Month: February 2022

The Gaspacho Police

Published by pvbella on February 11, 2022

Marjorie Taylor Greene (R/Ga) may be in serious hot water. This week the Georgia Congresswoman and conspiracy theory promoter revealed something leaving congressional leaders from both parties and both houses fuming. Greene discovered that Congress has a secret Gazpacho Police. Research on the internet showed there have been unconfirmed rumors of this congressional force swirling around.

The group’s full name is Czernina Gaspacho Gans Schreitender (GGGS). They are a secret force created by the congressional leadership of both parties to spy on the public, members of Congress, the White House, and make secret arrests when warranted. The reason for the foreign name was deniability. If the GGGS was discovered, they would be accused of being extremist foreign spies.

The idea for the GGGS was broached after the election of Donald Trump and far-right and left congress members. Congressional leaders knew the four years would be tumultuous and possibly treasonous. They needed a specialized group to conduct intelligence on various political organizations and their supporters working in or elected to government.

They formed the GGGS. GGGS agents are not part of the Capitol Police Force, nor are they members of federal law enforcement or the intelligence communities. They work directly for and report to the congressional leadership, the House Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader, and the minority leaders of both Houses. The leadership formed a secret committee to administer the GGGS.

Kluski Lane is the Director of the GGGS. Lane is one of the most famous intelligence operatives no one has ever heard of. He is a shadowy man of mystery and intrigue. His only vice is the appetite of a gourmand. Lane will eat anything, especially if there are noodles involved. Lane has been around for decades. He is the go-to guy when things boil over.

Lane picked an old comrade in arms for his number two, Dieter Pekingente. Pekingente was notorious for ducking congressional subpoenas investigating the Alabio -Gate affair. The chief of interrogations is Maiale Sanguinaccio, a veteran of the CIA, FBI, DEA, DIA, and other alphabet federal agencies. It is rumored he is related to the Brooklyn branch of the secretive Scrofa mafia family in Sicily. He personally selects and trains GGGS interrogators.

GGGS agents were carefully selected by Lane and put through a rigorous training regimen at the ultra-secret Area 51. The selection process itself was extremely brutal. It took three years for the GGGS to be fully manned, trained, and equipped. They are equipped with all the latest intelligence-gathering technology, lethal and non-lethal weaponry, including space lasers, and an unlimited off-the-books budget routed through the Bahamas.

The GGGS logo is l’oeil puant itinérant qui ne dort jamais.

GGGS has been very effective this past year. GGGS are interrogating the January 6^th insurrectionists, AKA protesters expressing peaceful political discourse. The insurrectionists were moved to a special, sealed-off area in the DC Metropolitan jail after being visited by Greene and other elected officials. Relocating them to Guantanamo was considered and rejected.

It is rumored members of the GGGS went after ANTIFA, especially in the Pacific Northwest. If you noticed, many ANTIFA groups disappeared from protests and other activities. Other far left and right groups are being investigated, infiltrated, interrogated, incarcerated, and discredited including the Proud Boys, Q’anon, Oath Keepers, BLM, Democratic Socialists, and others.

The CIA is under fire by Congress for a secret data collection program of American citizens. The program, developed by the CIA’s Kitchen Works Lab, is being run by the GGGS. GGGS shares information with the CIA and other intelligence agencies when necessary.

GGGS powers are unlimited. They have the power to secretly investigate, arrest, and interrogate members of Congress at the behest of the leadership. Rumors are swirling that Greene is on the top of their list for “special treatment” for exposing their existence. Other extremist members of Congress are also being scrutinized.

For more information on the GGGS, you can find sources here:

Czernina Gaspacho Gans Schreitender

Memento mori for the children

Published by pvbella on February 11, 2022

Tragically, kids are killed all the time in Chicago and elsewhere, most of them innocent victims and most of their names thrown into the wind and forgotten by all but those people who knew and loved the kids. (Rick Kogan/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Tribune reporter Rick Kogan wrote an article about an outdoor space at the Obama Presidential Center. It is dedicated to Hadiya Pendleton, an innocent teenager shot and murdered as pray and spray bullets flew through a park where she was sitting with friends. You can read his column at the above link.

Over the past few years, numbers of innocent children, including toddlers and infants, were murdered by the pray and spray killers. Their names are now known only to God. The latest was 8-year-old Melissa Ortega, who was murdered while walking with her mother in Little Village, a neighborhood I know well. Her name, like the others, will be “thrown into the wind and forgotten.”

The children’s parents are members of a club no one wants to join, Club Dead. Losing a child must be one of the most horrific things that can happen to parents. Yet, in this merciless and pitiless city, no one cares. Elected officials do not care. Citizens do not care. Only the families care.

