J-Fled to Stay On?

Once again, Shortshanks playing the bi-polar puppet-master:

• [from BreakingNews.com] - Mayor Richard M. Daley today praised his beleaguered police superintendent Jody Weis on a radio talk show, but dodged questions on whether he would renew Weis' contract up next year.

  On a taping of WLS-AM's "Connected to Chicago," Daley told host Bill Cameron that Weis worked the streets like few of his other superintendents.

  But when questioned on whether he would offer the former FBI agent a new contract before his current $310,000-annual contract runs out next March, Daley veered the conversation into the responsibility of parents.

"beleaguered"? That's a good description. So is "demoralizing force," "big mistake," "Daley tool" and "J-Fled."

• [from the Sun Times] - Mayor Daley on Friday praised Chicago’s $310,000-a-year police superintendent and hinted strongly that Jody Weis’ contract would be renewed when it expires next March — albeit, sources said, at a substantially reduced salary.

  “He’s doing the best possible [job]. The crime rate was higher under previous administrations,” Daley said, during a taping of the WLS-AM Radio program, “Connected to Chicago,” to be broadcast at 2 p.m. Sunday.

• Pressed further on whether Weis’ contract would be renewed, Daley said, “Well, we’ll see. We’ll work with him.”

  Other sources said Weis would be asked to take a substantial pay cut if his contract is renewed.

• Earlier this month, a retired police officer went so far as to file a formal complaint against Weis, accusing the superintendent of being a “coward” who “cut and run” when he should have responded to a scene 45 seconds away where shots were fired.

  Ever since then, a police blog that previously referred to Weis as J-Fed started calling him J-Fled.

Whoops! There it is again. In any event, Shanks continues his demoralization policy and is still smarting from the pants-ing he used to get from his bodyguard detail back in the day. We expect some offer to be tendered to J-Fled for an extension unless this summer is especially bloody, which it appears it might be.

The downtown "wildings" every weekend haven't been covered by the media for some reason, but by the time the Taste of Chicago rolls around, they'll be hard to ignore with all the suburbanites around. The bad publicity will mount and J-Fled might never see an extension. The odds are currently 50-50.

Miracle Recovery

Welcome Home Officer Medina:

• Pedro Medina is getting ready to do the "unthinkable."
  
  Told by doctors last year that he would be a quadriplegic after being severely injured in southeastern Afghanistan, the Illinois Army National Guardsman and Chicago police officer is preparing to lead the Police Memorial Foundation's sixth annual Run to Remember on Saturday.
  
  "To represent fallen and severely injured officers is a privilege," said Medina whose right foot was shattered, and back and pelvis broken when a shelter toppled over on him during a mortar fight. "To participate in it and not be in a wheelchair, I'm just overjoyed,"
  
  Medina, 35, said he doesn't know if he'll be walking or running, but added with a laugh, "It depends on what my former boss, Phil Cline, will be doing." (Cline said he will be walking).

The fact that he will be upright and even participating is a miracle and a testament to his spirit and hard work. In any event, thank you for your service and we look forward to your return to duty.

"Push the Envelope"

Forwarded to us by our deep cover spy (thanks MM!):

• From: Weis, Jody P.
  Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 08:10
  To: Jackson, James B.; Dugan Jr, Daniel F.; Peterson, Steven; Masters, Michael
  Subject: Motivation
  
  Its going to be a very nice day and evening. I want everyone on their toes and pushing the envelope. Parties, dispersals, people (victims) sitting in parked cars, parks, anything that might be a potential for violence. Let's show the city that we can meet the challenge. Front line supervisors MUST be engaged. I do not want to see a group of officers sitting on their cars when they should be patrolling. Make sure everyone is on point. JW

"Pushing the envelope"? So you have someone to throw under the bus?

"[P]eople (victims) sitting in parked cars, parks..."? Sounds like a Civil Rights violations.

"...officers sitting on their cars..."? Probably the only way they can escape the carbon monoxide fumes and non-stop heat boiling up from the engine compartment.

"...everyone is on point"? We got the point J-Fled. We got it two years ago.

Bad News Part II

After all the whining and screaming from the left and Obama people:

• After a frantic hour-long desert search, authorities found a deputy wounded in a shootout Friday with suspected illegal immigrants apparently hauling bales of marijuana along a major smuggling corridor in southern Arizona.

  The deputy was found with a superficial wound - a chunk of skin torn from just above his left kidney - after being shot with an AK-47 on Friday afternoon, Pinal County sheriff's Lt. Tamatha Villar said. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Casa Grande, about 40 miles south of Phoenix.

  Villar said the deputy was doing smuggling interdiction work and found bales of marijuana in the desert. He then encountered five suspected illegal immigrants, two armed with rifles, and was shot.

Legal documented immigrants have seldom been a problem in this country. Illegal means illegal and they are slowly strangling local and state government abilities to cope. And this incident merely demonstrates the necessity of securing the borders. If Washington won't, Arizona will.

Texas and New Mexico are next up.

Bad News

Obama won't go to New Orleans:

• The White House says President Barack Obama won't be heading to the Gulf Coast in the next few days. But press secretary Robert Gibbs left open the possibility of a later presidential visit to assess the spreading oil spill.

Oh wait, now he will go (7 hours later):

• President Obama plans to visit the catastrophe zone off Lousiana's coast within the next 48 hours as SecDef Gates mobilizes the Lousiana National Guard and WH convenes a principal-level homeland security response meeting. Republicans begin to question speed of Obama's response.

Republicans to question Obama's response? That's unpatriotic! you aren't allowed to question the president...unless it happens to be a Republican in office:

• The rapidly expanding environmental catastrophe caused by the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana is presenting a growing political challenge to the Obama White House, with Mr. Obama and his aides at pains to defend the response and forestall comparisons to the Hurricane Katrina crisis.
  
  
• Failure to get control of the relief effort and contain the environmental challenge could pose the same kind of political threat to Mr. Obama's popular standing that the much-criticized handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina did for former President George W. Bush. And unlike Katrina, it is likely the federal government will be the clear lead authority in dealing with the BP spill.

Wait a minute. What's that last line?

• And unlike Katrina, it is likely the federal government will be the clear lead authority in dealing with the BP spill.
  
  
• Mr. Obama's response to the disaster will be closely scrutinized for parallels to the response of Mr. Bush to the devastating Hurricane Katrina that blew into New Orleans in August 2005, destroying levies and damaging the below-sea-level city. Later assessments by some organizations found that the primary responsibility for the disaster response lay with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, not federal officials, but that did not lessen the political damage to Mr. Bush's administration.

