I was perusing a recent Sunday Tribune review of Conan O’Brian’s final Tonight Show settlement. NBC had granted him a farewell gift of $32 million dollars. I thought about that excessive amount of money for 236 days of work. Then, I wondered how a corporation like NBC (and, in fact, other entertainment corporations included) amassed such a fortune to indulge their entertainers. Advertisers must be a major source of that income. Entertainment corporations convince advertisers of the profitable advantage they will have by showcasing their products. In turn, advertisers charge more and more money for their products. Then this vicious cycle continues, salaries rise, charges to advertisers increase, and Joe and JoAnna America have to open their wallets and pay higher prices for their products or tickets to venues. The sad part of this irrational scenario is that Joe and JoAnna mindlessly continue to purchase tickets to sport venues, concerts and more, and then say, “Hey, neighbor, we took our family to watch the Bears this weekend. Sure, it cost us $400, but it was worth it.” These are the same folks who, when asked to pass a referendum for their local school district or community library, are the first ones to stand up and scream they can’t afford the extra cost. No wonder people around the world look at us and just shake their heads and laugh. Wake up, America; straighten out your priorities for the sake of our children and our country now.
* * *
Listen closely, folks, because you’re missing a lot of important news that’s being talked about the disaster in Haiti. The president wants to give them $100 million to help them. Sick people here can’t get help, people without jobs can’t get help, people losing their health care can’t get help, people who need an operation can’t get help, but he’s going to give them help. Let me tell you something about Haiti. It has a history of problems and violence. There are 9 million people there and the average age is 20 years old and he wants to bring them to this country? We don’t have enough trouble with the illegal immigrants as it is?
* * *
It’s really sad and unfortunate that this village has got a few adults who act like children. For instance, the adult who defaced and removed my political sign just because he or she didn’t agree with me. We all have the same rights to display our preferences and other people should respect those rights and our property.
* * *
There’s going to be a lot of people hating me for what I’m going to say but what I say is the truth. People in Haiti need a helping hand, but the black multi-millionaire sports players have all kinds of money and they aren’t donating a lot of money and they aren’t offering to adopt these homeless children and give them a life. They want a trophy, jewelry, cars; they want this, that and the next thing. They want me, me, me, the good stuff. Yet it’s the white people who are always handing out money and help and adopting the black children. You black people have nobody to complain to because you’re not doing your share and it’s about time you start showing your generosity.
Athletes cannot be singled out as wealthy figures in the spotlight; so are TV, film and music celebrities. However, your assertion that blacks are not making contributions is unfounded. Examples: It is reported by US Magazine that Tiger Woods was considering a donation of $3 million and/or the cost of sending a cargo plane to Haiti; the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) has made a $1 million donation; Haitian singer Wyclef Jean has organized a donation, as has fellow Haitian Jimmy Jean-Louis, with his Hollywood United for Haiti. Additionally, NBA star Samuel Dalembert, of the Philadelphia 76ers, who grew up in Haiti, gave a $100,000 check to UNICEF for Haitian relief; and numerous black entertainers—such as Rihanna, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Jennifer Hudson—have donated their time and talent to perform as part of fundraising efforts.—JAC
* * *
District Manager Robert Hart from the postal service had a long plea for residents to clear the snow from their walks. I would like Mr. Hart to show his postal carriers how to use those shoveled walks and not cut across my lawn, especially in summer.
* * *
Lombard calling. I can’t quite understand why we’re not permitted to put garage sale signs out on the public right-of-way, even on a temporary basis, yet the politicians can put the signs out there and leave them out there for months and months in the public-right-of-way.
According to a press release issued in December by the Village of Lombard, “No signage can be placed on village property, including, but not limited to, village parkways and telephone poles.” The ordinance limits the size and location of such signs on private property as well. For more information, call the community development department at 630-620-5749.—JAC
* * *
This is Lombard calling with a year in review of Obama. He promised us he would create 800,000 jobs in his first year; we have lost millions. He promised us he would close Club Gitmo; instead, Club Gitmo is still open and his only plans are to move it to Illinois. He promised to fight terrorism everywhere; instead, he is using our money to supply terrorists with lawyers.
* * *
I’m calling from Lombard regarding the stoplight at the intersection of Roosevelt and Fairfield. When you’re exiting the shopping center facing north, there are three lanes; the left and center lanes are marked as left turn only lanes onto Roosevelt. The far right lane is marked for going straight onto Fairfield and also to go right onto Roosevelt. Every time I’m waiting at the red light in the correct lane to go straight onto Fairfield, people honk at me because they believe I am in the right-turn-only lane, which is wrong. Then when the light turns green, it never fails that the person to my left, which is the left turn only lane, cuts me off to go straight onto Fairfield. I have seen countless fender benders at this intersection.
* * *
Villa Park. To the people on the 100 block of Wisconsin Avenue who like the temporary no parking signs, only the 100 block of Wisconsin Avenue. I don’t know why the village put them on Michigan Avenue. But just to keep in mind for the people who live on the 100 block of Michigan Avenue, we finally get our temporary no parking over here, Fitz’s Bar is going to move by you guys and we don’t want to hear you cry, because at the last meeting we did hear you cry about the no parking signs. We only want the temporary no parking signs on the 100 block of North Wisconsin. When the 100 block of North Michigan cries, hey, you could have joined us. Now you’re stuck.
* * *
This is for the Wednesday, Jan. 27, item regarding Catholic church money spent, Driscoll school closing, etc. First of all the Catholic church is never not short on money; they always need money because they give a lot of money away. Driscoll was closed for economical reasons and the new commercials that are now on TV to bring Catholics home, the money was all donated by a person anonymously. It started in Arizona a year ago and that particular person has paid for all this, and this is what the person wanted to be done. The Catholic church needs money to run its facilities like every other church needs money, but no money from parishioners was used for that. This has nothing to do with Driscoll High School closing.
