chicagosun-times--2020-11-28--Horoscope for Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020

Horoscope for Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 6:30 to 10:45 a.m. Chicago time .
After that , the moon moves from Taurus into Gemini .
Count to three before you speak today because you might be impatient due to tension building up before tomorrow ’ s lunar eclipse in your house of communications .
Give everything a sober , second thought so you don ’ t have regrets .
Financial issues might be coming to a head because of tomorrow ’ s full moon .
Hey , you ’ re the financial wizard of the zodiac , which is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These issues matter to you — as well they should .
Take things one at a time .
Tomorrow there will be a lunar eclipse in your sign , which is why you feel some tension building up between you and others , especially those who are closest to you .
It ’ s a funny thing but problems often intensify before the full moon and then afterward , they disappear .
Go figure .
The moon is your ruler , so you ’ re often emotional before a full moon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in a hidden part of your chart , which makes you feel restless and a bit on edge .
It ’ s OK. You ’ re not losing it .
Be patient with your kids as well as romantic partners because tension is building up before tomorrow ’ s lunar eclipse , which could create tension in these areas .
In fact , it might even manifest as an accident-prone situation for your kids so please be vigilant .
Be patient with family members today , if you feel frayed around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anyone at home .
The reason you might feel friction building up is because tomorrow ’ s lunar eclipse could trigger tension today , especially with parents .
Easy does it .
Remember to be on the ball today because the lunar eclipse tomorrow occurs in a part of your chart that affects walking , jogging , driving , traveling and talking to others .
Basically , your daily routine .
Guard against physical and verbal accidents .
Caution !
Stay on top of banking issues and finances because tomorrow ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas or it could bring something to a head .
Stay in the know .
( When it comes to money , you don ’ t want to be asleep at the switch . )
The lunar eclipse tomorrow will be opposite your sign , which is why you might feel tension building up between you and partners or close friends today .
( It builds . )
The thing to know is that although problems get worse as you approach the full moon , afterward , these problems might even disappear !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or perhaps , something to do with your health ( or a pet ) because of the build-up of tension before tomorrow ’ s full moon .
( Which happens to be a lunar eclipse . )
Take it easy .
Increased chaos on the home front are also stress factors .
Stay chill .
Do not overreact if you ’ re upset with a friend or a member of a group today .
This could be based on tension that is building up before tomorrow ’ s full moon .
This tension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or your dealings with your kids .
Be cool .
Be patient when dealing with family members , especially parents , today because you might feel a buildup of disappointment , criticism or negative energy that is being created by tomorrow ’ s lunar eclipse .
Stay above this .
After the full moon peaks tomorrow , all is well .
If Your Birthday Is Today Actor Chadwick Boseman ( 1976-2020 ) shares your birthday .
You are articulate , entertaining and can make people laugh .
You are also a profound thinker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time of harvest , when you will start to reap the benefits of the seeds that you planted in the last decade .
You deserve this time of success !
As a result , you might enjoy increased influence and leadership in all your relationships .

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 6:30 to 10:45 a.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Taurus into Gemini.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Count to three before you speak today because you might be impatient due to tension building up before tomorrow’s lunar eclipse in your house of communications. Give everything a sober, second thought so you don’t have regrets.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Financial issues might be coming to a head because of tomorrow’s full moon. Hey, you’re the financial wizard of the zodiac, which is why you’re never casual about money. These issues matter to you — as well they should. Take things one at a time.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Tomorrow there will be a lunar eclipse in your sign, which is why you feel some tension building up between you and others, especially those who are closest to you. It’s a funny thing but problems often intensify before the full moon and then afterward, they disappear. Go figure.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
The moon is your ruler, so you’re often emotional before a full moon. Tomorrow, the lunar eclipse will take place in a hidden part of your chart, which makes you feel restless and a bit on edge. It’s OK. You’re not losing it.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Be patient with your kids as well as romantic partners because tension is building up before tomorrow’s lunar eclipse, which could create tension in these areas. In fact, it might even manifest as an accident-prone situation for your kids so please be vigilant.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Be patient with family members today, if you feel frayed around the edges when dealing with parents and siblings and anyone at home. The reason you might feel friction building up is because tomorrow’s lunar eclipse could trigger tension today, especially with parents. Easy does it.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Remember to be on the ball today because the lunar eclipse tomorrow occurs in a part of your chart that affects walking, jogging, driving, traveling and talking to others. Basically, your daily routine. Guard against physical and verbal accidents. Caution!
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Stay on top of banking issues and finances because tomorrow’s lunar eclipse might create stress in these areas or it could bring something to a head. Stay in the know. (When it comes to money, you don’t want to be asleep at the switch.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
The lunar eclipse tomorrow will be opposite your sign, which is why you might feel tension building up between you and partners or close friends today. (It builds.) The thing to know is that although problems get worse as you approach the full moon, afterward, these problems might even disappear!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Work-related issues might need to be addressed or perhaps, something to do with your health (or a pet) because of the build-up of tension before tomorrow’s full moon. (Which happens to be a lunar eclipse.) Take it easy. Increased chaos on the home front are also stress factors. Stay chill.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Do not overreact if you’re upset with a friend or a member of a group today. This could be based on tension that is building up before tomorrow’s full moon. This tension might also relate to a romantic relationship or your dealings with your kids. Be cool.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Be patient when dealing with family members, especially parents, today because you might feel a buildup of disappointment, criticism or negative energy that is being created by tomorrow’s lunar eclipse. Stay above this. After the full moon peaks tomorrow, all is well.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actor Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020) shares your birthday. You are articulate, entertaining and can make people laugh. You are also a profound thinker. Good news! This is your time of harvest, when you will start to reap the benefits of the seeds that you planted in the last decade. You deserve this time of success! As a result, you might enjoy increased influence and leadership in all your relationships.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-28--5 shot, 3 fatally in Chicago so far this weekend

At least three people have been killed and two others wounded in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend .
In the latest fatal shooting , a person was shot dead Saturday in South Chicago .
About 2:15 p.m. , a male was in the 9000 block of South Commercial Avenue , when gunfire erupted , Chicago police said .
He was brought to South Shore Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
Hours earlier , a man was killed in a drive-by in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
Luis Flores , 33 , was in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6:10 a.m. , when someone in a passing black vehicle fired shots at him , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said.He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead .
About 8:30 p.m. , he was in the 3900 block of West Jackson Boulevard when someone opened fire , striking him in the chest , police said .
The man was pronounced dead at the scene , according to police .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two women were shot Friday in Brainerd on the South Side .
The women , both 20 years old , were in a vehicle about 10:15 p.m. in the 9400 block of South Laflin Street when someone opened fire , police said .
One of the women was struck in the shoulder , while the other was shot in the foot , police said .
Both were driven to Little Company of Mary Hospital , where they were listed in fair condition .
Last weekend , 52 people were shot , 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

At least eight people were killed and 21 others wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend.
The latest fatal attack left a teenage boy dead early Monday in the South Loop.
About 2:35 a.m., two males in black ski masks got out of a black vehicle and fired shots at a parked vehicle on the first floor of a garage in the 800 block of South Wabash Avenue, Chicago police said.
The boy, 16, was struck twice in the face as he sat in the passenger seat of the parked vehicle, police said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died.
Another person was shot dead in a parking lot Sunday evening in Morgan Park on the South Side.
Andre Roberts, 31, was in a parking lot about 6 p.m. in the 11100 block of South Longwood Drive when someone approached him and opened fire, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He was shot in the neck and chest, and pronounced dead at the scene.
Sunday morning, a 34-year-old man was fatally shot in Chatham on the South Side.
About 4:25 a.m., Jajuan Nile was sitting on the sidewalk in the 7800 block of South Rhodes Avenue when a man driving by in a dark-colored SUV fired shots, striking him in the head, officials said. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In an earlier shooting on the West Side, a man was found fatally shot in a bedroom in Austin.
A relative found the 25-year-old unresponsive about 3:42 a.m. on the bedroom floor in the first block of North Lockwood Avenue with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was identified as Christopher Riley, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
Hours earlier, a 22-year-old man was killed in Bridgeport on the South Side.
Michael Frigo was discovered about 12:50 a.m in a gangway in the 2800 block of South Wallace Street with two gunshot wounds to the abdomen, officials said. He was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Saturday afternoon, a 27-year-old man was shot dead in South Chicago.
About 2:15 p.m., Lacey Sheppard was in the 9000 block of South Commercial Avenue, when gunfire erupted, officials said. He was brought to South Shore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A man was killed in a drive-by Saturday morning in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
About 6:10 a.m., Luis Flores, 33, was in the 3100 block of West 26th Street when someone in a passing black vehicle fired shots at him, police and the medical examiner’s office said. He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Friday night, a 27-year-old man was fatally shot in West Garfield Park.
About 8:30 p.m., he was in the 3900 block of West Jackson Boulevard when someone opened fire, striking him in the chest, police said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The medical examiner’s office identified him as Terrence Goodlow.
In non-fatal shootings, two people were injured, including a 14-year-old boy, in a shooting Sunday morning in West Garfield Park.
The shooting happened about 2:20 a.m. in the 4000 block of West Lake Street, according to police. The 14-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man brought themselves to Stroger Hospital. The boy had been struck in the wrist and was listed in good condition, while the man had been shot in the leg and arm and was in fair condition.
At least 19 others were wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend, 52 people were shot, 6 fatally, in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--Drake as Obama? Ex-president says rapper has ‘stamp of approval’ to play him in biopic

