Chicagoist Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:00 -0600
Extra, Extra ...

• In his budget address today, Gov. Quinn called for a hike of the state income tax from 3 percent to 4 percent to help avoid education cuts.
• Police have released information - including name and photo - of the suspect in last week's Southwest Side rapes.
• WBEZ has background on today's immigration rallies.
• The Reader tackles all things Mayoral: Mick Dumke examines that lack of fight Mayor Daley often faces and breaks down 10 people who could challenge him next year while Ben Joravsky tackles that New Yorker profile of the Mayor.
• A judge accepted an amended petition from lawyers asking for a new trial for Anthony McKinney, the subject of the Medill Innocence Project. The new bid excludes testimony from two men who said they were paid by students working on the project.
• Chicago Public School students rallied today to protest proposed cuts to sophomore sports.
• Milton Bradley keeps complaining and the man who gave him that dumb contract gets all huffy.

Do This: Socca's Free Burger Night March 29 ...

Via Time Out Chicago's "Eat Out" team, check out this video with a not so subliminal message, then call Socca to RSVP. This is a dine-in only promotion; no carryout.

Racist "Yard Art" Angers Mt. Greenwood Neighbors ...

A man in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side is being less than subtle about who -- or more specifically, who he doesn't -- want to move into the vacant home next door. Michael Corrigan, a spitting image of Wilford Brimley, put letters up on the side of his garage that says, "No to the ghetto," "white power," and "Mt. Greenwood the next Englewood." Corrigan also added "White Power" and "God Bless America" stickers, as well as a clothesline noose that he hung from the garage eaves.

Fox Chicago's Craig Wall confronted Corrigan about the display and Corrigan described it as "yard art." Wall responded, "Seems like rather racist 'yard art,' sir." One neighbor interviewed by Wall said, "It's just amazing, we have a black president right now and to see something like that right around the corner from you is amazing."

Another neighbor called police about the "yard art" and officers took photos of it and interviewed Corrigan, but since the words were on his own garage and general in nature, those pesky free speech rights of ours means that no further action will be taken. The listing of the house for sale says the "chicago [sic] style bungalow!!!" features new paint and a "full basement!!!" but "close to nearby batshit racists" was left out.

Humpday Diversion: Corey Haim Edition ...

RIP, Corey Haim. We look back fondly at two of our favorite movies growing up.

The Lost Boys

License To Drive

Midwest LGBT Conference Hits Columbia Campus Friday ...

Feeling annoyed at the lack of progress for LGBT-centric legislation such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and same-sex marriage in Washington? Energized by the first legal gay marriages in our nation's capitol? Just want to hang out with some fabulous gay people and learn something? This weekend, the Columbia College campus will play host to the Unite + Fight Conference, a gathering of LGBT activists from across the Midwest discussing their next strategies in organizing for increased legal recognition.

The conference is headlined by activists of national prominence, including Lt. Dan Choi, an outspoken voice against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Staceyann Chin, a lesbian spoken word poet and performer, and Adam Bouska, creator of the "NO H8" photo campaign that followed California's passage of Prop. 8 in late 2008. These activists, in addition to a number of Chicago's most active leaders in LGBT communities, will speak in both lecture and workshop-styled sessions throughout the weekend.

Sponsored by Equality Across America and organized by Join the Impact-Chicago, an all-volunteer organization that formed in the fall of 2008, in coalition with a number of other groups, the weekend's goal is to discuss the achievement of full federal equality for LGBT people while forming a strong regional grassroots activist network.

Admission to the conference costs $15, with registration closing at noon Friday. The conference's website includes information on workshop discussion topics, in addition to specific event locations and schedules.

Sky Full of Kugelis ...

We brought a camera phone to Healthy Food Lithuanian in its last days of operation. Mike Gebert brought his trusty video camera and produced one of the more moving episodes of his Sky Full of Bacon videocast. If you're a fan of old restaurants, Chicago history, ethnic histories, or middle aged women with thick Bohemian accents, watch this.

Weekend Pick: Corey Dargel's Genre-Bending Art-Pop ...

There's a wide variety of classical music being written today. If you don't mind the use of the term "classical music" (which is more inaccurate but slightly less pretentious than the best alternative, "art music"), then you may also pardon the gross oversimplification that that music falls roughly into two camps: complicated, dissonant music from the 20th-century modernist tradition; and more minimalist work from the Steve Reich family tree branch. Composers of the latter group believe that music doesn't need to be harmonically or developmentally complicated, sensibilities that are aligned with other "simple" music.

It's at the far end of this spectrum where Corey Dargel's music lies. It hovers between classical and pop and, in large part, only gets the "classical" moniker because a.) it's written out and b.) he studied composition at Oberlin College's Conservatory of Music. "Art-pop" is what folks like to call it, which seems at least as precise as the other names we've tossed around already. The music is simple but not repetitive, with Dargel's slightly plaintive, round, almost Muppet-like voice singing touchingly straightforward lyrics.

This Saturday night at the Velvet Lounge, Dargel will give the Midwestern premiere of his song cycle "Thirteen Near-Death Experiences" from the double album "Someone Will Take Care of Me" due out May 25. "Thirteen" is about hypochondria, but like his music-theater piece about voluntary amputation "Removable Parts," which makes up the second half of the May release, the subject matter is more about the relatable underlying feelings - anxiety, vulnerability, isolation - than the condition itself. The goal is to make everyone feel a little less lonely.

"Thirteen" is Dargel's first entirely acoustic work since 2001; not knowing other musicians after moving to New York, he spent the intervening years writing music he could perform by himself. Dargel will be joined by members of the International Contemporary Ensemble, the new-music group that commissioned the piece, on piano, strings, woodwinds, and drums.

Saturday at 9:30 p.m., Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak, $10, e-mail reservations@iceorg.org to reserve tickets

[Sponsored] ...
Google Maps Releases Bike Routes For 150 Cities, Including Chicago ...

For those of us who travel primarily by bicycle (or want to), Google Maps is about to make your day. You might have already all but memorized the solid, if somewhat unwieldy, RideTheCity site, or dealt with the clunky (but also appreciated) official online bike map from the city, but the wizards at Google have input the city's bike paths and trails into their already-comprehensive map system, which means you can now get your directions for two wheels as well as four.

We've checked a few of our usual routes and while it's not perfect (can't figure a route between home and Montrose Avenue beach, for example) it's certainly better than being told to ride down the shoulder of the Kennedy when you're trying to get somewhere. In addition, there's no more guesstimating the length of your route if you don't have a distance meter. Even if you've memorized most of the bike paths, parks and trails in the city, it's always good to find new routes around familiar places or to have your usual self-sourced directions justified.

Plus, with some more 50 degree days in the forecast, there couldn't be a better time to help feed our desires to get back in the saddle (unless you're one of those lunatic winter bikers like Sudo). After the jump: educational video about use of the features.

OK Go Goes Indie ...

Following numerous problems with their label, OK Go is ditching the Majors and fleeing EMI Records. This isn't wholly surprising due to some recent friction, and it was hinted the band was seeking outside help when State Farm prominently sponsored the band's recent mind-boggling video for "This Too Shall Pass" off their latest album, Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky.

