Lynn Becker

Pro-Israel group’s donors and affiliates pour $13.7 million into Chicago-area primaries A WBEZ survey of the 46 Democratic congressional candidates in four key races shows the few hopefuls getting AIPAC-linked support would not answer yes or no on putting strict conditions on U.S. milita...

“They’re trying to influence these elections…by invoking other issues that have nothing to do with Israel.” AIPAC floods local contests with out-of-state funded deceitful, smearing dark money ads to buy congressional seats for people who will ask no questions.
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Yes, I know it’s Adelson. Damn you autocorrect! I have to remember that nothing remains as I wrote it until I double-proof.

The Metropolitan Museum website has added 100 3D scans of major artworks that can be enlarged, rotated, and viewed in your own home via AR.
www.metmuseum.org/press-releas...

‘Who’d guess they’re the same species?’ What Italy’s wall lizards reveal about genetic diversity and why it matters Understanding biodiversity within species is key to our understanding of why nature works the way it does, say researchers

For your Sunday reading, some great pictures of some beautiful lizards.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Further Details Revealed For 2800 North Sheridan Road In Lake View - Chicago YIMBY Additional details have been revealed for the upcoming mixed-use development at 2800 North Sheridan Road in Lake View.

I don't dislike the design for 2800 North Sheridan, but I have to admit it seems a little like they asked AI, "Hey, give me a design that riffs on Mies' 860-880, but without the mullions, one building instead of two, but that looks like three stuck together."
chicagoyimby.com/2026/02/furt...

U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out President Trump says the Iran campaign might last a week or longer, but dwindling stockpiles could limit his options.

Interesting report by the WSJ's Michael R. Gordon on the military specifics of Trump's Iran war, and how - with a Pentagon annual budget of nearly $1 trillion - we could still be running low on munitions after a week.
www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Pei or pave? Former mayor says City Hall debate should be focused on keeping Mavs, Stars Mike Rawlings says moving building and redeveloping site could anchor teams instead of spending heavily on aging building repairs.

Surprise, surprise. The battle over whether to save Dallas's IM Pei-designed city hall is less about the cost for repairs as it as about giving up the land to appease still another billionaire sports owner, in this case casino magnate Miriam Addison.(paywalled)
www.dallasnews.com/news/2026/02...

BART’s fare gates will make a new sound next week. Here’s why BART passengers will hear two ascending notes — a perfect fifth, for those who took piano lessons — if they pause an extra beat while tapping their payment device to enter.

When you enter the new gates at San Francisco's BART, you get an ascending two-note welcome. When you leave, you get the same two notes, descending. (sorry to see you go?)
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

The Kennedy Center Honors will continue during closure — with a new name Interim president Richard Grenell announced that the awards show would be moved to an alternate venue and be renamed the “Trump Kennedy Center Honors.”

A small thing compared to Iran, but Trump and his stooges always have time for petty malevolence, turning what was for decades a singular honor to a stain to be shunned.
wapo.st/4aQSCSt

A photo of a stately two story Italianate brick house with an elaborate green and yellow painted cornice, carved stone lintels, and a big brick and iron fence around it on a corner lot. A much more recent single-story ranch house sits next door.

I am so pleased to find out that the DuPont-Whitehouse House (Oscar Cobb, 1875) has finally gotten the substantial restoration that it deserves after being long neglected and often vacant.

Built for the superintendent of a DuPont gunpowder factory at 36th & Western, it was later moved a block away.

OpenAI Reaches A.I. Agreement With Defense Dept. After Anthropic Clash

Let's be clear: Donald Trump's interpretation of "any lawful purpose" is "whatever the hell I want." As long as the checks clear, scan-every-eyeball Sam will have no problem with Pete Hegseth using AI to spy on every citizen, and worse. Co-conspirator for cash.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/t...