If you ’ ve ever thought Drake would make a good Barack Obama , you ’ re not alone .
The former POTUS name-checked the “ God ’ s Plan ” rapper , who has wanted to play the 44th president for at least a decade , in an interview last week .
“ I will say this , Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants , ” Obama told Complex ’ s “ 360 With Speedy Morman ” when asked about Drake ’ s desire to play him .
“ I mean , that is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the time comes and he ’ s ready … ” But Obama reminded that his endorsement isn ’ t the one that matters .
“ Drake has , more importantly I think , my household ’ s stamp of approval , ” he joked .
“ I suspect [ my daughters ] Malia and Sasha would be just fine with it.
” During Obama ’ s first term in office , Drake , now 34 , expressed interest in the hypothetical role .
“ I hope somebody makes a movie about Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play him , ” he told Paper in 2010 .
“ I watch all the addresses .
Anytime I see him on TV , I don ’ t change the channel , I definitely pay attention and listen to the inflections of his voice .
If you ask anyone who knows me , I ’ m pretty good at impressions.
” He stressed that “ nobody ’ s called me about anything , ” but “ I just pay attention so when the day comes I ’ m not scrambling to learn how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a movie came about with Drake in the title role , he ’ d be the most high-profile actor to play Obama , 59 , who has been depicted by Jay Pharoah and Fred Armisen on “ Saturday Night Live , ” Devon Terrell in “ Barry , ” Kingsley Ben-Adir in “ The Comey Rule ” and Parker Sawyers in “ Southside With You , ”

If you’ve ever thought Drake would make a good Barack Obama, you’re not alone.
The former POTUS name-checked the “God’s Plan” rapper, who has wanted to play the 44th president for at least a decade, in an interview last week.
“I will say this, Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants,” Obama told Complex’s “360 With Speedy Morman” when asked about Drake’s desire to play him. “I mean, that is a talented, talented brother. So, if the time comes and he’s ready …”
But Obama reminded that his endorsement isn’t the one that matters.
“Drake has, more importantly I think, my household’s stamp of approval,” he joked. “I suspect [my daughters] Malia and Sasha would be just fine with it.”
During Obama’s first term in office, Drake, now 34, expressed interest in the hypothetical role.
“I hope somebody makes a movie about Obama’s life soon because I could play him,” he told Paper in 2010. “I watch all the addresses. Anytime I see him on TV, I don’t change the channel, I definitely pay attention and listen to the inflections of his voice. If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m pretty good at impressions.”
He stressed that “nobody’s called me about anything,” but “I just pay attention so when the day comes I’m not scrambling to learn how to speak like him.”
If such a movie came about with Drake in the title role, he’d be the most high-profile actor to play Obama, 59, who has been depicted by Jay Pharoah and Fred Armisen on “Saturday Night Live,” Devon Terrell in “Barry,” Kingsley Ben-Adir in “The Comey Rule” and Parker Sawyers in “Southside With You,”
Read more at usatoday.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--President-elect Biden fractured foot while playing with his dog, doctor says

WILMINGTON , Del .
— President-elect Joe Biden fractured his foot while playing with one of his dogs , according to his doctor .
Biden suffered the injury on Saturday and visited an orthopedist at Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists in Newark , Delaware , for an examination Sunday afternoon , his office said .
A subsequent CT scan “ confirmed hairline ( small ) fractures of President-elect Biden ’ s lateral and intermediate cuneiform bones , which are in the mid-foot , ” according to a statement from his doctor , Kevin O ’ Connor .
“ It is anticipated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several weeks , ” O ’ Conner added .
Reporters covering the president-elect were not afforded the opportunity to see Biden enter the doctor ’ s office , despite multiple requests .
Leaving the doctor ’ s office to head to an imaging center for his CT scan , Biden was visibly limping , though he walked without a crutch or other aid .
Biden was under examination more than two hours after arriving at the office Sunday afternoon .
Biden sustained the injury playing with Major , one of the Bidens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , and acquired their first dog , Champ , after the 2008 election .
The Bidens have said they ’ ll be bringing their dogs to the White House and also plan to get a cat .
At 78 , Biden will be the oldest president when he ’ s inaugurated in January , but he frequently dismissed questions about his age on the campaign trail .
He released a doctor ’ s report in December that disclosed he takes a statin to keep his cholesterol at healthy levels , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vigorous ” and “ fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.
” Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report .

WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden fractured his right foot while playing with one of his dogs, an injury discovered in a scan Sunday and that will likely require him to wear a boot for several weeks, his doctor said.
Biden suffered the injury on Saturday and visited an orthopedist in Newark, Delaware, on Sunday afternoon, his office said.
“Initial x-rays did not show any obvious fracture,” but medical staff ordered a more detailed CT scan, his doctor, Kevin O’Connor, said in a statement. The subsequent scan found tiny fractures of two small bones in the middle of his right foot, O’Connor said.
“It is anticipated that he will likely require a walking boot for several weeks,” O’Connor said.
Fractures are a concern generally as people age, but Biden’s appears to be a relatively mild one based on his doctor’s statement and the planned treatment. At 78 he will be the oldest president when he’s inaugurated in January; he often dismissed questions about his age during the campaign.
Reporters covering the president-elect were not afforded the opportunity to see Biden enter the doctor’s office Sunday, despite multiple requests. Leaving the doctor’s office to head to an imaging center for his CT scan, Biden was visibly limping, though he walked without a crutch or other aid.
Biden sustained the injury playing with Major, one of the Bidens’ two dogs. They adopted Major in 2018, and acquired their first dog, Champ, after the 2008 election. The Bidens have said they’ll be bringing their dogs to the White House and also plan to get a cat.
Last December he released a doctor’s report that disclosed he takes a statin to keep his cholesterol at healthy levels, but his doctor described him as “healthy, vigorous” and “fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.”
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--Another QB boondoggle for Bears: Nick Foles under contract for 2 more years

GREEN BAY , Wis. — The Bears traded for quarterback Nick Foles — and committed to him on a three-year contract that ’ s essentially fully guaranteed — thinking his fluency in the offense and compatibility with the coaching staff could lift their offense out of its malaise .
It hasn ’ t happened .
And now , after his hip injury and poor play opened the door for the team to give Mitch Trubisky a second look , it ’ s possible Foles will revert to being the backup .
The Bears made Foles inactive for their game Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their starter and practice-squad quarterback Tyler Bray as his backup .
Foles suffered a hip injury Nov. 16 against the Vikings and hasn ’ t practiced since .
Regardless of how Trubisky fared against the Packers , he might keep his spot next week against the lowly Lions .
Foles ’ health is a factor in that decision , and if he ’ s not ready to practice by Wednesday , the Bears will probably have to proceed as though he ’ ll be out another week .
But performance is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led an epic comeback against the Falcons in Week 3 , he has been underwhelming since taking over as the starter .
His throwing accuracy and decision-making have been problematic , and he ranked 28th in the NFL in passer rating ( 81.0 ) and had the seventh-most interceptions ( eight ) despite having played just seven and a half games .
The offense has struggled across the board this season , but Foles hasn ’ t done much to help .
His poor play has been part of the Bears ’ plunge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every important statistical category .
His performance is also alarming in the big picture , as he is the only quarterback under contract beyond this season .
Trubisky is nearly certain to depart as a free agency , and any quarterback the Bears draft next year probably — trading up was made tougher , by the way , when they gave up a fourth-rounder to get Foles — won ’ t be ready to start immediately .
Foles , meanwhile , is set to carry a $ 6.7 million salary-cap hit next season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He turns 32 at the end of this season .
And nothing he has shown so far indicates that will be a good investment for the Bears .

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Bears traded for quarterback Nick Foles — and committed to him on a three-year contract that’s essentially fully guaranteed — thinking his fluency in the offense and compatibility with the coaching staff could lift their offense out of its malaise.
It hasn’t happened. And now, after his hip injury and poor play opened the door for the team to give Mitch Trubisky a second look, it’s possible Foles will revert to being the backup.
The Bears made Foles inactive for their game Sunday at the Packers, using Trubisky as their starter and practice-squad quarterback Tyler Bray as his backup. Foles suffered a hip injury Nov. 16 against the Vikings and hasn’t practiced since.
Regardless of how Trubisky fared against the Packers, he might keep his spot next week against the lowly Lions. Foles’ health is a factor in that decision, and if he’s not ready to practice by Wednesday, the Bears probably will have to proceed as though he’ll be out another week.
But performance is part of the equation, too. While Foles led an epic comeback against the Falcons in Week 3, he has been underwhelming since taking over as the starter. His throwing accuracy and decision-making have been problematic, and he ranked 28th in the NFL in passer rating (81.0) and had the seventh-most interceptions (eight) despite having played just 7½ games.
The offense has struggled across the board this season, but Foles hasn’t done much to help. His poor play has been part of the Bears’ plunge toward the bottom of the league in -every important statistical category.
His performance also is alarming in the big picture, as he is the only quarterback under contract beyond this season. Trubisky is nearly certain to depart via free agency, and any quarterback the Bears draft next year probably won’t be ready to start immediately. Trading up to get one, by the way, was made tougher when they gave up a fourth-rounder to get Foles.
Foles, meanwhile, is set to carry a $6.7 million salary-cap hit next season and $10.7 million in 2022. He turns 32 at the end of this season. And nothing he has shown so far indicates that will be a good investment for the Bears.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--CPS elementary students received flood of ‘inappropriate’ emails, district says

