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And let us not forget the deep, dark secret of Chicago. We're responsible for dumping Gary Coleman on an unsuspecting world. He was raised up near Zion and got his start in showbusiness in a Harris Bank commerical. Now he's running for governor of California. Home town kid makes good, I guess.

Another great Chicago term - clout. As in influence, usually political. "I called my brudder-n-law who works down at Da Hall and he clouted me inta a job sweepin' out da buses at da CTA barn."

True story. Back in the late-50's or very early 60's a young black man came to Daley with a letter from a political sponsor. The letter said that the young man had just completed college in North Carolina, was a bright and exceptionally hard-working individual, and could the mayor use such a person in his administration. Duh Mare's advice was to get involved in the elections, hustle the vote, work the precincts, and maybe there would be a job in it for him. Nothing fancy, tollbooth taker, bus driver, something like that. It's said that the young man, named Jesse Jackson, never forgave Daley for that.

He was raised up near Zion and got his start in showbusiness in a Harris Bank commerical.

That's scary. I remember those ads. Coleman in glasses and an oversized, overstuffed Harris Bank lion.