Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Movie Review: “The Post” when newspapers had more respect The new movie “The Post” is a powerful film that takes Americans back to 1971 when journalism was a profession dominated mostly by principle. Truth outweighed political partisanship. But in watching the movie this week, it only made me sad. Because it reminded me how badly…
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Double dipping tipping is getting out of hand Service industry businesses like restaurants, limousines, hotels and cruise lines are getting into the habit of imposing a 20 percent “tip” for services rendered to customers. But they are still asking for an additional “tip” when the bill arrives. A “tip” is supposed to reflect a customers…
Holidays today are not like holidays of the past It was so much better in the “old days.” Movie theaters were more enjoyable and traveling on airlines and even cruises were simpler. We knew what we were getting upfront for the single cost we paid. Today, traveling is a gamble, and going to the movie…
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Finding the best Sunday Brunch restaurants It seems like the Sunday Brunch has gone out of style or something. A lot of the great restaurants that once offered wide variety brunch menus seem to have disappeared. But if you look hard enough, there are a few worth the effort on a late Sunday morning By…
Merry Christmas, and clean up that garbage mess! I live my life by certain principles and conduct and I think that everyone should respect some basic commonsense and acts of respect in our society. These are mine. By Ray Hanania I live my life by certain concepts. Don’t move next door to an airport and…
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Video Interview with veteran journalist Bruce DuMont By Aaron Hanania Bruce DuMont was hooked by broadcast journalism when he was just 10 years old. His uncle Allen B. DuMont founded the DuMont Television Network and in 1968 became a producer for WGN 720 AM Radio. DuMont quickly rose to become a well known TV and radio…
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Severe limitations on Blue Tooth usage The computer industry is driven by greed rather than by a conscience of serving consumers the best quality products. Shortcomings are reflected in computer design, Blue Tooth ease of use, and even in the release of new iPhones. The old iPhones are being abandoned and users are experiencing delays,…
Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs? The recent personal attacks against a trustee in Palos Township has sparked a discussion about who are the Arabs of Chicagoland. I have spent most of my life studying and writing about the American Arab community, authoring dissertations and studies on them at Northern Illinois and the…
The bullying of Sharon Brannigan Sharon Brannigan, a suburban Township politician who made some improper comparisons while arguing about immigration policy has suddenly become the target of the protesters against anti-Muslim, anti-Arab racism. But in their protests, they have turned into bullies who yell, scream, and disrespect the image of what Arabs are all about. And…
Exorbitant Hamilton tickets reflect founding father’s life “Hamilton: The Satirical.” More tickets were announced available this week to the politically partisan Broadway musical “Hamilton: An American Musical.” But only the super rich will be able to afford seats that allows them to see the whole stage and even the cheap, obstructed seats will still cost…
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Netflix increases fees as programming drops Netflix raised fees, again. But if they want to keep me as a loyal subscriber, they need to be loyal to me and produce some kickass programing. Dropping Kevin Spacey from “House of Cards” is a major blow, and the garbage they are offering the wake of another favorite,…
Taking a stand against pollution The world is being overcome slowly and steadily by pollution in many forms. One of the worst and most threatening is the non recyclable use of plastics. Plastic bottles are finding their way into our oceans and breaking up into plastic particles that are being eaten by the fish that…
Sandburg HS cracking down on e-Cigarettes and vapes Southwest suburban high school cracks down on students using e-cigarettes and vapes, warning it is a health hazard to students and also a local municipal crime. By Ray Hanania The principal of one of the Southwest Suburb’s largest high schools announced Friday that disciplinary action will be…
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Video: Adventures in remembering Harold Washington I traveled with my dad this week to a meeting of former Chicago City Hall reporters at Italian Village to mark the 30th anniversary of the passing of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. Afterwards, we went to WGN AM 720 radio to join “The Download” radio host Justin Kaufmann for…
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All you can eat Brazilian steak houses One of my favorite restaurants is the Brazilian steakhouse where waiters serve the Churrascaria food selections on skewers one slice at a time with a huge salad bar in the background. Texas de Brazil is at the top of the list but I have enjoyed them all including…
Arab Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Remembering back to the 1960s when Arab Americans had hope for freedom and racism in America was focused elsewhere. Thanksgiving was a feast in Arab American homes in the 1960s and 1970s before politics, hatred, racism and Israeli violence created a refugee crisis By Ray Hanania Thanksgiving is a special holiday…
Remembering Mayor Washington this Thanksgiving Mayor Harold Washington was one of the more affable of Chicago’s mayors. He had a great sense of humor and was driven by a desire to balance the imbalance in Chicago’s society, bringing all of the city’s races and ethnic groups together, treating them equally. It’s something we no longer…
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Rauner’s bash-and-burn TV Ads slander Illinois Illinois Gov Bruce Rauner thinks his ads bashing House Speaker Michael J. Madigan are clever, tapping support from three neighboring Republican governors. But the Ads really symbolize Rauner’s own self-hatred of the state he leads By Ray Hanania Anyone with a lot of money can clog our TV viewing…
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