Major League Baseball is screwing up in novel but unsurprising ways during what should be an off season of free agent signings and trades. But the season’s not even “off” right now because it’s been locked out by greedy, depraved owners. And nothing will happen until that’s over. Baseball owners have always been thus—rich, snobby, […]

We had a great Thanksgiving, entertaining a neigborhood friend with several lamb chops, Greek smashed potatoes, and green beans. Speaking of Greek: omicron. It’s worrisome. Or it’s not worrisome. It’s tiresome, for sure. And covid’s not going anywhere. At least we don’t have a dickhead president calling it the African virus. Thank goodness for small […]

Heidi Stevens, a Chicago Tribune Columnist (among other things) had this to say on Facebook about last week’s Rittenhouse verdict: “This country keeps finding new and endless ways to break your heart.” Ain’t it the sad truth. I have nothing to say about that matter that hasn’t been written. Like everything in today’s United States, […]

After Gus was born back in 1986, Beth was at sea. (I was hanging onto a life preserver.) Barely a year after learning her sight loss was permanent, she was faced with helping to raise a newborn with an extremely rare genetic condition. Gus was a complete enigma, with little data about life expectancy or […]

Editing an alt-weekly newspaper in Champaign-Urbana some 20 years ago taught me a ton. I already knew journalism was difficult work. What I didn’t understand was how critical good local journalism is to any community. And how difficult it is to do local community—focused journalism when you’re a local. When I took the helm,  the […]