Finally, a media admission that it was the state and local failures that doomed New Orleans and not Bush's fault.

And for all the drooling lefties who will start screeching in the comments about how this is different, it isn't. And it isn't so funny when the shoe is on the other foot either, is it? Don't expect to see your crap in our comment sections either.

Ríver en la B.

LPND sigue creciendo y se complace en presentar a un nuevo integrante del staff: Mario H. Trubiano es periodista deportivo desde 2002 y hace cuatro años lleva adelante el distinguido "Esférico Balón".

30.04.2010 - Mario Trubiano - Son tiempos en los que las palabras River y descenso se están relacionando como nunca antes en la historia. Como se sabe, el Millonario comenzará la temporada 2010/2011 muy comprometido, a tal punto de arrancar, de no mediar cambios en las últimas fechas del presente Clausura, en la última posición sin contabilizar los equipos que asciendan de la B Nacional.

Sin embargo hubo un tiempo en que River, como Boca e Independiente y la mayoría de los equipos, jugó en el ascenso argentino. Fue entre 1905 y 1908, época amateur casi ignorada en nuestro fútbol, como si no hubiese sido la piedra fundacional de este deporte en el país. Y los comienzos no fueron en la segunda división sino en la tercera categoría de la por entonces Argentine Football Association.

Su primer partido lo disputó el 30 de abril de 1905 ante Facultad de Medicina: fue derrota 2-3 y dos de los goles del rival los marcó Bernardo Houssey, quien en 1947 recibió el Premio Nobel de Medicina. La campaña se asemejó a las actuales: fue penúltimo y quien ocupó la última colocación no se presentó en la mayoría de los encuentros.

Al año siguiente se inscribió para jugar en Segunda (aún no se habían implementado los ascensos directos) y finalizó sexto. En 1907 perdió la final por el pase a Primera por 1-0 con Nacional, equipo integrado por empleados de la famosa tienda Gath & Chaves. 

En 1908, River se refuerza con varios futbolistas del conjunto que le había privado de subir de categoría y que fue desafiliado porque no se querían equipos representantes de firmas comerciales aunque se esgrimió como argumento que era porque no tenía su cancha en condiciones. Así se sumaron Morroni, Abaca Gómez, Chagneaud, Chiappe, Cambón y Politano, el primer gran goleador de la historia millonaria. Una gran campaña lo lleva al título que le permite subir a la máxima divisional, derrotando a Ferro en semifinales por 5-1 y a Racing en una única final jugada dos veces: el 13 de diciembre gana 2-1 pero los directivos de la institución de Avellaneda protestan por la invasión de campo del público millonario tras el segundo gol. El partido vuelve a disputarse 14 días más tarde, en el estadio Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires, con una inapelable 7-0 (2 de Grifero, 2 de Politano, 2 de Chiappe y uno de Abaca Gómez).

Desde entonces River apenas se codeó con el ascenso a principios de los ochenta cuando la instauración de los promedios evitó que baje de categoría. De esta parte a un año veremos si nuevamente puede gambetear el descenso o, para sorpresa de muchos, si será tiempo de volver a la B…

FUENTES:

CIHF

CLARIN

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Nueva camiseta del Real Madrid 2010/11.

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No Equipment for Strike Force

If this is true, this is hilarious and sad, all at the same time:

• it's all smoke and mirrors. 50 2 year wonders detailed to MSF today..yet no new cars or radios...be riding 4 deep...the public will see the same amount of cars out there...how stupid

And how would this be proven to be true?

• This is off the topic, but I was not sure how to bring it to anyone's attention. According to fleet in order to supply enough cars for the new Summer Initiatives, cars that were scheduled to be junked are being call ed back into service. Mars lights are being reinstalled at area 1 as I write this. This does not effect me directly, but shouldn't this be a safety issue? Two weeks ago a department already short on cars was ready to junk them, but now they are [acceptable]?

Safety grievance anyone?

We thought we had someone intimately familiar with Fleet operations working in HQ now? Someone foisted on the Police Department following a "Love Boat" type tour through other city agencies and following a 30-day-suspension for those transgressions?

We're sure all these cars have been refurbished to exacting standards for the long hot summer ahead.

Weekend Preview?

Four out of four top stories at Chicago Breaking News tonight were all about....shootings (including the Hegewisch kids):

• Kids suffer minor injuries in shooting near Hegewisch school
  
  
• Man shot dead on Far South Side
  
  
• Man critically wounded in Far South Side shooting
  
  
• NW Side shooting leaves man critically wounded

We're trying to figure out if the second and third headlines are the same shooting - they appear to be in the same general area of 122nd Street and within a few minutes of one another. Maybe it's the same shooters in different locations?

But a warm weekend is on tap.

Turn in What?

Turn in guns? For what?

• Holding up an assault weapon surrendered for cash, Mayor Daley urged Chicagoans today to turn in their weapons on May 8 to stop the violence that prompted two state lawmakers to suggest bringing in the National Guard.

• Last summer, the prolonged recession forced a drop in corporate donations and a cut in the bounty —from a $75 pre-paid MasterCard for every gun surrendered to $50. The take dropped along with the prize. Roughly 1,900 guns were turned in, 44 percent below the average for the previous five events.

  This year, the bounty is back up to $75 per gun and remains at $100 for every assault weapon and $10 for each BB gun, air gun or gun replica.

  However, former Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hillard, who is chairing the fundraising drive, acknowledged that only $50,000 has been raised so far to bank-roll gun turn-in bounties.

  Unless there’s a last-minute surge in contributions over the final week, that would only be enough to cover 666 prepaid MasterCard at $75-a-pop.

So they can only cover the cost of the first 666 guns turned in? Leaving aside the obvious biblical references of "666 guns," why would anyone even thing about turning in the one thing that's going to keep you safe in the current economic downturn and manpower crisis?

Guns are about to become legal across the board. Why surrender anything unless it isn't functional, and then you can use the $75 toward a more reliable weapon. Silly mayor.

Wait a Minute....

Isn't this what everyone who hasn't read the Arizona law is bitching about?

• Transnational street gang members were the target of a series of arrests this week in the Chicago area, federal officials announced today.

  Of the 28 gang members arrested, 27 were in the U.S. without documentation and face deportation, either directly or after facing charges in the United States, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

  Of those arrested, 25 were from Mexico, one from Honduras and one from El Salvador, with one U.S. citizen arrested on an outstanding warrant.

