Chicago: Royko at the Goat

As fall beckons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpuXfcx0pRU

http://img.infibeam.com/img/a6a2b93e/721/0/9780226730721.jpg

got a copy of this from work last year, great read

^^ I get excited every time I'm reminded you're at the press

Who is going to give nabisco the bad news?

my entire department got laid off, nabs :(

just applied for a marketing job in the books division yesterday, though

oh, man, I'm sorry! hopefully something works out on the books/marketing end, though -- then I could get excited that you're in my actual old division

http://imgur.com/L5621.jpg

Those animals are http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/kashi3.jpg

Chicago seems tired today.

i certainly am. i went to sleep at like 9 last night with a headache, then after i was able to check out of work this morning i slept for another hour or two on the couch. and i still feel groggy. part of this may be because i never put in my contacts, wearing my glasses all day makes me feel sleepy for some reason.

btw ZOMBIELAND is fun.

i'm so tired of writing exams

check it out guys, a great blue heron in Humboldt Park

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs232.snc1/7916_1233913494451_1427583604_681987_6785926_n.jpg

I bet Hot Doug could make a good wiener out of that.

I LOLed

Did you take that picture, Dan?

I did not, but a friend of mine did.

I approve of the thread title, and especially the accompanying video. :)

Chicago seems tired todaythis week.

writing (and printing and distributing) an 8-page two day midterm for 222 students is unusually stressful

Ugh. I have nothing interesting to say. I wish I were at Macy's buying a jacket that will change my life.

i made a delicious salad last night
that's about as interesting as it gets for me

i'm making an academic poster that is 90% cannibalized from papers i wrote over the last two semesters, and trying to work on a group project due a week from yesterday where no one from my group is communicating about how the hell we're going to do this thing

I was learning all about structural welds and their corresponding symbols during lunch. Does that count as interesting? Didn't think so.

nick you should make a video of yourself screaming LET'S DO THIS THING and then post it on youtube and then email them the link

i got two great records at laurie's yesterday: the new dutchess and the duke and the feelies "crazy rhythms" reissue

In my world:
-I've got some mundane work to do, but I'm reading old memos by my 2 predecessors.

-I think a donut is called for.

-Email and the internet are not satisfying me today.

-I can't wait to see The Road.

i made a soup using CSA stuff last night (under the direction of my gf). thai yellow curry w/leeks, celeriac, dumpling squash, cabbage, and peppers.

'the road' is getting ominous prerelease press i think (partially because the studio shelved it for a year), but the preview looked pretty great

Jordan that sounds amazing. Please consider being my houseboy and cooking awesome things for me while I work to support us both.

I'll be happy with the road if it just shows a fucked up world*. Same w/ 2012.

*We're all veterans of a fucked up world.

god 2012 looks so terrible and offensive. i've seen the preview like four times and it always pisses me off.

Offensive how?

I just like seeing it all come down.

offensive like i feel offended when i see it

no shit.

are you able to identify where it offends you? do you want me to bring out the doll?

I wish now that I had said "No shit, Spurlock."

What bothers me about 2012 is how horrible the CGI is. When your movie is 95% apocalyptic world-ending CGI, at least spend some money and time on the effects.

I'm in the grips of end-of-decade music stuff. Also, I made a couple Sporcle quizzes this week: Cities by Rapid Transit System and Largest University Campuses in the U.S..

I'm switching off between writing about the 1njur3d W0rk3r's B3n3f1t Fund and trying to find a pair of black waterproof boots that aren't hideous in size 10 W.

Oh and dealing with some ridic union bullshit.

oh no
what happened to duo boots?

Oh, I got my Duo Boots and they are stylish and perfect for cold, dry weater! They aren't waterproof, though. I need some serious, I-can-stand-in-four-inches-of-frozen-slush-and-stay-dry type boots.

Jenny's heard this but I still think it's funny. My mom - who is 78, non-native-English-speaking, extremely sheltered, and batty - told me that her two favorite movies are The Bird Cage and Coming to America. She is trying to get the social events person at her apartment building to screen them, but that lady is a "muy Protestante" (my mom is also Protestant) and won't let them watch "dirty" movies.

Last week they watched some sort of horror movie in which creatures invade bodies and come out of their ears and eyes.

She explained how Coming to America is dirty during the part in Africa and I was praying she would not utter the line "Your royal penis is clean, Your Highness."

sexual chocolate

Hey Chicagoans - please do this*! It's fast and easy!

http://www.plannedparenthoodillinoisaction.org/blog/2009/10/vote-yes-for-bubble-zone-ordinance.html

*Unless you, too, are a Compulsory Pregnancy Advocate, in which case please do not do that, kthx.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/3995480366_5b015dc03c.jpg

'Sup, Carl.

'sup. just chillin' with my magical eyeball ball.

--Carl

what's up chicago crew

I voted. Last night the number was busy busy busy. I called from work and from my cell phone.

what's going on this weekend, aside from ABC? i feel like i've been a hermit on the weekend lately, but i should try to get out of the house more even if it's shitty out

we haven't gotten mail in the past two days, and we were supposed to get netflix on the last two days. should i leave a note for the mailwoman? like "where's our mail?"

i kind of want to go to a show. i wouldn't mind seeing dead milkmen but don't really want to go to RIOT FEST (TM)

I've never seen the Dead Milkmen, but I really should! When is it? I'd go with you for sure, Nick, if I'm available.

I really want to go see the Pixies, but $$, you know.

it's tonight but since it's part of the fest there are like 5 other (probably shitty) punk bands playing and the crowd will suck and it's at congress theater

Oh. Yeh. No can do.

huh they're playing at the metro tomorrow too

I might could do that tho.

wow tomorrow i could go see they might be giants in the afternoon and dead milkmen at night, that would be INSANE

Let me know if you're going and I will go with you.

ok

Although I would feel kind of dumb about making The Dead Milkmen the first show I've seen in a very long time.

iirc Murder City Devils are playing w/ DM and they are not shitty

My brother's in town this weekend, so I'm going to dinner with him and my dad tonight at Nightwood. I'm kind of hoping my dad picks up the check because I'd already made plans to finally check out Publican on Saturday night, so it could be a pricey weekend. And then Jesse and Courtney and I are going to that play on Sunday afternoon.

Re mail: that's happened to me before once or twice. I think I would wait another day and then start blowing shit up. Actually, I just realized that I haven't gotten the New Yorker for the last two weeks. Might have to make another call.

i haven't gotten one this week, though like i said, no mail for the past two days. don't remember if i got one last week or not

I think maybe my subscription lapsed, but it's weird that I never got anything in the mail about it.

Nightwood

lol

then brunch the next day at Morningwood

It would be funny if this were on regular rotation at Nightwood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vhMhm9euT8

uh

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/man-charged-for-making-bomb-threat-leading-to-theater-evacuation.html

wtf

WTF

Yeah, not really anything to say about that -- I'm still kind of in shock.

assuming it was some kind of misguided prank? don't really know the dude well enough to comment on it though

Art project, I figured. I sort of feel weird speculating on a public message board, though.

Let's speculate on the Tribune article comments instead!

well that takes the wind out of our sails today

xp guilty lol

yeah we probably shouldn't really talk about this here

I will refrain, except to say: Whoa.

so uh the weather sucks eh guys

One day he'll look back on this and laaa-aaaugh. Hopefully one day soon. I hope he's not in too much trouble, or on the hook for too many bills. That all just sucks.

Question: does WGN news have a scary-looking file photo of me, too?

I dunno, Kenan, have you been arrested and charged with a felony?

The week isn't over yet.

Anyway: would anyone be up for pub quiz next week? I'm asking in advance because my friend and co-worker Adam can finally make it, so I thought he could just join our team. But if no one can make it, I could probably just round up a couple of other EB folks.

probably, but ask again Monday

whoa indeed>"They were blown up by police about two hours later and determined to have been harmless." i don't know why that made me giggle. you know there are some chicago cops who enjoy their job which is blowing up boxes that may or may not contain bombz.

oh and jaymc, be prepared to have your mind blown at publican. try all the oysters.

I've never eaten an oyster in my life, but that may have to change.

i don't know why that made me giggle.

I do! I was imagining a rain of fluffy packing material coming down, even while everyone was still insisting that it was serious business.

You can't use the word "bomb" ever, though. My uncle was once going through airport security wearing a cassette Walkman (to give you an idea of how long ago this was), and he beeped in the metal detector, but they waved him on anyway. He said aloud, "Hell, I could have a bomb!" They strip-searched him.

In this country, we have stiff penalties for being a wiseacre.

Right after 9/11 I snuck some w33d onto an airplane. True story.

I didn't make any wiseass comments about it though.

pro tips?

1. get work pants with double knees
2. don't take very much
3. be a stupid idiot 22 year old

I'm presuming B. has a lawyer, but if anybody hears from R. and finds out she needs a referral, I can help them out.

If you all decide not to go see some bands, I would like to go to the Evanston theater and see Paranormal Activity.

Thanks, Jenny.

Not help them out as in provide representation, but help them out as in recommend a good criminal defense attorney, just to clarify.

Oh, I know. I thought about contacting Renee, too.

(But for all I know, they already have someone.)

I hope so. My dearest wish at this point is that B kept his mouth firmly shut, opening it only to utter the word "lawyer."

He was already in court, I'm not sure where they go from here.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/man-charged-for-making-bomb-threat-leading-to-theater-evacuation.html

Looks like he was in court for a bond hearing, and that he's got an attorney, so that is good.

jenny when were you thinking of going to the movies?

I want to see The Damned United but I don't expect anyone else to be too into it.

I was thinking about Saturday, but I know Jeff really wants to see this, too, so I need to check with him. I have off Monday so I could go Monday, too.

also it's apparently only being shown in NY and LA, damn it

xp

Jenny I will go to the movies with you I think.

I'll bring a popcorn box with a hole in it.

Wow Kenan, you got an "interesting" commenter on your FB page.

today has really been comedy gold from from facebook conservafriends

got soaked this morning and still have wet feet :(

Which commenter do you mean, Jesse? I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary lately.

