Anti-Olympics protesters were out in force this week, as local officials wined and dined IOC visitors with specialties having little or nothing to do with Chicago. Where's the (Italian) beef?

Local photojournalist Sonny DelFone has posted some great photographs of the rally. Some of our favorite signs are here:

No Games Chicago has announced an anti-Olympics rally to be held on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 5:00 pm in Federal Plaza (50 W. Adams St., downtown Chicago). Chicago 2016 president Lori Healey responds that there is "strong public support" for Chicago's Olympics bid, apparently ignoring the Tribune's recent online poll indicating nearly 80% of over 16,000 respondents opposed the bid.

Today's Chicago Tribune reports that the bid committee has changed their proposed slogan from "Stir the Soul" to "Let Friendship Shine." Might we suggest "Pay to Play" instead?

"Chicago's Olympic bid team wants $250 million state guarantee." (Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2009.) This is, of course, in addition to $500 million in guarantees from the City of Chicago. Apparently they've been planning all along to ask for more taxpayer money. (The article quotes a bid spokesman to this effect. Do they really think that premeditation somehow makes them less culpable?) Our new not-as-corrupt-as-the-last-two governor seems happy to go along with the demand. "Bid officials say it's very unlikely these funds would ever be tapped." Bend over, Illinois.

A lot of folks have been skeptical of Chicago's Olympic bid but figured that it wasn't all bad -- at least it would mean replacing the dysfunctional and decrepit CTA with a decent mass transit system.

It's time to give up that pipe dream -- the city's final bid doesn't even provide for a transit overhaul!

How about we drop the whole Olympics idea and just fix the CTA instead? It can't possibly be as expensive as the Olympics boondoggle.

In case there was any doubt, yes, taxpayer dollars will be paying for Chicago's proposed Olympic village.

The campaign to save Chicago from the Olympics is heating up. Gapers Block blogger Ramsin Canon exhorts Chicago, Say No to the Olympics!, and No Games: Chicago fights the good fight on Facebook.

Meanwhile, in addition to the items featured in our very own Not Chicago store, you can show your support with these these more subtle anti-Olympics t-shirts, apparently from the Chicago Reader, over at CafePress.

Chicago was one of three finalist sites selected by ISOC this week; no big surprise there, even though Chicago is just about the last place on earth where the Olympics ought to be held. The Reader offers this bit of advice to Mayor Daley as he strives for immortal mediocrity: lie. "Keep saying the games will cost no more than $500 million in public money, even though they're going to cost much more than that. ... Keep saying it's all about putting Chicago in the international spotlight, even though it's really about doling out contracts, sparking real estate deals, and feeding your ego." Read the full article for more.

We have a new logo! What do you think?

The Not Chicago store has re-opened, with t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other fine merchandise from ArtsCafe.com. Show your support for the cause, and help keep Chicago Olympics-free!