The Nooner | Chicago news and beyond | November 2, 2011

Ryan Gosling: Only sometimes cuter than a puppy.

The Nooner: Chicago news and beyond
Today's news is about cruelty to homeless people and further Blago fallout.

Let them take cabs
The head of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services suggested yesterday that homeless people might want to take cabs to overnight shelters this winter. The let-them-eat-cake comment was a response to budget cuts that eliminated a Chicago city program where off-duty city buses took homeless people to late-night shelters during winter’s worst months. As someone who has a home (well, apartment) and still considers cabs to be a major splurge, all I can do is hope that the comment was somehow misconstrued.

More Blago fallout
Another one bites the dust: A jury convicted Illinois political stooge/businessman William Cellini of extortion yesterday. Working on behalf of Rod Blagojevich’s campaign, Cellini tried to extort a $1.5 million “donation” from the movie producer behind “Million Dollar Baby.” Cellini threatened to put the freeze on the producer’s investment company’s state pension fund if he didn’t pony up the cash.

Sad North Korean amusement park
Listen, we may live with the kind of government corruption that makes Rod Blagojevich a punchline and that is rapidly turning his cronies into inmates, but at least we don’t live in an economy crippled by Communism and a maniac dictator. Someone just sent me this super-sad photo of a North Korean amusement park, and it reminded me that we have a lot to be thankful for. You’ve seen the famous (and also sad) image of North and South Korea taken from a satellite at night, right? Capitalism has its problems (high-five, Occupy Chicago), but at least we’re keeping the lights on.  

Old brewery to be razed for new big-box store?
There’s a threat to a historic brewery on Elston Ave—a big-box store has expressed interest in buying the site and razing the building. Hat-tip to Gapers’ Block for pointing this fascinating, well-researched article out. The brewery in question is the long-closed Brand Brewing Co. complex in the 2500 block of N Elston Ave. I’ve often admired the handsome structure, and have occasionally fantasized about winning the lottery, buying the building, fixing it up and inviting all my friends to move in. The article about it over at Our Urban Times suggests that one of Chicago’s new local breweries could buy the building, instead of a chain retailer, but I’m guessing that the cost is prohibitive. Still, the point that the mass retailer could instead move into one of the not-so-historic empty megabuildings nearby, is well taken.

Ryan Gosling versus a puppy
And finally, take a look at this tumblr blog in which you are repeatedly asked the perennial question: Is Ryan Gosling cuter than a puppy? You know what, sometimes Ryan wins. But mostly, the puppy takes it by a landslide.