Elementary students at Chicago Public Schools were inundated Sunday with a flood of “ inappropriate ” emails , prompting concerns from teachers and parents .
Phillip DiBartolo , the district ’ s chief information officer , confirmed to parents that elementary school students received a “ series ” of unsavory messages that were sent from “ CPS email accounts ” between 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. , according to an email obtained by the Sun-Times .
One Twitter user noted that her students “ received death threats ” in their district-issued inboxes as she pressed CPS for answers .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ wild and messed up emails , ” which she subsequently described as being “ really weird.
” “ [ H ] ow the heck does something like this get hacked ?
” she asked .
They didn ’ t immediately respond to requests for comment .
Following a review , DiBartolo told parents that a district-wide email group that includes all elementary school students “ accidentally allowed group members to reply all to messages and reach the entire group.
” As a result , “ a series of replies ” went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have corrected this issue to ensure additional messages can not be sent , and we are working to remove any unread messages to the extent possible , ” DiBartolo wrote .
While DiBartolo said the specific issue “ did not pose an information security risk or permit access to anyone outside the CPS network , ” he acknowledged that the emails “ may have been concerning ” for parents and students alike .
A CPS spokesperson didn ’ t immediately respond to questions about the emails , including the content .

Elementary students at Chicago Public Schools were inundated Sunday with a flood of “inappropriate” emails, prompting concerns from teachers and parents.
Phillip DiBartolo, the district’s chief information officer, confirmed to parents that elementary school students received a “series” of unsavory messages that were sent from “CPS email accounts” between 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., according to an email obtained by the Sun-Times.
The initial message read: “I do not know who I am. I do not know why I am here. All I know is that I must kill,” emails obtained by the Sun-Times show. That sparked an email chain riddled with profanity and question marks.
Claudia Martinez, a parent of a third grader at a Near West Side elementary school, said her daughter received more than 40 emails in her district-issued inbox over the span of two hours.
“The original email was pretty scary,” said Martinez, who can access her daughter’s CPS emails on her phone. “And then people started replying to her from all over... and it kind of became a free for all, where people were just answering and saying all kinds of things.”
Martinez said she was relieved that her daughter never read the messages but worries about what would’ve happened if this occurred during school hours.
“If it had been something that happened during the school week when she was actually looking at her own email and it wasn’t me, I think she would’ve been scared. I think a lot of kids would’ve been scared,” Martinez said.
Following a review, DiBartolo told parents that a district-wide email group that includes all elementary-school students “accidentally allowed group members to reply all to messages and reach the entire group.” As a result, “a series of replies” went out to the entire group.
“We have corrected this issue to ensure additional messages cannot be sent, and we are working to remove any unread messages to the extent possible,” DiBartolo wrote.
While DiBartolo said the specific issue “did not pose an information security risk or permit access to anyone outside the CPS network,” he acknowledged that the emails “may have been concerning” for parents and students alike.
A CPS spokesperson didn’t respond to questions about the emails, including the content. They did, however, send a copy of DiBartolo’s letter to parents.
Martinez said she tried to contact CPS’ technical support after she saw the emails but wasn’t able to connect with anyone. She believes it’s vital that the district has a 24/7 helpline so incidents like Sunday’s can be addressed in a timely manner.
“It’s just a little disappointing that this could even happen [and] that there’s nothing in place to block students or anybody else from accessing an email like this,” Martinez said. “I can’t even send my kids emails to their CPS [email account], but the fact something like this can happen is just to me unexplainable, there’s really no excuse for something like this to happen.”


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--Black, Brown communities should get first dibs on coronavirus vaccine, minority leaders say

A group of minority leaders gathered Sunday to urge members of Congress and Gov .
J.B. Pritzker to prioritize the distribution of any coronavirus vaccine to Black and Brown communities hit hard by the pandemic .
“ We ’ re sick and tired of being sick and tired , and we ’ re asking and demanding that we have a sense of trust by allowing us to be considered to be first when it comes to distribution , ” Pastor John Harrell , of Proviso Baptist Church in Maywood , told reporters gathered outside the JLM Abundant Life Community Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakers , who included state Rep. La Shawn Ford , acknowledged that any vaccine would first be doled out to other high-risk groups , like health care professionals , essential workers , those at a higher risk of infection and the elderly .
On Tuesday , a group of experts convened by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control will vote on who to vaccinate first .
The push for priority access comes a day after NBC Chicago reported the first shipment of Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 touched down at O ’ Hare international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Drug Administration has yet to grant emergency approval to that shot or another promising vaccine candidate manufactured by Moderna .
Meanwhile , many in the African American and Latino communities remain wary of inoculation and the medical establishment at large .
Ford , a Chicago Democrat , traced the mistrust of medical experiments back to the U.S. government ’ s Tuskegee syphilis research , which withheld treatment of poor Black men over a 40-year period .
“ That goes deep , ” noted Ford .
“ And when you think about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brown communities , that ’ s the trust that Black people struggle with.
” A recent study commissioned by the COVID Collaborative , a coalition of health care experts and former government officials , found that just 48 % of Black respondents said they would probably or definitely take a free vaccine , compared to 66 % of Latino respondents .
Meanwhile , large academic hospitals in Chicago have had a tough time recruiting minority volunteers to test vaccines , namely members of the Black community .
Pressed on that troubling fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of the few dozen attendees were asked to participate .
Not a single hand darted up .
“ That ’ s another example of the system blaming Black people for not participating in something that they were never really truly invited to , ” Ford said .
He and other community leaders said building confidence in the vaccine and the distribution process is vital .
Employing outreach workers tied to their communities will help instill in residents “ that the vaccine is safe ” and ensure “ they understand the side effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called on the governor “ to convene a commission to make sure that this is done right , ” a Prtizker spokeswoman noted that the administration ’ s vaccine distribution plan already “ has an equity lens on it that prioritizes communities hardest hit by the virus.
” “ We have to make sure that people trust that the vaccine will work and we do everything that we can to bring an understanding to our community about how important it is to take the vaccine and to be able to trust it , @ @ @ @

A group of minority leaders gathered Sunday to urge members of Congress and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to prioritize the distribution of any coronavirus vaccine to Black and Brown communities hit hard by the pandemic.
“We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, and we’re asking and demanding that we have a sense of trust by allowing us to be considered to be first when it comes to distribution,” Pastor John Harrell, of Proviso Baptist Church in Maywood, told reporters gathered outside the JLM Abundant Life Community Center on the Near West Side.
The speakers, who included state Rep. La Shawn Ford, acknowledged that any vaccine would first be doled out to other high-risk groups, like health care professionals, essential workers, those at a higher risk of infection and the elderly. On Tuesday, a group of experts convened by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control will vote on who to vaccinate first.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
The push for priority access comes a day after NBC Chicago reported the first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 touched down at O’Hare international Airport. Still, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to grant emergency approval to that shot or another promising vaccine candidate manufactured by Moderna.
Meanwhile, many in the African American and Latino communities remain wary of inoculation and the medical establishment at large. Ford, a Chicago Democrat, traced the mistrust of medical experiments back to the U.S. government’s Tuskegee syphilis research, which withheld treatment of poor Black men over a 40-year period.
“That goes deep,” noted Ford. “And when you think about how the government has failed … the Black and Brown communities, that’s the trust that Black people struggle with.”
A recent study commissioned by the COVID Collaborative, a coalition of health care experts and former government officials, found that just 48% of Black respondents said they would probably or definitely take a free vaccine, compared to 66% of Latino respondents. Meanwhile, large academic hospitals in Chicago have had a tough time recruiting minority volunteers to test vaccines, namely members of the Black community.
Pressed on that troubling fact, Ford pushed back and asked whether any of the few dozen attendees were asked to participate. Not a single hand darted up.
“That’s another example of the system blaming Black people for not participating in something that they were never really truly invited to,” Ford said.
He and other community leaders said building confidence in the vaccine and the distribution process is vital. Employing outreach workers tied to their communities will help instill in residents “that the vaccine is safe” and ensure “they understand the side effects,” said Ford.
While he called on the governor “to convene a commission to make sure that this is done right,” a Prtizker spokeswoman noted that the administration’s vaccine distribution plan already “has an equity lens on it that prioritizes communities hardest hit by the virus.”
“We have to make sure that people trust that the vaccine will work and we do everything that we can to bring an understanding to our community about how important it is to take the vaccine and to be able to trust it,” Ford added.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--Bears inactives: QB Nick Foles out; Tyler Bray backs up Mitch Trubisky vs. Packers

