Michael Hinko Jr

 I want to plug a film: The Automat, a 2021 documentary directed by Lisa Hurwitz. Why would you want to watch a documentary about an automated cafeteria? Because it's an automated cafeteria. Also Hurwitz goes way beyond the nuts and bolts, and delves into Horn and Hardart's vision of restaurant democracy. 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, high praise. Here's a link to an interview with director Lisa Hurwitz .

  I read this Washington Post story about societal changes brought about by the 1918 flu pandemic. https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/11/13/1918-flu-pandemic-women-science/ One change, public health education in elementary schools, reminded me of a story my dad shared with me. The public health curriculum included ways to prevent the spread of germs. Dad took the brave (foolhardy?) step of sharing this knowledge with his mother, telling her there could be germs on her cutting boards even though they looked clean. Oh, did she get angry with him.

 Yesterday I cut through campus on my way to Lake Mendota. A crowd had gathered and there was a lot of shouting. Here is what I found.   A group with a religious affiliation organized a public speaking event. One member of the crowd objected, telling them they were engaging in hate speech.   It was a heated exchange. But there was no physical violence, at least not while I was there. Later when I returned home. I chose some photos to share with others. While I was looking at the photos I noticed something a little off. Here's a closer look at that first photo.  Several members of the group with a religious affiliation seem quite relaxed, even playful. In the face of such a heated exchange, I'd expect different attitude and body language.  Here's a closer look at the objecting crowd member. It could be that he just happened upon this event, and became very much emotionally involved. But I think he looks a bit spot-on, too right for this appearance. Maybe not, i...

   Hard to believe. John T. McCutcheon puts forth a plausible explanation.

 My dad, Michael Hinko Sr, ran a solo law practice. There wasn’t a junior partner to do any of the legwork. When things needed to be done in the Loop, in downtown Chicago, it was up to him. As a young boy, Dad took me on one of these trips from his south side law office to the Loop to run a tightly packed series of legal errands. Approaching downtown, we took the ramp to Lower Wacker. I don't think you're truly a Chicagoan till you make this descent. As we weaved between the concrete pillars, he pulled the car into a dark forbidding place that was actually a parking space. Where did he learn such things. Then a walk up steps back to the world of the living. That's when the mad dash around the Loop started. He knew exactly where to head and the best twists and turns to get from one place to the next. Hard to keep up with him. His bad knee gave out once or twice, causing him to grunt as he regained his balance. We ate a very quick lunch at a very dark hole-in-the-wall sort of...