Ryan Again Seeking Early Release

I'm not an unforgiving person.  However, I find it ludicrous that George Ryan is seeking a modified sentence to be with his terminally ill wife.  Why is that the Ryans believe they are entitled to special treatment?  I sincerely hope this request is rejected.  And unfortunately, if it is, I'm certain they will blame the system, rather than his wrongdoing for putting them in their predicament.  Just once, I'd love to see a jailbird politican actually "get it."
  

Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Just finished Michael Chabon's "Mysteries of Pittsburgh".  It's a pretty good read, dealing with the post-graduating summer of Art Bechstein, who finds himself torn between two lovers, four friends, and a father who works for the Pittsburgh mob.  Some of the critical praise calls him a 1980s Holden Caulfield, but that goes a bit too far.  It's not a classic like "Catcher in the Rye" but it's a good book with a lot of great turns of phrase and plotting, and shows the promise Chabon fulfilled in "Wonder Boys", "Kavalier and Klay" and "The Yiddish Policeman's Union."

Chicago Mayoral Race

Really, Chicago African-Americans?  Carol Moseley Braun is the best you can come up with?  Aside from the fact she is damaged goods, what qualifies her to run a city the size of Chicago?  Particularly when you consider she showed zero leadership skills in her uninspiring stay in the Senate.  Either of the candidates who dropped out to make room for her run as the African-American candidate -- James Meeks and Danny Davis have better qualifications, and more integrity.  We can all do better.

Moonlight Mile

I'm a fan of Dennis Lehane, and just finished his latest, Moonlight Mile.  Disappointing read.  It's more or less a sequel to Gone Baby Gone which along with Mystic River is my favorite novel by Lehane.  The dialogue, as usual, is great, the plot is the problem -- you can see the payoff coming from a mile away, it's rushed, and it doesn't hold together very tightly.  Coupled with The Given Day (which is better than Moonlight Mile, but just so-so), Lehane is off his game.