GREEN BAY , Wis. — The Bears were hoping quarterback Nick Foles could be available as an emergency option Sunday , but they scratched him an hour and a half before kickoff against the Packers .
Foles is inactive because of his hip injury , and the Bears will rely on practice squad quarterback Tyler Bray as Mitch Trubisky ’ s backup .
The Bears will also go without defensive tackle Akiem Hicks ( hamstring ) , but left tackle Charles Leno ( toe ) will play .
It will be Trubisky ’ s first start since getting benched for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third-quarter interception led to the Bears falling behind the Falcons 26-10 .
Foles led a stunning comeback with three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to win 30-26 .
Bears coach Matt Nagy left it open-ended when discussing how much of an audition this will be for Trubisky .
Based on his comments , it appears he has a chance to win his job back for the long term regardless of Foles ’ health .
The Bears ’ next game is Sunday at home against the Lions .
Here are the Bears ’ @ @ @ @ @

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Bears were hoping quarterback Nick Foles could be available as an emergency option Sunday, but they scratched him an hour and a half before kickoff against the Packers. Foles is inactive because of his hip injury, and the Bears will rely on practice squad quarterback Tyler Bray as Mitch Trubisky’s backup.
The Bears will also go without defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (hamstring), but left tackle Charles Leno (toe) will play.
It will be Trubisky’s first start since getting benched for Foles in Week 3, when his third-quarter interception led to the Bears falling behind the Falcons 26-10. Foles led a stunning comeback with three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to win 30-26.
Bears coach Matt Nagy left it open-ended when discussing how much of an audition this will be for Trubisky. Based on his comments, it appears he has a chance to win his job back for the long term regardless of Foles’ health. The Bears’ next game is Sunday at home against the Lions.
Here are the Bears’ inactives vs. the Packers:
QB Nick Foles
OL Lachavious Simmons
WR Javon Wims
DT Akiem Hicks
S Sherrick McManis
OLB Trevis Gipson


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--George Clooney says he cuts his own hair with a Flowbee

George Clooney is just like us , maybe .
The star said he does his own haircuts with a device famously touted in infomercials .
In an interview on “ CBS Sunday Morning , ” the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker said he ’ s been cutting his own hair for more than two decades .
“ My hair is really like straw , ” Clooney said of his thick , salt-and-pepper thatch .
“ So it ’ s easy to cut , can ’ t really make too many mistakes .
So years ago , I bought a thing called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vacuum cleaner and clippers , yeah .
I still have it , ” Clooney replied , demonstrating how he rolls the device over his head .
“ My haircuts take , literally , two minutes.
” He told Smith the Flowbee trimmed his hair for the interview , adding , “ Listen , man , it works !
” Flowbee sales surged when the coronavirus pandemic limited access to salon and barber shops in some areas , Fortune magazine reported in late March .
But as Clooney told CBS News correspondent Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hair “ for 25 years ” and relies on the Flowbee .
The product ’ s Texas-based maker didn ’ t immediately respond Sunday to a request for comment .
The device , first marketed in the late 1980s , has become entrenched in popular culture : It was spoofed in the movie “ Wayne ’ s World ” and served as a punchline in TV ’ s “ Glee ” and “ The Nanny.
” Stan Rosenfield , Clooney ’ s longtime publicist , said Sunday he didn ’ t know if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actor is famed for pranking his co-stars , Rosenfield said it seemed unlikely this was one of his practical jokes .

George Clooney is just like us, maybe. The star said he does his own haircuts with a device famously touted in infomercials.
In an interview on “CBS Sunday Morning,” the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker said he’s been cutting his own hair for more than two decades.
“My hair is really like straw,” Clooney said of his thick, salt-and-pepper thatch. “So it’s easy to cut, can’t really make too many mistakes. So years ago, I bought a thing called a Flowbee.”
“You did not,” said skeptical interviewer Tracy Smith.
“The thing with the vacuum cleaner and clippers, yeah. I still have it,” Clooney replied, demonstrating how he rolls the device over his head. “My haircuts take, literally, two minutes.”
He told Smith the Flowbee trimmed his hair for the interview, adding, “Listen, man, it works!”
Flowbee sales surged when the coronavirus pandemic limited access to salon and barber shops in some areas, Fortune magazine reported in late March. But as Clooney told CBS News correspondent Smith, he’s been cutting his hair “for 25 years” and relies on the Flowbee.
The product’s Texas-based maker didn’t immediately respond Sunday to a request for comment.
The device, first marketed in the late 1980s, has become entrenched in popular culture: It was spoofed in the movie “Wayne’s World” and served as a punchline in TV’s “Glee” and “The Nanny.”
Stan Rosenfield, Clooney’s longtime publicist, said Sunday he didn’t know if Clooney tends his own hair. Although the actor is famed for pranking his co-stars, Rosenfield said it seemed unlikely this was one of his practical jokes.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--No bail for man charged with attempted murder for shooting at Chicago police officer

A West Rogers Park man charged with attempted murder after firing shots at a Chicago police officer Saturday on the North Side was ordered to be held without bail .
Gerardo Jasso , 35 , is accused of firing at an officer during a stop in the 6200 block of North Oakley Avenue , according to Chicago police .
About 3:15 p.m. Saturday officers saw Jasso drinking alcohol on the public way , approached him , and he ran away , prosecutors said .
He is allegedly seen with a gun with an extended magazine as he fled officers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapon , but he instead turned , while running , and allegedly fired multiple times in the officer ’ s direction , prosecutors said .
The officer returned fire and took cover .
The shooting was recorded on surveillance video as well as body-worn camera video , the prosecutor said .
Jasso was taken into custody minutes later when civilians told officers he was hiding under a porch , prosecutors said .
Two grams of cocaine were found on him , , and a loaded gun with and extended magazine was found under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path where he ran from police .
Authorities said Jasso admitted to being in possession of the gun , as well as firing the gun , but told officers he was attempting to scare the person who was shooting him , prosecutors said .
Jasso was wanted on a warrant out of Wisconsin when he was taken into custody , prosecutors said .
He is due back in court Thursday .

A West Rogers Park man charged with attempted murder after firing shots at a Chicago police officer Saturday on the North Side was ordered to be held without bail.
Gerardo Jasso, 35, is accused of firing at an officer during a stop in the 6200 block of North Oakley Avenue, according to Chicago police.
Gerardo Jasso Gerardo Jasso | Chicago police
About 3:15 p.m. Saturday officers saw Jasso drinking alcohol on the public way, approached him, and he ran away, prosecutors said. He is allegedly seen with a gun with an extended magazine as he fled officers.
Officers yelled at Jasso to drop his weapon, but he instead turned, while running, and allegedly fired multiple times in the officer’s direction, prosecutors said. The officer returned fire and took cover.
The shooting was recorded on surveillance video as well as body-worn camera video, the prosecutor said.
Jasso was taken into custody minutes later when civilians told officers he was hiding under a porch, prosecutors said. Two grams of cocaine were found on him,, and a loaded gun with and extended magazine was found under a bush near a fence in the path where he ran from police.
Authorities said Jasso admitted to being in possession of the gun, as well as firing the gun, but told officers he was attempting to scare the person who was shooting him, prosecutors said.
Jasso was wanted on a warrant out of Wisconsin when he was taken into custody, prosecutors said. He is due back in court Thursday.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-29--5 inches of lake-effect snow possible in NW Indiana as Chicago area temps fall: weather service

Parts of the Chicago area could see several inches of snow as a wintry weather system develops and temperatures plummet @ @ @ @ @ of lake effect snow showers will develop tonight and persist through Monday night , bringing @ @ @ @ @ 5 inches of snow over northwest Indiana , according to the National Weather Service .
@ @ @ @ @ northwest Indiana as far north as Waukegan could also see some accumulation , including downtown @ @ @ @ @ said .
The snow showers are expected to taper off in northwest Indiana by Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ said .
Along with the snow , temperatures are expected to dip into the mid @ @ @ @ @ into early Monday morning , the weather services said .
Tuesday night temps could get @ @ @ @ @ The system is also expected to produce strong winds over the lake , and a @ @ @ @ @ effect along the Cook County shoreline through Monday morning .

Parts of the Chicago area could see several inches of snow as a wintry weather system develops and temperatures plummet Sunday night.
A system of lake effect snow showers will develop tonight and persist through Monday night, bringing with them as much as 5 inches of snow over northwest Indiana, according to the National Weather Service.
Areas around the shoreline from northwest Indiana as far north as Waukegan could also see some accumulation, including downtown Chicago, the weather service said.
Turning windy and colder tonight, with accumulating lake effect snow likely mainly for northwest IN. Gusty north winds also build Lake Michigan waves, and create lakeshore flooding impacts into NW IN too. #ilwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/nreq5IKdS4 — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) November 29, 2020
The snow showers are expected to taper off in northwest Indiana by Tuesday morning, the weather service said.
Along with the snow, temperatures are expected to dip into the mid to low 30s Sunday night into early Monday morning, the weather services said. Tuesday night temps could get into the low 20s.
The system is also expected to produce strong winds over the lake, and a lakeshore flood warning is in effect along the Cook County shoreline through Monday morning.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--Moderna asks US, European regulators to OK its coronavirus vaccine

