Gonna be filled with runny-nosed urchins, I can see (and hear) it now.

The main attraction [in urban-forest Austin Gardens] will be the education center itself, a 2,100-square-foot multiuse center that will host children’s nature day camps, environmental education programs for adults and children in addition to other community events.

A “learning garden” will have birding scopes, nature imprints, native plantings and a social gathering area with game tables for group picnics.”While we are still working out the details, we will have both youth and adult activities planned for the day,” Park District of Oak Park Executive Director Jan Arnold said.

“We will have presentations by park district staff, including a ‘yard tips’ presentation by Travis Stephens and ‘tree tips’ by John Borland. We think the adults will enjoy this opportunity to get some advice for their homes.”We’ll also have some hands-on activities for children such as crafts and nature activities and yoga for adults.”

What about old farts who want to sit and watch the squirrels?

Source: Austin Gardens education center set for summer open | Articles | News | OakPark.com

It’s the Pacific trade pact and T’s isolationism. But hers too.

Funny how in Professor Summers’ hyperventilating about the risk that Trump could collapse the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he somehow neglects to mention that Hillary Clinton has also publicly come out against that deal, in a pander to labor and an effort to appeal to Bernie Sanders supporters.

Unless Professor Summers thinks Hillary is lying for political purposes about her opposition to the deal and will reverse position and support it once elected [huh?], there’s no difference — zero difference — between her position on TPP and Trump’s.

And she’s supposed to be the establishment grownup and he (Trump, not Summers) is supposed to be the nationalist populist authoritarian demagogue. Right?

Well, that’s what we hear.

Source: Summers on Trump and Trade :: The Future of Capitalism

, , , and a reader smiles.

The Bulls are giving up 102.8 points a game, and somewhere [former coach Tom] Thibodeau is laughing through his tears – laughing because he knew the Bulls made a mistake by firing him after last season and crying because he cries for every defensive lapse in every game anywhere. It’s quite a burden he carries.

Yes. And there’s no planning that. Open a vein and bleed, said veteran sports writer Red Smith about writing a column.

Source: Bulls got what they deserve with ‘No Defense’ Hoiberg | Chicago Sun-Times

“Canny operator” can take Mrs. C.

It’s time to stop pointing and laughing at the Republican primary. For all the GOP front-runner’s flaws, many veteran Democrats are beginning to conclude, Donald Trump is a canny operator who just might end up in the White House if they’re not careful.

He appears to be cracking the code with white working-class voters who could help him put  in play against Hillary Clinton. He’s helping to fuel record turnout in GOP primaries and he’s mastered the media like no candidate in recent memory, with his constant feeding of catnip to cable TV and his 140-character missiles on Twitter.

Main point: He’s no dumbbell, is better campaigner.  Hmm.

Source: Democrats to Clinton: Don’t laugh off Trump threat – POLITICO