Barack Hussein Obama Fund for BS, etc. Or maybe that was ironic, I don't know.

by the way, i think the last time i was on ILX kenan posted a good friends box. i think it's like, my calling, or something.

xp Totally ironic. That guy is awesome, tbh. At UT, he ran a pirate radio station out of his dorm room dedicated to breakbeats and IDM. He once rented a fog machine just to fill his apartment with smoke so thick you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, than invited everyone over for some serious African hash and loud-ass ambient music. Good times, good times.

He should set up an endowment for the Barack Hussein Obama Absurd Captain Bullshit Ridiculous Beneficiary of World-Historical Affirmative Action of the Year award. Pay it forward.

xp - oh, OK.

This week I am not able to pick up on irony in written form.

Oh yeah, I thought that was unironic, too.

I guess it's not too obvious. But trust me, he's no conserva-prick.

Right after 9/11 I snuck some w33d onto an airplane. True story.

― dan m, Friday, October 9, 2009 1:17 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

My ex-BF went to Amsterdam in early 2002 and came back with pretty large quantities of w33d and h4sh. He had the w33d wrapped up inside of packages of coffee beans and the h4sh in his underwear waistband. Then he got into a yelling match w/ TSA folks. He was a dumbass.

by the way, i think the last time i was on ILX kenan posted a good friends box. i think it's like, my calling, or something.

― sweet tater, Friday, October 9, 2009 3:31 PM (26 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

It is the Kelsignal. Look into the night sky! A Good Friends box is projected against the clouds! SPRING INTO ACTION!!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/3996382560_0b0d9cdf7b.jpg

WTF? Is that for a special occasion or something?

Fall/Halloween.

Guess I'm slow today.

corner of western and jackson, a hot dog joint

FELONY FRANKS (hot dog dressed like a prisoner)

"home of the misdemeanor wiener"

would have taken a photo but i was driving

"OUR HOT DOGS ARE CRIMINALLY DELICIOUS!" (i added that in my head)

Yeah, there was a sort of big deal in the news when that was to open. I believe because they hire ex-cons.

yup

that's totally awesome and i would absolutely eat a hot dog there

http://z.about.com/d/homecooking/1/5/6/9/1/hotdogoctopus2.jpg

Yuck to hot dogs. I'm sorry, I just don't get them. It's like a bologna log. Ew ew ew.

You know what I love though -- Smart Dogs.

This is probably related to my deep and abiding love of Boca burgers. I like weirdly processed soy protein, what can I say.

ew ew ew to your negative attitude toward felony franks

dudes they ran out of gyros on free gyros day. it's by where i work:
Felony Franks

229 S. Western | 312-243-0505

$

AMERICAN, BURGERS | LUNCH, DINNER: SEVEN DAYS | RESERVATIONS NOT ACCEPTED

Owner Jim Andrews struck a rich vein of publicity when community members—including his alderman—objected to his irreverent approach of employing ex-offenders serving Chain Gang Chili Dogs, Paroled Pizza Puffs, and Probation Burgers. Still, how can you talk smack on a hot dog stand that exists to put ex-cons back to meaningful work and turn their lives around? Well, here goes: the skinless Chicago's Finest brand beef Misdemeanor Wieners are insipid, and the jokes about incarceration that festoon the walls and menu are offensive only in their criminal corniness. Andrews may set high standards for his employees, but his sorry tube steaks, dense industrial-grade burger pucks, and underseasoned meatball subs are every bit as institutional as Nutraloaf. Even the hand-cut fries—which looked great but were clearly underfried and held until soggy—are a sad case of wasted potential. But among the wide array of fast-food standards, there are some redeeming items: the superthin-cut Petty Pork Chop Sandwich, heavily seasoned with pepper and oregano, distinguishes itself, and the $2.25 Alias Chili Tamale is immersed in a generous cup of beany, beefy chili that would only requires a dash or two of hot sauce to make make it a high-value target for a west-side lunch deal. And again, sincethere's no such thing as bad publicity—not even when Bill O'Reilly names you his "Wednesday Patriot"—Felony Franks seems likely to thrive and multiply. —Mike Sula

Not to speculate further here, but I won't be surprised if it wasn't even a "prank" but a storeroom joke that wasn't considered when taking out the trash.

Kenan, I read about this yesterday and thought of you:
Every year, National Geographic's International Photography Contest draws thousands of spectacular photos from users around the world. This year could be your year—send in your photos for a chance to win a digital camera kit and have your image published in the magazine. Winners will be entered into the Worldwide International Photography Contest.

You can submit up to six photos in three categories—People, Places, and Nature—between now and October 31, 2009. Winners will be announced in early December. There is an entry fee of U.S. $12 for each photo.

Think you have a winning shot? Show us!

Yeah, Eric, after I read the expanded article that Kels linked that's what I thought, too.

guys i think there is going to be an ANNOYING irish band playing at the bar tomorrow night
we can go to the italian restaurant next door, the indian byob "restaurant" (kind of creepy and v small), or the coffee shop on the other next door. the italian place is quite good and i think they have sunday night drink specials.

either way just be on that block and we will find somewhere to go, unless you want me to make a reservation at the restaurant. it's never full, so they would be glad for our business, i bet.

i would invite you all over, but really my apt is not in any shape for guests and i don't have time to clean so that i am not embarrassed to have people over. truth.

I like eye-talian. A lot more than I like annoying Irish bands, that is for sure.

And sorry to be a super flake, but I'm not going to the movies tonight after all. I'm crazy tired and just want to stay home and eat homemade applesauce and apple crisp.

i'm fine with italian or the coffee shoppe

ok i think i'll make a reservation just in case -- they have a little area by the window that will be nice for sitting! there will be at least 5 of us, right? (jenny, eric, nick, sarah, me) john? jesse? courtney?

sundays they have fancy beers for $5 so there's that too.

ok i called
you can see it immediately when you get off the train -- should be REALLY easy to find. Gruppo di Amici, 1508 W. Jarvis

i am excited that you guys are coming to my neighborhood.

ALSO! i got a bio of grace metalious and will be hopefully armed with fun facts about her to make up for the fact that i don't really remember 100% of what happens in the book.

Hey, coincidentally, I have to see and write about a play on Jarvis tomorrow, so I can at least drop by for a hi.

I am back from the Illinois Library Association Conference in Peoria, which was pretty great. I am also vaguely drunk from beer from the Rock Bottom brewery. The place is kind of douchey, but they have GREAT beer.

I will be there tomorrow. Maybe we should watch the movie of Peyton Place at some point, I am curious.

I went down the the Harold Washington library today to get a copy of the novel bcz I read it like a month ago and I returned the copy I read and I can't remember something I read a month ago. But that Library is so amazing and inspiring. Though CPL's new hold system needs to STOP NOW, I am tempted to write a letter or something.

i was at the HWLC today with my entire class of adult esl students! did not see u

When people say "write a letter" is it actually pen/pencil and paper? Or an email?

Same question with letters to the editor.

a letter, i would think, would need to be on paper but not necessarily written by hand

letters to the editor can be emailed

Though CPL's new hold system needs to STOP NOW, I am tempted to write a letter or something.

YES WRITE A LETTER because it is terrible and it makes me sad every time I go to get a book.

When contacting a company with a complaint I like writing a paper letter or sending a fax. An e,ail takes much less effort and they receive far more emails than letters so I feel like the letter is likely to be taken more seriously.

With elected officials if I want to just have myself counted as for or against something ill just call or email, but if I had special needs I would send a letter or fax.

John and courtney. And I are going to a play. Also courtney tells me that she only learned of book club being this Sunday bc I told her a few days ago.

I usually write emails, but if I'm writing a company, I try to find an individual person's email rather than just a general email.

Are you people going to come to ABC after the play?

I have not read the book and Courtney has plans. I cannot speak for John. The play is at 3:00.

My 6th grade best friend who came out at age 30 is embarrassing on FB. Every day it's stuff like this

Er|k J0hns0n Life is such a trip. When u hear and listen to ur heart. And then say later an I'm here why??? Trust in beauty n truth always. It is our core spirit.

wtf is that supposed to mean

It means someone was sitting at home drinking Absolut Pear and 7-Up and doesn't know better than to write everything that comes to his head.

I have lots of good tidbits to share abt the book-- it's ok if you haven't read it!!

what time?

I finally turned on the heat.

Looks like I may come tonight. I had a long run today and I want to eat food. I'll pretend I read the book. I'll pretend Harry Turtledove wrote Peyton Place.

6 pm

i will call and tell them we have 7 people, correct? i thought we could get some pizzas and share them. they're all really super thin crust and many are vegetarian.

i am almost as interested in what people think about the book who haven't read it as those who have. i talked to my parents about it today and my dad acted like it was fluff, he pooh poohed it, and then i asked if he had read it, and HE HADN'T. hmph.

but if you can't come at 6, come a little later -- doesn't matter!

sarah and i are coming

we'll probably skip on the pizza though, just ate a very late lunch

Ikm coming

A nun asks her class What's the first part of a person that goes to heaven. One little girl says the heat bc that's where we hold gods love and another kid says the brain bc that's where we keep knowledge of jesus and then another says its the feet, sister. The nun ois all like, why the feet and he says because I see my mommy in the bedroom w her feet in the air sayin I'm coming, god, I'm coming!

here is the new yorker article about laura ingalls wilder that i was talking about last night, looks like it's free to nonsubscribers?

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2009/08/10/090810crat_atlarge_thurman

thanks! my sister in law is gonna flip when she reads that.

yeah,thanks, I think Sara will enjoy it.

I should have taken today off.

i always have monday off, so monday holidays can suck it. can't we get a holiday on a friday?!?! why always monday.

Do you get Good Friday off?

It is only due to my own wishy-washiness that I didn't take today off. Oh well.

My new pillow is marvelous. I have been sleeping on a beat down, mangled POS for over a year now, not realizing what I've been missing. Next I'm getting a featherbed!

we do, but it's all we get for spring break
one lousy day

the heat is not working in my office. i'm not cold, but it still blows.

since sarah has the day off we are hanging out in the coffee shop while i work

for those of you who were not at ABC last night, it was suggested that the next book we read be "the moonstone" by wilkie collins, which is often described as the first mystery novel/first detective novel (?), and that the next meeting be dec. 6, possibly at the same location where we met last time. all of these items are still up for discussion.

