As I thought, I just have one event specific to Memorial Day on the list. No problem, often food and beer establishments are closed on Mondays in the first place.

Wednesday, June 1

Thursday, June 2

Bob Fioretti: “We need to get violent criminals off the streets, it’s as simple as that.”  

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Jeff Berkowitz: “It’s May 24th, we’ll find out [about Paul Vallas] perhaps this weekend, what if Vallas ran for Mayor, what if you ran for Cook County Board President…do you think you would have a team?”

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Jeff Berkowitz interviews Bob Fioretti on how to stop violent crimes in Chicago and Cook County. Fioretti, a former two-term Chicago Alderman, is a possible appointment by the Cook County and Chicago GOP to be their candidate to stop Toni Preckwinkle in her November 2022 bid for a fourth term as Cook Country Board President.

If not Bob, who? If not now, when?

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To watch our show with Bob Fioretti laying out his argument on how to stop Chicago’s and Cook’s lethal violence, please click here.

Or watch Bob Fioretti on cable in the City of Chicago on Ch. 21 (CAN TV):

This Monday night, 8:30 pm and midnight

Tuesday night, 9:02 pm (as the lead segment of the two-hour block of IL Channel programming airing this coming week around the State)   

Saturday morning, 8:30 am

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Preckwinkle, 75, 170K salary, is the Pharoah with a capital P, controlling (w/Chief Judge Evans, 79, 192K salary) much of Cook County’s governmental and judicial apparatus, through her positions as Cook County Board President and Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party.

To reduce violent crimes sharply in Chicago and Cook County, we must treat criminals as criminals, not as victims. But Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, 59 (192K Mayoral salary, down from her almost $ 1 Million/yr as Mayer, Brown Partner), Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Cook County’s Chief Judge Tim Evans and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart (“LPFED”) refuse to do that, no matter the destruction and havoc their approach to crime wreaks on Chicago, Cook and Illinois.  

John Kass calls LPFE the Four Furies. Berkowitz calls LPFED the Axis of Evil. But what is in a name. A crime policy that is completely ineffective is destroying the City, County and the State- whatever you call it.

In short- Lightfoot, Preckwinkle, Foxx, Evans, and Dart do not believe in the pro-active, constitutional policing that is necessary to reduce violent crimes dramatically.  

LPFED won’t pursue a unified law enforcement approach to dealing with violent crime that involves vigorous investigation of crime by police, arrest of criminals when probable cause is established, detention in jail (not bonding out) of those arrested repeatedly for violent crimes when evidence shows them to be a danger to society, vigorous prosecution by the State’s Attorney, stiff sentencing w/o probation or parole when the evidence and circumstances warrant that, and confinement in prison in accord with those sentences.

Both Berkowitz and Fioretti agree that all the above should be done in the context of on-going reform that provides for legal and constitutional policing.

Berkowitz says we do not need to be WOK, but we need De-WOK reform, like the de-regulation reform that has invigorated America for decades.   

Further, Fioretti highlights the importance of clean and safe communities for kids to grow up in so they can become responsible, adult members of civil society.

Finally, Berkowitz and Fioretti discuss the failure of CPS to teach kids how to read- which contributes mightily to kids joining gangs and the toxic increase in violent crimes in Chicago.

There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come. And as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would surely say, if he were alive to see the vast destruction today by crime of people’s lives and property (especially minorities) in Chicago, Cook and the rest of Illinois:

The “Fierce urgency of now,” demands that all good people join together today to start the change in LPFED’s disastrous crime policies.

That change will bring us closer to making, almost six decades later, Dr. King’s dream a full reality [Watch 4:13-5:10 and 12:33-50].          

Reginald Preciado and Kevin Alcantara (Photo by Stephanie Lynn)

AAA

Memphis 7, Iowa 0

Game Recap

Old friend Aaron Brooks dominated the I-Cubs hitters through the first five innings and the Redbirds pen made it no easier after his exit.