The band will control all aspects of their operations under their new self-owned label Paracadute. This only further convinces us that inventive bands that can do it on their own should continue to do so. Presently, the Majors seem unable to change and grasp what does and doesn't work any longer, so aligning with them seems pointless for any band with actual talent and a good work ethic. OK Go has both of those qualities in abundance so we look forward to this new phase in their development. You can see the new unfettered OK Go live and up close when they play Metro next month on April 17. No word on whether the members of I Fight Dragons will be in attendance to ask them for advice on navigating the treacherous waters of Major labeldom.

UPDATE: According to reporting done by Mashable, the band's former label claims it was deeply involved in the State Farm partnership. However in the same piece of reporting "State Farm Advertising Manager Todd Fischer, the band and the insurance company had been in talks since the fall of 2009 about the possibility of making a sponsored video" and bassist Tim Nordwind says "Basically our label sort of worked as a middleman ... but it was basically us sort of dealing with State Farm" leading us to believe EMI is trying to take too much credit.

Properly Sauced - Agwa de Bolivia Coca Liqueur ...

Occasionally, we come across a new boozy ingredient that catches our eye. There are always new brands of vodka or new vintages of wine, but once in a while something really different calls out to us in the liquor store. Sometimes, this is a good thing. And sometimes... well, let's just say tasting booze isn't always fun and games.

Agwa de Bolivia is distilled from "decocainised" Bolivian Coca leaves, "shipped to Amsterdam under armed guard" before being mixed with 36 other herbs and botanicals (and a heck of a lot of food coloring). We're not gonna lie - the color is a little offputting. The coca leaves impart a slight minty flavor to Agwa, and you can guess what we thought of the first time we did a shot. The urge to swish it around and spit it back out was almost more than we could handle.

This isn't to say that Agwa doesn't have it's uses. As a sipping liqueur, Agwa is a bust, but as an ingredient in mixed drinks, it has the potential to shine. Because of the unfamiliar flavor of the Coca, if used in a drink Agwa has the ability to cause a "huh, what is that?" moment. The "Bolivian Margarita" is the most promising - a margarita in which the triple sec is replaced by Agwa.

As is common with niche liqueurs, the creators don't seem to know when to stop. Suggested cocktail recipes include replacing practically every liquor in the cabinet with Agwa in drinks. Agwa Martini, Agwa and Coffee, Agwa and Red Bull; the list goes on. The basic "Agwa Lemon Drop" is tasty - mix 1 part citrus vodka with 2 parts Agwa and lemon sugar. Others almost made us retch at the thought and we refused to test them. The "Russian Reactor" is a combination of Agwa and "your favorite malt beverage" for a "drink with unique taste and appearance." Unique isn't always a good thing. The prize for "Worst Idea Ever" goes to the "Dirty Habit" - Guinness floated on a shot of Agwa. Who decided that Guinness would be improved by adding minty green liqueur? A dirty habit indeed.

Working For Wal-Mart, Part One ...

As part of our on-going coverage of Wal-Mart’s attempt to break into the Chicago retail market, we take a look this week at the company’s employment practices in the Chicago metropolitan area. Chicagoist met up with three Wal-Mart employees to talk to them about their jobs, company policy, and why they work there.

A key point in the debate over whether Wal-Mart should be allowed to expand into Chicago is the issue of jobs. For Wal-Mart boosters in Chicago, bringing jobs into underserved, largely African American communities has been front and center in making the case for the mega-retailer's expansion into the city. There’s little question that the need for jobs is critical to the future of Chicago, especially in African-American communities. While the unemployment rate both in Chicago and nationally hovers at around 10 percent, African-Americans disproportionally suffer from unemployment at a higher rate. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2009 annual average unemployment rate among African-Americans in Illinois is just over 17 percent. Reliable statistics on the percentage of black employees in Wal-Mart stores are hard to come by; numbers range from over 12 percent in management, to 15 percent in among company truck drivers, to 17 nationally. Regardless of how you break the numbers out, it's a fair bet that Wal-Mart will hire within the community, meaning that the majority of jobs in their proposed Chicago stores will be filled by African-Americans.

While there’s little dispute that jobs are critical in African-Americans neighborhoods in Chicago, absent from the discussion are the voices of the workers that hold some of the jobs Wal-Mart is proposing for Chicago. I met up with three local Wal-Mart employees - Rosetta Brown, an African-American who’s worked for Wal-Mart for 12 years, Roslyn Landfair, also African-American, a five-year employee who was fired from her job as a cashier at last year after injuring her arm in a turnstile, and Linda Haluska, who is white and has worked for Wal-Mart for four years - to talk about what working at the big box is like.

Wal-Mart operates their stores to get maximum work out of the minimum number of employees they can. Linda Haluska, who works at the company’s Glendale store, stocks the Health and Beauty Aids (HBA) section on the overnight shift. “On a nightly basis, when a truck gets in, I might have three pallets of cosmetic items to stock, which is about 50 boxes. That’s quite a bit for one person.” HBA is four aisles, and there are two aisles of cosmetics, each about 40 feet long. The pallets come in loaded with boxes of small items. “One aisle may have between 300 - 500 individual products: mouthwash, deodorant, toothpaste, bath and body wash, pads. And that’s just one department.”

Linda stocks the department by herself for several reasons. She’s been outspoken for her support of forming a union at Wal-Mart, which means that managers make an effort to keep her isolated from other employees. But reducing the number of employees that stock a section is part of the company’s business strategy. “When I started out in Infants,” Rosetta tells me, “the first day I started [at Wal-Mart], it was five of us. Each month they took one person away, and it just left me. And they still expected me to do what five of us was doing.” Linda nods in agreement. “They would come and get me to come and unload the truck, and expect me to come and finish the work.”

Rosetta found the same situation when she transferred to Sam’s Club, which is owned by Wal-Mart. “I got there the first night and I had to lift 50 pounds. They put me in the section called hard-lines, and that's what it was, hard. Aluminum foil, soda in bulk, everything sold in bulk, garbage bags, heavy as, I thought ‘What did I get into?’” Linda agrees. “When you apply at Wal-Mart, on the application they do say you have to be able to lift at least up to 50 pounds. But a lot of times there’s more than 50 pounds. And a team lift [when you get someone else to help lift heavy items] is not always available.”

Rosetta learned the hard way there can be consequences to those physical requirements of work at Wal-Mart. While she now works at the Sam’s Club in Cicero as a greeter, that wasn’t always her job. In 1999, she was helping to unload pallets from a truck on the midnight shift at the store. The pallet jack was broken - the fork was bent - and when she tried to pull it out from under the loaded pallet, she herniated a disc in her back. Labor injuries aren’t uncommon in the grocery industry. A 2003 study of on-the-job injuries in the grocery industry conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that sprains and strains accounted for 45 percent of injuries, 35 percent of which happen to the back. What makes Rosetta's case exceptional isn’t that she hurt herself, but what happened after. “I was a pulling the jack, and the jack was stuck. I pulled on the jack so I could get it out, and I felt a crack in my neck. It felt like a two by four hit me in my neck. I couldn’t even lift my arms. I was like begging for two or three hours to get out, and they wouldn’t let me out. Because we used to be locked in overnight.” The manager on duty refused to let Rosetta out of the store to go to the hospital. That’s because store policy at the time required that doors be locked during non-business hours. Rosetta laid in the back of store, crying, until another manager overrode the decision of the other and permitted her to call her son to take her to the hospital. Rosetta eventually won a settlement from Wal-Mart in a class-action lawsuit, six years after her injury. In the meantime, she wound up on public aid, tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Rosetta continues to work for Wal-Mart, as a greeter at Sam's Club, on light-duty ordered from her physician.

