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03 Jun 2009 20:37

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Music: Sad news, blues fans: The queen, Koko Taylor, is dead

  • She died of complications from surgery. She leaves a legacy. Taylor may be the most notable female postwar blues figure, as well as a Chicago icon. While she didn’t actually play an instrument, her booming voice is a super killer instrument that commands your attention. Her most well-known song, 1965’s “Wang Dang Doodle,” sold a million copies and went to #4 on the R&B charts. Over forty years after that high point, she’s remained a massive influence on both mainstream rock and traditional blues. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 May 2009 08:46

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Offbeat, Tech: Apple Stores in Chicago have very thick glass walls

  • Some dude tried, and failed, to throw a brick through one. The store, located on the Magnificient Mile, now has a window in front of an iPhone display that’s all cracked up, but the glass did not come crashing down. So remember, glass walls at Apple Store aren’t just for show. They’re there to prevent bricks from going through. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

16 May 2009 21:42

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Tech: Five things we learned by going to Tribune Tower in Chicago

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 May 2009 09:53

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Offbeat, U.S.: Obama’s “Oh-mama”-in-law is adapting to D.C. life pretty well

  • Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mom, had never lived outside of Chicago before she moved into the White House, and left for the District “kicking and screaming.” She did yoga! But she wanted to help her grandkids get settled, so she moved. source
  • Now, three months in, Robinson is savoring her life as a D.C. socialite – she’s out and about nearly as much as her kid, “so much so that sometimes we have to plan our schedule around her schedule,” Michelle joked. No word on if she’s still doing yoga. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Apr 2009 10:29

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Biz: That guy who bought Tribune, Sam Zell, regrets his decision

  • By definition, if you bought something and it’s now worth a great deal less, you made a mistake and I’m more than willing to say I made a mistake. I was too optimistic in terms of the newspaper’s ability to preserve its position.
  • Sam Zell • Who bought Tribune in 2007, then, burdened by debt, was forced to massively reorganize the company, laying off thousands and bankrupting the company in the process. Good show, chap. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Apr 2009 20:21

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U.S.: A doc with TB + a lot of very young patients = panic!

  • 10 months the amount of time the Chicago-area doctor may have spread tuberculosis without knowing it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Mar 2009 10:41

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Sports: Miami’s Dwayne Wade: Killer night in a killer game

  • 2OT how long the game vs. the Bulls went into extra innings source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink
 

21 Feb 2009 12:34

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Offbeat: This doesn’t sound like a good idea, grandpa

  • 99 years old, the age of Chicago-area resident Max Fabian. He’s old. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Feb 2009 21:55

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U.S.: Authorities prescribe new leads in Tylenol murders

  • What happened? In 1982, a number of bottles of Tylenol were laced with cyanide, killing seven people in Chicago and causing a nationwide recall of the product. The crime was never solved, but its maker, Johnson & Johnson, was able to survive a PR disaster by aggressively recalling the product and creating safer, more secure packaging. (It’s an oft-used example of how to survive a crisis.) source
  • What happened? In 1982, a number of bottles of Tylenol were laced with cyanide, killing seven people in Chicago and causing a nationwide recall of the product. The crime was never solved, but its maker, Johnson & Johnson, was able to survive a PR disaster by aggressively recalling the product and creating safer, more secure packaging. (It’s an oft-used example of how to survive a crisis.)
  • Recent developments The FBI searched the Cambridge, Mass. home of James W. Lewis, who sent an extortion letter to the company and was sent to prison. He was never charged in the killings but was always considered a prime suspect. Due to renewed attention after its 25th anniversary, a number of tips led authorities to a major break in the case. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Jan 2009 15:12

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Offbeat: 14-year-old Chicago teen plays police officer, gets caught

  • Five hours on patrol The teen, who showed a longstanding interest in police work, walked into a police station on Saturday and was assigned to duty almost immediately. He didn’t write tickets and never got behind the wheel, nor did he interact with the public, but he was savvy enough to check out his own equipment. source
  • Five hours on patrol The teen, who showed a longstanding interest in police work, walked into a police station on Saturday and was assigned to duty almost immediately. He didn’t write tickets and never got behind the wheel, nor did he interact with the public, but he was savvy enough to check out his own equipment.
  • He almost got away with it … … but a supervisor became suspicious of his credentials after he returned from duty. (His “partner” had no clue that he was riding with a Frank Abagnale Jr. wannabe.) He lacked a police star, and was lacking important equipment, such as a bulletproof vest. The boy will be tried as a juvenile for the incident. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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