So these gang bangers were targeted because they were illegals? 27 out of 28 is a heck of a percentage of coincidences if they weren't specifically profiled....which is exactly what the Arizona law doesn't do, but you'll never hear the ACLU or Luis talking about that.

Fundraiser News

Once again, for those left behind:

• Benefit for the Children of Michael Vins
  
  Chicago police Officer Michael Vins passed away unexpectedly on August 30 2009 leaving behind a wife and two daughters. Unfortunately, his youngest daughter suffers from Penylketetonuria (PKU) that affects growth and development and requires a strict diet which is not covered by insurance. Michael worked hard to provide for his family. Michael was a 13 year veteran for the CPD working in various districts his last assignment being in Gang Investigations Unit. Michael also has 2 older brothers and a nephew on the CPD
  
  The family and fellow officers are hosting a benefit for Michael's Children
  Sunday June 6th 2010
  115 Bourbon Street
  3359 W 115th st
  1400-2000 hours
  
  Please join us; refreshments, food, entertainment, raffles and a silent auction; this benefit will help raise funds for Michael two daughters medical and education expenses.

Additional information:

• Donations can be sent to:The Mike Vins Family Benefit Fund
  C/O Park Federal Saving Bank
  5400 S. Pulaski,Chicago, Illinois 60632
  Phone #773-582-8200
  
  For more info on benefit contact
  Sgt Jim Sanchez @ 312-446-8644
  PO Mary Karen Fick @ 312-746-7901
  PO Nancy Guswiler @ 773-450-4652
  Sgt. Tom Cronin @ 312-4468757

Helenio Herrera: Retrotapa nº 23.

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30 frases de Mourinho.

"Hay quien ríe después de una victoria, para mi no hay tiempo para festejar los éxitos".

"Aspiro a cambiar la filosofía futbolística, no existen entrenadores con las mismas ideas".

"Por favor, no me llaméis arrogante, soy campeón de Europa y creo que soy especial". "Wenger, Ferguson y Benítez nunca serán tan especiales como yo".

"Creo que Wenger es una de esas personas que en Inglaterra llaman voyeur. Le gusta mirar a otras personas, hay algunos tipos que cuando están en su casa, tienen un enorme telescopio para ver que están haciendo otras familias".

"No soy el mejor del mundo, pero creo que no hay nadie mejor que yo".

"Si hubiese querido un trabajo fácil, me habría quedado en el Oporto con una espléndida poltrona, la Champions, Dios, y después de él, yo".

"Mirad mi corte de pelo, estoy preparado para la guerra".

"Siempre he dicho que mis jugadores son los mejores del mundo: lo he he hecho cuando entrenaba a un equipo pequeño como el Oporto, cuando estaba en el Chelsea. Ahora los mejores del mundo son los futbolistas del Inter".

"¿Tres años sin ganar ninguna Premier? No creo que yo todavía tuviese trabajo" (a Rafa Benitez).

"Si queremos zanjarlo en este punto por mi perfecto. Ranieri habló una vez y fue feliz, después hablo por segunda vez y fue feliz, después una tercera vez y fue todavía feliz. Yo he hablado una sola vez y se ha enfadado. Si queremos zanjarlo en este punto por mi perfecto. Tres a uno para él, pero mi gol ha sido precioso".

"¿Habéis visto las ocasiones de gol que hemos tenido y nuestro dominio en campo? Podíamos haber ganado 5-1 conmigo de portero".

"No gano 9 millones, quizás 11, incluso 14 con la publicidad".

"El alcalde de Reggio Calabria me ha acusado de querer dar una moneda a un niño discapacitado. En realidad, le he dado un crucifijo que me regaló mi mujer y que he llevado en el bolsillo durante tres o cuatro años. Es un crucifijo que mi mujer había comprado en Fátima. Evidentemente, tengo mala suerte, incluso cuando hago un gesto afectuoso me critican".

"Kakà es muy bueno, Pato es muy bueno, Beckham es muy bueno, el Milan tiene seis puntos menos que nosotros. No se ha hablado todavía del Milan que terminará el año con cero títulos".

"He estudiado italiano cinco horas al día durante varios meses para asegurarme que podría comunicarme con los jugadores, la prensa y los aficionados. Ranieri ha estado cinco años en Inglaterra y todavía lucha para decir buenos días o buenas tardes".

"Mancini, tras perder en Manchester, ha pedido la dimisión, mientras yo he pedido una reunión para ganar".

"Tampoco Jesucristo era simpático para todos, así que imagínate yo".

"Lo que me gusta es ver a los jugadores y a los aficionados de la Juventus celebrar en su propio estadio un empate ante nosotros, incluso cuando están a 10 puntos del líder".

"Veremos el Udinese-Milan, tal y como hacemos habitualmente los viernes en la concentración y nos vemos un Rimini-Treviso de Serie B, lo que hacemos cuando no tenemos otra cosa que hacer".

"El Scudetto ha ido a parar al equipo más fuerte, es decir, nosotros".

"No quiero un jugador que sea un hombre perfecto, que sea un perfecto profesional, que tenga un carácter fantástico, ese es el tipo de hombre que quiero para mi hija".

"¿Si la Juve me preocupa? Mirad las ojeras que tengo, no duermo por las noches".

"Me han preguntado si he visto el partido de la Juve, y he dicho que lo he visto hasta el gol de Amauri y después lo hemos dejado de ver, ya que había calamares para cenar".

"Nosotros sólo tenemos el Inter Channel con 45 mil abonados. Mientras el Milan tiene tres canales de televisión y un periódico. También la Juve tiene su propio diario, Tuttosport. Se puede hablar de manipulación intelectual si comparáis los comentarios de estos medios en las jugadas polémicas".

"Me siento el Robin Hood del fútbol italiano y por esto me gusta estar en el Inter".

"Hay muchos clubes y entrenadores que han conquistado la Champions, incluso hay quien lo ha hecho dos veces. Pero existe un solo equipo y un único técnico que ganaban 3-0 y después han perdido la final".

"Yo no hago trabajo físico. Defiendo la globalización del trabajo. No sé dónde comienza lo físico y acaba lo psicológico y lo táctico"

"Hay quien dice que los jugadores más creativos deben estar liberados de tareas defensivas. Yo creo que quien dice eso no sabe nada de fútbol. Los once jugadores deben saber qué hacer en posesión del balón y qué hacer cuando el adversario tiene el balón"

"Mi equipo ideal es aquel en el que, en cualquier momento y en cualquier situación, todos los jugadores piensan de la misma manera."