Roslyn Lindfair also knows what it's like to be hurt on the job at Wal-Mart. She worked at the Cary, Illinois store for five years as a cashier before she was fired after her arm got caught in a turnstile. "It was maybe about 7:30, I was ringing up a customer, and she was turning the turnstile one way, and I was turning another way. And it hit me in my arm. It hurt, and I just kinda waited a while, and I noticed my arm started swelling up. It was about 9 o'clock, and I decided I wanted to go to the doctor. So they took me to the hospital. I came back to work, I worked the whole day. On Thursday they presented me with a five-year service award. That Friday I worked the whole day, and then at 3:30 I was getting off of work, and they called me into the office. And they wanted to go over the whole incident, tell them what happened. Basically they interrogated me for 30 minutes, 40 minutes. Asked me did I do it on purpose. I told them no, I know my way around. They asked me would I change anything. I told them no, I wouldn't change anything. They kept going, asking me different questions. And I said 'you can keep asking me the same question over and over again. My yes means yes and my no means no. No I did not do it on purpose. Yes I know my surroundings, and no I will not change anything.' So they said 'well, we're just going to have to fire you for practicing unsafe work habits.'" Roslyn is still unemployed, although she's trying to bring an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint against the company in hopes of getting her job back.

Working short-staffed is common in Wal-Mart stores around the nation, not just in Chicago’s suburbs. Key to Wal-Mart maintaining its signature “Everyday Low Prices” is maintaining low costs to operate its stores. So while the stores can be an attractive place to shop, based on prices, they can be troubling places to work. It’s important to distinguish between labor rates and labor costs when discussing the impact that employment has on both a company’s bottom line, and the costs associated with the end product sold on the market. There is wide-spread agreement that Wal-Mart is a low-wage employer; that is, its labor rates are low, relative to the industry it operates in. Labor costs, however, are a different indicator - how much does it cost Wal-Mart to staff a store, and how do those costs impact the corporation’s bottom line? Maintaining a large enough payroll, including wages, training, productivity and benefits, effect both the quarterly revenue Wal-Mart generates and the costs passed on to consumers. According to Linda and Rosetta, Wal-Mart’s commitment to low prices extends to its employment practices. Among retail workers, the number of hours they can get on the job and the amount of overtime they can work has direct consequences on their paychecks. Working enough hours each week means that they can count on paying their bills, and having some left over to spend and to save. In larger businesses (especially chain stores) that number is often the difference between qualifying for certain benefits, such as health insurance and a 401K. Getting enough hours often means working weekends and evening, sometimes without much notice.

“Management will tell you, ‘Well, you need to open up your availability,’ Monday through Sunday, from to open to close. You can work any day, nights, whatever they want you to work,” Rosetta tells me. "Does this mean that you’ll get 40 hours?" I ask. “That’s what they tell you, if you have open availability, you’ll get more hours. They want you to be on call, bottom line. You don’t have kids, they don’t care about your family life, they don’t care about nothing, just cater to them.” And overtime is something that Wal-Mart will not permit. “You can’t go over [40 hours]. You better not go over. Seriously.”

In fact, Wal-Mart’s overtime policies have been the subject of several class-action lawsuits, charging that the mega-retailer has violated state and federal overtime laws by forcing employees to work off the clock. “They ain’t gonna let you go over,” says Roslyn Landfair. “Now say Monday I get off at 3:30, but they ask me to stay until 6:30. You know at the end of the week, they gonna tell me to leave early. Instead of me getting that overtime, they tell me, ‘no, you’re going into overtime, you’re gonna have to leave early.’” Linda and Rosetta both agree. “What they do is they list people who have overtime,” Linda tells me. “Then, when you come in, they won’t let you punch in. If you have an hour overtime, you have to sit in the breakroom for an hour and wait.” “Well I had a friend that had 55 hours in one week,” Rosetta tells me. “They put the 40 on [one paycheck] and put the 15 [hours] to next week’s check, and told her that [they] cut her days the next week.”

Tomorrow, in part two, we'll take a closer look at how Wal-Mart keeps the workforce in their stores small to maximize profits while reducing payroll.

Around Town ...

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Class In Session: Monique Deschaine's Quick Pasta Classes ...

Times are tough, the economy is soft and even if we are thankful enough to be employed we consider several times a day, "Shouldn’t I be doing something else. Maybe I should be working for myself for a change? That’s it I’m going to start a cupcake business. Those are really trendy right now."

Rewind thirty-years ago when the economy was in a similar state of affairs and the hot thing wasn’t cupcakes, it was pasta. Monique Deschaine just graduated college, and without a job in sight, took some cues from Italian cookbook author, Marcella Hazan, and her own French mother’s passion for food. Using Marcella’s by-hand cooking techniques, Monique rolled out her first bag of natural, shelf-stable pasta in 1981.

Today, Monique’s Al Dente pasta is nationally distributed to grocery stores and available for purchase online. She is proud to still be in business as a privately held company when all her competitors have either folded or were bought out by major food companies.

We had the pleasure of meeting Monique at one of her Whole Foods healthy and fast cooking classes where she bestowed upon beginner home-cooks some quick tips and ideas for easy weeknight dinners. The pasta was cooked to perfection and was a welcome second place to our own fresh-homemade pasta. We really enjoyed the spicy sesame pasta, which makes a great hot or cold dish, tossed with broccoli, peppers, green onions and ginger dressing.

If you are just starting to dabble in the kitchen, check out some tips below from Monique and information on her next cooking demo.

Stolen Tips: Roasting vegetables can bring out a lot of great flavor. Make sure to spread vegetables, like cauliflower, carrots and red onion, in an even layer on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and, for some color, tumeric. Bake at 475 degrees for about 20 minutes. Eat these tasty veggies on their own or toss in pasta with some Parmesan and parsley.

Next Cooking Demo: Thursday, March 25th at Whole Foods Lincoln Park, 1550 N. Kingsbury, 6:30 - 8pm $10 (Call 773.472.0400)

The 119 Words You Can't Say On WGN Radio ...

The local mediasphere is abuzz this morning after Robert Feder posted this long list of 119 words that staff and reporters at WGN 720 AM (owned by the Tribune Company) can't say on the air. Why? Because Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels said so. Some of the examples on the list make sense; they're either redundant ("Close proximity"), cliche ("The fact of the matter" or "Giving 110%"), or unprofessional, folksy sayings ("White stuff," "up there"). Some, though, don't make as much sense. Words like "officials," "authorities," and the "allegations/alleged/reportedly" combo make the list as does "vehicle." We do agree with Feder that this reeks of micro-managing but we don't share his outrage.

It may have been misguided, but Michaels was trying to shape up output. While he may have other pressing matters, it doesn't strike us as particularly egregious that he should do something like this. Most - if not all - of us have worked for a boss like Michaels before, someone who micro-manages and nitpicks at details. Who hasn't read a detailed memo from the boss's office, rolled his/her eyes, and thought, "Don't they have anything better to do?" We've seen worse. And that Michaels would be involved in an effort to control something isn't all that surprising either. He was part of the controversy that resulted in Steve Rhodes' resignation from NBC Chicago's web team (specifically, a post by Rhodes that put Michaels' name in close proximity to alongside "rubber penis").