I am going home. I'm the only one who came in today and I shouldn't have bothered.

so apparently the cta is going to raise fares (supposedly to $3 for the el) and cut service. Whoo-hoo!

Oh boy, is it "DOOMSDAY" time again already?

I can't even think about that right now. Guh.

Instead, I will share this link with Amanda:

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/10/how-to-make-homemade-candy-corn-halloween-recipe.html

oh man
that's cool!!!

i got a pumpkin on saturday night and can't wait to make pumpkin seeds. i won't burn them like i did last year (sorry jesse)
today i am making oatmeal raisin cookies for my stoods.

I love this

http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays

finally got around to watching that royko youtube. man was he a badass!

"That woman was sexy...Out of your league? Son. Let women figure out why they won't screw you, don't do it for them."

Man, that's sage advice. I wish my dad or someone had been around to say things like that to me in my formative years.

I too do not wish to think about higher fares and services cuts.

F*rr*h L*ne I worked today first Monday in a long time don't know if I like the new schedule or not...
5 hours ago · Comment · Like

Tabitha where r u working girl?
5 hours ago

D0rls Mck3nzi33 just remember.."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"....love you....
3 hours ago

ALL things, even having to work Mondays.

Today's groupon is for hannah's bretzel. 2 sandwiches for 9 dollars. Only the Michigan ave store though.

I was just coming here to post that. But I didn't realize it was only @ MI Ave. That's a deal breaker.

Pub quiz tonight:

1) Grabby Teething Ho 10 pts
2) In The Year 2525 10 pts
3) Match- Messy in Video 14 pts
4) Chemical States Round 16 pts
5) Dead or Canadian 11 pts
6) Picture Round 15 pts
7) General Knowledge 24 pts

1 = The Big Bang Theory [I'm assuming about the TV show rather than the scientific hypothesis]
3 = Disney Movies

huh i've only watched a few eps of the big bang theory but it seems like it would be easy to study up on, since there have only been a few (two?) seasons of it - but are you SURE it wouldn't be about science?

i'm not sure i'd be able to come, we're probably having practice tonight so i definitely wouldn't be able to get there early

[I'm assuming about the TV show rather than the scientific hypothesis]

sorry. i thought that would fail. when i write a single word inside of brackets it causes a BBCode error

i saw what john said, i just think it seems weird to have a whole category about that show, though i know he's had individual questions about it a couple of times

plus it seems like he usually starts off with a more academic category, something about history or geography

Yeah, I don't know. Although do you think if it weren't about the show, he would include the word "the"?

maybe, don't people refer to it as 'the big bang theory'?

i agree it's weird either way

Not to be annoying, but do you think you guys (Nick, Dan, Eric) could let me know definitively whether you're coming tonight? Cause if it's just me and Adam, I was going to ask another co-worker or two. Although maybe I should just do that anyway since Dave doesn't seem to care about upholding the five-people-per-team rule.

Hey, I am working tonight so I definitely can't come :(

If you need a team member, I'll go. I don't know shit about that TV show, however, and very little about Disney movies.

btw I don't know if you guys saw this on my fb but my dad was on CSPAN3 (History) recently, and I'm geeked out as all hell about it. If you're curious, you can see it online here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/213169 -- about 18 minutes in. He talks about an archaeological project he's been working on in upstate NY for the past 7-8 years.

cool dan

i can't really confirm either way about pub quiz, sorry. we are having practice so i probably won't be getting home until right around 8, and it's just going to depend on how i'm feeling at the time, sometimes i'm really tired after practice and other times i'm ok. so go ahead and get your work crew together if you want

OK. I'll let you guys know.

Nick and Dan: So I don't think anyone else from work is coming tonight. (Maybe one person, but I haven't heard from her.) If you can make it, that'd be sweet.

OK, I'll shoot for being there about 7:30.

Anyone recommend a good band to see on Friday night? I need friend-date ideas that don't revolve around eating and/or getting shitty.

the gossip are playing at the metro

that's the most promising show i see right now

Are you going on a friend-date with anyone of the Sapphic persuasion? Because Me'Shell Ndegeocello is at Old Town School of Folk Music, and the mustachioed lady from Le Tigre is at Berlin.

No, of the faggish persuasion.

the gossip would also appeal to those of the sapphic persuasion

i guess?

Good point, Nicholas. Hey, isn't it National Coming Out week?

I think you're right.

You guys, I'm gay.

Who else can I tell? I probably haven't told my cats.

Gay as in ... happy?

Oh yeh. Happiest when I have *** around some ******* ****** in "***********."

I bet The Gossip would be pretty great live. Jesse, here is a song by The Gossip about dudes who love other dudes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meP22E5o3qY

OK, thanks.

Why is Broke Hipster being a dumb dyke and not showing anything for Friday?

Um...wow I am dumb. I have been in Chicago for a week, chilling with friends,leaving today at midnight and somehow did not think to ask Chicago ILXors if anything awesome was going on in the city. Foolish. Ah well, next time I suppose.

Specifically had I known that this was apparently the city of pub quizzes. Drat.

5) Dead or Canadian 11 pts

^^^ Uniquely suited to answer questions of this nature, too, I would think! Heh.

haw

the gossip were good live when i saw them open for sleater-kinney in chapel hill approximately 8 years ago

rip alex in montreal

Huh? Dead OR Canadian. Not AND.

just because you're in montreal doesn't mean you're canadian

Note to self: Get Mods to alter name to Alex of Montreal. Both more accurate and vaguely Arthurian.

OH SNAP

That was going to be an xpost, but it works this way, too.

it's strange, I was totally ignorant of The Gossip until the past few weeks (they've been on NPR a couple of times). I had heard of them, but, for some reason, I had assumed that they were a Saddle Creek band! Perhaps I got them confused with The Faint?

The Gossip is the band with the fat, queer frontwoman. The Faint did that song with the video about people jumping in front of trains. HTH.

I think the Gossip used to be on Kill Rock Stars. Supposedly they're huge in the UK.

No, I have figured out the difference thanks to our pals at Sound Opinions (and wikipedia). I might actually like the gossip, not sure yet.

I know the gossip because beth ditto is the frontwoman and she "took the fashion industry by storm" for like 4 minutes (not even 5) when the fashion industry pretended to care about normal people. they seem pretty cool but i know nothing of their music.

Oh yeh the gossip. T0m4s sent me youtube links but I forgot. Seems like a good frienddate thing to do, going to watch a fat lesbian perform.

they seem like a pretty cool gang of four-y kind of thing; I think it might take me a while to get used to her vocals though.

Beth Ditto does have a clothing line with British Lane Bryant-analog Evans. Unfortunately, it includes things like this:

http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/beth-ditto-x-evans-02.jpg

I like this song a lot, especially the part where she sings "if it's already been done, undo it."

Oh, sorry, this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLLxdcrk0-s

Also sorry for stealing your bandwidth, nitrolicious.com.

http://juicy.mashkulture.net/magyar/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/beth-ditto-evans-plus-size-collection-dresses.jpg

i think i know what i'm going to be for halloween (nothing to do with that pic btw)

hey their music sounds pretty good. good for dancin' that is.

I wish I danced. That would be a very nice option for things to do of an evening.

I used to dance in chapel hill. This was probably a bad idea, but when you're in smokey bar filled with librarians and other grad students, your lack of ability to dance properly is not as big of an issue as it might be elsewhere.

NO SHAME FELLAS
dancing is feelin it
not worrying about whether you look cool while you're feelin it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tE1z9t7ep4

Oh I feel it, but it doesn't make it to my parts. it used to be a bigger social impediment, maybe bc I was younger and dancing was more of a thing my friends went out to do. Or maybe my friends now are not as dancy as prior ones.

I can feel it to -- as long as I am sufficiently soused

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoDmOU3ok0E

Me'Shell Ndegeocello's Bitter is one of my all-time fave records.

Ditto's voice reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton's.

How did i get so drunk. how did i spemd the ;ast 3- ,omietes wotj qioz,aster dave????

but rwhile e're talking about it how about hat runabays movie w/kristen stewart and dakpta fanning and <MICHAEL MOTHURFUCKING SHANNON AS the sveganli chaaracter?? lol

lol bc jesse amd courtney and i saw that dude in the THEATER

so i have a new screen name. did u notice it/? its a refernce to marquis grissom and delino deshields, who were players fo the montreal expos in the early 90s.

but is also a takeofff on ilx poster c. grisso/mccain. or w/e, i dunno. it's a du,n,mb reference. like remember when i wwaas "Bianca Jagger"? also a dumb reference. might as well call myself rusty whatshisnuts.

classic

I don't remember what my screen name is.

my favorite part:
but rwhile e're talking about it how about hat runabays movie w/kristen stewart and dakpta fanning

Delino DeShields is from Delaware. WHAT'S UP

What, I mean

http://www.gop.com/themes/site_themes/gop/blogTitle-whatsup.jpg

ha i was pretty buzzed for the second half of pub quiz ... off of TWO beers. i haven't been drinking much lately.

i like the gossip. the singer gets all the attention but their guitarist is pretty awesome.

Ahhh jaymc's drunken posts are brightening up my morning.

how did i spemd the ;ast 3- ,omietes wotj qioz,aster dave????

"how did i spend the last 3 omelettes with quizmaster dave????"?

sounds like someone hit the lincoln lodge

How did I sperm the past 3 oubliettes Wojciehowicz, faster dave?

we won the quiz for the first time btw

perhaps that is what john was trying to type

qioz,aster dave

this is supposed to be "quiz master dave"

oh wait you got that

We all got that.

last night i dreamed that i was in the studio with jay-z, because he picked one of my beats. but then he was like "i don't know, i liked that first one better, the 'Fake Fiction' one." and it was this super minimal thing, like 'everything in its right place' plus a snap beat, and i agreed that it was better.

ha ha

"sperm the oubliette" sounds like a great euphemism for ... something.

i want to try and make that beat, because jay-z liked it. can i call it 'fake fiction' if it turns out okay?

ugh

ha sure

I think I was trying to type, "How did I spend the last 30 minutes with Quizmaster Dave?" I don't know if it was that long, but after Dan and Adam and Stephen left, I just hung out with Dave and his pals, apparently too drunk to realize I should leave.

How did i get so drunk. how did i spemd the ;ast 3- ,omietes wotj qioz,aster dave????

