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Twitter Reaction to the Mayor-Daley-Not-Running-for-Reelection Announcement

September 7, 2010 by Michelle O'Hagan

Oh, the Twitter-verse is aflutter (atwitter?) after the announcement earlier today that Chicago’s Mayor Daley will not run for re-election in 2011.

The Twittersphere–ever-opinionated, feisty, (and sometimes gramatically challenged)–jumped on this with both feet. Many Chicagoans are angry–very angry–about corruption and the sagging economy, and it comes through loud and clear in their tweets. Some are surprised. Some are happy. And a few are profane.

And now, for your enjoyment, here are a few of the best tweets in the hour after the big Mayor-Daley-Not-Running-for-Reelection announcement was made:

@swatymyers Oh for Pete’s sake. Listening to @WBBMNewsradio. The canonization of St. Daley has already begun. Praise Daley! He made the city pretty!

@ricksanchezcnn: maybe mayor richard daley watched Dateline and saw the lawlessness in Chicago!

@chrislhayes Was beginning to wonder if Daley retiring, like the Cubs actually winning the world series, was one of those things I’d never live to see.

@reihansalam Barack Obama is president because winning the White House was easier than unseating Mayor Daley. So this is big news.

@RexHuppke After a lengthy meeting with Brett Favre, longtime Chicago Mayor Richard Daley decided not to seek re-elec…wait a minute.

@songz_n_cminor So, Mayor Daley isn’t running for reelection. Hmmm….the conspiracy theorist in me is curious as to the real reason why.

@brightyoungthng Mayor Daley is DONE!! Finally some goddamn change!!

@BiBi_Monroe Imma say what yall all thinkin … Mayor Daley not running again cause he has completely FUCKED up the city.Sorta like what Bush did to the US

@LuuLuu467 Mayor Daley is not running for reelection. Chicago is about to be on fire.

@rpringle Holy shit! Daley not seeking re-election in 2011!? I’m stunned. Figured he’d die at his desk just like his old man.

@cjoehl Mayor Daley not running for reelection. Rahm speculation begins in 3..2..1..

@draztastic If I were white, and middle class, I’d be sad to see Daley go. If I was black and poor, Daley was the worst thing that happened.

@MzMelleBelle I’m so happy Daley ain’t running for re-election for mayor, I’m running for mayor of Chicago …lol

@paulsmith Interesting decision by Daley to announce his intentions by having bulldozers carve “I’M RETIRING” into Northerly Island.

@MichaelNagrant I’m surprised that Daley didn’t privatize the mayorship, maybe give it to Goldman Sachs or McDonald’s for safekeeping for the next 99 years

@MichaelNagrant We do live in one of the greatest cities in America because of the Daley clan, which is often why the corruption was ignored.

@ColonelTribune I am flabbergasted. Mayor Daley won’t seek reelection.

@Jas_O_Mine Mayor Daley isn runnin for Mayor….Meeks for mayor? ok lets pray cuz im scared of that

@anhalt Peace out, Daley!

@DIJONES82 I put the word out, If Todd Stroger, Jesse Jackson Jr or James Meeks even consider running for mayor I’m moving.

@mrunil I refuse to live near anywhere where a Daley is not in charge. It is simply un-American.

@miles120 nope, not a Daley fan. But, ,maybe he’s like the Saddam Hussein of Chicago. He’s bad to us but we can’t live without him

@Megan_L So sad. Mayor Daley will NOT run for re-election.

@paigemichele What will happen to Chicago in 2012? No Oprah or Daley, my city will never be the same!

@DrStarkweather WOOHOO! Don’t let the door hit you on your ass on the way out Daley!

And my two favorite tweets about the Mayor-Daley-Not-Running-for-Reelection Announcement:

@samyoungman Daley not running for reelection. Rahm-shaped hole in the wall of the West Wing

@samyoungman Wasn’t there but guessing Rahm’s reax was: “Gosh, that son of a biscuit has sure given this mothertrucker something to think about. Shucks.”

Category Chicago, Media | Tags: Mayor Daley,tweets,twitter | No Comments
Bacon, Bacon & Ham; or Duck Confit?

September 2, 2010 by Michelle O'Hagan

I walked up to the French Market for lunch today. On my way out the door, I noticed a line–a pretty long one–for a lunch truck parked at the curb. The “roach coach:” that’s what we used to call them back in the day, and they were pretty much a last resort.

I chuckled to myself, knowing what Patrick would think about this: Some people will stand in line for anything.

Inside the French Market, a menu caught my eye. The “Signature Sandwich” at Fumare Meats consists of: Gypsy Bacon, Danish Bacon and Boiled Ham. And, the Ciabatta roll is buttered.

Bacon, bacon, ham and butter. Besides a vegetarian, who the hell could not like this?

The nice lady at the counter offered some mayo and mustard, but then quickly informed me that those condiments weren’t really necessary, as the sammie was really good without them. She was right.

