My View of the World
Chicago, IL – ??
I’m not sure exactly where this pic was taken but I think it was at the Museum of Science and Industry. Scale modeling, especially the railroad variety is a very popular hobby for many, especially among us seniors. My father built several different layouts in his garage during his retirement years. Me, I’m more into blogging and photography. I think one of the enticements for this hobby is to be in control of your world. Even if it is just a miniature one…
Chicago, IL – The Art Institute of Chicago
Art is mainly something that all of us need to be exposed to. Much of it is a look into the soul of the artist. It helps us to know our value beyond any monetary terms. It is the essence of being human. The lions outside the museum are widely known and the art inside is well worth the visit. This pic was taken on a cold wintery day in December 2010.
Chicago, IL – Marshall Fields Department Store
Almost every major town in America has their own variety of the Marshall Fields Department store. They were for the most part build in the beginnings of the 20th century. For those who follow the PBS series one very enterprising American also went to build on in London by the name of Selfridge. You could say they were the precursors to the modern day Walmart.
Chicago, IL – Art Institute of Chicago
The painting American Gothic has come to represent rural America to many of us and even people around the world. Grant Wood who has the painter proved to be a quintessential American. I had the pleasure of seeing the original a few years ago.
Chicago, IL – The Navy Pier
The Navy Pier in Chicago is a popular downtown tourist attraction. It has a stained glass exhibit that is beyond comparison. The view from the Farris wheel is astounding. It was built in 1916 and its primary purpose was as a cargo facility for lake freighters, and warehouses were built up and down the Pier. During WWII it was used as a Naval training center
Magnificent Mile Chicago IL
It has been a while since I took this picture. I know it was in Chicago and I’m pretty sure in was in a mall on the Magnificent Mile. I also know that Lego is not an American inventions but it has unleashed a lot of creativity among us. There is a discovery center there with some pretty awesome models.
“These three gangs were not sophisticated drug-trafficking organizations,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance in announcing the two indictments. “Far from it, they were young people protecting their territories from imaginary threats and avenging the murders of fellow gang members and loved ones.” Investigators from Vance’s office worked with gang squad detectives and Department of Correction officials to review more than 1 million Facebook pages, tens of thousands of phone calls from the Rikers Island jail complex and hundreds of hours of video footage in preparing the case, Vance said. Surveillance video, taken from cameras in the buildings’ elevators, hallways and grounds, were a major benefit to investigators, Bratton said. But not all public housing developments have video. Nearly 60 percent of the city’s public housing buildings don’t have a single camera installed — including one in Brooklyn where two small children were stabbed Sunday, one fatally. “We embrace it, we need it,” Bratton said of crime-fighting technology such as camera systems. “There’s not a case I get briefed on in my crime briefings or my counterterrorism briefings each morning that doesn’t have some significant technology component to it.” SOURCE: 103 suspected gang members charged in NYC case – Yahoo News.
Being from a small rural town I can’t understand how this type of gang violence can be tolerated in our major cities. I know it was on months ago but just watched part of the series from CNN entitled “Chicagoland”. It was about downsizing the Chicago’s school districts to align with the current population. The biggest argument against closing schools was that students would then have to cross other gang neighborhoods to get to schools. They say if the kids have to travel more than two blocks that they will likely be beaten or killed by rival gangs!
One of the TV shows I watch on a regular basis is “Person of Interest”. It is a show about the “machine” which supposedly links all cameras in our country together and looks for potential terrorists. I doubt that such a machine exists yet but I’m sure some are dreaming of that ultimate incorporation of our technology.
It looks like Chicago could learn a few lessons from NYC. Chicago has been in the news the last few years as being the murder capital of the country and the primary cause of that is gang violence. Gangs are nothing more that thugs who want to be big fish in little ponds. Because much of inner-city life is one of desperation they want to have control over at least a small segment of it. Chicago needs a “mini-machine” to record all the violence that occurs in its neighborhoods and then take those who cause it to court. Get rid of the thugs and maybe the neighborhoods would become peaceful once again.
But I am just a simple guy so what do I know…..
Well actually it is a lion that was in front of the Art Institute of Chicago during our Christmas week visit. Many interesting things in the museum but the photography exhibit was a total disappointment!
Here is a picture of Yvonne at the ChristKindlMarket in Chicago last week. They had 200 booths from Germany and Eastern Europe there. She was indeed a happy shopper.
Here is another picture of our recent time in Chicago. This is the ChristkindlMarket at Daley Plaza. There were booths from all over Germany and Eastern Europe so there were many unique things to be seen and bought. And Yvonne certainly bought her share 