On the good news/bad news front, Alec Mills started for Iowa and looked great through three innings, requiring just 36 pitches. He was lifted after reaching his pitch limit and allowing a couple of baserunners with two out in the 4th. With fellow rehab mate Sean Newcomb coming on the inning figured to be well in hand though. But Newcomb would eventually give up a grand slam, with two of the runs being charged to Mills.

Top Performers

Eric Stout: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 KDixon Machado: 1-3 (.294)John Hicks: 1-3 (.190)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Lefty Brandon Leibrandt has joined Iowa after pitching pretty well in Tennessee.

AA

Rocket City 7, Tennessee 6 (Game 1)

Rockey City 8, Tennessee 3 (Game 2)

Game Recap

A rough doubleheader for the Smokies yesterday.

The offense had a couple of big innings in the early going of Game 1, and despite Anderson Espinoza getting knocked out of the game after allowing five runs in the 2nd, Tennessee still maintained a one run lead heading into the middle of the game. The bullpen couldn’t hold it though and the offense got shut down through the remainder of the game.

Matt Mervis stays hot and takes last year’s first round pick (and Miami OH legend) Sam Bachman yard! pic.twitter.com/IHnpMSQyzc

May 28, 2022

Christian Donahue committed four errors at 2B in Game 2, leading to four unearned runs charged to Chris Clarke and putting the Smokies in an early hole they couldn’t climb out of.

The Smokies did receive a couple of good defensive plays though. Alexander Canario crashed through the wall, and utility man Delvin Zinn added pitcher to his repertoire at the end of Game 2 and still managed to pull nice defense:

This is a certifiably ridiculous play by Alexander Canario in CF

He is okay and stayed in the game thanks to what the broadcaster called a “padded wall and padded posterior” pic.twitter.com/kW2C1JDOeF

May 28, 2022

Here’s a video of infielder Delvin Zinn inducing a ground ball double play and finishing off the play with a great stretch at first base. pic.twitter.com/LhNlQn5l6m

May 28, 2022

Top Performers

Chase Strumpf: 2-3, 2 R, 4 BB (.225)Levi Jordan: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, HBP (.400)Matt Mervis: 1-5, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB (.300)Darius Hill: 2-7, RBI, HBP (.301)Chris Clarke: 2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K (L, 2-1, 4.50)

High-A

South Bend 11, Great Lakes 4

Game Recap

Jake Slaughter homered and reach base four times to lead the Cubs attack. Owen Caissie kicked off the scoring with a two run double in the 1st and added a third RBI later. South Bend also scored on RBI doubles by Cole Roederer and Pablo Aliendo.

Owen Caissie with a 2-run Double in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/rN7299u6s7

May 27, 2022

Jake Slaughter gets ALL of this one for a 3-run HR pic.twitter.com/HFoljqrfZT

May 27, 2022

Miguel Espinoza was sharp throughout the first five innings. He got knicked by three unearned runs in the 6th but it doesn’t take away from his continuing run of really strong efforts since joining the South Bend rotation. The bullpen efforts from Bailey Reid and Jeremiah Estrada were equally as impressive.

Tonight’s @LavenInsurance Defensive Play is the dominance of starting pitcher Manuel Espinoza!#SBCubs #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/0pcT0Xx75B

May 28, 2022

Top Performers

Jake Slaughter: 2-3, HR (2), 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB (8) (.264)Yohendrick Piñango: 2-5, 3 R, SB (4) (.268)Owen Caissie: 1-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB (.231)Cole Roederer: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB, SB (3) (.196)Scott McKeon: 1-4, R, BB, SB (5) (.203)Jake Washer: 0-2, R, 3 BB (.348)Miguel Espinoza: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K (W, 3-2, 1.70)Bailey Reid: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K (4.91)Jeremiah Estrada: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K (1.53)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Jake Reindl has been placed on the 7-day IL.