What's more disturbing to us is the alleged supposed request from WGN news director Charlie Meyerson. According to Feder:

But Meyerson takes it a step further, directing his staff to keep tabs on each other’s compliance: They’re to report any on-air infractions by their co-workers, making sure to note the precise time and date on “bingo cards” he provided that contain a random assortment of Michaels’ forbidden words. If you ask me, that’s just plain creepy.

Well...yeah. That is creepy. Reminding your coworker, "Hey, you said one of the no-no's on the air, might want to watch it," is one thing. But asking your workers to keep tabs and report on each other? At least he introduced the "bingo card" element to make it fun. Pretty soon, we'll just start referring to the station's HQ as "Minitrue."

Art Smith Shares His Weight Loss Secrets In Sun-Times ...

Art Smith's been getting a lot of press about the 90 pounds of weight he shed in recent weeks. Smith shares his weight loss secrets in today's Sun-Times and, wouldn't you know, it all came down to eating right and exercising.

Well, it's a little more than that, but it is the root of his weight loss. Smith, who said in the article that he had a habit of coming home from work and eating "eating three or four peanut butter sandwiches," decided upon the life change after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes while filming "Top Chef Masters." Sensing he needed someone to show him some tough love, Smith reached out to author and fitness competitor Az Ferguson to essentially give a swift kick to Smith. Gone were breakfast and lunch business meetings, white flour, sugar and processed sweeteners. In went lightly tossed salads, steel cut oats with berries and healthy snacks. Smith managed to increase his workouts to the point where he now holds meetings at David Barton Gym.

In the process, Smith's gained an increased measure of assertiveness with the slimmed down figure, telling the Sun-Times, "Believe me, honey, 30 minutes on a treadmill weeds out those who really want to see me, and those who don't." and we're gonna have t find new stock photos of the trim Smith.

Lunching Over The Budget ...

At noon today, Governor Quinn will give the annual budget address in which he will reportedly announce a plan that involves borrowing $4.7 billion while making major cuts - including $1.3 billion from education. And while he hasn't included a tax increase, his chief of staff Jerry Stermer indicated that one could be in the future: "He's not included a tax increase in this budget, and that's a conversation that has to happen. The General Assembly has not acted on a tax increase and have given signals they don't want to act on a tax increase." For today's speech, our Editor-in-Chief, Marcus Gilmer, will be joining Dan Sinker (frmr Punk Planet), Ramsin Canon (Gapers Block), Anna Tarkov (Windy Citizen), and Mike Fourcher (Purely Political) for a special Budget Address edition of WBEZ's Lunchbox series. Listen to the speech and follow along with the panel.

The Morning After: Bulls Lose Fifth Straight ...

Jazz Cruise Past Bulls
The Bulls, who seemed resurgent just a few weeks ago, are struggling to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff picture as they fell to the Utah Jazz 132-108 last night, their fifth-straight loss. The game was competitive for the entire first half and into the second, but a 13-1 Jazz run in the third quarter gave them a double-digit lead and the Bulls were never able to get a second wind to catch Utah. Derrick Rose scored 25 points and dished 13 assists in the loss while Brad Miller scored 20. At one point nipping at the heels of fifth place in the conference, the Bulls now find themselves on the outside looking in. The Bulls will have a tough time ending the streak when they travel to Orland tomorrow (7 p.m., TNT).

College Basketball
DePaul's arduous season is over after being unceremoniously bounced from the Big East tournament yesterday by South Florida, 58-49. Wil Walker scored 20 for the Blue Demons, who finish the year 8-23 (1-17 in conference play).

Spring Training
The Giants got the better of the Sox, 6-2, while the Cubs fell to the Brewers 5-3.

Chicago Police Want Covert Cameras ...

The familiar blinking blue light cameras that dot many city streets could get smaller soon, according to an article by the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune reported yesterday that the Chicago Police are considering employing smaller, covert cameras in the hope of further combating crime. According to the article, these cameras could be as small as a thimble. Last month, Police Superintendent Jody Weis said in an interview with WLS, “These can be secreted in locations that nobody would ever detect. It's amazing where we're going with technology.” While some may marvel at the applications of such cloak and dagger spy technology, the idea of both overt and covert cameras blanketing the city raises some very serious privacy concerns. Spokesperson for the Illinois ACLU Ed Yohnka said “...there's a heightened sensibility and concern on the part of citizens when you start talking about things like covert cameras.”

While surveillance cameras have become commonplace in big cities like Chicago, from city police cameras to those in front of private businesses and cameras at red lights, many have doubts on their actual effectiveness. Several studies have been published that point out while cameras show some isolated effectiveness in stopping crimes and assist in solving crimes, overall, they do not actually cut crime significantly. In addition, privacy has certainly taken a back seat to what could end up being the illusion of security.

Supporters may trot out the platitude “those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear,” we have to ask where the line gets drawn. If the public is willing to allow big brother to watch their every move on the street overtly and covertly, how far behind are we from covert conversation recording, unmanned UAV's flying over our heads, or even spy cameras in our own home? A more important question might be “who watches the watchers?”

Poll Positioning In Governor's Race ...

Barely a month after the primaries, the race for governor is getting heated. For starters, Rasmussen released a poll on Tuesday that shows GOP candidate Bill Brady leading Democrat Pat Quinn 47 percent to 37 percent, with six percent preferring another candidate and nine percent undecided. That's not that odd, given Quinn's negative perceptions among the voting public, and Brady's relatively unknown status. But the details of the poll are what make it interesting: The new survey finds Brady leading by 17 points among women but just three points among men. Voters not affiliated with either party favor Brady 59% to 18%.

Brady is viewed very favorably by 17% of Illinois voters, while only 11% view the Republican very unfavorably. Nineteen percent (19%) have no opinion of him.

Just 12% in Illinois view their governor very favorably, while 24% view Quinn very unfavorably. Only five percent (5%) have no opinion of Quinn.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with strong opinions more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

Forty-three percent (43%) of Illinois voters approve of the job Quinn is doing as governor, while 56% disapprove.

Meanwhile, Quinn is preparing to roll out a plan to bring jobs to Illinois - the same plan that Brady promoted in his campaign. Quinn's will propose a hiring credit worth up to $2,500 a job for small business, according to Greg Hinz at Crain's, as part of his 2011 budget address today. Brady told the Tribune editorial board during the primaries that he would propose a $2,100 tax credit to Illinois businesses for every job they create.

And while Brady was decrying the ethnic heritage of his competition at the Lincoln Day Dinner in Peoria Monday evening, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Personal PAC, the National Organization for Women and Citizen Action are working to paint Brady as an extremist on abortion, because he opposes the procedure, even in cases of rape and incest.

[Sponsored] ...
Today's Weather: Befuddling ...

While it may look like a continuation of the winter gloom outside, it actually won't be, well, all that bad. In fact, rain aside, it'll be downright pleasant, temp-wise. There's a steady chance of showers throughout the day and into the evening. But we're also headed towards some of the warmest temps in almost four months. Highs will range from around 50, in areas to the far north, to near 60 in areas to the south. Yes, 60. Glorious, beautiful 60 degrees. More dense fog rolls in over night as lows will be in the lower 40s. Enjoy today's warmer temps, though, as we'll see more seasonable readings - and rain - the rest of the week.

