Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Hey George, don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.



     Chicago! Yo! Over here! I have a question.
     So the 2016 Summer Olympics begin in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5 — three months from Thursday — assuming the city doesn't first dissolve into unrest or the region become overwhelmed by Zika-carrying mosquitoes or Brazil collapse into political anarchy.
     That said, how many of you have had this thought: "Darn, if only we had gotten the 2016 Olympics. I sure wish it were taking place right here instead."
     A show of hands. Anybody?
     Thought so. While I'm sure there must be someone who wishes that, among Chicago's complex raft of woes, the city were also throwing a weird mega block party for shot-putters and pole-vaulters and all those other sports we studiously ignore the 47 consecutive months between Olympics. But I'm not expecting many.
     The general reaction has to be a collective, Whew!
     Dodged that bullet.
     One disaster that Richard M. Daley didn't foist upon Chicago despite trying with all his might....


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16 comments:

  1. I'm so happy that this egomaniacal fantasy of Lucas is dead here!
    First, I'm absolutely baffled why Lucas chose a third rate Chinese architect for it, as it's Chicago where you'll find the best architects.
    Then I just don't understand why he just wouldn't go along with putting his egomaniacal fantasy into the existing Lakeside Center, AKA, the original, post fire McCormick Place. It really would've made a fine museum, especially since it's so rarely used.
    Finally, what's the matter with Rahm & his absolutely insane idea of borrowing over a billion bucks to tear down McCormick Place for Lucas's architectural atrocity? That would easily be well over three billion after all the interest payments, but the city is broke.
    That's true bread & circuses & not paying attention to the city's real & serious problems.
    I remember reading that the original Daley went on a two week bender after the existence of the Summerdale police scandal. But Rahm's way of dealing with disasters is to waste enormous sums of tax money on useless crap.
    He's done as mayor & is now officially a lame duck that has no political base left here.

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  2. Hurrah! That monstrosity would just end up being an attractive nuisance for all sorts of lowlifes. I fancy myself a tolerant person, but I can't abide those jawas, disgusting creatures.

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  3. Emanuel is like the homeowner facing bankruptcy, yet trying to purchase a yacht.

    Epic fail would be if he succeeded in borrowing millions to fund the Lucas monstrosity.

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  4. Good column and right on target.

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  5. I'm a glass is quarter full kind of guy, but I'm glad Rahm is mayor right now. If Daley were in charge, that parking lot would have been torn up already and the caissons poured.

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  6. Interesting editorial by the Sun-Times today, criticizing Friends of the Park for their position, though I myself will happily let this mutant white blob find a different home.

    SandyK

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    1. The FOP stand against any development on the lakefront seems irrational. The lakeshore is already highly developed from downtown north. And then there's MoCormack Place and the parking lots, to say nothing of the flying saucer sitting on top of Soldier Field. Maybe it's unaffordable, but It seems like it would be a considerable upgrade over what's there now.

      Tom Evans

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  7. Thank you for this.

    The original "Star Wars" was a nice, silly, enjoyable summer movie that has mutated into a goddamned religion. Lucas and "Star Wars" fanatics take themselves so seriously that they've become insufferable.

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    1. Scribe, my thoughts exactly.

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  8. For those of you fond of puns, Lisa Labas of NPR prior to introducing the news this morning, stated, "This is Star Wars Day -- Let the 4th be with you!"

    john

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    1. I'm definitely more fond of puns than of Star Wars. But you have to say "May the 4th be with you" for the full effect. ;)

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    2. We've been doing Star Wars Day for years now. It's surprising how mainstream it's become now. Fun fact: one of the first instances of use of the phrase was when Thatcher first came into office in 1979. Her party put an ad in the paper that said May the Fourth be with you.

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    3. Of course, Coey. I'm a master at screwing up punch lines.

      john

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  9. So according to an article in today's paper, Ms. Hobson (wife of Lucas)is concerned that "black and brown children" will be deprived of this museum? More than likely disadvantaged groups have bigger concerns then if they can get to a science fiction museum. And one would wonder how many free admission days there'd be for these poorer kids that are not on actual school days, like with some of the other city museums.

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  10. Loved the column today and completely agree with you. Although I might be more amenable to the Star Wars museum if it didn't look so much, as I read recently, like a pile of road salt. Of course, the current design does coordinate nicely with the Soldier Field Toilet Bowl, so there's that.

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  11. Loved the column today and completely agree with you. Although I might be more amenable to the Star Wars museum if it didn't look so much, as I read recently, like a pile of road salt. Of course, the current design does coordinate nicely with the Soldier Field Toilet Bowl, so there's that.

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