"Algo que para mí es muy claro, es que para asumir el control del juego hace faltar tener el balón. Disfrutar de él. Mi idea táctica principal pasa por tener la pelota. Quiero una alta circulación de balón y, para que eso acontezca, los jugadores deben saber que, en determinada posición, está un compañero."

"Mis equipos no tienen miedo a perder y un equipo que no teme perder ganará más partidos y jugará mejor que uno que sí."

"Si hablamos de 2010 es el mejor año de mi carrera. Si hay que poner una nota desde el punto de vista profesional, de 1 a 10 me pongo un 11."

"El fútbol me ha quitado más de lo que me ha dado."

"Dios tiene que pensar que soy un tío cojonudo."

"Me gusta ser un entrenador de títulos." (Copa del Rey 2011)

BONUS: CONFERENCIA DE PRENSA  1º SEMIFINAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: REAL MADRID 0 BARCELONA 2 (27.04.2011).

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How Drunk Were the Dead?

Even John Kass gets into the act, never once asking what the media have glossed over for more than two years now:

• What was the BAC of the two deceased traffic offenders? Where is the video of them pounding beers or shots or fizzy mixed drinks?

We've never been ones with the blinders on here. We've never declared Ardelean to have been sober. We've lambasted plenty of other drunks for the damage they cause and the embarrassment they bring to this city, this Department and the legions of men and women who do their jobs and go home to their families.

Drunks killing drunks is a tragedy to one side or the other all the time.

But we don't just charge the survivors. And we don't just throw probable cause, decades of established court procedure and historical precedent to the trash heap of history because one party happens to be a police officer, despite the recent history of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

And we'll also point out that this story was never ever about justice for the dead. This entire incident was about revenge, using the court system as the hammer. Judge Gainer made a decision that no one was going to be happy with, but the decision to err on the side of caution is one of the unfortunate byproducts of our system of government. Did the system fail? We cold name dozens of crooked politicians who got off on technicalities, rapists who walked free, killers released who went on to kill again - there's an entire trail of carnage that can be laid at the feet of the justice system. But it's what we live with.

We've said it here many times - we aren't above the law, but we certainly aren't below it either.

Kids Shot; J-Fled Watch Begins

Rumbles coming and going, including this one recently:

• There is a rumor from City Hall that Shortshanks is going to buy out the contract of J-Fled because of all the shootings and all the flack from the rank and file. The details of the buyout are being worked out.

Tonight's shooting isn't going to help matters at all:

• Two children were shot tonight in a playlot in the Southeast Side's Hegewisch neighborhood.

  One of the victims, a boy, was shot in the side of his body and taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

  The other victim, a girl, was shot in the leg and taken in serious condition to St. Margaret Mercy Hospital in Hammond, Ind., Langford said.

As the reliably democratic voting ethnic enclaves start to see the results of no police in their neighborhoods, the pressure on Shortshanks to make a substantive move will increase, and J-Fled will serve his ultimate purpose in Daley's chess game - Pawn of Blame.

What Have We Been Saying?

Something along the lines of "enforce the laws already on the books," if we remember correctly.

And our readers have been repeating, "stop giving out probation for gun crimes."

Now this comes out of Springfield and guess who's taking credit?

• Mayor Daley’s gun control proposals are frequently shot down by the General Assembly, but he won a rare victory today.

  The Illinois Senate unanimously agreed to make unlawful use of a weapon a non-probationable offense — punishable by one to three years in prison — whenever the offender carries a loaded weapon and has no valid Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) card.

  The House also approved the bill unanimously. It now awaits Gov. Quinn’s signature.

Gee, imagine that. It only took an act of Illinois Congress to actually put people in jail for violating the law!

Gun Sense

From Mr. Remington in the comment section:

• Everybody wants the M4's but complain about the POWER test requirements. I have taken the test, failed it due to injury and being sick with a cold. Finally I was able to pass and the M4 is back with me in my squad. The rule is stupid, leaving me unable to carry the carbine till I was able to test again. I am 250 lbs and can hold onto my rifle. Is J-Weiss telling me Officers 1/2 my weight who can run 4 laps around the academy are better qualified and have better weapon retention strength?
  
  Why isn't the shotgun made more available? It is lighter and is better suited for most urban situations. The 00 Buck round is very effective and wont travel as far if you let a stray one go. The shotgun ammo is CHEAPER as well as the shotgun itself. As of now, there is no POWER test for that, but once qualified, an Officer cannot sign one out for basic patrol. Lets push for the authorization to carry the 12 Gauges and to be able to purchase/carry our own personal shotguns. Even the training is less time consuming. One day at the range, compared to the week for the M4. The whole program is more economical for the Department if you care about that. Officers can be trained in 1/5th the time and for a fraction of the cost. PUT THE RIGHT WEAPONS IN OUR HANDS!!!!
  
  People want the National Guard? Arm the Police and the few Officers out on the street will be able to better match up with the thugs that are trying to take over and run this City (although not on my Watch)!

Again, an argument we've been making since the Carbine Program started, but worth repeating before summer hits.

Champions League 2010: Barcelona 1 Inter 0.

Inter eliminó a Barcelona (perdiendo 1-0) en el Camp Nou y parte a Madrid para enfrentar a Bayern Munich en la final del Bernabeu.

El partido mas esperado de los últimos años. El partido más previsible. Tan radical resulta el cruce de estilos que la interpretación de los hechos transita por el fino canto de la moneda del fútbol que divide la caras de la victoria y la derrota.

Cabe preguntarse, en este sentido, hasta dónde la previa dramática favoreció a uno y presionó a otro, o si la expulsión de Thiago Motta (´28) favoreció más a uno que a otro o, incluso, preguntarse sobre los definitivos méritos de la monopolizada posesión de la pelota.

Más allá de preferencias o gustos personales, el estilo Inter pudo desarrollarse en su máxima expresión en un Camp Nou atestado, ante público activo, después de una previa como no se recuerda en muchos años, luego con un hombre menos y con una posesión de balón menor al 30%.

¿Es que fue contraproducente el clima creado y vivido, la entrega de la pelota, del terreno y hasta de un soldado (injustamente expulsado)? ¿Qué más necesita el Inter para desarrollar su juego (que no juegue el rival)? ¿Alguien recordará que casi no tiró un solo tiro al arco?

