 last night at Toyota Park, securing their ticket to the next round. Down by a goal in the series aggregate, John Thorrington got the scoring going last night with a goal in the 35th minute, giving the Fire a 1-0 game lead and tying the aggregate at 2-2. As the game moved late and the sellout crowd was getting antsy, Patrick Nyarko brought the ball along the endline with some solid footwork, passing off to Blanco in the box; Blanco showed some handling skills of his own before popping a shot into the upper-right corner of the goal to give the Fire the necessary 2-0 advantage. The Fire was overall more aggressive, getting off 12 shots to New England's 4; goalie Jon Busch got all four saves.

Next up for the Fire is Real Salt Lake, who comes to Toyota Park next Saturday night for the Eastern Conference Final. Tickets are available here.

Bulls Bounce Bobcats
The Bulls kept rolling for their third win in the row by bouncing the Charlotte Bobcats 93-90 last night. Once again using a second half surge to overcome a halftime deficit, the Bulls got 26 points from John Salmons and Joakim Noah scored 21 while pulling down 16 rebounds. The Bulls found themselves down by 7 points at the half but outscored the Bobcats 27-17 in the third to get back out in front. Trailing by 9 with 3:43 to go in the third, the Bulls took off on a 16-0 run that extended into the opening minutes of the fourth period and never looked back. Next up are the Nuggets who come to the United Center Tuesday night (7 p.m., CSN).

Today's Weather: Brilliant

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-08T09:30:00-06:00

Photo by [tim]

The unseasonably awesome weather continues today as we'll see more sun sun sun and highs into the lower 70s once again. It's the kind of a day we'll be longing for soon enough, so no excuses. Get out there and have some fun. The turn around to cooler weather begins tomorrow and by mid-week we should be back to normal temperature readings. The pleasant weather will continue tonight, though, with clear skies and a low in the mid-50s.

Alleged Lottery Ticket Con Artists Charged

Anthonia Akitunde — 2009-11-07T17:00:00-06:00

Mug shots of the accused from the CPD, via the Trib

Four people have been charged in a lottery ticket scam that swindled five victims out of $110,000 and targeted two others for $50,000, Chicago Breaking News reports.

John Garcia, 30; William Velasquez-Ortiz, 43; Janet Cruz, 39; and Carmen Perez-Santiago, 62 worked as a team across the city, typically targeting older Hispanics on the street or in front of stores, according to the report. The con artists would tell a victim they had a lottery ticket "worth more than $1 million they couldn't cash because they were undocumented immigrants."

Victims were told that if they gave them a large amount of money or jewelery as a "good faith deposit," they could cash the ticket and split the winnings, the report said. When the victims handed over their cash or valuable jewelry, the offenders would leave the area.

Police say the team was arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday. Court information was not available, according to the report.

[Chicago Breaking News]

Jury Selected For Trial of Charged 1990s Serial Killer

Anthonia Akitunde — 2009-11-07T16:00:00-06:00

Photo by jlurie

The last three jurors and six alternates were selected in the trial of a man charged with the rape and murder of 11 South Side women in the 90s on Friday at the Criminal Courts Building, according to Chicago Breaking News.

According to the report, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Evelyn Clay scheduled opening remarks for Tuesday at 10 a.m. and expected the trial to last "several weeks."

Andre Crawford, 47, faces the death penalty if convicted. He is "also on trial for the attempted murder and rape of a 12th woman," the report adds.

In the late 1990s, Chicago police began looking for a serial killer targeting women in the Englewood and New City neighborhoods. The search garnered headlines until Crawford was arrested in January 2000. Since then, the case has been out of the spotlight and few jurors seemed to recall the details of the case, the report said.

Crawford's case has moved its way slowly through the system for the last 10 years. He has been awaiting trial longer than any other inmate in Cook County Jail, according to the report.

[according to Chicago Breaking News]

Pornography Thrills, Disorients

Joseph Erbentraut — 2009-11-07T15:00:00-06:00

With the 28th edition of Reeling, Chicago's very own Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival already gaying up movie screens all over the city, Chicagoist thought we'd take a closer look at a few of the titles being screened for you queer cinephiles out there.

