For Those In Favor of "Big Box" legislation

listen to what the Big Man has to say on the subject of Wal Mart.

(This is quite possibly the cleanest "Kid From Brooklyn" video I've watched yet).

Charlie Has a Golden Ticket

Actually, I have two, thanks to a game plan, a dog that needed walking, and a very loud alarm clock. The early bird gets the worm; I was in and out of the Ticketmaster web site in under two minutes, once the tickets went on sale. A brief perusal of Craigslist finds that the beggars are out en masse. I particularly like the ad where the poster claims she needs Tom Waits tickets more than groceries or shelter.

Oh, if I were a greedy man...

This is What We Do With Our Freedom

What can you say? He's the Hoff!

Only in Bridgeport

The pony's handler got lost searching for a real good sasparilla.

From Winchell's Donut House to the Brown Derby - A Step Up!!!

The title is a Tom Waits reference. Fans will know which album. After I'm done here, I'm going to apply my evil genius to devising a strategy for tickets to his show at the Auditorium, on August 9th.

When I start to write, it comes in spurts. This is one of those that I hope keeps on for a while. Look for a review of Cafe Bionda tomorrow on Chicagoist. It was one of those meals that just leaves a smile on your face hours after you finished the last ort.

A month ago, Emmy was in pain, having eaten some leaves from an African violet I've ben plantsitting, in order to get some fiber into her system. Today she's tearing through a giant bone I bought her last week. A step up, indeed.