Sin pruritos (o bombas de humo), pragmático, Inter salió a jugar con resultado puesto de 3-1 y terminó formando una línea de 9 frente a su arquero. Lo sabía todo el mundo y Barcelona está en el mundo (ya no en la cima).

Se probó la capacidad ofensiva contra la capacidad defensiva. Con menos verguenza que orgullo, Diego Milito se colocó de lateral (después de la expulsión de Motta), Cambiasso no dudó a la hora de tirarse a la pileta, Samuel reventó a cualquier parte, Eto´o se hizo volante tapón, Maicon actuó y Zanetti cruzó. Sin perder el orden ni la concentración, Inter trabajó cada minuto del partido con el logro de un córner como máxima ambición.

Y Barcelona no pudo abrir el cerrojo. Piqué, el de sangre más caliente, puso el 1-0 en el minuto 83 para poner a Mourinho y a Europa en inverosímil tensión. Fueron 9 minutos: la imagen de Iniesta (el gran ausente) marcando al Chelsea (09) sobrevoló el Camp Nou como un alma en pena, Bojan hizo el gol, un cúmulo de aire para gritar como jamás... pero el árbitro, coherente con su incorrecto arbitraje de muñecas (sin concesión), cobró una mano casual de Yaya y lo anuló (quizás no debió expulsar a Motta ni anular el gol de Bojan?).

Inter llega a la final de Champions después de 38 años con el sabor, el honor y el orgullo de haber derrotado al mejor equipo del mundo.

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La expulsión de Thiago Motta.

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Barcelona - Inter: La Remontada

"Creo que nunca en la historia del Barcelona había habido un ambiente así antes de un partido", dijo Laporta (presidente de Barcelona), después de responderle a Mourinho que "Nosotros no somos obsesivos, quien se quiera atribuir dotes de psicólogo de pacotilla, allá él, lo que tenemos es un reto y una gran ilusión".

"Se supone que el mejor equipo del mundo no necesita montar este drama para levantar un 3-1", provocó el portugués, ex traductor de Robson en Barcelona, quien estará acompañado en el banco de suplentes por el "embajador" Luis Figo. Mourinho asegura,  sin arrugues de facción, que se juega "un partido como cualquier otro" y que "para Inter la final es un sueño, para el Barcelona una obsesión" por dar la vuelta en el Bernabeu. 

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Copa Libertadores 2010: San Luis 0 Estudiantes 1

28.04.2010 - Calígula - Atendiendo la punta del torneo Clausura (2010), Alejandro Sabella viajó a Potosí con equipo alternativo (dejando en Buenos Aires a Verón, Besábato, Braña, Boselli, Sosa y Angeleri).

Dada la inminente finalización del torneo local y la continuidad de la Copa Libertadores (semifinales) luego del Mundial, las figuras del plantel esperan en Buenos Aires por el próximo rival local (Chacarita, ya descendido, lo recibe en el Estadio Diego Maradona el domingo 16.15).

La apuesta fue volver con el cero en la valla. Y, a 1860 metros de altura, con suplentes, con un penal errado por la Gata Fernández (atajó Trejo) y una expulsión (Clemente Rodríguez ´68), Estudiantes vuelve de México con un pie en los cuartos de final de la Copa Libertadores.

Los mexicanos, que de Gladiadores sólo les quedó el nombre, salieron a mirar el arco de enfrente con poca claridad ante un Estudiantes cerrado y de pelotazo largo. Amagaban con arrinconar al rival hasta que uno de los pelotazos pincha encontró a Leandro González definiendo, desde el vértice del área, con un bombazo cruzado.

San Luis sintió el golpe y Estudiantes pudo aumentar. Un tiro de Matías Sánchez besó el palo, Trejo le atajó un penal (?) a la Gata Fernández y más tarde Maxi Nuñez reventó el travesaño.

Ya en el segundo tiempo, cuando las piernas empezaron a faltar, Clemente Rodríguez vio la roja (´68) y San Luis se fue al humo probando a Orión y provocando a la defensa pincha. 

Estudiantes se quedó (1-0) defendiendo los tres puntos ante un equipo limitado que demostró porqué clasificó último en el último torneo mexicano.

San Luis Potosí de México: Carlos Trejo; Diego Martínez, Oscar Mascorro, Pablo Aguilar y Noé Maya (De la Torre); Ignacio Torres, Braulio Luna, Guillermo Rangel (Salinas) y Juan Rodríguez Conde; Blas Pérez (Lojero) y Alfredo Moreno. DT: Ignacio Ambríz.

Estudiantes de La Plata: Agustín Orión; Clemente Rodríguez (exp. ´68), Federico Fernández, Cristian Cellay y Marcos Rojo (Iberbia); Marcelo Carrusca (Germán Re) , Matías Sánchez, Leandro Benítez y Maximiliano Núñez; Gastón Fernández (Enzo Pérez) y Leandro González (1 gol). DT: Alejandro Sabella.

Estadio: Alfonso Lastras Ramírez, México. Arbitro: Juan Ernesto Soto (Venezuela). 

Cop Running for Office

One of our own is running for office. And Mike Carroll is running against one of our least favorite aldercreatures, someone who really ought to have been unemployed years ago as an out-of-touch Machine politico:

• Quite often, I hear from friends and neighbors of their unhappiness with the way the 46th Ward and the City of Chicago are run. They complain of corruption in the City, overspending, and mismanagement of City agencies. They object to higher taxes and increased fees with little or no improvement of City services. They are dissatisfied with the numerous pet projects created at the cost of properly funding our schools, police, and other City agencies. These friends and neighbors often tell me that they feel helpless – like there is no hope to prospect to change the way things are run here in Chicago. They tell me that it’s “the Chicago way.” More often than not, such an all encompassing statement is followed directly by, “yeah, but what are we going to do?” My answer to that question? Vote them out.
  
  For too long the 46th Ward has been run by one person, for one person. The homeless are still homeless – the poor are still poor – police are not supported in their efforts to suppress crime – the citizens and taxpayers still have no real say in how their Ward is run. Enough is enough. The people of the 46th Ward deserve better. The poor and homeless of our Ward deserve dignified jobs in our neighborhood and to be given the opportunity to earn an honest living. Residents of the Ward deserve clean, well paved streets without fear of street violence breaking out on their street corner. There must be complete transparency in all spending from the Aldermanic office, from menu money to the Alderman's Ward budget. It is time for open and honest government in the 46th Ward and throughout the City of Chicago.