Extra, Extra ...

• A DuPage County jury has sentenced Edward Tenney to death for a 1992 murder.
• Jury selection kicked off today in Calvin Boender's case.
• Authorities weren't too amused with a bus prank pulled by a pair of East Aurora High students.
• TimeOut Chicago is now under new ownership: Chicago's Joe Mansueto now holds a majority stake in the magazine.
• Raquel Welch's bra set off the metal detector at O'Hare.
• RIP and Godspeed, Reptile 1, Lincoln Park Zoo's oldest animal.

Tuesday Flashback: Pippen & Leno ...

A big tip o' the hat to Pippen Ain't Easy [via] for posting this clip of Bulls legend Scottie Pippen paying Jay Leno a visit when Leno himself brought The Tonight Show to Chicago back in 1996.

Snow Hampered Departure Delays For Midway, O'Hare ...

Numerous snow events are being blamed for the poor on-time departure rankings for the city's airports in January. Of the country's 29 busiest airports, O'Hare ranked 26th for on-time departures (74 percent) while Midway ranked last (69 percent), according to the the U.S. Department of Transportation report. As for arrivals, the two fared a bit better: Midway was 19th overall with 78 percent of arrivals on time and O'Hare was 23rd place with 76 percent of flights arriving on time. Number one overall? Seattle-Tacoma where 89 percent of departures and 86 percent of arrivals were on time. Yeah, but do they have life-size statues of the Blues Brothers? Didn't think so.

Good News For Employment In Illinois? ...

Economic news might be looking upward for Illinois for the first time in a few months. According to a survey by the staffing firm Manpower, who regularly releases such surveys, 18 percent of companies in the greater Chicago area are planning to take on more employees next quarter, and increase of 10 percent over the first quarter of the year. With only 3 percent of companies surveyed planning on cutting jobs (as compared to 16 percent in the first quarter of the year), this is a net gain of 15%. The strongest job prospects appear in industries like construction and durable goods manufacturing, while employers in government plan to cut jobs. Overall, 75 percent plan to maintain their current level of employment, continuing a small upward trend.

While this is a piece of good news for job seekers in Illinois, the statistics nationwide aren’t so rosy: 73 percent of employers surveyed nationwide say they plan on keeping employment levels the same, while 8 percent say they’re cutting payrolls. A government jobs report last month showed 36,000 Americans lost their jobs last month. At present, the unemployment rate nationwide hovers near 10 percent , but as we've reported before, that number is only a partial figure since it does not include longer term unemployed and underemployed people.

The White Stripes Tear It Up Under The Great White Northern Lights ...

It's been almost three years since The White Stripes embarked on their against-the-grain tour of Canada. Having never toured the country before, Jack and Meg attacked the idea with creativity and vigor, setting out to do things that no other band on their scale had done before. In addition to playing typical large venues, the duo hit every province, towns large and small, locations quirky and unpredictable. Canucks everywhere frantically scrambled to the town square or the local YMCA after receiving tips that The White Stripes would be playing a gig. They played bowling alleys, pool halls, and even boats. Performances were unrehearsed, chaotic, and free of charge, and all from one of the biggest bands in the world. Fortunately, for those who missed out on one of the most unique and meaningful tours in a very long time, director Emmet Malloy captured it all for your viewing pleasure.

Malloy's documentary, The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights, recounts the duo's performances and travels all over Canada, showing the great contrast between their small and large shows. Though at first listen The White Stripes can be misconstrued as static or "premeditated", Malloy's film captures the real diversity of Jack and Meg, not only as musicians, but as people, too. Jack even ventures into this idea, addressing the accusation that "Everything about The White Stripes is a lie," defending very earnestly that the music, above all, is not. Insights like these are peppered throughout this entertaining and sincere documentary, as Jack comes off as down-to-earth as any other former furniture re-upholsterer should.

While segments of the band rocking furiously in front of large crowds are entertaining, the real treasure of UGWNL is seeing The White Stripes play the smaller side shows, which is fittingly capped off by a very moving performance at the end of the film. It's a move that just about every other big-time band would never do, and yet they pull it off effortlessly and without an air of pretentiousness. Never once is there a feeling that what they're doing is self aggrandizing or insincere. If there was, UGWNL would fall flat on its face, and we may have to assume that everything is a lie.

Check here for the times and locations of several Chicago screenings of The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights

Tuesday Afternoon Diversion ...

In the wake of Conan's departure, we've become enamored with Jimmy Kimmel's show which, like Conan's Tonight Show, is something we haven't watched enough (thankyouverymuch, Oprah replay). In this great bit from his post-Oscars show, Kimmel presides over a meeting of the Handsome Men's Club. Chuck, Tankboy, and myself have all been rejected by said club though we understand Prescott made it past the first round of the selection process.

Blago On A Top Ten List That's Not A "Most Wanted" One ...

Phil Rosenthal is reporting over at the Tower Ticker that unesteemed ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich will be showing up on the Late Show With David Letterman this Wednesday to deliver the evening's Top Ten List. Blago will most likely be shilling for his upcoming stint as whipping boy for Donald Trump on the new "Celebrity Apprentice" season, which starts this weekend. While the topic of the evening's countdown has yet to be revealed, here's a few possibilities from the consulting group of Chicagoist Strategies Incorporated for what to expect in gubernatorial-related Countdown hilarity:

• Top 10 Ways I Can Corrupt My "Celebrity Apprentice" Co-stars
• Top 10 Different Ways I Can Nationally Taint the Jury Pool
• Top 10 Lines I'll Use To Subtly Reference My Absolute Innocence
• Top 10 No-Bid Contracts I Might Award to Donald Trump
• Top 10 Reasons I Should Replace Governor Paterson
• Top 10 Ways I'm Sleazier Than Fellow Contestant Bret Michaels
• Top 10 Things That are F'ing Golden About NBC

As if you didn't need any other reasons to tune in, it's a fairly Chicago-centric episode, with Billy Corgan's possible paramour Jessica Simpson set to appear, along with McHenry's very own Alkaline Trio as the musical act. Will Blago's uncomfortable smirk and self-aware self-deprecating sense of humor be enough to get the Chicago market to tune in? It's not likely to produce an exchange on the level of G-Rod's previous "wanted to be here in the worst way/you're here in the worst way" unintentional improv magic, nor will it probably be as good as when then-Senator Obama appeared to deliver the list. But in fairness, the idea of Mitt Romney as Secretary of Lookin' Good never fails to make me smile just a little. Rod, take notes - the precedent that you're up against is after the jump.

Do This For FREE: White/Light At MCA ...

Experimental duo White/Light, comprised of Chicago sound-based artists Jeremy Lemos and Matt Clark, currently have an interactive music installation on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art as part of the UBS 12 x 12: New Artists / New Work series. The exhibit is set in the dimly lit gallery, where two reel-to-reel tape machines loop electric guitar samples and drone electronic noise. A glowing microphone lures people into the room and triggers a sensor that modifies the sound frequencies, allowing the visitors to participate in transforming the continually evolving sound. The artists also constantly manipulate the installation - the tape machines and amps are rearranged periodically and Clark shows up at the gallery frequently to record new guitar samples for the loops.

