As estimated by the Chicago Police Department, 7,000 people gathered downtown Saturday to bear witness to the crimes being perpetrated in our names and with our financing in Iraq. In the midst of the throng, it wasn’t possible to assess the validity of this estimate. But the chance to protest in opposition to this madness with so many like-minded people: children, adolescents and parents, young adults, gay and straight people from all walks of life and ethnicities, grand parents, matriarchs and patriarchs - was a galvanizing and life affirming experience. More photos here.

I saw yesterday morning? No, I think it was a female helmeted guineafowl, a game bird more common to Kenya than Kedzie Avenue in Chicago. It soon tired of me, and took off

in an impressive, if not conventionally graceful manner, traveling about 75 feet before running out of gas. I presume it escaped from someone’s urban ranch.

Liz Phair opens for Bikini Kill

Everything old is new again. Afghani heroin is pouring into the port of Dubai, exchanged for weapons and forwarded under the protection of…

Gallery

Zoe and I took some pictures this morning at Chicago’s Music Box Theater for a project she’s doing.

a few more here

Thanks, Betsey.