Hopefully, the one of the first of many to make a run at upsetting the political order by grass roots activism and running as reformers. The 46th Ward is ripe for change and Shiller is set for toppling. Even if you don't live in the 46th Ward, you can still donate to help make a change.

Newspapers Decline Again

At what point do they actually go under? Because we've been seeing these declines for a few years now:

• Circulation continues to drop at U.S. newspapers. Figures released Monday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show average weekday circulation fell 8.7 percent in the six months that ended March 31, compared with the same period a year earlier, while Sunday circulation fell 6.5 percent.

  The Chicago Sun-Times' Monday through Friday circulation over the period was 268,803, a decline of 13.9 percent from a year ago -- in line with company expectations after a significant price increase. The Sun-Times raised its newsstand price to 75 cents from 50 cents on March 30, 2009, affecting single-copy sales. However, home delivery increased 4.5 percent. The newspaper's Sunday circulation was 247,416, down 2.7 percent.

  Other papers also showed large weekday losses, with the San Diego Union-Tribune falling 22.7 percent, the Washington Post declining 13.1 percent, and USA Today losing 13.6 percent. The Chicago Tribune was down 9.8 percent to 452,145 weekdays and down 7.5 percent to 858,256 Sundays. The Wall Street Journal was the only one of the top 25 papers to gain in circulation -- 0.5 percent.

We've been waiting for the Tribune/Times merger announcement any decade now. There's a bunch of "reporters" we'd like to see collecting unemployment.

Summer Detail Problems?

What's this? More chicanery behind the scenes?

• It would be much wiser for the supt's stooges to simply order 10 percent of all units manpower must return to patrol. Make it an order to use reverse seniority. Make it even steven across the board. No excuses granted to anyone. The youth need to get back out on the street and patrol. Crawl before you walk.
  
  This temporary summer thing is ridiculous and lots of officers are getting fked due to the fix being in. Headquarters is picking and choosing which units to take from and which units to leave alone. Already some units got out of giving up any officers, and some other units now have to give up more to accomodate the prima donna units. Some units aren't following the order that says use reverse seniority and using smoke screen excuses.

Are they amending the order again? We did notice that all the supervisors being recruited for this are coming from units, which seems to imply that either Patrol is too short to contribute or Patrol didn't volunteer a single body.

Two in Custody

But why does News Affairs or someone keep giving away our best tool?

• A man and a woman have been charged in a baseball-bat attack that put two women in the hospital last week, police sources said.

• The baseball bat believed to have been used in the attack has been recovered. Police used records from the women’s stolen cell phones and credit cards to track down their attackers, sources said. The two suspects were taken into custody Monday night.

The cell phone thing keeps appearing in the media. It's a great tool, but it won't be for long. Shhhhh!

It's Tuesday, Right?

It was a cold Tuesday, too:

• No one was in custody after separate shootings -- including two confirmed drive-by attacks -- left four men wounded today, police said.

  The few details released were preliminary, and police said the investigations were ongoing.

Three in broad daylight, no one in custody for any of them.

Since homicides are up, are the aggravated battery numbers spiking?

Basile y Blenders te invitan a Sudáfrica.

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27.04.2010 - El Coco la da vuelta y factura sobre los cubitos. No sólo puso su imagen sino también su reconocida voz.
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Champions League 2010: Lyon 0 Bayern Munich 3.

27.04.2010 - Calígula - Con un hat trick de Olic (´26, ´66 y ´76) el Bayern Munich despachó a Lyon para poner los pies en Madrid hacia su 9º final y 5º Champions League.

IDA: BAYERN MUNICH 1 LYON 0

4º DE FINAL: MANCHESTER UNITED 3 BAYERN MUNICH 2

4º DE FINAL: BAYERN MUNICH 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

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Ardelean Case Thrown Out

No probable cause.

• A Cook County judge today ruled that a Chicago police officer accused of drunk driving in a fatal crash on Thanksgiving 2007 was arrested and detained without probable cause.

  Judge Thomas V. Gainer Jr. also called the police lieutenant who ordered Officer John Ardelean's arrest not a credible witness.

  "Probable cause to arrest in this case comes down to the credibility of Lt. (John) Magruder and this court does not believe Lt. Magruder's testimony," Gainer wrote in his opinion.

  Gainer also wrote he had found "no conspiracy to protect this defendant by rogue officers acting without regard to their oath ..."
  

We sure hope Lt. McGruder has a nice house, because Ardelean is going to own it.

Cappa versus Verón

27.04.2010 - Wilde - Es de esperar una polémica entre Caruso y Asad, entre Riquelme y Palermo o entre Román Díaz y un hincha exaltado, pero menos previsible fue el ríspido encuentro entre Ángel Cappa y Juan Sebastián Verón, hombres que, identificados con el mismo fútbol, se afrentan desde veredas opuestas.

Ríver viajaba a Quilmes para enfrentar a Estudiantes y Cappa salió a atender a la prensa abriendo un paraguas de elogios: “De Estudiantes me preocupa todo… es el mejor equipo del fútbol argentino… no va a ser fácil ganar” y esperó que sus jugadores tengan “el atrevimiento necesario para jugar con un rival de tanta jerarquía”.

Pero Estudiantes, algo cansado de pelear en ambos frentes (Clausura y Libertadores) le ganó a Ríver casi sin patear al arco y Cappa, (modestamente) coincidiendo con nuestra crónica, lo dijo:

"No era un partido para perder. River tuvo más ocasiones de gol. No las conté, pero me dio la impresión de que Estudiantes no tiró al arco, porque el gol fue un centro, nos ganó con un gol de casualidad. Después lo manejó con oficio, impidiendo que nosotros jugáramos como en el primer tiempo. Es un mérito de ellos."

Juan Sebastián (Verón), que no le hace asco a los micrófonos, tomó el guante para responder, pero quizá se equivocó de guante y tomó uno más viejo:

"Para defender cierta ideología con fundamentos hay que conseguir logros… con este fútbol que a él no le gusta, obtuvimos muchas cosas. Entiendo que quiera defender sus ideas, pero no me gusta que quiera poner todo de un lado o del otro… El problema que tiene con nosotros viene de hace tiempo."

Cappa, que ya había reconocido (más de una vez) que "este" Estudiantes practica un buen fútbol que lo lleva al lugar donde está, no tardó en responder: “El idiota, cuando gana, se vuelve más idiota”.