White/Light came together in 2003 as a sound project, Clark playing electric guitar and Lemos layering synth, analog electronics and shruti box beneath it. Though the band’s name was inspired by Velvet Underground’s White Light/White Heat, their music takes a much different, more experimental approach. They explore the dynamic properties of sound, evident by their focus on contrasting Lemos’ humming, pulsating noise with Clark’s electric guitar, as well as the extreme, often surprising variations of their sound: sometimes minimal and subtly hypnotic, while at other times overwhelmingly dense and orchestral. So far, White/Light has recorded two full-length albums, toured Europe and the U.S. and are currently creating a collaborative album with Steve Shelley, drummer of Sonic Youth, and Disappears, a minimalist rock ensemble made up of members from Chicago bands such as the Ponys, Boas and 90 Day.

Tonight (and every Tuesday night through March), they’ll be performing live, interacting with the sound installation. Many of their performances include guest musicians, such as Steve Shelley, Tortoise’s John McEntire and Joan of Arc’s Tim Kinsella. Tonight, White/Light will be accompanied by Disappears (minus drummer Graeme Gibson). The performance kicks off at 7pm, but show up at 6pm to hear White/Light discuss their work beforehand in the gallery. Checkout White/Light’s site for their complete schedule and a few free downloads.

Disappears & White/Light perform tonight, Tuesday, March 9 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago, 7 p.m., FREE

Willis Tower, Hancock Center Architect Dies ...

Bruce Graham, the architect who designed two of Chicago's tallest and most iconic buildings, died this weekend at his home in Hobe Sound, Fla. He was 84 and died due to complications from Alzheimer's disease, according to Crain's. Graham designed the Willis Tower - formerly known as the Sears Tower - which was the world's tallest building from its opening in 1974 until 1996. At 1,451 feet, it's still the tallest building in the U.S. He also designed the 100-story John Hancock Center, which opened in 1970. He helped design the green-glass high-rise Inland Steel Building, located at 30. W. Monroe, in the 1950s. Graham, originally from Bogota, Colombia, was a senior architect at the famous firm, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, from 1951 to 1989.

Today In Maps: Grocery Stores Vs. Bars ...

FloatingSheep loves to stick data on maps, thereby graphically illustrating the data, and one of their new maps is a real lulu. Using stats gleaned from Google Maps, they

did a simple comparison between grocery stores and bars to discover a remarkable geographically [sic] phenomenon. We had expected that grocery stores would outnumber bars and for most parts of North America that is the case. But we could also clearly see the "beer belly of America" peeking out through the "t-shirt of data." Starting in Illinois, the beer belly expands up into Wisconsin and first spreads westward through Iowa/Minnesota and then engulfs Nebraska, and the Dakotas before petering out (like a pair of love handles) in Wyoming and Montana.

In other words, on the map above every patch of red represents a location where bars outnumber grocery stores. Dubious at the results, they looked at official 2007 Census Country Business Pattern data. And it matched up.

It's easier to see on the full sized map: although Illinois clearly loves a good tipple, all that red in Wisconsin jibes with Forbes 2006 list of America's Drunkest Cities, which had Milwaukee as the most soused metropolis in the nation. Chicago? #6.

Two Brothers Meets French Oak With New Ale Series ...

Last year, two Brothers Brewing invested in seven fresh French oak fermentation tanks, or "foudres," to do some barrel aging. Foudres, which are much larger than standard barrels, are widely used in the Rhône Valley for winemaking. Two Brothers decided they would revisit the practice of using these for oak aging.

The first two results, called the "J Series", are hitting bars and shelves next week. These two beers mark the first new year-round beers in the Two Brothers line since Cane & Ebel two years ago. "Long Haul" is a session ale with a good balance between the hops and malt, a 4.2 percent ABV content, light in body but (with 27 IBUs) full of flavor from the oak. "Resistence' is an oaked India Pale Ale weighing in at 70 IBUs and 6.9 percent ABV. Expect lots of pine, honey, a strong bitterness on the palate and persistent oak on the finish.

To celebrate the release of the J Series, Two Brothers will sponsor a tapping of the two beers next Tuesday at Hopleaf from 6-10 p.m..

[Sponsored] ...
Chiditarod 2010 Wrap Up ...

Warm and sunny weather graced the fifth annual Chiditarod shopping-cart race, as over a hundred teams competed in what may be “the world’s largest mobile food drive” this past Saturday on the Near West Side. Chiditarod mimics the famous Alaskan Iditarod except the dogs are replaced by people in wacky costumes and the sleds are shopping carts. It is a one-of-kind event, incorporating a food drive, with a costume/talent contest, pub crawl and 5-mile race. Traffic was blocked for the starting point but after that racers had to use the sidewalks or alleys and adhere to all traffic lights. Many people were caught off-guard when they saw the teams race down the sidewalk in colorful, crazy outfits and pimped out shopping carts. One startled woman shrieked, “What on earth is going on?” while a young toddler kept asking her Dad if it was Halloween. The race began at Hubbard and Wolcott and included six check points at local bars in the area. Talent contests included karaoke, haiku, pole dancing and a cheer-off. Each team was required to cross the finish line with 40 pounds of food or more. Proceeds benefited the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation. The prize list, race results and donation totals have not officially been announced yet but we did track down a few winners:

• 1st place by time: Area 3 All-Stars:
• Best in Show: Mt. Attack Kill
• Spirit of Chiditarod: Action Squad
• Best Sabotage: CJ Ownz
• Best in Pole Dance: Goonies

Check out video of the start after the jump.

Surprise! Billy Corgan Looking For More Pumpkins! ...

Stop the presses! Billy Corgan is looking for yet another bassist for "The Smashing Pumpkins" to fill the revolving door that role seems to have built into it, and he's going about it via open auditions. (Chicagoist's own Lizz Kannenberg is between band gigs, maybe she could make the cut?) Most recent bassist Ginger Pooley is leaving the band to focus on taking care of her family's newest arrival, her new baby daughter.

Corgan is also looking for a prog rock keyboardist in the style of "on Lord and Rick Wakeman." No word on whether you need to bring your own cape or if Corgan will lend you one of his.

Interested in throwing your bass or keyboard or keytar into the ring? Send a video of you in action to either pumpkinsbass@gmail.com or pumpkinskeys@gmail.com. Good luck?

Openings: M Burger, Aldino's ...

Former 312 Chicago chef Dean Zanella returns to action Thursday with the opening of his Aldino's, in the former Caffe La Scala space in the UIC Hospital District/Little Italy. Zanella has partnered on Aldino's with Scott Harris, who is seemingly opening restaurants everywhere these days. With a big assist from Chef de Cuisine Ray Stanis (Blackbird, Avec, Osteria di Tramonto), Zanella will be serving a menu of local and seasonally-driven Italian fare. Not content to open just a restaurant, Zanella will also be opening a companion market to Aldino's in a couple weeks.