Moderna Inc. said it would ask U.S. and European regulators Monday to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine as new study results confirm the shots offer strong protection — ramping up the race to begin limited vaccinations as the coronavirus rampage worsens .
Multiple vaccine candidates must succeed for the world to stamp out the pandemic , which has been on the upswing in the U.S. and Europe .
U.S. hospitals have been stretched to the limit as the nation has seen more than 160,000 new cases per day and more than 1,400 daily deaths .
Since first emerging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide .
Moderna is just behind Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech in seeking to begin vaccinations in the U.S. in December .
Across the Atlantic , British regulators also are assessing the Pfizer shot and another from AstraZeneca .
Moderna created its shots with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and already had a hint they were working , but said it got the final needed results over the weekend that suggest the vaccine is more than 94 % effective .
Of 196 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. study , 185 were trial participants who received the placebo and 11 who got the real vaccine .
The only people who got severely ill — 30 participants , including one who died — had received dummy shots , said Dr. Tal Zaks , the Cambridge , Massachusetts , company ’ s chief medical officer .
When he learned the results , “ I allowed myself to cry for the first time , ” Zaks told The Associated Press .
“ We have already , just in the trial , have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then multiplied to the people who can get this vaccine.
” Moderna said the shots ’ effectiveness and a good safety record so far — with only temporary , flu-like side effects — mean they meet requirements set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use before the final-stage testing is complete .
The European Medicines Agency , Europe ’ s version of FDA , has signaled it also is open to faster , emergency clearance .
The FDA has pledged that before it decides to roll out any COVID-19 vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether there ’ s enough evidence behind each candidate .
First up on Dec. 10 , Pfizer and BioNTech will present data suggesting their vaccine candidate is 95 % effective .
Moderna said its turn at this “ science court ” is expected exactly a week later , on Dec. 17 .
If the FDA allows emergency use , Moderna expects to have 20 million doses ready for the U.S. by year ’ s end .
Recipients will need two doses , so that ’ s enough for 10 million people .
Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December .
Half of them — or enough for 12.5 million people — are earmarked for the U.S .
This week , a different panel of U.S. experts , established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , will meet to decide how initial supplies will be given out .
They ’ re expected to reserve scarce first doses for health care workers and , if the shots work well enough in the frail elderly , for residents of long-term care facilities .
As more vaccine gradually becomes available in coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at highest risk from the coronavirus would get in line .
But enough for the general population isn ’ t expected until at least spring .
Outside the U.S. , Zaks said significant supplies from Moderna would be available later , “ in the first quarter ” of next year .
“ Obviously we are doing everything in our power to increase the capacity and accelerate the timelines , ” he said .
Both Moderna ’ s and Pfizer ’ s vaccines are made with the same technology , using a piece of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protein that studs the virus .
That messenger RNA , or mRNA , instructs the body to make some harmless spike protein , training immune cells to recognize it if the real virus eventually comes along .

Moderna Inc. said it would ask U.S. and European regulators Monday to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine as new study results confirm the shots offer strong protection — ramping up the race to begin limited vaccinations as the coronavirus rampage worsens.
Multiple vaccine candidates must succeed for the world to stamp out the pandemic, which has been on the upswing in the U.S. and Europe. U.S. hospitals have been stretched to the limit as the nation has seen more than 160,000 new cases per day and more than 1,400 daily deaths. Since first emerging nearly a year ago in China, the virus has killed more than 1.4 million people worldwide.
Moderna is just behind Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech in seeking to begin vaccinations in the U.S. in December. Across the Atlantic, British regulators also are assessing the Pfizer shot and another from AstraZeneca.
Moderna created its shots with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and already had a hint they were working, but said it got the final needed results over the weekend that suggest the vaccine is more than 94% effective.
Of 196 COVID-19 cases so far in its huge U.S. study, 185 were trial participants who received the placebo and 11 who got the real vaccine. The only people who got severely ill — 30 participants, including one who died — had received dummy shots, said Dr. Tal Zaks, the Cambridge, Massachusetts, company’s chief medical officer.
When he learned the results, “I allowed myself to cry for the first time,” Zaks told The Associated Press. “We have already, just in the trial, have already saved lives. Just imagine the impact then multiplied to the people who can get this vaccine.”
Moderna said the shots’ effectiveness and a good safety record so far — with only temporary, flu-like side effects — mean they meet requirements set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use before the final-stage testing is complete. The European Medicines Agency, Europe’s version of FDA, has signaled it also is open to faster, emergency clearance.
The FDA has pledged that before it decides to roll out any COVID-19 vaccines, its scientific advisers will publicly debate whether there’s enough evidence behind each candidate.
First up on Dec. 10, Pfizer and BioNTech will present data suggesting their vaccine candidate is 95% effective. Moderna said its turn at this “science court” is expected exactly a week later, on Dec. 17.
If the FDA allows emergency use, Moderna expects to have 20 million doses ready for the U.S. by year’s end. Recipients will need two doses, so that’s enough for 10 million people.
Pfizer expects to have 50 million doses globally in December. Half of them — or enough for 12.5 million people — are earmarked for the U.S.
This week, a different panel of U.S. experts, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will meet to decide how initial supplies will be given out. They’re expected to reserve scarce first doses for health care workers and, if the shots work well enough in the frail elderly, for residents of long-term care facilities. As more vaccine gradually becomes available in coming months, other essential workers and people at highest risk from the coronavirus would get in line. But enough for the general population isn’t expected until at least spring.
Outside the U.S., Zaks said significant supplies from Moderna would be available later, “in the first quarter” of next year.
“Obviously we are doing everything in our power to increase the capacity and accelerate the timelines,” he said.
Both Moderna’s and Pfizer’s vaccines are made with the same technology, using a piece of genetic code for the “spike” protein that studs the virus. That messenger RNA, or mRNA, instructs the body to make some harmless spike protein, training immune cells to recognize it if the real virus eventually comes along.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--Man charged with fatal Marquette Park stabbing

A Fernwood man is accused of stabbing a 52-year-old man to death Friday in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side @ @ @ @ @ , was charged with first-degree murder for the stabbing of Vincell Jackson in the 6800 @ @ @ @ @ , Chicago police said .
Dixon allegedly stabbed Jackson several times on the porch of @ @ @ @ @ the pair got into an argument inside , police said .
He was arrested later @ @ @ @ @ Hospital , where he went to be treated for small cuts to his neck and @ @ @ @ @ dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center , police said .
Cook County court @ @ @ @ @ ordered held on $ 350,000 bond .
He is due back in court Dec. 3 @

A Thanksgiving dinner guest was accused of stabbing a man to death after the victim objected to the guest eating with his hands.
At the end of the party on the South Side — and after much drinking — James Dixon began to dig into the leftover food with his hands, upsetting the host of the party with his uncouth behavior, Cook County prosecutors said over the weekend.
The host’s boyfriend, Vincell Jackson, tried escorting Dixon out the door. Dixon responded by sucker punching Jackson, sparking a fight between the two men, prosecutors said.
James Dixon Chicago police
As the fight moved to the front porch Thursday, a witness heard Jackson ask Dixon, “What are you reaching for?” prosecutors said.
Dixon, 29, then allegedly stabbed Jackson nine times before running away, prosecutors said. Jackson — stabbed on his forehead, nose, hand, leg and arms — keeled over a banister on the porch. He later died at an area hospital.
Dixon was arrested eight hours later while seeking medical treatment for a laceration to his hand, according to Chicago police. Officers allegedly found several knives on Dixon, including one covered in blood.
Dixon admitted to police that he fought Jackson, 52, but claimed he was stabbed first, prosecutors said.
The small laceration on Dixon’s hand was consistent with a knife slipping from his hand while stabbing Jackson, prosecutors said, adding that the injury was so minor, he didn’t require medical attention.
Dixon, of Fernwood, was ordered held on $350,000 bail for first-degree murder.
He is expected in court again Thursday.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--Dear Abby: Coin collector upset when wife secretly sells gold piece of her own

