500 Times!

In March 2009, a friend of mine who was going to the Middle East on a work assignment told me he was thinking of creating a blog. He asked me if I knew how to do that. I laughed because we all know I am technologically challenged. I said I would find out.

 I cannot remember which computer savvy friend told me how to do it, so I apologize for not giving credit to them here. I went to the web site that teaches one how to do it, created a template and on March 12, 2009, I attempted my first posting. It read:

 “This is my first entry, so I am testing to see if it works.”

Not as momentous as Neil Armstrong’s, “That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind," but it was my start.

 Once I saw that I had successfully created the blog, I then wrote something else on the same day and posted it. When I went back and looked at the posting, it was full of spelling errors, because that was before I learned how to spell check on the blog. I corrected the errors in what I originally posted and copied it below.

 “Now that I have set up a Blog, I will RANT about whatever I want without consideration to political correctness. I do not care if what I write offends any particular group, because if I am ranting about them--then they offended me first!

Today's rant is how the media seems to be blaming The Chicago Public School system when there are shootings of teenagers. CPS has NOTHING to do with the shootings! The senseless violence comes from gang turf wars. Schools are meant to EDUCATE our children in the learning process so they can achieve in life. Parents have the responsibility to PROTECT their children from danger! Every time a child is shot or killed the media headlines read CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT SHOT.

They are not shot on school property, so it has nothing to do with schools. The media might as well put up headlines that read, MILK DRINKING TEENAGER SHOT or HAMBURGER EATING CHILD SHOT. Those characteristics fit as well as CPS student. Notice how this violence does not reach to private and parochial school. WHY? Because the parents of those students have taught their children how to act as responsible citizens and not get involved with gangs!!”

I guess I told a few friends about my blog because I had a comment. It was from Sue Kupcinet, daughter-in law of the legendary Sun-Times columnist Irv Kupcinet. Her comment was:

“You're right...it is not the fault of the school. It stems from the home and peers. Unfortunately, most of the public schools get children with parents that either work several jobs to make ends meet...or simply don't care. Either way, those kids get their attention from the gang members, very sad.”


I then wrote about different topics ranging from the Sears Tower becoming Big Willie to medical identity theft to Jerry Springer moving to Connecticut, etc. The first postings are full of typographical errors and all sorts of mistakes, but I am leaving them in their original form.


I just noticed that on March 26, 2009, I wrote about MWBE set-asides that were planned if Chicago got the Olympics. How funny that I just wrote about contract set asides for IDOT last week. In both stories, my conclusion was the same.

On April 21, 2009, I learned how to post my first picture. It was one of me sitting in what was then Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s chair. It was a story where Todling talked about how employees get arrested all the time.

My favorite posting of all time is September 7, 2009. It is the one about contracts for snow-plowing the side streets in Chicago. The last line is a killer and is much loved by my friend Linda Shafran.

Sometime in 2010, Jason Baumann of The Laser Group, created a web site for me and moved the blog to be able to view on the web site. I created a fan club and the President became Sue Kupcinet. An office she earned because she was the first person to comment on the blog. She is a faithful reader and comments almost every day. Thank you, Sue.

Also in 2010, a friend offered to proof my writing. The blogs definitely improved with her guidance. My friend Bob Manewith always makes sure to let me know AFTER a posting when there is some mistake-- I then go back and correct it.

I spend hours researching topics I write about even though I only use a fraction of what I learn in what I eventually post. Sometimes I even change my mind and don’t write what I originally thought I would.

I have stayed true to my original “mission statement” of ranting about whatever I want to, without holding any punches whether the topic of my blog is a friend or foe. Integrity is what matters to me and my blog will always speak the truth. Today marks the 500th time I have written a story that I hope you have enjoyed, and, if not, at the very least you have learned something. You--the readers-- are priceless, so I thank you for paying attention.


















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