― M. Grissom/DeShields (jaymc), Wednesday, October 14, 2009 6:23 AM (8 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

ugh

― M. Grissom/DeShields (jaymc), Wednesday, October 14, 2009 3:12 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark

Classic lapsed post sequence.

we didn't really need those extra gumballheads

well maybe that stephen dude did, he was gonna go clubbin' and score with some hottiez

Haha, really?

I can't say with certainty, but he did talk about that sort of shit quite a bit in between leching out over the waitress.

But did you make out, J.? Old-school '05 vintage stylee.

No, I went home to my woman.

Good good. What did you guys win?

$50 off our tab.

thought that dude was gay to be honest, i guess because he was talking about last weekend's march on washington when i got there. just goes to show that if you make an assumption, you'll look like an ass and the ump will shun you

fyi I have been loling my ass off at this thread, mostly at john's drunken ramblings

Nick, sometimes str8 people are our ALLIES, not our frenemies. FYI.

i had a dream recently that the word ump was short for umperor

lol!

haha

i am going to post this site wherever i can because it is just that awesome. also all of us need to eat lunch

http://justbento.com/handbook/lists/bento-archive-list-3

That site looks great. It also makes me want to go to Tokyo Lunchbox for lunch.

Is Lexus a normal (common or not-uncommon) name for a girl? John?

just fyi/save the date to our friends on chilx: the last fake fictions show is fri. nov. 20 aka "the day the music died"

last????

even though I heard about this last night it's still :(

What? Why?

I am unaware of this development.

WHA'APPEN?!?!!?

it'll be ok guys
no big climactic reason, it's just time to stop
going to get a haircut now

omg this is crazy obviously I have to be there on 11/20

is something going to rise from the ashes on 11/21 or is it a secret

oh well. i'd be interested to know if it's more b/c of creative reasons, life reasons, or band "success" reasons (or a combination)?

Last until July 20, 2021, you mean, when you'll play R@w Y@ng in its entirety at P-fork's 20th.

(concurrent with the remaster/blu-ray reissue)

(entitled We Built You...!!!: Live at Cal's)

Is Lexus a normal (common or not-uncommon) name for a girl? John?

Good question. It was in the top 1000 girls' names between 1992 and 2004, peaking at #449 in 1996. (FYI, the car was introduced to the U.S. in 1989.)

This will also be after n/a becomes PBS kids TV superstar Dude Decimal.

I think it's a tacky name.

What, Dude Decimal?

I plan to name my first child Westlaw.

LOL

Thank you for getting my Legal Professionals joke.

hi, guys.

Jordan, I'd say it's a combo. There is a season (turn, turn, turn), and the time for the FF is no longer with us. We will all still be making music one way or another, I'm sure. Life-wise, I'm dealing with this dumbaroo hip issue, for starters. Also, Nick's about to finish school. It just feels like a good time to stop, you know?

Bad analogy time!

I sort of feel like being in a band is like being at a party, and we're at the point where most people have gone home and you realize you're still there are starting to feel a little TOO drunk and it's really time to go home now. But you know what? It was a good time.

whoa sarah posted on ilx

an always awkward moment for me is at the end of a haircut, when they give me the little mirror to look at the back of my head. it's always hard to get the mirror in the right position, and then i don't really know what the back of my head is supposed to look like so i'm always just like "yeah! it looks great!"

Hi Sarah!

Someone mentioned the mirror thing the other day, and I realized that Leanne has never done this for me. I am excited that she's at a new salon, though, because it'll be a lot easier for me to get to.

Hi SARAHHHHH!!!! Stay and play with us! Forever and ever and ever.

I'm really sorry to hear that you're dissolving :(

Someone threw water on me, Jesse.

I'm excited that Le@nne moved too!

i'm always just like "yeah! it looks great!"

That's what you're supposed to do. I always look at that as a meaningless courtesy, like how when people ask "How are you?" they don't really want to know.

Oh, hi Sarah. How are you?

j/k! I really want to know!

When I got a cut a few weeks ago I did the mirror thing and the first thing I saw was a big zit on the back of my neck that had previously been covered by my hair. :/

http://images.dailyradar.com/media/uploads/humor/story_preview/2009/09/10/batman_haircut.jpg

^^What happens if they don't show it to you.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f363/Stiggybusiness/stupid-haircut.jpg

Hi, Jenny! I'm doing well. It's fall tax season so work is crazy and has driven me here.

sarah, that sounds suspiciously like "we're too old to be in a band"! but i'm you guys don't actually think that, and that you'll do other cool projects. sometimes it's good to take a break.

I always give Val shit for handing me the mirror to look at the back of my hair. I tell her I have complete trust in her and she could carve a V in the back of my head for all I can. One time she did take a picture though:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/4012228902_10da9b6b5c_m.jpg

My need for a hip replacement getting in the way of the band DOES kind of make it sound like we're too old for this! ha ha

Come on! It's funny! :-)

it's funny, but it sucks that you need a hip replacement!!

You are getting a hip replaced???? For real?

Wow, you ARE dissolving!

Yes, but not yet. The doc wants me to come back in this March to see how I'm feeling. I'll definitely need one at some point in the next couple years or so. I'm going for a second opinion next week thanks to a rec from Jenny.

Good lord, I had no idea it was so serious.

If it's too loud, you're too old.

I will have a robohip!

what will it be made of?

always knew you were a hipster1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-Hip

Here is Sarah:

http://www.insidesocal.com/hollywoodjoe/.bionic.jpg

I totally had this, btw:

http://ginavivinetto.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/tv624.jpg

I'm not sure yet, A. The doc didn't talk to me about which material he suggests, but usually they are mostly metal. They set off detectors at airports! They also have ceramic and plastic options and combos. It should last me about 15 or 20 years, if I'm lucky.

being a superhero for 15-20 years will bring a lot of good to chicago and the world in general
i am in favor

Guys, WE LIVE IN PUBLIC at I^3 tomorrow! http://i3hypermedia.com/

(w/ Ondi Timoner and Josh Harris)

What is I^3?

That movie looks interesting -- and it looks like it will be getting a full release at the Music Box starting Friday.

"visionary social engineering artist"

when they say that a person fell on the train tracks, that means that the person jumped, right? does anyone actually fall on the tracks?!

It could happen, why not?

It happens to me a few times a week. I go to lean on a pillar and it's not there and BOOP! I fall on the tracks.

I've seen it nearly happen a couple times, usually just drunken idiots or young kids playing around and pretending to push someone off.

yeah
but like 45 year old man boops onto the tracks at 6:50 am? boop?

Somebody (me, Jeff, Jesse, strangers) falling on the tracks is one of my near constant CTA-related anxieties.

I guess I don't see why it couldn't happen, somebody falling on the tracks.

It could happen! BLOMP! Man on the tracks!

Did I post that WaPo article about train operators who were traumatized by jumpers? Apparently it happens a lot. There were some people who said they have had like 4 or 5, and they just have to watch it happen and wait for impact.

I would be (morbidly) curious to read such an article.

xp to jenny
me too
i'm terrified of being pushed

the guy lived, btw. i heard on the radio that he is in the hospital.

i guess the only reason i questioned this one is because dan texted me from the train to say that the conductor had announced that a "guy at jackson may go over the top" and i was all like WHA and then they shut down power.

One time I sat on a train for 20 min b/c a guy at Grand was holed up under the platform and he refused to come out.

i just loled accidentally while my students were taking an exam
oops

Ha! Busted!

i pretended to be coughing but i think they knew

yeah, that never works

That reminds me of this one time in seventh grade when a kid named Matt who got picked on a lot for a variety of reasons (he has an awesome long forked beard now, so I can only assume he made it through okay) tried to cover a fart by coughing and instead coughed FIRST and THEN farted, so the cough acted as more of an attention getter, thus ensuring that everybody was alert and focused on him when he farted.

There are lots of ways people could fall on the tracks. Faint, tripped, pushed, seizure, snow blindness, heart burn, etc.

L
O
L

God DAMN last night I had heart burn/acid reflux so bad that I wished to be run over by the Red Line. When I coughed, I produced chunks of food.

fork beard farting just made me lol again
i just went with it
and did not fart

from a real student exam that i read seconds ago: "sometimes you become friends for silly things, like throwing a fart together"

Throwing a fart together with a good friend is one of the simple pleasures that makes life worth living.

i've been having heartburn lately too :/

(and i take omeprazole daily)

I take a dose of baking soda and things settle down pretty quickly.

i only get heartburn when i eat too much at one time, but when it happens uuugh
worst heartburn ever was from ethiopian food that i refused to stop eating because it was so good

i always eat too much at one time

Same here. Sometimes I take temazipam to get to sleep and if I don't go to bed before it hits, I get the munchies and eat stupid shit like pizza w/ hot dogs and sirachia and then there is Trouble.

Jordan, in all sincerity, that is one of your charming traits.

Jordan, go see a doctor. I learned that there are better, stronger, awesomer medicines out there than omeprazole. I went from take five-six OTC Prilosec a day and still getting all jacked up and falling off the train tracks to only noticing that it's a problem if I do something stupid like drink orange juice to wash down a slice of pepperoni pizza.

thanks jesse.

last night i hadn't eaten dinner, and some bandmates were going to the taqueria after practice, and owed me some tacos. i couldn't pass up free tacos even though i knew it was probably bad news, gastrointestinally speaking.

oh interesting. i got a doctor's prescription for omeprazole, but maybe i'll try taking more or seeing if she can give me something better.

Disgusting and repellent, yet somehow charming.

Jenny I am trying to call you for Important Business and you're not answering.

i agree. i appreciate zeal of any kind, but being a good eater is A+.

The one I take is called Kapidex and I love it the way I understand many people love their own children. I've taken every OTC heartburn med ever released (and baking soda, which is charming but ineffective) and scrip omeprazole and whateverthehell Nexium is, and they are either ineffective or make me feel bloated like a Thanksgiving parade float.

Baking soda works if you don't have a just a quick, acute case of HB, not serious chronic condition. It goes down and in a short time you belch and all is well.

Free/cheap shit, a la Broke Hipster

http://chi.myopenbar.com/

https://www.specialsagent.com

Lunch = meat + 3 starches

chicken boob, rice, potatoes, and garlic bread from the Greek place down the street.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/luzhkov-takes-snow-fight-to-the-sky/387446.html

The UP needs to do this.