First up: Pornography: A Thriller, a film directed by David Kittredge, playing tomorrow night (Sunday, Nov. 8) at 9:30 p.m. at the Landmark Theater. Its dichotomous title suggests a somewhat unlikely "2 for 1" deal, leading one to anticipate either a bloody sexfest or a cheeky satire in the vein of a zombie romantic comedy or a sci-fi puppet musical. But Pornography is (thankfully) neither of these things. The film dips deep into a number of dark themes, playing with our notions of intimacy and privacy through a lens that certainly channels names like Lynch and Hitchcock.

The film is told in three parts. We are first introduced to Mark Anton, a well-known gay porn star just on the brink of truly making it. When Anton suddenly disappears, the mystery goes unsolved until a young journalist stumbles on the story fifteen years later. His investigation of Anton's demise leads him down an equally disturbing path. In the final third, the timeline again jumps forward in time, as a contemporary porn actor looks to re-enact the Anton story for a new film.

In true Lynch fashion, the characters, timelines and plotlines blur together through these three separate worlds where reality and fantasy are also left hazily defined. Though this serves to disorient the viewer - two screenings through and I'm still not entirely sure what happened at the film's ending - the haziness feels intentional and works better than most filmmakers' attempts to use the technique. The film's messages, examining the cost of exposure, the value of sex and the meaning of intimacy, are furthered by the story's dreamlike quality and stick with you long after its conclusion.

Pornography is a work that feels challenging at the onset becomes fairly enchanting. While clearly not flawless - I found some of the characters to be somewhat interchangeable which, again, may have been intended - this is probably one of the better LGBT-themed films I've seen in some time. If you enjoy offbeat cinema featuring sexy men and mystery-laden, non-linear narrative, this is a film for you. If you'd prefer to have your gay-centric stories spelled out for you, stay at home and pop in a Will and Grace DVD.

Reeling continues through Nov. 15 with over 150 shorts, features and documentaries being screened throughout the festival. Be sure to visit the festival's full schedule and keep an eye out for more film reviews on the way next week.

Pornography: A Thriller, Sunday, November 8, 9:30 p.m. Landmark Theater, 2828 N. Clark. Tickets $10, 773.293-1447 or here.

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Chicagoist

Extra, Extra

Chicago Current Goes Live

Chicago Booting Goes 24/6

Chicagoist Podcast 11/9 - The Windy City Rollers are Nationals Bound

Chicago Goes To Broadway. Again.

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Monday Afternoon Diversion: Real Life Pac-Man

Local Writer Goes Missing Found

Beware, Internet Commenters: Justice Is Watching

CONTEST: Meat Puppets at Schubas

City of Borders Explores Lives of Gays & Lesbians in Israel

Only The Good Die Young

More Hodgman Than You Require

Around Town

Beyonce To Testify In Copyright Case

Northwestern's Quidditch Pitch

[Sponsored]

Fall Dinners - Get Inspired!

Laser Gun Speeding Tickets Questioned

Essential Cinema: True Stories

W Plans Windy City Visit

DOWNLOAD: The Hood Internet

Attempted Murder Charges For Ear Biter

Morning Box Score: Bears Fall to Cards 41-21

Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up

Davis Chooses Congress Over Cook County Prez

In Case You Missed It...

Today's Weather: Shifty

Elsewhere In The 'ist-a-verse

Homewood Soldier Wounded At Fort Hood In "Terrible Condition"

Around Town

"Knife Salesman" Accidently Stabs Self On CTA Bus

Is Sammy Sosa Turning White?

[Sponsored]

Wrigley Heir's Penthouse Listing Is Chicago's Most Expensive Residence

U.S. House Narrowly Passes Health Care Bill

Babysitter Critically Burned In Fire Started By Child

Morning Box Score

Today's Weather: Brilliant

Alleged Lottery Ticket Con Artists Charged

Jury Selected For Trial of Charged 1990s Serial Killer

Pornography Thrills, Disorients