Columns Posts

Many years ago when I was just a kid, I loved Norm Van Lier with a passion that’s hard to explain and embarrassing to admit. He was the six-foot-tall guard on the Bulls, usually the shortest, skinniest guy on the floor. But he played with a fearles…

It was late at night and I was home alone watching a movie, when the text came in. Back to the Future, if you must know--the movie I was watching, that is. Sad to say—it didn’t stand the test of time. Another topic for another day. So, focus, Benny…

This week I took a trip inside my brain—here’s how it went down… Every few months or so, Charles Henderson, peace activist extraordinaire, comes on my podcast to talk about the issues of the day–with me asking the questions. Then, as we’re wrappin…

I was on the phone with this super-smart young journalist. Call her Nell--as that’s her name. And I made a wisecrack that caused Nell to laugh and say, “you’re funny.” To which I reflexively said the first thing that popped into my mind… “Funny? …

There are so many reasons I love One Battle After Another--Paul Thomas Anderson's latest movie--it's hard to mention them all. So I'll keep it to one--the sensei. That would be Sergio St. Carlos, the character played by Benicio del Toro, who's call…

By the time I met Tony Fitzpatrick, he was already a Chicago legend. This was the fall of 2006. By chance, our children attended the same high school. And I saw him at a parent-teacher conference night, sitting in the last row to meet with Ms. Gall…

Among the things I learned from last Sunday’s New York Times is that JD Vance trolled Pope Leo XIV with impunity, when they met back in May. I learned about this from a letter to the editor written by Allen J. Wiener, alerting me to an essay I’d pr…

For almost 40 years, I’ve been urging my lefty friends to please, please, please vote Democratic in the general election. Any general election. But especially presidential ones. I've told them things like… Think of the courts! Or... Sometimes …

When I settled down to read this week’s New York Time's book review, I had no intention of buying or ordering any new books.  You hear that? No intention! Already have enough unread books I’m intending to read. They fill the table in my living ro…

In an attempt to defend the indefensible, Bret Stephens felt compelled to address the antisemitism of right wingers. More or less. But before I get ahead of myself… Bret Stephens is a conservative columnist for the New York Times, who fights any s…

Having spent years following the power plays of Mayor Daley, I've learned a thing or two about all-mighty Big City Bosses who make the corporate elite bow to their commands--if they know what’s good for them. But, sorry, Mayor Daley. When it comes …

Well, I think we all saw this story coming long before it broke in a Friday-afternoon news dump to be immediately pushed aside by an avalanche of other Trump atrocities--including his declaration to send troops to Chicago. God help us all. The thin…

First the good news, America! There I was, driving south on M-37 through the heart of Michigan, which is sorta the heart of America, heading home from my yearly family vacation in that lovely state. And there wasn't a Trump sign in sight. So that’…

Making my way through an article about Chicago's broke-ass public schools, when I confronted a sentence guaranteed to trigger me. As if a city perpetually skimping on public education wasn’t triggering enough. It came in an article jointly written…

I figured it was only a matter of time before some mainstream journalist invoked the specter of Communism to scare the shit out of New Yorkers into voting against the Z man. Sure enough, right on cue, Kathleen Parker, columnist for the Washington P…

It's early to give out this year's acting awards, but I think the best performance in a melodrama goes to Alex Jones, the conspiracy huckster, who managed to squeeze out a crocodile tear over the latest twist in the sordid saga of Jeffrey Epstein. …

In the immediate aftermath of the Z-man’s victory, I was basking in a good-vibe glow, feeling optimistic about the future. A fairly rare, almost unrecognizable feeling these day. For all the obvious reasons. Then my dear friend Mick Dumke--aka, th…

Several months have passed, but I can still hear the excitement in Cap’s voice as he broke the big news. Sarah Hanahan is coming to the Jazz Showcase–playing with Joe Farnsworth’s band. Are you in? Am I in? Is the Pope from Dolton? Of course, I’m …

If MAGA's minions were honest, they’d admit that their war against California is obviously motivated by hate. I mean, duh! They loudly hate pretty much everybody on the other side of Trump's invasion of Los Angeles.  They hate the lefties, protest…

If I were to teach a high-school class in literature, I’d use page 42 of a recent Sun-Times as a textbook example of irony. On that page, gently resting side by side, are articles whose themes contradict each other. How ironic. I’m wondering if th…

With all the human carnage and cruelty in the world every day, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit how broken up I’ve been over the recent death of Bear--our family dog. A Pit bull. Died unexpectedly at age 10. My oldest daughter broke me the news a few…

The story you’re about to read is true–none of the names have been changed to protect the innocent, though they’re all spelled correctly. I hope... After a grueling day of podcasting, I take a walk to clear my head and think great thoughts. But… I…

Around here everyone’s making a big deal out of the fact that the new pope comes from Chicago. Or Dolton–a suburb just south of Chicago. So, close enough... But I have my own personal big deal to make out of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's elevat…

Gotta give The New York Times credit for devoting a healthy chunk of space to the life and work of Leonard Zeskind, who died the other day of cancer. At age 75--too damn young, as far as I’m concerned. Zeskind’s expertise was the right, as in MAGA…