I am going to see Gossip tomorrow night. I hope you're happy.

Snow is the basis of the winter tourism industry in the UP, one of the only industries that exists up there. Why would they want to make it snow less?

fuck you, that's why

shit, i forgot i actually posted that.

i love you, that's why, is what i meant.

I have not received any mail at all since Monday Oct. 5. Nick, did your mail start back up? I should at least be getting junk mail.

So driving to work today on lakeshore drive, at about 12:30, my windshield wipers stopped working. It was raining. So I pulled over and called AAA, got a tow, etc, etc. It was a huge pain in the ass and I never did make it to work. But the dealer fixed my car and it was all under warranty. But I won't get paid for today because I still have no vacation days.

I will get to watch Star Trek: TNG in about 30 minutes, while I would normally still be at work, so maybe it was all worth it. And I guess I should just be thankful that I didn't get into an accident or anything.

Scary! Not sure what I would have done in that situation.
In other news:
I have a new haircolor. Nothing fancy just darker brown.

What would you have done?

Tonight I took apart a disposable razor for the purpose of lancing a nasty water blister. There was much to-do associated with overcoming my disgust. My neighbors were home and I'm sure they heard some regrettable things.

Although I'm much older and more safety minded now than I was the last time I drove a car with broken windshield wipers, past practice would suggest that I would drive with my arm out the window, using my coat sleeve to periodically clear the rain off the windshield. Now I would probably just pull over and cry.

Best Facebook status update today, from one of the dimmer bulbs in my familial light show:

"FlashForward has me thinking about what I want for my future...hopefully none of my favs will leave Grey's Anatomy.."

I really don't know what I would have done. I wouldn't have called AAA b/c I don't know how that works. I would have maybe hobbled along very slowly, impeding traffic till I either died or reached a safe place to park or get the car fixed. If I parked, I would have waited till a dry day and driven to a mechanic.

And that is a fabulous FB update.

pull over, cry
call dan
call work
sit there for a while wondering what to do
curse the rain, fiddle with the wipers
sit there until it stopped raining

sadly, that's what i might do
i don't have AAA

I'm assuming the wiper motor stopped working, not like a wiper blade broke. If it was the latter, I would go find a wiper blade.

In my former life I probably would have called up my strong sense of denial and just left the car there and gone to the movies or gotten a cocktail.

This is why you should all join AAA,it is only like fifty bucks a year. I have been a member since 93, as it reminds me on my card. They tow you for free, or give you a jump, or whatever, they have saved me several times.

Though obviously I drive more than most of you.

actually i doubt i would cry. mostly i'd be mad.
i am going to join AAA immediately

in other news, i am wearing a sweater i've had since high school

They do these things without further charge? That is a very good deal.

I don't own a car so at this point if it happened I would definitely call either IGo or the rental company and let them deal with it.

yeah, aaa is great. Apparently the wiper thing was just a fuse blew or something, which like the stupidest thing ever to have destroyed an entire day and almost gotten me killed.

Road side assistance is pretty great. A good alternative to AAA, which lobbies pretty hard against public transit initiatives, is this: http://www.betterworldclub.com/

Also Better World offers road side assistance for BIKES.

i think you get one free tow a year, or something similar.

now you are making me feel bad about my aaa proselytism, i didn't know they hated mother earth xp

hey i'm psyched that the MAP grant was funded for another year
that means we will have students! yaaaaaaaaaaaaay

oh, I didn't know that, that's awesome!

YAY for students!

Dr. J, I did not want to make you feel bad. I just wanted to offer alternatives.

If it helps you feel better, we don't recycle and I rarely use my own bags at the grocery store because I need the plastic bags for cat poop disposal.

I feel horrible because I am constantly forgetting our reusable bags in the car.

plastic bags are urgent and key for cat poop, I feel your pain

we recycle by throwing our stuff in the recycle bins of the lutheran church down the alley. we will probably cause the church to go bankrupt.

Sometimes? If we are out of plastic bags and have made the last couple disposals using those twee little Whole Foods mini shopping bags? I will go buy a Luna Bar at Jewel and quintuple bag that motherfucker.

We used that hideous and pointless blue bag system until Jewel stopped carrying blue bags, at which point we gave up.

I never use reusable bags b/c I need them for cat poop. In fact, I double-bag so that I have more bags.

Dr. A, it's fine as long as you feel guilty.

High 5 Amanda.

At work we have a large cabinet stuffed with plastic bags, so I take from there if I'm running out at home.

I just use those litter liners that have little holes in them with a base liner, so that you reuse the "clean" litter when it gets changed and the hard clumps get thrown out.

i put dog poop into one bag and throw it into someone else's trash bin. (i'm outside duh and just pitch the poop into whichever bin is nearest)

i do use reusable grocery bags though because they are easier to carry up three flights of stairs.

Do your cats not tear them up when covering up their leavings? My cats, Brenda especially, claw at the whole surrounding area (up to roughly 3 feet beyond the box).

Ohhh. I just got the idea to put plastic bags inside of my reusable bags! I hate carrying groceries in plastic bags.

Nah, our cat just trails litter all over the place. We haven't had a problem with him tearing up liners ever.

It's ironic that in Brenda's very serious and prolonged attempts to cover her litter, she winds up missing it entirely.

She's obsessive about covering things. I dropped a container of onions yesterday, which I cleaned up, but she found a piece later and all night and this morning I wondered what she was scratching at as she tried to bury it.

Alfred doesn't really bother to cover anything up, he's really kind of lazy.

Poor Brenda, most of the time when she gets in the litter box, along comes Eddie to fuck with her. This disrupts her compulsive burying.

After my experience earlier in the summer with a blown fuel injection system fuse, I will always always always check fuses before getting any work done to my car.

I'm considering getting a kitten btw.

Do it! Let us name it!

It's name should be Bunsen b/c that's the cutest name.

Cannot recommend the Anti-Cruelty Society enough, thats where Alfred came from. He was 7 when we got him, felt so bad because everyone wanted a cute little kitten and not a fat old cat.

Aw, good for you for adopting an old fatty. Old cats are pretty great because you skip that stage where the kittens live to annoy the shit out of you and go right to that stage where the cat just wants to sleep on top of you all the time.

I looked into it a little bit and PAWS charges $100 for a kitten. That seems excessive to me. Where did you guys get your cats? I might just wait until the next time I go to the UP and get one from the Humane Society there.

xp I hear the old cat argument, but I'm an asshole and if I'm gonna do it I want a kitten.

you should have someone take cheesecake photos of you cradling a kitten in your arms and then use it as your xmas card

It's okay to get a kitten, too!

Check out Chicago Animal Care and Control - http://bit.ly/2Wx6dx. Jeff and I volunteered there for like fifteen minutes a couple of years ago. They have lots of kittens and I don't think it's $100 to adopt them.

I think you probably know the stories of where I got my cats, but to review:

Brenda showed up in my yard

Eddie I bought off a homeless guy.

Man, kittens are cute, but until Eddie, I forgot what little terrorists they are.

Dan, I can sympathize. But as long as you feel guilty, cool.

Cats and Kittens ..... $65.00
Fee includes spay or neuter, Rabies inoculaiton*, booster for Feline Distemper, Pneumonitis, Rhinotracheitis, Calici (FVRCP), Feline Leukemia test, AVID Chip.
*Kittens who are too young will not receive rabies protection.

Avid Chip:
An Avid Chip is the latest high-tech micro identification technology which enables veterinarians, animal hospitals and shelters across the nation to provide your pet with a lifetime of protection. If your pet should ever be lost or stolen, the Avid Chip will identify your pet. .

Come Ready to Adopt:
Bring a photo ID. If you rent, bring your lease saying that you can have a dog or your landlord's phone number. If you have had a dog in the last five years, bringing vet records may help. Fee includes spay or neuter, city license, rabies inoculation, booster for Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvo-virus, Heartworm test (DHLPP), AVID Chip. *Puppies who are too young will not receive rabies protection, which is required for the City License. .

[sic]

$65 is pretty good since it includes the spay/neuter and all the shots and the chip. Fuck, it's like $150 for yearly shots and check up at our vet, and the cat isn't even included.

yeah, you're paying for the vaccines, etc. i want a puppy so bad but i have to wait til may when i will have time to train that little fella. i miss junie :(

For all that, that's a good price. Eddie's first vet visit was outrageous. Like $300. I think they overcharged and did unnecessary stuff tho.

Hm maybe I should wait until I have a job.

btw that reminds me that one of the places I interviewed at (twice) are being dicks and haven't contacted me about whether I am getting an offer or not. It's been more than two weeks, and I emailed yesterday just to inquire...they haven't written me back yet and I am getting v. impatient.

That's really frustrating, I'm sorry.

Probably better to wait till you have a job, but if you can afford it now, a kitty is a great comfort.

Plus you can have some all day bonding time with the little twerp before you start going to work every day.

Many times Paws will get their kittens from Animal Care and Control. Usually they leave the older cats though.

Anybody else see the huge glaring typo on the front page of the Trib's print edition today? The article entitled "The Gantlet".

"Did you mean: Gauntlet"

EDITOR'S NOTE: Gantlet in our headline is correct usage. A gantlet refers to moving while under attack from both sides, as in to run the gantlet. A gauntlet is a glove. To throw down the gauntlet means to issue a challenge.

Yeah I just saw that on their website. I guess, but still.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs238.snc1/8530_1246606050965_1403820930_30747043_3095921_n.jpg

^^^latest Facebook outrage

Hahahahhahahahaha.

Trick question maaaaaan JERRY IS GOD

If nobody has ever heard of the word "gantlet", it hardly matters if YOU know what it means. Don't put it in a headline, smart-guy.

I guess, but still.

Yeah, the Trib's note isn't quite truthful. "Gantlet" is acceptable, but in my Webster's 11th, it's listed as a variation of "gauntlet" in both the sartorial and punishment senses.

Sounds like some obfuscation designed to cover up what a horrible fucking idea shit canning all the copy editors was.