Elon Musk’s Secret Web of Companies in Texas

Arrested-in-malignant-adolescence and world's richest man Elon Musk has stealth ownership of 90 Texas companies to house his varied mothers, manage his private jets, buy up massive amounts of land, and funnel $80+ million in slush funds supporting Trump PACs. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/t...

Hey, it opened in 2004. You could be only 23 years old!

A final visit to Lurie Garden before it closes on Monday through early July for repairs.
news.wttw.com/2026/02/25/l...

Did anyone tell Pam? Stocks were up 17.9% in Trump's first year. Outside the U.S., they were up 32%.
lancasteronline.com/business/sto...

Skyline with clouds

Lee Bey reports that, after 61 years, Pride is closing tomorrow, so I had to go pick up my cleaning.
chicago.suntimes.com/architecture...

When Will Singular Artist Edgar Miller Finally Get His Due? Miller, a true Chicago original, has been called the city's "forgotten Renaissance man." A new graphic novel seeks to tell his story, highlighting two of the remarkable "handmade homes" that give spar...

For New City, Hugh Iglarsh looks at the life and work of extraordinary, totally individual architect/artist Edgar Miller, and a new graphic novel that makes him its subject.
design.newcity.com/2026/02/27/w...

Water Tower stepwell

A day at the Art Institute reveals more about Klaus Mäkelä, Chicago's new maestro Chicagoans have been curious about the Finnish wunderkind, who, at 30, is taking on one of classical music’s most prestigious roles at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The Maestro crosses the street to visit treasures at the Art Institute, suggests some musical pairings.
chicago.suntimes.com/classical-mu...

Nvidia Beats Back Bubble Fears With Record $68 Billion in Sales in Fourth Quarter “Computing has changed,” CEO Jensen Huang said, citing agentic AI as driver of 94% profit surge.

AI insanity, bottomless greed version. 63 cents of every dollar spent with Nvidia is profit. And yet the stock was punished by Wall Street because everyone is just waiting for the bubble to burst.
www.wsj.com/business/ear...

New round of WGN-TV layoffs includes producer whose rough ICE detention went viral A second round of layoffs hit WGN-Ch. 9 this week, with three employees getting the ax Wednesday, including Debbie Brockman, the producer whose aggressive detainment by ICE agents in October became…

Nexstar advances its ambitions to be the Alden of broadcast news with more decimation, not just as WGN, but at its properties across the nation. Next up: the Ellisons take over Warner Brothers and give Bari Weiss the keys to do to CNN what she's doing to CBS.
www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/w...

Disaster porn, c. 1873, courtesy Eric J. Nordstrom.

Whenever you see a smear ad from Fairshake masquerading as a progressive voice, know that it’s from a massive slush fund crypto is deploying to make sure it’s never held accountable for its swindles, money laundering and sex trafficking.

..but that these twelve people have dedicated themselves to being informed candidates and submit themselves to the rough grind of campaigning gave me, at least last night, a glimmer of hope we may make our way through this after all.

There's no guarantee that the best person will win, or that the victor won't quickly curdle and besmirch themself in corruption...

...The professionals boasted of their record; the newcomers, of their promise. Everyone made a point of talking of what their personal perspective would bring to the office, as a legislator, a mayor, a doctor, HR manager, immigrant advocate, software developer, academic, labor organizer...

...Even more interesting were the first-timers, who mostly have little chance of winning, but any one of whom I'd be very happy to be representing me.

Everyone spoke intelligently. Everyone told the audience what they thought it wanted to hear. That's on us. ..

... Only Melissa Conyears-Ervin didn't bother to show up.

The professional politicians were there, as well as a newcomer filling our mailboxes with flyers courtesy of being flush with cash from contributors predominated, according to the Sun-Times, by law, real estate and nursing home operators...

Amidst the malignant treacheries that today surround us, and at the risk of sounding mushy, I found last night's candidates forum reassuring, even moving.

Sponsored by SOAR and RMNA, it featured 12 Democratic contestants for the 7th Congressional district being vacated by Danny Davis...