A Curmudgeon Amok in Chicago

I first noticed this posted on a lamp pole near the Loyola dorms on April Fool's, but it was too late and my dogs too frisky to get a good video of it, so I came back next day sans papillon. Since I' more » I first noticed this posted on a lamp pole near the Loyola dorms on April Fool's, but it was too late and my dogs too frisky to get a good video of it, so I came back next day sans papillon. Since I'm not sure whether this was a good natured prank appreciated by the subject, or something else entirely, I put a post it note over her face (which of course I removed at the end of the video.) While I try to abide by the prime directive of not creating or interfering with what I shoot, in this case I didn't want to play an unwitting part in harming someone if the subject of this poster indeed found it hurtful. I suppose this must be uproariously funny to those who know the person involved, but I didn't find it particularly clever or witty.« less

I put my camera in a baggie and walked the dogs down to Lake Michigan at Berger Park. The snow was so heavy and wet, as the video goes on, it started coating the baggie. It was doing the exact same ... more » I put my camera in a baggie and walked the dogs down to Lake Michigan at Berger Park. The snow was so heavy and wet, as the video goes on, it started coating the baggie. It was doing the exact same thing to my glasses, which is what made me decide this video was worth keeping & uploading (I shoot at least 10 minutes for every 1 you ever see)- it gives a very accurate feel for what its like to walk through a heavy wet spring snowstorm here.« less

Its always fun to see other people out there in the trenches- finding treasure in trash, keeping things out of our overloaded landfills, protecting our environment and conserving our natural resources more » Its always fun to see other people out there in the trenches- finding treasure in trash, keeping things out of our overloaded landfills, protecting our environment and conserving our natural resources. They're always interesting, nice people. « less

We had a big snowstorm today on the first day of spring, but it still doesn't make this section of alley other than repulsive. The utility conduits do have a certain Clockwork Orange / Pink Floyd / A more » We had a big snowstorm today on the first day of spring, but it still doesn't make this section of alley other than repulsive. The utility conduits do have a certain Clockwork Orange / Pink Floyd / Alan Parsons "feel" to them, but the grocery bags in the concertina wire... I'm at a loss for words (which people who know me happens maybe once in a decade!) ... all I can come up with is REPULSIVE!« less

(I shot this both because of the raw beauty of it, and as a response video to a fun one a couple of fellows on Youtube and their cat did in response to my last Berger Park video. So if you're on Yout more » (I shot this both because of the raw beauty of it, and as a response video to a fun one a couple of fellows on Youtube and their cat did in response to my last Berger Park video. So if you're on Youtube and you see this twice, its because I upload my videos to Veoh originally because they stream at full D1 quality and Veoh syndicates them to Youtube.) Gotta love Chicago- first day of spring, major winter storm!« less

This nice lady stopped to talk with us. She'd seen my MiL Barb taking them to "Doggy Yoga" a few weeks before and was very excited about it, as were they. This nice lady stopped to talk with us. She'd seen my MiL Barb taking them to "Doggy Yoga" a few weeks before and was very excited about it, as were they. « less

While searching for clothes for the needy and for my rugs, I've often come across this fellow, and he gave me permission to to record this conversation with him. Its folks like him who are really doi more » While searching for clothes for the needy and for my rugs, I've often come across this fellow, and he gave me permission to to record this conversation with him. Its folks like him who are really doing something about the problem of our overflowing landfills and wanton waste of energy and natural resources. He even takes old broken appliances and removes the recyclable metal from them. He daily does good for the world, and is always good for a fun story too!« less

I shot the same scene in my last video, but in the evening, and I had two precious papillon trying to pull my arm out of my socket. So I thought I'd shoot the same scene again. As before, no comment more » I shot the same scene in my last video, but in the evening, and I had two precious papillon trying to pull my arm out of my socket. So I thought I'd shoot the same scene again. As before, no comment on the content- I'm just a chronicler and observer of life here in Chicago. I've enough troubles of my own with my disabled wife and other problems, I don't need to stick my tongue in that light socket. (As I said in the video, I'd rather have an habañero enema than get involved in a political debate right now! First Amendment, gotta love it, Chicago's a fun place to live... that's all I'm sayin'!) « less

What first caught my eye was the bizarre box like thing on top of the SUV. Then I saw the anti-war banners posted by Loyola students on the corner house. (No comment... I've a very sick wife and eno more » What first caught my eye was the bizarre box like thing on top of the SUV. Then I saw the anti-war banners posted by Loyola students on the corner house. (No comment... I've a very sick wife and enough other things in life, not sticking my tongue in that light socket!) But the most beautiful part of this video is of the Red Line trains crossing the trestle at Rosemont silhouetted by the sunset. Incidentally, I saw just at the end of shooting or just after I hit "stop" that the ugly box on the SUV had wheels, so it was some sort of trolley or dumpster... still the most ugly thing I've seen mounted to the top of a vehicle yet! « less

Another nitty gritty city life video. I assume the same "urban artist" / Dominicks dumpster diver who provided us the flowers and cold cuts in the alley had a hand in this. The video concludes with ... more » Another nitty gritty city life video. I assume the same "urban artist" / Dominicks dumpster diver who provided us the flowers and cold cuts in the alley had a hand in this. The video concludes with a stroll over to see how that street preformance art is progressing« less