It wasn't THEIR idea, to be fair.

sad moments in teacherdom:
i just ate half of a three day old tamal my student made

Guys I am losing my damn mind. I am supposed to find out this afternoon whether or not I will be the new Sr. Front End Web Developer for the Sun Times Media Group. (Speaking of newspapers.) I want this job so bad I'm nearly nauseated.

This afternoon is a really fast turn around time for a hiring decision if your interview was just this morning! That seems like a good sign, but if I were you, for my own sanity, I would probably assume that I am not going to hear from anybody until Monday at the earliest.

whoa, kenan, i know the guy who had that job last. i went to high school with him. he just moved to austin for a new job...don't know what or why.

Wow Kenan, that's hot. I will commence sending you calming vibes.

he just moved to austin for a new job...don't know what or why.

Because the newspaper business is in free-fall? And the Sun Times declared bankruptcy? But they just got bought, will live another day, and the web will be more important than ever (whether the top brass know it yet or not). It's a GIANT opportunity.

for my own sanity, I would probably assume that I am not going to hear from anybody until Monday at the earliest.

The headhunter told me he'd get back to me today, is the only reason I'm expecting to hear something. I would be satisfied to hear that I won't hear anything until Monday.

I did just talk to him, though, after sending him a thank-you letter for him to pass on. Professional protocol and all.

Good job! I thought about asking if you sent a thank you note, but I didn't want to worry you if you did not or act like your damn mother.

It's best-practices, so I understand. I'll never be great at this whole process, but I am getting a lot better.

I just hate being stuck between feeling hopeful and gearing up for disappointment. It's bloody exhausting.

The HR person at the place I interviewed 2+ weeks ago still hasn't responded. On their twitter page, part of the little self description is "Demonstrates superior project management skills, effective communication, and sense of follow through."

sense of follow through MY ASS

I want a beer.

er sorry linkedin, not twitter

they're all the same

It is totally exhausting. I am 100% empathetic here, you two.

Dan, you emailed the HR person, right? Maybe give her a call if you haven't heard anything by the middle of next week.

I emailed her both this week (to ask for any update) and the day following my interview to say thank you. I also said thank you to the manager who interviewed me. How's that for a sensation of follow thorough??!? God that turn of phrase turns my stomach.

I have other good leads right now but I really JUST WANNA KNOW.

I had the sensation of follow-through once, but my doctor told me it was the wrong kind.

(Raise your hand plz if you got that reference.)

I don't, but it sounds like Woody, viz. "I'd like to hit this guy on a gut level."

It's from Manhattan.

Woman at party: "I thought I had an orgasm once, but my doctor told me it was the wrong kind."
Woody: "The wrong kind. Really. I've never had the wrong kind. The worst one I ever had was right on the money."

sensation of follow through?? weird.

I ad-libbed that part. "Sense of follow through" is the phrase that I based it on and also am disgusted by.

Ah. I can see why.

My Smiths Pandora station is doing me right today. Smiths, Morrisey, Cure, Smiths.

It took the music genome project to relate those?

Facebook is awesome today:

Let's check out, 'Not Evil Just Wrong'--Are we (the US) trying to 'fix' global warming by fighting legitimate pollutants (which are already controlled), or CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), which is a natural by-product of living and BREATHING! Humans EXHALE CO2 and plants PROCESS CO2 as a normal part of every day LIVING!

GENIUS! I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY!

That means... plant more trees and other plants, and take really good care of them and the ones already growing, right? That's what they're advocating we do, right? Guys?

Legit pollutants are already controlled, and CO2 is natural, so your asthma is clearly punishment from God for your parents' decision to prioritize their finances such that the only apartment they were willing to afford is located next to a rubber cement factory, Billy.

i'm in champaign-urbana aka the twin cities. i am sleepy and there is nothing good on the hotel cable.

I am in michigan. In a basement. Please send help.

Too bad.

I was in indiana until a couple hours ago, should have posted.

Romantic Inn, plus indiana dunes, plus outlet shopping, plus three floyds brewpub equals awesome weekend

Oh nice. I'm curious to hear about Three Floyds.

http://gickr.com/results2/anim_6a22f2a9-dc69-6274-a967-5346cec55f3d.gif

http://gickr.com/results2/anim_7160daa6-7f9e-abc4-0d43-45c796923d31.gif

I am in nyc getting drunk.

so what kind of apples did you guys get in michigan? in indiana i got braeburn and shizuki or something like that (it tastes very much like a pear)

what up dudes. i had fun in champaign-urbana hanging out with my library crew (who i generally like), drinking really cheap beer, and sometimes in class. the sucky parts were losing my real weekend, boring parts of school, and having to eat shitty college town food.

on my drive down early early friday morning i was listening to the country station to keep myself awake; listening to something really irritating is good for that. i heard a song called "that's how country boys roll" and other song called "it happens" that was like a sassy female singer and in the last chorus she sang "shhh! it happens!" get it like "shit happens" which is like a total 10-year-old boy joke.

i've heard that "how country boys roll" song too! listening to it made me feel like i was engaging in cultural tourism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x72SmOBIEww

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph49YlxCqi8

you're WELCOME

oh if only could listen to music at work.

Three Floyds was cool, but maybe a little disappointing. Don't know what I was expecting, but it was just kind of a random bar in an industrial park. Obviously the beer was amazing, and the food was okay. I had a broo doo which was amazing, super hoppy and complex but not totally overwhelming.

Oh, those are animated gifs, as promised - on the train on my phone they were just pictures.

Apples that we got that I remember:

Ida Red
Rome (if you want to)
Golden Delicious
Fuji (I think)

the Ida Reds are great - very crisp with a nice balance of tart and sweet, and the redness of the skin bleeds into the flesh, and there are little veins of red in the apple.

those animated gifs are great, I would not hesitate to call them works of art

I think we picked Gala apples, too.

Those animated gifs make me kind of motion sick, but that is due to my poor animated gif-making than the subject matter.

It's pretty incredible to me how much fruit grows in Michigan - cherries, apples, grapes, apricots, nectarines, peaches, berries. Strangely, it made me nostalgic for NC.

According to the book I am reading, that area of MI in particular is known for its fruit production, too.

something something temperate humid lake effect winds blah blah blah

Yeah, that is pretty much what they book said.

Yes. Even in Charlevoix we had a hell of a lot of fruit.

I don't know if it's psychological, but the apples I picked taste much, much better than the ones of the same variety I buy in the store.

As much as I despised living in Michigan, I probably would not have if we had lived around St. Joe. Being only a couple hours from Chicago but still having lots of country charm would have made a ton of difference.

the state being perpetually economically depressed might have been a bit of a hindrance howevs

Perhaps. But my parents were retired and I would have run away to Chicago anyway.

I still would have been obsessed with living in the South, and NC in particular, and I would still have had my bad teenaged "I'm getting the fuck out of this fucking shittown" attitude, so actually it probably would have been kinda the same.

why were you obsessed with living in the south/NC?

B/c I was stupid.

And b/c having grown up in the whitest, coldest, most rural parts of the country, I could not believe what a cosmopolitan paradise of diversity, warm weather, and real towns and cities NC was when I went to visit my brother there.

If diversity is what you were seeking, St. Joe's is probably not the town you were looking for.

I could not believe what a cosmopolitan paradise of diversity, warm weather, and real towns and cities NC was when I went to visit my brother there.

And then you moved to N. Wilsborlol

If diversity is what you were seeking, St. Joe's is probably not the town you were looking for.

Heh. Benton Harbor, however.

Benton Harbor really isn't that diverse either afaik

North Wilkesboro was the most cosmo, diverse, warm, urban place I'd ever lived around!

Unfortunately I actually lived in Traphill, which was only warm, but at least the backwardness and whiteness were very intentional b/c they were battling encroaching changes. In MT and MN people never even had to consider that people different from them existed.

As for the weather, I was in heaven when the threat of snow shut the whole shebang down. My first brown Christmas was a treat.

Benton Harbor really isn't that diverse either afaik

Do you just mean that it's homogenous in the other direction?

(As though there's one "other" direction.)

1. I never realized that BH and St. J were twin cities
2. I never knew they were so very different demographically
3. Now that I know these things I am surprised

White Black Household Income
Benton Harbor 5.49% 92.40% $17,471
St. Joseph 90.31% 5.11% $37,032

xp yeah, that's what I meant

Never been there, but I read this book all about the two towns.

ah! i was trying to think of that name of that while you posted

i have that book somewhere in my apt but i have no idea where it is

That's the book Jenny was referring to earlier.

oh the book that is talking about produce in michigan is alex kotlowitz's book?!

unless jenny is reading two books about michigan, which is impossible.

i would know this if i could find the book and read it

somehow robert wyatt's rock bottom became the album i listen to when i grade exams.

I AM STILL NOT RECEIVING MAIL

maybe you are dead?

i've been listening to the xx album a lot while i do school stuff because it's really good but it's also mellow and honestly boring enough to not be distracting

it's pissing me off

i have expressed my displeasure to people who might be able to help

do you guys think i'll get a tax refund this year?

Yes, I am reading the Alex Kotlowitz book. That is the only book about Michigan that I am currently reading. It's actually the only book I am currently reading, period. And I was going to say that Benton Harbor isn't diverse, either, unless you take "predominantly white" as a baseline so that anything that diverges from predominantly white is therefore diverse, which to be fair is pretty much what a lot of people mean when they say diverse, but I decided to go have a bowl of soup instead.

Here's the part about fruit from p. 29:

Fruit was for many years the area's sustenance. The region's raw, ragged hills and proximity to Lake Michigan make it prime terrain for growing fruit. The hills allow the cold air to drain away from the trees, and the lake moderates the climate in the spring and fall, when there might otherwise be false warmings or early freezes. For many years, Benton harbor boasted the world's largest outdoor non-citrus fruit market; area farmers sold their cherries, apples, peaches, grapes, and apricots there. Fresh produce is still so large a commodity that the local newspaper carries weekly bushel prices.

And with that paragraph, I quintupled my knowledge of Michigan fruit production.