DEAR ABBY : My wife recently came back from a gold/silver/coin merchandiser event and told me she had sold an old U.S. $ 5 gold piece ( for probably less than it was worth ) .
I was hurt , not only because I have a coin collection and would have been interested in knowing about and seeing the coin , but also because she didn ’ t seem to understand how disappointed and hurt I was .
She gleefully announced she was going to use the proceeds to purchase an exercise bike .
I took a two-hour walk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dinner because I had lost my appetite .
Sometimes I feel that my feelings don ’ t matter to her — that it ’ s “ her way or the highway.
” Should I let this incident go and move on , or is a long “ crucial conversation ” called for ?
— DISCOUNTED IN OHIO DEAR DISCOUNTED : Of course you should discuss this with your wife .
That coin was only a thing .
The fact that the coin was sold without first consulting you is less important than your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t matter to her .
A key factor in successful marriages is the ability to discuss difficult subjects calmly .
Your ability to relate to each other appears to need improvement .
If you can not work this out between the two of you , a licensed therapist may be able to help .
DEAR ABBY : I was at the zoo with my daughter enjoying an ice cream cone .
At the next table over , a man was berating his daughter , yelling at her for saying no to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I ’ m going to bust your butt so hard you won ’ t sit for a week , ” and he kept glaring at her like she was the worst creature on the planet .
It was hard to sit there watching a dad verbally and emotionally abuse an innocent 4-year-old .
Is there anything I could have done ?
— HELPLESS IN UTAH DEAR HELPLESS : You might have attempted to distract the father by saying something to him to the effect that parenting can be frustrating at times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But beyond that there was nothing you could do to intervene .
What a shame .
Berating and threatening his little girl won ’ t cause her to like or accept the girlfriend .
Quite the opposite , in fact .
DEAR ABBY : I recently married a wonderful lady who has three adult children .
Her kids are great , but they have one habit that kind of bothers me .
They address their mother by her first name , never as Mom or Mother .
I feel it shows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about saying something to them about it , but I don ’ t want to make a big deal out of it .
What do you think ?
— MR .
TRADITIONAL IN MISSOURI DEAR MR. T. : I ’ m glad you have resisted the urge to render a judgment upon the way your wife ’ s children address her — and probably have since they were quite young .
People show respect for each other in the way they treat each other .
What they call each other is their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has a good relationship with her children , keep your opinion to yourself .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
For everything you need to know about wedding planning , order “ How to Have a Lovely Wedding.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wedding Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My wife recently came back from a gold/silver/coin merchandiser event and told me she had sold an old U.S. $5 gold piece (for probably less than it was worth). I was hurt, not only because I have a coin collection and would have been interested in knowing about and seeing the coin, but also because she didn’t seem to understand how disappointed and hurt I was. She gleefully announced she was going to use the proceeds to purchase an exercise bike.
I took a two-hour walk to work off my feelings and then skipped dinner because I had lost my appetite. Sometimes I feel that my feelings don’t matter to her — that it’s “her way or the highway.” Should I let this incident go and move on, or is a long “crucial conversation” called for? — DISCOUNTED IN OHIO
DEAR DISCOUNTED: Of course you should discuss this with your wife. That coin was only a thing. The fact that the coin was sold without first consulting you is less important than your statement that sometimes you think your feelings don’t matter to her.
A key factor in successful marriages is the ability to discuss difficult subjects calmly. Your ability to relate to each other appears to need improvement. If you cannot work this out between the two of you, a licensed therapist may be able to help.
DEAR ABBY: I was at the zoo with my daughter enjoying an ice cream cone. At the next table over, a man was berating his daughter, yelling at her for saying no to his girlfriend. He said things like, “I’m going to bust your butt so hard you won’t sit for a week,” and he kept glaring at her like she was the worst creature on the planet. It was hard to sit there watching a dad verbally and emotionally abuse an innocent 4-year-old. Is there anything I could have done? — HELPLESS IN UTAH
DEAR HELPLESS: You might have attempted to distract the father by saying something to him to the effect that parenting can be frustrating at times, which might have interrupted his rant. But beyond that there was nothing you could do to intervene. What a shame. Berating and threatening his little girl won’t cause her to like or accept the girlfriend. Quite the opposite, in fact.
DEAR ABBY: I recently married a wonderful lady who has three adult children. Her kids are great, but they have one habit that kind of bothers me. They address their mother by her first name, never as Mom or Mother. I feel it shows a lack of respect. I have thought about saying something to them about it, but I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. What do you think? — MR. TRADITIONAL IN MISSOURI
DEAR MR. T.: I’m glad you have resisted the urge to render a judgment upon the way your wife’s children address her — and probably have since they were quite young. People show respect for each other in the way they treat each other. What they call each other is their own business. If your wife is happy and has a good relationship with her children, keep your opinion to yourself.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--How, when to watch ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ on TV

Perhaps it ’ s fitting that the 56-year-old TV special “ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ” is making its return appearance this holiday season on a 91-year-old TV network .
The first airing of the yuletide perennial , always a ratings hit , will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday , Dec. 2 , on CBS .
( In Chicago , on WBBM-Channel 2 . )
A second CBS airing begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday , Dec. 13 .
“ Rudolph ” also is part of the “ 25 Days of Christmas ” stunt on the Freeform cable channel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 6 , 19 and 20 , as well as on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day .
It ’ s not on the lineup of any subscription streaming service but can be purchased digitally from retailers including iTunes , and on Blu-ray and other physical media .
The 1964 Rankin-Bass creation expands on the story told in Gene Autry ’ s hit song , adding new characters including misfit elf Hermy and prospector Yukon Cornelius .
Voicing Sam the Snowman , folk singer Burl Ives narrates , sings the title song and introduces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Perhaps it’s fitting that the 56-year-old TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is making its return appearance this holiday season on a 91-year-old TV network.
The first airing of the yuletide perennial, always a ratings hit, will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, on CBS. (In Chicago, on WBBM-Channel 2.) A second CBS airing begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13.
“Rudolph” also is part of the “25 Days of Christmas” stunt on the Freeform cable channel, where airings are scheduled on Dec 5, 6, 19 and 20, as well as on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It’s not on the lineup of any subscription streaming service but can be purchased digitally from retailers including iTunes, and on Blu-ray and other physical media.
The 1964 Rankin-Bass creation expands on the story told in Gene Autry’s hit song, adding new characters including misfit elf Hermy and prospector Yukon Cornelius. Voicing Sam the Snowman, folk singer Burl Ives narrates, sings the title song and introduces the future standard “Holly Jolly Christmas.”


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--Builders, labor unions open doors for small contractors

That probably goes double if you are in the construction trades .
A person can master a skill to become a carpenter or an electrician , decide that being your own boss is too tempting to pass up , and then suddenly find he or she must become a little of a lot of things : accountant , marketing agent , human resources manager , tech expert and cash management whiz .
Take it from Herman Pride , CEO of Complete Mechanical Piping in West Garfield Park : “ It ’ s not for everyone , ” the veteran pipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You have to be sure it ’ s what you want to do .
You have to plan it out and work at it.
” Pride knows plenty of people in the trades who prefer to do their jobs and leave it behind at shift ’ s end , while running your own business can take over your life .
So there ’ s no shame in seeking help from a source that can give a fresh entrepreneur an honest assessment while also aiming for a side benefit : providing connections for work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found Hire360 , an organization created in 2019 when leading developers , general contractors and trade unions in Chicago gathered to talk about how to get more minority- and women-owned firms into the fold .
Everybody found themselves with a common interest in dealing with the problem .
Except this group was more about action than talk .
Hire360 ’ s executive director , Jay Rowell , said organizers quickly saw the biggest problem facing emerging contractors , especially those from communities that usually get passed over , was access to capital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ procure supplies for bigger jobs .
Rowell credited David Carlins , CEO of Magellan Development Group , with pushing creation of a collateral pool to enhance contractors ’ credit .
The organization ’ s board passed the hat last year and collected $ 855,000 for the fund , which has been used to leverage $ 3.3 million in loans at the prime rate , Rowell said .
He said 26 firms got the loans , and there have been no defaults .
Hire360 partners with the Chicago Federation of Labor and unions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For Pride , the help has made a huge difference .
He ’ s gone from handling small-scale home renovations to work on high-rises .
His company has worked on the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center , the Illinois Tollway and O ’ Hare Airport .
Starting with two or three people when he got going in earnest in 2016 , he ’ s been able to put about 25 union tradespeople to work during peak times .
His line of credit “ opened the door to expand the business .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to float these larger projects , ” Pride said .
Also invaluable , he said , were the connections Hire360 provided .
Pride said he ’ s had about nine projects going at once this year and sees business continuing to be active in 2021 .
The organization also provided a lift to Lou Ochoa , owner of Ochoa Mechanical Group in Logan Square , who has gone from two to three people on staff to around 10 to 12 , although he ’ s seeing more of a slowdown connected to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building with the developer Related Midwest , where Senior Vice President of Construction Don Biernacki brought him to Hire360 .
Biernacki is a leading voice for inclusion in commercial real estate contracting .
“ They got me some nice introductions to old and new contacts , ” Ochoa said .
Along came a line of credit from Wintrust Bank that could become a vital support .
He said he was booked for three projects at Midway Airport that are on hold at least until mid-2021 .
On other jobs , “ customers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ochoa said .
Pride and Ochoa are among 28 employers that got federal loans under the Payroll Protection Program with Hire360 ’ s advice , Rowell said .
From Rowell ’ s vantage point , he sees the pandemic ’ s impact in another part of Hire360 ’ s work , its apprenticeship programs that bring minority and female workers into the trades .
With slack in the construction labor market , Rowell said there is less demand for apprentices .
But he believes the effort remains important because someday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , COVID-19 will be behind us .
Rowell wants everyone to focus on the opportunities .
Public works and private construction in the area could be worth $ 100 billion over the next 10 to 15 years , he figures .
Rowell is looking ahead to such work as O ’ Hare improvements , the CTA ’ s Red and Purple line modernization , Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s capital expenditure list , the megaprojects known as Lincoln Yards and The 78 , perhaps even the Obama Presidential Center .
Opportunities abound for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens when government returns to restarting the economy and provides more opportunities , ” Rowell said .