Also opening Thursday is M Burger, located in the space that once housed the chef's table at Tru. M. Burger's griddle is right in the middle of Tru's kitchen. Audarshia "312 Dining Diva" Townsend, who first broke the news of M Burger and has been on the story ever since like a groupie with a backstage pass, got a sneak peek at the menu yesterday. She said to "remember the Hurt Burger (a spicy sandwich with BBQ sauce, Pepper Jack cheese and jalapeños) and the ultra-creamy Caramel Shake." M Burger has very limited counter seating, but will expand outside when the weather warms.

Aldino's, 626 S. Racine, 312-226-9300. M Burger, 161 W. Huron, 312-254-8500.

PHOTOS: Free Energy And Foreign Born At The Empty Bottle ...

Free Energy's debut Stuck On Nothing -- out today -- is already one of our favorite party records of 2010. Their appearance at The Empty Bottle last Friday took tunes that on album are already pretty perfect and upped the energy and grit by blowing said songs through a dual-guitar attack and a stage show that never slowed down. Throw in choice selections from the band's small catalog, a smokin' cover of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Hey You," a dance section singer Paul Sprangers dubbed "the dude pit," and you had the making's of a pretty unforgettable show. It appears as if the bro nation is already onto these boys from Philadelphia, so we're glad we got a chance to see them at The Bottle since their next time through town is sure to be in a much larger room.

LA pop rockers Foreign Born closed out the night with effervescent guitars and composed, light-to-dark jams reminiscent of the eclectic Silver Lake scene they call home. On their latest, Person to Person, Matt Popieluch and crew combine vacillating rhythms and well-placed doses of African percussion in a solid effort to be your #1 summer jam.

Foreign Born review by Lizz Kannenberg

Interview: Mac McClelland's Battle For Burma ...

Mac McClelland is on a mission. She's on a mission to help bring to light a war that's been raging for decades, resulting in humans rights abuses that would horrify the normal person, but a war, that goes unnoticed day after day. Her mission is Burma. But she's done more than talk, she's spent time in Thailand working with refugees and now she's sharing their ongoing story in For Us, Surrender Is Out Of the Question. Part memoir, part historical narrative, McClelland delicately weaves her own story working with a memorable, sometimes rambunctious, group of refugees while also detailing the history of Burma's ongoing war between ethnic insurgents and its government, deftly intertwining the two stories into a narrative that's striking in its ability to be humorous one moment and shocking the next but never betraying either the gravity of the situation or the spirit of the refugees she's assisting.

McClelland, an Ohio native and later a Katrina survivor [full disclosure: Mac and I first crossed paths in New Orleans], now lives in San Franciso where she writes for Mother Jones. As she hit the road to promote For Us, Surrender... (read an excerpt here), she took a few minutes to talk to us about why she went to Burma in the first place, the delicate balance of tone in her writing, and how she feels about the war in Burma so often being overlooked.

Mac McClelland, Wednesday March 10, 7:30 p.m., The Grafton, 4530 N. Lincoln Ave, Free

Chicagoist: Can you give us some background to how you wound up going to Thailand and got involved with the Burma issue in the first place?

Mac McClelland: I was goofing around on the internet and saw something about these huge refugee camps in Thailand that were full of refugees from Burma but I couldn’t really find out much about what was going on. This was before I started grad school and after I finished grad school, I kept coming back to it. I guess it was haunting me that there was this thing going on that I didn’t know anything about that seemed like a really big deal. So I went back to it and it had gotten worse but there still wasn’t that much information about it. I emailed one of these organizations and asked them if they needed a volunteer in Thailand and they said, “Sure, come on.” They didn’t really tell me much about who worked there or what they did there so I basically just showed up and tried to figure out what was going on and how I could help.

C: How long were you there?

MM: I was in Thailand for six weeks the first time, which is the time-frame of the book. I’ve been back since but that first time was six weeks.

C: What ultimately drove you to write the book?

MM: The guys - the refugees - that I lived with were the most amazing people in the world. It was the characters that made me want to want to write this the most. They’re hilarious, they’re hot, they’re drunk, they love Jesus, and they have crazy jobs where they risk their lives all the time. So they were the impetus for it but when I started looking into it, doing tons of research and devouring all the information and history that I could, I found the history of the country [Burma] was really interesting, the history of their war - between the Burmese government and these ethnic insurgents - was interesting. It’s the longest war in the world, 61 years old, and no one’s ever heard of it. All this information, the circumstances, surrounding these characters was just as compelling as they were.

C: The book is a mix of personal narrative and a historical account of the ongoing battle in Burma. The historical background is obviously important for context of the personal narrative. What was the most difficult aspect of writing the book, striking that balance?

MM: The hardest part of doing both was selling the idea. Editors responded, “You can either do a memoir or you can do history but you cannot do both.” It took some time to find someone who understood my vision, which [laughs] of course I thought was brilliant. I thought I could do it, I just wasn’t sure how. And I ended up at Soft Skull and found someone that thought it could work well. But even when I first talked to my editor there, they asked, “So how are you going to do this?” and I said, “I…don’t know.”

I moved different pieces of it around, different pieces of the narrative. And as it turned out, I did parallel narratives, alternating with each chapter. I kept the history shorter because it’s harder to follow that information than to follow this story of these guys. When I had the first readers go through it, they didn’t really notice the switch between narratives and that was the first time I really knew that we had managed to strike a pretty good balance. I was really excited about that because both parts are really important to the story.

C: One thing that kept coming up for me when I read the book was the tone. I’ve read your writing before, but there’s almost an… I don’t know, irreverent tone in your memoir chapters that spills into the historical background chapters. On the one hand, it seems essential to the cohesive nature of the book. But on the other, did you ever worry about it turning readers off because it seems like you weren’t taking the subject - the war and the human rights issues - seriously? Did you ever have to tinker with the narrative with that in mind.

MM: Oh it was a huge concern. Partly because when I was pitching the book, my agent would forward me these emails back from editors, “This is a nice idea and it seems like an important story but her voice is really obnoxious” or “The tone of this is scathing” and they hated it. So I definitely had this crisis of confidence - was it too “voicey” or too strong. I called some friends around here [San Francisco] while I was writing it and told them, “I’m worried my voice is out of control, that it is too irreverent, that it’s too…not dry.”

It’s sort of ridiculous that you’d worry about your prose being too lively but because of some of the feedback I’d been given…At the same time, I feel that if that proposal had been coming from a man, they probably would not have reacted so strongly, that there’s this really strong voice in the narrative. But that’s [laugh] my feminist bias and I can’t actually prove that.

But when it was all said and done I went back and read those chapters- you know, nobody wants to read about history, nobody cares what happened in Southeast Asia in 9 B.C. So when I went back and reread those chapters the fact that I had written them the way that I usually write, which is essentially the way that I talk, these were so much easier for me to read. So I decided to stick with it and I had an editor who was really supportive and he told me, “Don’t worry about it, just write the way that you write, and if we have to turn you down later, we will.” I’m glad that I stuck by my guns with that even though it was really hard because I was worried other people would not take to it at all.

C: So you’re happy with how it all came out?

MM: I am! I’m actually - and you know me, you know I’m pathologically confident - I knew these guys made an amazing story. No matter who’s telling it, the information, it’s so good. And the characters are so good so I had a lot of faith in that. When I had to reread it for my final edits, I thought that it had turned out better than I had expected. Especially because it’s so important to me to tell these guys stories and I love them. It’s so critical that people understand what’s going on there, I owed it to them to produce something that would be readable for the word to get out.