I also learned from Leslie and from Alex Kotlowitz, that I am a "FIP." But since I was on the townie end of the townie v. tourist dichotomy when I was growing up, I okay with my FIP status, since as a townie, I found that the only thing that tourists did that came close to being as annoying as "vacation entitlement syndrome" is when tourists would act like their experience in a town was somehow stronger or more real or more legitimate than the locals by basically denying their very touristness. A friend of a friend grew up vacationing in my hometown and she acts like this and it made me hide her on Facebook it was so irksome.

what is a FIP
also i don't really get what you're talking about

Back home we had FIBs, not FIPs... though I imagine they're pretty close to the same thing.

also lol @ jenny

i googled and found nothing except for info about some cat disease

no one vacationed in akron or found it hopelessly charming upon visiting it so this phenomenon is alien to me

Tonight at the Fireside Bowl:
Some Cat Disease
Hopeless, Charming

don't worry jesse, i am receiving your email

FIB = Fuckin' Illinois Bastard

"fucking Illinois people"

It's just a derogatory nickname for the specific kind of tourist that visits southwest MI.

see also: fudgies

oic

as i said, we didn't have any of those in scenic akron.

Did I not explain FIPs on this thread elsewhere? I remember writing a definition of FIP somewhere, and if not here, then where?

I was trying to expand on what I meant, and I think it's like when somebody who is not from a particular culture gets all armchair experty on that specific culture's food, like how some people get huffy about the "right way" to eat sushi or whatever, and it's like, "Dude, you're from Mundeline, wtf do you know about the right way to eat sushi, even if you did read a book about it?"

So it's like, okay, Tourist (we called them "tourons" like morons, GET IT?) so you came here one week out of the summer for ten years. Can you even tell me who the mayor is? Or the sheriff? Did you even know that the town bags the parking meters after Labor Day? I hid the friend-of-a-friend's facebook updates after she asked me whether the boardwalk rides stayed open in the off season, which was after she spent fifteen minutes at a wedding reception telling me about how upset she was at the development along the dual highway that runs into the town. It's like, Lady if you don't even know that this town lacks the year round population to support a three-block long skee ball and tea cup ride operation, you have no right to care about whether there's a Walmart out on Route 1.

I'm reading Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead right now, which is a novel but apparently semi-autobiographical, and there's lots of interesting stuff about this resort area in Hamptons and whom it "belongs" to: townies vs. tourists, old money vs. new money, black vs. white. (The main characters of the book are middle-class African Americans who summer in a particular community that their parents and grandparents conceived as a black enclave. There's a funny part where the narrator describes a familiar sight on the beach: a pair of sunburned white tourists padding their way down the dunes and then stopping and turning around once they realize they're a distinct minority.)

ok that helps. i was almost certainly a FIP when i complained about the muddiness of the corn maze. boo, me.

(we called them "tourons" like morons, GET IT?)

It was always "touristas" like "Sandinistas" back home. I am sure I have posted about this before.

i really enjoyed that book

Sag Harbor or The Other Side of the River?

There is the expert-y thing, and then there is the disgust at tourists causing commercialization of the things you love about your area (cf Leslie and her family condemning the big apple market that they used to love when it was smaller). That's a trickier position to defend, however, since the changes often coincide with bettering the economy of the place.

xp I don't know, Amanda. You were at a tourist spot. It's not like you went to the area redneck bar and told the beer wench "OMG, you really must redecorate."

Leslie's mom told me that the Hartford locals do not go out in Hartford bars after dark b/c they don't want to get knifed.

I don't know, Amanda. If the friend had complained about the poor quality of the prizes at Funland, I would not have been so annoyed since Funland, like a corn maze, is the within the purview of tourist concerns.

xp yes, what Jesse said.

sag harbor

xp

There is a movie theater in Coloma where if you bring your own popcorn bucket, you get a movie, popcorn, and a soda for $5.50.

There was a redneck in Carhartt coveralls who rubbed money on Jenny and Leslie for luck. ;__;

If ;__;ing about the locals rubbing money on your womenfolk is FIPery, then a FIP I am.

There is the expert-y thing, and then there is the disgust at tourists causing commercialization of the things you love about your area (cf Leslie and her family condemning the big apple market that they used to love when it was smaller). That's a trickier position to defend, however, since the changes often coincide with bettering the economy of the place.

Oh definitely. I was certainly knee-jerk anti-tourist when I was a young local, because that was expected of us, except for the part where I had awesome, well-paying summer jobs and dated cute out-of-town boys who conveniently went away in September and had fun things to do besides watch TV with my parents or drive around aimlessly. I have a more mellow view of it now.

Yeah, I can see you liking Sag Harbor, Jordan. It reminds me of both The Fortress of Solitude and The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao -- all have this wry, self-aware take on male adolescence within a particular time and place. (Pop culture plays a big part in all three books, too, to the point where the extended riff on Greedo and Lando Calrissian in Sag Harbor felt almost too predictable.)

There is hominy in our work fridge and no one will claim it. Maybe they don't know that it's hominy.

CALLED hominy

"Hominy grits?"

"I don't know, four, maybe five?"

it's not even grits. it's just hominy. plain. in a repurposed salsa jar.

(i got your joke and i am sick with laughter)

It's a v v v lame joke that cracked me up to no end when I saw it in, I believe, an Archie Comic Digest when I was a kid.

today's facebook wtf is ppl posting links to this and making all kinds of crass jokes about how it's no big deal and it needs an inflatable tire raft to complete the costume and other such shit:

http://feeds.chicagotribune.com/~r/chicagotribune/news/~3/3wAG-In8YK8/chi-091019costume-controversy,0,4640668.story

it's times like these I start to think that all my learned behavior leading me to treat these people as I would be treated is wrong, and that it'd be a whole lot easier if I just hated all of them preemptively until they proved any worth to me

Oh that is just gross. I am sure I will see similar postings from my FB "friends."

There should be a better word for people who you are connected to on FB but who you probably wouldn't otherwise interact with.

i was involved in way too much conversation about junot diaz at dinner last night, both with jamaican friend who hates that only a certain kind of author from the west indies or south america gets recognized (characteristics: uses a lot of slang, stories contain a lot of violence and grittiness, etc.) and all the good authors who don't address those aspects of their culture/homeland are ignored (he had only read drown, not oscar wao btw), and with a writer friend who thought oscar's character wasn't well-developed and that it felt cheap/easy. i'm not some junot diaz stan by any means, but i found myself taking the other sides of those arguments.

i kinda felt that way reading it too, but eventually the strength of the whole story won out over that. clearly in popular literature you can't be latina and not be pregnant/urban/magical/resilient but reading oscar wao didn't make me feel that way so much as general popular literature did.

(characteristics: uses a lot of slang, stories contain a lot of violence and grittiness, etc.)

I haven't read Jamaica Kincaid, Edwidge Danticat, V.S. Naipaul, or Derek Walcott (to name four West Indian authors who are "recognized" in the US) -- but I doubt this is true for all of them. I do think that the US literary establishment probably fetishizes non-white/immigrant/post-colonial authors whose writing focuses on their homeland and What It Means To Be Part of That Culture. But I don't know what's excluded by privileging that sort of writing -- I suppose there are Latin American writers who write crackling good stories that we never hear about because their setting and cultural milieu are incidental?

of course -- there are lots of authors who write normal stories about normal people but why would those interest us? they're stories about people "just like us" (urban, educated) doing the same things we do. better to read about underprivileged pregnant magical latinas who endure unspeakable horrors and still manage to thrive. (not saying i agree with this, just that it must be the prevailing pattern within the publishing industry)

yeah exactly, my friend named some authors he likes from latin america (can't remember any offhand, sorry) whose stories aren't dissimilar from american authors getting books published today, but who aren't getting a shot here.

huh i felt like oscar was way more defined by being a total dork and a social outcast than by his ethnicity. of course in a lot of ways the narrators (his sister, his roommate, and ? don't remember) were more like "main" characters than oscar and had more connection to the society they came out of but it seems like an odd thing to say about oscar himself

also roberto bolano is definitely the "hot" latin american author right now and he was pretty opposed to magic realism and a lot of the other characteristics of latin american writing of his era

From my favorite "co-worker" (in the Quad Cities) who I would think would not be quite so giddy:

Nicole 0lv3r4: Going to watch a movie with my hubby!!! The Proposal!!!

That belongs on STFUmarrieds.com

Bad news everyone. W0lf N@v@rr0 is probably going to delete his FB profile because of ads, and because the government is using it to spy on people, and because we can all be put on watch lists because of the Patriot Act. I told him sincerely that I would be incredibly sad if he deleted his profile, but he says it's probably going to happen.

Though the "FB as tool for government spying" is kind of over the top, even for him. I hope he's not actually losing it.

Oh no. I should friend him with a message saying that I heard he was going to shut down his account.

Yeah, you are just another government agent trying to spy on him. A mutual friend of ours who is generally an asshole said, "let me know when you start wearing trash can lids on you head so the satelites can't read your thoughts" and I LOLed.

W0lf needs to learn about Adblock Plus. I've converted so many fbfriends.

But what about the government? PatriotBlock Plus?

It's probably a bad sign that this FB update from my cousin has already irritated me:

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep..and I fall asleep counting my blessings" ~White Christmas

That lyric is, um, not from White Christmas.

according to my limited research that lyric is actually from the movie whtie christmas, so

whitey christmas

Jenny, Eric is sorry he corrected you.

One of my FB friends dyed his hair from blond to black and in his main photo he looks a bit like Nick, so I keep getting confused for a second wondering why Nick is posting

The Shrine of Jared Padalecki's Ass
Source: www.jaredpadaleckisass.com
Welcome to The Shrine of Jared Padalecki's Ass

huh i felt like oscar was way more defined by being a total dork and a social outcast than by his ethnicity. of course in a lot of ways the narrators (his sister, his roommate, and ? don't remember) were more like "main" characters than oscar and had more connection to the society they came out of but it seems like an odd thing to say about oscar himself

sorry i should have clarified, he was saying that oscar seemed reduced to his dorkness and was very sympathetic but not especially compelling. and the other dude (who hadn't read oscar wao) was arguing about culture & race.

Well, White Christmas has a horrifying blackface number in it so I am going to retain my annoyance at this cousin, because I also can't stand her.

Also, FYI, I work in a fucking loony bin. As Leslie's mother would say, "Oh my jeez."

Hi guys. I am still receiving radio silence for these jobby jobs I interviewed for and it is making me angry/confused/depressed/etc. It seems irresponsible and somewhat cruel to string along potential employees, to ask them to set aside their time and not give any response, and presumably to demand sheepish loyalty should they deign to hire me eventually. The business world is full of fucking sociopaths imo.