There’s nothing small time about starting a small business.
That probably goes double if you are in the construction trades. A person can master a skill to become a carpenter or an electrician, decide that being your own boss is too tempting to pass up, and then suddenly find he or she must become a little of a lot of things: accountant, marketing agent, human resources manager, tech expert and cash management whiz.
Take it from Herman Pride, CEO of Complete Mechanical Piping in West Garfield Park: “It’s not for everyone,” the veteran pipe fitter said of going independent. “You have to be sure it’s what you want to do. You have to plan it out and work at it.”
Pride knows plenty of people in the trades who prefer to do their jobs and leave it behind at shift’s end, while running your own business can take over your life.
So there’s no shame in seeking help from a source that can give a fresh entrepreneur an honest assessment while also aiming for a side benefit: providing connections for work and advancement to disadvantaged groups.
Chicago Enterprise bug Chicago Enterprise
Pride found Hire360, an organization created in 2019 when leading developers, general contractors and trade unions in Chicago gathered to talk about how to get more minority- and women-owned firms into the fold. Everybody found themselves with a common interest in dealing with the problem.
Except this group was more about action than talk. Hire360’s executive director, Jay Rowell, said organizers quickly saw the biggest problem facing emerging contractors, especially those from communities that usually get passed over, was access to capital. Money is needed to hire people and procure supplies for bigger jobs.
Rowell credited David Carlins, CEO of Magellan Development Group, with pushing creation of a collateral pool to enhance contractors’ credit. The organization’s board passed the hat last year and collected $855,000 for the fund, which has been used to leverage $3.3 million in loans at the prime rate, Rowell said. He said 26 firms got the loans, and there have been no defaults. Hire360 partners with the Chicago Federation of Labor and unions that have an ownership stake in Sun-Times Media.
For Pride, the help has made a huge difference. He’s gone from handling small-scale home renovations to work on high-rises. His company has worked on the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, the Illinois Tollway and O’Hare Airport. Starting with two or three people when he got going in earnest in 2016, he’s been able to put about 25 union tradespeople to work during peak times.
His line of credit “opened the door to expand the business. You’ve got to get the money to float these larger projects,” Pride said. Also invaluable, he said, were the connections Hire360 provided. Pride said he’s had about nine projects going at once this year and sees business continuing to be active in 2021.
The organization also provided a lift to Lou Ochoa, owner of Ochoa Mechanical Group in Logan Square, who has gone from two to three people on staff to around 10 to 12, although he’s seeing more of a slowdown connected to the pandemic. He was working on a building with the developer Related Midwest, where Senior Vice President of Construction Don Biernacki brought him to Hire360. Biernacki is a leading voice for inclusion in commercial real estate contracting.
“They got me some nice introductions to old and new contacts,” Ochoa said. Along came a line of credit from Wintrust Bank that could become a vital support. He said he was booked for three projects at Midway Airport that are on hold at least until mid-2021. On other jobs, “customers and lending companies are not releasing the funds,” Ochoa said.
Pride and Ochoa are among 28 employers that got federal loans under the Payroll Protection Program with Hire360’s advice, Rowell said.
From Rowell’s vantage point, he sees the pandemic’s impact in another part of Hire360’s work, its apprenticeship programs that bring minority and female workers into the trades. With slack in the construction labor market, Rowell said there is less demand for apprentices. But he believes the effort remains important because someday, hard as it may be to imagine, COVID-19 will be behind us.
Rowell wants everyone to focus on the opportunities. Public works and private construction in the area could be worth $100 billion over the next 10 to 15 years, he figures. Rowell is looking ahead to such work as O’Hare improvements, the CTA’s Red and Purple line modernization, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s capital expenditure list, the megaprojects known as Lincoln Yards and The 78, perhaps even the Obama Presidential Center. Opportunities abound for construction cranes.
“Just think of what happens when government returns to restarting the economy and provides more opportunities,” Rowell said.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--28 shot, 7 fatally, in Chicago this weekend

At least seven people were killed and 21 others wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend .
The latest fatal attack left a teenage boy dead early Monday in the South Loop .
About 2:35 a.m. , two males in black ski masks got out of a black vehicle and fired shots at a parked vehicle on the first floor of a garage in the 800 block of South Wabash Avenue , Chicago police said .
The boy , 16 , was struck twice in the face as he sat in the passenger seat of the parked vehicle , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial Hospital , where he died .
Another person was shot dead in a parking lot Sunday evening in Morgan Park on the South Side .
Andre Roberts , 31 , was in a parking lot about 6 p.m. in the 11100 block of South Longwood Drive when someone approached him and opened fire , Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
He was shot in the neck and chest , and pronounced dead at the scene .
Sunday morning , a 34-year-old man was fatally shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About 4:25 a.m. , Jajuan Nile was sitting on the sidewalk in the 7800 block of South Rhodes Avenue when a man driving by in a dark-colored SUV fired shots , striking him in the head , officials said .
He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
Hours earlier , a 22-year-old man was killed in Bridgeport on the South Side .
Michael Frigo was discovered about 12:50 a.m in a gangway in the 2800 block of South Wallace Street with two gunshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was transported to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
About 2:15 p.m. , Lacey Sheppard was in the 9000 block of South Commercial Avenue , when gunfire erupted , officials said .
He was brought to South Shore Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
A man was killed in a drive-by Saturday morning in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
About 6:10 a.m. , Luis Flores , 33 , was in the 3100 block of West 26th Street when someone in a passing black vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the medical examiner ’ s office said .
He was struck multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead .
About 8:30 p.m. , he was in the 3900 block of West Jackson Boulevard when someone opened fire , striking him in the chest , police said .
The man was pronounced dead at the scene , according to police .
The medical examiner ’ s office identified him as Terrence Goodlow .
In non-fatal shootings , two people were injured , including a 14-year-old boy , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park .
The shooting happened about 2:20 a.m. in the 4000 block of West Lake Street , according to police .
The 14-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man brought themselves to Stroger Hospital .
The boy had been struck in the wrist and was listed in good condition , while the man had been shot in the leg and arm and was in fair condition .
Saturday night , three people were wounded in an attack in West Garfield Park .
About 9:40 p.m. , they were standing outside in the 4700 block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving by in black Dodge Charger fired shots , police said .
A man , 25 , was struck in the wrist , leg and chest , and another man , 36 , was shot twice in the leg , police said .
Both men self-transported to Rush Hospital and were then transferred to Stroger Hospital .
A 39-year-old man was struck in the back and brought himself to Loretto Hospital before he was also transferred to Stroger Hospital , police said .
All three men were listed in good condition , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday .
Last weekend , 52 people were shot , 6 fatally , in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--9 more Cook County Circuit Court Clerk employees test positive for COVID-19

Nine more employees of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ week , the clerk ’ s office announced Sunday .
The employees tested positive between @ @ @ @ @ , the clerk ’ s office said , raising the total number of employees who @ @ @ @ @ 76 .
Two employees each work at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse , the Chancery Division @ @ @ @ @ the Technology and Innovation Bureau , the clerk ’ s office said .
The other @ @ @ @ @ Department at the Daley Center , the Records Center and the Markham Courthouse .
None @ @ @ @ @ recently tested positive have been hospitalized , the clerk ’ s office said .
All @ @ @ @ @ The clerk ’ s office said they have notified any close contacts of employees who @ @ @ @ @ cleaned affected work areas .

Nine more employees of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last week, the clerk’s office announced Sunday.
The employees tested positive between Nov. 22 and Nov. 29, the clerk’s office said, raising the total number of employees who have contracted the virus to 76.
Two employees each work at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, the Chancery Division at the Daley Center and the Technology and Innovation Bureau, the clerk’s office said. The other three work at the Criminal Department at the Daley Center, the Records Center and the Markham Courthouse.
None of the nine people who recently tested positive have been hospitalized, the clerk’s office said. All are self-quarantining at home.
The clerk’s office said they have notified any close contacts of employees who tested positive, and deep cleaned affected work areas.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--Halas Intrigue Episode 140: A new low at Lambeau

Hot seat heats up for Bears coach Matt Nagy after humiliating 41-25 loss to Packers The Bears have been absolutely @ @ @ @ @ two seasons , and it ’ s hard to see an alleged offensive guru keeping @ @ @ @ @ cleaning up this mess at the end of the season .

The conversation continues in our “Halas Intrigue” Facebook group
Join experts including Patrick Finley, Mark Potash, Jason Lieser, Rick Morrissey and Rick Telander after each game to make predictions, share insights and analyze the day’s big stories. This is insight you won’t be able to get anywhere else.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--What’s Merriam-Webster’s top word of 2020?