Who are these children? What are their names? How many children were murdered over the past few years? How many parents are suffering their loss? Who are the parents? What hopes, dreams and aspirations did they have for their children? Why are their names “thrown into the wind and forgotten?”

Hadiya Pendleton is being memorialized because she performed at former President Obama’s second inauguration. The Obama’s made an empathetic connection with the family. Hadiya Pendleton will be remembered because of their empathetic connection.

Sometimes, when a child is killed, a memento mori is created. There are flowers, inflatables, candles, religious images, handmade signs, and other artifacts to remember the dead. They eventually disappear and are forgotten like the names of the murdered children.

The murder of children should shock the conscience. Our consciousnesses are no longer shocked by the murder of children. We shrug our shoulders and go on with our lives. We are immune from the shock and horror of child murders. The murdered children are just another number, a digit, a piece of data. One of the hundreds of other murder victims in this city of death.

We forget because we do not want to be reminded of the horror inflicted on children and their families. We call it gun violence, blaming inanimate objects. We refuse to call murder what it really is, human violence. We cannot accept the fact that we humans can be so cold and callous.

Parents must bury the dead, their children. Parents must live with the grief and memories forever. There are no memorials or peace parks for their children. There should be a memorial space for all the murdered children, a memento mori, including a wall with their names etched on it. It should stand as a permanent monument to show the world that Chicago is a cold, heartless, merciless, and pitiless city.

Chicago Diner Food

Published by pvbella on February 7, 2022

I love diners. Chicago has some great diners. Diners provide good meals at reasonable prices, except today due to rising food prices. They used to sell what was known as “American” food and a few ethnic dishes. Now, many sell more Mexican food due to changes in taste.

Diners are great places to get breakfast- eggs any way you want them, three or four egg omelets with hash browns, pancake stacks, waffles, or French toast. Some are only open for breakfast and lunch. Others are 24 hr. operations. Many are known for various dishes, especially soups, chili combos, or some sandwich favorites.

Most diners have extensive static menus- never changing- with plenty of choices to suit most tastes and appetites. They may have daily specials. Many diner portions are generous, so they are still a bargain even with higher prices.

Diners range from greasy spoons to pleasant places to eat. But they are not limited to what is known as ubiquitous “Greek” diners. There is one thing about diners. They usually have great coffee, especially when served in a heavy ceramic mug.

Here is a list of some local diners:

Daley’s at 6257 S. Cottage Grove is the oldest continuing operating restaurant in Chicago, established in 1895. It moved across the street, where it is still in operation today. They recently did a remodel and modernized the façade. Daley’s is located right off the 63^rd Street Green Line.

The Palace Grill at 1408 W. Madison is my favorite diner. It has been operating for over 80 years and owned by the Lemperis family for over 60 years. I have been eating there for almost forty years. It is two-thirds larger than it used to be with parking and a catering operation. The food is terrific. The service is good. They serve alcohol and are open late for Blackhawk games. The place is festooned with the team’s memorabilia. The Palace is very popular with people from all walks of life, so you never know who you might see dining there.

Grilddle 24 at 334 W. Chicago is another excellent Diner. The staff is friendly and helpful, the portions are generous, the menus are varied, and the food is good. Some sandwich portions are large. They have great soups. It is easy to get to via public transportation. They are open 24 hrs.

The Golden Apple at 2971 N. Lincoln is another long-time Chicago diner. The menu is varied with traditional diner food and other specialties. They are open 24 hrs. On weekends they get crowded in the mornings and especially late at night when people leave the bars.

The White Palace Grill at 1159 S. Canal is another favorite. Open 24 hrs. They have a great menu, good food, and nice portions. Decades ago, it was the place to go for many people working the midnight shift, especially Postal workers from the Main Branch.

My friend, John Kass, is another diner aficionado. He recommends JC Georges in Countryside. If he says it is good, you better believe it. Kass is a foodie, mean cook, and BBQ master in his own right. His opinion carries weight.

The Diner Grill at 1635 W. Irving Park Rd. is another 24 hr. favorite. They originally opened in 1937. A fire shut them down a few years back, but they rose from the ashes and reopened. They are another late-night haunt for bar crawlers. The Slinger is their signature late-night or breakfast dish. It consists of hash browns, two burgers, cheese, grilled onion, two eggs over easy, and topped with chili. The challenge is to finish this behemoth.

I know there are several more diners in this city. The ones listed are those I patronize and am most familiar with. Get out there and eat.

