There was a satanic ritual abuse scare in my neighborhood back in the ’80s

Back in 1984, in Rogers Park, Chicago, there existed (and still exists today) a Jewish preschool on Touhy Avenue, the street where I currently live. It happened that a woman was picking her four-year-old daughter from school, and as they were walking through the hall, a janitor tried to tickle the little girl, and the … Read more

‘Creepy’ Severed Deer Head Display Baffles Visitors to North Side Beach – Rogers Park -…

My neighborhood is weird. A partially decomposed, severed deer head with antlers was found stuck on a bamboo stake — resembling a sort of morbid scarecrow — at Loyola Park Beach Monday. “I was up there on the sand and I thought, ‘What in the heck is that? Is that a real deer head?’ ” … Read more

‘He Took His Skin Off For Me’, A Strange Short Film About a Man Who Takes Off His Skin to Please His Girlfriend

He Took His Skin Off For Me from Ben Aston on Vimeo. More romantic than you’d expect. Back in 2013 we posted about “He Took His Skin Off For Me,” a strange short film by Ben Aston about a man who removes his skin in an effort to please his girlfriend. At the time, the … Read more

Photos from the International Museum of Surgical Science

Today, Kat and I went to view the wonders on display at the International Museum of Surgical Science, here in Chicago. What an excellent way to spend an afternoon.  They have piles and piles of bonesaws.  Was everybody into amputation back in the olden days? Other highlights — a full recreation of a 19th century … Read more

Beggar beats woman with crucifix

The Sun-Times is reporting that a beggar beat a woman with a 12″ stone crucifix, after the woman refused to give the beggar any money. Pamela Johnson didn’t have cash for a woman seeking donations Saturday night, but the beggar had something for her: a beating. With a crucifix. Johnson, 50, of the 2200 block … Read more