NEW YORK — If you were to choose a word that rose above most in 2020 , which word would it be ?
Ding , ding , ding : Merriam-Webster on Monday announced “ pandemic ” as its 2020 word of the year .
“ That probably isn ’ t a big shock , ” Peter Sokolowski , editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster , told The Associated Press .
“ Often the big news story has a technical word that ’ s associated with it and in this case , the word pandemic is not just technical but has become general .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which we ’ ll refer to this period in the future , ” he said .
The word took on urgent specificity in March , when the coronavirus crisis was designated a pandemic , but it started to trend up on Merriam-Webster.com as early January and again in February when the first U.S. deaths and outbreaks on cruise ships occurred .
On March 11 , when the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic , lookups on the site for pandemic spiked hugely .
Site interest for the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sokolowski said .
By huge , Sokolowski means searches for pandemic on March 11 were 115,806 % higher than lookups experienced on the same date last year .
Pandemic , with roots in Latin and Greek , is a combination of “ pan , ” for all , and “ demos , ” for people or population .
The latter is the same root of “ democracy , ” Sokolowski noted .
The word pandemic dates to the mid-1600s , used broadly for “ universal ” and more specifically to disease in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
That was after the plagues of the Middle Ages , Sokolowski said .
He attributes the lookup traffic for pandemic not entirely to searchers who didn ’ t know what it meant but also to those on the hunt for more detail , or for inspiration or comfort .
“ We see that the word love is looked up around Valentine ’ s Day and the word cornucopia is looked up at Thanksgiving , ” Sokolowski said .
“ We see a word like surreal spiking when a moment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the idea of dictionaries being the beginning of putting your thoughts in order.
” Merriam-Webster acted quickly in March to add and update entries on its site for words related to the pandemic .
While “ coronavirus ” had been in the dictionary for decades , “ COVID-19 ” was coined in February .
Thirty-four days later , Merriam-Webster had it up online , along with a couple dozen other entries that were revised to reflect the health emergency .
“ That ’ s the shortest period of time we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coinage to entry , ” Sokolowski said .
“ The word had this urgency.
” Coronavirus was among runners up for word of the year as it jumped into the mainstream .
Quarantine , asymptomatic , mamba , kraken , defund , antebellum , irregardless , icon , schadenfreude and malarkey were also runners up based on lookup spikes around specific events .
Particularly interesting to word nerds like Sokolowski , a lexicographer , is quarantine .
With Italian roots , it was used during the Black Death of the 1300s for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into port would have to wait outside a city to prevent disease .
The “ quar ” in quarantine derives from 40 , for the 40 days required .
Spikes for mamba occurred after the January death of Kobe Bryant , whose nickname was the Black Mamba .
A mass of lookups occurred for kraken in July after Seattle ’ s new National Hockey League franchise chose the mythical sea monster as its name , urged along by fans .
Country group Lady Antebellum ’ s name change to Lady A drove dictionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a boost from President-elect Joe Biden , who ’ s fond of using the word .
Icon was front and center in headlines after the deaths of U.S. Rep. John Lewis and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg .
The Merriam-Webster site has about 40 million unique monthly users and about 100 million monthly page views .

NEW YORK — If you were to choose a word that rose above most in 2020, which word would it be?
Ding, ding, ding: Merriam-Webster on Monday announced “pandemic” as its 2020 word of the year.
“That probably isn’t a big shock,” Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster, told The Associated Press.
“Often the big news story has a technical word that’s associated with it and in this case, the word pandemic is not just technical but has become general. It’s probably the word by which we’ll refer to this period in the future,” he said.
The word took on urgent specificity in March, when the coronavirus crisis was designated a pandemic, but it started to trend up on Merriam-Webster.com as early January and again in February when the first U.S. deaths and outbreaks on cruise ships occurred.
And for the first time, two dictionary companies — Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com — declared the same word as their tops. A third, Oxford Languages, couldn’t settle on just one word, so on behalf of Oxford English Dictionary, it issued a 16-page report instead along the same lines, noting that a world of once-specialized terms entered the mainstream during the COVID-19 crisis.
On March 11, when the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, lookups on the site for pandemic spiked hugely. Site interest for the word has remained significantly high through the year, Sokolowski said.
By huge, Sokolowski means searches for pandemic on March 11 were 115,806% higher than lookups experienced on the same date last year.
Pandemic, with roots in Latin and Greek, is a combination of “pan,” for all, and “demos,” for people or population. The latter is the same root of “democracy,” Sokolowski noted. The word pandemic dates to the mid-1600s, used broadly for “universal” and more specifically to disease in a medical text in the 1660s, he said.
That was after the plagues of the Middle Ages, Sokolowski said.
He attributes the lookup traffic for pandemic not entirely to searchers who didn’t know what it meant but also to those on the hunt for more detail, or for inspiration or comfort.
“We see that the word love is looked up around Valentine’s Day and the word cornucopia is looked up at Thanksgiving,” Sokolowski said. “We see a word like surreal spiking when a moment of national tragedy or shock occurs. It’s the idea of dictionaries being the beginning of putting your thoughts in order.”
Merriam-Webster acted quickly in March to add and update entries on its site for words related to the pandemic. While “coronavirus” had been in the dictionary for decades, “COVID-19” was coined in February. Thirty-four days later, Merriam-Webster had it up online, along with a couple dozen other entries that were revised to reflect the health emergency.
“That’s the shortest period of time we’ve ever seen a word go from coinage to entry,” Sokolowski said. “The word had this urgency.”
Coronavirus was among runners up for word of the year as it jumped into the mainstream. Quarantine, asymptomatic, mamba, kraken, defund, antebellum, irregardless, icon, schadenfreude and malarkey were also runners up based on lookup spikes around specific events.
Particularly interesting to word nerds like Sokolowski, a lexicographer, is quarantine. With Italian roots, it was used during the Black Death of the 1300s for the period of time a new ship coming into port would have to wait outside a city to prevent disease. The “quar” in quarantine derives from 40, for the 40 days required.
Spikes for mamba occurred after the January death of Kobe Bryant, whose nickname was the Black Mamba. A mass of lookups occurred for kraken in July after Seattle’s new National Hockey League franchise chose the mythical sea monster as its name, urged along by fans.
Country group Lady Antebellum’s name change to Lady A drove dictionary interest in June, while malarkey got a boost from President-elect Joe Biden, who’s fond of using the word. Icon was front and center in headlines after the deaths of U.S. Rep. John Lewis and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
The Merriam-Webster site has about 40 million unique monthly users and about 100 million monthly page views.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-30--Democratic panel chair says his COVID-19 diagnosis won’t affect state House probe of Madigan

The chair of the special state House investigative committee looking into Speaker Michael Madigan ’ s dealings with ComEd announced he ’ s tested positive for the coronavirus days after he put the panel ’ s next meeting on the calendar .
State Rep. Emanuel “ Chris ” Welch , D-Hillside , tweeted about his COVID-19 diagnosis on Sunday .
He told the Chicago Sun-Times he started to feel symptoms Wednesday and felt something new “ each day thereafter ” and he was tested Saturday afternoon .
His family has tested negative , but “ we definitely traced the source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tested positive earlier in the week , ” Welch said .
The Hillside Democrat said he ’ s going to be retested Dec. 9 and hopes to be fine for the committee meeting Dec. 14 .
Welch scheduled that meeting Wednesday after the committee received and released hundreds of pages of emails that show the extent of ComEd ’ s relationship with a Madigan confidant , Michael McClain , who requested jobs for the speaker ’ s associates and favors from high-ranking officials with the utility company .
Madigan , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done nothing wrong , is fighting to keep the speaker ’ s position he has held for nearly four decades after last week ’ s indictment of McClain and three others prompted a series of Democratic lawmakers to announce they will not support the Southwest Side Democrat for another term .
In his statement last week , Welch said the documents show “ associates of ComEd assisted with job recommendations for people from both parties , both chambers , and multiple branches of government.
” That ’ s been a common line of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative leaders , including former state Senate President John Cullerton , also forwarded job requests and recommendations to the company , the documents show .
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin also appears a few times in the emails released Wednesday .
McClain said to former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez in one email exchange involving a potential job “ Can we move on this item or at least tell Durkin through his agent we will ?
” Asked for comment about Durkin ’ s name appearing in the documents , a spokeswoman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madigan but did not explain what Durkin had requested .
She pointed to testimony from a ComEd attorney in September who said he wasn ’ t aware that a particular hire was done “ with an effort to curry favor with .
.
.
Leader Durkin .
”

The chair of the special state House investigative committee looking into Speaker Michael Madigan’s dealings with ComEd announced he’s tested positive for the coronavirus days after he put the panel’s next meeting on the calendar.
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, tweeted about his COVID-19 diagnosis on Sunday.
He told the Chicago Sun-Times he started to feel symptoms Wednesday and felt something new “each day thereafter” and he was tested Saturday afternoon.
His family has tested negative, but “we definitely traced the source to a family member in our circle who tested positive earlier in the week,” Welch said.
The Hillside Democrat said he’s going to be retested Dec. 9 and hopes to be fine for the committee meeting Dec. 14.
House Speaker Mike Madigan, left, in July; State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, right, in September. Neal Earley/Sun-Times; Ted Schurter/The State Journal-Register via AP
Welch scheduled that meeting Wednesday after the committee received and released hundreds of pages of emails that show the extent of ComEd’s relationship with a Madigan confidant, Michael McClain, who requested jobs for the speaker’s associates and favors from high-ranking officials with the utility company.
Madigan, who has not been charged and said he has done nothing wrong, is fighting to keep the speaker’s position he has held for nearly four decades after last week’s indictment of McClain and three others prompted a series of Democratic lawmakers to announce they will not support the Southwest Side Democrat for another term.
In his statement last week, Welch said the documents show “associates of ComEd assisted with job recommendations for people from both parties, both chambers, and multiple branches of government.”
That’s been a common line of defense from Madigan and others. Other legislative leaders, including former state Senate President John Cullerton, also forwarded job requests and recommendations to the company, the documents show.
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin also appears a few times in the emails released Wednesday.
McClain said to former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez in one email exchange involving a potential job “Can we move on this item or at least tell Durkin through his agent we will?”
State House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, left, talks with House Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, in May. Ted Schurter/The State Journal-Register file
Asked for comment about Durkin’s name appearing in the documents, a spokeswoman for Durkin accused ComEd of trying to protect Madigan but did not explain what Durkin had requested. She pointed to testimony from a ComEd attorney in September who said he wasn’t aware that a particular hire was done “with an effort to curry favor with . . . Leader Durkin.”