Comic Legend Dies, Jim Beam Endorses Wrigley, Chicago Pizzas for Soldiers, Summerfests and Gun Rights

As mixed as this week was for Chicago news, there was one constant that rang true throughout the last five days.  They've been hot.  So hot, in fact, that a friend confessed yesterday he's been forced to kick his cat off his bed at night to avoid further warmth in his non-air-conditioned apartment.  It's a sad day when the heat affects the kitties.

And with that, here's this week in review.

Monday's top story was on George Carlin, the legendary comic who died that morning of heart problems in a Santa Monica hospital. Carlin spent the past 50 years using the English language's foulest words in hilarious stand-up routines, movies and television appearances.  There's no better way to exemplify Carlin's craft than to point out that of the seven words he used for his famous "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" bit, I can't write any of them.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-080623-george-carlin-dead-web-story,0,1271975.story

On Tuesday, the Chicagoist reported on an important new supporter in the fight to keep Wrigley Field's name.  Well, at least important to people who care about Wrigley Field's name to begin with.  Yep, I'm talking about the huge Jim Beam billboard standing by the ballpark, proudly asking fans to save Wrigley's name.

http://chicagoist.com/2008/06/24/if_there_are_two_things.php

The Tribune reported an interesting story on Wednesday about a retired Air Force Sergeant who lives in Elk Grove Village and recently decided to have thousands of Chicago-style, deep-dish pizzas frozen and shipped to American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/sns-ap-odd-pizzas-to-iraq,0,5052435.story

Windy Citizen blogger Jim Collins offered up a little perspective on the Taste of Chicago and Milwaukee's Summerfest in Live Wire blog on Thursday.  Apparently there's more to this comparison than food vs. music.  Who knew?

http://www.windycitizen.com/blogs/the-live-wire/2008/06/26/taste-of-chicago-vs-summerfest

And as the week comes to close, one issue seems to be just opening up.  Gun rights groups filed a federal lawsuit against the Chicago yesterday, challenging the city's handgun ban after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this week struck down similar laws in Washington, D.C.  Mayor Daley is more than a little peeved about it.  Chicago Public radio has the story here.

http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=26184