Pushing the boundaries

I cover the new pope, controversial art, Terrence Howard and influencer backlash

—And I quote: "If someone tells you that you cannot do something and you believe it, they are right.”—Carol Burnett

—And I quote, part two: “I’m not sayin' I would be a great pope, but hear me out: COMMUNION SLIDERS.”—Comedian George Wallace

—Kind item of the week: In Chelsea, Michigan, book lovers helped a bookstore relocate down one block, CNN noted.

Photo by Shiromani Kant on Unsplash

To expedite the process, more than 300 locals made two lines along a sidewalk between the bookstore’s old location and new storefront. In less than two hours, patrons of the store passed more than 9,000 books one by one down the line until they made it into the new space.

The next time I move, I’m going to try this approach. Okay—maybe I won’t.

—Kind item of the week #2: The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA)—which supports athletes with primary physical or ocular disabilities, including cerebral palsy, visual impairment, amputation and more—attracted a sold-out crowd of 318 to its 2025 annual gala and raised $200,000.

GLASA provides a continuum of 20+ adaptive sports to athletes of all ages from the beginner to elite level, including injured military personnel.

—Time warp: The number-one song on the Apple Music chart is “What Hurts the Most,” by … Rascal Flatts and Backstreet Boys. Remind me: What year is this?

—Local color: The new pope—Leo XIV—was born in Chicago? Deep-dish pizzas for everyone!

However, I didn’t understand the chants of “USA! USA!” This wasn’t the Olympics—although this pontiff did make history as the first North American pope. And there are worse names to pick than Leo—I guess “Pope Bobby” doesn’t have the same cachet.

—Out of session: Whatever happened to Jeff Sessions—or, should I say, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III? (If that’s not a Southern name…)

—‘“Fear” pressure: The Chicago premiere of White With Fear, a provocative new documentary from Emmy-winning director Andrew Goldberg, will take place Wed., May 21, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St. This 86-minute political documentary offers a powerful exploration of how conservative political operatives and media outlets have systematically exploited America’s racial divisions to stoke narratives of white victimization and amass power and influence. A Q&A with Goldberg will follow the screening. The trailer is here.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

—The spend times: What is this whole #NoBuy challenge in which people stop unnecessary spending? Some of us have had no choice for quite some time.

—It takes two: Regarding those Australian twins who speak in stereo? I wonder what a date with them is like.

—Meth, be not proud: In Ohio, a woman was arrested after a raccoon named Chewy was found holding a meth pipe in the driver’s seat of her car. I’m shocked—I thought this would certainly happen in Florida.

—Pushing the boundaries: I was mostly fortunate to attend the recent EXPO Chicago at Navy Pier.

This contemporary-art event has items that are absolutely stunning—and then there are exhibits you and I could put together in 15 minutes. (I’m not lying: There was one piece that was simply a table with random objects on it. I’m pretty sure we could do that—but the difference is that the artist’s piece would cost several thousand dollars.) Then there were works that I didn’t quite understand, but was sure they were profound in some way.

One of the cool items at this year’s EXPO Chicago. Photo by Andrew Davis

But then there was one work that made people audibly gasp—and it certainly pushed the boundaries of what most people would consider art.