No es necesario dilucidar que hablando de un mismo tema, ambos refieren a cosas diferentes. Tampoco es necesario sobreentender que Verón, en permanente campaña, tergiversó los almanaques y que Cappa puede correr los límites de interpretación.

EL TOQUE DE CAPPA: POLEMICA ABSURDA

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Daley Solution

More laws!

• Mayor Richard Daley reacted coolly Monday to a suggestion the National Guard be called in to help slow the violence on Chicago's streets, suggesting the idea offered up a day earlier by two state representatives was too simplistic.

  "You have to look at long-term solutions," Daley said, adding he understood the "frustration" expressed by the legislators.

• The mayor also sounded his familiar theme of needing more gun control laws and suggested Fritchey and Ford back him in those efforts.

  "This is all about guns, and that's why the crusade is on," Daley said. "We hope to get their cooperation in Springfield."

This isn't about guns 'Shanks - this is about a segment of society with little to no impulse control and a willingness to use firearms as a first resort for conflict resolution. Responsible gun owners are involved in a statistically insignificant number of incidents nationwide.

And you're about to be on the losing side of history Dick. Stop wasting taxpayer money - you're already broke, or so you claim.

Bill's Birthday

Have you written Bill lately? His birthday is coming up Friday.

Even if the card doesn't make it in time, it will provide Bill with weeks worth of reading material and he answers every letter.

Every day, we're hoping for good news on the appeals front. Drop him a line - the address is in the right hand column, exactly as posted.

New Link - Densey Cole

They're still looking for volunteers for the fundraiser later this year. We've updated the link in the side bar to redirect you to DenseyCole.com. Donations, raffles, contributions of all sorts are appreciated.

Check them out.

Ramón Ismael Medina Bello.

Siempre callado, de cazador de nutrias en Gualeguay a la pensión de los mates con Tita Mattiussi (Rácing) y sacar la pelota de la cancha de Platense a la General Paz, el Mencho Medina Bello puede calificar para el top ten de los jugadores más insultados de nuestro fútbol. Podía hacer goles como este, o como este.

Con todo, estuvo presente y con buenos momentos en el primer título internacional ganado por Rácing después de 21 años (Supercopa 88), ganó 8 títulos con Ríver en tiempo de Los Ramones (con Díaz), 2 Copas América con la selección (18 partidos, 5 goles) y 3 años facturando en Japón (Yokohama), para ir alejándose a Talleres de Córdoba (1998), Dock Sud (2004) y Juventud Unida de Gualeguaychú, donde se retiró (2005).

Desde entonces sólo se lo vio en algún rejunte de veteranos y ahora, hace muy poco, reaparece como DT en el banco de Berazategui, “un gigante dormido”, junto a Omar Gauna.

Mientras la gente del Naranja no se explica como no llegaron al reducido de ascenso (a la B metropolitana) dirigidos por Juan Carlos Zerillo, el Mencho es saludado, reconocido y está “muy contento por esta oportunidad”.

“Tenía ganas de dirigir y cuando me llamaron ni lo dudé…"

El Bera del Mencho tiende a línea de cuatro, tres volantes, un carrilero y dos puntas y, por lo pronto, acaba de pasar una escoba por el plantel de cara a la próxima temporada.

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Biting the Hand That Feeds Him

More drama from 35th Street:

• Fact- It seems that Mr. Mike Masters is in a little hot water. He was recently in a some trouble with Da Mayor and got yelled at. We are sensing a little trouble in paradise. Here is the best part. He was later overheard talking shit about his boss (Da Mayor). It seems that Masters now thinks he is better than the guy that put him there and we quote "can't wait for him to leave." There are eyes and ears everywhere. Let's see who lasts longer Masters or the Mayor. Any bets?

What makes Masters think he has any sort of future in this Department once J-Fled has outlived his usefulness? He's done nothing but make enemies since he got here. As another commentator pointed out, it must be galling to a Harvard educated lawyer to be taking orders from someone who couldn't pass the bar exam.

J-Fled Lies on Radio

We already knew he sold his dignity, self respect and was required to surrender his testicles upon hiring. But who knew he was a liar? Besides everybody.

Exhibit #1: Townhall.com has a podcast up from the "Big John and Amy" show. Big John is a confrontational dweeb who lobs softballs on behalf of Shortshanks and recently made a fool of himself attacking Sgt. Northen while being completely ignorant of police procedure and duties. In this tape, they interview J-Fled, and Big John attempts to repair, refurbish and restore the tarnished image of J-Fled by asking him to explain the "gotta run" incident.

J-Fled comes up with this whopper at 24:31 in the tape:

• "I never heard the shots."

Exhibit #2: Let's roll tape via CBS (you may have to sit through a 30 second ad to start) - watch what happens at the 28 second mark:



That sure looks like someone heard something. It looks like a whole bunch of people heard something. And it demonstrates beyond the shadow of a doubt that (A) J-Fled is a liar and (B) Big John is a Big Pansy for letting him get away with it in the face of the video evidence.

J-Fled also continues his fantasy tour where he believes his mere presence at a shooting incident somehow hinders the mundane task of securing, preserving and taping a crime scene. What a joke.

Want $1,000?

Shaved has this up on behalf of Sgt. Northen. We'll summarize it here, but the full text and particulars are over at Shaved's site:

• Many unnamed persons have forwarded an eMail to me in which the first line reads: "The Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the City of Chicago is accused of cowardice by a man once regarded as the department's chief LUNATIC." (CAPS mine)
  
  Trust me. It's NOT a bruised ego. In recent days, I have contacted editors of newspapers as well as the producers of local electronic media to expose this COWARD for what he truly is. While I believe that essentially local media is in the hip pocket of Mayor Richard M. Daley, media has declined covering the story any further using the unspoken pretext that I am INSANE. In effect, those who have circulated this trash may well have "cut their own throats" if they believe that Weis should resign or be fired.
  
  I herein offer a reward of $10,000.00 to the first person who contacts me with information that would result in a conclusion that I am clinically insane. I'm not. Far from it. As some have said, Northen is "as crazy as a fox." I will never know if libelous rumors influenced local media to not pursue the story of a COWARD who is also "top cop".
  
  Consider me highly litigious and unamused by the author of "lunatic" as well as those who have circulated this false statement. Indeed, I herein offer a $1,000.00 reward for conclusive evidence of the identity of the author and original publisher of the "lunatic" statement.
  