Fuck!

sorry dude. i guess at least they haven't said no yet.

That kind of suspense is terrible. Sorry.

there are probably factors at work that you don't know about, ie they are waiting for president joe schmo to approve their hiring choices, but mr schmo is too busy taking calls, golfing, and going to meetings to respond to an email HR sent him last week. HR is probably not allowed to say anything until mr schmo gives his official approval of their hiring choices or something.

The waiting part is really horrible. The sad thing is that this is pretty status quo, probably for a lot of the reasons Amanda said.

Hang in there, kitty!

Thanks, guys. Sorry to disrupt the thread, I was feeling super frustrated. It sucks to go from having to schedule interviews around each other to hearing nothing at all for days on end.

i'm going to see the sunset rubdowns tonight with my indie rock friends

Oohohadf, I'm envious.

do you like them?

What I've heard. I love the frontman from Wolf Parade.

Jesse, you're too old to go to shows anyway.

I'm going to shoot myself tonight. I fucking hate my professor with everything I have in me that can hate.

Jesse, please do not shoot yourself, it would leave the world a much poorer place. What is going on that fills you with such hate?

seems like you should shoot your professor then, duh

In case Jesse is in transit, I will fill you in:

Jesse's teacher is a big dummy who is full of more shit than the third segment of a human centipede. Jesse was going to skip her class so he could finish his homework for his other, slightly more intellectually challenging class and as a gift to himself because going to her class is brutal mental torture. However, he found out that this teacher will FAIL any study who misses more than one class. Not dock a letter grade, mind you - straight up fail.

I should also point out that this is an adult ed class in an adult ed program for adults who often have jobs and families and other things that can make going to every class extremely challenging.

I stand in solidarity with Jesse in his hatred of his teacher.

wow. fuck teachers!

all teachers!

I cannot tell you how full of shit this piece of shit is. Actually I can bc I'm documenting it. She has a phd from a well known school and yet she is up to her eyes in nonsense. Not only does she not seem to know her subject, she's horrendous at teaching.

My goal in xchool is to bring her down, to tear her down and burn what remains. Fuck this fucking stupid bitch. Fuck her.

Xps LOL

Excuse me?

I am having a dilemma because:
my students still cannot identify a verb
lotsa c/d/f on the midterm, no a's and one b

it was not that hard!!!!!

Jesse, I've still had worse teachers.

I did think of Amanda after my gripe. I respect how hard the work of pedagogy is, but Professor Centipede seems to put almost no effort into her work.

Big example: our class is divided into 4 groups, each of which is to somehow supposed to confront the problem of lead toxicity (in my city) in Englew00d's soil. We are then to "do a project for" this group http:// www.imagi neenglewood if.org/ (we can't pin her down as to whether "project" means a presentation, a paper, community service or a practical joke). Tonight someone said she was confused and everyone else chimed in that they were too. She said "Please do not use the word 'confused.' It has very bad connotations and frankly it is offensive." Then she told us that we would be "doing a project" for IEF on Nov. 17 or 24 and "project" could mean whatever we wanted it to, and that she just wanted us to have something ready for either 11/17 or 11/24.

We can't get an answer as to whether there will have an audience with IEF, which makes it very hard to decide whether to do a paper or presentation. She says "That's on you."

We tried to contact the people from IEF, but they referred us to "our intern" whose name they did not know, and no one - not even the professor - knows who that is. She says again, "that's on you to find out."

TL;DR: She said "do something" and then stepped away.

And Jeff, I believe you.

Tell the one about the student who couldn't clarify his thoughts, and Prof. Centipede validated his obfuscation. (obfuscating? obfuscate obfuscate bluuuuuurgh)

Oh man. There have been a couple things like that. One I think I told you:

1. me: she asked "in chicago's north side is indoor air pollution more of a problem than outdoor air pollution?" she asked, we discussed it and then someone said, well, what is the correct answer?
she said "oh, there's no right or wrong answer, i just want to know what you think"

2. me: we had to use an online eco footprint calculator that used the metric system. A student said "I converted it to miles but either way it seemed funny." People asked what he meant by "funny" (it was inaccurate? he found out he drove more than he thought he drove? it returned the result in roman numerals?)

finally the professor said "No, he's right - there are different ways of looking at things, so maybe to him it just looks funny."

3. She said: If u go to the computer lab wearing a white shirt, u will come out and the shirt will be nasty bc of the pollution from the fans on the computers. The computer lab is an incubus for pollution.

She says "incubus" instead of "incubator" quite a bit.

http://www.rockvideohouse.com/wp-content/uploads/Incubus.jpg

http://www.donaldtyson.com/incubus2.jpg

ok fine i agree that she sucks and whatnot
as far as i'm concerned everyone can eat a big fat dick right along with eazy e

So glad I don't deal with any teachers like that right now. This one sounds suspiciously like a horrid professor my wife had for one of her Art Institute online classes.

this has to be some kind of wacky jack black-esque situation, like maybe she met someone at a party and lied about being a professor as a joke, and it led to a job interview, and before she knew it she was "teaching" your class and can't come clean now.

yeah that sucks. i have had profs that didn't really know how to teach but i have always felt like they at least knew about the subject they were trying to teach

there is a form at the end of the semester on which you can express your doubts about this woman's qualifications. you can also go to your advisor or the chair of the department to express your doubts. this is the only way that anyone who is in charge of hiring her will know that she is unfit to be doing the job she's doing.

I wrote a 5 page evaluation for one of my professors. I think it was longer than any paper I had to write in his class.

Hello, hello. I am bossless todaaaayyyy.

Jenny, did you ever find the perfect boots? I picked out some boots on zappos back when I got some gift cards for my birthday, but waited like a responsible person to save up the difference. Then I went on there yesterday and they were sold out in my size. Then I discovered that even if you search by your size, most of the shoes that come up are sold out in your size anyway. WTF?

Oh, I know, Amanda. I'm gonna evaluate the shit out of her and I'm going to write to the dean (I don't know if this is just standard, but on her syllabus she included a paragraph about who to complaint to re teaching and grading . I'm documenting the ridiculousness.

I've had teachers/professors who I thought might not have it quite together, and I had a couple who I clashed with, but this one is very special.

In the elevator of the other students said very tentatively "She's really, uh, laid back" and I tentatively responded that there were things I thought were strange about her teaching style. He said "I think she's just lazy." But then a couple other students defended her and it shut us down.

And with that I'm done bitching here. Thanks for listening.

Did you guys hear that we're getting a new area code? And that it's going to be an "overlay," meaning that 773 and 312 will ALSO be 876. This also means 11-digit dialing. Starting Nov. 7.

Thanks for the consumer tip, Jesse. I think the area code is 872, though -- maybe you're having flashbacks to your days of dialing "hotlines."

Oh the impotent frustration of the end of semester eval... I'm not saying that you shouldn't fill out the evaluations, but I know from some very, very painful law school related experience with one Hideous Bitch of a professor that at some schools *cough*DeP@ul*cough* nobody reads the evals. The numerical results of the evals go on file at the library, and the free-form written portion gets thrown in the river. They actually tenured this professor despite multiple race and sex discrimination complaints against this prof (she is the one who threatened to flunk me if I didn't wear a skirt suit for an oral presentation, as in she would not allow women to wear pants and, no, I did not file the discim complaint) and an organized campaign by students (I was almost done with my third year by then so I wasn't even involved) to have her shit canned.

The only bright side is that I have an awesome excuse to refuse to donate money to my alma mater, and that I get a kick out of asking if she is still on the faculty and then making it very clear that I will never donate money while she still teaches there. (They don't know that I wouldn't give them any money anyway, so don't tell them.)

But to be balanced, I have had some truly amazing professors, too, and I always write long, glowing evals for them.

xp Oh wait, I'm thinking of 976 numbers. Do you guys remember those? There was one that I called a couple times to find out the top 10 songs of the week (lol dork).

i am so bad about writing evaluations, by the end of the semester i don't want to think about school anymore

Ha. Was 876 one of those numbers?

I only know about this development because T-Mobile sent me a letter* telling me so.

*As a result of my complaint to the USPS and my note to the mail lady re 2 weeks no mail, yesterday I received one letter in the mail. a;dslfj

muchisimos XPs

Oh boots... well, Sarah, not quite. I found a pair of 10W waterproof boots that weren't totally horrifying looking, but alas! They were too small. Unfortunately, they were out of stock in an 11W so I just returned them in exchange for a similar but slightly different style. These are a little dorkier looking and a little taller, so I'm concerned they won't fit my calves, but I am cautiously optimistic.

Basically, there are no perfect waterproof boots in my size, but I will hopefully find a pair that keep my feet dry and that I can sort of pull off style-wise. And even if I can't by the time it's cold enough for waterproof winter boots, nobody is really looking at my feet anyway because they are too busy trying not to freeze to death.

I dialed the 976 joke-a-day number a couple of times!

976, yes!

I never called those b/c they were truly expensive. I called the long-distance-only ones. (They would let these be "free" (LD-only) for a few months, then once you were hooked, they started directing you to 900 numbers.)

Handouts I received in class last night from student presentations:

1. a pink flyer from the Black Women's Health Project imploring the reader to STOP DOUCHING DOUCHING DOUCHING!

2. The Final Call newspaper (by Rev. Farrakhan).

for the record we have canned teachers (adjuncts, but ones with 20+ years of experience at the school) based on written student complaints

they do make a difference here. i never see the good ones but we totally pay attention to the bad ones. also the formally lodged complaints work better than end-of-semester evals. if you want your evaluation to have impact, turn it in as a complaint.

Yeah, my lol school was a little, um, entrenched about certain things. I'm over it now, but man at the time it was a horrible feeling to know that a teacher could be that abusive towards students and the administration would shrug and be like, "yup, that's the way it is!"

In other, very excited to absolutely no one but me, we got new IICLE* binders!!! YAY!!!

*It's like a giant workers' comp law study guide that was in grave need of a huge update due to some recent big time case law developments, and it makes my job way way easier.

I think what I wanted to say there was:

In other very-exciting-to-nobody-but-me news, we got new IICLE binders.