What is acceptable

Published by pvbella on February 6, 2022

In this new era, we went from political correctness to being woke- whatever that means. It is tough to express oneself without being criticized or getting in trouble in this day and age. Daily, expressions are being considered verboten.

I usually refer to elected officials as clowns. The other day, the news reported that a showman’s organization stated that referring to politicians as clowns is insulting to clowns.

Some time ago, I wrote that politics was nothing more than a great parlor game, a great magic act. I was not alone in that thinking. You guessed it. The magicians considered it an insult to be compared to politicians.

Occasionally, I would refer to someone I did not like as a dog during conversations. My late dog, Jack, reminded me that the reference was insulting to dogs. I stopped using the term in his presence to spare his feelings.

One of my favorite sayings is that person is dumber than a box of rocks. Yep, I was reminded that rocks are inanimate objects. The reference is insulting to geology.

The same holds true for referring to people as rats, horses’ asses, or pigeons as flying rats. It is insulting to rats, horses, and pigeons.

The current state of the City of Chicago is anarchy. It is anarchy when prosecutors and judges keep putting violent criminals back on the street. Is this insulting to anarchists?

This brings me to football. I refer to football players as wusses. Ever since the game changed to protect the celebrity- the quarterback- the game turned into a kinder, gentler sport. The celebrities would not survive playing against the likes of Dick Butkus or Alex Karas. By the way, football is not a team sport. The only player who matters is the quarterback. The rest are just lumps of brainless muscle doing his bidding or trying to stop him in the kindest, most gentle manner.

If you need further proof of the wussification of football, look no further than the Super Bowl. Several years ago, the league determined that the big game could only be played in warm weather areas or domed stadiums. The poor future champion wusses should not be exposed to snow, hard frozen ground, or cold and even sub-zero temperatures. Yeah, the Super Bowl sucks as much as the game of football.

I am sure that someone will proclaim that comparing football players to wusses is insulting to wusses.

Hockey players are true athletes and way more brutal than football players. It is a blood sport, as some blood will be shed during the games. The players suck it up. If they lose teeth, they swallow them to use as fuel for more energy, unlike the wussified football players. My apologies to wusses.

Baseball is a much better sport. If soccer is “the beautiful game,” baseball should be considered elegant. Baseball is consistent. Most of the rule changes over the centuries were to improve the sport. Some of the rules remained the same since the game’s inception.

I will tell you what I find insulting. The two evil political parties’ mascots. Unlike the ignoble politicians who spew their manure, the donkey and the elephant are noble beasts. The mascots should be changed out of respect for the noble beasts and to reflect reality. The copperhead snake and the rattlesnake would better represent the two parties. Like the parties, they are venomous. My apologies to copperheads and rattlesnakes.

Some Mind Drippings

Published by pvbella on February 4, 2022

One of the first things police officers learn is the court system is not always fair. Judges have great latitude and discretion. Lawyers know this too. You do not have to like a judge’s ruling. You must accept it. Lawyers have the option to file appeals. Getting angry or critical of judges’ rulings is non-productive.

Jason Van Dyke, the first police officer, convicted of murder in 50 years, was released from prison after serving half of his sentence. Activists and others are angry over what they consider a lenient sentence and his early release. Van Dyke is a convicted felon on supervised release (Parole). Due to his conviction and high-profile name, his life is ruined. Federal charges and possibly more prison time will do nothing except inflict more punishment versus rehabilitation. It will change nothing except to satisfy the lust for revenge versus justice. Some of those activist preachers and “Christian” activists should remember Romans 12:19- “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Chicago is a city of short, sometimes hot, tempers. Our former and current mayors are known for their public temper tantrums. So are others in this town. Blackhawks owner, Rocky Wirtz, demonstrated that the other day, throwing a fit at reporters who asked questions about the team to mitigate a scandal moving forward. Unlike our past and current mayors, Wirtz apologized. It was not enough for many in the news business or the fans. It is funny. They can tolerate loose-lipped tirades from mayors- who never apologize- but not handle a team owner’s anger, frustration, or whatever really set Wirtz off. His apology is not enough. He must be punished and pummeled in the news media and by the fans. Again, vengeance rears its ugly head.

Chicago is experiencing another arctic winter, with piles of snow and frigid temperatures. It makes one wonder why I live in a place so cold it makes my face hurt? Why do I have to risk the widow and orphan making heart-a-stroke to shovel snow? Why, at my age, do I have to walk slowly and carefully to keep from slipping, falling, and breaking something? Why do I still live here? Where would I move? I mean, in Florida, you risk death or catastrophic brain damage by having iguanas falling out of trees and landing on your head when the temps dip below suntan weather. In the South and Southwest, you must put up with freedumb loving ignoramuses who want to curtail rights and ideas in the name of “freedom.“

Living in Chicago is a constant challenge. The people who came here from someplace else drive me mad. The politics suck as bad as the weather. But I can live here knowing I am not the only vocal curmudgeon in this city. I may not change people’s behavior, but I can personally p**s them off. That is satisfying enough.