C: Do you still talk to those guys - those refugees - on any sort of regular basis?

MM: Some more often than others. They’re scattered all over the place and a lot of time it’s hard to get in touch with them and language barriers are much tougher over phone than in person. But I’ve seen a bunch of them since my first visit and I still keep up with them on Facebook and email.

C: How many times have you been back since that original visit?

MM: I went in 2006 and then again for a month in 2008. I was in Thailand and crossed over into Burma both times.

C: Are you going back any time soon?

MM: I’d like to go back because it’s really dear to me and there are still people there I really care about. But I probably won’t be back for a while because of work. I’ll definitely go back but it’ll be a while.

C: There were the riots in 2007 but aside from that it seems that this is constantly in the background. Do you worry about the way this war has been overshadowed, the way we tend to consume these events - like the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile this year - and then eventually move on like nothing happened?

MM: I do, actually. It keeps me up at night. The thing about Burma is that so many people have never heard about it in the first place. I’m so obsessed and so immersed as far as Burma is concerned - I’ll be doing something, like brushing my teeth, and listening to the radio and they’ll mention something in Yemen that's driving refugees out of there and I’m like, “Okay, why are we reporting this but not reporting the very similar thing - except ten times worse - that’s going on in Burma?”

It’s the great untold story and I don’t understand how it has managed to stay completely out of the news because the information is so horrific you would think it would be juicier to a reporter. But then news things come that are more immediate, more important because this war between ethnic insurgents and the Burmese government has been going on for 60 years. That’s not news. It’s the opposite of news.

But it still happens, the atrocities that are committed every day are so severe that if you compare disasters- they’re all crucial stories, but if you’re comparing disasters, you can put Burma up against anything that happened in any day and it would be news-worthy from a strict humanitarian point of view. So it’s just a matter of getting the word out and people understanding the situation. And the information out there, it’s just not as visible and that’s what I’m trying to do: make it more visible.

Around Town ...

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Nutrition 101 ...

March is the official National Nutrition Month. Let's get in the spirit with some basic nutrition talk. The American Institute of Cancer Research constructed the New American Plate which is comprised of 2/3 or more of vegetables, fruits, whole grains or beans, and 1/3 or less of animal protein.

Along with the New American Plate, the AIRC delivered four key messages for cancer prevention and weight loss. Nothing we haven't heard before, but important nonetheless.

-Eat mostly plant-based foods, which are low in energy density
-Be physically active
-Maintain a healthy weight (via steps 1 and 2, as well as reducing portion size)
-Reduce your portion size

While the basic tenet of "no food is unhealthy is small portions" holds true, it can be easier than we even think to over-indulge. It takes roughly 3500 calories to gain 1 pound of fat. By eating an excess of only 100 calories per day for 365 days, we could gain up to 10 pounds! On the flip side, it takes only about 20 minutes of brisk walking to burn 100 calories (the equivalent of an average slice of bread). A healthy-sized meal should average at about 500 calories, based on a diet of 2000 calories per day that includes three meals and two snacks.

Calories of select foods and drinks around town:

Goose Island 12 oz Matilda Beer = 212
Starbucks’ Grande White Chocolate Mocha with nonfat milk= 350
One Counter Burger = 880
Order of Counter Burger fries for two = 1210
Portillos Italian Beef Sandwich = 450
Chicago-style Vienna Beef Hot Dog = 350
Chipotle Chicken Burrito with cheese and sour cream = 1179
Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza (1 slice) = 300
Cheesecake Factory Carrot Cake (1 slice) = 1550
Cheesecake Factory Caesar Salad with Chicken = 980
Subway Foot long Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki = 760
P.F Chang’s Coconut Curry Vegetables = 1020

Tips for cutting calories and portion sizes:
1. When dining out, ask for a to-go box right away to save half of your meal for another time.
2. At home, eat from smaller size dishes and bowls
3. Avoid going extended periods of time (more than 4 hours) without eating - when we’re super hungry we’re much more likely to choose the wrong foods, and then overeat them.
4. Don’t drink your calories. The occasional cocktail or full-sugar soda aside, try to stick with low calorie drinks such as sparkling water, hot or iced tea on most days.
5. Use visual cues to determine appropriate portion sizes. A healthy meat serving is about the size of a deck of cards. Check out this online serving size finder for more visual references.

Chicago Author Spotlight: Tony Romano ...

Tony Romano's If You Eat, You Never Die: Chicago Tales tells the story of an Italian American family. Each family member approaches his or her Italian heritage and future in America differently. And so the story of the Italian Comingos turned American Cummings contains many stories. Teenage Giacomo, who is insistent on losing weight to compete in a wrestling match, tells the first chapter. Another is told in the broken English of Lucia, his strong-willed mother. The stories of older brother Michelino, who as an adult changes his family name back to Comingo, and father Fabio, a barber who lacks ambition, play out, too. The patchwork story that emerges from If You Eat, You Never Die, speaks of each character's relationship with heritage and capacity for unconditional love, grief, and strength. We spoke with Chicago-based author Tony Romano about If You Eat, You Never Die and what being a writer is all about.

Tony Romano discusses his novel If You Eat, You Never Die: Chicago Tales tonight at 6:30 p.m. He will be at Chicago Public Library's West Belmont branch at 3104 N. Narragansett Ave. The event is free.

C: In the book, the title signifies the words of the mother of the family, Lucia. Does the saying "If You Eat, You Never Die" come from something your mother said?

Tony Romano: It's something my father used to say and still says. If you look back at the ordinary moments of your life, you find these sublime lines, these artistic lines. I don't know if it makes any sense, but to his culture and to our culture it makes sense. To be able to show the cover to my dad… he was thrilled and a little stunned. Just to get that recognition. Those are his words.

C: What about the subtitle, Chicago Tales? Could this book have taken place anywhere else?

TR: I've heard some people say that it could take place somewhere else. I grew up in Chicago and I think you need to be familiar with your setting. The thing about Chicago is that there are a lot of hard workers, and you don't get anything given to you. I think that comes through in the characters more than the place.

C: Does your work draw inspiration from Chicago? How are you tied to the city?

TR: I always looked at Chicago as being made up of all these small towns. Especially as a kid you have all these boundaries, and all you know is one or two streets. I knew everyone on my block and knew everyone's business. And growing up in a city of millions, I felt like I knew everyone. As a kid, it was a good place to grow up. I felt safe and watched over. We didn't need adults to organize our activities. It was part of our education.

C: What do you do when you aren't writing or teaching high school students?

TR: I organize this week at school called writer's week where I bring in writers from all around the country. The writers end up on the summer reading list and we do some of it in class. It sends the message to kids that writing is not just some 5-paragraph essay you are going to write for an SAT exam. Writing is written by living breathing people. It's the best week at school for the kids.

C: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

TR: Discipline. No matter how hard things are going, you need to write every day or nearly every day. I went through years of rejection. I took me five or six years to find an agent. During all that time, I was writing. And persistence. Once you do the writing, you have to be stupid about sending it out to be rejected. Regardless of how the world of publishing is changing, discipline and persistence are critical.

The Morning After ...

Spring Training continued for both squads yesterday after Sunday's rain-out. The Cubs had another big offensive outing, downing Oakland 10-3. The Sox, meanwhile, fell to Seattle 5-4.