  
• If you have any questions or claims to my posted rewards, contact me via eMail at this address. eau5@yahoo.com
  
  (Sgt.) John Northen (Ret.)
  Chicago Police Department
  AKA: "NorthSide"

We have a feeling someone is more than a little uncomfortable about now.

Again With the Guard

Why not just hire more police instead of trying to do things on the cheap?

• Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis today spoke out against a request for the Illinois National Guard to be to deployed on Chicago’s streets to help tackle gun violence.

  Stopping just short of outright rejecting the request from state lawmakers Rep. John Fritchey and Rep. LaShawn Ford, Weis said “I don't think the National Guard is the solution.”

• Noting that the military does not operate under the same constitutional constraints as the police, he questioned how Chicago residents would react to soldiers raiding homes without warrants, and said that in his 25 years of law enforcement experience, he had never seen an example of military personnel working under local civilian command.

  “The National Guard is very useful if we had a big earthquake or huge flood or a catastrophe like that, where we simply had to control folks,” he said, “But the problems we’re facing are illegal weapons, narcotics and gangs. And while I will always look out for as much help as we can, I don't think the National Guard is the solution.”

Of course, the puppet-master must be acknowledged:

• While Weis came out against the suggestion Sunday, he did add that he had yet to discuss it with the mayor and that is something he was willing to “explore.”

  “I’d have to see what the mayor’s position on this is,” he said. “If he’s open to it, you know, of course, I’d be open to it. I have certain concerns, based on my time in law enforcement and the United States military.”

So J-Fled admits he's pretty much a tool of Shortshanks. Nice to see some truths are still out there.

Happy Retirement!

Supposedly, the new big thing in cakes:

They can't keep them in stock.

Clausura 2010: fecha 16 - TAPA nº 150

DESÁBATO - ORTEGA: ¿QUÉ TE PASA BORRACHO?
ORTEGA - DESÁBATO: PLANCHAZO
ESTUDIANTES 1 RIVER 0: CRONICA Y GOLES
RACING 2 BANFIELD 0: GOLES
LA CHILENA DE MAXI LÓPEZ
RABONA DE DI MARIA: BENFICA 3 OLHANENSE 0
GLASGOW RANGERS CAMPEÓN DE ESCOCIA POR 53º VEZ.
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Police Shooting

Cops reportedly OK:

• A 19-year-old man was shot and seriously wounded in an incident Saturday night that preliminary information indicated might have involved an exchange of gunfire with police.
  
  Chicago Fire Department paramedics were sent to the scene of a shooting in the 6100 block of South Prairie Avenue at about 10:25 p.m., said fire spokesman [...]
  
  The 19-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition with two apparent bullet wounds, he said. It was not clear how the man was shot, but initial information said there had been an exchange of gunfire involving the Police Department...

Nothing further at the moment.

UPDATE: Once again, a scumbag out on bail for a previous weapon charge who manages to get his hands on another weapon. A big thanks to Anita and the Cook County State's Attorneys! You suck!

End of Sanctuaries

We hope this Arizona law is the start of a trend:

• The new law, which will take effect in late July or early August, was cheered by many, including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tough crackdowns have made him a hero in the anti-illegal immigration community. He said it gives him new authority to detain undocumented migrants who aren't accused of committing any other crimes.
  
  "Now if we show they're illegal, we can actually arrest them and put them in our jails," Arpaio said.
  
  Current law in Arizona and most states doesn't require police to ask about the immigration status of those they come across, and many departments prohibit officers from inquiring out of fear immigrants won't report crime or cooperate in other investigations.
  
  Now, police departments seen as weak on illegal immigration could face lawsuits. The new measure also toughens restrictions on hiring illegal immigrants for day labor and knowingly transporting them.

You'll never guess where the most outrage is being expressed:

• Chicago Democrat Luis Gutierrez, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has been especially vocal as the measure -- which will require local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants-- wound its way through the Arizona Legislature.

  The law makes it "open season on the Latino community in Arizona," Gutierrez said, describing it as "an insult to American justice and one of the harshest assaults on basic civil rights in recent American history."

• Gutierrez plans to attend a rally in Phoenix on Sunday to "let the people of Arizona know that they are not alone in fighting against bigotry and hatred."

Um, Luis? Doesn't part of your District fall into that "9%" J-Fled was talking about? Aren't there more pressing local issues for you to be dealing with, rather than Arizona's?

And it isn't "open season" on anyone Luis - these people are illegal, and it certainly isn't just Latinos as you allege. They broke the law. They should be jailed and then deported. Constitutional protections apply to citizens. Illegals can still be treated humanely and properly within the bounds of United States law, but calling it an "assault on basic civil rights" completely stands on it's head what civil rights actually are.

If you're looking to assist your local ICE agents, you can contact them at 101 West Congress Parkway, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60605, (312) 347-2400.

Violent Crime Rising?

Only the bean counters can tell for sure, but we're seeing a lot more reports like these popping up:

• As the exchange student and her 24-year-old friend were returning to the friend's Bucktown neighborhood home early Friday after a night out celebrating, they were attacked from behind and struck on the back of their heads by a robber wielding a baseball bat, police said.

  The attacker escaped with their purses, but one woman was able to give police a description of him before she fell unconscious, police [...] said. There could have been a second attacker, police said.

  The student was listed in critical condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center on Friday, while her friend, a financial adviser, was listed in serious condition at the same hospital, a spokeswoman said.

• A man jogging on the Chicago Riverwalk this morning was critically stabbed just east of the Michigan Avenue bridge, officials said.

  About 5:52 a.m., a person called 911 and said a man was stabbed on the riverfront jogging path about 50 feet east of the bridge, said Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

  The man, a 63-year-old, was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with multiple stab wounds, according to police and fire officials.

Remember, Daley doesn't care what the actual crime total are. He could give a rat's ass about 50 shot in a warm weekend with seven dead. All he does is look at the addresses and writes it off as "business as usual."

What truly matters is the perception of crime - the appearance that certain areas of the city are safe, inviolate, protected.

And when you think of it, this is running hand-in-hand with J-Fled's recent implementation of the perception of more police on the streets than their actually are.

AND (we're on a roll here), with Shortshanks' fascination with blue-light cameras that assist in the perception that everything is being watched all the time by the police.

The trouble with perception though, is when it runs into cold hard reality - that there aren't enough police to watch formerly safe neighborhoods, that seeing squad car lights doesn't mean there are cops only a short ride away, that no one is watching the cameras and probably 33% of them don't even work properly. Expect more headlines.