Low-A

Myrtle Beach 11, Augusta 5 (Completion of SUSP game)

Pelicans 3, Augusta 2

Game Recap

Myrtle Beach powered past Augusta in the completion of their suspended game from Friday. They had already hit two home runs before play was suspended and then Pete Crow-Armstrong and Felix Stevens contributed two more once play resumed. Luke Little brought the heat in his three innings of relief as well, striking out five.

Easy power from PCA for his 7th HR of the season pic.twitter.com/opHKDTogWk

May 27, 2022

Felix Steven’s is a large man and he hits the ball a long ways. His 4th HR of the season. pic.twitter.com/wPP8b9WOjj

May 27, 2022

Game 2 was a greater struggle, but once again the Pelicans found a way. They hit another pair of home runs, the first by Miguel Fabrizio, his second of the week, and then with the team down 2-1 heading into the final inning Reginald Preciado blasted a two-run shot to put them in front. Jose Miguel Gonzalez held the GreenJackets hitless over the final 2.1 innings.

Miguel Fabrizio gets us on the board!

A solo home run makes it 2-1 Augusta heading to the bottom of the fifth. pic.twitter.com/J6sG7I1t0G

May 28, 2022

OMG.

Reginald Preciado hits a two-run home run to give the Birds the lead in the seventh!

3-2 Pelicans as the 12th consecutive win is three outs away. pic.twitter.com/Q8hwmHKAIE

May 28, 2022

The Pelicans have now won a franchise record 12 straight games.

Top Performers

B.J. Murray Jr.: 2-4, 2B, HR (3), R, 3 RBI (.299)Juan Mora: 4-9, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI (.284)Pete Crow-Armstrong: 1-4, HR (7), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB (13) (.360)Reginald Preciado: 1-3, HR (2), R, 2 RBI (.231)Miguel Fabrizio: 1-3, HR (2), R, RBI (.158)Felix Stevens: 1-4, HR (4), R, 2 RBI, BB (.167)James Triantos: 3-7, R, RBI, BB, HBP, 3 SB (6, 7, 8) (.312)Ezequiel Pagan: 3-8, 2B, R, HBP (.238)Kevin Alcantara: 2-6, 2 R, RBI, BB, SB (5) (.250)Kevin Made: 2-8, BB (.315)Ethan Hearn: 1-3, R (.190)Tyler Schlaffer: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, BB< 4 K (5.17)Luke Little: 3 IP, H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (W, 1-1, 2.78)Tyler Santana: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K (2.89)Jose Miguel Gonzalez: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (W, 5-0, 4.50)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Easy to overlook amidst all the homers, but James Triantos extended his on-base streak to 29 games:

James Triantos has been incredible in his full-season debut with @Pelicanbaseball

-His 29-game on-base streak is the third longest in team history

-He scored a run in 10 straight games from May 14-26, tied for the second longest streak in team history

May 28, 2022

Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved to read. There have been times when I was too busy to read like when my girls were little, and then times like the pandemic where I read a lot. In January of this year, I even wrote a post, Who needs to read less because I thought maybe reading so much was keeping me from being out in the world with people. Fast forward to earlier this month when I already met my goal of reading 36 books for the year, or 3 a month. I have been reflecting on it ever since wondering if my assumption was correct. I realized that other than a couple lazy Sunday’s when I stayed home and read all day, most of my reading is in the late evening or early Saturday and Sunday. Since I live alone now, I decided that reading is a healthy choice for me at that time of day. Sure, maybe I could work out more, but is watching TV really any better than curling up in bed with a good book? I have made the choice that I am going to make sure that I spend time with family and friends and go walking or hiking as much as I can, but I am going to stop telling myself that I read too much. I love to read, so I am going to quit setting any kind of reading goals, high or low, and just read when I want. Who else loves to read?

Check out my books here 

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All through my day, no matter where I go, or what I do, I am always looking for the good in people, in the world, in my life or even just in my day.

Follow me on Twitter Susan on TwitterAnd read more positive thoughts Looking For The Good