COVID does not appear to be going anywhere soon. We are tired of wearing masks, showing vax docs and IDs, social distancing, and other mandates. Yet, we grudgingly go about our lives looking like bandits and showing our papers. Self-survival is the first and highest law of nature. Real Chicagoans are survivors. I survived COVID. The COVID symptoms, while annoying, were not severe. The worst part was being homebound for about ten days until I tested negative. I would rather put up with inconvenience than suffer or die. I wear black masks and like looking like a bandit.

So, bundle up, people. Wear the bandit mask. Walk or drive carefully. Try to bring some inner happiness living in this city that sucks the joy out of us.

Here we go again

Published by pvbella on February 1, 2022

The thought that leads me to contemplate with dread the erasure of other voices, of unwritten novels, poems whispered or swallowed for fear of being overheard by the wrong people, outlawed languages flourishing underground, essayists’ questions challenging authority never being posed, unstaged plays, cancelled films — that thought is a nightmare. (Toni Morrison)

When I was in the sixth grade, there was time out each day for reading. We could read books from the school shelves or from home. I was reading Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger, which was running in the movies at the time. Sister Mary Gaudio would walk the aisles making sure we were reading. She stopped by my desk, tsked loudly, told me I should not read that trash, then moved on. She did not take the book, which she could have. She did not pull me aside later to tell me why I should not read that “trash.” She did not send me to see the principal or call my parents.

Last month, a county school board in Tennessee banned “Maus” from the curriculum. Since then, sales of Maus have been going through the roof. It is a top seller on Amazon. Now, a school board in Wentzville, Missouri, voted to ban acclaimed author Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.” We can expect sales of “The Bluest Eye” to soar.

This is nothing new. The left and right have been trying to ban books with “objectional” language and themes for years. The past few years, the right has been on a roll, not only banning books but enacting laws to keep specific “objectional” reading material and curricula out of schools. Ignorance appears to be more contagious than COVID. Ignorance is at pandemic levels.

The book and curriculum banners are ignorant about literature and history. They are clueless about young people. Young people have an innate curiosity. If the books or ideas are banned, they will find ways to obtain those books or search for ideas. Banning books or ideas only fuels their curiosity.

They choose to deny young people the chance to understand and develop empathy for others. Evidently, allowing young people to develop understanding and empathy runs counter to supposed values and morals. They want to raise their children to be as ignorant and insular as they are.

Here is a clue. If you ban something from young people, they will seek it out. If you banned brushing teeth, you would find young people in gangways, alleys, and rooftops furiously brushing their teeth. The same holds true for banned books or ideas. Curious young people will find them, even if they must hide them from adults.

We need our young people to widen their perspectives. You cannot do that in a vacuum. Our society is in constant change. Morals and values are changing. If we want our children to be good world citizens, they need to be exposed to ideas and language. They are not being converted, nor are their morals and values corrupted. Hell, the Bible is full of immorality and atrocities. Not one of those Bible-thumping book banners wants the Bible banned.

The internet opened the whole world of ideas. Young people can go on the internet and learn anything they want, even the ideas banned by so-called adults. There are no hiding ideas and concepts from young people. They can find out anything without the permission or knowledge of their narrow-minded school boards, state legislatures, or parents.

Language and history are uncomfortable. They are they supposed to be. We teach young people history without the horrors humans inflicted on the world. They learn that later in their educations, usually at university.

Young people are more sophisticated than their parents, just like every young generation was. If taught correctly, they can critically think and make their own decisions about right or wrong, moral or immoral. They can decide what is right for them. The question is will they choose to condemn others or understand and have empathy for them?

When people ban books, they are self-defeating. The same people who complain about censorship of certain ideas or cancel culture are the same ones trying to ban books. They are the bad guys not only to young people but to themselves. Knowledge is not good, evil, moral, or immoral. It is just information to produce informed citizens.

Certain kinds of trauma visited on peoples are so deep, so cruel, that unlike money, unlike vengeance, even unlike justice, or rights, or the goodwill of others, only writers can translate such trauma and turn sorrow into meaning, sharpening the moral imagination. (Toni Morrison)

We can send informed citizens with moral imagination in the world, or we can send ignorant citizens with no imagination, just like the book banners. The choice is ours. The future is theirs.