On my way back to the office, I noticed the line at the roach coach had died down, but my curiosity was piqued so I wandered over. When I saw the sandwich board there, I knew I’d stand line here myself someday.

The Duck Confit at the Gaztro Wagon contains: melted leeks, brie and apple chutney. Holy cow, I love lunch in Chicago.

Category Chicago, Eats | Tags: bacon,butter,chicago french market,duck confit,gaztro wagon,ham | No Comments
Bye-Bye, Miss Pam :-(

August 30, 2010 by Michelle O'Hagan

One of the boys’ teachers died Sunday. Miss Pam was 49 years old and was taking medication for a heart condition. Reports are that Miss Pam’s daughter found her, unresponsive, in her home.

Miss Pam was so, so good to–and for–my boys.

Ruairi was in her class when he was 2.5 – 3.5 years old. He always asked if she could come home with him. He asked her out to dinner often. He snuggled with her. During our parent-teacher meeting, Miss Pam told me Ruairi was one of the smartest children she’d ever had (she was a public school teacher for many years) and that we should strive to keep him busy and challenged, and not let him get bored in school.

Liam has been in Miss Pam’s class for almost a year. And even though he’s more of a wrestler than a snuggler, and he’s never asked Miss Pam out to dinner, he loves her and respects her no-nonsense, take-no-guff attitude. On weekends, when the boys are not in school, I’ll overhear them “playing Kidwatch” in their room. Liam is “Miss Pam” and Ruairi is “Miss Jackie” or “Miss Coco” and the two of them conduct class as if they are the teachers and all the stuffed animals are the students.

And Miss Pam, like all of the teachers at Kidwatch, was aware of, attentive to, and accommodating of Liam’s inherited skin condition, epidermolysis bullosa (EB) simplex. She made sure he didn’t walk too far with blistered feet, and took his socks off during nap-time.

Recently, I told a co-worker–whose husband is an elementary school music teacher–that a good teacher really makes a difference in a kid’s life. And it’s true. My kids spend a lot more time with their teachers, on a daily basis, than they do with Patrick or with me. It is so important for young children to have great role models and good, decent people whom they trust and love.

Miss Pam had a big laugh and a big attitude. She was a person that I think I’d enjoy knowing even if she wasn’t my kids’ teacher. As a parent of young children, I want to know that teachers know what to do in every situation because frankly sometimes I don’t. I want them to really know my kids and report the truth. I want them to give me suggestions and direction. And Miss Pam just seemed to know all of that stuff.

When Patrick called me at work to tell me the news this morning, I wondered aloud why good people have to die early and all the menaces-to-society seem to stick around forever. I guess I’ll never know. We were very lucky to have Miss Pam at Kidwatch for the last five years. And we will miss her very much. I feel like I should have known her better.

Category Chicago, Family and Friends, Not Cool At All | Tags: death,epidermolysis bullosa simplex,kidwatch,miss pam | 3 Comments
Mmmm: Chipotle for iPhone

August 19, 2010 by Michelle O'Hagan

I’ve had the iPhone app for Chipotle Mexican Grill for several months, but I used it for the first time today.

The Chipotle app allows users to order from the nearest Chipotle location (identified via location services or ZIP code). I chose from the menu and personalized my burrito by adding and subtracting ingredients and entering special instructions (“go easy on the rice”). Then, I could either enter my payment information or indicate that I’d pay when I picked up my food.

The best part? No standing in the long Chipotle line!

The lunchtime line at Chipotle (I didn’t stand there!)

My Chipotle at the corner of Lake and Franklin streets in downtown Chicago has a separate entrance where I walked right up to the window, paid for my food and walked out in about two minutes. Fabulous.

Category Chicago, Eats, Super Cool | Tags: chipotle,iPhone | 2 Comments
Hamburger University, aka Memory Lane

August 11, 2010 by Michelle O'Hagan

I spent most of the day at the McDonald’s Hamburger University campus for BlogWell, an event in which large corporations share their own social media case studies.

I went to the same event in 2009, and I’d recommend it to any corporate marketer who’s relatively new to social media. But I’d also recommend a tour of Hamburger University, aka Memory Lane.

I don’t actually remember this very first Ronald McDonald outfit, worn by Willard Scott (the very first Ronald McDonald). But it’s fun to look at.

There’s a replica of Ray Kroc’s office, sort of like the replica of the oval office in the Clinton Presidential Library.

I remember when McDonald’s hot apple pies were deep fried.

I remember McDonald’s “Mac Tonite” advertisements (a takeoff of Bobby Darin’s Mack the Knife).

I remember when Happy Meals looked like this:

And I remember some of these toys:

I’m pretty sure I had this Larry Bird cup:

If you ever have the chance to visit Hamburger University, DO IT!

Category Chicago, Media, Super Cool | Tags: BlogWell,Hamburger University,McDonald's | No Comments