Chicago Deserves Better

Does anyone really know the origin of the Girl Scout’s powers? Are they actually cicadas in disguise? 

In these trying times the quest for truth leads us to some of the most perplexing questions. Questions such as “Are Girl Scouts Actually Cicadas?” Rumors of the group’s origins and secret network of cookie delivery often lead many curious minds to strange places. Where do they come from? How do they disappear so quickly? What happens if one tries to politely decline an offer to purchase cookies? No one really knows. 

In this episode we welcome two new guests to the show: Carmen & Seth. The group explores the day-to-day perspective of COVID-19 and the impact it has been having on both their personal and professional lives. The group discusses toilet paper panic, peculiarities, and downright asinine activity they’ve been seeing over the past week. The trio tries to encourage people to find a light-hearted perspective on recent events while maintaining a serious handle on the current state of the world. 

Other topics covered include personal accounts from the bathroom, the unique marketing strategies of Girl Scouts, and Chicagoans on St. Patrick’s day. 

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We talk about the origins of Christmas from the religious to the secular perspectives and to the commercialization of the holiday. We also share our own Christmas family traditions and funny stories.

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I talked about the scriptures that some Christians use to justify their bigotry and hate. I also discuss why scriptures from the Old Testament do not hold us hostage anymore because Jesus Christ fulfilled those laws and teachings by living his life without sin, dying and rising so that we may be saved by Gods grace and not sacrifices and deeds.

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Halloween: The Ultimate Gay High Holy Holiday

On this episode of, DJ and Rachel discuss the ancient, religious origins of the holiday now known as Halloween. The hosts then explore why the LGBTQ+ community has adopted it as a Gay High Holy Day. Returning listeners may remember similar conversation to our previous episode on Valentines Day.

Other topics include DJ’s debatably excessive holiday decorations, Dia de los Muertos, the hosts’ mutual enjoyment of Chicago’s summer and autumn weather, and why the holidays help them take stock of the good things in their lives.  

History

Dj shares some historical information about Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, shares its date with the Gaelic holiday Samhain, which is has Celtic Pagan roots, dating back perhaps as far as 500 BCE. Some believe that the early Church Christianized Samhain, while others believe it evolved separately. Modern Halloween traditions like increased candy consumption and dressing in costume may have evolved from certain Samhain rituals like feasting and guising. Following that DJ and Rachel reminisce on Halloweens gone by, talking of candy stores, trick-or-treating, and watching Universal monster movies. 

DJ continues the history lesson revealing Halloween’s roots as a Gay High Holy Day! Lesbian poet Judy Grahn once described Halloween as the “Great Gay Holiday,” and DJ wastes no time diving into the annual drag balls and costume contests formerly held at Cliff’s in the Castro District of San Francisco in the 1970s.

The hosts discuss drag, the concept of camp, what this means to Rachel as a trans person, and why Halloween is a safer night of the year for everyone to openly be themselves. 

DJ explains that instead of aligning with parts of the Christian community’s view of Halloween as evil, he views the holiday as a chance for everyone to cut loose and have some fun, as people do at the Halloween Parade in Chicago. 

Around the world

The show then moves to DJ’s experiences in Mexico on Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, and how Mexican culture differs in its view of death from American culture. 

Rachel and DJ wind down the conversation by discussing holiday routines, decorating for Halloween and Christmas (DJ decorates to within an inch of his life nearly every year), and using the all-too-brief Autumn in Chicago to expend the last of their energies from summer before settling in for the deep, dark winters the city is known for. 

This episode ends on a sentimental note, as the hosts reflect on how the holidays make them feel fortunate for the good things they have, and optimistic for the New Year ahead.

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Llisteners will be familiar with our guest on this week's episode. We are delighted to welcome back our dear friend and lovely rumbling voice, Kyle back to the show. This is our third show with Kyle and we expect that you'll be hearing much more from him in the future. Kyle joined us for two previous shows regarding the great COVID debacle but this week's episode is more in his wheelhouse as we discuss all things law enforcement assessment.

The show is broken into three main parts: the process of becoming a police officer, on-the-job assessment, and fitness for duty evaluations following an incident. This show is not meant to criticize any one position or another regarding law enforcement. Rather, we hope to offer an alternative perspective on some information that is in the Zeitgeist of Americans amid recent events. 

As always we challenge our audience to read beyond the headlines, ask questions, and seek the Truth in all things. This isn't the time to be intellectually lazy. 

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